thing was three Days in doing; which was begun on the first Day, and finished on the third. Wherefore when 'tis affirm'd our Lord fhould be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth; 'tis to be understood, he was to be there before the end of the firft, and after the beginning of the third, of thofe Spaces of Time, which are ufually called Days, or Days and Nights. But This perhaps may be thought a matter of smaller importance: Though, indeed, it never can be without its just Use, to explain and reconcile any Texts of Scripture, which at first Sight may seem not to agree exactly.

THE Reafon, why our Lord continued fuch a determinate time in the Grave, before his Refurrection; was to fulfill the prædiction which he had exprefsly given his Difciples concerning that Particular. He had declared to them before, that he must fuffer many things of the Elders and Mat. xvi. chief Priefts and Scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the Third day: And that, as Jonas was three days and three

21.

40.

Matt.xii. nights in the Whale's belly, so should the Son of man be Three days and Three nights in the heart of the Earth.

BUT because the prædiction itself would not have been given, unless it had upon other accounts been before appointed that it should so come to pafs; Another reason therefore, why our Lord continued fuch a determinate time in the Grave, was to show that he was actually and really Dead. The Evidence of which, would not have been fo great, if he had revived fooner.

THE Reason, why he continued in the Grave for That space of time only, and no longer; was, that he might not fee corruption. It was fufficient, that he was proved to be really Dead: But God did not think fit to fuffer his Holy One to see corruption.

ONE thing further concerning the Time of Chrift's Refurrection, is remarkable: That it was on the Day after the Jewish Sabbath, that is, on the First day

of

1

of the Weck. From whence, in the Christian Church, That day has always been obferved as the Lord's day. The Jewish Sabbath, in commemoration of the old Creation, was the feventh or laft day of the Week: But Chrift's rifing from the dead, or the Beginning of the New creation, being to Us of the greater importance; hence the day of his Resurrection, the First day of the Week, has from That time been to Chriftians the Lord's day. As, at the Coming out of Egypt, God commanded that That Month fhould for the future be the Beginning of Exod. x. months, the first Month of the year to the 2. Jews: So, from the time of our Lord's Refurrection, which was the Beginning of a greater Deliverance; the Day of his rifing, the First day of the Week, was by the Apostles obferved as the Lord's day. Hence we read that they used to meet on the First day of the Week, to preach and A&s xx.7. to break Bread. And St Paul advifes; upon the First day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore, as God has 2. profpered him, for charitable Uses.

And

St John,

1 Cor. xvi.

Rev. i. 10. St John, in his Revelation, calls That day by Name, the Lord's day.

IN the Doctrine itself, the Particulars principally to be confidered, are; The Teftimony we have of the Truth and Certainty of the Fact, that our Lord did really rife from the dead: And, the Defign the End or Effect, of this his Refurrection.

THE Teftimonies to the Truth and Certainty of the Fact, are: The Evidence of his Enemies, the Watchmen fet by the Jews at his Sepulchre: The Teftimony of xxviii. 9. Women, to whom he first appeared: The

Matt.

xxviii. II.

Matt.

Luke xxiv

xv.5.

13.

Luke xxiv

34. 1 Cor. Witness of One, of Two, of All the ALuke xxiv poftles, to whom he showed himself at several times, and converfed with them for 36. forty days together: The fingular and John xx. extraordinary Testimony of St Thomas: The Evidence of above 500 brethren at once, who all faw and converfed with him,

Acts i. 3.

26.

I Cor. xv.

6,

and many of them died for the Truth of their Testimony: The Evidence of

1 Cor. xv. St Paul, who faw him last of all the dif Luke xxiv ciples: The Witnefs of Angels: And, in

8.

5.

I

the

the last place, the Testimony of God him- Hebr. ii 4 felf, bearing them witness both with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, according to bis own Will.

THE Defign, the End or Effect, of Chrift's Refurrection was,

1. To declare his Victory over Death; God having raised him up, and loofed the Acts ii. 24pains of Death, because it was not possible that he should be bolden of it. Neither can he die any more: Death hath no more Rom.vi.g. dominion over him. By this Victory over Rom.i.4. Death, he is declared to be the Son of God with Power, according to the Spirit of Holiness. The Sufficiency of his Satisfaction, and the Acceptableness of his Sacrifice of himself to God, is hereby evidenced. And our Juftification confequently, or the Remiffion of Sin upon true Repentance and Amendment, is hereby affured to us: God having begotten us again un- 1Pet. i. 3. to a lively Hope, by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the dead.

THE