2 g 8 The 2'off6ility of the RefurreCliort Vol. II. everlafiingCovenant, grant in his due Time may be accomplifh'd 5 that thofe other Sheep which are not yet of this Fold, may hear his Voice, and be brought in, that there may be one Fold, andone Shepherd; and all the Ends of the Earth mayfie the Salvation of our God. S RMON CXL. Preach'd at WHITEHALL. 1682. ThePoflibility of theRefurre6tion afferted and proved. ACTS XXVI.8. Why fhould it be thought a Thing incredible with you, that Godshould raite the Dead ? 'HE Refurre&ion of the Dead, is one of the great Articles of the Chriftian Faith; andyet fo it bath happened, that this great Article of our Religion bath been made one of the chief Obje&ions againft it. There is Things that Chriftianity bath been more upbraided withal, both by the Heathens of old, and by the Infidels of later Times, than the ImpofPbility of this Article. So that it is a Matter of great Conuderationand Confegnence, to vindicate our Religion in this Particular. For if the Thing be evidently impoffible, then it is highly unreafonable to propofe it to the Belief of Mankind. I know that force more devout than wife, and who, it is to be hoped, mean better than theyunderftand, make nothing of Impoffibilities in Matters of Faith, andwould fain perfwadeus, that the more impoffible any Thing is, for that very Reafon it is the fitter to be believed; and that it is an Argument of a poor and low Faith, to believe only Things that are pofftble; but a generous and heroical Faith will fwallow Contradi &ions, with as much Eafe as Reafon aflènts to the plaineft, and molt evident Propofitions. Tertullian, in the Heat of his Zeal and Eloquence, upon this Point, of the Death and Refurre&ion of Chrift, lets fall a very odd Paffage, and which mutt have many Grains of Allowance to make it tolerable : Prorfrs credibile ell, (faith he) quia ineptum eft ; certain eft quia impoffz- bile: " It is therefore very credible, becaufe it is foolifh ; and certain, becaufe " it is impoffible: " And this (lays he) isneceffariumdedecus fidei; that, " it is " neceffary the Chriftian Faith fhould be thus difgraced, by theBelief of Impoffi- " bilities and Contradi&ions." I fuppofe he means, that this Article of theRefur- ré&ion was not in it felt the lefs credible, becaufe the Heathen Philofophers ca- vell'd at it, as a Thing impoffible and contradi &ious, and endeavour'd to difgrace the Chriftian Religion upon thatAccount. For had he meant otherwife, that the Thing was therefore credible, becaufe it was really and in it felf foolifh and im- poffible this had been to recommend the Chriftian Religion, from the Abler- dity of the Things to be believed ; which would be a ftrange Commendation of any Religion to the Cober and :eafonable Part of Mankind. I know not what Tome Men may find in themfelves ; but I mutt freely acknow- ledge, that I could never yet attain to that bold and hardyDegree of Faith, as to believe any Thing for this Reafon, becaufe it was impoffible: For this would be to believe a Thing tobe, becaufe I am lure it cannot be. So that I am very far from being of his Mind, that wanted not only moreDifficulties, but even Im- pofibilities in the Chriftian Religion, to exerciCe his Faith upon. 'ris
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