Ina QUESTION 1V. 293 probably be the original appointment of God, the righteous Governor of the world. To enforce this sentiment, let us con- sider, that if the first man, who stood the surety of his posterity, had fulfilled the obedience required during all his time of trial, . it would have appeared 'as an hardship upon all his posterity- to have had each of them a single state of dangerous trial* imposed upon them too, , which might have exposed them to temptation, guilt and misery: For since it is plain upon such a constitution, that they were to be involved in the guilt and misery of the first man, if he did not go through his trial well, and maintain his innocence and obedience ; it seems rea- sonable also, that if he did finish his state of trial well, the advantage of it should have redounded to all those who stood represented in and by him, and confirmed their happiness. You will say, what then would have become of all the mil- lions of mankind in succeeding generations ? I answer, They might . have been seized as Enoch was, and translated to the upper world after someappointed time of obediencehereon earth. You will query then, Query. " Would not this time of obedienee have been a season of trial to them ?" I answer, Not a state of dangerous trial, whether they should be happy or miserable ; but a season of proper trial and exercise -of obedience to prepare them for different degrees of advancement in heavenly-places, according to their :fidelity and diligence. And by the way let it be ob- ser--ved, that if the first man had maintained his innocence, and . hisposterity been established therein, no man would have com- plained of it, but with thankfulness all would havé accepted it as a divine favour and a happycovenant. 2. Remember what was before hinted, that this was the most probable and the safest way, to secure happiness to man- kind by one man's having this vast and important trust committed to him, viz. The innocence and happiness of all his posterity; for he was thereby laid under much stronger obligations to watch and guard against every temptation, and to- use more * Doth that man write the sincere sense of his ownmind and conscience, who charges these expressions about ss a dangerous trial for Adam'sposterity if Adam hadstood," with this supposition or inference, that a we are none of as upon a state of trial now, and that Adam alone was upon trial fur -us all ?" and yet to shew that he means this unjust censure, he spends almost taonages to prove, that we are in a state of trial now, because there is a day of judgment coming, when every single person shall be rewarded according to his works. But let such a man know, that we have ever owned and granted, that we are in a state of personal trial at present, and that the day of judgment is designed to decide that important.event. But let it be remembered also, that this is upon the foot of a new covenantproposed to the world since the fill of Adam, notthat old Covenant whereby Adam was tried, and having broken it by sin, was condemned and forfeited his immortality, and his other blessings both for himself and bis posterity. T3
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