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is Death, but the Gift of God is eternal Life, through Jefus Christ our Lord, Rom. vi. 22, 23. And again, He that foweth to the Spirit fhall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting. Gal. vi. 8. With what a noble Affurance doth he declare, that our Light Affliction, which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory: While we look not at the Things which are feen, but at the Things which are not feen; for the Things which are feen are temporal, but the Things which are not feen are eternal. For we know, that, if our earthly Houfe of this Tabernacle were diffolved, we have a Building of God, an Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. v. I. He represents those as unworthy of the Chrif tian Character who mind earthly Things, and declares, in his own Name and that of all true Chriftians, Our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall change this vile Body, that it may be fashioned like unto his own glorious Body. Phil. iii. 20, 21. He reprefents all Chrift's faithful Difciples as Heirs according to the Hope of eternal Life. Tit. iii. 7. And faith, concerning himself, I endure all Things, for the Elects Sake, that they may alfo obtain the Salvation which is in Christ

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Jefus

Jefus with eternal Glory. 2 Tim. ii. 10. And again, 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, I have fought a good Fight, I have finished my Course, I have kept the Faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me at that Day; and not to me only, but to all them that love his Appearing. Nor were the other Apoftles lefs conftant or zealous in preaching eternal Life than the Apostle Paul. St. Peter begins his firft Epiftle with bleffing the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who, of his abundant Mercy, bath begotten us again to a lively Hope by the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the Dead; to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in Heaven for us. 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. And he goes on in the like noble Strain through a good Part of that Chapter. And again, Chap. v. 10, The God of all Grace, who bath called us unto his eternal Glory by Christ Jefus, after that ye have suffered a While, eftablifh, ftrengthen, fettle you. And, in his Second Epistle, Chap. i. 10, 11, he exhorts the Chriftians, to whom he writes, to give Diligence to make their Calling and Election fure, that fo an Entrance may be miniftered unto them abundantly into the everlafting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Jude, in his fhort Epistle,

writes concerning the common Salvation, and exhorts them to build up themselves in their most holy Faith, and to keep themfelves in the Love of God, looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal Life. Jude 20, 21. St. James pronounces that bleed is the Man that endureth Temptation; for, when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promifed to them that love him. James i. 12. The Apostle John declares, that this is the Promife which be, i. e. God, hath promised us, even eternal Life. 1 John ii. 25. And again, Chap. v. 10, 11, He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar, Liar, because he be believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son. And this is the Record, that God hath given to us eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son.

I have chofen to fet these feveral Paffages before you in one View, that it may appear, with the greater Evidence, that the Jacred Writings of the New Teftament everywhere abound with the most exprefs Declarations, the most strong and pofitive Affurances of a future immortal Glory and Bleffedness. The Promife of eternal Life is the principal Promife of the New Covenant, to which all the other Promises tend, and in which they terminate. The chief Defign of the Gospel Revelation is to teach Men VOL. IV. Ff

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to ascend in their Thoughts, Affections, and Views above this vain and tranfitory World to that future heavenly State, to fit and prepare Men for it and lead them to it, and to engage them to act as the Heirs and Expectants of a blessed Immortality: This is the proper Characteristic, and diftinguishing Glory, of the Religion of Jefus. We now have as much Certainty of the eternal Life as we can reafonably expect, till we ourselves be fo happy as to be admitted to the actual Enjoyment of it: For we are affured of it by the exprefs Word and Promife of God himself, brought us by the most credible and illuftrious Meffenger that could be fent from Heaven to Mankind, even the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth, who came from his Befom to reveal him to us, and who is juftly called the Amen, the faithful and true Witness. The World had been prepared for his Coming by a Series of illuftrious Prophecies, delivered at fundry Times, and in divers Manners, through a long Succeffion of Ages; which foretold the Coming of a glorious and divine Perfen, that was to appear as the great Teacher and Saviour of Mankind; a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his People Ifrael; and the Salvation of God unto the Ends of the Earth: They pointed

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to the Nation, Tribe, and Family from which he was to proceed; the Time of his Appearing, the Place of his Birth, the moft remarkable Parts of his Character, the wonderful Works he was to perform, the Humiliations and Sufferings he was to endure, and the Glories that should follow. These Predictions were moft eminently fulfilled in our Lord Jefus Chrift, and in him alone; who, in the Fulness of Time, came from Heaven, where he had Glory with the Father, before the World was, as he himself declares, John xvii. 5, and became Flesh, and dwelt among us; and, through his whole facred Life on Earth, he exhibited a most perfect Pattern of unblemished Goodnefs and Purity, of confummate Holinefs and Virtue; and gave the most astonishing Proofs of his Zeal for the Glory of God, and the Good of Mankind. None could poffibly be more remote from the Character of an Impoftor than he was: Not the leaft Marks of Senfuality, Ambition, or Avarice, or any worldly felfish Ends or Views, appeared in his whole Deportment, or in the Scheme of Religion he taught. And there were the most convincing Atteftations given to his Divine Miffion, not only by the wonderful Prophecies that went before concerning him, and which had their Accomplishment

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