SERM. SERMON XII. Of the Refurrection of the JOHN 5. 28, 29. Marvel not at this, for the Hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves fhall hear his Voice, and fhall come forth; they that have done Good, unto the Refurrection of Life, and they that have done Evil, unto the Refurrection of Damnation. T HE Refurrection of the Body, is a Doctrine that was quite unknown to the World till it was divinely revealed. That human Souls should exift after Death, and be happy or miserable according to their Behaviour XII. in this World, was discovered by the Light SRM. of Nature, and generally believed by thinking Men among the Heathens. And there were likewife fome wild Notions propagated among the credulous Vulgar, which in their Confequence implied Bodies belonging to separate Souls, by affigning to them certain Pleasures and Pains which could not be perceived without corporeal Organs; but these were a Sort of Aerial Bodies or Shades, which were only the Fictions of Poets, in order to embellish their Works. For the Philofophers believed that pure Spirits were capable of Happiness or Mifery without the Intervention of Bodies; and therefore when St. Paul preached the Doctrine of the Refurrection to the Athenians, it was treated by the Generality of his Hearers as an abfurd and ridiculous Conceit, which was not only useless, but also impoffible in the Nature of the Thing, as we read in the 17th of Acts 32. And when they heard of the Refurrection of the Dead fome mocked; but others who were more curious and inquifitive, faid, We will bear thee again upon this Matter, It XII. SERM. It is ftrange that no Hints of this Kind fhould be found among the Greeks, who were fond of Novelties, and rummaged the World to pick up new and curious Knowledge. For this Doctrine had certainly got footing in the Time of the Patriarchs, as we may learn from those Words of Job 19. 26. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall ftand in the latter Day upon the Earth; and tho' after my Skin, Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my Flefh fhall I fee God. Daniel is yet clearer in the Time of Captivity, ch. 12. v.2. And many of them that fleep in the Duft of the Earth fhall awake, fome to everlasting Life, and fome to Shame, and everlasting Contempt. And that it was generally believed by the Jews before our Saviour's coming is plain, because the Sadduces, who were the Free-thinkers of that Age, were Acts 23. 8. diftinguished, by holding that there was no Refurrection, neither Angel nor Spirit, but the Pharifees confeffed both. And we find that when our Saviour töld Martha that John 11.13. ber deceased Brother should rife again. She was not contented with that Affurance; I know, says fhe, that he shall rise again at the Refurrection in the laft Day. This was a Point XII. a Point that no body, except the Sadducees $ M. doubted of, but fhe wanted to have him raised again immediately; and the foon had her Wish. In what Manner this Revelation of a Refurrection was first made, is no where left upon Record: It is fufficient for us, that God did at jundry Times and in divers Man-Hebri i; ia ners, Speak to the Fathers by the Prophets And without doubt, it was among others; upon this important Subject; but in the latter Days of the Gospel, he has spoken, morë clearly and circumftantially of it by his Son; who declares himself to Martha, I am the joki.i Refurrection and the Life; be that believeth in me, tho he were dead, yet shall be live. He fhall not always remain in the State of Death, but shall revive again at the general Refurrection of all Men, and fhall moreover be raised to everlafting Life and Felicity, as it is more clearly expreffed in the 6th of John 40. And this is the Will of bim that fent me, that every one that feeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlafting Life; and I will raise him up at the laft Day. This Revelation, I fay, has been made more distinct and clear in the Gospel; together with one principal Circumftance unknown A a XII. SER M. unknown before, namely, that the Power of raifing the Dead, and fitting in Judgment upon the whole World, is delegated to Jefus Chrift. Upon his difclofing this Secret, his Hearers fhewed much Surprize and Wonder in their Faces; whereupon he opens himself yet more, and introduces my Text with thofe Words, Marvel not at this, for the Hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice, and fhall come forth, they that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life, and they that have done Evil unto the Refurrection of Damnation. In difcourfing upon thefe Words, I will ift, Prove, that there will be a general ·Resurrection of all Mankind at the End of the World. 2dly, I fhall difcourfe to you concerning the Manner and Circumstances of this Refurrection. 3dly, I fhall deduce fome practical Conclufions from it, that may be useful to us under |