ter its fpread in the world. It is enough, we may be affured, that our head and Lord, is prince of the kings of the earth. And that by bim we have accefs in the grace wherein we fand, rejoycing in the hope of his glory. The grace of this conftitution is confpicuous, in removing the veil, which had otherwise hung between us and the future ftate, by the demonftration given, that becaufe our Lord liveth, we shall live alfo. Thus the dread and terror of the future fcenes is done away. And we expect an introduction into the presence of that prince, the man Chrift Jefus, with bodies formed like to his own glorious body. Phil. iii. 21. We shall be made like him, for we shall fee him as he is. 1 John iii. 2.a

Lemma IV. The fcriptures of the New Teftament never teach any doctrine of the future sebicle or refurrection-body, which would fuppofe it to be of the fame conftruction with this body; nay, they never once speak of the refur

rection

a It is highly probable, that this Lemma will be difputed, as not having fufficiently full and clear data; but I am perfuaded, that there is fome folid ground on which the propo fition will fupport. The pious Pagan, the pious Jew, and the pious Chriftian, though all under the dominion of the one Lord, will, probably have different affociations and manfions, in the bades, or invisible world.

1

rection of the flesh or of the body, but only declare the refurrection of the dead."

contrary,

On the

The New Testament teacheth the abso lute diffolution, or deftruction of thefe bo dies. Matth. xx. 35, 36. But they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the refurrection of the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage, neither can they die any more, for they are equal, or like unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the refurrection.

1 Cor. xv. 50. Now this I fay, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

1 Cor. vi. 13. Meats are for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them.

1 Cor. xv. 36, 37, 38. Thou fool, that which thou foweft is not quickned except it die. And that which thou foweft, thou fowest not that body which shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat or fome other. But God giveth it a body as it has pleafed him, and to every feed his own body.

L 2

2 See Dr. Sykes's enquiry, &c. Pofthumous.

Which

Which laft illuftration, is an argument taken from the lefs to the greater; and will serve to affift the idea or conception of the refurrection-body; not as arifing out of the fown corruptible body, but as fuited to the character and capacities of the fpirit, which is to actuate that vehicle. The fame power that preferves the regular productions and diftinctions of the vegitable world, will preferve the everlafting order and life of the moral.

Lemma V. All good chriftians will undergo a change, but not all in the fame manner, nor at the fame time. Some by age, sickness, or violence, in the running ages of time, undergo this change; others, inftantaneously at the fi nishing of them.

So, I think, the New Teftament writings do plainly teach.

I Cor. xv. 51-54. Behold I fhew you a mystery, we shall not all fleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall found, and the dead fhall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible fhall have put on incorruption, and this

mortal

mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is fwallowed up in victory.

I Theff. iv. 15, 16, 17. For this we fay unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, fhall not prevent them which are aSleep. For the Lord himself fhall defcend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Chrift fhall rife first. Then we which are alive, and remain, fhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and fo fhall we be ever with the Lord.

Those of the last age, will inftantly have the refurrection-body given them: the change will be momentary, in the twinkling of an eye, at the found of the last trump. And although they have this fudden, inftantaneous change, they fhall, in that, have no preference to those who fleep in Jefus, the dead in Chrift; for these rise first. Every individual of them do rife in their own order. 1 Cor. XV. 23.

These dead in Chrift must then previously have put on incorruption; elfe, they could have no ability of precedence, at this inftan

taneous change of the last trump. Thefe dead in Chrift rifing firft, does feem to imply, a refurrection antecedent to the found of the trump, which changeth inftantly all that were alive and did remain until that coming of their Lord.

They alfo who fleep in Jefus, were thofe whom God would bring with him. They were then aforetime his care and under his patronage. Such who had returned to an active confcioufnefs, in the order and courfe of their difmiffion from their mortal bodies.

The dead in Chrift, and they who fleep in him, had been gathering under their head; and now, upon this folemn advent, God will bring along with their Lord.

I have not infifted upon the word rendered, prevent, plave, as tranflated more commonly in the New Teftament writings, attain and come to a thing, than to come before or prevent. See Rom. ix. 31. Philip. iii. 16. Matth. xii. 28. 1 Thess. ii. 16. So that we might read thus, we which are alive and remain, shall not attain to them who are afleep; fall not come into the fame condition of waiting on and enjoying the mediatorial prefence.

No objection lies to the prefent reading,