Page images
PDF
EPUB

served for them that love him, are such as neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive. As this is sufficient. for us at present to know in general, concerning this fact, all curious inquiries into the precise nature of the happiness of the next life, will be of small use to us: they may fill our heads with fine speculations, but will signify little to direct our practice. What we are most concerned to know, and in the most explicit manner is, that our sincere obedience to God's commandments will certainly be rewarded with eternal life and happiness. This, indeed, is a matter which it imports us to be well assured of; that we may not be weary of well-doing, but may run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb. xii. 1. and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. iii. 14.

There are some indeed (and a melancholy reflection it is that there are) who would have us believe, that we die like the beasts which perish, and that

when we leave this world there is an end of our existence. But these, upon inquiry, I believe, will be always found to be persons who first live as if there was no God, and then endeavour to persuade themselves and others, that there really is none: so that, instead of regulating their practice by their faith, they most preposterously suit their faith to their practice. I shall not, therefore, concern myself at present with these men; my design being chiefly for the sake of those, who believe the Christian religion, and the revelation of God's. will in the Holy Scriptures. And surely to such it can be no doubt, but that in those sacred writings we have eternal life; and that the performance of God's commandments, is the certain and indispensable condition of obtaining it.

Natural religion, it is true, will teach us, not only that God is, but that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him but it hath pleased God, of his great goodness, not to leave us to the light of nature alone, to discover this weighty truth. The rewards of another 7

life are so fully and clearly revealed in the writings of our Saviour and his apostles; and the way to obtain them is there so plainly marked out; that there is no room for any doubt or uncertainty concerning that matter. Whatever dark or imperfect notions the Jews, as well as Gentiles, had of a future state, it is certain, that life and immortality is now brought to light by the Gospel: and we may rest assured, that though when we die, our bodies shall be laid in the cold chambers of the grave, and there become the food, of worms, and moulder into dust; yet it will not be long ere this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality. 1 Cor. xv. 53. For, God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead: Acts xvii. 31. A day wherein we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath

done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. v. 10. And then all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 28, 29,

He then who believes the Gospel. (as every one must, that lives in the light of it, unless he be wretchedly blinded by his lusts and passions) can never doubt of these two great articles of the Christian religion; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. The possibility of the former bath been made evident, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; and the certainty of the latter appears, from the express declarations of God in the Holy Scriptures. Indeed, the whole tenor of the Christian religion sufficiently proves it; every precept of which tends to purify and refine our natures, and to fit and prepare us for the society of saints and angels in another life. The Apostle assures us, that God hath not appointed us to erath, but to obtain salvation by our

Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that we should live together with him. Thess. v. 9, 10. And St. John tells us, that God so loved the world, that he. gave his only begotten Son, to the end. that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John iii. 16.

If then we believe that God is infinitely just and true, we can never doubt, that at the great day of retribution, he will render to every man according to his deeds. To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality; he (who is truth itself, and cannot deceive) hath promised eternal life: but to them who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; he hath declared that he will pour forth his indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. Roin. ii. 6, 7, 8, 9.

Our Saviour, in his exposition of the parable of the tares, tells us, that at the end of the world, the Son of Man

« PreviousContinue »