In the chapter whence our text is taken, this man declares, that Christ appeared after his resurrection to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained to that time. This was an appeal to nearly three hundred living witnesses of that event: but no one ever attempted to disprove the truth of his assertion; though false teachers would have concurred with open enemies in such an attempt, had it been practicable.

The testimony of the apostles to the resurrection of Jesus implied a charge of the most complicated wickedness against the rulers of the Jewish nation: these had the power in their hands, and were every way concerned to vindicate their characters, and punish those who thus accused them. This might readily have been done, had they produced the Roman soldiers in court, to testify that the body of Jesus had been stolen, or have stated in what way it was removed from the sepulchre.

But in fact they had bribed the soldiers to circulate a self-contradictory report on this subject, which would not bear investigation: and when Matthew soon afterwards charged this publicly upon them, and declared that the story was generally current among the Jews to that time; no one attempted to deny or disprove the charge. In every case of this nature, silence must be construed into a confession of guilt: and if the rulers could have accounted for the removal of the body, without either admitting the truth of Matthew's charge or our Lord's resurrection, no doubt can reasonably be made, but they would have done it in the most public manner.

Every reflecting person must perceive, that the evidence is completely satisfactory, provided it can be made clear, that these books were published at the time to which they refer. To obviate therefore every doubt on that head, without engaging in an argument far too complicated for this occasion, I would inquire, at what subsequent time it could have been possible to obtain credit to writings of this description? If a manuscript, said to have been long concealed in some library, be produced or published, as the work of an eminent author, who flourished two or three centuries ago; it immediately is subjected to a severe scrutiny, and imposture in such cases seldom escapes detection. But writings which contain a circumstantial narrative of "things not done in a corner," but in the open view of mankind, during several years; and connected with an epistolary correspondence resulting from them; could never have obtained the least credit in the world; if published after the times referred to, with an express appeal to mankind, that they all along had been familiarly acquainted with them. Such an insolent attempt, to persuade whole nations out of their senses and understandings, must have excited universal astonishment and indignation: or, had it been possible to convince a few individuals that they had received these books from their ancestors, and been taught from infancy to revere them as the writings of the apostles, when in fact neither they nor any other persons had ever before seen or heard of them; the effrontery of the deceivers and the credulity of the deceived must have constituted an unprecedented event, and marked the age in which it occurred. As therefore no time can be mentioned, when any attempt of this kind is so much as hinted at, by either Christian, Jewish, or Pagan historians; we might be confident, that the writings in question were extant, and well known in the church, from the very period in which they are said to have been published, even had we no other evidence. But no impartial man of learning can be imposed upon by pretences of this kind; having access to proofs of another nature in abundance: and this argument is principally adduced for the benefit of those who have neither leisure or advantages, for these investigations.

We should also remember, that on the day of Pentecost, immediately following the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the assembled apostles, with such extraordinary circumstances, as drew together vast multitudes who then resided at Jerusalem. In the presence of all these witnesses, they spoke fluently and correctly in the languages of the several countries from which their hearers were collected, though it was certainly

known that they had not had the opportunity of learning them: and this stupendous miracle, together with Peter's sermon on the occasion, was made effectual to the conversion of three thousand persons. The gifts of tongues, and of working miracles in the name of Jesus, were ever after continued to them, and were frequently exercised in the most public and undeniable manner, before numerous witnesses, enemies as well as friends. The same powers were likewise communicated to many others, by the laying on of the apostles' hands. The time, place, occasion, and circumstances of these extraordinary transactions are frequently specified in their writings. Thus the inhabitants of many cities and countries were appealed to; and the enemies of Christianity were challenged to disprove their pretensions if they were able. But none ever attempted to do it: for the Jews themselves do not deny that many extraordinary works were performed by Jesus and his disciples: and the way in which they try to account for them, demonstrates that, from the first, their ancestors had nothing plausible to object. In this manner the witnesses and proofs of our Lord's resurrection were multiplied, in almost every part of the vast Roman empire: yea, "God also bare them witness, both with signs, and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost." And can any reasonable man suppose, that a general belief could ever have prevailed, through whole nations, of such public and extraordinary events, without any person attempting to deny them; if they had not actually happened, and been so notorious as to be incontrovertible?

The chosen witnesses of our Lord's resurrection were likewise the principal penmen of the New Testament, and the whole was doubtless written under their inspection. Now in these books prophecies are inserted, which have been accomplishing ever since to the present day. A sceptic indeed might doubt, whether the predictions, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, were not penned after the event: but who can account for other parts of the same prophecy, without allowing that the writer was divinely inspired? "The people shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Luke xxi. 24. Has not this been actually the case with the Jews and with Jerusalem, during almost eighteen hundred years? Could human sagacity have foreseen such an unparalleled series of events? Or would God have thus confirmed the testimony of impostors? And does not this prophecy, thus wonderfully accomplished, demonstrate the resurrection of Christ, and the truth of Christianity? The coming of the man of sin, with lying miracles, doctrines of demons, worshipping of angels, prohibitions of marriage, and commands to abstain from meat; the impositions, usurpations, and persecutions of the Roman antichrist; with various other particulars, were most exactly and circumstantially predicted by the several witnesses of our Lord's resurrection: and the undeniable accomplishments of them are so many divine attestations to their testimony, for the satisfaction of all succeeding generations.

The Jewish ritual, or the pagan theology, was intimately connected with the foundations of the 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, has all power in heaven and earth, and is efficaciously present with his faithful servants, always, even to the end of the world."

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 that 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, in their 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 commemorate.

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

66

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 of making himself equal with God. For this crime he was condemned by Caiaphas and the Jewish council, who said before the Roman governor, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." John xix. 7. 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, "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, "The Lord our righteousness;" and whatever the prophets from the beginning had spoken concerning the expected glorious Re

deemer. 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 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 :" "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 Father. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth 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 penned by his chosen witnesses, and attested by all the miracles 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.

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 hope is now surely laid: the way of access to a throne of grace is now made manifest; for the risen Saviour is also ascended into the heavens to appear in the presence of God for us; and he is "able to save to the uttermost all them that come to God by him: seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

The resurrection of Christ assures us, that "all power in heaven and earth are given to him ;" and that "he is made Head over all things to his church." He both died, and rose again, and revived, that he might be the Lord both of the living and the dead." "Angels, principalities, and powers, are made subject to him ;"" he has the keys of death and hell." He is King of kings and Lord of lords:" all nature obeys him: all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are laid up in him: he has unsearchable riches, and invincible power: the fulness of the Spirit resides in him: “All the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily." "He is become the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him :" and he must reign till all his enemies are made his footstool.-It is therefore no light matter that we are considering. "Yet," saith Jehovah, "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.-Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish." Every individual must either bow to the sceptre of his grace, or be broken in pieces by the iron rod of his omnipotent indignation. 2 Thess. i. 8-10.

We are also taught that true Christians are conformed to Christ, in his death, resurrection, and ascension. By motives and grace derived from their crucified and risen Redeemer, they died to their former hopes, plea sures, and pursuits; their sensibility to temporal things is deadened; carnal self-love, the main spring of their activity in past times, is broken: “ They are crucified with Christ, nevertheless they live; yet not they, but Christ liveth in them." They know him and the power of his resurrection; new principles, feelings, and actuating motives, are communicated. "They account themselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God." "They live no longer to themselves, but to him that died for them and rose again." "They are risen with Christ, and seek those things which are above." "Their conversation is in heaven;" and in proportion to the degree of their faith and grace, they ascend and reign with Christ, in the nature of their joys and the temper of their hearts. Thus they are prepared, whenever they leave this world, to share that fulness of joy, and those pleasures, which are at God's right hand for evermore.

As our risen Redeemer ever liveth and reigneth in heaven, to manage all the concerns of his people, and make all ready for their reception; we may adopt with exulting joy the apostle's words. "If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Rom. v. 10. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea, rather, is risen again: who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?" Rom. viii. 33-35. Surely our Friend, who died and rose again for us, will take care that none shall pluck us out of his hands, and will come at death to "receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also."

Finally, as Christ is risen from the dead, he " is become the first-fruits of them that slept." "The hour cometh, when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good to the resurrection of life: and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." At that awful period, he will ascend his tribunal, finally to separate his people from his enemies: and "these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal." The bodies of the wicked will be rendered incorruptible, and capable of enduring the vengeance reserved for them, "where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched." Mark ix. 48-50. And those of the righteous will be raised spiritual and immortal, and fitted to participate the holy joys of heaven. "The Saviour, the Lord Jesus, shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Phil. iii. 20, 21. In this prospect, the believer, when strong in faith, may adopt the apostle's words and say, "O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law: but thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

III. We conclude with a few hints by way of application.

It may be useful, especially to young persons, to contemplate the prevailing scepticism and infidelity of the age, in connection with the subject we have been considering. God hath vouchsafed us a revelation of himself, and of his will concerning us, authenticated in the most unanswerable manner, most beneficial in its nature and tendency, and exactly suited to our circumstances: yet this revelation is opposed, reviled, or ridiculed by numbers who pretend to virtue; and affirm that unbelief at most can only be an harmless error, neither very criminal nor dangerous, but the Scripture speaks a very different language. We read of an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Our Lord says, "How can ye believe who seek honour one of another?" "Light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." Unbe lief therefore is the offspring of ambition, love of sin, and dislike to God and holiness. It rejects the remedy which everlasting wisdom and mercy have provided for our miseries; it makes God a liar; it despises his Grace, and defies his power and justice, and is therefore inseparably connected with eternal damnation. "Let no man deceive you with vain words." Men oppose the Scripture because it opposes their favourite pursuits, and denounces an awful sentence against all who do not humbly repent, believe the gospel, and become the faithful subjects of the holy Jesus. They do not in reality need more evidence; but a more unprejudiced, teachable, and spiritual mind. "If they believe not Moses and the prophets," or the apostles and evangelists, "neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." seech the Lord therefore to remove from you all hardness of heart, and contempt of his word and commandment," to open your understandings that you may understand the Scriptures ;" and " to give you repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; that you may recover yourselves out of the snare of the devil, who takes sinners captive at his will."

Be