ther did His body see corruption. Thus affording ample encouragement and security to all true Christians when they die. And thus I believe Christ descended into hell..

ART. V.-SEC. 2. "He rose again."

This part has always been received and kept without addition or diminution. That Christ was to rise from the dead was predicted by prophecy; "my flesh shall rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption;" upon this the Apostle reasons, shewing that it was spoken of Christ's resurrection *. And to shew that there was to be no subsequent death of Christ, he quotes this other prophecy in which God, speaking of Christ, says, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David ;" from which latter words it is evident, that of this covenant Christ was the mediator; and having ratified it by His death once, He was to continue His office of mediator for ever. His resurrection was also prefigured by types; as, by Joseph's sufferings from his brethren, and his subsequent exaltation; and by Isaac, who figuratively died and was raised again.

Acts ii. 29.

That Christ did rise again, is confirmed by evidence human, angelical, and divine: by the pious women who went to anoint Him; by His Apostles; by five hundred disciples; nay, even by his enemies, the soldiers, who watched Him, to whom appeared an angel bright as lightning, under whom the earth shook while Christ became alive; and these things they told to the Chief Priests, their employers: by angels also which appeared, one of whom said, "He is not here, but risen:" by divine testimony, God sending his spirit upon the Apostles, which testified to them that Christ had risen. Thus "God raised up Jesus, and shewed him openly *.”

ART. V.-SEC. 3. "From the dead."

The proper notion of a resurrection is, that that which was before, and was corrupted, is reproduced the same thing again. Now by a true but miraculous generation, Christ was made flesh, and lived a true and proper life: He suffered also a true and proper dissolution by death, His soul being separated and body left without vitality: afterwards the same soul was united to the same body, and He lived the same man again. The verity of His cor

M

poreity He convinced His disciples of, by saying to them "handle me, and see, for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have:"-thre identity of His body by saying, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself +." Thomas, reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing ‡." His body, therefore, with which He rose, must be the same with which He died. His eating with His disciples, His conversing with them, and discoursing from the Scriptures, all shew the reality of the resurrection, and of the reunion of the rational soul and body; so that He rose from the dead by a true and proper resurrection. The meritorious cause of Christ's resurrection was Himself, through His obedience and passion; so that whatever of Him suffered, in virtue of that suffering, was raised again. The efficient principal cause was God: for nothing but omnipotence can raise the dead; and Christ's resurrection is generally, therefore, attributed in Scripture to God Himself, for none but God is omnipotent. But as the Son and Holy Ghost are of the same essence with the Father, and are with Him God omnipotent, therefore Father, Son, and Holy Ghost did raise Christ from the dead: hence the propriety of Christ's

* Luke xxiv. 39.

+ Ibid.

John xx. 27

declaration, "Destroy the temple (of my body) and I will raise it up." "I have power to lay it (my life) down, and I have power to take it again." Thus, therefore, it is true, that God raised His Son, and that the Son raised Himself. Thus I believe in the reality and verity of Christ's resurrection, and that He rose from the dead.

ART. V.-SEC. 4. "The third day."

The time and the day were both typically prefigured; the former by Jonas being three days in the fish; and the latter by the waved sheaf, the firstfruits of harvest, which was offered on the day after the Sabbath. As Jonas remained, so did Christ, three days in the earth*: and as the waved sheaf was lifted up, and by it were consecrated the other sheaves, which were previously profane; so Christ was lifted up, and accepted by God as a consecration of sinners; for "if the first-fruits be holy, the lump is holy +." A certain time of Christ's permansion in death seems necessary, that no doubt might exist as to its reality; therefore, though Christ's reward of resurrection was due immediataly after His passion, yet He delayed it. But to prevent the un

* Matt. xii. 40.

+ Rom. xi. 16.

poreity He convinced His disciples of, by saying to them handle me, and see, for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have * :”—the identity of His body by saying, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myselft." "Thomas, reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing ‡." His body, therefore, with which He rose, must be the same with which He died. His eating with His disciples, His conversing with them, and discoursing from the Scriptures, all shew the reality of the resurrection, and of the reunion of the rational soul and body; so that He rose from the dead by a true and proper resurrection. The meritorious cause of Christ's resurrection was Himself, through His obedience and passion; so that whatever of Him suffered, in virtue of that suffering, was raised again. The efficient principal cause was God: for nothing but omnipotence can raise the dead; and Christ's resurrection is generally, therefore, attributed in Scripture to God Himself, for none but God is omnipotent. But as the Son and Holy Ghost are of the same essence with the Father, and are with Him God omnipotent, therefore Father, Son, and Holy Ghost did raise Christ from the dead: hence the propriety of Christ's

* Luke xxiv. 39.

+ Ibid.

John xx. 27