Therefore let us see what the light of scripture saith to this point.
[1.] It discovereth to us everywhere the doctrine of the eternal recompenses, two places, and two estates, wherein souls abide after death, heaven and hell : heaven, the mansion of the just : John xiv. 2, ' In my Father's house are many mansions.' And hell, the place of torments: Mark ix. 44, ' They are cast into hell, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.' And as soon as the soul passeth out of the body, it is in one of these : Luke xvi. 22, 23, ' And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom ; the rich man died also, and was buried : and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.' He had a pompous funeral here upon earth; for it is said, ' he died, and was buried,' which is not said of Lazarus. These are truths not spoken of once or twice, but everywhere.
[2.] The covenant showeth it, which is God's solemn transaction with his subjects, and consists of precepts or laws, invested with the sanction of promises and threatenings. Christ argues thus : Luke xx. 37, 38, ' Now, that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; for he is not the God of the dead, but of the living.' He proves the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body.
VOL. XIX. E
66 SERMON UPON ECCLESTASTES XII. 7.
(1.) His commands ; all of them imply such an estate, and some of them express it. All imply it ; as faith in Christ. We believe in his name to obtain eternal life: John xx. 31, ' But these things are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that believing you might have have life through his name ; ' and John v. 24, 'He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.' Kepentance : Acts iii. 19, ' Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' Therefore it is called ' repentance unto salvation,' 2 Cor. vii. 10 ; and ' repentance to life ; ' Acts xi. 18, ' Then hath God also to the gentiles granted repent- ance unto life.' So new obedience : Heb. v. 9, ' He became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him ; ' Acts xxvi. 7, ' Unto which promise the twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.' And some express it : He hath commanded us ' not to labour for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,' John vi. 27 ; ' Not to lay up treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal ; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven,' Mat. vi. 19, 20 ; and * Strive to enter in at the strait gate,' Luke xiii. 24. Now, if there were no such thing, all these commands would be in vain. Would God flatter us into a fool's paradise, and command us to look after a thing of nought ?
(2.) The sanction. And there — (1.) The threatening, which is dam- nation, or the second death : Mark xvi. 16, ' He that believeth not shall be damned.' Is this a vain scarecrow ? and need God govern his sub- jects by a cheat or a lie ? (2.) The promises ; he promiseth eternal life to them that obey the gospel and seek after this immortality : Eom. ii. 7, ' To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honour, and immortality, eternal life ; ' Eev. ii. 10, ' Be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' Be faithful in making good your baptismal vow, improving talents, withstanding temptations. So to comfort us against fears, losses, and sorrows : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock ; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom.' Now, would God overreach us, and lead us with chimeras and vain hopes ?
[3.] The mediator of the new covenant showethit; his coming from heaven, the place of souls, the region of spirits, and his going thither again at his ascension.
(1.) His coming from heaven. Wherefore was Christ incarnate, and clothed witli our flesh, but that we might be apparelled with his glory ? John X. 10, ' I am come, that they might have life, and that thoy might have it more abundantly.' To lay a foundation for our eternal happiness.
(2.) His going to heaven, his entering into that glory he spake of, and so giving a visible demonstration to the world of the reality of it : 1 Peter i. 21, ' Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope may be in God.' There he remaineth at God's right hand, to open heaven to all believers. Christ, when he died, recommended his spirit to the Father : Luke xxiii. 46, ' Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.' And so