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
and down the world that our Fathers and our Preists and our Prophets have told us such strange things of should be made subject to him Nay is it credible that he that was this great God would be so borne so bred so crucified would so dye and be buried that majesty would be cloathed with such vileness that power and omnipotency would dwell with such weakness that life and immortality would embrace and shake hands with death and the grave So incredible is this Doctrine that all the cheife heresies of old were either against the true Divinity of our Saviour as the Arians Photinians c. or the true humanity as the Simonians Manichees Marcionites c. or the true union of Divinity and humanity into one person as the Nestorians Eutychians c. so unworthy thought they it was that the great God in one and the same person should become man or so overworthy that meane man should in one and the same person become God so that you may know our Saviour had good reason to say of Peters confession Mat. 16.17 whom do men say that I the son of man am Quodcunque Deo indignum est mihi expedit c. Natus est Dei Filius non pudet quia pudendum est moriuus est Dei Filius prorsus credibile est quia ineptum est sepultus resurrexit certum est quia impossibile est Tert. de Carne Christi Thou art Christ the son of the living God This is such high Philosophy that he that was the son of man he the same should be the son of the living God that our Saviour might well say Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee And this that Christ crucified should be the Saviour of the world that Paul might well say we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling blocke and unto the Greeks foolishnes Whatsoever seemes unworthy of God is for me expedient c. the son of God is borne I am not ashamed of it because it seemes a thing not to be ashamed of and the son of God dyed this is altogether credible because it seemes absurd and after he was buried he rose again this is certaine because it seemes impossible And therefore Secondly it might have offended as an incredible Doctrine incredible that he that seemed to be but a poore weake crucified man should be the great God and Saviour of all or as incredible that he that was this great God and Saviour of all would be a poore weake crucified man Thirdly As a Doctrine too high for the world to embrace wallowing in flesh and blood what high Doctrine was it to teach the proud world the humility of Christ Jesus the uncharitable world the love of their very enemies the unchast world the restraint even of an unchast looke the revengefull world not to resist evill but rather if one smite him on the right cheeke to turn to him the left also The sturdy stomackfull world to seeke reconcilement with ones brother the gripple pinch-penny world to be liberall in almes the covetous carking world not to lay up treasures on earth not to be thoughtfull about to morrow but let to morrow take thought for it selfe in a word the profane dissolute world to tuck up their loyns of their mind and to be sober and walke unto a precise circumspect walking in all godliness and honesty Say any one now even the best here that considers from the experience of the reliques of his own corruption yet in him what a hard thing it is for the proud spirit to be taught the humility of Christ Jesus c say if the doctrine of the Gospel might not well have offended as a Doctrine too high for the world c. Fourthly As a Doctrine bringing still the crosse and persecution with it No sooner was any converted to the Gospel but presently blows flew thick about his ears and the Divell raised up a storme of persecution against him even a mans enemies proved they of his own houshold the father betraying the son to death c. so inseparable an attendant of the Gospel in the primitive times was the crosse and persecution that the Apostles still where they preached the Gospel preached the Doctrine also of enduring tribulation So Paul and Barnabas went through Lystra Icenium and Antioch confirming the Souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith And that wee must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 So your selves know that wee are appointed thereunto to endure afflictions for verily when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to passe 1 Thes 3.3 4. 2 Tim. 3.12 So all that will live godly in the world shall suffer persecution Say therefore they that consider what the wisdom of the flesh is namely to thinke it good sleeping in a whole skin good hearkning to S. Peters Counsell to our Saviour telling how many things he should suffer at Jerusalem and there be killed c. Spare thy self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let not these and these things befall thee Matt. 16.22 Say if the Doctrine of the Gospel might not also have offended as a Doctirne bringing the crosse with it Fifthly As a Doctrine that invited to all that hard matter and hard task of the crosse by no other promises then future of another world it should cost them here if they would be right Christians the denying of themselves the mortifying of their pleasures their plucking out their right eyes their cutting off their right hands and feet c. Moreover it would cost them the enduring the crosse the suffering shame the going still with their lives in their hands but reward here they should looke for none onely believe if they would Matt. 5.12 Matt. 19.28 Luke 14.14 Act. 3.19 great should be their reward in Heaven great in that regeneration great in that Resurrection of the just great in those dayes of refreshing from the presence of the Lord great in that coming of his to be glorified in his Saints and admired of all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 Col. 3.3 your life is hid with Christ in God But in the meane time they must possesse their Souls in patience live by faith work all things and endure all things as seeing him that is invisible and looking for that reward which is invisible what a snub and hinderance thinke you was this likely to have been unto flesh and blood hankering still after the present things and loving to believe no more then it sees what a snub and hinderance from embracing that doctrine that invited unto such high doings and such deep sufferings upon promises onely hereafter and in another world whereof they had no other assurance then that Heb. 11.1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seene and therefore whence but from the power
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
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
Matt. 22.30 In the Resurrection they neither marry not are given in marriage but are as the Argels in Heaven not a Resurrection to a state of immortality but onely to the state of their former naturall life subject to death again But as for our Saviours Resurrection he rose so as now no more to returne to corruption Act. 13.37 and death now to have no more dominion over him Rom. 6.9 and as himselfe saith Rev. 1.18 now to be alive for evermore I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Ans 2 Secondly For those Matt. 27. either they rose not till after Christs Resurrection as most thinke so that the graves indeed opened at his death but the dead bodies arose not till after Christs Resurrection And the graves were opened c. sc those there abouts in Mount-Calvary or else if they rose before his Resurrection then they rose either upon dispensation onely for a time to lay down their bodies again or if to retaine their bodies for ever as glorious bodies then Christs Resurrection was in order of nature though not of time before theirs because through the power and vertue of his Resurrection they were raised seeing as he is said in the Councell and foreknowledge of God to be a Lambe slaine from the foundation of the world and therefore nothing hinders but that Christ was the first fruits because all that rose before Christ either rose onely to a naturall life or if not yet onely upon dispensation for a time to lay down their bodies again or if to retaine their bodies for ever yet by the power and vertue of Christs Resurrection preconceived in Gods counsell as the fountaine and cause of their life and Resurrection And so wee may see Act. 26.23 how Christ was to be the first that should rise from the dead and here the first fruits of them that slept and the first borne from the dead Col. 1.18 because he rose onely by his own power I have power to lay it down c. and because never to return to corruption again Qu. 2 A second question is about the wicked whether and how they are to be raised seeing Christ cannot be said to be their first fruits whether and how therefore are they to be raised whose Resurrections are not hallowed and consecrate in Christ 1 Cor. 15.22 in whom are all to be made alive Ans 1 First That they shall rise there is no question John 5.28 29. The houre is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth c. Act. 24.15 and have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and of the unjust Ans 2 Now secondly How they shall be raised whether in and by Christs Resurrection or no For this we are to know that Christ by his Resurrection was made Lord and onely Potentate of every creature Act. 2.36 and therefore received power over quick and dead Phil. 2.11 that he might be able to bring again from the dead all the wicked and disobedient as their judge to punish them and all his own as their Saviour to glorify them Wherefore by Christs Resurrection both the wicked and the godly shall be raised but the wicked as the members of Satan onely to be damned the godly as members of his own body to be saved The wicked by a power upon them onely from without the godly by a power upon them from within inhaerent in them as his own members as the head by an inward influence quickens the body whereas the wicked shall be quickned by an outward influence onely upon them as the sun by an outward influence upon putrified slimy matter animates and quickens frogs and toads and therefore those that he quickens by that inward influence he shall make glorious like himselfe whereas those that he quickens by an outward influence only shal not participate of his glory like as those creatures which the sun quickens though the sun be a glorious body yet they are not so but filthy abominable wretched creatures frogs toads c. Well then for the cause of our Resurrections consider first a morall judiciall cause sc the justice of God requiring that we should all receive in our bodies according to that which we have done in our bodies and therefore that we should be raised again And secondly a physical effecting cause sc the Lordly soveraigne power of Christ risen from the dead effecting the Resurrection of the wicked as their judge to make them comformable in torments to the Divell their head and effecting the Resurrection of the godly as their Saviour to make them comformable in glory to himselfe their head and of these he is onely said to be the first fruits because he shall onely hallow and dedicate these unto God in a glorious Resurrection like unto his owne bringing the whole harvest of them without losing one eare into the same barne and Heavenly repository whereunto he the first fruits is already come And therefore where it is said here that all shal be made alive in Christ it is meant onely of his own members that by an inward quickning influence upon them from him their head shall be revived to the same glorious kind of life with himselfe Matt. 25.46 Rom. 6.23 and 8.13 which indeed is onely in Scripture phrase the proper life and the other but an eternall living death And that these are onely meant the next verse showes where these all that are to be made alive in Christ are called Christs but for the wicked they are none of his he owns them not they are the limbs of the Divell and none of his members Vse First If Christ be risen as the first fruits to ensure the glorious Resurrection of his then let this admonish every one of us as we desire to be made partakers of this glorious Resurrection so to endeavour to belong unto these first fruits sc to Christ the first fruits doe not blesse the tares and cockell and darnell and all filthy weeds that grow among the Corne but onely the good Corne If we would be blessed therefore in Christ the first fruits let us not be tares c. in Gods field the Church but let us be good Corne otherwise the parable will read us our destinies Gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burne them in bundles to burne them there is the destiny of the tares Matt. 13.30 But gather the wheat into my barne the wheat is blessed in the first fruits but the tares their lot is to be burned they are nothing belonging to the first fruits to be blessed and ensured in them no man when he offered God his first fruits desired a blessing upon the tares and weeds that grew in his field but upon the good Corne as therefore wee desire to have
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
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