crucified both Lord and Christ but presently they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest men and brethren what shall wee doe It made their hearts pant to thinke they had offended him that now being risen from the dead was made both Lord and Christ and so able to take what terrible revenge he would of them Consider what is written in Matt. 21.44 There our Saviour bringing out the 118. Psal a Psalme of the Resurrection cites this text The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the Corner he adds that whosoever shall fall on this stone through disobedience offend and stumble against it shall be broken it shall worke commonly his rume and confusion for this world but on whom soever it shall fall it shall grind him to powder on whom soever Christ at his second coming shall with all the weight and might and vehemency of indignation fall he shall then make powder and meere mish-mash of him Comparate vos cum Judaeis illi contempserunt pendentem in ligno vos contemnitis sedentem in coelo Aug. de verbis Domini 45. If therefore Christ be risen you now speake not a word nor doe a deed against the son of man but against him that is declared to be the Son of God Compare your felves with the Jews they contemned him when he hung upon the crosse you contemne him when he sits in Heaven Obs 2 Second Observation That Christ is not onely risen but risen as the first fruits to sanctify and ascertiane our Resurrection as the first fruits under the law being offered to God were for the sanctifying and procuring a blessing upon the whole harvest now this that Christ is risen as the first fruits by his Resurrection to sanctifie and warrant our Resurrections divers things confirme it First The example of those that he actually brought with him from the dead when himselfe rose Matt. 27.52.53 And the graves were opened and many bodies of Saints which slept arose this little rast before hand showes what his Resurrection shall be powerfull unto hereafter even unto the raising of the dead bodies of the Saints that sleepe he set but two or three prisoners free but the goale-delivery of all his he will performe hereafter as he is powerfull to execute so he is wise not to precipitate and hasten counsels but stay the fulness of time Secondly The vertue of his life and Resurrection to revive us diverse speeches of himselfe show as that As the living Father hath sent me John 6.57 and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me live by me so that I will raise him up at the last day as foure times in that Chapter he repeats that phrase Againe that speech to Martha talking with him about her brother Lazarus his death I am the Resurrection and the life c. Also that Now is the bour come that the Son of man should be glorified John 11.25 verily verily John 12.23 except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and dye it abideth alone but if it dye it bringeth forth much fruit Thirdly The vertue of his life and Resurrection to revive us two speciall appellations of his in Sciripture show namely the appellation of an Head and the appellation of a Captaine of a head he being as a head unto his Church and the Church the very body and members of him their head if the body and members shall not be revived there is no life in the very head it selfe the head would derive life unto the body hence from this union betweene the head and members are we said to be already quickned together with him raised together with him Eph. 2.5 nay set down together with him in heavenly places Col. 2.12 The other appellation is of a Captaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that he is called the Captaine of life yee killed the Captaine of life whom God had raised from the dead Act. 3.15 c. It became him for whom are all things Heb. 2.10 to make the Captaine of their Salvation perfect through sufferings if Jesus therefore be a Captain of life and Salvation he is not onely to save himself but his Companies also that follow his colours he is not a Captaine of life and Salvation but of death and dectruction that lets his company perish in the field though himselfe come safe off without any hurt Fourthly So enfolded one in the othe◠is Christs Resurrection and our Resurrection that the one is made to imply the other so when the Apostle preached especially Christs Resurrection yet the Priests and Sadduces tooke it so as preaching our Resurrection through him As they spake unto the people Act. 4.1.2 the priests c. came in upon them being greived that they preached through Jesus the Resurrection of the dead So St. Paul in his Apology before the Pharisees and the Sadduces instead of making his Apology for Christs Resurrection turnes it into the generall about our Resurrection as indeed the one enfolding the other so he might set the Pharisee and Sadducee together by the ears that so while the Wolves fight the Lambe might escape Act. 23.6 Men and brethren I am a Pharisee of the hope and Resurrection of the dead c. Lastly To name no more authorities consider the very next verse of my text and there you have Christ made the author of life and Resurrection as Adam of death for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead And in the five and fortieth verse you have another comparison that as the first Adam was made a living Soul sc to become the fountaine of naturall life to all his posterity So the second Adam Christ was made a quickning spirit sc to become the fountaine of spirituall or Heavenly life to all his The first Adam was made a living Soul the secend Adam was made a quickning spirit Now before we come to the Uses a question or two is not unseasonable to be made and answered Qu. 1 First How Christ is the first fruits of all that slept 1 King 17. seeing the widow of Sareptaes son was raised to life by Elias 2 Kings 4. and the Shunamites son and a dead man by touch of Elisha'es bones 2 Kings 13. and three by our Saviour himselfe in his life time sc Jairus his daughter in the chamber uncarried out the widows onely son upon the biere carried out at the gates of the City and Lazarus having been four dayes in the grave how therefore was Christ the first fruits seeing these and those also as it may seeme Matt. 27.52 were raised before him Ans 1 For Answer Observe first That for all them that were raised to life except perhaps those Matt. 27. there was no proper Resurrection not such a Resurrection as we professe in our Creeds not such a Resurrection as that
argument is this that the Jews saw they must either deny the Resurrection or necessarily grant that he was the Messias and therefore they tooke the best way they could for hindering any supposedness of it confessing that if the Resurrection was once probably blazed abroad the last errour would be worse then the first Matt. 27.64 and 42. Come downe now from the crosse and wee will believe said the chiefe Priests and elders Come up from the dead and wee will believe they could not but have confessed this to have been an argument much stronger and therefore Christ was the right Messias Vse 5 Fifthly If Christ be risen from the dead then he will undoubtedly also come to judgment for why rose he from the dead but to receive all power in heaven and in earth Matt. 28.18 and to have every knee bow unto him Phil. 2.10 And why received he this power but to execute it and make every knee bow unto him and where as yet appears this execution when there are so many stiffe-knees yet that will not bow unto him I meane disobedient ones that will not obey him and therefore certainly he will come one day to judgment when he shall make all them that will not bend now breake that will not bow now under his mercy bow then under his justice that will not now kisse the top of his golden Scepter reached out in grace and loving kindness be crushed by that Scepter-bruising them in displeasure see the connexion which Scripture usually makes usually joyning or subjoyning judgment to the mention of the Resurrection him hath God raised up the third day Act. 10.40.42 c. and what then and commanded us to preach unto the people c. so Act. 17.30.31 but now he commandeth all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world by him whom he hath raised from the dead so 1 Thes 1.10 and to wait for his Son from Heaven and why what assurance for it why the assurance of his Resurrection whom he hath raised from the dead there is the assurance If therefore Christ be risen from the dead he will certainly also come to judgment he will not suffer the world alwayes to run so upon wheels to be so disorderly and full of confusion man rebelling against his maker the godly trampled under foot by the wicked servants riding on horseback and Princes going a foot the tayl standing where the head should be c. he will not alwayes suffer this confusion but those times of the restitution of all things shall come Act. 3.21 when every thing shall be restored to its own place when all gimmels shall be right when all disorder and confusion shall flee away when all things that offend shall be taken out of his Kingdome Vse 6 Sixthly If Christ be risen from the dead then sin is conquered for the sting of death is sin so long therefore as death had this deadly sting in it death could not have been conquered by any son of Adam every son of Adam being obnoxious to death by vertue of morte morieris thou shalt die the death though he had no sin in him actuall or originall but onely the imputation of Adams disobedience that Christ therefore a son of Adam rose victoriously from the dead victoriously never to returne thither again Act. 13.34 or death to have no more dominion over him Rom. 6.9 for otherwise Lazarus and others were raised from the dead but it was to returne thither again it must needs be that sin was conquered by him See the Scripture making this use of Christs Resurrection the foil and conquest of sin Act. 13.38 so Paul after he had urged and proved Christs Resurrection what infers he thereupon Bee it known unto you therefore that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins so he was delivered for our sins and was raised again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 our Justification from sin is especially given to his Resurrection because by his Resurrection he did Demonstrate and make it plaine that sin was conquered his death would have done us no good if it had been possible that he could have beene holden by the power of death so Who is he that condemneth Rom. 8.34 it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again what is the reason of this correction of this yea rather c was not Christs dying enough to free us from any condemning by sin yes but it was because it was the death of him that had power also to rise again c. and therefore the redemption of us from our sin appeared especiall in his powerfull Resurrection So in the present Chapter If Christ be not risen 1 Cor. 15.17 then are we yet in our sins implying that his Resurrection is the conquest of sin we have therefore what to answer all the infernall powers of Hell challenging us of sin even to answer them with the Apostle Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again c. Vse 7 Seventhly If Christ be risen from the dead then Piety and Religion comfort your selves that hope is in a strong redeemer and one that can deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies he that was too hard for death will be too hard for any of your enemies he hath slaine the great Goliah and is he not able then to put any weaker Philistim to flight for you he hath broken the barres of death and is he not able to breake the barres and gates of all the other enemies be comforted therefore against all feare and terrour Not a haire of your heads can perish without his providence and if it be his providence it is no great matter though yee lose your heads too they that can take your heads from off your shoulders cannot take your crownes from of your heads they may tumble your bodies into the grave they cannot seale the graves mouth upon them Well said St. Paul in comfort against all his enemies and all his afflictions 2 Timo. 1.10 and 12. I know whom I have trusted sc him that being risen from the dead hath abolished death and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day If Christ therefore be risen yee know whom yee trust even him that being raised from the dead hath abolished death and is able to keepe that which you commit unto him against that day Vse 8 Eighthly If Christ be risen from the dead then profaneness and irreligion beware your selves your disobedience is against as strong a revenger and one that is of as great power to confound his foes as to save his servants Their terrified hearts knew this Act. 2.36.37 who no sooner by St. Peters Sermon were they perswaded of the Resurrection and that God had made that same Jesus whom they
a blessed Resurrection let us labour to belong to the first fruits It is strange that we should thinke to continue nothing but very tares and stinking weeds in Gods field and thinke at harvest time to be carried home into his barne as the best Corne. Beloved however it prove with us that many a tare and filthy weed may be brought home among the good Corne and many a good eare of Corne left behind in the field yet at that harvest the end of the world not one tare in Gods field shall be brought home into his barn nor one eare of good Corne left behind to rot in the field Let us therefore strive to belong unto the first fruits if we look to be blessed in the first fruits Secondly If Christ be risen as the first fruits then let this confirme all them that belong unto the first fruits in the assured blessed hope of their undoubted glorious Resurrection if the poorest despised member of Christs body shall not rise again to glory then Christ himselfe is yet in the power of death death gnawes upon him It is the Apostle himselfe that is thus bold But if there be no Resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15.13 then is Christ not risen the Head is not in Heaven if any of the members shall for ever rot in the earth Observe how still the Scripture makes the blessed hope that is in us of our Resurrections to rest and build it selfe upon Christs Resurrection Job 19.25.26 so Job I know that my Redeemer liveth is one that death hath no power over and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and what then Job what if thou knowest that why I know then that I shall not alwayes be wormes meat but though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God So the Apostle having prayed that God would give the Ephesians enlightned minds to know the excellency of the happiness that awaits them in Heaven in these words That yee may know what is the hope of his calling Eph. 1.18 and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Lest they should thinke But how should wee ever attaine this happiness wee poore mortall corruptible creatures that dayly dy and rot and putrify in the grave and no signe of any such ensuing glory therefore he prayes withall that they may know the greatness of Gods power in raising up Christ from the dead as an assurance that he will also raise up them And that ye may know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead verse 19.20 because as it follows he raised up Christ to be the Head over all things to his Church which is his body the fulness of him which filleth all in all and therefore Christ is maimed and imperfect without his body His body therefore doubtles shal be assumed at last to him body and head to make one perfect man and one full Christ Till we all come in the unity of the faith Eph. 4.13 and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man c. what firmer hope therefore of our Resurrections then that wee are thus to be the fulness of Christ who should otherwise be a maimed Christ an imperfect Christ a halfe Christ a head without a body Further for this point makes that which the Apostle hath Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection and the power of his Resurrection to me ward to raise mee up also by an influence of the head upon the members after all my fellowship with him in his sufferings 1 Pet. 1.21 Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God sc nothing doubting but that he would also raise you up having raised him up your first fruits Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and have the keyes of Hell and of death have the keyes he slipt not out onely himselfe deceiving the keeper but he came out powerfully with keyes in his hand to let out also whomsoever of his he would he did not indeed as Samson did with the door of the gate of the City Gaza carry away the door and all that whosoever would might go forth but onely tooke away the keyes of the door to let out and lock in still whom he would Thirdly If Christ be risen as the first fruits then let this comfort us against the feare of death if we reckon of a day wherein he that dyed for us and rose again will for that which is sowne in corruption raise it again in incorruption which is sowne in dishonour raise it in glory sown in weakness raise it in power which is sowne a naturall body raise it a spirituall body Why should we much be afraid of death death doâ—s but spoil us of our rags to give us robes does but pull downe our old ruinous house to reare up a new one and a stately one in the roome We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved 2 Cor. 5.1 we have a building of God a house not made with hands he that now fears death much hath but either a little faith or an ill conscience and no marvaile if these two be afraid to dye the one looking at death as an end of all his hopes and the other as the beginning of all his misery But a good faith and a good conscience will not feare that which it knows can neither hold it nor hurt it it knows that Christ is risen as the first fruits and it knows that it belongs to those first fruits it knows what that means John 6.39 This is the Fathers will that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day And that and if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8.10 but the spirit is life because of righteousness And that Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himselfe likewise tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death the Divell He knowes that that which was spoken in a figure to the Jews shall in the very letter be performed to him and all Christs members Esay 26.19 Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing yee that dwell in dust c. and that which was a parable to them shall be a truth to the Saints That the valley of dry bones that were very dry Ezek. 37.5 the four winds shall blow upon them and breath shall come into them and they shall live and stand up upon
glorious successe likewise in their preaching to convert so many of the Jews Act. 6.7 even a great company of priests themselves and such numbers of the gentiles unto the faith these speake the Resurrection these are not the works of one that lyeth in the power of death Let me tell you there is more in that of S. Paul then every one thinks If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Rom. 10.9 and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Let me tell you further that the paucity of good livers shews plainly the paucity of true believers for this point If I did verily beleeve that Christ were risen from the dead and all power now given him in Heaven and in earth Matt. 28.18 would I so slovenly serve him as I do my service to him is such as if he were rotting in the grave and not sitting at the right hand of the Father why do I therefore Cozen my selfe and others with a vaine conceit that I beleeve the Resurrection Lastly let me tell you that if we do in some measure believe Christs Resurrection yet the more evidences and arguments to show it the sweeter and stronger growes our faith The things indeed to be beleeved cannot be demonstrated by reason but yet this may be demonstrated by reason that it is very reasonable to beleeve them or to speake with S. Aug. that they may be demonstrated by reason 1. Quòd non sit stultum talia credere deinde quòd sit stultum talia non credere first that it is not a foolish thing to beleeve those things and furthermore that it is a foolish thing not to beleeve them The more evidences and arguments therefore to demonstrate the too too reasonablenes of Christs Resurrection the sweeter and stronger growes our faith Forasmuch as many have taken in hand Luke 1.1 c. that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though at my first Catechizing in the principles of Religion I should simply beleeve the Articles of faith yet to know the certainty of them much establisheth my faith Hereunto tends that Rom. 1.11 for I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end you may be established and night and day praying exceedingly that wee might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 1 Thes 3. namely by further doctrine and proofe of the Gospel more and more evidence the truth of it unto you That therefore the Christian may know the certainty of this thing wherein he hath been Catechized namely Christs Resurrection from the dead the third day he rose again from the dead these things may sufficiently do it First the prediction or testimony of the Old Testament Secondly the testimony of so many eye witnesses especially the Grand-Jury of the Apostles to whom he often appeared in the flesh after the Resurrection Thirdly the testimony of the spirit which after his Resurrection and Ascension Christ sent down among his Apostles and Disciples to give them extraordinary holines of life extraordinary power to work miracles extraordinary boldnes and zeale to preach the Gospel extraordinary successe in preaching it these things could not be done by one that was in the power and hands of death but by one that was set down at the power and right hand of the Father And first the prediction of the Old Testament is a good argument to the Christian to beleeve Christs Resurrection Codicem portat Judaeus undo credat Christianus librarii nostri facti sunt quomodo solent servi post dominos codices ferre ut illi portando deficiant illi legendo proficiant Aug. Ps 56. because he sees he is taught to beleeve no new thing but that onely which hath been so often and so long agoe foretold by those Scriptures which the very Jew the maine enemy to the Resurrection cannot deny nay zealously maintaines The Jews carry the bookes by which the Christians may believe they are become our book-carriers even as servants carry their masters bookes after them that whereas the one are weary with carrying the other may profit by reading But where are these predictions of the Old Testament surely had we all those places which our Saviour alledged to the two Disciples beginning at Moses and all the Prophets Luke 24.37 and expounding to them in all the Scriptures the things that concerned his passion and his glory we should be marvellously furnished or had we those which it's likely S. Peter used in his Sermon Act. 3.24 All the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these dayes or those by which Apollo so mightily convinced the Jews Act. 19. shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ Act. 28.23 and those whereby Paul continued perswading the Jews concerning Jesus from morning till evening both out of Moses and the Prophets we should be richly furnished understood we all these But howsoever let these express places prove the Resurrection First that of the sixteenth Psalm urged by St. Peter Act. 2. My flesh shall rest in hope because thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption Secondly that of the second Psalm urged by S. Paul Act. 13. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee manifestly declared thee to be my very son now by my raising thee from the dead Rom. 1.4 Thirdly that of Esay 52.14 15. As many were astonied at thee c. so shall he sprinkle many nations the Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see c. And that of Esay 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes c. Fourthly not to name more particulars all those places prove this that show he must conquer death for how should he conquer death for others that were deteined by it himself Esay 25.7 he wil destroy in this mountaine the face of the covering cast over all people and the vail that is spread over all nations Hos 13.14 And I will ransom them from the power of the grave Fiftly all those places that speak of his everlasting Kingdome Vnto us a child is borne Esay 9.7 and the government shall be upon his shoulders of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end c. these and many other the like places may assure us against Jew or Gentile that for the Resurrection or any other mystery about the Saviour of the world we believe no new thing but that onely which often and long agoe hath been foretold by those Scriptures that were highly magnified not onely by the Jew but also by the Gentile when Ptolomy that
1 Peter 1.4 that fiery tryall whereof St. Peter speakes should have no power upon them should not drive them to impatience not to desist or desert their Evangelical callings but hold out 20 30 40 years together unto the death and in death Moses was a godly Saint and yet driven to a little impatience that he was weary of his calling through the vexful behaviour of the Jews If thou deale thus with me Numb 11.15 kill me I pray thee out of hand Elias was a godly Saint yet driven to a little impatience when the storme fell so fierce upon him It is enough now O Lord take away my life 1 Kings 19.4 for I am not better then my fathers Job was a Saint who like him and yet driven to a great deale of impatience when he opened his mouth and cursed his day Let the day perish wherein I was borne c. Job 3. for a whole Chapter together But where do we ever read that all the afflictions the world could heap upon them put the Apostles into any impatience or that their spirits were any whit broken or their hearts dejected with them nay it broke their hearts when others pityed them and would have had them favoured themselves in Christs sufferings What meane you to weep and breake my heart Act. 21.13 Act. 20.22.24 for I am ready not onely to be bound but also to dye c. And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem But none of these things move me neither count I my life deare unto my selfe c. And I take pleasure in infirmites c. 2 Cor. 12.10 whence could they have this patience nay this joy in all their tribulations but from the power of the Holy Ghost And therefore I marvell not that St. Paul should so often urge this for an evident proofe of the truth of his ministry his Apostleship his Gospel that he preached namely his patience and indefatigable enduring of all misery and all affliction for the Gospels sake 2 Cor. 6.4 and 11.23 c. Gal. 6.17 Col. 4.18 2 Cor. 4.7 and 10. In all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much patience c. And from henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus And Remember my bonds Well I will conclude this with his reasoning we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us alwayes bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body That it may appeare that Jesus Christ is alive indeed by giving such strength and power to such a frail creature as Paul otherwise of himselfe was for that it is not to be understood of the life of glory to be manifested afterwards in the body but so as it is already expounded the drift and circumstances shew That the excellency of the power c. in our mortall body c. and because in the fourteenth verse he proceeds there to that sense Sixthly Grace of tenderest love and affection to the Salvation if they could of the whole world to the Salvation of those they never saw nor heard of before to the Salvation of those that it cost them many a long tedious journey to come into them to the Salvation of those that when they came among them gave them but cold entertainment even sought their death that came to bring them the word of life such love whence could they have it but from this power of the Holy Ghost Consider but how cold and back-ward men are in this business to build up one another even neighbour his neighbour and friend his freind in their Salvations and say if these men must not needs have been acted and moved with something in them more then flesh and blood that made them so zealous and earnest for the Salvation of the whole world of the unknowne world the remote world the injurious world that sought their deaths as much as they did their lives Take a scantling of this their earnest zeale and love to every Souls Salvation in St. Paul First In St. Pauls sollicitous care and feare nothing so full of care and feare for anothers good as love None so loving therefore as St. Paul that had such cares and fears and jealousies in his heart as touching others Salvations 2 Cor. 7.5 Without were fightings within were fears Within fears namely lest by some means men should be tempted and drawne away again from the faith Gal. 4.19 2 Cor. 11.2 and 28. Col. 2.1 And I am jealous over you with a godly jealousie And besides those things that are without that which cometh upon me dayly 1 Thes 3.1 the care of all the Churches And I wish you knew what great conflict namely of feare and care I have for you And for this cause when I could no longer forbeare namely for care and fear about you Secondly See it in St. Pauls wise and studious diligence by art and by industry 1 Col. 28. striving if he could to win every Soul Though I be free from all men yet have I made my self servant to all 1 Cor. 9.19 that I might gain the more that we may present every man perfect c. Nothing so painfull and devicefull of any course to speede as love Thirdly See it in St. Pauls earnest obtestations and entreaties that men would regard themselves and that which makes for their own Salvations no so humble a supplicant as true love the tender mother would beg it on her knees at her sons hand that he would reclaime and know his own good so St. Paul most humbly beseeches all that they would know their own good know the things that belong unto their own peace Now then we are Embassadors in Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 and 2.6 we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God And we then as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vaine 2 Cor. 10.1 And Now I Paul my self beseech you by the meekness c. and gentleness of Christ c. To name one place more for all If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ Phil. 2.1 if any comfort of love c. what would beg so hard for no other boone but onely that men would know the things that belong to their own peace but onely Love Fourthly See it in St. Pauls abundant thanks and prayers for those whom God hath vouchsafed to call unto the participation of his heavenly truth It is no small measure of love that makes him so sensible of others eternall good others that what were they to him but onely that they were the Sons of Adam so sensible as to be so abundant in thanks to God for that blessing unto them and in prayers to God for the continuance of it Most of
their feet an exceeding great army he knowes that that of Esdras though it be Apocryphall writing yet it is Canonicall truth 2 Esd 4.40.42.43 Go thy way to a woman with childe when she hath fulfilled her nine moneths if her wombe may keepe the birth any longer within her For as shee that is with childe hasteth to escape the necessitie of the travell so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them That which thou desirest to see shall be shewed thee from the beginning and therefore if Christ be risen the first fruits what need I feare that that can neither hold me long nor hurt me at all that can neither end my hopes nor can begin my miseries Fourthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits then let this comfort us against immoderate griefe and sorrow for the death of friends Why should we immoderately grieve for the death of friends whose death for their Souls is their present gaine and for their bodies but onely a casting of the seed into the ground to rot and rest there for a while that it may sprout and spring up a farre more glorious body greene and fresh and a goodlier body then it fell in as is intimated here in verse 37 And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body which shall be c. but God giveth it a body as it pleaseth him a greene and fresh a statelyer and goodlyer body by farre then it was sowne and so for their Soul death is their present gaine if so be they can say with Paul to me to live is Christ for then it will follow Phil. 1.21 to me to dy is gaine Againe except it be no gaine to be delivered out of a sinfull and miserable body yea a sinfull and miserable world and carried into a holy and happy place where sin and misery never peept in It is our weakness and errour to thinke of our friends departed as Jacob of Joseph Joseph was in great honour in Egypt and Jacob when he saw his bloodied coat thought that surely an evill beast had devoured him and Joseph was not but Joseph what bids he his brethren tell their Father to comfort him You shall tell my Father of all my glory in Egypt So wee when wee see the bloodied coats of our friends as 't were Gen. 45.9 2 Cor. 5.4 their dead bodies I meane the garments of the Soul we are ready to thinke that death that evill beast hath made an end of them and they are not but tell my Father c. So let us thinke of all the glory that they have in Heaven and be comforted Why should we therefore immoderately grieve for our friends whose death for their Souls is their present gaine c Wee that do so immoderately grieve for the death of our friends do we not mind what is the first thing used to be read at their burials I am the Resurrection and the life and while the earth is cast upon the body Forasmuch as it hath pleased c. do we not mind these things If we mind these things certainly we have either little faith in us to believe the glorious Resurrection of them that dy in Christ or little hope in us to perswade us that this our friend is dead in Christ or little patience in us under the good will and providence of God wisely ordering all things If it be impatience in us let us consider Job and what he said when among other things God had taken away his seven Sons and three daughters at once Job 1.21 The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away Blessed be the name of the Lord. If it be because that we have little hope that our friends are dead in Christ why do we not then grieve for them when wee see that our friends do not live in Christ this griefe would be profitable it would make us seeke their amendment If lastly it be because we have little faith in us to believe the glorious Resurrection of them that dye in Christ Let us consider that if Christ be risen the third day then all that dy in Christ shall as undoubtedly rise the last day If we believe sayes the Apostle that Jesus dyed and rose againe even so them also which sleep in Christ will God bring with him also 1 Thes 4.14 If therefore Christ be risen c. their graves are but their beds to rest their wearied bones in a while till the day of the Lord dawne and that great trumpet sound to waken them out of their sleep and who now that loves one another dearlyest mournes when he bids him Good night to go lye downe in his bed till next morning Fifthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits Let this comfort us against the present frailties and weaknesses and vileness of these bodies of ours bodies that are so soone puling and complaining for a little excesse of cold or heat a little defect of meat or drinke bodies that are so soone wearied and tyred out with a little labour and pains in the Course of ones calling bodies that are so often vexing us with cramps and aches and sundry sicknesses bodies that are soone withering and waxing old and mouldring away bodies every way so vile that some have irked to have any pictures made of their bodies as but the picture of their shame and indeed were it not that they are our own bodies and that every one have bodies alike they would soone be seene how irksome they are but if Christ be risen c. these corruptibles shall put on incorruption and these mortalls shall put on immortality and thus Job comforted himselfe when he was so struck with sores and boils from the sole of the foot to the crowne of the head and so spent and wasted in his body with the heat and inflammation of those burning boils that he was even escaped with the skin of his teeth had no more left almost upon that poore carcasse of his then on his very teeth where is nothing at all yet being in that case he thus comforted himselfe I know that my Redeemer liveth and though after my skin as having almost nothing now on this back but a little withered skin worms destroy this body this poore torne tattered rent spent carcasse of mine yet in my flesh shall I see God And thus St. Paul also intimates comfort against the vileness and abjectness of these bodyes of ours by considering the glory they shall have at the Resurrection Phil. 3.21 who shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body c. Sixthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits c. then what thankes owe we to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for so great a blessing so great a blessing as affords this comfort against all the present frailties and vileness of our bodies against all excessive greife for the death of our friends against all