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SERM. it fhall be accepted through Faith in XIII. Him.

2dly, THE fecond Effect of the Refurrection of Chrift, with regard to Us; is our Sanctification or Regeneration: That is, our rifing from the death of Sin, unto a Life of Righteousness. Rom. vi. 4. We are buried with him by Baptifm into Death, that like as Chrift was raised up from the Dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in Newness of Life; That having been planted together in the likeness of his Death, we should be alfo in the likeness of his Refurrection. The Meaning of the Apostle is; that the Death and Refurrection of Chrift, into which we are Baptized, and whereof Baptism is an Emblem, ought to be a perpetual obligation upon us, to rife from the Death of Sin unto the Spiritual Life of Righteousness and Holinefs: Col. ii. 12, and iii, 1. Buried with him in Baptifm, wherein

alfo ye are rifen with him. If ye then (faith he) be rifen with Chrift, feek thofe things which are above; For ye are dead, that is, dead to Sin, (as the fame Apostle explains

explains it, Rom. vi. 2.) and your Life is SER M. bid with Chrift in God. And what he XIII. means by That Phrafe, bid with Chrift in God, is explained in the next verse, ch. iii. 3. When Chrift, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye alfo appear with him in glory.

FOR 3dly, The Third and Laft Effect of the Refurrection of Chrift, with respect to Us, is the Affurance of Our Refurrection likewife, unto Glorification. 1 Cor. xv. 20. Now is Chrift rifen from the Dead, and become the firft-fruits of them that flept. And therefore This is constantly used. by the Apostles, as a perpetual Argument of Confolation to good Christians; 1 Pet. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the refurrection of (Jesus) Chrift from the Dead. Rom. viii. 11. If the Spirit of him that raised up Jefus from the Dead, dwell in you; he that raifed up Chrift from the Dead, fhall alfo quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

And

SER M. And I Th. iv. 14. If we believe that JeXIII. fus died and rofe again, even fo Them alSo which fleep in Jefus will God bring with

bim.

BLESSED and Happy are They, who fhall be thought worthy to obtain That Life, and the Refurrection from the Dead; For from thenceforth they shall be before the Throne of God, and fhall ferve him day and night in his Temple; And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more Death, neither forrow nor crying; neither fhall there be any more pain: For the former things are paffed away.

SERMON

SERMON XIV.

Of CHRIST's Defcent into Hell.

[Preached on Eafter-Day.]

PSALM XVI. 9, 10.

Wherefore my Heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced; my Flesh alfo fhall rest in Hope. For why? Thou shalt not leave my Soul in Hell; neither halt thou fuffer thy Holy One to fee corruption.

T

HE Afflictions and Calami- SER M.
ties which fall upon Many XIV.
men in this present State, are
of fuch a nature, that, were

it not for the Hopes which

True Religion and the Knowledge of
God affords, their only Comfort would

VOL. V.

Y

be

SER M. be That expectation of Death, which
XIV. Job thus elegantly expreffes, ch. iii. 17,

There the wicked ceafe from troubling, and
there the Weary be at Reft: There the
Prisoners reft together, they hear not the
Voice of the Oppreffour: The Small and
Great are There, and the Servant is free
from his Mafier. But True Religon af-
fords virtuous and good Men a very
different Profpect; and teaches them to
expect, that, if God does not think fit to
deliver them out of their Troubles Here,
(which yet he sometimes does in a very
extraordinary and unexpected Manner ;)
yet even the Grave itself puts not an end
to his Power of Redeeming them; but he
can and will raise them up again, to a fu
ture and a better Life. So that they may
look upon Death itself, not barely as a
putting an end to their prefent Afflicti-
ons, but as a Paffage to a Glorious and
Immortal State. Wherefore my Flesh alfo,
fays the Holy Pfalmift, shall rest in Hope:
For why? Thou shalt not leave my Soul in
Hell; neither halt thou suffer thy Holy
One to fee corruption.

THE

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