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to me as improbable as it is extraordinary. It is not at all likely that the Christians at Theffalonica, who had for fome time fat under the ministry of an Apoftle, fhould either be fo ignorant as to imagine that those of their brethren who died, were cut off from the hope of feeing Chrift when he should appear again, or, if they had imagined this, that they fhould have grieved particularly on that account.

2. Besides, this hypothesis, instead of folving any difficulty there may be in the text, or cafting any peculiar light upon it, only tends to render it more obfcure, and to involve the subject in greater difficulties. For one may naturally enquire (as a judicious and pious Writer has justly obferved) why the Apoftle does not directly tell them that there was no "" particular room for fuch lamentations "on this account, as they themfelves, and many "fucceeding generations, were to die before the "coming of Chrift." To answer this objection, M. Saurin is driven to acknowledge, that "the "Apostle did not urge that, becaufe he did not "then exactly know whether Chrift's appearance "would be in that age, or at fome much more re"mote diftance of time.

3. But tho' we fhould allow that the Apostle's ignorance, as to that point, might be very confiftent with the knowledge of all that was neceffary to the preaching of the Gofpel, and the full and proper execution of his office; yet we have no authority from his own Epiftles, or from any accounts that Antiquity has handed down concerning him, to fuppofe that he was ignorant refpecting it. It is true, from the following words in the 15th verfe, We who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, fome have inferred that the Apostle expected himself to be found alive at our Lord's Second Coming. But this inference they would

hardly

hardly have drawn, had they obferved how common it is with all the inspired writers to speak as if they included themselves, when in reality they did not intend it. Thus Hofea fays, There (viz in Bethel) God spake with us. Surely, Hofea was not at Bethel, nay, was not in exiftence, when God fpake with Jacob there. The Pfalmift, fpeaking of the dividing of the Red Sea, * fays, There did we rejoice in him. And yet he could not be prefent when the Red Sea was divided. In like manner the Apostle James, fpeaking of the Tongue, fay, Therewith curfe we men. Certainly he did not curfe men. Juft fo, St. Paul did not mean to be understood strictly in thefe words, as if he afferted that he should be alive when Jefus fhould appear to judgment: but he speaks of those who fhould be found alive at that time.

4. That this is the true interpretation of the Apoftle's words appears from hence, that in feveral of his Eiftles he plainly expreffes his expectation of dying before the coming of Chrift, (fee Phil. i. 20; 1 Cor. vi. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 14; 2 Tim, iv. 6.) And in the 2d Epistle to this people, affures them that the "day of the Lord was not at hand, and would not come, except there came a falling away first, and the man of fin were revealed, the fon of perdition t," of whom he prophefies fuch things as were not likely at all to be fulfilled in that pure age of the Church. Add to this, that what he faid on this occafion, he faid, by the word of the Lord, that is, by an express revelation from him, and furely the Lord could not be mistaken. He knew his Apoftle would not be found alive at his fecond coming.

5. The above mentioned hypothefis, therefore, is not to be admitted. And there is no need of it.

* Pfa. lxvi. 6. + & Theff. ii. 2.

The

The text is easily explained without it. We have only to fuppofe, that the Apostle had obferved himself, while at Theffalonica, or had been informed by Timothy, after he left that City, how tenderly many of his new converts had been affected by the departure of fuch as had been taken from them fince they had embraced Chriftianity, and that he intended in thefe words, to fuggeft confiderations, which, if believed and laid to heart, would be effectual, if not entirely to remove, yet greatly to moderate their forrow. And at the fame time, forefeeing what a temptation to exceffive grief among the tender-hearted and benevolent followers of Jefus, the death of their brethren, especially of fuch as were peculiarly dear to them, would be in every age; he might also, in this admirable paffage, confult the benefit of future ages, even of as many as fhould read his excellent Epiftles to the end of time.

And, as the pious Writer, quoted above, juftly obferves, "Who can be fufficiently thankful for "the ftrong confolation thefe divine words admi"nifter! How many drooping hearts have been "cheered by them in every age, while fucceffively "mourning over the pious dead! How often "have we ourselves been driven to them, as to a "facred Anchor, when our hearts have been over"whelmed within us! And if God continue us a few years longer, what repeated occafions may "arife of our flying to them again!"

6. Let us fly to them, at this time, my brethren, in our diftrefs for the lofs, fudden and unlooked for, of one dear to many of you, fnatched away in the bloom of youth, and in the pride of her years, from a mourning and difconfolate hufband (to whom, I hope, the fevere ftroke will be fanctified,) and from a rifing progeny, who are yet

too

too young to be fenfible of the lofs they have fustained, or to shed one tear on the mournful occafion! I doubt not, my brethren, but you will join with me in praying that their Mother's God, the Parent of the Orphan and the helper of the helplefs, may be the protection of their infancy, the guide of their youth, and the fupport and confolation of their riper age! And that many years hence, when her prayers have been heard for them, and they are born of the Spirit of God, made new creatures in Chrift Jefus, and have long ferved God and their generation faithfully, according to the divine will, they may be welcomed by her that bear them, (and who in giving life,to them fuffered death herself) into everlasting habitations! It is true, he was hardly fpared long enough with them to know them all on earth, and much lefs to give them an opportunity of knowing her; yet, I doubt not, but the will acknowledge them in that day for her children, while they alfo are divinely inftructed to look up and call her Mother! Then the prefent breach will be more than made up! The hufband will again receive his wife, and the 'Mother will embrace her children! But, oh! how changed! All immortal! All glorious! and in a world where pain and parting, fin and forrow are no more! There, in thofe bright realms, no tender and dying Mothers, with bleeding hearts, weep over the helpless infants from whom they are about to be torn, and whom they are to leave behind in an enfnaring and troublefome world: And, no affectionate, inconfolable husbands cling to the cold remains of departed wives! There pious friends and relatives, feparated for a feafon, are united again to be parted no more. And there, their felicity is pure without alloy, full withput measure, and lafting without end!

In

In difcourfing further from this important, comfortable, and I think, not obfcure paffage, I wish to call your attention,

I. To the Character of thofe who may properly be said to fleep in Jesus.

II. To the Hope which we entertain concerning fuch, with the foundation and certainty of this hope, and,

III. To the proper Fruit of it, if not entirely to remove, yet greatly to moderate our forrow and turn it into a lafting mean of good.

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And ift. we are to confider who they are that Aleep in Jefus.

1. Upon this head I fhall fay but little, for I confider myself as difcourfing to a congregation who are frequently addreffed on fuch topics, and who certainly, in general, are not ignorant concerning them. You know, my Brethren, that a man cannot, with any propriety, be faid to fleep in Jefus, unlefs he first be in Jefus, that is, unless he be poffeffed of a real, vital union with him. This union with Chrift is much fpoken of, and frequently inculcated in the New Teftament, and is illuftrated by our Lord in the 15th Chapter of St. John's Gospel, by the union which fubfifts between the vine and its branches. Now the branch is not only Supported by the vine, and adheres to it, but it derives Jap, and of confequence growth and fruitfulness from it. Juft fo, they that are united to Jefus not only depend upon and cleave to him, but "receive out of his fulness grace to help in time of need." And their knowledge in Divine things, their holiness and happinefs, yea and their usefulness too, in a great meafure, depend hercupon. "I am the Vine, fays

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