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SERMON VII.
Some Reasons assigned for our Saviour's appearing
chiefly to the Apostles after his Resurrection, and
his manner of conversing with them represented.
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom
of God.-Acts i. 3.
Page
St. Chrysostom's observation why the apostles were
allowed to behold our Saviour ascending up into
heaven, but not to see him in the act of rising from
the dead
76
77
I. Reasons assignable from Scripture why our Saviour
continued
upon
earth for some time after his resurrec-
tion, viz. :
To give the apostles convincing proofs of it
To remove their prejudices in relation to his suffer-
ings, and to inform them of the spiritual nature of
his kingdom
To prepare them for his departure
And we may venture to add, to give a further proo
of his concern for the good of souls, by thus
delaying for some time to enter upon that glory
which his humiliation had purchased
Why the time of his stay was for forty days
ib.
78
79
II. Reasons why our Saviour appeared only to his
followers, and not to the sanhedrim, or body of the
Jews assembled at the passover.
1. So far was he from being obliged to afford those
who crucified him such an extraordinary proof of
his resurrection, that he might with great justice
have denied them any evidence at all of it
80
2. Those that had rejected the evidence already
offered them, would not have been convinced by
ocular assurance
81
3. Should we suppose such glaring evidence could
not have been resisted by them, yet it ought not to
have been indulged to them for this very reason,
because it was irresistible
82
The true question in relation to our Saviour's resurrec-
tion is, Whether the proof of it is not abundantly full to all the purposes of conviction
Many things we in our wisdom may possibly think fit
to have been done, which God has not thought fit to
do for us
83
84
III. The manner of our Saviour's spending his time
with the apostles after his resurrection was,
1. By giving them many infallible proofs of his
being returned to life
2. By instructing them in things pertaining to the
Gospel dispensation, of which they were to be
the ministers
Our faith entitled to a greater reward than that of the
apostles themselves
An exhortation to the exercise of it in the participation
85
88
of the blessed sacrament
SERMON VIII.
Miracles the most proper Way of proving the divine
Authority of any Religion.
And they went forth, and preached every where; the
Lord working with them and confirming the word with
signs following.–Mark xvi. 20.
The success of the apostles preaching owing to a divine power and assistance that accompanied them
90
Miracles the foundation upon which both the Mosaic and
Christian revelations stand
91
I. Miracles, according to the common sense of mankind,
the proper medium of proving a religion to be of divine
appointment
Though all religions have at their first rise equally pre-
tended to them, it does not follow that they can be no
certain
argument of
a true one
92
93
II. The reasonableness and necessity of this sort of
evidence, shewn from the general nature of it
A doctrine, though pure and holy, cannot be itself an
evidence of its own divine original
Though miracles are not necessary to induce a belief of
moral truths, yet they are to attest such as are of posi-
tive institution
94
95
III. The propriety of this sort of evidence shewn from
the peculiar characters and properties of it
1. Miracles extremely fit to awaken men's attention
96
The fathers of the eastern mission endeavoured to make
up this disadvantage, by some curious and surprising
works of art
2. They are the shortest and most expeditious way of
proof
97
3. And of universal force and efficacy
98
Since the proof of the christian faith is sound and satisfac-
tory, it is our duty to adhere to it steadfastly
99
Credulity and weakness has much the advantage of in-
fidelity, with regard to the ease and peace of mind it
affords in this world, and is more likely, if it errs, to be pardoned by God in another
SERMON IX.
The difficult Passages of Scripture vindicated from such
Objections as are usually made to them, and proper
Directions given how we are to use them.
In which are some things hard to be understood, which
they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures.--2 Pet. iii. 6.
The design of St. Peter in this epistle, and the connexion
of the text cleared
101
I. Several particulars in St. Paul's writings, and in the
other Scriptures also, hard to be understood
103
II. To account for these obscurities even in the apostles'
time, it is to be observed, that the writers of them, though under the immediate inspiration of the Holy
Ghost, were left to express themselves after their own
particular manner
105
2. The nature of some things they delivered was so
obscure, that the language of men must needs fall
short of them
If some passages were of uncertain meaning at that time,
there must be more so to us who live at this distance
from the age of the apostles
106
The eastern manner of thinking and speaking, at the time
especially when the Scriptures were writ, widely differ-
ent from ours, who live in this age and this quarter of
the world
And the particular occasions upon which some parts of
them were writ, entirely unknown to us
107
The multiplicity of commentators that have started all
possible senses of Scripture, have cast a mist over many places of it, which of themselves were plain and clear
III. These obscurities are no reflection on the goodness
of God, which is not obliged to do every thing for us
that is possible to be done, but only that which
is fitting and sufficient for the end it designs
108
Scripture sufficient for the end to which it was designed,
because though not equally perspicuous throughout, yet
it is in the main and for the most part so
And whenever it is hard to be understood, is on that
account not necessary to be understood
Nor are these obscurities a reflection on the wisdom of
God, because they are none of them so difficult as to
be utterly unintelligible
110
They answer several wise ends of Providence, particularly
they serve to humble the presumption and pride of man 111
To secure the majesty of religion
To exercise our industry, and engage our attention ib.