{ 2QS ESSAY TOWARD Tilt SECT. M. professed Christianity, acknowledged to me, viz. that he believed St. Paul did 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 not tarry to refute this answer: But I may make this remark upon it, viz. that the sense of St Paul, concerning the sepa- rate 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 be- lieved, and taught. it. The second way of evading it is, that this text with one or two others"of the like "kind, do indeed speak of the happiness of souls in a separate state, but it Both refer only to the apostles themselves, who had this peen- liar favour and privilege granted them by Christ, to fol- low him to paradise and enjoy his presence there, while the souls of . other christians were asleep, unconscious and inactive till the resurrection. Answer 1. It is 'granted indeed, that several verses of this chapter as well as in the former, bave a peculiar re- ference to the ministers of Christ, and perhaps to the apostles, who were his ambassadórs; but there are many things in both these chapters, that are perfectly applica- ble to every christian, and the verses just before and just after this 8. verse, may belong to all good men as well as to the apostles or ministers. " He that hath wrought us for the self same thing, that is, for the happiness of the future state, is God, who bath 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 bath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." And verse 6. " Therefore we are always confident, or ofgood çourage, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight." This is, or should be the character of every christian. And the 9. verse that follows it, belongs o all the saints: " Where- fore we labour, that whether 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 inhis body, according to that he
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