high priest, by the living God, to tell whether he was the Son of God, and having answered in the affirmative, they condemned him for blasphemy, because he had said he was the Son of God. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy, what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death." Math. 26: 15, 16. Hence, when Christ was hanging on the cross, they derided and mocked him, saying, "He trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God." Math. 27: 43. Now, this being the crime which was charged upon him, and for which he was crucified and put to death, God, by raising him from the dead, gave evidence that he was no blasphemer, but the Son of God. apostle, he was justified by the spirit. Spirit gave testimony to him at his baptism, and by the mighty works done by him in his life time; but he was most eminently and remarkably justified by the Holy Spirit, by his resurrection from the dead. God hereby bearing him witness that he was unjustly condemned, and that he assumed nothing to himself but what of right did belong to him, when he said he was the Son of God. For how could a man that was condemned to die for calling himself the Son of God, be more remarkably vindicated and more clearly proved to be so, than by being raised from the dead by the power of God? For it is not conceivable that God should put forth an almighty power to raise him, and thereby au thorize his usurpation, if by robbery he had assumed that glorious title. It was upon this evidence Thomas adored him as his Lord and God.

Hence, said the Tim. 3:16. The

§ 3. In the next place I would observe, that the resurrection of Jesus Christ proved to a demonstration that he was the promised Messiah. Hence, when the Jews asked of him a sign, he referred them to his resurrection. John 2: 18, 19. Math. 18: 38, 39. Had Christ been an impostor, the

apostles instead of saying "it was impossible that he should be holden in death," (Acts, 2: 24,) would rather have said, it was impossible for him to escape; for neither could he have raised himself nor would God have raised him. Mahomed promised to rise after four days, but his followers were obliged to bury him. None of the false Christs, though there have been many, have risen again. You remember, my dear Benjamin, I have mentioned in a former letter the case of him who called himself Bar Cochar, the son of a star, giving himself out to be the Messiah, and promised to rise again; but as he did not perform his promise, his followers called him Bar Cosbi, i. e. the son of a lie. In like manner, if Jesus had not risen from the dead, I should not hesitate to call him an impostor and deceiver. For I have already shown that it was typified and predicted that the Messiah should not see corruption, but rise again on the third day; and Jesus himself had repeatedly foretold his resurrection. Hence you perceive the great importance of this article of our holy religion. Therefore said the apostle "This is the word of faith which we speak, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For he that believeth that Jesus rose from the dead, does believe the other articles of religion which are well confirmed by this. He that believeth that Jesus is risen, does at the same time believe him to be the Christ, and consequently, that his precepts are divine, that his promises are certain, and his power and authority uncontrollable.

§ 4. The resurrection of Christ is a satisfactory proof that his death was an acceptable sacrifice to God his Father, anc regarded by him as a propitiation for the sins of the world. It not only shows that Christ finished all he had engaged to do, and paid every farthing of debt, but that the Father had accepted of it. His law is magnified, justice satisfied, and the prisoner released Had Christ not been liberated

apostles instead of saying "it was impossible that he should be holden in death," (Acts, 2: 24,) would rather have said, it was impossible for him to escape; for neither could he have raised himself nor would God have raised him. Mahomed promised to rise after four days, but his followers were obliged to bury him. None of the false Christs, though there have been many, have risen again. You remember, my dear Benjamin, I have mentioned in a former letter the case of him who called himself Bar Cochar, the son of a star, giving himself out to be the Messiah, and promised to rise again; but as he did not perform his promise, his followers called him Bar Cosbi, i. e. the son of a lie. In like manner, if Jesus had not risen from the dead, I should not hesitate to call him an impostor and deceiver. For J have already shown that it was typified and predicted that the Messiah should not see corruption, but rise again on the third day; and Jesus himself had repeatedly foretold his resurrection. Hence you perceive the great importance of this article of our holy religion. Therefore said the apostle "This is the word of faith which we speak, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For he that believeth that Jesus rose from the dead, does believe the other articles of religion which are well confirmed by this. He that believeth that Jesus is risen, does at the same time believe him to be the Christ, and consequently, that his precepts are divine, that his promises are certain, and his power and authority uncontrollable.

§ 4. The resurrection of Christ is a satisfactory proof that his death was an acceptable sacrifice to God his Father, anc regarded by him as a propitiation for the sins of the world. It not only shows that Christ finished all he had engaged to do, and paid every farthing of debt, but that the Father had accepted of it. His law is magnified, justice satisfied, and the prisoner released Had Christ not been liberated

from the prison of the grave, we could have had no evidence that our debt was discharged. But his resurrection clearly proved that he had satisfied the demands of law anl justice, and affords us a ground of assured hope and triumphant exaltation. Rom. 4: 20; 8: 34. In his death, Christ suffered as a malefactor, and did undertake the guilt of our sins; but by his resurrection, he was justified, i. e. declared to the world that he had shaken off all that guilt, and left it, as it were, in the grave, with his grave-clothes.

§ 5. Observe again, my dear Benjamin, that the resurrection of Christ shows the possibility of a general resurrection; is an assurance to the people of God of the certainty of their rising from the dead; and is the glorious pattern, as well as the sure pledge, of what kind their resurrection shall be. That God is able to raise the dead, sound reason and philosophy will not deny. But if it were doubtful, one certain and evident instance of it will be sufficient to answer all objections; since facts are irresistible evidences of the truth and certainty of things. By the resurrection of Christ, therefore, God has in a most satisfactory manner demonstrated the possibility of the thing, and given us an assurance that all believers shall rise too. Hence, saith the apostle, Christ has risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept; as the first man was of the earth, earthy; so the second man was the Lord from heaven," not of an earthly nature, but a heavenly original; and “as the earthy man was, such also are those that are earthy," of the same frail materials with him from whom they are derived; so also, "as is the heavenly man, such also are those which are heavenly," the state of their bodies shall be of a heavenly form and constitution like his. "As we have the image of the earthy," have been subject to the infirmities of this frail earthly body, "so shall we bear also the image of the heavenly," be transformed and fashioned in our bodies "like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself." 1 Cor.

VOL II.

3