Christ be not risen then is our Preaching vain and your faith is vain also ye are yet in your sins grievous consequences but the Lord is risen indeed and we may now stand under his arms and make this bold challenge with the Apostle 8 Ro. 38. who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again 3. Christs Resurrection assures us of ours 27 Mat. 53. after this many dead bodies of the Saints appeared alive 1 Cor. 5. c. 20. Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive This is that joyful Anthem that welcomes in this Festival Holy Job seeing Easter as Abraham did Christmas-day 8 Jo. 56. many hundred years before they were by faith cheerfully concludes his Resurrection from the Resurrection of his Redeemer 19 ch 25. Victurum me certâ fide credo liberâ voâ—e profiteor quia Redemptor Meus resurget qui inter Impiorum manus occubuit with assured faith I believe and with free courage confess that rise I shall in as much as my Redeemer shall rise who is to dye by the hands of wicked men saith St. Gregory on these very words Eâdem catenâ revincta est Christi Resurrectio nostra Christs Resurrection and ours are linked with one and the same chain If the Head be above the water the members cannot perish otherwise they may 1 Cor. 15. c. 16.17 Now we may insult over death 1 Cor. 15. ch 55. since Christ risen thence hath given death it self it's deaths wound 13 Hosea 14. O Death I will be thy Death Death now it self hath its Epitaph the Grave its Tomb-Stone Nor is it a small thing for Christians to hear of their Resurrection since it is the Ground-work of all their hope and happiness 1 Co. 15. v. 19. Our Souls are here burdened with a sinful sickly loathsome body But at the Resurrection this corruptible shall put on incorruption 1 Co. 15.53 this mortal shall put on immortality this weak dishonourable dust shall be raised in glory and power v. 43. Well may then be rehearsed with abundance of joy a Surrexit Dominus the Lord is risen since such infinite benefit doth arise to us from his Resurrection Application Is the Lord risen indeed 1. Let us be risen with him Then is he risen indeed to us when our affections are risen with him 3 Coloss 1 2. Christs Resurrection must work in us a Resurrection to grace 6 Rom. 11. before it can work for us a Resurrection to Glory 20 Rev. 6. Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on whom the second death shall have no power 2. Let us strive to find Christ this day risen with the same haste as Peter and John 20. Jo. 3 4. the same care v. 11. constancy and rapture of Joy v. 16. as Mary by the same means as the Disciples in the verse following our Text viz. Breaking of Bread in the Sacrament Here we may with Thomas 20 Jo. 25. thrust our hands into the print of the nails and the wounds in his side to convince us of the truth of his Resurrection I know not Our Church will not at this time especially excuse us from this duty and cettainly the life every worthy Communicant finds in Christ fed on here cannot but sufficiently inform him that he is alive And having thus found him we cannot but be Glad 20 Jo. 20. Glad though Christs rising saith Bishop Andrews in his 2 Ser. on the Resur p. 397. did no way concern us or we that yet 1. In that a Man one of our own flesh and blood hath gotten such a victory even for Humanities sake 2. Then that one that is Innocent hath quit himself so well for Innocencies sake 3. Thirdly in that he hath foyled a common enemy for amityes sake 4. Fourthly in that he hath wiped away the Ignominie of his fall with the glory of his Riâ—â—ng again for Vertue and Valours sake for all these we have cause to rejoyce but chiefly â—â—nce his Resurrection was for us 4 Ro. v. ult how ought our souls to overflow with gratitude 'T is the peculiar faith of a Christian to believe Christ Risen Mortuum esse Christum pagani etiam credunt resurrexisse verò propriafides est Christianorum St. Austin and the property peculiar to this faith to create in us Joy for his Resurrection Lord we believe help thou our unbelief O Heavenly Father who didst raise thy Son from death raise our dull Souls to a due thankfulness for this mercy It is meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee Almighty Everlasting God But chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord for he is the very Paschal Lamb that was offered for us and hath taken away the Sin of the world who by his death hath destroyed death and by his Rising to life hath restored to us everlasting life Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of Heaven we land and magnifie thy glorious name evermore praising thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most High FIFTH SERMON ON Holy-Thursday OR The Ascension 4 Ephes 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things HERE is the Highest ascent answering to the Lowest descent immaginable and both in one and the same person He that descended is the same also that ascended c. This the Apostle speaks of Christ v. 7 8. in his Exposition on that Prophetical Psalm the 68. proper for this day His Descent we have already treated from Heaven to the Earth the lowest part of the world at his Incarnation from the surface of the Earth into the Bowels thereof the grave at his passion He descended from the bosome of his Eternal Father that excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1. c. 17. into the lap of a poor Virgin He that thought it no robbery to be equal with God took to him humane nature and in it the form of a Servant submitted himself to shame pain mortality was Crucified Dead and Buried nay say we in our Creed Descended into Hell lower than this he could not go Now He that descended thus hath as many lifts of his ascension till he came to the highest pitch can be Mark the tearms of his rise He ascended up far above all Heavens In the Text. you have three parts Division In the Text three things 1. The Person Ascending 2. The Ascent 3. The End of it 1. The Person Ascending He that descended ipse est is the same also that ascended 2. The ascent longè supra omnes
up a f Kingdom a g Synagogue a h Legion f 11. Luk. 18. g 3. Rev. 9. h 5. Mar. 9. The great Belzebub can command thousands of his Ministers if God permit to vex and trouble us witness that poor Gadaren so infested with this i hellish Rout we are many may the chief Commander of those forces seem to answer in respect of those that were in or about the possessed i 5. Mar. 1 2 c. For though Christ rebuked the spirit whereby the person was principally actuated in the k singular number yet this Captain-agent was attended no doubt with a sufficient rabble of the black Regiment as appears by their several seizing the word once given on their several preys in that great herd containing about l two thousand k 5. Mar. 8. l verse 13. A multitude of Daemons as one observes without violence to their natures may lodge in the Body of one man These spirits being able to draw themselves out of their usual extent into a far narrower compass and perhaps wholly to quit their own vehicle to make use of anothers and so many may unite with the blood and spirits But wherever this throng of Feinds did bestow themselves whether in or about one man Gods bounty was never the less in suffering them to possess no more nor Christs power in driving them away from hence the Devils being nothing the weaker for not appearing each one harnessed with a several humane body By what hath been said we may gather there is a damned Militia the Devils march about in Troops and Armies to torment us and conspire our ruine yet we know how to disband them all no number of them can withstand Prayer and Fasting This kind goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting 2. In the malady 2 Their Malignancy there is considerable in the evil spirits as their Multiplicity so Malignancy Hoc genus This kiud As it includes a numerous Combination so a Combination of more stiff and tenacious spirits See Bishop Hall's Paraprase on the place Having a more stubborn non egreditur a vix discedit goeth not forth and a hard departing 9. Luk. 40. stamped on them Hoc genus This kind are noted for a sort of bold abusive most extraordinary fierce and cruel Devils That valued not a bare n Apostolical command that ceased not to shew their malice in the o face of Christ himself p taring and bruising the possessed making him foam gnash with his teeth pine away q cry out suddenly fall or wallow on the ground Oft times casting him into the fire and into the waters 9 Mark 23. Seeking Extremities to destroy him without the least pity or respect on a s child and an t onely child n 9 Luk. 40. o ver 42. p 9 Mar. 18. q 9 Luk. 39. r 9 Mar. 20. s 9 Mar. 21. t 9 Luk. 38. Now Hoc geuus this kind be their number never so great their nature never so malign is to be ejected Christs way though no otherwise This kind goeth not forth but by Prayer and Fasting 2. 2 Remedy Prayer and Fasting not to be sevred The Remedy Prayer and Fasting not to be severed 1. Because Christ hath coupled them and what God hath joyned together let not man put asunder 19 Mat. 6. 2. It was the Custome of the Church of old to Joyn them as we see in u David in w Esther the x Israelites y Daniel in Anna 2 Luk. 37. So in the Epistle appointed for this day the Proclamation goes z Sanctifie a Fast gather the People and let the Priests say spare thy people O Lord. u 2 Sam. 12.22 75 Psal 13. w 4 Ch. 16. x 20 Judg. 26. y 10 Ch. 3. z 2 Joel 15 16 17. 3. 'T is the present practice of our Church On our Wednesdayes and Fridayes Dayes of Abstinence for the Bridegrooms taking away grounded on the command of our Saviour see Mr. Browning on that text p. 176 177. 2 Mark 20. to his Disciples that then they should fast in those dayes our Church enjoyns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12. Act. 5. Instant earnest Prayer peculiarly applyed to the Letany Id. p. 148. as the Eastern Church testifies 4. Because saith Bishop Hall in his Paraphrase on the text Efficax est oratio praecedente Jejunio Cyp. de Jejur Tent. cap. 6. Devotion in Prayer is apt to grow dull and faint there must be an exercise of fasting and abstinence to set an edge upon it and stir it up Prayer may prevail without Fasting but Fasting without Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. S. Chrys in Psal 145. is to small effect and when they both joyn together they make the strongest assault on Heaven as can be Wherefore the Servants of God in their highest concerns would not separate them 8 Ezr. 21.13 Act. 3.14 Act. 23. Prayer and Fasting render us most acceptable unto God and like unto the Angels Prayer saith Reverend Hooker The excellency of Prayer Eccl. Pol. lib. 5. Papagr 23. p. 23. are those Calves of mens lips 14 Hos 3. Those most gracious and sweet odours 5 Rev. 8. Those rich presents and gifts which being carried up into Heaven do best testifie our dutiful affection and are for the purchasing of all favours at the hand of God the most undoubted means we can use And again a little further the knowledge is small saith he which we have on earth concerning the things which are done in Heaven notwithstanding thus much we know the Saints in Heaven that they Pray and therefore Prayer being a work common to the Church as well Triumphant as militant a work common unto men with Angels what should we think but so much of our lives is coelestial and divine as we spend in the eyercise of Prayer So for Fasting if it be right is it not a chosen duty The excellency of Fasting an acceptable time unto the Lord 58 Isa 4 5. Again Fasting saith St. Chrysostome Ser. de Jejunio Tom. 5. is an imitating or following the very Angels in Heaven so far forth as we are able c. Fasting is the life of Angels so St. Ambrose Tom. 4. de Jejun cap. 3. p. 239. Qui jejunat Angelorum ritu vivit c. St. Basil Hom. de Jejun These two now linked must be of exceeding vertue and efficacy 5. Prayer from Fasting cannot be sundred for what is Fasting it self but silent Prayer where in our Humility without which vocal supplication is but an empty sound God effectually reads our wishes and the peices of a broken spirit are to him pleasing and prevalent Petitions 51 Psa 17. A broken and a contrite heart O Lord thou wilt not despise My next business shall be to enquire why Fasting should make Prayer so powerful and Secondly Why Fasting makes Prayer so powerful what Fasting it is that doth so For the first Fasting makes our Prayer more powerful Reason 1 1. As it helps us to the greater watchfulness hereunto sobriety and
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implyes a child newly born hanging at his Nurses breast Blessed Babe Well may thy name be called Wonderful 9. Isaiah 6. what * Christi Nativitas silentio colatur c. Bas Hom. in Sanctam Christi Nat. p. 246. a mysterious Birth is this where Incomprehensibility is cradled (k) 1. Rev. 8. Eternity hath a beginning the Rock of ages not a day old Almightiness made weak the Word 1. Jo. 1. not able to speak a word Immensity l whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain but a span long 2. Lam. 20. He m that hath gathered the winds in his fists and bound the waters in a garment who hath established all the ends of the Earth is himself in a Virgins arms in clouts in a stable The great n creatour and o preserver of all things is content to become a Creature to take Being from her to whom he gave Being and nourishment from her to whom he gives sustentation Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the Paps which thou hast sucked l 1. K. 8. ch 27. m 30. Pro. 4. n 1 Col. 16. o v. 7. Oh whether hath thy love for us transported thee infinitely below thy self in Humiliation which must needs transport us beyond our selves in admiration of it 3. 3 The Ubi or place Christ was found The Manger Why so This Humility doth further demonstrate it self in the ubi or place Christ was found in the Manger How so 1. Take the Holy Ghosts reason v. 7. there was no room in the Inn. 1 No Room in the Inn. In respect of the meanness of her Husband Joseph and that the concourse of people was so great so Bishop Hall in his Paraphrase on the Text. O ignorance and ingratitude no room for him on Earth who prepares us such glorious mansions in Heaven 14. Jo. 2. 2. 2 This was the Angels Sign to find Christ This was the sign given of the Angel verse 12. without this the Shepheards might have sought Christ long enough and not have found him Let them alone say nothing to them saith Bishop Andrews in his Ser. of the Nat. 12. p. 110. when they came to Bethlehem they would never go to an Inn or Ostrie but the very best house in the Town or if to an Inn to the fairest Chamber in it or to a Chamber at least They would have expected a chief person in a chief place a Lord and Saviour somewhat Lord and Saviour like in a Crimson Mantle in an Ivory-Cradle c. But this is his state of Humiliation and as he is †Athan. in his Creed Inferiour to God as touching his Manhood so inferiour to man touching his Manger Being made like unto the Beasts that perish 49. Psal 20. lower then this he could not well go 3. 3 This Sign runs Counter to mans sinning Our Saviours Signs runs counter to mans sinning and so it must No fruit will serve us but the reserved tree no preferment but a Dii eritis 3. Gen. no Tower but one that shall reach to Heaven 11. Gen. 4. Now contrary to all this is Christ's low common and despised Manger If Pride be the direct way to Hell quite back agen Humility must be the way to Heaven 4. 4 This Sign was proper to Shepheards This Sign was proper to Shepheards to give them encouragement for their admission to Christ this shall be a Sign unto you v. 12. There will be no Porter to stop the passage no strict Guard to hinder your access to the Manger 5. 5 A Sign that Christ stood not in need of any external pomp This is a Sign that Christ stood not in need of any external Signs or means to set him forth But was and is of himself independently glorious Indifferent personages commonly covet after the gaudiest dress a Pearl of great price retains its value as well in a Manger as in the Costliest Cabinet The more unexpected is his greatness by the baseness of his Sign the more it is to be admired 6. 6 The lower the sign the higher his love The lower the Sign the higher Christs love to be so far abased for us 7. The viler the Sign the viler sin that brought him to it 7 The viler the sign the viler sia the uncleanness of our hearts brought Christ to such an unclean and noysome Birth-place 8. 8 This sign was to punish the the Jews This Sign might be a Sign that God had a mind in his infinite Wisdome and Justice to punish the obstinacy and ingratitude of the Jews making this Sign of the Manger the Sign of our Saviour rather Signum Contradictum than Creditum rather spoken against 2. Luk. 34. than believed That their haughty spirits were ready to cry out with as great scorn as they 1. Sam. 10 c. 27. How can this man save us They fancied that the Messias should have a Princely Court at Jerusalem and never dream't of a Manger 9. 9 This was a sign Christ intended no greatness at his first coming This Sign was a Sign Christ intended no greatness no temporal greatness at his first coming His beginning was a Cratch his end no other exaltatus or lifting up 8. Jo. 28.12 Jo. 32. then the Cross The one was proportionable to the other some describe a Cratch saith Bishop Andrews in his Ser. of the Nat. 12. pag. 3. to be made Cross wise Lastly What God hath ordained Lastly This sign God ordained c. for this Manger was not left out of the Holy Pages of his eternal wise decrees 40. Psa 28. what Christ gladly accepted of 40. Psal 8. what the Holy Ghost in Scripture testifies the Angels openly Preached and Sung to 11 12 13. verse we have no cause at all to be offended at but with all love joy humility and astonishment to adore this Babe lying in a Manger 4. 4 Quomodo or how Christ was found 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It s signification I come to the Quomodo how Christ was found or what means the Shepheards used here and that was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They came with hast this signifies 1. An (r) 4. Eph. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Endeavour (s) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 studium 2. Cor. 8. ch 16. Study and earnest care for Christ The desire of all Nations 2. Haggai 8. is worthy of all this Religion doth not indulge laziness Heaven will not drop in our mouths and we sit still the promise is made to the willing and obedient 1. Isaiah 19. 2. An urgent and forcible Hastning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Angels hastned Lot 19. Gen. 11. or Hurried him by violence for ver 12. 't is said they laid hold on him and brought him forth whilst he lingred which implyes that the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force 11. Mat. 12. There is a
natural lingring in our pursuit of Heaven The way is either too far the night of persecution is too dark or our flocks the World too dear to be left but we must with the Shepheards with a full resolution and sacred force break through all these if we intend to come to Christ 3. A present speedy and swift Acceleration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viam contrahere a Contraction of the way by taking up of our feet nimbly This implyes a redeeming of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Instant opportunity to come to Christ To day whil'st it is to day 3. Heb. 7.13 Delayes are dangerous if you ge not now the babe may be gon and the sign to find him in vain If we use not timely means they may in Judgement be taken from us or prove ineffectual to us Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. c. 2. The Angel begins this dayes news with an Ecce a Behold tidings of great Joy A Saviour Christ the Lord whose Birth this day speaks Peace on Earth Good will towards men for which we must render Glory to God on high Application Application Let us conclude with the Shepheards on an Eamus out of hand ver 15. Now let us go to see the thing that is come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us Seek the Lord whil'st he may be found 55 Isaiah 6. Call upon him whil'st he is near and indeed this day he is not far from every one of us 17 Acts 27. being in his Incarnation God with us in our nature God with us too in the Saeramental signs i. e. the Bread and the Wine not much unlike saith Bishop Andrews in his Ser. of Nat. 12. pag. 118. the sign of this day for what are they but weak beggarly Elements 4 Gal. 13. in themselves yet in them as in the Cribb we find Christ and spiritually feed on his Body and Blood 1 Cor. 10. ch 16. Nor could the Church in her highest rapture at this blessed Eucharist think on a fitter Anthem then that of this day to the Cratch Suddenly on the Infantem Jacentem in praesepi the Bahe in the Manger follows gloria in Excelsis Glory be to God on high c. v. 12 13. who in his infinite love to mankind brought Christ so low to be partaker of our nature that we might be partakers of his divine nature In hôc est charitas Herein is love This is a Feast of Love where Christ himself proffers himself to be fed on and we agen love him so well as to eat him with a pious longing We ought not to approach this Holy Table without perfect love and charity Love to God to our selves and love to one another 1. Love to God who when this fulness of time was come sent his Son 4. Gal. 4. In this was manifest the Love of God towards us 1 Joh. 4. ch 9. 2. Love to our selves Let us have a greater kindness for our nature since our Saviour Christ the Lord hath vouchsafed to dwell therein then to make it a sink of lusts and uncleanness 3. Love to one another 1 Joh. 4 ch 11. Beloved if God so loved us witness the place where he was found for us this day we ought also to love one another Thus let us shew forth Gods praise for this day not only with our lips but in our lives This dayes Birth fills almost the whole Chapter with wonder and thanksgiving verses 18.20.38 As we see in the Shepheards Anna the Prophetess and all that heard it Besides the Communion Canticle already mentioned learn't from the Angelical quire our Church borrows hence Her constant Eveningsong of Nune Dimittis from devout Simeon v. 25 c. What shall I say the praise hereof shall fill all Time and Eternity Angels have begun to set us in They are only concerned in this Joy for our sakes 15 Luke 10. and shall not we for our selves They cannot say nobis to us but vobis to you natus est Salvator is born this day a Saviour And what we must for ever remember must we needs be so superstitious as to forget this day because particularly set apart for this purpose No. This day force up thy soul to an extraordinary pitch of praise such as is not possible to keep it at every day Now the Church will not leave out †In the Communion Service Lift up your hearts let us be as ready to answer we lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God It is meet and right so to do It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty Everlasting God Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as on this day for us who by the operation of the Holy Ghost was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his Mother and that without spot of sin to make us clean from all sin No less is this Babe in the Manger Therefore with Angels Archangels and with all the company of Heaven we laud and magnifie thy glorious name c. SECOND SERMON ON Ash-Wednesday OR The Prevalency of Prayer and Fasting 17. Mat. 21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting IS Fasting one special means to cast out Devils and may it be rightly used as the only argument to prove a Demoniaâ—k 11. Mat. 18. Whether it be right to hearken unto men more than unto God Judge ye Our Text is our Saviours plain and positive Assertion The other but the discontented Vulgars â—vil surmise and say so John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he hath a Devil We know the Devil prevailed over our first Parents a Eating and entred Judas after the b Sop but he could effect nothing on Christ c fasting and hungry a 3. Gen. b 13. Jo. 27. c 3. Mat. d Fulness makes us most prone to deny God and to forget him and then you know whether we are like to fly d 30. Pro. 9.7 Deut. 11 12. Sinful and unclean excess feasts Satan intimated by the Evil spirits e importunacy to possess the greedy Swine e 5. Mar. 12. In the words you may consider two parts In the words two parts 1. A Mischievous Malady 2. A main Remedy 1. 1 A mischievous malady and in this two things considerable in the evil spirits A Mischievous Malady This kind goeth not out 2. A main Remedy but by Prayer and Fasting 1. In the mischievous Malady you may observe in the evil spirits 1. Their Multiplicity 2. Their Malignancy both are implyed in Hoc genus This kind 1. Their Multiplicity Hoc genus 1 Their Multiplicity This kind supposeth a numerous species or company of the dark Region To denote the multitude of powers they are said to make
refresh us in afflictions and death it self for those sighs and fears himself felt at the drinking of this bitter cup which amazingly startled him and made him so earnestly cry out O my Father c. 3. The Difficulty of the Cups passing or indeed the impossibility of it appears 1. 3 The Difficulty of the cups passing From the unalterableness of Gods decrees 2 Acts 22 23. Could he not here have commanded twelve legions of Angels for his rescue 53 54. verses But how then should the Scripture have been fulfilled that thus it must be Heaven and Earth may pass away sooner than one jot or one tittle of Gods word fail 5 Mat. 18. one drop of this cup be spilt The stain of sin cannot be washed off but by blood 9 Heb. 22. now what the blood of Bulls and of Goats could not do the blood of the Son of God must Thus it is written in the Volume of his Fathers everlasting councel 10 Heb. 4 5 6. if you will too curiously enquire the reason take St. Austins answer Ipsum interroga me scire licet quòd ità cur ità non licet ask him It is lawful for me to know it is so not why Notwithstanding whatsoever hardship this beloved Son underwent in this cup it argues the highest love of God imaginable to suffer and of him to drink it and gives us all this cheerful confidence that he who hath not withheld his Son but delivered him up in this manner for us can with him deny us nothing 8 Ro. 32. Again Christs suffering on the Cross was suitable to mans sinning ut per l'gnum erigeret lapsum in ligno Theod. Ut fieret crucifixione quae erat genus mortis Maledictum maledictio pro nobis St. Austin 3 Gal. 13. that as by the Tree came Death by the same should come life That by his Crucifixion which was a cursed kind of death he might be made a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the Law for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree 21 Deut. 23. Finally on the Cross extensis utrisque manibus as one observes vocationem tà m gentium quà m Judaeorum significaret by stretching out of both arms at widest he shews forth most gracious proffers of embracing both Jews and Gentiles 2. 2 Christs submission In the text you have as Christs Petition O my Father c. so his submission Nevertheless not as I will What we learn in his Prayer but as thou wilt Christ in his prayer teacheth us as 1. Devout Gesture He fell on his Face 2. Secrecy He went a little further from his disciples 3. Watchfulness verse 38. Watch with me fervency in his Prayer he sweat great drops of blood 22 Luke 44. Frequency he went away and prayed the second and third time v. 42.44 4. Brevity and a form the second and third time he said the same words v. 42.44 which were not many 5. A Diligent listning for the return of Prayer Compare our Text with vers 42. whereas Christ here Prayes earnestly if it be possible c. as if he had had some secret intelligence from heaven that it could not be he alters it thus ver 42. O my Father if this Cup may not pass c. Lastly He teacheth us holy cheerful and humble resignation of our will to Gods will for the answering our Petitions Nevertheless not as I will but what thou wilt As Christ was God his will was not contrary to his Fathers but as Gregory Nazianzen saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Godhead is one so also is the will of God But the assumed nature subject to humane infirmities beginning to startle at this cup Christ will bring in subjection to Gods will Since it is thy will O my Father in thine infinite wisdom to order this cup for mans redemption In obedience to thee and in love to him I will freely drink it It is a most terrible cup indeed witness those strange fears which possess me on the very thought of it making me cry out O my Father if it be possible pity thy dear Son and let it pass Nevertheless not what I will according to the weak motions of my frail flesh but as thou wilt according to thine eternal purpose in the working of mans salvation vers 42. If this cup may not pass from me except I drink it Thy will be done FOURTH SERMON ON Easter-Day OR The Resurrection 24 Luke 34. The Lord is risen indeed THe Primitive Christians I have heard on this day meeting in the morning had this greeting Some cryed the Lord is risen the other answered the Lord is Risen indeed What the early women had received from the Angels v. 1.4 5 6. and told to the Apostles v. 9. and others The two Disciples from Emaus v. 13. now again ratifie declare to them for a most certain and very truth saying The Lord is risen indeed The matter and manner of this report which doubtless was with abundance of Joy as witnesses their great hast v. 23. to bring it so many miles v. 13. at night v. 29 30. late after Supper offers to our consideration two things 1. In the text two things observable The Reality of Christs Resurrection 2. The benefit thereby 1. 1 The Reality of Christs Resurrection The Reality of Christs Resurrection The Lord is risen indeed Some prejudiced Persons as they did all his other Actions of casting out Devils feeding the multitudes in the wilderness raiâ—ing the dead imputing these to some delusion Witchcraft or Sorcerie so they might misconstiue this of his Resurrection also and as they might say as one observes in Dr. Moore 's Myst of Godliness p. 138. of that great Eclipse of the Sun at Christs Passion that some delusive spirits might intercept that light in favour of him the great Magician whom they thought just to crucifie betwixt those two other Malefactors quasi latronum pessimus saith one as the worst of the three the same might say that the same spirits might open his Sepulchre carry him away and afterward appear in his shape making use of his body to shew to Thomas or châ—nging their own vehicles into the likeness of flesh and bones so that no mans sense might discover any difference To this answers Dr. Moor in his Myst of Godl p. 140. give me leave to rehearse his own words I cannot mend them 1. That which may be an Exception or Evasion in any case is of consequence in no case for what doth there at any time really happen but evil spirits have a power to imitate so near that our senses may well be deceived 2. Though they have this power in themselves yet I deny that they can exert it when and so far as they please and therefore God would not permit them to add so irresistable credit to the whole Ministry of Christ by this last miracle if Christ had not really been the Messiah but he being