crucified and buried in this Island of Britain; ad diem 10. Mai. 11. S. Matthias is agreed on all hands to have fuffer'd Martyrdom, tho' as it is not certainly known where, fo neither after what manner he died. The Greeks fay, he was crucified, Mena. Grac. ad diem 9. Aug. apud Bolland. de Vit. SS. ad Febr. 24. tom. 3. p. 433. Though others fay, he was fton'd, Martyrol. impreff. Colon. 1490. Febr. 24. 12. S. John was caft by Domitian into a Caldron of boiling or flaming Oil, which fhewed his Readiness to die for Chrift, as much as if he had a&tually been put to Death, and was in fome Sense a greater Teftimony to the Truth of the Doctrine, by reafon of the miraculous Delive rance wrought for him out of his exceffive Danger. Besides that, he farther confirm'd his Doctrine by his Banishment to Patmos, which was another fort of Martyrdom; Tertull. de Prafcript. adv. Haref. c. 36. Eufeb. Hift. Eccl. l. 3. c. 18. And accordingly, though he died afterwards a natural Death at Ephesus, Eufebius, nevertheless, gives him the Title of a Martyr, l. 3. c. 31. & l. 5. c. 24. 4. His Adverfariés afferted it; Kai 28 druze. πΘ ἡ ἀπαγ[ελία ἐγένετο ώς φυλάκων @espreguin, S. Chryfoft. in loc. Stulta infania! fi vigilabas, quare permififti? fi dormiebas, unde fcifti? S. Aug. 5. Angels 5. Angels teftified it, S. Luk. xxiv. 5, 6. 6. GOD Himself testifies it by the Pen of S. Paul and S. Luke, Rom. vi. 9. Act. ii. 24. 7. The Miracles wrought by his Apostles make it evident, Act. iii, 6. II. But how does it appear, that this fame Body arofe? 16. Answer. 1. Mary knew Him by His Voice, S. Joh. xx. 2. The Apostles, by His Vifage, S. Joh. xxi. 12. 3. S. Thomas, by His Wounds, S. Joh. xx. 27, 28. Tútes idénvve anyar, Cyril. Alex. Vulnerum cicatrices tetigit, Greg. Magn. Figuras clavium oftendit di cipulis, Iren. Vulnera fufcepta nobis calo inferre maluit, S. Ambrof. IMPROVEMENT. Is Chrift rifen from the Dead? Therefore, receive the Holy Sacrament with the fame Affections, as ye would have look'd upon Him crucified. 1. Admiration, Lamen. i. 12. S. Luk. xxiii. 48. 2. Repentance and Sorrow for Sin, Zach. xii. 10. 2 Cor. v. 21. Levit. xvi. 30. 3. Fear, Rom. xi. 20. 1 Cor. ii. 2, 3. 4. Love, S. Joh. xxi. 16, &c. 1 S. Joh. iv. 19. Rom. viii. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 5. Thankfulness, Coloff. i. 12, 13, 14. Hebr. xiii. 15. 6. Faith, Rom. iv. 20. and viii. 32. 1 S. Joh. ii. 2. Hebr. ix. 24. III. What Neceffity is there of believing this Refurrection of Chrift? 2 Tim. ii. 8. ! 1. On this, our Religion is grounded, 1 Cor. xv. 14. 2 Cor. xiii. 4. 2. Our Juftification is affured, Rom. iv. 24, 2§. and viii. 33, 34. 3. Our Hope confirm'd, Hebr. iii. 6. 1. Of our Reconciliation with GOD, Rom. V. 10. I S. Joh. ii. 1. 2. Of our Refurrection from the Dead, 1 Cor: XV. 20, 21. 3. Of Heaven and eternal Happiness, Hebr. vii. 25. 1 S. Pet. i. 3,4 II. Why are they bleffed who never saw, and yet believe this Truth? 1. They have a truer Faith, 2 Cor. v. 7. Hebr. xi. 1. Quid eft enim fides, nifi credere quod nort vides? Fides ergo eft quod non vides credere, veris tas quod credidifti videre, S. Aug. in Evang. Joan. tract. 40. 2. They give more Glory to GOD, Rom. iv. 19, 20. Hac eft enim laus fidei, fi quod creditur non videtur: nam quid magnum etfi id creditur quod videtur, fecundam illam ejufdem Domini fententiam, quando difcipulum arguit, dicens: Quia vi difti me credidifti, beati qui non vident & credunt, S. Aug. in Joan. tract. 79. 3. Their Hope is firmer, because built on a ftronger Foundation than Sight or Reafon, S.Matt. xxiv. 35. 2 S. Pet. i. 19. Пugadéses C 28 auto Ô THE ἀληθείας και σοφίας λόγΘ, και φωτεινέςερΘ. μᾶλλον τὰ ἡλία δυνάμεών ὅτι, καὶ εἰς τὰ βάθη δ' καρδίας καὶ τὸ νὰ εἰσδύνων, Fuft. Mart. c. Tryph. p. 350. USE. 1. Seeing they are bleffed that believe what they never faw; believe, that 1. There 1. There is a GOD, Exod. iii. 14. Pfal. xiv. 1. 2. He became Man, S. Job. i. 14. Gal. iv. 4. 6. He was crucified, S. Matt. xxvii. 35. Phil. ii. 8. 7. He rose again from the Dead, Aït. ii. 32. Rom. vi. 9. 1 Cor. XV. 20. 8. He afcended into Heaven, S. Luk. xxiv. 50. Act. i. 9, 10. Ephef.iv. 10. 9. He is now there interceding for us, Rom. viii. 34. Hebr. vii. 25. 10. He will come again, at the last Day, to judge the World, Asi, 11. x. 42. and xvii. 31. 2: Content not yourfelves with any low De gree of Faith, but ufe your utmost Endeavours to grow stronger and stronger in it, 2 S. Pet. iii. 18. S. Luk. xvii. 5. Phil. i. 20. Hebr. iv. 11. Confider, 1. What an Occafion of Sin Unbelief is, Hebr. iii. 12. and iv. 11. 2. By being ftrong in Faith, you will be fo 'bleffed; as, 1. To fubdue Sin, Rom. xvi. 26. Ephef.vi. 16. S. Fam. ii. 22. 2. To defpife the World, 1 S. Joh. v. 4. 3. To trust only in GOD, Phil. iv. 6. 1 S. Pet. V. 7. 4. To live in Heaven whilft on Earth, Phil. iii. 20. 3. What a deadly Obftruction Infidelity is to our Salvation, Hebr. iv. 6. S. Mar. xvi. 16. 20. Inafmuch as without Faith, 1. There is no Pleafing GOD here, Hebr. .xi. 6. 2. Nor any Enjoyment of Him hereafter, Rev. xxi. 8. 3. Seeing Chrift is rifen from the Dead, Cor.xv, Hence learn, 1. To fear and reverence Him as the Judge of the World, Pfal. ii. 9. Act. xvii. 31. Phil. ii. 9, 10. 2. To put your whole Trust and Confidence in Him, Rom. v. 10. 2 Cor. iv. 14. 3. To imitate the Refurrection of Christ, by rifing to Newness of Life, Rom.vi •4• Ephef. v. 14. Rev. xx. 6. 4. Seek thofe Things which are above, Coloff. iii. 1, 2. 2 Cor. iv. 18. S. JOH. |