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
absolute power in it and over it Obser 5 Rightly to be informed in and to be affected with the doctrin of the resurrection and the life and of Christs power in it is of especiall use to comfort the sorrowfull and mourning friends of such as die in the faith 3 Whereas Jesus Christ doth take occasion to moderate and improve Martha's mourning over her brothers dead body and her desire of having it raised up again to life temporall to minde her of the true and effectuall meanes of quickning and raising up her own dead soul to life spirituall and eternall Obser 6 When any are apt to exceed in mourning over their friends dead body wishing it might be restored again to life temporall It is seasonable to mind them of the most effectuall meanes of raising up their own dead souls to life spiritual and eternal The words of the text are few but fruitfull I may compare them to those few loaves and fishes which in the hands of the disciples seemed unto them by much too little to satisfy so many thousand hungry stomacks as then stood in need of refreshment But being blessed and broken by Christ they multiply so exceedingly that they become enough for all and to spare In like maner these words of Christ lookt upon with a carnal eie or as only in the hands of a man what are they among so many that every one should have his portion But if Christ by his spirit do blesse and dispense them in the way of his ordinance they will multiply and be enough for all Yea such is the nature of this food that every one may carry away the whole and yet never a one have ever the lesse To each of the observations I shall speake particularly but very briefly The first is this Obser 1 Jesus Christ is the author of the resurrection and the life Or Jesus Christ is the author and efficient cause both of the resurrection of the body and of the life both spirituall and eternall 1 That he is so is manifest in the text and therefore needs not any farther proof neither shall I adde any more but only this that we have Jesus Christ asserting his power and efficiency in the resurrection four several times in one and the same chapter viz. Joh. 6.39 40 44 54. and in the life both spirituall and eternall no lesse John 5.21 22 24 25 26. 2 How he is so I shall shew in these particulars 1 Jesus Christ is the author and efficient cause of the resurrection and the life as he is God not excluding the father or the spirit For it is said that the father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them Joh. 5.21 1 Cor. 6.14 And also that the spirit raiseth and quickneth the dead Rom. 8.11 The father by the son and through the spirit 2 Cor. 4.14 Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa As he is the judge of the world so he is the resurrection both of the elect and reprobate Joh. 5.27 28. Even as the opening of the prison dores and the bringing forth of the prisoners is by the power and authority of the Judge So the opening of the graves and the raising of the dead is by the power and authority of Jesus Christ 3 As mediatour and so he is the author of the resurrection and the life of believers only And that 1 By his merit 1 Cor. 15 21 22. since by man came death that is by the merit of mans sin even by the sin of the first Adam By man came also the resurrection of the dead that is by the merit of the righteousnesse of Christ who is the second Adam 2 By his efficacy power and virtue whereby he quickneth whom he will He shall change our vile body Joh. 5.21 that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3.21 3 By inchoation Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept 1 Cor. 15.20 that is of believers Christ is to believers as the firsts fruit to all the rest of the fruits be and therefore if all the fruits sanctified through the Sanctification of the first fruits then so shall all believers be raised by the resurrection of Christ The use of this point is to confirm our faith in the doctrin of the Godhead of Christ None can raise the dead of himself and in his own name and by his own power but God only And hence by his raising up of himself he is said to have been declared to be the son of God with power Rom. 1.4 And this was one of those signes by which he evidenced himself to be the Christ to John's disciples Math. 11.5 in that by him the dead were raised up And as the resurrection of the dead is one of those principles or fundamentalls of the doctrine of Christ which are most necessary for all Christians to know and believe Hebr. 6.1 2. So to know and believe that Christ is the author or principall efficient cause of it is no lesse the duty of all that professe to believe Jesus Christ to be the son of God which is another article of our faith And therefore to the end that Jesus Christ might fully confirm Martha in the faith of his Godhead he thoroughly instructs her concerning his power and efficency in the resurrection which if she should receive she must also necessarily believe him to be God And accordingly it followes when Christ puts her to the question ver 26. Believest thou this she readily answers ver 27. Yea Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the son of God The truth is the doctrin of the resurrection is a difficult point Durius creditur resurrectio carnis quam una divinitas saith Tertulians That is the rection of the body is harder to be believed thence it is saith he that hereticks commonly begin l. de resurrectione carnis p. 46. n. 2. with the resurrection of the body and thence having shaken the hope of the resurrection they ascend at length to the questioning of the Deity Which is the reason he gives for his dealing first with that subject That so the saithfull being Sufficiently confirmed in this they might be the better grounded in all the rest As if they should be weakned in this they would be doubtfull in all the rest Fiducia christianorum ibid. p. 45. resurrectio mortuorum saith the same Author The hope of a christian is the resurrection of the dead Tolle spem resurrectionis resoluta est observantia omnis pietatis Chrisostom in Mat. 22. Take away the hope of the resurrection and all esteem of religion is vain If there be no resurrection of the dead saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. then is Christ not risen if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain and ye are yet in your sins ver 13. c.
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
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
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
somewhat sensible that while I have been pleading for others I may be thought to need an Apology in the behalf of my self for that I have presumed so far upon the patience of the reader who may be apt to blame me for making the porch too large for the house or for prefixing such large Epistles to a single Sermon But for this I shall say That the sin of uncharitablenesse is great and spreading and we cannot lightly raise the feuce too high against it And for both I shall say no more but this That when we speake or write or hear or read for God or our souls to caution against sin or to quicken to duty we should not easily suffer our selves to complain of tediousnesse The Apostles of Christ though their Epistles be not very short yet say they had written breifly in few words as to shew the excellency of the matter and their zeal to their duty so also to intimate that as themselves had not been weary in writing Hebr. 13 22 1 Pet. 5.12 so neither should they to whom they had writen be weary in reading If that which is here tendred thou shalt receive and use with profit neither of us shall have cause to repent of our labour And that it may be so I shall make this my only request Isa 48.17 that we may mutually commend each other to him who hath said that he is the Lord our God which reacheth us to profit Thine in the service of Christ William Trevethick JOHN 11.25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live THe historicall narration of Christs miraculous raising Lazarus from the dead as also of the preparations to it and the consequents of it are the main subject matter of the Evangelists discourse in this chapter That we may know who this Lazarus was he is set forth v. 1. by the indisposition of his body he was sick and also by the place of his abode he was of Bethany Which place is described 1. By some others of its inhabitants as it seemes better known to the disciples then Lazarus was It was the Town of Mary and her sister Martha 2. By its Scituation it was nigh unto Jerusalem about fifteen furlongs off v. 18. At this time the condition of the place was suitable to its name Bethany according to the notation of the word signifying a house of sorrow or mourning Lazarus a noted man of the town is dead and there is much sorrow and many mourners Mary and Martha his sisters are weeping the Jews also that came to comfort them weep yea even Jesus Christ himself wept v. 33 35. Here was a great mourning at Lazarus his grave We read of one Lazarus mentioned by Jesus Christ Luke 16.20 But whether that discourse be parabolicall as a Theophilact Justin q. 60. Theophilus Antiochen l. 4. Allâ—gor Eucher in quaest in Lucam Alius preterea nemo quod sciam Quin om â—â—s alii auctores historiam esse dicunt inquit Maldonâ—t in loc some or historicall as b Tertull an l. de anima c. 2. Ambrâ—s Jren. l. 2. c. 62. plures alâ—â— apud Mal donat Calvin in loc most of the ancients affirm c Tertullian adversus Marcionem l. 4. p. 274. edit Basil 1562. d Pet. Martyr in 1 lib. Sâ—m c. 28. p. 161. Some of which understanding by the rich man to be meant Herod and by Lazarus John the Baptist supposing as it seemes that Christ conceald their proper nam 's to avoid the odium of the times Or whether that be a mixt discourse partly historicall and partly parabolicall as a Maldon in loc Menoch in loc others conceive however otherwayes they differ they generally agree that Lazarus spoken of there was not the same with him whom Jesus raised from the dead As it may also farther a pear by his outward estate and condition in the world Lazarus spoken of in Luke is said to have been a poor miserable begger ready to perish through want But this whom Christ raised again was no way likely to be such His sisters whose affection towards him sufficiently manifected in this discourse would not fuffer them to see him beg seem to be persons of wealth and repute to omit the conjectures of b Vid Calvin Maldon Menoch in loc some even by that magnificent act of Mary in powring that precious ointment on the head of Christ which Judas said might have been sold for c 300 pence after the rate of 7 d. ob the value of their penny amounts to 9 l. 07 s. 06 sterling Bunting Itinerarium p. 391. 300 pence Joh. 12.5 yea and for more Mar. 14.5 An act so graciously accepted and so highly honoured by Christ Mat. 26.13 that it is followed with a memorial of as larg extent and of as long continuance as the preaching of the Gospel Sufficient to argue her condition was not very mean Besides the great concourse of the citizens of Jerusalem to visit and comfort them which was saith Maldonat propter Marthae Mariaeque nobilitatem aliasque virtutes Mos erat JudaeoruÌ„ mortuos praesertim honorabiliores in Sepeluncis Sepelire for the respect they did bear to their nobility and other vitues And also the manner of his interment being buryed in a cave or vault which as is said was most usual for such as were more honourable and of the better sort But to passe by those things which are of the lowest concernment There are other intimations given by the Evangelist by which they are rendred more truly remarkable and of eminent worth and note to us which are 1 Their mutuall love manifested each to other by their cohabitation or dwelling together not only in the same town but also as it seemes in the same house And farther by their mutuall care for each other as here when Lazarus was sick their first and chief care was to send for Jesus Christ the great physitian both of soul and body 2 Their love to Jesus Christ evidenced by their frequent attending on him and entertaining of him taken notice of and commended in all the Evangelists Matth. 26.6 c. Mark 14.3 c. Luke 10.38 39. Joh. 12.2 3. 3 Jesus Christ his love to them all as is expressed in the fifth ver of this chapter where it is said that Jesus loved Mary and her sister and Lazarus Which he also makes manifest by his sympathizing with them in their sorrowes instructing them where they are ignorant strengthening their faith comforting them in their afflictions raising up again of Lazarus from the dead c. Thus they that love Christ and love one another are beloved of Christ The preparatory acts that go before this miracle are 1 the message which his sisters sent to Christ to acquaint him with his sicknesse That they went not themselves but sent might proceed from the regard they
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