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XVIII.

In a Word, to affirm that the Saints de- SERM. parted are received already into Heaven, and a Completion of their Blifs, is to contradict the whole Tenor of Scripture; which in abundant Places affigns even to the Saints and Confeffors, to the Martyrs and Apostles, no perfect Rewards till the last Day *: That being declared the only Day of Retribution and Recompence. When the Time is come that the Dead shall be judged, it is then (as we learn from the Revelation of St. John) that the Elders fhall fing Glory to God, because He fhall then give Rewards unto his Servants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and to them that fear his Name, small and great, [Rev. xi. 17, 18.]

I fhall add therefore no more than just to obferve to you one Reafon (which you will think a very good one) why we shall not be admitted into Heaven before the Refurrection. From the Time of our Deaths till the Refurrection comes we must live, we know, without our Bodies: They must be mouldring, or crumbled into Duft, till the Approach of that Day which shall restore them to us again.

*See, befides the Places already confidered, Luke xiv. 14. Acts iii. 19. I Cor. i. 8. v. 5.2 Cor. v. 10. Phil.

ii. 15. 1 Theff. ii. 19. 1 Pet. i. 5.

VOL. II.

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XVIII.

SER M. And this Nakedness of our Souls, if I may fo express it, this wanting to be clothed upon with our Bodies, which is the Confequence of Mortality, is the Effect we know of our Sins, and of God's Difpleasure for the fame. And it is very fit that all the Marks of God's Displeasure should be entirely removed, before we appear in his Prefence or Court: But Heaven we know is the Place of his Refi dence: Confequently to be admitted into Heaven, is a Sign of a perfect Reconciliation with God; which we are not therefore to expect or hope for, before we have recovered our former Credit, and are better apparelled to appear before him. For this Reafon even David, the Man after God's own Heart, the Scriptures affure us, is not afcended into the Heaven, Acts ii, 34. Nor did even our Saviour himself go into Heaven during the Time that his Body lay in the Grave; but only retired amongst the separate Souls; and did not, till he had affumed his Body again, approach the Courts of his Father's Glory.

I have fo good an Opinion of the Strength of these Arguments, that I think they don't want to be confirmed with more. It may be poffible however that you may have some Texts in your Minds, which may feem inconfiftent

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XVIII.

confiftent with the Interpretation I have giv-SER M.
en of fome that have been produced in this
Difcourfe: It fhall be my next Business there-
fore to clear up thofe, and to remove out of
the Way the principal Objections that lye a-
gainst the Doctrine I have here been proving.
But the Time forbids my proceeding at pre-
fent, any further than to close with an apt and
excellent Prayer of our Church, in which
you will join with me.

Almighty God, with whom do live the Spi-
rits of them that depart hence in the Lord;
and with whom the Souls of the Faithful, af-
ter they are delivered from the Burden of the
Flesh, are in Joy and Felicity; We beseech
thee that it may please thee of thy gracious
Goodness fhortly to accomplish the Number of
thy Elect, and to haften thy Kingdom; that
we with all thofe that are departed in the true
Faith of thy Holy Name, may have our per-
fect Confummation and Blifs, both in Body and
Soul, in thy eternal and everlasting Kingdom,
through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

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SERMON XIX.

Paradife, Abraham's Bofom, and
Hades.

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SERM.
XIX.

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Thefe all having obtained a good Report through Faith, received not the Promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made per

fect.

TH

HAT the Souls of the Reverend Patriarchs and Fathers of the Old Teftament, and of the Holy Apoftles, Martyrs and Saints under the New, have not as yet that perfect Confummation in Happiness and Glory, which they expect hereafter, when Christ shall come again to be glorified in them; I fhewed from this Text, and from several other Paffages of Scripture, in my last Difcourse. And in the Series of the Arguments I had Occafion to ufe, I alfo fhewed that even the wicked and reprobate, as well De

XIX.

vils as Men, will none of them be configned S ER M. to their final Punishments till the Day of Judgment: That Heaven, the Kingdom preparing for the Saints, and Hell, the Fire which is kindling for the Damned, will neither of them be in a perfect Readiness till that Day comes. This is the Doctrine which I fhewed you the Holy Scriptures fet forth, and which I told you the Primitive Fathers maintained.

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But I fupposed some Texts might arise in your Minds, which may feem irreconcileable, at first, with the Interpretation I gave of fome others which I had then Occafion to produce. These Texts therefore I come now to clear up, and to remove out of the Way the principal Objections that may feem to lye against the Doctrine. I then delivered. I can think but of four Texts, which upon this Account require Explanation: Two of which are in the Evangelifts, being the Words of our Bleffed Saviour himself: And the other two are in the Epiftles of St. Paul. Those that speak our Saviour's Mind upon the Cafe, are the Promife he made to the Thief upon the Cross, Luke xxiii. 43, &c. and the Representation he gives of the State which the Rich-Man and Lazarus were in upon

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