1 By the resurrection 2 By the life 3 How Christ is said to be the resurrection and the life 2 In the opening of the second proposition I shall shew 1 Who it is that Christ meanes by these words he that believeth in me 2 How he that believeth in him shall live 3 In the opening the words whereby the power of Christ in raising of the dead is amplified I shall shew what is meant by these words though he were dead yet shall be live First the resurrection is somtimes taken in the Scripture figurativly What is ment by resurrection Ro. 6.4 5 Eph. 2.5 6 5.14 Colos 3. 1 Rev. 20.6 Rivet in Psal 16. p. 120 Rom. 6.4 Resurrectio prima est transitus a morte peccati ad vitam gratiae Sixtus Senens Biblioth Sanct. l. 6. Annot. 347. est spiritualis omnium salvandorum ex morte peccati reviviscentia Pareus in loc Mortuorum resurrectio dicitur Mortuorum itaque vocabulo non est nisi quod amisit animam de cujus facultate vivebat Corpus est quod amittit animam et amittendo fit mortuum ita mortui vocabulum corpori competit Porro si resurrectio mortui est mortuum autem non aliud est quam corpus corporis erit resurrectio Resurrectio est ejus quod cecidit Tortullian adversus Marcion l. 5. p. 308. 309. n. 17. edit Basil 1562. Caâ—o est quae moâ—te subruitur ut exinde a cadendo cadavere enuncielu Resurrectio caducae rei est i.e. carnis Idem carnis resur de l. p. 56 57. n. 14. for the raisin again of the soul from the death of sin to the life of grace which is called a passing from death to life Joh. 5.24 This is called the first resurrection which is nothing else but regeneration the efficient cause where of is Jesus Christ and this is only of the elect And it is also taken properly for the raising up of the body which was fallen by death And yet not of the body without the soul Anima est quae corpus 〈…〉 but as death doth dissolve that union and conjunction which is between the soul and the body so the resurrection shall restore it whence it is also called a regeneration Mat. 19.28 Piscat in loc Musc in Ps 2. p. 22.6 Bâ—cause as in the first birth a man 〈◊〉 brought forth consisting both of soul anâ— body so in the resurrection which is as another birth he shall be raised uâ— an intire man consisting both of soul anâ— body Briefly The resurrection properâ—â— taken is a supernaturall act of God whereby the same soul is reunited 〈◊〉 the same body to the end that the same person even the same intire man may be presented in the day of judgment to receive the rewards or punishment of his forepassed life Job 19.26 27â— 2 Cor. 5.10 This also is twofold according to the differing condition of the persons that are to be raised up The hour is comming in the which all that are in thâ— grave shall hear his voice and shaâ—â— come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5.28 29. By which iâ— appears that of the resurrection thuâ— properly taken Jesus Christ is also the author and efficient Secondly by The life we are to understand principally life spirituall and eternall together with all the degrees of it from its beginning in grace to its perfecting in glory in that it is such a life as is the fruit and consequent of faith as he immediatly expounds it when he saith He that believeth in me shall live never die This is indeed the life by way of excellency whereof Christ alone is the fountain and spring when he is called the Prince of life Act. 3.15 he that hath life in himself and from whom it is derived unto others who by faith draw it from him as water from a fountain According to that of Paul Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God All mankind by nature are in an estate of death and no one of them is put into an estate of life Calvin but he that is risen from the dead none can rise from the dead but by him who is the resurrection none can live but by him who is the life He that hath the son hath life and he that hath not the son hath not life 1 Joh. 5.12 In a word the life here spoken of is chiefly life spiritual and eternal begun in grace and to be perfected in glory unto which life there is no true way but by him who is the way the truth and the life Joh. 14.6 And thus you have heard what we are to understand by the resurrection and what by the life In the third place I am to shew how Christ is the resurrection and the life And I find it expressed by a learned author somewhat to this effect Christ Lanc in colos 3. as God is the resurection and the life properly and efficiently As man and as he hath died for our offences and was raised again for our justification so he is the resurrection and the life materially Cartw. Harm in loc as mediator and so he is the resurrection and the life formally even in and by whom they rise and live As he is the head of the body the Church so he is the life of the members by which they are raised from the dead and are alive unto God and do live the life of God that is the life of grace here and shall at last with him also live the life of glory When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Colos 3.4 To speake a little more particularly to the words Whereas he saith I am the resurrection and the life Singula verba emphatica Sunt Every word hath its force I and not another nor by prayer to another nor by the power of another but of my self and by mine own power I am not I have been or I shall be but I am This is a manner of speakeing which is most proper unto God who is ever the same and by thus speaking he would have us to know that it is alwayes in his power to do it when he will by whom he will and as he pleaseth For as the father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them even so the son quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 He speakes in the present tense time past is not and time to come is not yet Tempus praesens est tantum tempus Time hath no being but at present I am the resurrection more Hebraeorum aftes the manner of the Hebrews He useth the abstract for the concrete but in an active sense As when the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made unto us wisdom and
yet afterwards he saith Lazarus is dead His sicknesse was not unto death v. 24. in respect of Christ who could and would raise him up again Sharpius Symphonia loc 176. yet he was dead in respect of men by whom he could not be numbred amongst the living As Paul said of Eutichus when he was dead Act. 20.9 10. So may it be said of every believer even when he is dead his life is in him His grave is but his bed In mortis umbrajacet Jsa 57.2 and his death his sleep as Christ said of Lazarus when he was dead our friend Lazarus sleepeth v. 11. He sleeps in Jesus 1 Cor. 15.18 1 Thes 4.14 He is still united unto Christ he is a member of that body which lives eternally Calvin Death it self unto belivers is a deliverance from death And that of the Jews may be truly applyed unto them their grave is not the house of the dead but Both Chajim domus viventium the house of the living To the second though it should be understood of a spirituall death yet it is very suitable to the matter in hand And it is a forceable argument to confirm the faith of Martha in this that Jesus Christ was able to raise her brother again He that is able to raise the soul from the death of sin and to cause it to live the life of grace can also raise the body from death temporall unto life eternall in the last day and he that can raise the bodies of all the elect unto life eternall in the last day can raise the body of one man unto life temporall now Furthermore whereas he was sought unto for restoring of life to the body He answers that he was both able and ready to give more then they desired even life not only to the body but also to the soul Thereby taking an occasion from her insisting so much upon the life of the body to raise up her faith and to quicken her desires after the life of the soul which is of more necessary worthy concernment especially seing she was now conversing with one who had both these in his power to conferre And this was usuall with Christ to take occasion from mens discoursing of outward and corporall things to lead them on to spirituall things and from temporall to eternall as may be seen Johnn 4.13 c. Joh. 6.26 27. And this ariseth from that speciall respect which Christ bears unto the souls of his elect Whence it is that he makes it his first care useth more words and takes more paines to raise up Martha's dead faith then to raise up her brothers dead body And therefore he seemes to turn her off from the discourse of raising of her brother upon which she was so passionatly set and leades her into a discourse of spiritual life Although it be not to be doubted but that he comprehends under these expressions a double dispensation of grace viz. that he would raise the soul from a spiritual death to a spirituall life and the body from death temporall to life eternall a taste whereof he was now about to give in raising Lazarus from the dead I shall give you the Sum of all that hath been said by way of explication in this short paraphrase And it is as â—f Christ should have said Martha thou impliest by thy discourse that thou hast but low thoughts of me and my power and that thou imaginest me to be only the minister or dispenser of the resurrection that is such a one as only by prayer can obtain from another the power of raising the dead Thou lookest upon me only as a man that is a prophet and that by some more then ordinary grace and favour can prevail with God But thou must know and it is thy duty to believe that I am God as well as man and therefore that I am he who hath that power in and of my self by which I am able to raise and do raise the dead to life and that I am the very root and fountain of life by whom the dead do rise and the living do live whether naturally or spiritually temporally or eternally And also that he whosoever he be that by a true and lively faith doth lay hold and rely upon me as such whatsoever his condition may be yea though he were dead yet shall he live though he were dead in respect of the body yet by me shall he live again â—n the body Though he were dead in sin â—s every one is before he believeth yet by his faith in me shall he be raised up to live the life both of grace and glory I come now to the observations And first from the words absolutly considred as they propose the author efficient cause of the resurrection the life and as they contain an assertion of that absolute and independent power and interest which Jesus Christ hath in the resurrection and the life We may observe Obser 1 That Jesus Christ is the author of the resurrection and the life Or That Jesus Christ is the author and efficient cause both of the resurrection of the body and of the life both spirituall and eternall 2 From the subject of the resurrection and the life together with the qualification or limitation thereof or the person to whom only Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life held forth in the second proposition in these words He that believeth in him Obser 2 We may observe that Such as do sincerly believe in Christ are the only proper and adequare subject of the resurrection and the life Or Such as sincerly believe in Christ are they and they only who by the power of Christ are or shall be raised from death to life spirituall and eternall 3 From the amplification of Christs power from the extent of it He can and will raise them be their condition never so desperate Though he were dead yet shall he live Obser 3 The power of raising of believers unto life spirituall and eternal in respect of all the degrees of it is so fully and absolutly in the hands of Christ that nothing can hinder him from raising of them when he will Secondly from the words relatively considered 1. As they contain a doctrin delivered and asserted by Jesus Christ for the correcting and curing of Martha's ignorance and errour concerning his almighty power and godhead Obser 4 To be rightly informed in the doctrin of the power and interest which Jesus Christ hath in the resurection and the life is an especiall meanes to cure the ignorance and to prevent the errour we are apt to be corrupted withall concerning the power and Godhead of Christ 2 Whereas Jesus Christ for the moderating quieting comforting of Martha's spirit now apt to exceed in mourning and grieving for the death of her brother doth especially make choise of and insist upon the doctrine of the resurrection the informing her in and affecting her with his
profession of religion and godliness hath been derived upon you through more generations To mention the honour and dignity the wealth and greatness of any of your Progenitors what rich purchases they have made what stately structures they have raised what Titles of honour they have atchieved were but vanity and apt to occasion evil rather then good Abraham who is so much renowned in the book of God for his faith and obedience is remembred for no other purchase then of a place to bury in Gen. 22.15 for no other buildings then of Altars to the Lord and for no higher Titles then such as might serve to set forth his spiritual relations Abraham the father of the faithfull Chap. 23. Gen. 17.5 Rom. 4.17 Gen. 26.24 2 Chr. 20.7 Isa 41.8 the servant and the friend of God It sufficeth if with your patience I may mind you that as God by your Progenitors hath conveighed riches and honour in a large measure unto you so that it may be your care to leave them with a blessing to your progeny That which may add much to your contentment in the enjoying of them and to your encouragement in the using of them well amongst many other reasons this may be one That whatever they are they are not such as have been either hastily gotten or increased by usury or unjust gain which would have left them without a blessing Pro. 20.21 28.8 I received it from that worthy Knight and your honoured Grandfather Sr. Samuel Rolle when he was about to leave the world that he acknowledged it with thankfulness to God as an especial blessing that neither he nor his father nor his Grandfather notwithstanding their many and great transactions in the world had ever borrowed or lent upon usury And indeed it is no less a blessing to be kept from being tempted with the gain of lending then to be delivered from the necessity of borrowing upon usury What pity it were that an inheritance so justly acquired and accompanied with such a blessing should ever be misused or mispent Let the Justice Temperance Sobriety Meekness Moderation together with those other vertues which were eminent in your Ancestors become yet more eminent in you Their hatred of vice and love and practice of vertue hath rendred their memory gratefull and blessed Prov. 10.7 The very instruments and occasions of evil were an offence unto them Amongst other disorders against which they testified their dislike gaming 's at cards and dice have not been so much as tolerated in their families as I have been credibly informed for well near if not for more then a full century of years The religious order observed by your great grandfathers father Henry Rolle in the government of his family especially in the sanctification of the Lords day hath been long since made publick to the world I hope the mentioning of these things will not be unto others an occasion of envy nor to you of vain-glory My only aim is to offer them as incitements to godliness and vertue and as examples worthy of imitation and chiefly to you with whom I trust they will not be unapt to prevail The beginning and continuance of them was their honour and the perfecting and propagating of them will be yours It is no less honourable than easie to add unto that which hath been well begun And it is a far greater diminution of honour to posterity to come short of the vertues of their Ancestors then of their outward estate or splendor in the world Quanto majorum vita praeclarior tanto posterum socordia flagitiosior But I trust through grace that there will be no cause to that those things which have been so happily begun and so long continued and that with such remarkable testimonies of the favour and blessing of God shall receive either an end or an abatement in you It was cause of rejoycing to hear how affectionately you received the wise and holy admonitions and counsels of your dying father I hope they will ever live with you and you in them I shall add no more but that which David by inspiration from God when he was a dying spake unto Solomon his Son and which the Lord by him speaks unto every son of a religious parent Know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever That the Lord may be the guide of your youth the strength and shield of your life and in life and death your exceeding great reward is the hearts desire and prayers to God of him who is SIR Yours most affectionately and humbly to serve you for your souls good William Trevethick TO THE READER THE intent and scope of the ensuing discourse is the comforting of the living and the commemorating and vindication of the dead For the former the grounds are the same which Jesus Christ made use of to the same purpose being taken from that which is a main article of our faith and the support and stay of our Christian hope to wit the resurrection of the dead together with the power and interest which Christ hath in it For the latter that which is here delivered hath not proceeded from any great affection that I bear to Panegyricke or Encomiastical Pulpit-discourses in the behalf of the dead I know well how much they are distasted by many grave and learned Divines who have judged them prejudicial to the reputation of the Minister in exposing him to censure to the honour of the dead in that the forwardness of the Son to celebrate their vertues may occasion others to become the more busie in discovering and publishing their vices and to the edification of the living many of which may be too apt to take occasion therehence to grow the more regardless of well doing presuming that however they behave themselves while they live they shall not miss of praises enough when they are dead Nevertheless their censure being not so general but that even themselves admit of some exceptions As where the person hath been of eminent desert their lives free from manifest scandal or where their names either have been or are apt to be traduced As for the former reasons I have most usually in my Sermons upon such occasions totally forborn them so for the latter I have been moved to make some use of them in this and I trust without offence to any that are sober minded for if they consider what great pains and charge many heathens have been at in embalming and interring the bodies of such of their dead Herod Euterpe as deserved well of them while they lived only because they supposed it a * Su 53. prema officia justa Vocarunt Latitini quod juste fierent lis qui de nobis bene