righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption his meaning is that Jesus Christ is he that doth make us wise and righteous and holy c. So here when Christ saith I am the resurrection it is as if he had said I am he that doth raise the dead Martha had said concerning her brother I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day And Christ replyeth in effect Thou mayest as well believe that he may be raised now Per quem tunc resurget po test modo quia ego sum resurrectio August since he is present by whom he shall be raised then for saith he I am the resurrection and I can as easily do it now as then I am the resurrection and the life first the resurrection and then the life quia prior est restitutio a morte in vitam quam vitae status Calvin the restoring from death to life is before the state of life The resurrection from the death of sin must go before the life of grace and the resurrection both from death temporall and death spirituall must go before a full enjoyment of the life of glory This may suffice for the opening of the terms of the first proposition I come now unto the Second He that believeth in me shall live In which proposition we have the proper subject of the resurrection and the life He that believeth the act that qualifieth and diposeth that subject and that is faith The object that gives life and virtue to that act and that is Christ he that believeth in me And lastly the grace that is promised to reward and crown it and that is life He that believeth in me shall live The subject of the resurrection in generall is that which is fallen as hath been said The subject of the resurrection at the day of judgement are the dead bodies universally both of good and bad The subject of the resurrection and the life or from the death of sin to life spirituall and eternall are all and only the elect which the father hath given unto Christ for all they and only they do come unto him by faith Joh. 6.35 37 39 40 44 47 53 54. All and only they do performe that act whereby they become fitly qualified and disposed to partake of such a grace And that not only in generall way as they are a body but every one for himself every one that is thus to be raised by Christ is to believe for himself The just shall live by faith Therefore he saith He that believeth in me And yet he spakes indefinitly so that it is all one as if he had said every one that believeth in me as Joh. 6.40 or whosoever believeth in me as in the next verse after the text Which notes also the object of faith Jesus Christ And to receive and rest upon him as the Christ the son of God as the only author of life and Salvation is to belive in him as appears by Martha in her answer v. 27. which is also the same with Peters Mat. 16.16 And He that beliveth in Christ is every one that by a true faith doth lay hold and rest upon Christ for life and salvation And he that thus believeth in him shall live that is shall live spiritually and eternally He shall forthwith receive that life which shall never have an end He shall never die that is spiritually and eternally This also may serve for the unfolding of the terms of the second proposition I come in the third place to the amplification of the power of Christ in these words Though he were dead yet shall he live Wherein he sets forth the exceeding greatnesse of his power in regard of the extent of it and that 1 In respect of the quantity or number of those that are to be raised up be their multitude never so great howsoever dispersed of whatsoever nation kinred or tribe whether Jews or Gentiles Barbarians Scythians bond or free 2 In respect of their quality be their condition never so desperate yet he that believeth whosoever believeth every one that believeth Though he were dead yet shall he live That is say some Though he were dead in the body Piscat in loc yet shall he live again the body unto life eternall Menoch in loc as he that believeth not shall rise again but unto death eternall Or though he were dead Cartw. Metaph. in loc yet seing I am the resurrection and the life if it be for the glory of God I can and will as often as I please restore him unto life again nether need I stay for the last day There are others that understand it especially of the spiritual death of the soul Calvin Maldonat or of the souls being dead in sin and by the power of Christ to be quickned to a new and spirituall life yet not without respect to the body which though dead naturally yet by his power should be raised up again But which way soever of these two the words are to be understood there may arise a doubt 1 If Christ speakes of the death of the body how doth he require faith of the dead can the dead believe The dead praise not the Lord neither any that go down into silence Psal 115.17 And as they can not praise him so neither can they believe in him In death there is no remembrance of him Psal 6.5 They that goe downe into the pit cannot hope for thy truth Isaiah 38.18 2 If he speake of the spiritual death of the soul by sin and of the raising up of such to the life of grace what is this to the businesse in hand The question is of restoring life to Lazarus his dead body and he speaks of giving life to the soul that is dead in sin For answer unto these there is no doubt but that Christ's answer to Martha is both proper and pertinent though every one may not so readily apprehend it But to the doubts themselves To the first we may say that he doth not require faith of the dead sensu composito that is that those that are dead in body should believe but of the living as if he should have said He that while he liveth doth believe in me though he were even now dead yet shall he be raised up again and live in the body and that eternally and thus he seemes to explain himself in the very next words where he saith whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die Again when he saith though he were dead yet shall he live it is to note either his omnipotency in that he can and will give life unto him and cause even the dead to live Or that although he be dead in respect of us yet he is still alive in respect of Christ in whom all believers live and shall never die And thus he is to be understood when he saith of Lazarus his sicknesse that was not unto death v. 4. 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
yea too many are apt to deceive themselves saying that they do believe and repent and obey too and that they do many things and that they are better then many other men are Thus the Pharises Luk. 18. He can say God I thank thee I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publicane And he did many good things too and yet he did but deceive himself In like manner Saul can meet Samuel with a great deal of confidence and say blessed be thou of the Lord I have performed the commandment of the Lord 2 Sam. 15.13 yea Samuel hath much a do to convince him He stands to it v. 20. Yea. saith he I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me When as all the while he was in the very way of rebellion and stubbornesse ver 23. And are there not many who have far lesse to say for their works and yet can boast much more of their faith and though their words be never so evil and their communication never so corrupt and their actions never so vile yeâ— they can blesse themselves and thank God they have a very good heart and a strong faith and are as good christians and as sound believers as the best And what is this but as Mr. Shepard rightly calls it a bramble faith Sound believers p. 72. which indeed layes hold upon Christ but as the bramble doth upon our skin it only pricks and Scratcheth him causing nothing but reproach to his name and grief to his spirit Rom. 2.24 Phil. 3.18 19. And what will be the end of such deceit but as the Aposile saith destruction to them that trust to it Use 2 Lastly unto such as are true believers indeed this is a word of unspeakable and endlesse comfort Christ is the resurrection and the life to them All that ever he hath done or suffered hath been for them That he took on him the form of a servant and humbled himself to the death of the crosse was laid in the grave and for a time continued under the power of death That he rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high Whatever he was in his humiliaton whatever he hath been or is in his exaltation he hath been and he is wholy for believers For their sakes saith Jesus Christ I sanctify my self that they also might be sanctified through the truth Joh. 17.19 For their sakes I sanctify my self i.e. Offero me tibi in sanctam victimam Chrisost homil 81. Piscator in loc I offer my selfe an holy sacrifice And by once offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 For their sakes it is hat he ever liveth making intercession for them Heb. 7.25 So that whatsoever times or changes may come they are sure it shall go well with them Even when there shall be signes in the sun and in the moon and in the stars and upon the earth distresses of Nations with perplexity as the sea and the waves roaring Luk. 21.25 When the sun shall become as sackcloath of hair and the moon shall become as blood And the stars of heaven shall fall unto the earth even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken with a mighty wind When the heavens shall passe away like a Scroule and the element shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein will be burnt up And every mountain and Island shall be moved out of their places And mens hearts shall fail them for fear And the Kings of the earth and he great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty men and every bond man and every freeman shall â—ide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains And shall say to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide 〈◊〉 from the face of him that sitteth on the â—hrone and from the wrath of the lamb â—et saith Jesus Christ unto believers when â—e shall see the son of man coming in a â—loud with power and great glory Even â—hen these things begin to come to passe â—â—en look up and lift up your heads for your â—edemption draweth nigh Luk. 21.28 â—ehold the day cometh that shall burn as â—oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch But unto you that fear my name shall the son of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.1 2 This is the portion of believers and of them alone a stranger doth not intermeddle with their joy To them only is Jesus Christ the resurrection and the life and to them he is so be their condition what it will He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live Which brings me to the third point of doctrine raised 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 eternall in 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 All power saith Jesus Christ is given unto me in heaven and in earth Matth. 28.18 That is An absolute and supreme authority over all things both in heaven and earth is committed to the hands of Jesus Christ as he is mediatour for the good of his Church And if all power in heaven and earth be in the hands of Christ then he may do what he will in heaven and earth nothing can let him 1 He can remove all hinderances If any thing could hinder Jesus Christ from raising of believers unto life erernall death and hell would do it but these cannot I have the Keyes of hell and of death saith Jesus Christ Rev. 1.18 By his having of the keyes understand the power and authority of his office he hath the chief authority and command over these And these are the greatest and most powerfull enemies of believers Death is the king of terrours And Hell is the second death even death Job 18.14 eternal the utmost issue and effect of sin which is the sting of death Moreover death and hell are comprehensive viles they contain under them al the miseries of this life and of that which is to come if at least it may be lawfull to call in life weakness and sickness in the body shame and reproach to the name losses in the estate crosses in relations grief and vexation in the mind and lastly the separation of the soul from the body and of both from God and to be given up to the worm that never dieth and to the fire that never
God of Israel it is not forgotten Be you therefore perswaded to be alwayes doing of more good your selves lest you should be found guilty of the same neglect you condemn in others And intreat the Lord with all earnestness that whereever he gives a large estate he would also give a large heart or else it is but in vain for us to looke for a large hand I hope that which hath been spoken may be of some use for the support of such as are mourning over their dead But yet if any shall exceed the last observation raised from the text relatively considred may be of some advantage to them Which is this When any are apt to exceed in mourning over their friends dead body wishing it might be restored again to life temporal It is seasonable to mind them of the most effectual meanes of raising up their own dead souls unto life spiritual and eternal Thus dealt Jesus Christ with Martha here she is ever minding and speaking of the death of her brother and of the raising up of his body And Christ takes her off to a more serious and profitable consideration of the spirituall and in some respect dead estate of her own soul and of the meanes of quickning and raising it up to the perfection of life spiritual and eternal And believe it this is the greatest concernment we have to look after even the resurrection of our souls and to that end we are to lay hold upon Christ by faith which is the only means of raising up and quickning dead souls He that live and believeth in me shall never die Believest thou this saith Jesus Christ to Martha Thou hearest that Christ is the resurrection of the body from death temporall and of death spiritual and eternall and that he that believeth in him shall never die but doest thou believe Believest thou this What would it have availed Martha if Christ should have raised up Lazarus his dead body frow the grave and have left her own foul to lie dead in sin And what would it availe us if Christ should now raise our dead friend to life temporall and not raise our dead souls unto life eternall Let us stirre up our selves to take hold on God let us live the life of faith and we shall be so far from being over grieved at the death of our friend that we shall joyfully entertain our own We shall be as willing to leave the world as the tired mariner is to leave the sea after he hath been spent with the tediousness of a long dangerous voyage after he hath passed many a painfull day and tedious night and bitter storme with much longing expexctation and yet sees no land If at length he once more comes within ken of that his whished shore how is he then ready to leap for joy and to cry out with him in the poet Italiam Italiam primus conclamat Achates Virg. Aneid l. 3. Oh my friends my companions be of good chear behold I see I see that so long lookt for and desired shore Behold yonder is the place of our rest the habitation of our parents and wives and children and kinred and friends It seems to me as if I saw how they rejoyce at our arrivall Oh slack not but hast that we may be in their bosomes Even so is it with the dying believer he is come within sight of heaven and is ready to cry out with Steven even then when his enraged enemies were round about him and that cut to the heart and gnashing on him with their teeth He can then cry out and say looking up stedfastly unto heaven Behold I see the heavens opened and the son of man standing on the right hand of God How willing and cheerfull is he to bid the troublesom inconstant and envious world adieu being now ready to enter into that haven of rest the armes of his saviour Let us be sound and stedfast in the faith let us be servent in charity constant lively and a bounding even to the full assurance of hope Let us live in a conscionable and cheerfull exercise of every grace and let patience have her perfect work for asmuch as we know in so doing our labour will not be in vain in the Lord. This will evidence that we have our part in the first resurrection and blessed and holy are such for over them the second death shall have no power FINIS Curteous READER These bookes following are printed for and sold by Edward Prwster at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1661. MR. Elton his Commentary on the 7.8 9. Chap. of the Romans foll Mr. Hildersham his 108. Lectures on 4th Iohn foll Mr. Hildersham his Lectures on 51. Psal foll Mr. Georg Newton his Commentary on Iohn 17. foll Dr. Iermium on all the Proverbs foll Bp. Williams his right way to the best Religion wherein at large is explayned the principle heads of the Gospel foll The Largest Church Bible foll Mr. Pryns Hidden works of darknesse brought to light foll Mr. Ball his Treatise of the nature and life of faith 4. Mr. Ball his larg and small Catt 8. Mr. Bonthams Christian conflict Mr. Baxter of Crucifying the world by the crosse of Christ 4. Dr. Burges several select sermons preched before the Parliament 4. A collection of several select sermons preched before the Parliament 4. Mr. Cawdrey of the Inconsistency of the Independent way with Scripture and its self 4. Mr. Cawdrey he Answers to G. Firmium about Baptisme The Agreement of the associated Ministers of Essex and Chester Canans Calamity or the destruction of of Ierusalem 4. Mr. Coohe learned Treatise of Babtisme 4. Mr. Collye of the Salbate and against free admission to the sacrament severall sermons of Mr. Paul Baycon Mr. Barlowes guid to Glory 4. Mr. Calvin on Ieremiah 4. Mr. Negus of faith and obediance 4. Mr. Ienkins sermons 4. Mr. Ienkins his answer to Iohn Goodwin 4. Mr. Gattaker against Lilly 4. Galleni Opuscula Varia Annotonic 4. Spelinam consilia foll Spelinam Psalterium Saxonicum 4. Mr. Geree against Anababtists 4. Mr. Josselynes state of the Saints departed Gods cordiall to comfort the Saints remaining a live 8. Mr. Randoll on 8th Romans 4. Mr. Randoll on the Church 4. Dr. Hollidayes Motives to a good life in ten sermons 4. Mr. Rutherfords divine right of Church Government 4. Dr. Potter of the Number 666. 4. There is now in the presse a book entituled Fides Catholica or a vindication of the Church of England c. by Mr. William Annand Minister of Gods word at Leighton in Bedford-shere
had to their brothers weaknesse and their own modesty Suitable whereunto is the message which they send wherein they prescribe nothing as to his comming or sending or doing but only commend-his case to Christ saying Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick v. 3. and so leaving him to the freedom of his own will to do as seemed good unto him Which argues the sobriety ond meeknesse of their spirits that in a matter of the greatest weight even in a case of life and death they were so ready to submit unto his pleasure whereunto we have 2 The answer which Jesus Christ return'd by the messenger sent him wherein he aslures them of life and safety to the sick and of advantage to the glory of God and of Christ This sicknesse saith he is not unto death but for the glory of God that the son of God may be glorified thereby v. 4. And this we may be sure to gain by an hummble and submissive addresse to Christ in the sicknesse of the body though we may not be sure to be freed from death temporall yet we may be sure of comfort in the promise of being freed from death eternall However this ought to support the spirit of a Christian that Christ shall be magnified in his body whether it be by life or by death Phil. 1.20 3 The discourse which Iesus Christ had upon this occasion with his disciples wherein he signfieth to them his purposes to return into Judea to raize up Lazarus from death wherein he suffers not himself to be discouraged from his duty by the danger which they suggested might attend him in the doing of it with all giving them to understand that one special end which he proposed to himself in this undertakin was the strengthning of their faith v. 15. And not of theirs only but also the begetting increase and perfecting of faith in all the elect that remained yet to be called in And to that purpose this being one of the greatest and last miracles that ever he wrought while he was conversant in the world and also a most remarkable demonstration of his almighty power and Godhead He hath caused it the more particularly to be recorded by the Evangelist with all its circumstances As the place where it was don near Jerusalem they that doubted needed not to go far to inquire out the truth of it the time when it was near the Passeover when the Jewes in great multituds from all parts resorted to Jerusalem The means whereby he effected it were the same by which he still upholds the world even by the word of his power The witnesses in whose presence he did it they were many and those of all sorts men and women friends and foes some that believed and some that were hardned who went their wayes and accused him to the Phaisees ver 46. All which circumstances are so exactly recorded to the end that they which were present might the better remember it and that they which were absent might the easier believe it Ut inde rem pene natura sua incredibilem diligenti circumstantiarum descriptione credibilem redderet To the end that a mater which in its own nature was in a manner incredible by an exact description of all its circumstances might be rendred apt to be believed 4 We have also here at large set down that consolatory discourse which Jesus Christ held with Martha upon the occsiaon of the death of her brother Wherein we may observe the course which Christ takes and the subject which he makes choise of to comfort and restore her grieved and afflicted spirit And that is the doctrine of the resurrection and of life eternall wherein he especially laboureth to regulate and confirme her faith As to the main that there should be a resurrection she no way doubted but concerning the power of Christ and his interest in that work she did much need to be farther instructed In the 21. v. She seemes too much to confine the power of Christ to his corporall presence Lord saith she if thou hadst been here my brother had not died As if according to his Deity he were not every where present or as if the distance of place could hinder his power from working of miracles In the 22. v. she seemes to ascribe all the power that Christ had to do any thing for her unto the prevailency of his prayers to God Implying that she did not believe that he was able to do it of himself when she saith but I know that even now whatsoever thou wilt aske of God God will give it thee And whereas v. 23. Christ had promised that her brother should rise again v. the 24. She captiously diverts it or turns it off applying it to his rising again in the resurrection of the last day As if Christ could not make good his word till then or as if the consolation which she might receive from the doctrin of the last resurrection were but of light concernment This weaknesse or wavering of her faith Christ corrects in the words of my text where he informs her that he is not only the ministeriall or instrumentall cause as she seemed to suppose but the very author and principall effioient cause of the resurrection and the life I am the resuerection and the life c. Which words I shall consider 1 Absolutly as they are in themselves 2 Relatively with respect to the context 1 As they are considered absolutly they contain two distinct affirmative propositions In the first of which we have anassertion of the power and interest which Jesus Christ hath in the resurrection and the life Jesus said unto her I am the resurection and the life In the second we have the specification of the proper and adaequate subject or materiall cause of the resurrection and the life and that is the believer He that believeth in me shall live Whereunto he also adds an amplification of his power from the extent of it and that both in respect of the quantity of the Subject it reacheth to every one that believeth be they never so many He that believeth it is indefinitly expressed in this verse but yet explained in the next verse to be understood as universall where he saith whosoever believeth in me And also in respect of the quality of the subject whatsoever his condition may be be it never so desperate Though he were dead yet shall he live 2 As they are considered relatively 1 They are inferred by way of argument for the correcting and curing of Martha's ignorance unbelief and Errour 2 For the moderating and quieting of her passions now apt to be distempered by immoderate grief 3 For the regulating and improving of the present dispensation of providence in the death of her brother and of her mourning upon that occasion Before I come to the observations I shall endeavour to unfold the terms And 1 in order to the opening of the first propositon I shall shew what we are to understand
Then they also which are fallen a sleep in Christ are perished If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable ver 18.19 Whereas on the contrary if we be established in these points That there shall be a resurrection And that Christ is the Author and efficient of it then it followes That Jesus is the Christ the son of God which should come into the world And that whosoever believeth in him shall never die As will farther appear in the handling of the second doctrinall observation to which now I come and it is this Such as do sincerly believe in Christ are the only proper and adequate Subject of the resurrection and the life Or Such as do sincerely believe in Christ are they and they only who by the power of Christ are or shall be raised from death to life spiritual and eternall I do not say that believers are the only adequate subject of the resurrection Dan. 12.2 13 as if none should rise but they The wicked shall rise also but to the resurrection of condemnation But I say that belivers are the only proper and adequate subject of the resurrection and the life or of the resurrection to life spirituall and eternall He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life The hour is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the son of man shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life Joh. 5.24 28 29. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh 6.40 They and only they shall rise and die no more whosoever believeth in me shall never die Joh. 11.26 Only such as have a part in the first resurrection are they over whom the second death shall have no power Rev. 20.6 Because they only have received that immortall seed and principle of spirituall and eternall life He that believeth on him that sent me hath ever lasting life and shall not come into condemntion but is passed from death to life Joh. 5.24 2 Because of their near relation to God They that shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead cannot die any more for they are equall unto the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection Luk. 20.35 36. 3 Because of their near relation unto Jesus Christ they are members of his body being ingrafted into him by faith and therefore they shall rise with him Jsa 26.19 With my body shall they arise Whence they are said to be begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 And if we believe saith the Apostle that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes 4.14 They only are given of God the father unto Jesus Christ And this saith he is the will of the father which sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Joh. 6.39 Which he will do accordingly v. 40 44. 4 They only have attained to that grace which sets all other means on worke and renders them effectuall and that is faith which is that grace which is the resurrection of the soul and in a â—ort enlivens the soul gives life unto the life Though not of it self but by vertue of its object which is Jesus Christ â—aith is the vessel by which we draw water but of the wells of salvation the conduit pipe by which we conveigh home to out own souls that life which is in Christ This point is of use to informe us Use 1 1 Who they are alone to whom Jesus Christ is the resurrection and life and they are only believers 2 What it is alone that makes any one capable of an interest in the resurrection and the life by Christ and that is faith 3 What we must be if we will have Christ to be such even the resurrection and the life to us we must be believers We must be ingrafted into Christ by faith we must be members of his body if we will be partakers of of his resurrection We must be in covenant with him and to that end we must by true and unfained repentance breake off and dissanull our covenant with sin and that with Loathing and abhorrency as that which will infallibly hinder and dissolve all union and communion between Christ and our souls We must also by a ready chearfull and sincere obedience serve and glorify God in whom we professe to believe If we be believers indeed we must evidence it by our living the life of faith even by adding works to our faith Gal. 5.6 Jam. 2.17 c. it must be a faith working by love Faith without workes is dead shew me thy faith by thy works Use 2 This is a word of terror unto unbelievers In asmuch as they may know from hence that they have neither part nor lot in this matter Non dicitur de mortuis lege naturae separatione animae accorporis sed de his qui pecato mortui sunt Hieron in Isaias c. 26 1 Jesus Christ is not the resurrection and the life to them They are dead they shall notlive they are diseased they shall rise all their memory shall perish Isa 26.14 They are dead in their sins and continuing such they cannot live the life of grace shall not live the life of glory He will indeed raise them up again but it will be only as a judge calling them out of their graves as Malefactors out of their prisons to appear before him to receive their sentence only as hath been said to the resurrection of condemntion Joh. 5.29 Where by unbelievers I do not understand only Jews and Heathens Turks and such like infidels which never made a profession of the name of Christ But also such as though they professe that they know God yet in their works deny him And even of such the Apostle saith that they are abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1.16 These may be Christians in name and outward profession but unbelievers yea worse then infidels in deed To such I may spake in the words of the prophet Amos ch 5.18 Wo unto you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light even very dark and no brightnesse in it And as another prophet speaketh in a like case The mighty man shall cry there bitterly That day is a day of wrath a day of trouble and distresse a day of wasting and desolation a day of darknesse and gloominesse a day of clouds and thick darkness Zeph. 1.14 15. But alas many
goeth out Now thy dominion over these is in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath them all in his power and at his dispose He hath vanquished all these enemies and triumphed over them And by death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the devil And delivered them who through fear of death were all their life time subject unto bondage Heb. 2.14 15. He hath led captivity captive And he must raign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.25 He shall have a full and absolute conquest over them They shall be so thoroughly subdued that they shall never rise again 2 As he can remove all hinderances and oppositions that nothing may resist him So he can command all helps furtherance what ever may be requisite He can command the sea to give up the dead that are in it and death and hell to deliver up the dead that are in them Rev. 20.13 even with more ease and better successe then a conquerour can command his captives that are at his mercy He can give power to all meanes that they shall be effectuall if he speake but the word it shall be done By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth and all power both in heaven and earth is in his hands as was shewed even now And if this be so that the power of raising of believers from death to life spirituall and eternall be so fully and absolutly in the hands of Jesus Christ then how much doth this commend and magnify the priviledge and happinesse of believers He that is their Lord and Master their brother and friend head and husband who is so inseparably and unchangably theirs and hath loved them better then his own life hath all things in his own power life and death both temporal and eternall are in his hands and he can dispose of them at his pleasure so that they may boast and glory in this saying with the Psalmist He that is our God is the God of salvation Ps 68.20 And I may say unto every believer as the women said unto Neomy Blessed be the Lord which hath not left thee this day whithout a kinsman who shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thine old age for thy daughter in law which loveth thee which is better to thee then seven sonnes hath born him And blessed be God for Jesus Christ whom he hath given unto thee and who hath loved thee better then his own life behold even he it is that hath the power in his own hands to be the restorer of thy life yea the raiser of thee up unto eternal life And it is better that it is in the hands of Christ then in the hands of any friend in the world were there but such a power put into the hands of a father or brother or kinsman or friend we should be apt to rejoyce in it and to esteem it a great priviledge and yet it is possible they might faile us But it is impossible that Christ should faile Yea it is better then if it were in our own hands for had we such a priviledge and were but left to the liberty of our wills as Adam was we should be as apt to commit a forfeiture as he was And therefore that the foundetion of God might stand sure and that the Lord might know who are â—is He hath reserved it in a surer hand God hath raised up the Lord and will also raise up us by his own power 1 Cor. 6.14 and 2 Cor. 4.14 But here it may be Questioned that if there be such a full and absolute power in the hands of Christ of raising up believers when he please and that to life spiritual and eternal in respect of all the degrees of it even a full power of raising them up from the death of sin to the life of grace and of recovering them after all their relapses the raising them up to higher degrees and at last to raise them from death naturall to life eternall and from the grave to glory Quest 1 1 Why should Jesus Christ suffer so many of those whom the farther hath given him to lye so long dead in their sins before he raise them up to live the life of grace Quest 2 2 Why should it be so long ere he raise them up to perfection in grace Quest 3 3 Why should he suffer the bodies of believers which are holy the temples of the holy ghost and members of his own body to lie so long in their graves to corrupt and putrify and that there should be no difference between the condition of the believer and unbeliever neither that their dust shall be capable of being distinguished the one from the others For answer unto these though there were no other reason to be given but this in generall that it is the will and good pleasure of God to have it so yet that were sufficient to set bounds to our curiosity in inquiring after the reasons of his dispensations But yet it may be farther said though all that I shall adde will be in order to the better understanding of that Ans 1 To the first That Jesus Christ doth suffer many of those whom the father hath given him to lie long dead in their sins before he raiseth them up unto the life of grace I answer first Negatively 1 He doth not do so by all some are sanctified and raised up in the very womb 〈◊〉 1.15 Jer. 1.5 and from the womb Some in their youth and some not untill they are ready to drop into the grave 2 That he raiseth up some sooner or more early then others doth not proceed from any worthiness that is in one more then another either in respect of birth that one is born of better and more gracious parents then another or that one hath had better education then the other or that the one hath better natural or acquired parts or hath had better means or opportunities or naturally had better inclinations to be wrought upon Manasseh the son of good Hezekiah who in all likelihood as he had the priviledge to be born of a very Sincere and gracious father who doubtlesse was not wanting in the duty of a father either in precepts example or prayers besides other good meanes were not wanting neither for any thing that appears did he want parts to apprehend and approve them And yet we see it was long ere he was raised up Josiah the son of wicked Amon in a worse time and under lesse means and yet he is raised up betimes 2 Chron. 34.3 3 I answer affirmatively It is 1 To manifest the liberty and power of his own will in the dispensation of his grace It is in his power to do with his own as he please Neither have they that were called in at the first hour reason to boast of themselves or to envy at
perfected so that such as neither the multitude nor greatness of their sins or miseries can overthrow their faith But that they can and do believe that though they die yet that in Christ they shall live and that eternally may be said to die in the faith Thus it is said of Abraham and Sarah and Isaack and Jacob and their posterity that though they received not the promise that is the accomplishment of the grace promised whether it concerned their Salvation by the Messiah or the possession of the land of Canaan which was but a type of their inheritance in heaven yet they died in a stedfast belief and expectation of it and therefore it is said they all died in the faith Hebr. 11.13 And thus all that die in a firm perswasion of the remission of their sins and of eternal life in and thorough the merits and mediation of Christ may be said to die in the faith and such as do so inseparably cleave unto the Lord that death cannot separate them may be said to die in the Lord. And such are pronounced blessed Rev. 14.13 Such as do not thus die in the faith die in their sins If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins Jo. 8.24 And as there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 that is by faith so there remaines nothing but condemnation to such as die without it But since all our comfort concerning our deceased friends depends upon their dying in the faith or at least upon our judging of them to be such I shall therefore in answer to the second Question endeavour to shew who they are that as we may judge do die in the faith And they are as I humbly conceive such as these 1 They that die in a sound and serious profession of the doctrin of faith He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the father and the son 2 ep Joh. 9. Piscat in loc id est verum Deum novit ac proinde vitae aeternae particeps est He hath knows the true God and therefore is partaker of eternall life Joh. 17.3 2 They that die in a professed serious denyall and renouncing of their own righteousnesse Philip. 3.9 3 They that die in a serious profession of an unfained repentance of their sins and of all their aberrations from the rule of faith and life He that hath given us a command concerning him that shall trespasse against us seven times in a day and seven times in a day turn again to us saing I do repent that we should forgive him doth thereby manifest how charitable he would have us to be in judging of offenders when they professe repentance neither is the Lord lesse gracious towards sinners himself I said faith the Psalmist I will confesse my transgression unto the Lord and thou gavest the iniquity of my sin Psalm 32.5 4 Those that die in a serious profession of love and affection to God and his wayes and servants owning and approving of them and perswading others to the same duty 1 Joh. 4.7 12. Thus Abraham and Isaack and Jacob when they were on their beds or near dying gave such evident testimonies of their love to God and his wayes they have this testimony given them that they died in the faith 5 They who so stedfastly lay hold upon the mercy and grace of God in Christ for life and salvation that neither the temptations of Satan nor the allurements of the world nor the troubles of life nor terrour of death can cause them to faint or fall from the faith which they have professed but that they persevere therein unto the end These as I conceive we may and ought to judge that they die in the faith Infidells and reprobates are not wont to die thus See the difference between the penitent and impenitent thief the one dies owning and honoting of Christ the other up braiding reproaching and railing upon him Luk. 23.39 c. In our judging in these cases these or the like cautions are to be observed 1 We must know that we cannot judge of the finall estate of others by a judgment of faith or infallibility we have nothing revealed to warrant us in so doing and therefore our judgment being only conjecturall or at best but a probable opinion and no certain knowledge that it may be as indeed it ought to be a judgment of Charity it becomes us to be sober and moderate in judging of others and to that end we are to consider 2 What cautions the spirit of God speaking in the word hath given us against rash judgment Jam. 4.11 12. Why doest thou set at naught thy brother We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God Let us not therefore judge one another any more Rom. 14.10 12 13. Again judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsells of the heart 1 Cor. 4.5 The judgeing of the dead is indeed a a finall judgment which belongs not unto us but unto Jesus Christ It is true the saints shall judge the world that is they shall be present with and approvers of and consenters unto the judgment of Christ not that their judgment shall prevent but follow after the judgment of Christ 3 Our judging of others in our own thoughts must be such as we will be willing should come under the judgment of God how often do we find Christ bringing the Pharisees to shame for their evil and mis-judging thoughts See Matth. 9.4 and 12.25 Luke 7.39 c. We must judge of others as we would be judged our selves for with what judgment we judge we shall be judged Mat. 7.1 2. and with what measure we mete it shall be measured to us again whether it be in mercy or justice 4 If we manifest our judgment to others we must be sure that it be according to truth and also that the manifesting of it is for the glory of God the edification of our neighbour and in discharge of our own duty that we have a call to it and that it is either necessary or very expedient and seasonable and that we shall be at least in danger of sin if we do it not Let us therefore take heed to our wayes that we sin not with our tongues Let us first commune with our own hearts and say to our selves every one apart is this my duty is this according to the rule what good shall I do in so doing have I a call to it at this time in this place and in this company And here the sad occasion of this solemnity may have its place to be spoken to And were I to speake of one that rather needed an Apology to excuse him then deserved an Elogy in his commendations I should require no more but to confine mine
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
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