I80 T. PAUL'S DIVINE COMMISSION DISC. 11. Col. ii. 15. Andhaving spoiledprincipalities andpowers, he made a skew of them openly, triumphing Over them in it. Ps. lxviii. 18. Thou hast received gJts for men, evenfor the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them And Eph. iv. 8, 9, 13, 15. He led cap- tivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, whereby they were made prophets, teachers, ministers, &c. 4. How many fearful and feeble creatures have grown bold and victorious in sufferings, and have conquered death itself, by faith in a dying and rising Saviour? Thanks. be to :God. who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; 1 Cor. xv. 57. How many believers have laid down their bodies in the dust with sweet satisfaction and joy, through faith in the resurrec- tion of Christ, and have triumphed over the .grave : O death where is thy sting? O gravewhere is thy victory ? I. Cor. xv. 55. St. Paul had seen abundance of this work performed, through the nations where he planted the christian churches, and thesewonders of salvation wrought among the gentiles, by his preaching of Jesus, and his resurrec- tion ; and every one of these 'wonders confirmed his belief that Jesus, who was dead, is now alive. A general Remark on this head. It greatly confirms our holy religion, when we hearof these blessed effects of the resurrection of Christ in other persons ; but our own personal hope must be established by feeling these effects in ourselves. Enquire into your own stateUnder these four particu tars last-mentioned. Search into your own souls, what have every one Of you felt of these blessed anddivine effects ; and let not this discourse only confirmyour faith, but let it awaken and raise your hearts to a share ofholy, and perpetual joy. Some general meditations, drawn from the text and discourse. 1. However it bath been, and however it is, a shameful matter of doubt and enquiry among.infidels in a christian land, in our world, whether Jesus, who was put to death, be alive or no, yet it is no matter of doubt or enquiry into the world above, or the world beneath, in heaven or in bell. There his dominion and power are well known-: 'Nor will it be any matter of doubt hereaf- ter in our world, when he than was. dead shall come in
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