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afcending out of the Water he reprefen
ted the Refurrection of Chrift, and en-
gag'd to rife himself to a spiritual Life.
To this Custom the Apoftle St. Paul ma-
nifeftly alludes, Rom. vi. V. 3, 4 and
thus argues from it: Know
not that fo
many of us as were baptiz'd into Jefus
Chrift, were baptized into his Death?
Therefore we are buried with him by Bap-
tifm into Death; that like as Chrift was
raised up from the Dead by the Glory of
the Father, even fo we also should walk
in Newness of Life. If we then be rifen
with Christ, let us not behave ourselves
as those who are ftill dead in Trefpaffes
and Sins; but let us feek the Things
that are Above, where Chrift fitteth at
the right Hand of God. Knowing that
as Chrift being raised from the Dead,
dyeth no more; Death hath no more
Dominion over him: Even fo we also,
being raised from the Death of Sin, fhould
not relapse into it, but fhould hence
forth live unto God.

Thirdly, THE Refurrection of our
Lord affures us of the Remission of our

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Sins. For if God had not accepted the Satisfaction which he made by his Death for the Sins of the World, he would not have rais'd him from the Dead. By our Sins we were become Debtors to the Divine Juftice; Jefus Chrift became our Surety, and took our Debt upon himfelf; and the releafing our Surety, fhews that our Debt is discharg'd. Wherefore St. Paul argues, That Chrift was deliver'd for our Offences, and rofe again for our Juftification.

Fourthly, THE Refurrection of Jefus Christ is a Pledge and Affurance of our Refurrection. For therefore Chrift both died and reviv'd, that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living; that he might be invefted with all Power in Heaven and in Earth; one Branch of which Power is to quicken the Dead. There is a near Relation, a close and intimate Union between Christ and true Believers; infomuch that they constitute one myftical Body, whereof He is the Head, and they are the Members, And if the Head be partaker of immortal Life, without

without doubt that Life fhall be commu

He to whom

have Life in`

nicated unto the Members.
the Father hath given to
himself, will not fuffer Death for ever to
have Dominion over thofe, who by cat-
ing that Bread which is his Body, and
by drinking of the Cup which is his
Blood, are become as it were one Body
and one Blood with him. Being then fo
nearly related to Him, we may confi-
dently rely upon the Promise which he
made to his Apoftles, and in them to
us, Because I live, ye shall live alfo.

Laftly. THE Confideration of Chrift's Defcent into Hades and into the Grave, is of great Ufe to fortify us against the Fear of Death. For by entering upon the State of Seperation, he hath fanctified that State to us; and by delivering himfelf from it, he hath opened the Way for our Deliverance. Why then should we be loth to try a Condition, which our Lord himself experienc'd; and by Expèrience found it to be a State of Peace and Joy? Why fhould we not be forward and defirous to vifit the Place, where the Cap,

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Captain of our Salvation hath been be SERM. fore us? Even there the Lord fhall be

V.

our Shepherd, and fhall lead us forth befide the Waters of Comfort. Tho' we walk thro' the Valley of the Shadow of Death, we need fear no Evil, because his Staff shall support and comfort us. He who was at the right Hand of Christ while he continued in Hades, fhall be at ours alfo, that we may not be moved, And tho' we may not hope to be fo speedily releas'd from thence, as our Lord was; yet shall our Hearts rejoyce, and our Flesh alfo fhall reft in Hope. Because God will not always leave our Souls in Hades, neither will he fuffer his holy ones to fee Corruption for ever. But in his due Time he will fhew us the Path of eternal Life; He will admit us into his immediate Prefence, where is Fulness of Joy; and will place us at his right Hand, where are Pleafures for ever

more.

Even fo, Amen; O God and Father of Spirits, for the Sake of thine only Son, our Bleffed Saviour and Redeemer, whỏ

to

to this End died and rofe and reviv'd,
that he might be Lord both of the Dead
and Living; Who by his Death bath
deftroy'd Death, and by his Refurrection
hath reftor'd to us everlasting Life.
Unto him be afcrib'd, &c.

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