Hence it is, that we every where find the Apoftles attributing the Business of Man's Juftification and Salvation, as much, or more to Chrift's Refurrection, than to his Paffion. If Chrift be not rifen (faith St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv.) your Faith is in vain; ye are yet in your Sins. Indeed, if Chrift had perifhed in the Grave, we had still had all the Load of our Sins upon us; because we had no Affurance, that God had accepted the Atonement and Propitiation, which he had made for them. And much lefs could we have promised to ourselves, that we should have been affifted by any Divine Power, for the fubduing of them.

Again, the fame St. Paul tells us, Rom, iv. that Chrift was delivered for our Sins, and raised again for our Fuftification. Chrift's Death was the Sacrifice, the Satisfaction for our Sins. But it was by the Means of his Refurrection, that that Sacrifice and Satisfaction is applied to us, and we, for the Merits of it, become juftified

before God.

Laftly, to name no more Texts, Who (faith the fame Apostle, Rom. viii.) fhall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect? It is God that juftifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift that died, yea, rather that is risen again; who is even at the Right Hand of God, who alfo maketh Interceffion for us.

Here then is the great Power of our Saviour's Refurrection to make us good.' Chrift being rifen from the Dead, hath all Power given him both in Heaven and in Earth; God, as St. Paul expreffeth it, hath put all Things under his Feet,

and

and hath given him to be Head over all Things to the Church, Eph. i. 22. Now in the Fulness of that Power that he is invefted with; as he doth on one Hand, with never-failing Efficacy, make continual Interceffion for his Church, and every Member of it; fo he doth on the other Hand, out of the Fulnefs of that Power, derive and communicate so much Strength, and Grace, and Affiftance of the Divine Spirit to all Chriftians; that if they make a good Use of it, they fhall not fail to perform all those Conditions of Faith and Repentance and a Holy Life, that are required of them, in order to their being made actual Partakers of all those unfpeakable Benefits, which he purchased for Mankind by his Death and Sufferings.

Chrift by his Refurrection is become both our High-Prieft and our King; both our Advocate and our Lord. By that Power which he then obtained as our Prieft and Advocate, he doth with Authority recommend us and all our Concernments to his Father. As our King and Lord, he rules and he rules and governs; he takes Care of us; he provides for us; he repreffes the Infults of his and our Enemies, and defeats all their Attempts against us: And, Laftly, he supplies us from Time to Time, with fuch a Measure of Grace and Strength, and Influence of his Divine Spirit, as he fees is needful or proper for our Condition.

If all this now, that I have faid, be the Effect of our Saviour's Refurrection, as it certainly is; muft we not needs own, that there is a mighty Power in it for the making us

good?

t

good? What can any Man among us, that profeffeth to believe that Jefus was raised from the Dead, fay for himself, if he leads a wicked Life? What Apology can he make for the Continuance in his Sins? Will he say, that the Temptations to Sin are too ftrong for him; that he wants Grace, and Strength to overcome his evil Habits; and that through the Corruption of his Nature, he muft of Neceffity remain a Slave all his Days to his Paffions and Appetites, whether we will or no? Why, in faying this, he forgets that Chrift is rifen from the Dead: For if he did remember that, he would remember alfo, that there is a Virtue and Power, above that of corrupt Nature, which he, as a Chriftian, may eafily come by, if he seriously feek after it: namely, The Grace and Strength of the Holy Spirit of God, which I have been fpeaking of, which Chrift upon his Refurrection obtained the Difpofal of; and which he never fails to fend down upon every Soul that heartily prays for it; and whenever he gives it, he gives it in fuch Measures, that a Man muft certainly, by the Influence thereof, overcome all his evil and corrupt Affections; or if he do not, it shall be intirely his own Fault.

O, what a mighty Comfort and Encou ragement ought this to be, to all thofe that heartily defire and endeavour to be good! All fuch may with Boldness approach to the Throne of Grace, and confidently open their Wants, not doubting of fuch Relief, as is moft convenient for them. Our Saviour is rifen,

and

and fits at the Right Hand of God. He that loved us fo dearly as to die for us, is now entred into his Kingdom, and is able to grant us whatsoever we ask.

Do we find ourselves burdened with our Sins? Do we want Strength to refift Temptations, and to mafter our ftrong Corruptions? Our Saviour is rifen, and now ever liveth to make Interceffion for us. Let us fly to him for Succour, let us beg a Portion of that Grace and Holy Spirit he hath purchased for us. may reft fatisfied he will hear our Prayers, and derive fuch Vigour and Influence upon our Souls, that we fhall in due Time, by the Means, thereof, vanquish and triumph over every Thing that oppofeth us.

We

We cannot in any wife doubt of his Power; for God, by raifing him from the Dead, hath made him both King and Prieft, hath exalted him to the higheft Authority and Dignity both in Heaven and Earth. We cannot doubt of his good Will; for he that underwent fo many Difficulties and Agonies for us in the Days of his Flesh, cannot forget those whom he hath ranfomed with fo great a Price, nor fuffer that Power which God hath given him, to lie by him unimployed.

To conclude, Let us not faint; let not our Hearts be troubled; let us not defpair of any Thing. Our Saviour is rifen. Our High-Priest is entred within the Veil, hath taken Poffeffion of the higheft Heaven, where he continually makes Interceffion for us. Such a HighPrieft as is Kind and Compaffionate, and

Tender

Tender-hearted; that knoweth our Frame, and remembreth that we are but Duft; that pities our Weakneffes, and is fenfible of the Difficulties we have to conflict with, as having himself had fufficient Experience of them: And withal, fuch a High-Prieft as is able to fave to the uttermost all those that come unto God through bim.

Thus have I given fome Account of the Virtue of our Saviour's Refurrection, in order to the making us fincerely good. What remains, but that, as we fhould heartily thank God for thefe Benefits of it, fo we should efpecially endeavour to be Partakers of them not contenting ourselves with a notional, ineffectual Faith, but labouring with St. Paul, experimentally to know Chrift Jefus, and the Power of his Refurrection.

Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jefus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the everlafting Covenant, make you perfect in every good Work, to do his Will, working in you that which is well-pleafing in his Sight, through Jefus Chrift, to whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen.

SER