SERMON VIII.

I COR. XV. 19.

If in this Life only we have Hope in Chrift, we are of all Men most miserable.

N the Words preceding these, the Apostle,

IN

after setting forth, in feveral Particulars, the Evidence of our bleffed Lord's Refurrection, goes on to prove from it the important Doctrine of a general Resurrection to eternal Life.

It may seem to us now very ftrange, that any, who called themselves Christians, could make the least Doubt of so known and effential an Article of the Chriftian Faith. But if we confider the State, in which the World was then, we shall wonder no longer, that, of profeffed Believers, there should be fome, who did not believe the dead would be raised again. Among the Jews, the Pharifees indeed were firmly perfuaded of this Truth. But the Sadducees, a confiderable Sect, though not for the

Numbers,

1

Numbers, yet for the Rank of thofe who embraced it, rejected the Doctrine of a future Life intirely; and looked on the Resurrection, as a Thing peculiarly incredible. Notwithstanding which, as they held a present Providence that rules the World, they might many of them, reading the Predictions of the Old Teftament concerning the Meffiah, seeing the Accomplishment of them in the Perfon of Jefus, and ftruck with the Miracles, which he and his Followers performed, be perfuaded, on the Whole, that he was fent from God; and yet be very backward to understand what he taught, when it contradicted their former Prejudices. But the Heathens were still more likely to act thus. For amongst them, even the fteadieft Believers of a future State all difbelieved the raifing again of the Body, as a Thing both impoffible and unfit: for their Men of Learning thought it only the Prifon of the Soul; which must always be an Impediment, instead of a Help to it. Suppose then Christianity preached, with proper Evidence, to fuch Perfons as thefe: they would receive very gladly what was faid of the Remiffion of Sins, the Obligations to Virtue, the future Life of the Soul, happy or miferable, accord

ing to every one's Deeds. But when the Refurrection of the Body was taught, there must evidently be great Danger, either that they would reject the Whole of the Gospel; because of this one feemingly incredible Part; as the Philofophers at Athens did, who are mentioned in the Acts; or elfe, that they would fo interpret this Part, as to reconcile it with their pre-conceived Opinion. Accordingly, the Hiftory of the Church informs us, that feveral, in the firft Ages, thought our Saviour died and rofe again, not in Reality but in miraculous Appearance only. And others had equally wild Fancies in other Articles of Religion: as indeed it was very natural for them to entertain furprising Imaginations, about Matters fo intirely new to them: efpecially when, in all Likelihood, great Numbers were converted to the Belief of Christianity in general, by feeing or being informed of the Miracles wrought in its Favour; who perhaps had no Opportunity, for fome Time, of hearing the particular Doctrines of it explained fo diftinctly, by those who throughly understood them, as to be set right in every Point. And this may poffibly have been one chief Reafon of the many ftrange Notions,

Notions, that we find fome of the early Chriftians embraced.

Befides, they might the more easily be miftaken, in the Cafe before us, on this Account: that the Apoftles, imitating the Language, already in Ufe concerning the Jewish Profelytes, expreffed the Change, which Chriftianity made in the Tempers and Condition of Men, by the Phrases of dying to Sin, being buried with Chrift in Baptifm, and rifing again to Newness of Life. The ignorant or prejudiced might haftily conclude from hence, that no other rifing again was intended to be taught: and that therefore the Refurrection was paft already, as we are told by our Apostle, fome

affirmed.

Now this Error, if it comprehended the Denial of a future State, fubverted the main Purpose of Christianity: which was, influencing the World to Piety and Virtue, from the Expectation of that State". And where only the future Life of the Body was denied; even that, by Confequence, made the Gofpel

a 2 Tim. ii. 18.

b Origen, Com. in Matth. xxii. 23. tom. 17. p. 811. infifts, that the Apofle writes here against Perfons difbelieving a future Life; and that his Arguments are not conclufive against those, who disbelieve a Refurrection only. I have endeavoured to shew the contrary in what follows.

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