n14 ESSAY TOWARD THE SECT. TY. world of separate souls, without the resurrection of the body. Answer 1. It must be granted, that the scripture, iri order to support christians under present trials, chiefly refers them to the day of the resurrection, and final judg- ment, as the great and chief season of retribution : The reason of this will appear under my answer to a following objection : Now the apostle may be supposed to argue here only on this foot, neglecting or overlooking the separate state, as though this final retribution at and after the resurrection of the body, were comparatively the whole, because it is far the chief and most consider- able part, being much the most sensible and conspicu- ous, and of the longest duration. The chief part of any thing is often taken for the whole : And if there were no resurrection of the dead, that is, if there wereno state of retribution at all, then the epicurean reasoning would be .good, " Let us eat and drink for to- morrowwe die," verse 32. And, to confirm this exposition, we may take notice, that, in other places-of scripture, where the resurrection of the dead is mentioned, this "anastasis," includes the whole state of existence after death, both the separate and the resurrection state : This seems to be the sense of itin that famous place, Lukexx. 35. where Christ argues with the Sadducees, who denied the separate state, as well 'as the resurrection of the body: Now ifyou take away this " anastasis," this whole state of existence and retri- bution, then they that suffer for Christ have no advance tage or recompence, and the epicurean doctrine is plainly preferable, at least in the common sense and reasoning of men, and in such seasons of trial and perse- cution. Nor is it unreasonable to suppose, that there might be some of these principles of sadducism begun to be in- -stilled into some of the Corinthians, viz. that there wert po rewards and punishments at all in any future state; for he tells them, verse 34. that some of them had not the " knowledge of God ; that'is, as a righteous rewarder of them that diligently seek him, I speak this, says he, to your shame." And, verse 58. "he encourages theta to be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your la-,
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