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several governments then existing in the world : and all the learning, ingenuity, and authority on earth were engaged in their support. Yet a few unarmed, obscure, unlettered men, by preaching a crucified and risen Saviour, in the midst of persecution and sufferings, established Christianity on an immoveable basis; and their successors, following their example, so wonderfully prevailed, that at length Judaism and Paganism, fell before them; the religion of Jesus was professed by powerful nations; and, however corrupted or despised, it subsists to this day! Whatever men may insinuate concerning the ministers of religion it is an undeniable fact, that plain preaching, fervent prayers, holy lives, and patient sufferings were the only weapons that the primitive preachers of the gospel opposed to all the authority and learning of the world, which were resolutely employed against them: and yet they decidedly triumphed in a contest apparently so unequal! A wise man will always allow, that every effect is produced by some adequate cause: but what adequate cause of this astonishing effect can be assigned; unless we allow that Christianity was of God, and, man could not overthrow it, or prevent its success and triumph? I will only add, that every instance which at this day occurs, of notoriously wicked persons, converted by the preaching of the gospel from their evil ways, and afterwards walking in newness of life, constitutes a proof that Christ is risen; that he has all power in heaven

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We may now I trust confidently say, that no other past event was ever proved by such an accumulated body of evidence. Who doubts whether Alexander conquered Darius? or Julius Cæsar, Pompey? Yet who can produce the tenth part of the proof in respect of these events, which hath even at this time been stated of our Lord's resurrection? But men can believe that Alexander conquered Darius, without either parting with their sins, or feeling uneasiness of conscience : while the truth of the gospel is very alarming to all, who walk according to the course of the world, and neglect the salvation of Christ.

It would be difficult to find out any satisfactory. method, of further attesting the Redeemer's resurrection, which could have possibly been devised. For had he openly appeared to the whole Jewish people; and had they with one accord embraced Christianity; the gentiles would naturally have considered it as a concerted plan to aggrandize the nation and had the Jews, through excessive pride and prejudice, still persisted in unbelief and opposition; the gospel would have laboured under additional disadvantages in other countries and future ages could at last have had no other human testimony, than that of the individuals whose writings should have been transmitted to them.

In short, should the Lord grant the presumptuous demand of those, who refuse to believe without the testimony of their own senses; and should the Saviour appear to every individual through successive generations; how could men be sure, that this was the identical person crucified on mount Calvary? or how demonstrate that the transient vision was not an illusion? Universal uncertainty and doubt must therefore be the consequence, of rejecting such unanswerable and multiplied evidences, as the Lord hath mercifully vouchsafed us, of that great event which we this day com

memorate.

II. We proceed to shew what inferences may be deduced from the subject before us.

It would be the grossest inconsistency, and the most absurd trifling, to contend earnestly that Christ is risen, and then overlook or deny the peculiar doctrines, which his resurrection was intended to authenticate. We infer therefore from our subject that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, "One with the Father," "God manifest in the "flesh." On account of various expressions, which he used in speaking of himself, he was charged with blasphemy, and with making himself equal with God. For this crime he was con demned by Caiaphas and the Jewish council; who said before the Roman governor, "We have a

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"law, and by our law he ought to die, because " he made himself the Son of God." The centurion who attended his crucifixion could not but know for what crime he suffered: when therefore he witnessed the miracles which accompanied his death, he cried, "Truly this was the Son of God."” "Certainly this was a righteous person." When incredulous Thomas was at length convinced that Christ was risen from the dead; all that he had before heard, seen, believed, or hoped, seems at once to have rushed into his mind; and he exclaimed in adoration, 66 My Lord, and my God!" Thus was Jesus "declared to be the Son of God "with power, by the resurrection from the "dead." He was demonstrated to be the promised Messiah, the Seed of the woman, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, Emmanuel," the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince " of peace," "JEHOVAH Our Righteousness;" and whatever the prophets from the beginning had spoken concerning the expected glorious Redeemer.-All that he had spoken of himself was likewise thus fully proved to be true: it now was manifest, that he was warranted to say "I and

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my Father are One:" "He that hath seen me "hath seen the Father:" "Before Abraham was I "AM:" "I am the Way, and the Truth, and "the Life: no man cometh to the Father, but by "me:""No man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son shall reveal him :"

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'John xix. 7.

"I am the Light of the world:" "I am the "Resurrection and the Life." "If any man "thirst let him come unto me and drink:" "The "Father judgeth no man, but hath committed "all judgment to the Son; that all men should "honour the Son, even as they honour the Fa"ther. He that honoureth not the Son honour"eth not the Father that sent him." In short the resurrection of Christ not only demonstrates the truth of Christianity, but the infallible certainty of all its doctrines, and authenticates the whole scripture as divinely inspired. His testimony proves it in respect of the old Testament; and the new was written by his chosen witnesses, and attested by all the miracles which they wrought in his name. So that the Lord now speaks to us in every part of scripture, as far as it respects our dispensation and suits our case, with as much authority as he did to Israel from mount Sinai ; but with words of mercy and grace, instead of terror and dismay.

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For if Christ be risen from the dead, then is his atonement accepted. "He died for our sins and rose again for our justification." He was, as it were, arrested for our debt, and cast into the prison of the grave: but as full payment had been made, he was speedily liberated. Having overcome the sharpness of death, he hath opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.' The foundation of our hopes is now surely laid: the way of

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