to the eternal death, we see it not : but if we believe the word of God, we can have no doubt, but that thousands are descend- ing daily into those dread abodes, where not so much as one ray of hope can ever enter.]
Nor is it less clear that " in Christ shall all be made alive"—
[Christ was sent into the world to repair the ruins of the fall. By his Spirit he " quickens the souls that were dead in trespasses and sins;" and by his obedience unto death he reconciles them to their offended God. This also is as visible as the former. Look around and see whether some be not endued with a new and heavenly life, whereby they are enabled
to live wholly unto God It is true, that the death of
the body is still inflicted upon all: but this ceases to be a punishment to God's people, and must rather be considered as a blessing : " To whomsoever it is Christ to live, it is gain to die^:" and the body which is consigned for a while to its native dust, shall at last be raised again " in the likeness of Christ's glorious body," to participate the blessedness of its kindred soul. All this, I say, is restored to us in and through Christ, who on this very account calls himself " the resurrection and the life^"]
But both these points will be yet further confirmed, while we,
II. Shew the correspondence between them —
If it be asked, How did we die in Adam ? and. How do we live in Christ ? we answer ;
1. By means of a federal relation to them —
[Neither Adam nor Christ are to be regarded as private individuals, but as the representatives of all mankind. Adam was the covenant head of the whole world: the covenant was made with him for himself and them : had he fulfilled the con- ditions imposed upon him, there is reason to believe, that the benefits of his obedience would have descended to his latest posterity. For beyond a doubt they are involved in the punishment of his disobedience, and consequently, we may infer that they would have been comprehended in the recom- pence of his obedience. The death of infants is a decisive evidence, that the sin of Adam is imputed to them ; for death is the punishment of sin ; and a righteous God will not inflict punishment, where it is not in some way or other merited; therefore they, who have never committed actual sin, and yet are punished, must have guilt imputed to them in some other
a Phil. i. 21. b John xi, 25.