point of religious faith. I confess unto thee (said he to Felix), that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets; and have hope toward God, which THEY, THEMSELVES, also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Being left bound by Felix, he is again forced to defend himself before his successor Festus, and king Agrippa, and does so, upon this self-same plea. In the opening of this third defence, Paul congratulates himself that he speaks before Agrippa: and why? Because I know thee to be expert in all customs and QUESTIONS amongst the Jews. Thus Agrippa, was not likely to be deceived, by any false representation, nor to allow any but public and notorious facts to be advanced, uncontradicted. Paul then proceeds, as he had done in his two former trials, to defend himself upon the same grounds. Now I stand and am judged for the hope of the Promise made of God unto our Fathers:

11 Epistle of John, c. ii. v. 25. And this is the promise, that he hath promised to us, even Eternal Life.

unto which Promise our TWELVE TRIBES, (that is, our whole Nation,) instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. Why (he adds, pointing out what that promise, and what that hope was), why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? Turning to the third chapter of his Epistle to the Galatians, we find that he refers, in common with his Nation, this promise to the Pentateuch, asserting that it was made, unto Abraham, and to his seed. His enemies then, referred their hope of life eternal to this very promise, (it being the essential foundation of the Mosaic Law, being shewn forth in continual sacrifice), which, they yet, blindly rejected, in the person of the Messiah. Nothing can be more satisfactory, or more conclusive than this evidence.

It will be well, however, to contrast these repeated declarations of St. Paul with an expression which occurs in the second Epistle to Timothy, where he asserts that Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and hath (II) brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. It does a

ap

pear, that too particular a signification, has been attached, by some writers to these words. From what has been advanced, it is clear, that life and immortality had been previously revealed, and that our Saviour, the Apostles, and Paul, generally asserted, that it had been so, before ever the Gospel (as far as it concerned that Age) had been preached. Is there, any contradiction here? By no means. By the details, by the particulars, by the comparisons and illustrations, which our Saviour has given to us of the state after death, darkly shadowed as they now even are, yet far more extended than those of any previous revelation, He may indeed be said, to have so cleared up and sanctioned, the promise made unto the fathers of the Jews, as to have rendered it, as far as possible, comprehensible to man's finite, and limited understanding. -But beyond all these lights, He was that Seed of Abraham in, and through, WHOM alone, that Promise was made; and to WHOM, all the ages of progressive Prophecy had, exclusively pointed, as the one, only, Redeemer. He, too, had in his own

person, abolished death; for He was peculiarly the FIRST FRUITS from the dead, IN WHOM all were to be made alive1:-the first, and only, being of mortal mould, who having been, beyond all contradiction subjected to a public death, arose from the grave, never again to submit to the power of death, but leading captivity captive. He afforded the first living evidence, given to the light of day, of the Resurrection of the body, together with, man's subsequent Ascension to Life, and immortality. He first, showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of his apostles and followers, forty days, and giving therein, and by his subsequent Ascension, to mortal senses, full perception of a future immortality. Such proof,

1 But, now is Christ risen from the dead and become the FIRST FRUITS of them that slept. 1 Cor. xvi. Acts xxvi. 22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses, did say, should come. 23 ver. That Christ should suffer, and that He should be, THE FIRST that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people and the Gentiles. Revelations i. 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and THE FIRST-BEGOTTEN of the DEAD; &c. &c.

in fact as enabled St. John to assert, in confirmation of these words of St. Paul, that, which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and Our HANDS HAVE HANDLED of the word of life; (for the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that ETERNAL LIFE, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us:) that which we have SEEN, and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ'. If Christ be not risen, (as St. Paul, justly, said to the Gentile Corinthians) then indeed is our faith vain in Him, as man's Redeemer, and as the Son of God; but, before his resurrection, there were proofs, (less distinct, it is true, but undoubted ones) of a future state, amongst that chosen people, to whom were committed the oracles of God. God hath indeed given assurance (as he also said to the Athenians) of a day of judgment, in that He hath raised Him from the dead2;