SECTION III. 21 able a proof of the spirits of good men existing, in a separate state, and being present with the Lord, when they are absent from the body, at death, that I could never meet but with two ways of evading it. The first is what a gentleman many years ago, who pro- fessed christianity, acknowledged to me, viz. that he believed St, Paul (lid mean in this place, the same sense in which I have explained him ; but he thought St. Paul might be mistaken in his opinion, for he was not of the apostle's mind in this point. I think I need net tarry to refute this answer : But I may make this remark upon it, viz. that the sense of St. Paul, con- cerning the separate state, was so evident in this place, that this man had rather differ from the apostle, than deny this to be his meaning. All his prejudices against this doctrine, could not hinder him from acknowledging that the apostle believed and taught it. The second way of evading it is, that this text with one or two others of like kind, do indeed speak of the happiness of souls in a separate state, but it doth refer only to the apostles thenfselves, who had this peculiar favour and privilege granted them by Christ, to follow him to paradise awl enjoy his presence there, while the souls of other christians were ssleep, unconscious and inactive till the resurrection. Answer I. It is granted. indeed, that several verses of this chapter, as well as in the former, have a peculiar reference to the ministers of Christ, and perhaps to the apostles who were his ambassadors; but there are many things in both these chap- ters ; that are perfectly applicable to every christian, and the verses just before and just after this 8th verse, may belong to all good men as well as to the.apostles or ministers. He that has wrought us for the self -same thing, that is, for the happiness of the future state, is God, who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit, at least as an enlightener and a sanctifier, if not as the author of special gifts," for Rom. viii. 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his. And ver. 6. Therefore we are always confident, or of good courage, know- ing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent front the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. This is, or should be the character of every christian. And the 9th verse that fol- -lows it, belongs to all the saints: Wherefore we labour, that whe- ther present or absent, we may be accepted of him; verse 10. for 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. Now why should we suppose, that St. Paul excludes all other christians besides himself, and his brethren the apostles, from the blessing of the 8th verse, viz. that when they are absent from the body, they :hall a3
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