A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

This resurrection of Christ is the most joyful event that ever came no pass; because hereby Christ rested from the great and difficult work of purchasing redemption, and received God's testimony, that it was finished. The death of Christ was the greatest and most wonderful event that ever came to pass; but that has a great deal in it that is sorrowful. But by the resurrection of Christ, that sorrow is turned into joy. The head of the whole church, in that great event, enters on the possession of eternal life; and the whole church is, as it were, "begotten again to a lively hope," 1 Pet. i.3. Weeping had continued for a night, but now joy-cometh in the morning, the most joyful morning that ever was. This is the day of the reigning of the head of the church, and all the church reigns with him. This is spoken of as a day which was worthy to be commemorated with the greatest joy of all days: Psal. cxviii.24. "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." And therefore this above all other days is appointed for the day of the church's spiritual rejoicing to the end of the world, to be weekly sanctified, as their day of holy rest and joy, that the church therein may rest and rejoice with her head. And as the 3d chapter of Genesis is the most sorrowful chapter in the Bible; so those chapters in the evangelists that give an account of the resurrection of Christ, may be looked upon as the most joyful chapters in all the Bible: for those chapters give an account of the finishing of the purchase of redemption, and the beginning of the glory of the head of the church, as the greatest seal and earnest ⟨p. 183⟩of the eternal glory of all the rest.

It is further to be observed, that the day of the gospel most properly begins with the resurrection of Christ.—Till Christ rose from the dead, the Old-Testament dispensation remained▪ but now it ceases, all being fulfilled that was shadowed forth in the typical ordinances of that dispensation; so that here most properly is the end of the Old-Testament night, and Christ rising from the grave with joy and glory, was as the joyful bride groom of the church, as a glorious conqueror to subdue their enemies under their feet; or was like the sun rising as it were from under the earth, after a long night of darkness and coming forth as a bride groom, prepared as a strong man to run his race, appearing in joyful light to enlighten the world. Now that joyful and excellent dispensation begins, that glorious dispensation, of which the prophets prophesied so much; now the gospel sun is risen in glory, "and with healing in his wings," that those who fear God's name, may go forth, and gow up as calves of the stall.