AND

THE RESURRECTION

JUSTIFIED BY

WITNESSES IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH.

IN TWO PARTS:

THE FIRST SHOWING THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD:

THE SECOND, THAT IN HIM WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

PART II.

Οταν ὁ Θεός τι ποιῇ, λογισμῶν οὐκ ἐστι χρεία.—St. Chrysost. in Johan. Hom. lxvi. [tom. viii. p. 397 D.]

[This title was prefixed by the author to the second edition of the work,

THE

WITNESSES TO CHRISTIANITY;

OR, THE

CERTAINTY OF

OUR FAITH AND HOPE:

IN A DISCOURSE UPON 1 JOHN V. 7, 8.

PART II.

[The original title to the first edition.]

B 2

ΤΟ

THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD

GILBERT

[SHELDON,]

BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE

LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,

PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND, AND METROPOLITAN; AND ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL, &c.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE

To cast your eye upon the second part of that work, the first part of which I took the confidence to address unto your Grace the last year. It is concerning that ETERNAL LIFE which was with the Father, as St. John speaks; and now is manifested to us by his Son Jesus Christ, who hath published the most gracious purposes of God the Father towards us. The thoughts of which, as they cannot but be at all times exceeding welcome to devout Christians, (especially to those who are faithful ministers in Christ's kingdom), so never more than when they see their departure is at hand. In which regards I doubt not this treatise will be acceptable to your Grace, because it contains a description and full assurance of that happy life which you shortly expect. For there is nothing so reviving in our declining age, as to think that the passage out of this life leads us not to death, but to immortality: and that it will not take away our happiness from us, but give us a purer enjoyment of it: “Pleasure not mixed with a mortal body, but sincere and free from grief and sorrow. For when we shall be set at liberty and delivered from this prison, we shall come thither where is no labour, no sighing nor old age; but a life of perfect ease and tranquillity, that breeds no trouble, nor any other evil; but is serene and clear in an immovable rest and peace. Where the happy inhabitants sweetly contemplate the