F 273 .n46 Copy 1 y FUNERAL SERMON, Delivered on Lord's Day, December 17, isir. IX Tati REPRESENTATIVES' CHAMBER, BEFORE BOTH BRANCHES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE ^TATE OF SOUTH CAROLLXJi. J3Y JONATHAN 3IAXCY, D. D. PR£SlD£]!iT OF TUB SOUTH CABOLIJJA COLLEGE. COLUMBIA, S. C. PRINTED AT THS TELESCOPE PRESS. 1818, _ -. _ J, /^^^ F 273 .n46 Copy 1 FUNERAL SEB3I0N, Delivered on Lord's Bay, December 17, 181 r. IW TAB REPRESENTATIVES' CHAMBER, BEFORE BOTH BRANCHES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE ^TATE OF SOUTH CJROLLYJ, :BY JONATHAN 3IAXCY, D. D. fR£SlU£JJT OF THB SOUTH CAROHNA COLLEOE. COLUMBIA, S. C. PRINTED AT THE TELESCOPE ^RESS, 1818. V \- ADVERTISEMENT. The following disrourse when delivered bad noi been written. 1 had merely stated its principal divisions* with a few i>fief illustrations. As an application was made by both branches of the Legislature, for its publi- cation, I did not feel myself at liberty to withhold my assent. The discourse I have reduced to writing, and I am confident that the doctrines it contains, and the words in which they are expressed, are, with some small variations, the same as when delivered. Such as it is, I beg leave to commit it to the candour of the Legislature and the publick J, M.- A FUNERAL SERMON. Honoured Legislators, — You are assembled to deplore the loss, and to consecrate the memory, of your late associates in the services and honours of the State. It has pleased the Almighty to re- move them from the busy scenes of life, and to consign them to the quiet house of death. Tliis awful dispensation of Divine Providence announces to us the precarious tenure of life, and the alarming fragility of all its hopes, its labours, and its honours. Let us hear the warning voice of God ! Let us learn our own destiny in the example of others ! In the late afflictive visitation, you behold several members of this honourable Legislature, whose hopes were as strong, and whose prospects were as bright as your own ; who shared with you the labours of the State; who equally with you enjoyed the public confidence and esteem; suddenly ar- rested in their course, and removed into the eternal world. While we magnify that di- vine forbearance which has spared us; and gratefully recognize that Divine Providence 6 FUNERAL SERMON. which has encircled us with hiessings; let us adore that righteous and mysterious Sovereignty whicli disposes of all things on the earth and in the heavens ; let us bow to that tremendous Majesty, before whom all human grandeur shrinks into nothing. But while Me tremble before the great and ever- living God, let us hope and rejoice ; remem- bering that his goodness is as boundless as his poAver; that whatever he creates he blesses; and that he does "not willingly grieve or afflict the children of men." — Though he has subjected us to death; yet he has rendered this, to all who embrace and obey the gospel, the means of increased felicity and glory. With only the light of nature for our guide, we can trace the pro- gress of man no farther than the grave. Hera he appears fallen and forever lost. But aided by revelation, we can follow him into a future world, and behold him surviving the stroke of death, and triumph- ing in immortal existence. The sun of righteousness has poured his rays into the gloomy valley, and brightened tbe region of disembodied spirits. He has abolished death, and broTiJ?ht life and im- mortality to light. It is the distinguishing FUNERAL SERMON. ? attribute of Christianity, that it dispels the doubts of its votaries, and inspires them with confidence and hope. So strong and lively is this hope in the breast of the Chris- tian, that the scripture describes it "as aa anchor to the soul both sure and steadfast.'* To all who regard their future welfare, it becomes an object of the deepest interest to ascertain the grounds on which a Christian builds his hope of existence and happiness beyond the grave. That we may view this subject in the light of divine truth, permit Ine to call your attention to those words of the apostle Paul, recorded in 3 Cor. v. C. " Therefore, we are always confident, know- ing, that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.'* The uncertainty in which we are in- volved with regard to futurity, is the prin- cipal circumstance which renders death an object of terror. Were our destiny aftef the present life fully unfolded, our happi- ness or our misery would be greatly aug- mented. God, no doubt, has furnished us with as much knowledge as is suitable to our state ; and in a great degree, has wisely concealed from our view, the glories and terrors of a future world. Between these S FUNERAL SERMOK. and our present state, the difference is so great, the contrast so tremendous and dis- proportionate, that a complete disclosure would overwhelm us with astonishment- suspend our powers, and totally disqualify lis for the husinesses and enjoyments of life. Though we see through a glass dark- ly, yet we see enough to excite our hopes and our fears; enough to alarm the vicious and encourage the virtuous; enough to rouse up all our exertions to obtain the fa- vour and avoid the displeasure of our Maker. While engrossed in the cai'es, the toils, and the pleasures of the present life, and re- gardless of God and futurity, " we walk by sight, and are children of disobedience ;" but when the terrors of the Lord arrest us; when we realize that we must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ,* we begin to walk by faith, and feel the power "of things invisible and eternal." Faith substantiates these to the mind, and gives them a govern- ing influence over our conduct. Faith dis- charges the same office to the soul, that the eye does to the body, bringing near and displaying things distant and unseen ; form- ing a medium of communication between the soul and the future world, and enabling FUNERAL SERMON. 9 it to rely on the testimony of God. It is the grand peculiarity of the Christian sys- tem, that all its great rewards lie in a fu- ture world; and that all its incentives to virtue and dissuasives fromi vice, are clothed with the weight and importance of eternity. Hence it is, that, in the Scriptures, such mighty virtue is attributed to the principle of faith. It operates as a new sense, which reaches forward beyond life, and lays hold on tilings distant and unseen, giving them a powerful and decisive influence on the heart and conduct. Christianitv, in this point of view, is of incalculable value to so- ciety and government. Faith is the go- vernour and director of the Christian. It forms his sentiments, and animates his ac- tions. How powerful, how conspicuous, was its influence on the primitive believers 5 especially on the apostle Paul ! Such was his persuasion of the reality of things eter« nal, that he esteemed all the evils, labours land sufferings of the present >/orld, as of no consideration, in comparison of that eternal weight of glory which is to come. Such was his hope and confidence in God, that he could say, as in the words preceding our iO FUNERAL SERMON. text, "we know that if this earthly house of our tahernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens/' His con- fidence was greatly increased by the con- sideration, that God was its author, and had strengthened it by the testimony of his Spirit. " Now,'' says he, " he that hath wrought us for this self- same thing, is Godj who also hath given us the earnest of the Spirit.'* "Therefore we are always confi- dent, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."" The following important doctrines are contained in these words: 1. That the soul survives the dissolu- tion of the body. S. That Christians at death are received into heaven, where Christ their Lord is, in his glorified body. 3. That Christians have sufficient rea« sons to be always confident that they shall exist after death, and be forever with Christ in glory. These particulars I shall endeavour to iUustrate and confirm. FUNERAL SERMON. 11 I sliall then close the service with a short address. I. T am first to show that the soul sur- vives the dissolution of the hody. On the subject of the immortality of the so.ul, the ancients entertained various and contradictory opinions. It is, however, apparent, that the predominant belief of the wisest and best philosophers was, that the soul is indistructible and immortal. Of this they seemed to have rather ^ strong persuasion, than a firm and stable convic- tion. They saw that man appeared not to answer any determinate and ultimate pur- pose in the present state. They discovered in his intellectual and moral nature, princi- ples that seemed susceptible of unlimited improvement, desires boundless as eternity. Were these bestowed, merely to be de- stroyed? To the various desires and in- stincts of man they saw appropriate objects provided. Could it be supposed that the ardent desire of endless existence was be- stowed without a possibility of gratification ? Every feeling of the heart revolts at the thought of annihilation. It seemed incon- sistent with the wisdom and goodness of IS FUNERAL SERMON. God, to reduce to nonentity such a bcin;^ as man, almost as soon as lie began to exist, before his powers were eyolved and carried to perfection. Besides, every thing here appeared confused and disproportionate: Yice often rode in triumph, while virtue grovelled in the dust; evil often prevailed over good, and injustice rioted in the spoils of innocence. A state of retribution or equalization appeared to be demanded or indicated, by the rectoral justice of God. Socrates, the greatest philosopher in all heathen antiquity, contended earnestly for the immortality of the soul. From this he considered man as deriving his principal dignity and worth. It is, however, verj^ apparent from the last words of Socrates to his judges, that his belief in the immortality of the soul, was not unmixed with doul)t and uncertainty. Cicero, with all his gi- gantick powers and lordly virtues, was great- ly perplexed on this subject; and after adding to his own profound meditations, the lights of alibis predecessors, seemed ardent- ly to desire, rather than firmly to believe, the immortality of the soul. Thus inadequate appears the light of nature, even in the FUNERAL SEllMON. 13 greatest men, on this most important subject. Among the moderns who have ex- pressed their opinions on it, Doctor Priest- ley is the most distinguished. The leading principle of his doctrine is, '* That man is no more than we see him to he.'' He is a simple material being. What is called mind, is merely the result of animal or- ganization. There is no foundation in na- ture for the usual distinction betAveen soul and body, or mind and matter. Mind, or the power of thought, is a mere quality of the brain; resides in it as its proper organ, and by it exhibits all those phenomena that are denominated mental. When the Im- man body is completely formed, organised, and combined, and all the senses operated on by tlieir appropriate objects, the result is thought, or the power of thinking ; in the same manner as musick proceeds from a complete instrument when struck hy a skil- ful hand. Thus, upon this scheme, mind can have no separate existence. Demolish the organization of the body, and the man ceases to exist ; he is as if he never had been, and for Ills future life depends entirely on thr i4i FUNERAL SEIIMON. resurrection. When this shall be accom- plished, and the body re-organised and re- combined, the power of thought will re- appear ; consciousness will resume her em- pire, and the man will find himself the same person that he was before his dissolution. This doctrine appears to me equally re« pugnant to sound philosophy and the lan- guage of Scripture. To reject the distinc- tion between soul and body, or mind and matter, is ultimately to reject the distinc- tion between cause and effect, and thus to render all the appearances of nature inex- plicable, and to plunge into atheism. Two things pervade and constitute the whole of nature. One is known by this, that it is moved ; the other by this, that it moves. The first is denominated matter, the last mind. Matter cannot move itself, and con- sequently cannot move any thing else. Wherever, therefore, we see matter in mo- tion, we are sure that it is moved by some- thing that is not matter. That something is mind. Now it is certain that all matter is in motion ; consequently, wherever there is matter there is mind, or a self-active, im- material principle, which produces and sus- FUNERAL SERMON. i3 fains motion. Wherever there is motion, the cause of it must he present ; for aheing cannot act where it does not exist. In addi-. tion to this elemental mind, or active, im- material suhstance, man possesses intellect and spontaneous power, or volition. From these he derives his chief dignity and su- periority over the other parts of creation. We are as sure of the existence of mind as of matter. When we reason, think, remem- ber, or put forth any other internal act, we are as certain that we do so, as we are that we exist. We have no direct knowledge either of mind or matter. Both are known by their qualities or actions only. It is a law universally admitted, that similar effects or qualities should be referred to similar causes, and the contrary. A greater dis- crepancy cannot be conceived, than exists between the qualities of mind and those of matter. All the properties usually ascribed to matter may be reduced to one, and that is solidity. But solidity is resistance : were it not for this, we could not know that such a substance as matter were in existence. But we must remember, that resistance is action, and action is power ; and power is 10 FUxNERAL SERMOxV. a quality of the mind, or sometliing tliat is not matter. Thus it would appear that what is called matter, when strictly scrutinized, loses its donomination, and hecomes a qua^ lit}^ Mind therefore is the chief thing, and only agent, in the universe — the only real suhstance existing. In short, the material universe is merely a temporary modification of power, giving an outward exhihition or picture of the invisihle grandeur and ma- jesty of God ; and will, when his purposes are answered hy it, revert to its immaterial, elementary source, '' and, like the haseless fahric of a vision, leave not a wreck hehind.'* IIow^ ahsurd is it to talk of matter as the principal thing in nature, when indeed it is merely nature's dress ! Mind, or soul, con- stitutes man. From this he derives all his dignity and worth. The hody is a mere temporary vehicle, connecting man with the present world, and suited to answer his pur- poses here ; hut at death will he throw n aside, to he succeeded by a hody spiritual and incorruptible. On a subject of such high importance as the distinction on which I have insisted, God has not left us to the mere light of nar FmS'ERAL SERMOK. iT ture. Xo, thanks to Ills condescending good- ness ! lie has given us " a more sure word of prophecy." To this let us now appeal. Through the Scriptures the distinction he» tween soul and body is clearly asserted, and constantly referred to, as a fundamental truth. In the following words, Mat. x. S8, Christ commands his disciples not to fear men: "Fear them not which kill the body^ but are not able to kill the soul ; but rather fear him, v/hich is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." If these words do not fully imply that soul and body are distinct substances, and that the former is the princi- pal part, for Avhicli we ought to be principal". ly concerned, it is impossible for words to imply these truths. These words would be destitute of meaning, if man were wholly material. Though Christ repeatedly as- sured his disciples that he should rise from the dead, yet they understood him not. The words bringing the tiding of his resurrec«^ tlon, seemed to them "like idle tales." They were gure that Christ was dead ; they had seen him expire on the cross ; they had seen him laid in the tomb. After his resur- rection, when his disciples were assembled, iB funehal serMoK '' Jesus liimseir stood in the midst of theili^ and saitli. Peace be unto joii." Tliey are petrified with astonislimeut, supposing "that they had seen a spirit.'' Mart the wo rets of Christ: "Behold my hands and my fcct,^ that it is I myself; handle me and see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Lute xxiv. 39. Stephen the proto- martyr, when stoned to death, cried out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts vli. 59. In 1 Cor. ii. 11, the apostle says, ''For what man tnoweth the thinj^s of a man save the spirit of man that is in him ? even so the things of God tnoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.'^ John heard a Voice from heaven saying, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.^' Itev. 14, 13. The apostle Paul puts it beyond all doubt that the soul survives the dissolution of the bodv, and exists in a state of conscious activity and enjoyment. Thus lie says to the Philippians,cliap. i. iSSj "For I am in a strait betwixt tw6 : having a desire to de- part, and to be with Clirist, which is far bet- ter." And in % Cor. v. B : ^' We are conS- dent, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord/ rUNERAL SERMON. i9 To tlie satoc purpose was the Iiiriguagc of "Christ to the thief crueified with him : " V(x, rib' I say unto thee, to-tlay shalt thou be with me in Paradise.'' At our Saviour's transfiguration, " there appeared Moses and Eli as talking with him." This would hare been impossible, if Moses and Elias had not been in existence in the spiritual world. Our Saviour repeated the words of God from Moses, to prove that the dead will rise : '' I am the God of Abraliam, and of Isaac, and of Jacob." How do these words contf>in the doctrine of the resurrection ? Our Saviour will inform us : " God," says he, " is not the God of the dead, but of the living." A])rn"^ ham. Isaac, and Jacob, therefore, are alive ; and to make the w ords true in thc^Jr full ex-^ tent and meaning, these persons must again be united to their bodies : for these are ob- jects of redemption as well as their souls. The pijrable of the rich man and Lazarus is evidently built on the common opinion, en- tertained by the %Tev s, of the state of depart ed souls, and their different situations after this life. It is triply astonishing, that so ynany of the moderns, and some of thcui eminent for biblical knowledge, shouM La r so FUNERAL SERMON. asserted, that the doctrine of a future life^ and of the immortality of the soul, was not tnown to the patriarchs, prophets, and righ- teous men of ancient times. The contrary is abundantly evident, both from the fre- quent allusions to this doctrine in the wri- tings of the Old Testament, as well as in those of the New. Turn to the reasoning of Paul, as stated in the eleventh chapter to the Hebrews. He is describing the naturej the effects, and the object of faith. These he exemplifies in Abel, in Enoch, and Noah; in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He particu- larly mentions Abraham, and says, " By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in taber- nacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise." What was tliis promise ? Was it a city in the land of Ca- naan? Far otherwise. The apostle says, '•He looked for a city which hath founda- tions, whose builder and maker is God.'' '*Now they desire a better country; that is^ an heavenly." The apostle proceeds, and inentions Joseph and Moses, Gideon and Samuel, and the prophets, and illustrates their faith by their hope of future reward* He mentions others who were tortured, not accepting deliverance. This, he says, they did, " that they might obtain a better re- -surrection." This great number of ancient worthies, he dechires, all died in the fuitb^ '* not having received the promise/' Thus it appears that the true worshippers of God, under the former dispensatiou, believed not only in the separate existence of the soul, but in the resurrection of the body. If the doctrine of the separate existence of the soul be true, the dreary and comfort- less doctrine of materialism, and temporary annihilation, must be false. Those who con- tend for the non-existence of the soul in a separate state, often demand an example of one who has visited the unseen world, and returned to the earth. This, I presume, I shall be able to exhibit ; and also to prove, by direct example from Scripture, the exist- ence of disembodied spirits. For this pur- pose, permit me to call your attention to those words of St. Peter, as quoted from the Psalms, Acts ii. 27 : ^* Thou wilt not leave- my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption," ^ FUNETIAL SERMON; Tlu^ design of the apostle In tliest? T, Olds is, to proYc tlie resiirrertioii of Christ. The words, as tliev ore spoken, refer to Da-, rid. The apostle, hoy» ever, shews that they •^rcrc not fulfilled in liim: " for," says he, ** he is both dead and buried, and his sepul- chre is with lis unto tliis day." David per» nonated Christ when lie spake, " being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn ^vitli an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise Tip Christ to sit upon Ms throne ; he, seeing this before, spake of the resurrcetion of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, nei- ther did liis flesh sec corruption." To ren- der lug reasoning ec^clusive, the apostle flakes these words froin v^ritings which the Jews acknowledged to be of divine auihority, :iud. instead of applying them to David, ap- plied them to Christ. Of him he says, '"that Jus soul was not left in hell, neither did his 51esh SCO eorruptioii." Now if the soul of €lirist was not left in hell, it must certainly Jiave l?een there. What are we to under-; ^^tand by this ? I will endeavour to shovr Tou. The word used in the Greek version j« hades. This si^-niSes the invisible state^ Ft^Elut SERMON. ^^ tlie receptacle of disembodied spirits, tile general tiiansion into wliicli all descended at death. ^" Tlie Hebrew Avord used ill the Old Testament fortius state is s/ieoL Throughout: the sacred Scriptures it is invariably used in this sense. Another Word, keher^ used by the Hebrew livriters, signifies the grave. These two words, the names of hell and the grave, ate never confounded by the Hebrew 'Writers, The first signifies the mansion of the departed spirit; the last the repositorj of the dead bod} . The Greek words, hades and taphoSj exactly correspond to them, atid are used as such by the writers of the Xew Testament. Unfoi-tunately, in our trangla- 'tion these words are confounded, and pro- miscuously translated hell ol- grave. When the word hell is used, the first notion it presents to an English reader is, the place of tornient, whereas it properly signi. fies no more than the invisible state, or hid- den place. The word which properly sigi nifies the place of ttjrmeut is Gehenna^ u * Those who wish to see this subject fully and icarnediv discussed, I beg leave to refer to Dr. Horselj's Critkal Njie.^ on Hosea, page 25r,&c. pages 200, 201 ; and pa-e 4G, liolc 71 ; and also hi^ 8'ermon on Christ's Descent iuto Meil. Lon;!. W\L 1804, 24 FUNERAL SERMON. word of Hebrew derivation. Thus, by ^n abuse of iaiigUc^ge, lias esTourbeen produced and perpetuated. Now as hades, or lieii, in- variabij signifies the mansion of departed souls, it is not diiTicult to understand that part of tlic apostle's creed which says, that Christ •• descended into helL'^ This the an- cient Hebrew writers describe as in the cen- tral parts of the eartli : a vast repository. surrounded by an impassable wall, and for- tified with huge gates of brass, and massive bars of iron, which our Saviour by his power was to batter down, and cut in sunder. That part of the mansion to which the righteous descended, v/as called Paimdlse, Tiiis was not a state of penal confinement ; but of un- finished bliss, of security and hope. Into tliis place men would never have entered, had it not been for sin. As the Saviour took on him the whole condition of humanity, it became necessarj , as a part of his wonderful Iidiniliationjthat he should descend into the habitation of departed souls, that he might prochdm liberty to the captives, '-and deli- ver them who J through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage.'* 1;' hen did Christ descend into this invisible FUNERAL Sermon. ^& state called hailes^ or hell? Let liis words to the repentant thief answer : " To-day shalt tliou be with me in Paradise." Into this habitation of disembodied spirits did the Saviour descend; not there to abide^ for " his soul was not left in hell ;" not there to preach repentance, for this had been gi- yen ; but to proclaim his victory on the cross, — to announce that the great sacrifice of atonement had been offered ; and to as- sure the "spirits in prison'' that he was about to " ascend to his father and their fa- ther, to his God and their God." Having accomplished this part of his work, he re- turned on the third day, and assumed his body, so that " it saw no corruption." Now, that the Paradise to which Christ went after liis crucifixion was not heaven^ as it is com- monly supposed, is evident from his words to Mary. As soon as she recognised her risen Lord, he said, " Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father." This subject will receive farther illustration from the fol- lowing words in 1 Pet. iii. 18, ^'c. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he mi.Q^ht bring us to God ; being put to death in the flesh, but "^ ' FUNERAL SERMON. fjuickoiieil by the Spirit : by which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison ; Avhieh sometime ^vere disobedient, when once the long- suffering of God waited in the days of Xoah." Commentators have strange- \y perverted tliis text, and, for fear of purga- tory, haye given up a most important fact in the history of redemption. Lest they should countenance the exposition of the Romish doctors, they gravely assure us, iu diiect contradiction to tlie words of the text, tliat Christ, by his Spirit,^ went in the days of Noah, and preached to the inhabitants of tlic former world. The words imply no such meaning ; but plainly declare that Christ, after his death, went and preached: "bein^ put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit," or, "quiet in spirit:" that is y alive in his soul, which survived the stroke under which his body fell : '* he went and preached to the spirits ;" not to men in the flesh : " to the spirits in prison," or safe-- Sweeping. Who were these spirits ? The next words inform us: "the spirits whicb 'sometime were disobedient." This expres- uon implies, that they had afterwards be- .'ome obedient. '' They were disobedient, FUNERAL SERMON. ^" wlien once the long-suflcring of God waited ill tlie dnys of Xoali." Rut as it seems im- plied that they afterwards became obedient, it is reasonable to believejthat numbers, wIkj had slighted the Marnings of Noah, as sooyj^ us they beheld the signs of the approaching deluge — when they felt the earth trem bling, and bursting under their feet — when they beheld the fountains of the great deep breaking up — the windows of heaven open- ed — the floods pouring down, and in their wide-wasting sweep burying all in ruin ;~ i'epented, deeply repented, of their enor- jnous sins, and found refuge in the mercy of God. Though " the flood took tlicm all away," yet those who cried for pardon and repented, were accepted, and were secured in the habitation of the spirits of the just. That there were thousands of others in this subterranean repository, there can remain no doubt ; for this was the Paradise to which the patriarchs, prophets, and holy men of old, departed, and into which they entered after death. These all died in faith of the 3Iessiah to come, not having received the promises ; but beheld them afar ofi* and were persuaded of tliem. The reason^,- T «8 FUxNfERAL SERMON. conceive, wliy the disobedient in the days of Noah are exclusively mentioned, are these — that, as they were suddenly hurried off in such a tremendous catastrophe, they ini^^ht still entertain fearful apprehensions of divine wrath. Succeeding ages might suppose, that the antediluvians had no part in the great redemption, hecausethey expe- rienced such severity from God. These ap- prehensions the apostle dissipates, by as- suring us that Christ '* went and preached to the spirits in prison." He there pro- claimed the accomplishment of redemption; announced tlie acceptable year of the Lord, and the opening of the prison doors. "He delivered the prey from the mighty, and di- vided the spoil with the strong;" and thus became " Lord of the dead and living." " ISow," says Paul, " that he ascended, what is it but tlvdt he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" Eph. iv. 9. This last expression is a periphrasis for hell, or the mansion of spirits. Christ, at his ascension, delivered these, and carried them all up in triumph to heaven. The aposde says expressly, " he ascended on high, leading captivity captive." It is ubun- •FUNERAL SERISION. SR dantly evident tVom tlie Scriptures, tlmU since the ascension of Christ, fill his fol lowers, at deatli, ascend up where he is, at the right hand of God ; and do not descend to the phice called Paradise, where Christ conducted the repentant thief; where were in safe-keeping all who had died in faith of the Messiah to come. Christ at his ascen- sion certainly went up into heaven ; he prayed that where he was there his disci- ples might he, and behold his glory. " I.'' said Christ, " ascend unto my Father." " A. little while, and ye shall not see me, becaust) 1 go to the Father." " In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it were not so I w ould have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." Christ is represented at the day of judgment as coming from heaven with all his saints. In short, no fact is more plainly or frequently stated in the New Tes- tament, than the residence of Christ in hea- venly glory at his Father's right hand. At the day of judgment it is evident that none of the rigliteous are in hades : for John says. that death and hudcs^ or hell, gave up the dead tliat were in them. These were cer- tainly the wicked dead : for the next words knoAV the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power; but ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." A cts i. 6, ?. He al- so "commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem; but wait for thb ■ &• 1::- • ' ■ ?-^f",lt'-'^^ " F^ 40 FUNEfilt SERMOX. fuifA-itv^d-\ ^ .1 \. x^ .,'■'v■-^'t^fr{^Mm'■ J)roml^e or the lather, which/' says ne •• ye Iiave heard of me." Let us now see how this promise was fulfilled. Let us sec in what man» nerthe apostles received power from Ou high. '' When the day of Pentecost was ful- ly come, they were all of one accord in one place, and suddenly there came a sound ; from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, [ an J filled all the house where they were sit- , ting ; and there appeared unto them clovea| tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon ca«h^. of, them. Acts i. 1, ^c. The apostles j,, were greatly agitated, and immediately a(I*»|L dressed the multitudes in languages they . had never learned. At this time, a grand anniversary festival of the Jewish nation, there ''were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men out of every nation under hea« ven." How great was their astonishment when they heard unlettered Galileans ad- dressing them and " speaking to them ia | their own tongue in which they were bom|| the wonderful works of God.'* The apos*^^ ties now experienced the fulfilment of the^j promise concerning the Holy Ghost ; they mow received power from on high 5 they now entertained no doubt tliat Clirist liad^^ risen and ascended to God, Such was tlieii' ^ conviction, sucli was their confidence, that even Peter, who had denied his Master, , now boldly came forth and charged the Jews with murdering "the Prince of Life." So cogent were his reasonings from their own prophets, that they " were pricked in their liearts, and cried out, Men and brethren what shall we do?" Such was the force of truth ; such was the testimony of the I^oify Ghost, that, "the same day, there w ere added unto them about three thousand . soyls." The Holy Ghost confirmed the dbcirine of the Apostles, not only by the gift of tongues, but by the power of healing diseases and raising the dead. Miracles are the best possible proofs of a religion, de- signed to be catholic or ecumenical. They are a direct appeal to the senses of men ; and can be judged of as well by the illite- ra;te as the learned. Miracles are superna- tural facts, so connected with the doctrines they are designed to confirm, that if you admit the former you must admit the latter. If-a teacher ailirm that his docrine is from G^d,-W(I'iri attestiation of it, can by a word '^ ^^ FUNERAL SERMON.r heal tlie sick and raise the dead, we ai*e obliged to acknowledge him a messenger from God ; for we know that is it impossible for God to lend an exertion of his power to support an impostor or propagate a false- hood. In the miracles performed by Christ and his Apostles there could be no decep- tion ; they were performed in open day, before thousands of spectators, in the full possession of their senses ; and for ends the most disinterested and important. After the establishment of Christianity, miracles were not necessary, and therefore ceased to be performed. To us, they now stand on record as other historical facts, and as such are to be used for the confirmation of our faith. The ordinary assistances of the Spirit, in sanctifying and illuminating, are gTanted to us, and to all Christians in all ages and nations ; and carry directly to our own con- sciousness, a degree and kind of evidence, which if we reject, we must reject all evi- dence whatever. '' lie that believeth on the Son, hatlrthe witness in himself." This is sufiicient to authorize our confidence, that we shall live as Christ lives ; that when he appears we shall appear with lun\ FUNERxVL SERMOX. 48 •itigldry ;— that lie will change our vile ho^ dy and make it like his most glorious hody ; and that with him we shall reign and tri* umph forever, in the kingdom of God. :i»8ii^ ^^notlier reason why Christians are confident of future happiness, is the evi- dence they have of Christ's resurrection. ♦This is a most important fact, foritinvohes the truth of the whole system of divine re- velation. As the resurrection of Christ was -^miracle of the highest kind, so it gave a iftiost striking display of the power and in- terposition of God. Now, if we admit that C!Jliri&t was raised from the dead, we must itdmit that he was a true prophet ; that all his doctrines were true, and tliat the wri- tings of the ancient prophets, to which he often appealed, were divinely inspired.— Christ represented his resurrection and eter- nal life, as indissolubly connected with those of his followers. He is the head :-^ they are the members. His resurrection involves theirs: " Because I live, y@ shall live also." " I am the resurrection and the life." " When Christ, w iio is our life, sh^li ^^'#|^pea?, then shall we appear with him in "^c^^ ^'^' Wo shall be ftisbioned like tx) % FUNERAL SERMON, Lis glorious body." " The first Adam was anade a living soul; the second a queckining spirit." " And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." eij No fact recorded in ancient history comes to us so well authenticated, so fully esta- blished, as the resurrection of Christ. Of this we shall be convinced, whether we consider the number or competency of the witnesses ; the motives by which they were actuated ; the sacrifices they made ; the dangers they incurred; the sufferings tkey endured ; the ardor and perseverance w ith which tliey laboured ; or the success and triurapli with which their efiorts were crowned. Their conduct can be accounted for on no supposition, but a perfect convic- tion of the truth they announced. Tlieyre- ]iiounced all the usual enjoyments, interests, pursuits and pleasures of life. These they willingly exchanged for toil, reproach, dis- Ilionoui', poverty, persecution and death ; and rejoiced in testifying their attachment to their risen Lord. ■0 In the hands of a few unlettered, artless men. the Gospel every where triumphed. FUNERAL SERMON. 4^ The Spirit of God bore testimony to the truth of their declarations, by the most stupendous miracles. The dead heard the voice of the Son of God, and awoke into life. The Gospel was indeed the power of God unto salvation. It subdued the proud, and enlightened the ignorant ; reformed the vicious, and restrained the profligate ; humbled the vain, and softened the obdu- rate ; prevailed against the united powers of philosophy and eloquence ; and with an energy which neither earth nor hell could resist, banished the pompous ceremonial of heathen worship, and prostrated the sceptre of the world at the foot of the cross. The great object of the apostolick ministry was to bear testimony to the resurrection of Christ. On this fact depended the fate of Christianity. The sudden and universal spread, therefore, of the Gospel; its pow- erful and salutary effects on the hearts and lives of men, at a period when the greatest efforts of human ability and learning had proved unavailing, are striking testimonies of its divine original, and such as ought to make us xejoice in hope of the gbry of God*.ai.rnt f}'!:^^' .K.irjm The manner m which the JiiVanjyehst^ [til );■:.• . C5 Have described the death and resurrection of Christ, impresses on the mind an irre- sistible conriction of honesty and truth. Ko dissimulation can be so perfect as to hide the deformity and jealousy of fraud and imposture. Examine the narratives of the Evangelists ; the manner in which they exhibit the conduct of the disciples and others at the resurrection ; imagine your- selves present, your oAvn feelings will teach ^ou ; they will speak a language which yoii caitnot resist. Such is the language of the Evangelists. You cannot suspect them of deception. Why should they propagate a falsehood, when they could expect nothing from it, but injury, abuse, contempt and death ? The conduct and language of the disciples, on hearing that Christ had risen ; their doubts, fears and astonishment, when they beheld him ; when they saw the marks of the nails in his hands and feet, and of ti|e spear in his side; are incontestible ^'proofs of the reality oiP the resurrection. .If the disciples had been engaged in an imposture ; if by a concurrence between them and Christ ^ or from any other cause FUNERAL SERMON. ^7 l^e had been taken down from the cross be- fore he was really dead ; had been laid ip. the tomb ; and they had taken him away while the guard slept ; would they have be- trayed any doubts of his resurrection when it was announoed ? Would the reports of it have appeared to them like idle tales, so thr.t they believed them not ? When tho Saviour appeared to them at Jerusalem, would they have been petrified as they were with astonishment and fear, so that they could not credit their senses ? "Why are ye troubled," said Christ, " and why do thoughts arise in your minds ? Behold my hands." When the disciples could no longer resist the evidence of their eyes and hands ; We are told that their joy was so great, that they could not believe, and that they won- dered. What a picture is this of the work- ings of nature on such an occasion ! If the disciples were engaged in a conspiracy to make the resurrection be believed, when it was not true, how happened it that they themselves were so slow to believe ? When Christ was laid in the tomb, the disciples gave Up his cause in despair ; for they did not know the Scriptures, that he must rise 46 FUNERAL SERMON. again from the dead. God kept them in ignorance, that the truth might appear xnore conspicuous. The soldiers declared that tlie disciples had stolen him awa)' while they slept. How could they know what was done when they were asleep ? Such is the refuge of falsehood. Of what use could the body be to the disciples except to em- balm it ? And had they done this, this very eircum stance would have proved Christ an imposter and false prophet, because he had before declared that he should rise on the third day. The circumstance that prepa- ration was made for embalming the body, is a full proof that the disciples knew not that he should rise again. All tiie proofs ^f Christ's resurrection, are proofs of his divine mission, and of the resurrection of all his followers. Thus whether the Chris- tian considers the evidence of ffiith, of testimony, of the witness of the Spirit, or the proofs of Christ's resurrection, he has sufficient reason for his confidence as to the separate existence of the soul; its fu- ture union with the body, and the endless felicity of both in heaven. FUNERAL SERMON. 49 Permit me, now, to close tliis service with a sliort address to the honorable Legis- lature. During the last year, our state in general, has been visited with an unusual degree of mortality. The sighs of the widow and the orphan, have ascended to heaven. A large portion of your associates, has been called into the eternal world. By as- sembling to j)ay a ti'ibute of respect to de- parted worth ; and with humility and re- signation, to recognize the awful visitation of Heaven, you evince a becoming sympa- thy with the afflicted, and set an example, worthy the Legislators of a Christian peo- ple. Permit me, to remind you of the dis- tinguishing goodness of G od, in sparing you. Consider these recent instances of mor- tality, as the voice of God, '• Be ye also ready." Every moment brings you nearer the grave and the awful tribunal of Jeho- vah. Probably before another year is past, many in this assembly will be sleeping in the dust. Are you prepared for that tre- mendous moment, when you must bid adiea to time, and launch into eternity ? Turn not a deaf ear to the warning voice of God. Cherish the solemn reflections which the 50 FUNERAL SEIIMOK present occasion presses on your minds, and fly to the refuge God has provided. He has done every thing that it was proper lie should do for your salvation. His Soa lias died for you to expiate your sins, and lias removed all external obstacles. The