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    be nothing new in the following observations ; and they are thrown out for the sake of some more able hand to consider particularly the texts 1 have alluded to , relating to this subject , and prove if an v of them or others

    militate against the supposition pf the first resurrection taking place in the same manner as our Saviour ' s * which was the first-fruits pf them that sleep . I repeat , after the same manner , as the affairs of the world were not

    interrupted by it at the time , nor was either his resurrection or ascension known or seen by any in the world , but by his disciples only . A The great consolation of the Christians in those days of vengeance , and with which St . ^ aul exhorts them to

    comfort one another , is , the connexion these judgments have with the resurrection of the just , and the change of the righteous living at the coming of oar Lord from heaven ( and hot before );

    by which they will escape all these judgments , and stand before the Son of Man , in that day , emphatically so called ; as also the day of his appearing , as distinct from the general resurrection and final judgment at the last day . Our Saviour calls it the

    resurrection of the just , Luke xiv . 14 ; St . John , the first resurrection , Rev * xx . 5 , 6 3 and St . Paul , the resurrection of those that are Christ's at his coming , I Cor . xv . 23 . These three authorities appear to me to point at two periods of time ; a first and second resurrection , most distinctl y and

    literally ; the first , at our Lord ' s second coming , the other at the end of Christ ' s reign , which St . Paul speaks of , when death , the lost enemy , is to be destroyed , and of course , there will be no subjects to be raised , but those only who have previously died , and been left in the grave till the last or general judgment .

    I conceive that the first resurrection may take place without any interruption of the affairs of this world ; I mean only as far as our Savitiur ' s resurrection and ascension did , and as relates to the kingdom of God upon

    earth . This great event will be accomplished after the first resurrection takes place , as the spread of Christianity did after our Lord ' s resurrection and ascension : see Luke xvii . 24-1-36 , inclusive . There will be , undoubtedly ,

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    9 great changes , g ^ eat judgments , great glory and great happiness , till dekt h shall be swallowed up in ytet € >!? y ; But the immortality of the righteous will be a distinct happiness . ? All ;

    these things , St . Paul informs us , are to take place at the last trump $ and they are every where in Scripture spoken of as coming on the world suddenly and unexpectedly . St > Paul in his 1 Cor . xv ., in the close of his

    argument on this head , which is highly deserving our regard , tells us , that he explains to us a mystery , when he informs us , that " the dead shall be raised , and die living changed at the last trump ; for the trumpet ^ sa yS he , " shall sound . " Now , the words " last trump , " and " the trumpet shall

    sound , " are evidently metaphorical . In the emblematical language of prophecy , the sound of the trumpet always signifies some very great change in human affairs , which would be , followed by such events as are the main objects of the prophecy . Thus St . John tells usi Rev . x .- in the words

    of the arch-angel , whom he beheld in the vision , coming down from heaven , " that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel , when he shall beginto sound , the mystery of God shall be finished . " Is not this the mystery which St . Paul unfolds to us in 1 Cor .

    xv . ( see Evanson ' s Sermon on the Resurrection ); and also in 1 Thess . iv . 14 , and following verses , to chap , v . 11 ? Observe particularly the 4 tb , 9 th and 10 th verses of chap , v . * and the 16 th verse of chap . iv . as applicable to the escape of the righteous , when the Saviour comes to inflict the

    threatened vengeance on his enemies . See also Luke xxi . 34—36 . The apostle Paul assures us , that the trumpet of the seventh angel shall at length sound ; the great changes predicted by it , assuredly take places ( one of which , I conceive , will be the

    testoration to life of the virtuous dead , and the sudden change of the virtuous living , to immortal happiness , ) and lead to the great and final revolution of all the kingdoms of the earth , and the

    conversion pfthe Jews to Christianity ; when the kingdoms of * Ai # world will become the kingdoms of oui ^ God and of his . Christ . The apostle calls it the last trump , because the glorious kingdom of God will then immediately

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    On the Resurrection . $ f } $

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1818, page 363, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2477/page/19/