SECTION III. 25 But the plain meaning of this text is, that they lived and died in the faith of many promises, some of which were to be fulfilled after their days here on earth, but were not fulfilled in their life-time : They did not enjoy the privileges and blessings of the gospel of the Messiah, in that perfect manner, in which we do, since the Messiah is actually come, and has fulfilled these promises, and by his death, or offering himself as the same apos- tle expresses it, for ever perfected them that are sanctified ; Heb. a. 14. But all this does by no means preclude their existence and happiness, in a separate state, as spirits made perfect; that is, in a perfect freedom from all sin and sorrow; though it is probable this very state of comparative perfection might have several degrees of joy added to it at the ascension of Christ, and will have many more at the resurrection from the dead. VIII. 2 Pet. i. 13, 14. I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting yon in remembrance ; knowing that, shortly, I must put off this my tabernacle. Here it is evident, that the person, who thinks it meet to stir up Chris- tians to their duty, has a tabernacle belonging to him, and which he must shortly put off The soul, or thinking principle of the apostle Peter, which is here supposed to be himself,, is so plainly distinguished from the tabernacle of the body, in which he dwelt for a season, and which he must put off shortly, that it most evi- dently implies, an existence of this thinking soul very distinct from the body, and which will exist when the body is laid aside. Surely the conscious being, and its tabernacle or dwelling- place, are two very distinct things, and the conscious being exists when. he puts off his present dwelling. After all these arguments from scripture, may I be per - witted to mention one, which is derived partly from reason, and partly from the sacred records, which seems to carry some weight with it ? The doctrine of rewards and punishments, in a separate state of souls, hath been one of the very chief principles or mo- tives, whereby, virtue and religion have been maintained in this sinful world throughout all former ages and nations, and under the several dispensations of God among men, till the resurrec- tion of the body was fully revealed : Now it is scarce to be sup- posed, that such a doctrine which God, in the course of his pro- vidence, hath made use of as a chief principle and motive of religion and virtue through all the world whichhad any true vir- tue, and, in all ages before christianity, should be a false doc- trine. Let us prove the first proposition, by a view of the several ages of mankind and dispensations of religion. The heathens, who have had nothing else but the light of nature to guide them, could have no notion at all of the resurrec- tion of the body ; and, therefore, not only the wisest. and best of
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