r3 ESSAY TOWA2tII TtíE [SECT. rV. dead, and the eternal rewards and eternal punishments that attend it, are more abundantly mentioned in the New Testament, because they stand so much more con- nected with the gospel of Christ, and with his own resur- rection 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 apostles, in their writings, who desire to keep the death and .resurrection of Christ always in the view of their converts, to point to the aw- ful events of that day, when their Saviour, risen from the dead, shall appear in the execution of his glorious com- mission, and judge the world. Thus St Paul preaches to the Athenians ; Acts xvii. 30, 31. " God now com- mands 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 bath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." And, in many other places, he connects our resurrection, and future recom- pences, with the resurrection of Christ. And, in this respect, as well as in some others, the doctrine of rewards and punishments after the resurrec- tion, seems to carry such superior force in it, especially upon those who believe the gospel, that it is no wonder the NewTestament 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 pri- vate and personal. 3. Then will be the day of complete rewards and pu- nishments ofman, in both parts df his nature, soul and body All the separate state belongs only to the soul, and even those recompences are but imperfect, before, in comparison òf what they will be, when body and soul are united. 4. Then will be the most glorious, visible, and sensi- ble distinction made between the good and bad; and since this belongs to the body as well as the soul, it is very properly set before the , eyes of men, in the holy
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