Serm. CXXXIX. our Saviour's R4ürreition. i 57 öf the ChriftianReligion beadmirable, and very apt to recommend it felf to the Reafon OfMankind, yet the Doftrine of the Death of the Son of God would be fuels a Stumbling-block, as would be hard for them to get over ; and theRelation of ancient Miracles,would not eafily be admitted, by thofe who are utterly Stran- gers to our Hiftoriesof former Times; and confequently not fo fit to judge of what Credit and Value they are. It is not good tobe confident where we are not certain ; but this I pioufly be-t lieve, that God would extraordinarily countenance fuch an Attempt by all fitting Affiance, as he did the firft Publicatiòn of the Gofpel;, becaufe the Reafon and Neceffìty`is plainly the fame in this Café, as it was at firft. For if Cod did not think theApoftles nakedTe(timony,, unlefs it were armed withMiracles, furcient for theCotivi&ionof théWorld, concerning the Refurre&ion of Chrift, of which themfelves had been Eye-Witneffes, much lefs can we expeít togain Credit, who only carry the Relation Ofthefe ancient Mattersof Fa&, attefted by Hiftöries, to which they are whollyStrangers. And I do ftrongly hope that there Rill remains a great Harveft among the Gen- tiles, yet to be gain'd to Chriftianity before the End of the World ; and that the Providence of God will, in his own appointedTime, make a farther Step in the Converfion of the Infidel Nations ; and that more of the Kingdoms of the Earth (hall become the Kingdoms of the Lord, ,and of his Chrift and that yet before the Endofall Things, the Light ofthe Gofpel (hall be difplayd In aglorious Manner, notonly in thofe waftEmpiresofTartary, and China,and japan, and Indoflan, arid othergreat Kingdoms of theEa(t, butin the large and dark Regions Ofthe new difcover'd World ; for that folemn Promife which God made to his Son, PP/. 2. S. .Askofme, and Iwill give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance, and the utmofl Parts of the Earth for thy Pofjon, feems to be very far from being yet fully accomplifh'd and.fince this is like tobe the Workof fouie Ages, the Time perhaps is not far off when it fhall begin : And tho' I fee no fufficient Grounds from Scripture tó be lieve the perfonal Reign of Chrïft upon Earth fora thoufand Years ; yet it feenis to be not improbable, that force time before the End of theWorld; the glorious Kingdom of Christ, I mean the Prevalencyof the pure Chriftian Religion, fhould be of as long aContinuance, as the Reign of Mahomet and Anti-Christ havebeen, both which have now lafted about a thoufand Years. For it is clear, that the Fulnefi of the Gentiles is not yet come in, becaufe the yews fiill continue difpers'd over theWorld, which is the Markour Saviour bath given of, the Call and Reftitutionof the Jews, Luke 21. 24. They flsall fall by the Edgeofthe Sword, and (hall be led away Captive into all Nations; and Jerufalem;hall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the Time of the Gentiles be fulfilled: And thus St. Paul explains to us this Predi &ionof our. Saviour, Rom. a r. 25. I would not, Brethren, 'thatyol Jhould be ignorant of this Myflery, That Blindnef in part is happened unto Ifrael, until the Fulnefa ofthe Gentiles be come in. , So that this we have Reafon to eítpe&, and this let us pray for, That the Knóty- ledge of the Lord may fill the Earth, as the Waters cover the Sea; that his Ways May be known uponEarth, and hisfaxingHealthamong all Nations ; and with St. Paul, Let our hearty Defre and Prayer for Ifrael be . that they may be faxed ; that there M.y comeout of Sion a Deliverer, and he may tarn away Ünrfghteonfnefi from Jacob; efpeciall y fince St. Paul hath given us Reafon tohope, that this would be of fogreat Benefit and Advantage to the GentileWorld, Rom. it 1.12. If the Fall oftheJews be theRicher of the World, andthe Diminution Of them the Riches of the Gentiles : howmuch more their Fulizefs ? And Ver. i 5. For if the caflinq awayof them be the reconciling of the World ï what fhall the receiving of thenbe, but Life from the Dead? Intitnating, that as the Reje&ion of the gems was the Occafion of ublifhing the Gofpel, that Do trine of .reconciliation to the World, as the fame Apo(tle,doth elfewhere call it; fo the receiving of them to Favour again, fhould be Life from theDead, that is a kind of Refurrectlion to the Remainder of the Gentile World, who had fo long lain in Darknefs, and the Shadow ofDeath. Which the God of Peace, who brought again front the Dead pur Lord jefua Chrif, the great Shepherdof the Sheep, through the Blood of the L 1 curl.fling
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