SECTION IV. 37 vices or virtues they had practised in this life ; and they derived this doctrine from their reasonings upon the foot of the light of nature. The writings of Plato, and his followers, and the senti- ments of Socrates, conveyed to us in Plato's writings, are full of this opinion, viz. of the existence of the souls of good men in a happy state, when they depart from the body. Cicero sometimes speaks of it as his opinion, his desire and his hope, nor were other heathen writers ignorant of this doctrine ; but the New Testament speaks less of this point, because it is the evident design of Christ and his apostles, to lead thèir disciples to the more peculiar doc- trines ofrevelation, rather than to treat them with sentiments de- rived from the light of nature : And this doctrine of the resur- rection from the dead, and the eternal rewards and eternal pun- ishments that attend it, are more abundantly mentioned in the New Testament, because they stand so much more connected with the gospel of Christ, and with his own resurrection from the dead, which is the chief evidence of its divine authority. It is Christ, who rose from the dead, who is appointed to rise and to judge all mankind ; and therefore, it is natural for the epos ties, in their writings, who desire' to keep the death and resur- rection of Christ always in the view of their converts, to point to the awful events of that day, when their Saviour, risen from the dead, shall appear in the execution of his glorious commission, and judge the world. Thus St. Paul preaches to the Athenians ; Acts xvii. 30, 31. God now commands all men every where to repent; because he bath appointed a day, in which he will judge. the world in righteousness, by that man, whom he hath ordained, whereof he bath given assurance to all men, in that he bath raised him from the dead. And, in many other places, he connects our resurrection, and future recompences, with the resurrection of Christ. And, in this respect, as well as in some others, the doctriné of rewards and punishments after the resurrection, seems to carry such superior force in it, especially upon those'who believe the gospel, that it is no wonder the New Testament more frequently refers to this great day of resurrection, and the apostle derives the chief part of his consolations or terrors from it. 2. Then will be the public and universal retributions of vice and virtue, in a more solemn manner, exhibited before all the world ; whereas the entrance of mankind, into the recompences of the separate state, is more private and personal. 3. Then will be the day of complete rewards and punishments of man, in both parts of his nature, soul and body : All the separate state belongs only to the soul, and even those recompences are but imperfect before, in comparison of what they will be, when body and soul are united. 4. Then will be the most glorious, visible, and sen- sible distinction made between the good and bad; and 'since this c3
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