That after Chrift was gone from them, they rofe up the fame Hour, and returned to Jerufalem, and found the Eleven (Apoftles) and them that were with them. (ver. 33.) That while this Company was together, Jefus himself stood in the Midft of them, and difcourfed with them. (ver. 36.) &c. And opened their Understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. (ver. 45.) And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lift up his Hands, and bleffed them. (ver. 50.) it is added, And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into Heaven. (ver. 51.) Whence it appears, that the Apoftles, and those who were with them, were Eye-Witneffes of our Lord's Afcenfion into Heaven.

In Acts, i. 4, II. we are informed, that when our bleffed Lord being affembled together with them, that is with his Apoftles and Difciples, after he had concluded his Difcourfes with them, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a Cloud received him out of their Sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven, as he went up, bebold two Men (that is two Angels in the Likenefs of Men,) ftood by them in White Apparel, which also faid, ye Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This fame Jefus, which is taken up from you into Heaven; jhall fo come, in like Manner, as ye have feen him go into Heaven.

After this Glorious Event of Chrift's Afcenfion into Heaven, his Prediction, and Promife of the Holy Ghoft was fulfilled to the Apoftles, (whom he had chofen to be his Witneffes,) while they ftaid in Jerufalem to be qualified for, and to be enabled to fulfil their Miniftry and Apostleship.

For when they were all with one Accord in one Place, fuddenly, there came a Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty Wind, and it filled all the Houfe where they were fitting. And there appeared unto them cloven Tongues, like as of Fire, and fat

upon

upon each of them. (that is on each of the Apoftles,) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them Utterance. Acts ii. 1, &c.

And many Signs and Wonders were done by the Apoftles, (Acts ii. 43.) who wrought many Miracles in Confirmation of their Teftimony, and Doctrine in the feveral Cities and Countries into which they went preaching the Gospel of Chrift; Wherefore it is faid, God also bearing them Witnefs both with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own Will, Heb. ii. 4.

I have now given myself a Pleasure, and a Pleasure to my Fellow-Chriftians, who fhall read this fummary Account of the Glories of the Meffiah, our only Saviour; the Confideration of it, may confirm our Faith, eftablish our Hope in Him, and increase our Reverence of, and our Love to him.

The Great, and the Holy God, has demonftrated his Being, his Existence, and his infinite Perfections two ways, viz.

By his Works of Creation; the Heavens declare his Glory, and the Firmament, and the vaft Variety of Creatures fhew his handy Work, and all proclaim his infinite Wisdom and Power, and Goodness.

When I view the Heavens, and the Earth, the Sun, Moon and Stars, and the Manifold Kinds of Animals, and Vegetables, I conclude and I ought to conclude, (if I would reason rightly,) that there is a God, whofe Wisdom contrived, and whofe Power brought them into Existence.

And likewife by the Works of his Providence, het demonftrates the fame; efpecially by his giving to us the Holy Scriptures, and the everlasting Gospel, God has manifefted his Being, and his Glory.

The Doctrines, and Laws, of the Old Teftament, and the Gospel revealed more clearly in the New, are ratified, or proved to be from God, by a wonderful Conftructure of Predictions, and by the Accomplishment of them.

And likewife when I read the Holy Scriptures, and the Prophefies of the Events many Years, and fome of them many Ages future, and how exactly the Things foretold have come to pass, I conclude that there is a God, and that our Bible contain his Word, or the Revelation of his Will, and that the Doctrines of both the Teftaments are certainly true.

Because if there was not a Foreknowledge of future Events, there could be no Prophefies of them; if there was not a God who foreknew his own Acts, what himself would do, and what he would permit, or prevent, and whofe Power over-rules all Creatures, and all their Actions, Predictions could not be fulfilled. But as we are certain that the Prophefies, recorded in the Holy Scriptures have very many of them been fulfilled, and that others are fulfilling, fo we are certain that there is a God, and as certain that the Gofpel is true.

And that in Chriftian Countries, Unbelievers, those Infidels have no Excufe.

How God will deal with the Heathens, with Nations that never heard the joyful Sound of the Gospel, we Chriftians know not; only we know that The Judge of all the Earth will do right: And that in every Nation he that feareth God, and worketh Righteoufnefs is excepted with him. (A&s x. 35.)

But as for those who live in a Country, where the Gospel is preached, and where the People have the Holy Scriptures, and may read them if

they will, we know how God will deal with them.

The Holy Jefus faid to the Jews, If ye believe not that I am be, ye fhall die in your Sins. (John viii. 24.) which proves that the Unbelievers, if they continue fuch, can never efcape everlasting Deftruction.

Unbelivers, reject Chrift from being their King; they will not have this Man to reign over them: But that Time will furely come, when this King will appoint them to be deftroyed. But those mine Enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them bither, and lay them before me. Luke xix. 21.

Are there not Infidels in this Age, Perfons who do not and will not believe that Jefus is the Son of God, and the promifed Saviour? And may not thofe Predictions of his juftly fill them with Dread? They may.

And fo may thofe Predictions, recorded (2 Thef. i. 7, 8, 9.) where the Apostle foretells that The Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angles, in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jefus Chrift: Who fhall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his

Power.

These Predictions may well excite in rational Minds the most amazing Fears, if they are guilty of difbelieving the Gofpel of Chrift; becaufe their reasoning Faculty renders them capable of confidering the Evidence of true Propofitions, and thereby of receiving Conviction of the Truth of the Gospel.

And if they are not convinced of the most plain, and most important Truths, it is because they will not confider the Evidence of them.

If a Man at Noon Day, with a clear Sky, fhall fay the Sun does not fhine, and that there is no fuch Thing as the Sun, he either is blind, or belies his Senfes, and either he has no Reason, or knowingly contradicts it.

And thus if a Man fhall fay, the Gospel of Christ is not true, (fince Chrift by many infallible Proofs has eftablished it,) he speaks and acts against Reason in rejecting it.

What the Holy Jefus faid of the Jews, is applicable to these Unbelievers. In John xv. 24. the bleffed Jefus faid of them; If I had not done among them the Works which none other Man did, they had not had Sin; but now have they both feen and hated me and my Father. And it may be faid of the Infidels (who have the Gofpel among them, and will not believe it,) that they have Sin, and no Cloke for their Sin.

They fhut their Eyes and will not fee, but they fhall fee, and be ashamed, as it is faid; Ifa. xxvi. 17. and it may be very foon: For when Death comes, tho' it clofes the Eyes of their Bodies, it will open the Eyes of their Minds: And then they will fee that the Holy Scriptures are indeed the Word of God, and that the Gofpel came from God, publishing and offering Salvation to all Sorts of Sinners, by Jefus Chrift: Then they will fee the Worth of their Souls, and the Excellency of the Happine's purchafed by Chrift, and offered to them, and refused by them.

O what Horror, what Distress filled the Mind of St. Paul, when Jefus of Nazareth appeared to him in the Way, as he went to Damafcus, and when he found that juft One, whom the Jews had crucified, both Lord and Chrift!

But how much greater Horrors, and even a dreadful and irremoveable Defpair join'd with D 2 them,