Witneffes of the profitable Fruits and TreaTures of those foreign Countries where they had been. For after this Manner, the rich and mighty Trade of both the Indies at first began; and in doing fo the Event proves they went advisably on, for 'tis well known to what confiderable Advantage it has turn'd. In like Manner, do not the greateft Kings and Princes of this World take their ufual Measures of civil Policy and Practice, make Peace and War, feal Confederacies and Alliances, forbid or allow of Trade and Commerce, and do many fuch like publick Acts of Government, of the higheft Importance to themselves and Subjects, upon the credible Information of their refpective Envoys or Embaffadors, or other credible Subjects refiding in the Courts or Countrys of foreign Princes, as far diftant from them perhaps as the Earth almost extends, and which they never saw themfelves, or ever think to fee: Such rational Evidence does all Mankind allow a creditable Testimony to be, of Things unseen. And now (my dear Brethren) think ferioufly, and judge as becometh Men, whilft I apply these familiar Obfervations, to the great and momentous Subject which I have in Hand; excufing only the Difproportion of Comparisons, fince an equal Similitude in our great Cafe, can't poffibly be found. Our Enquiries are, What Certainty have we, whilst we live here, of living any more B & after after Death? What manner of Place is that unfeen World we are then to go to? And what will the refpective Lot and Portion of every one of us (and of all Mankind with us) affuredly be, when we leave this World and get thither? These are the great Questions before us. And to answer with as much Reference to the foregoing Inftances, as the Thing will bear; we have furely had a Meffenger, and in the highest Character of a divine Ambaffador from the King of Heaven too, cloathed with Flesh and Blood like ourselves, that he might the more familiarly discourse with us about these great, invifible and eternal Things; and fent as furely to us from that unknown World, we are fo highly defirous to be inform'd of (and more furely too) than any mortal Man whatfoever could poffibly fatisfy us, that he came from any foreign Country upon Earth to this our native Land; for that the bleffed Jefus, the Author of our Faith and Finifher of our Salvation, was infallibly fuch an one, the unexceptionable Teftimonials he brought along with him (which I am now about to lay before you) I make no Question will convince you all, to the full. For what were the Teftimonials the Lord Jefus brought from Heaven with him, to demonftrate to all the World, who he was, and from whence he came? Were they his own folemn Affirmation only in the Cafe? No! He He trufted not to that, though he truly told the Jews, that if he bore Record of himself, his Record was true, because the Almighty Father was with him. Were they a Cloud of other Witneffes then to vouch for his Fidelity and Truth in all that he said or did? He depended not on that neither; though he often and unanfwerably appeal'd to the Teftimony of Mofes and the Prophets, and of St. John Baptift concerning himfelf, who was the greatest Person at that Time, that had been born of a Woman. Were they Letters Patent then figned and fealed (like the ten Commandments of that Law) by the Hand of God, the King of Heaven himself, from whom he came ? Not fo neither; though fuch Credentials are the highest Evidence, that the wifeft Princes upon Earth do put their Trust in; but whether written with Ink and Pen, or graven with Steel or Diamond, the atheiftical Scepticks of the World, would cenfure them, as liable to Counterfeit or Forgery through the Wickednefs and Craft of Men. What were the Testimonials then, the uncontestable Teftimonials (I must call them) not poffible to be gainfaid by Angels or Men, which the bleffed Jefus brought with him, to win the Faith of all Mankind to every Thing he said or did, in the View of the World? open Attend, wonder and believe with Com- fort fort (my Christian Brethren) for they were nothing less than downright Omnipotency, or a manifeft Almighty Power, apparently invested in his own Perfon, by which he demonftrably prov'd, and beyond all Poffibility of Exception, that he not only came from the one only true God, Creator and Governor of the World, but did equally partake with him alfo in his abfolute Sovereignty over it. Nor can it poffibly be less than fo, if an Apostle may have any Credit with us, who exprefly tells Col.i. 16. us, that by that very Jefus were all Things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities or Powers, all Things were created by bim and for him; and if fuch creating Power be not Almighty, we fhall talk but weakly (I am fure) either of Religion or of God. Yet, if we want more fenfible Conviction in the Cafe, does not Matter of Fact prove the fame Thing of him, in his lowest State of Humiliation upon Earth? For what Creature, which offer'd itself to him, for Tryal of his Power here, did not own and teftify his uncontroulable Dominion over them? With Authority he commanded unclean Spirits, and they obey'd him, (Mark i. 27.) Nay they own'd his Godhead openly, and fear'd he came to torment them, (Matt. viii. 29.) He rebuked the ftormy Wind and raging Wayes of the Sea, which mock at the Cries Cries and Fears of Men, but at his Word in a Moment became calm and ftill, (Matt. viii. 26.) He cured all Diseases of Men, with no artful Application for that end, but by his Word alone; barely faying, I will, be thou healed, or, be thou clean, (Matt. viii. 3. Luke v. 17, &c.) He prov'd his unconfin'd Prefence, as well within us as without us, by difcerning the unutter'd Thoughts of Men's Hearts, (Matt. ix. 4. Luke v. 22.) Moreover, he raised up dead Bodies, and commanded the departed Souls to return again from the other World to them, (Matt. ix. 25. John xi. 43, 44.) And, which neither Mofes, nor the Prophets, nor the Patriarchs of old could do, though the deareft. Friends of God in all Ages; he gave Commiffion and Authority to his Difciples, who believ'd in him, to do the fame Things, and greater Works too, by Virtue of a Word alone in his Name, (John xiv. 12. Acts iv. 10.) Paufe here then (my dear Brethren) and exercise your deepeft Meditations upon this great Subject for a while! Confider feriously within yourselves, what a folid Foundation of unerring Truth, every Article of your Chriftian Faith, and every Doctrine of the Gofpel in the New Teftament are built upon! for they are nothing lefs than the very fecret Counfels of God himself, taken in the Court of Heaven from the Foundation of the World, for the Redemption and B 4 Salva-. |