pre SER M. Condition and Circumftances of this XIV. fent tranfitory Life are fuch, that, without the expectation of a future and a better State, the Satisfactions of Life are very uncertain and precarious, and in Death there is no foundation of Hope. They who enjoy the Greatest Affluence of the Good things of this prefent time, yet have them mixt with fo many Interruptions, with fo many Fears, with fo many Anxieties and Vexations of Life, if in These things alone their Prospect of Happiness is terminated; that, upon the Whole, it can hardly be faid, that their Pleafures compenfate for their Uneafineffes: But with regard to far the greatest part of Mankind; what St Paul affirms concerning Chriftians in particular, that, if in This life only they have Hope, they are of all Men the most miferable; may, with equal Truth, be afferted generally concerning Men; if in This life only they have Hope, they are of All Creatures the most miferable. The wifeft and best men therefore, even in the Heathen World, have, in All Ages and in All Nations, from the confideration of the Natural Natural reason of Things, from their idea SER M. of the Attributes and Perfections of God, XIV. and from the unequal Diftribution of things in the present Life; justly and strongly argued themselves into a Belief and Expectation of a Future and a Better State. They argued, that nothing can be imagined more vain and empty, nothing more void of all Marks of Wisdom, than the Fabrick of the World and the Creation of Mankind; if all This was done without any further Defign, than only for the maintaining a perpetual Succeffion of fuch fhort-lived Generations of Mortals, as we at present are; to live in the utmost Confufion and Disorder for a very few years, and then Perish eternally into Nothing. They argued, that, fince This could not rationally be the cafe, there must confequently be a Future State. And if fo; then the Calamities and Afflictions, which in This World often fall upon the Best of men, cannot but be intended fome way for their Benefit, if not Here, yet certainly Hereafter. VOL. V. Z 2 THE SER M. THE Patriarchs of old, who, befides this general Light of Nature, had moreover fome particular Manifeftations of God, carried this matter ftill further: And though Life and Immortality was not completely revealed to them, yet from the Manner of God's dealing with them they affuredly gathered, that his Promises did not terminate in This Mortal Life. Accordingly, they fo behaved themselves in this prefent World, as fhowed plainly that they fought a better country, that is, an heavenly; Looking for a City which bath foundations, whofe Builder and Maker is God. They endured by Faith, as feeing Him who is Invisible; and often were tortured, not accepting Deliverance, that they might obtain a better Refurrection. Saying with the Pfalmift in the Text, even in Death itself; My Heart was glad, and my Glory rejoiced; my Flesh alfo fhall reft in Hope; For thou will not leave my Soul in Hell, nor fuffer thy Holy One to fee cor ruption. AND if This was the Behaviour of Those who saw the Promises only afar off, and C XIV. and had them revealed to them only in Types S ER M. and Figures; What manner of perfons ought We to be, to whom Life and Immortality are now clearly and distinctly brought to Light by the Gospel! And if we live worthy of the Vocation wherewith we are called; how gladly may we say with St Paul, under Any Troubles of life whatfoever; 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 seen, are eternal. |