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preffed; and befide these the examples of chriftian worthies" in the "acts of the apostles ;" and in " the book of revelations," the mysteries and glories of the kingdom of heaven represented in fuch lively colours and animated figures, as raise in us a laudable curiosity, a spirited hope, and an eager defire for the immediate poffeffion of thofe ever blessed regions; and all this in our own native language, and in fo plain a ftyle, as to lie level to the meanest capacity; infomuch that all who can read, may have as clear a knowledge and equal certainty of the necessary truths of falvation, as the most accurate linguift and acuteft philofopher: And, to fum up all in as few words as poffible,

we

we may now fay, that "the bible, "the book of comfort, is complete."

But, not to content ourselves with a general eulogium of the bible, on the one hand; nor to expatiate on every argument of comfort to be drawn from thence, on the other. The greateft confolation, which God hath been pleased to grant to mankind, the highest cordial to a rational foul, the express revelation of a future ftate, is contained in these holy fcriptures ; which were therefore written, 66 that "we through patience and comfort "of them might have hope:" For this hope of immortality, founded on the infallible word of God, who is truth itself and cannot lyè; is evidently confirmed by the doctrine

and

and example of the jewish and christian fathers; whose clear and prophetic expreffions give us the most undoubted afsurance of it, whence arises our comfort, and whose numberless and refolute fufferings inspire us with patience.

With this view the apoftle, in the text, recommends the reading of the holy fcriptures; which may be justly called the fountain of comfort, and the pattern of patience; the former of which arifes from the doctrinal, the latter from the hiftorical parts of the Old and New Testaments: in the one, the reality of a future ftate" is delivered either by express revelation" by God himself, or by " prophetic inspiration" of his chosen servants; in the other, the fincerity,

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fincerity and conftancy of faith, in this article, of the Heroes, of Jewish and Chriftian antiquity, is evidenced by the confiftency of their lives, their patient continuance in well-doing, and perseverance unto death.

Against the fear of death no confolation can be adequate but the certainty of a reftitution to life eternal.

This certainty was moft graciously and opportunely given to Adam by God himself immediately after the fall; then to Abraham in the land of Canaan ; afterwards to David: and laft of all, in the fulness of time, by his fon Chrift Jefus to his disciples: And after this, what need I mention the firm belief and open confeffion of this faith by Jacob and the patriarchs, Mofes,

S

Mofes, Job, David, Ifaiah, and the reft of the prophets under the Jewish difpenfation to establish this point; when under the Christian, it is made the foundation of our religion, whose great discovery is, Life and immor

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tality brought to light through the gofpel."

It would exceed the portion of time allotted to a difcourfe of this nature, to particularise the texts which might be produced in proof of this comfortable doctrine; I perfuade myfelf that ye are not ignorant of them; and choose rather to refer you to the book of life itself.-And in regard to the numerous company of martyrs who have evidenced their faith by their fufferings, and are recorded as fo many bright examples of patience, I

may