1 {8 ST. PAUL'S DIVINE COMMISSION. [DISC. I. darker expressions. Now if he had not risen from the dead, then Jesus had not been the Messiah whom the prophets foretold. See Acts xxvi. 6, $, for thus St. Paul pleads : And now I stand and am judged .for the hope of the promise made of God unto ourfathers; Why should it be thought a thing incredible, with you, that God should raise the dead ? 1 Cor. xv. 4. Paul Awns that hewas dead, and that he was buried, and that he rose again on the third day according to the Scrip- sures, Acts xiii. 32, &c. The, promise which was made unto the f fathers, God bath fulfilled the same .unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesusfrom the [lead. is. liii. 9-12. Hepoured out his soul unto death. He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days. Ps. xvi. 10; 11. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption: Thouwilt spew me the path of life. But on the other hand, if he did rise from the dead, this is a thing Which a mere man could not do by his awn power, nor would the holy and' all-wise, and true and faithful God, suffer any evil powers to do it for the yindieation of an impostor; and therefore he must be the true Messiah. It is also a most effectual proof of hiacommission from God, because Jesus Christ foretold this concerning himself; John ii. 18, 19, 21, 22, viz. " that he should rise from the dead Mat. xvi. 21. The miracles which Christ .performed were very great, and sufficient to prove his divine authority : But since he gave forth such a prophecy concerning himself, if this prophecy. had -never been fulfilled, it would have weakened the force of his miracles, and given us reason to suspect what power they carne from. This, his rising from the dead, was the great and crowning miracle that gave confirma- tion to all the rest. Now considering this resurrection from the dead, to be-foretold by the prophets, and by himself in his life- time, this was as great a testimony as could be given of God's approving him as a prophet sent from heaven : Foritis the peculiar property and work of God to raise th&.death See Rom. iv. 17. This is God's eminent pre - rogative. Surely he must be no common favourite of heaven, On whom thegreat and almighty God bestows
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