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hath been tranfmitted to us in the fame manner as has been the Evidence of all other antient Facts, that is by Writings, with this Advantage, That we are far more fecure of the Genuinenefs and Uncorruptness of these Writings, than we can be of any other whatfoever. For they have been perpetually cited in all Ages, down from the Apostles Times to ours. They were very early distributed into all Countries, and tranflated into many different Languages, and conftantly from the Beginning read publickly in all Congregations of Chriftians, as the Word of God, and the Rule of their Faith and Manners. Which Circumftances do at once undeniably prove that they were written at the Time, and by the Perfons when and by whom they pretend to have been written; and that they neither have received nor poffibly could receive any confiderable Alteration. Moreover the Genuineness of their Teftimony in this Particular of Chrift's Refurrection, is farther confirm'd by the con

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SERM,

III, IV.

SERM.

III, IV.

current Teftimony of other Books, which tho' not receiv'd into the Canon of Scripture, were without queftion written by the Companions of the Apoftles and their earliest Succeffors. And all the Old Records do agree that the Chriftians did always receive this Teftimony, and profess firmly to Believe that Jefus the Founder of their Religion was raifed from the Dead, And for the perpetual Memory of this great Event, it is certain the whole Christian Church hath from its very Infancy to this Day obferv'd both a weekly and an annual Feftival. All which put together amounts to a Demonstration, That the Report of Chrift's Refurrection is not a Story invented in any later Times, but is coeval with Chriftianity itself, as I fuppofe our Adverfaries themfelves also will acknowledge.

So that upon the whole I queftion, whether there be remaining fo good and unexceptionable Evidence of any other antient Matter of Fact, as there is of this and of thofe Facts which are connected

with it, the Memory whereof hath been convey'd to us in the fame Records, and by much the fame Means by which the Memory of this hath been preferved.

THE Inferences deducible from this Fundamental Truth are many, and of the greatest Ufe. The Time will permit me to mention one only, which however will include all.

THE Refurrection of Jefus from the Dead is the most infallible Demonftration that a Jew could ask, or Omnipotence could give of his Divine Miffion. Therefore our Religion is impregnable, our Faith immoveable, our Hopes erect and certain, The Motives to Holiness of Life are as forcible, as the Obligations to it are indifpenfable. Infidelity and Death and the Powers of Hell are vanquifh'd together; and on the Side of Christianity there is Safety and Triumph and neverfading Glory.

SERM.

III, IV.

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SERM, III, IV.

Now unto Jefus Chrift, who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the Dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth; Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood; Who was Dead and is Alive for evermore, and hath the Keys of Death and of Hell, be afcribed, &c.

SERM.

SERMON V.

The Descent of Chrift into Hell.

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ACTS II. 27.

Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell, neither wilt thou fuffer thine Holy One to fee Corruption.

T

HE Words are a Citation from the xvith Pfalm, which was compos'd by the Royal Prophet David; but that he did not speak them in his own Perfon is evident, fince they were not verified of him. For, as St. Peter tells the Jews a little after my Text, the Patriarch David is both dead and buried, and his Sepulchre is with us unto this Day, and confequently he hath feen

Corrup

SERM.

V.

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