kind shall see the dead arise, in the different parts of the globe; consisting of the most distinguished personages that have lived on earth: the most eminently righteous men: the antient patriarchs, prophets, and other eminent persons: some of the most distinguished heathen princes, philosophers, and lawgivers; together with some of the most eminently wicked princes and tyrants; as likewise those who shall recently have left the world. When all these shall arise, and with one voice, unanimously testify and declare, that the LORD God is ONE, and his name is also One: when the Gentiles shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit: Jerem. xvi, 19, and that, on the contrary, the Law of Moses, is the only true revelation.-I say, when men will thus see the wonderful works of God; and hear all those who shall arise, declare the immortal bliss that is prepared, as a reward for the righteous; the punishment and torments prepared for the wicked; and explain to them the nature of true worship, to the One true God; the falsity, and vanity of every other doctrine: the hearts of mankind will naturally naturally be highly affected, by what they see and hear of those who arise: and being thus fully convinced of the truth; (for it is impossible, that any should be able to withstand such evidence as this :) the consequence will be, that they all will forsake their idols, and false doctrines; sincerely acknowledge the LORD, and no more follow vanity; but all will worship the One true God, according to what the prophet says, (chap. ii. verse 2d.) "And it shall come to pass in the latter days; the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established on the top of the mountains, &c. And all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and shall say; come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD; to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways: and we will walk in his paths," &c. Thus also, (chap. xxv. verse 7.) “And this mountain shall he destroy, the covering that covered the face of all the people: and the veil that was spread over all the nations." Which denote the erroneous doctrines maintained, and inculcated by the different nations, in opposition to the true word of God; operating as as a covering, or veil, and preventing their. seeing the light of truth, as hath been already observed. This, is properly, the "great and terrible day of the LORD," mentioned by several of the prophets. This, leads us to, V. The Punishment which God will inflict on the wicked for their crimes. I have just shewn, what is to be the principal end of the resurrection; and it is such, as I doubt not, will appear to every rational person, one of the most important purposes possible to be effected; as tending to the real happiness of mankind; and therefore, every way worthy of the great Author of our being. But in order to render it perfect, another extraordinary event is also to take place, which in its nature, will greatly contribute towards perfecting mankind in the knowledge of the One true God; and wean them from all false worship; namely, the punishment * Joel iii 4. Zephan. i. 14. and Malach, iii 23. punishment of the wicked, who will arise at the resurrection; for when mankind shall see the exemplary corporeal punishment inflicted upon them for their idolatry, superstition, &c. and that they, publicly, and in the presence of all men, will acknowledge the justness of the sentence passed upon them, by the great and allwise Judge; the whole world will be fully convinced of the dreadful consequence of the sin they have committed: and having, at the same time a just conception of the existence and attributes of the Deity, they will, of course, abstain from all false worship, and serve him only, in sincerity and truth. The prophets, therefore, very justly call it, "The great and terrible day of the LORD:" for it will be terrible to the wicked, on account of the dreadful punishment they will receive: and great, and important, in the reformation that it will effect, as being the means of bringing all men to the knowledge of the true faith. That the punishment of the wicked, at the resurrection, is to be corporeal; is plain from the words of the prophet, (Isai. Ixvi. 24.) "And they shall go forth and shall see, the carcasses of the men, who rebelled against me; for for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched: and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." And this very punishment, which they will receive, will be the cause of what is mentioned in the preceding verse, that all flesh will come to worship. before the LORD. Thus, have I shewn that, the punishment of the wicked, or reward of the righteous, as to body and soul together, is not the principal end of the resurrection; but only. as accessary towards the great end of bringing mankind to the knowledge of the One true God.. Neither did the prophet mean to instruct us in any such thing: for the true reward of a future state, is for the soul only, being purely spiritual and therefore, God said to Moses, "No man can see me and live." (Exod. xxxiii. 20.) No man can behold the divine essence, while clothed in the garment of flesh. But, when the soul is freed from matter, and no longer clogged with it, it will eternally enjoy divine glory in the presence of the Supreme Being, and contemplate his divine essence; which it cannot taste, while united to the body. To return. The prophet having informed the nation of the resurrection, acquaints us, that |