case if Christ had not risen The Gentiles Religion at that time was no better than Irreligion the Jewish Religion was now grown such a Yoke and Burden that the World grew weary of it and 't was thought by the wisest that it was high time there should be an end of that Yoke so that had not Christ risen the Christian Religion which was now to be the standing Religion had been but tottering and all the Professors of the same would have sneaked away when they saw the Founder of their Religion conquered by death and not able to rise again Had not Christ risen our Faith and Preaching had been in vain What profit had there been in his Blood if he had not risen Surely none but we had still been in our sins that therefore the cost of his Blood might not be in vain unto us necessary was it that he should rise again As also that we might have a testimony of the Father's satisfaction Christ undertook to be Man's Surety to discharge his Debts and thus made himself the Debtor as you heard very well explained last Friday so long as the Debtor is in Prison it is a sign the Debt is not satisfied therefore that we might be assured the Debt is fully satisfied the Prisoner must be let out Christ must rise the Surety being set at liberty now we are begotten unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead And necessary it was Christ should rise as the first fruits of our Resurrection in which respect one of the Fathers well calls Christ Just Mart. Q. Resp ad Graec. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lev. 23.10 c. The Captain of our Resurrection leading the way to us that are to follow The Law concerning the First-fruits is set down in Leviticus in which we may observe that the lifting up the Sheaf before the Lord did note Christ's rising out of the Grave and as those Fruits had the name of First-fruits because they were the first that were gathered so was Christ the first that rose from the dead the first that rose in Incorruption the first that rose unto present participation of Glory S. Cyp. lib. de resur Dom. Just Mart. Q. R. ad orthod q. 85. Bern. Ser. 1. de festo S. Pasch for all who we read were raised before him did die again to take a larger Draught of that Cup they had before but tasted of so that their Resurrection was imperfect and incompleat but Christ was the first that ever rose by a full compleat and perfect Resurrection unto the present participation of Glory But that is not all the First-fruits had a special reference unto all the rest so that all the Sheafs in the Field were holy by the acceptation of that and in that Christ is said to be the First-fruits of them that slept it shews that he rose for us that our dust might be sanctified our Mortality consecrated to Eternity Christ's Resurrection hath an influence upon us in order to a twofold Resurrection a Resurrection from the Grave of Sin unto the Life of Grace and to the Resurrection of our Bodies for besides that it is a strong argument for the possibility of our rising the same power that raised Christ being able to raise us it hath the influence of an efficient cause upon our Resurrection he rising not as a private Person but as a publick Principle if the Head be raised the Members shall also rise INFERENCES If Christ be risen according as the Scriptures declared there was a necessity he should then will he undoubtedly come to Judgment for why rose he but to receive all Power in Heaven and in Earth Know this Act. 17.31 That God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the World by him whom he hath raised from the dead Than which nothing can be more terrible to such who are the Enemies of Christ and lead an ungodly Life he whom Death and Hell could not hold how shall any thing hold him from revenging himself to the full upon such who shall be found his Enemies If he were in the Grave then you might swear and curse and be intemperate and unclean and break all his Commands dreaming of Impunity but consider O Christians 't is not a dead but a living Christ you thus dishonour who will come to call you to an Account who as he will be a bountiful Rewarder of them that serve him so will he be a most powerful Revenger of the Injuries offered him We will not enlarge upon so sad a Meditation at this time 't is a day of Joy and much comfort is there in Christ's Resurrection especially to those who believe in his Name If on any day you lift up your selves with Joy then on this day when Christ did rise and lifted up his Head out of the Grave the Jubilees in old time were the Figures of the Joys in this acceptable time for by the Resurrection of Christ every true Believer is set free from the hands of his Enemies his Trespasses forgiven he is restored again to his interest in that Heavenly Possession which was lost in the transgression of Adam Here is comfort against the fear of Death how may you triumph over Death and the Grave O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory Assure your selves Death can have no Victory over you Tertull. lib. de Resur Caro salutis est cardo c. Tertullian doth excellently and comfortably treat upon this point The Body saith he is as it were the Hinge of Salvation as we see in Baptism the Flesh is washed and sprinkled with Water that the Soul may be cleansed And when the Holy Ghost was given by laying on of hands the Body was shadowed by laying on of hands that the Soul might be enlightened with the Holy Ghost Thus in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper the Body eats and drinks the Bread and Wine Christ's Body and Blood Sacramentally that the Soul may feast upon Christ and be satisfied It cannot therefore be imagined as the same Father well argues that the Body and Soul being thus joined in the Acts of Religion should be separated in the Reward Nay we may further take notice that where the work of Grace is truly wrought the whole Man is renewed the Body as well as the Soul so then if the Body be not raised the new Man should be destroyed the Soul alone not making the new Man but in conjunction with the Body Suffer not therefore any to shake or unsettle you in this great Foundation-Doctrine of the Resurrection Though Heathens and Epicures may laugh at this as an old Wifes Fable Vid. Min. Fel. Oct. de idâ—lâ—rum â—vanit though Atheists and Hereticks may scoff at it as a Childish Vanity and Madness yet be not shaken though it be a Doctrine above reason it is not against reason The Apostle so argues before King Agrippa Why should it be thought a thing
unreasonable with you that God should raise the dead God's word must be made good for he is as infallible in his word as in his nature now his word is That all who are in the dust shall awake and all that are in the Grave shall hear Christ's Voice and come forth As for those who talk of I know not what Vehicle of the Soul to which it shall be then joined at the great day other than the Body in which it here dwelt in this World and which is laid in the Grave it is not only contrary to the Scripture but to the Doctrine of the ancient Church * Epiphan cont Haeres lib. 2. Tom. 1. item in lib. Anchorat fusè Aeneas Gazaeus Theophrast Tertull. lib. de Resurr cap. 56. Dion Areop de Eccles Hierarch lib. cap. 11. which constantly teach that the same Body which is laid in the Grave shall be raised which can no way be said of that imagined Vehicle which never was in the Grave For your farther confirmation consider the point of Justice and Equity if it doth not require that there should be a Resurrection of the dead in the very same numerical Bodies for how else should every one be rewarded according to his Works How can it stand with the rule of Justice that one Body should serve God and suffer for God and another Body should be rewarded that one Body should Sin and another Body should be damn'd As Christ did rise in the same Body which died so shall all men rise in their own Bodies Many indeed are the vain Scruples of Atheistical Spirits against this Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body as how it is possible This is answered by Aeneas Gazaeus in his Theophrastus By Justin Mart. Q. R. ad Graecos In also Q. R. ad orthod q. 3. Athenag de resur p. 43. when crumbled into dust and one Man's dust mixed with another nay it may be one Man devoured by another and turned into his substance How it is possible that a Man being eaten by Fishes those Fishes again eaten by Men that after so many mutations changes mixtures alterations of Mens Bodies they should be raised the very same Bodies and every one have his own Body But if you be Christians who have such thoughts give me leave to ask you what the first Article of your Christian Faith is Is it not this That God is Almighty If you believe this it will be easy to believe the Resurrection of the dead after never so many changes since that to Omnipotency all things are possible And certainly * Aug. de Civ Dei. lib. 10. cap. 30. quanto honestius creditur reverti semel animas ad corpora propria quam reverti toties ad diversa this Doctrine concerning the rising of the same Body is far more reasonable than their Opinion who held transmigration of Souls or the passing of Souls into several Bodies as St. Austin argues But why should we deny that power to God which we see in a manner in the Creature Lay a heap of all sorts of dust together Dust of Gold Silver Tinn Wood Iron apply the Loadstone to this heap of dust and it will sever the Dust of the Iron from all the rest and draw it to it self and shall we not believe that God can know every Man's peculiar Dust and separate it from the rest yea and raise it up to Heaven Look again into Nature and you may see enough to strengthen your Faith in the Resurrection of the dead Consider the daily Resurrections in the World and you may see our Resurrection shadowed in the Day and Night The Sun sets and riseth again see you not the Fruits of the Field Herbs Plants Trees do they not die as it were in the Winter and live again in the Spring Theoph. Patriarch Antioch ad Autol. lib. 1. doth not the Corn Men sowe die and rise again Theophilus Patriarch of Antioch follows this Argument at large St. Ambrose S. Amb. Hexaem lib. 5. cap. 23. and several others of the ancients urge the Phoenix to prove the Resurrection which instance is so common I need not spend time in relating it Let us observe the workings of God in our selves and we shall have no cause to doubt the Resurrection of our Bodies Consider of what a small beginning at our Conception God raiseth so goodly a Structure as our Bodies and you must acknowledge him able to raise them again Nay of what did God make Man at first Did he not make us of nothing Now consider whether it be an act of greater power to raise a Body at the last day of some matter yet remaining or at first to make it of nothing Therefore with Polycarp Polyc. Ep. ad Philip. we may look upon him who denies the Resurrection of the dead as the first begotten and eldest Son of the Devil What Enemies need Believers fear if Christ be risen He that was too hard for Death will be too hard for any of your Enemies He who hath overcome the great Goliah for you can he not overcome the lesser Philistins What Calamities or Miseries can you fall into but you may fetch comfort out of Christ's Resurrection to support you under them He that raised himself from the dead hath power to deliver us from all evil This was Job's Comfort in all his Afflictions the summ of whose Argument is this God will raise me up at the last day therefore undoubtedly he is able if it stand with his own Glory and my good to lift me up from this Dunghil again Have you parted from Believing Relations there is no reason to mourn as those without Hope since Christ is risen and will raise them again to Life And why should we trouble our selves over-much at the Frailty and Infirmities of these Bodies Christ is risen according to the Scripture and this corruptible shall put on Incorruption this mortal shall put on Immortality To conclude all Is Christ risen Let us every one look into our selves and see what power the Resurrection of Christ hath had upon our Hearts Risen he is but is he risen in our Hearts What share have we in his Resurrection Good Christians feel the power of his Resurrection quickening them unto Holiness If we can truly say he hath quickened us together with Christ that would be something to the purpose There is a Resurrection of Souls here and of Bodies hereafter 't is the Resurrection of our Souls here from the death of Sin unto the Life of Grace that is the Fruit of Christ's Resurrection in all who are for Eternal Happiness He that hath part in this first Resurrection the second Death shall have no power over him Let us learn to live as those who believe Christ's Resurrection seeking those things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. It is the most unbecoming Frame for a Christian to be Earthly minded for a Man to be grasping after the World to have his Heart set upon his Covetousness to be loading himself with thick Clay to be still crying Give give never to be contented with these outward things with the Hog to be rooting in the Dunghil and wallowing in the muck and mire of the World Is this to live as becometh one who professeth himself to be risen with Christ No assuredly If we be Christians let us not inordinately mind these things let our Hearts be where our Head Christ Jesus is let us seek the Mansions Christ hath prepared for us For our Hearts to be panting after Christ as the Hart panteth after the water Brooks every day to have our set times of Communion with God and Christ to be angry at what ever draws our Hearts aside from Heavenly things to be frequent in Holy Contemplations pondering in our thoughts the weightiness of that Crown of Glory prepared for us to be in daily longing expectations of the coming and appearing of our blessed Saviour this is to live as becomes those who believe Christ is risen according to the Scripture To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory now and for evermore Amen FINIS Books lately Printed for Walter Kettilby Mr Hesketh's Piety the best Rule of Orthodoxy 8o. 's Serious Exhortation to frequent Communion 8o. 's Case of Communicating unworthily 8o. The Faith and Practice of a Church of England Man. The third Edition 12o. Religion the Perfection of Man 8o. An Exposition on the Church Catechism By way of Question and Answer 8o. Mr Stainforth's Sermon Jan. 30. 1688 / 9. at York Mr Lynford's Sermon before the Lord Mayor Feb. 24. 1688 / 9. Dr Scott's Sermon at the late Lord Mayor's Funeral March 27. 1689. The Oration of Cicero for M. Marcellus done into English With an Appendix relating to the Prince of Orange 4 to
Pilkington Mayor c. Martis xvi die April 1689. Annoque Regni Regis Reginae WILL. MARIAE Angl. c. Primo THis Court doth desire Mr Mariott to Print his Sermon Preached at Guild-Hall Chappel on Easter-Day last before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this City Wagstaffe Imprimatur April 26. 1689. Carolus Alston R. P. D. Hen. Episc Lond. Ã Sacris Domesticis A SERMON Preached before the Right Honourable THE Lord Mayor AND ALDER MEN OF THE CITY of LONDON At GUILD-HALL Chappel on Easter-Day 1689. By THO. MARIOTT M. A. and Rector of Little Canfield in Essex LONDON Printed for Walter Kettilby at the Bishops-Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1689. TO THE Right Honourable Sir Thomas Pilkington Kt Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON My Lord AS your favourable Acceptance of this Discourse was more than I could reasonably expect being conscious to my self of my own Weakness so your Command is the only reason of its appearing in publick There is sometimes a Resurrection of the Body Politick when it hath been as it were dead and buried under Oppression and Tyranny which our Nation through the Infinite Mercy and by the Almighty Power of God hath lately Experienced a Mercy not only above our Deserts but Hopes of which I am assured not only your Lordship but all True Protestants are deeply sensible and for which they are heartily thankful But it is another Resurrection which is here treated of the Resurrection of the Saviour of Mankind and of our own Bodies by vertue of his no circumstantial indifferent point but the great Fundamental of our Christian Religion and in that respect I hope of more general use That you may have part with all good Christians in this Resurrection at the last Day to Immortality and Glory and Enjoyment of your Lord in Everlasting Bliss is and always shall be the Prayer of My Lord Your most obliged and obedient Servant THO. MARIOTT A SERMON Preach'd before the Lord Mayor c. JOHN xx 9. For as yet they knew not the Scripture That he must rise again from the dead THese words are part of the Gospel appointed by our Church for this Day guiding us to speak concerning the lofty Mystery of Christ's Resurrection Easter-Day being kept by our Church as a solemn Festival Day and day of Rejoycing for the Miracle of Christ's rising from the dead Among our Festivals this seems to carry the brightest splendour of Antiquity upon it it having been the practice of the Church from the Apostles days downward to keep this day in a more than ordinary solemn manner It is the opinion of no mean Divines that what the Apostle saith to the Corinthians Let us keep the Feast 1 Cor. 5.7 8. doth look to the special and Religious Solemnization of the Feast of Easter having immediately before made mention of Christ our Passover Great difference there was among the Primitive Christians about Easter but this concerning the time not the thing Some kept the Passover or Easter at the same time as the Jews kept theirs others afterwards so that this occasioned no small stir in the Church yet here it may not be unworthy of your observation that although they differed in their Opinion and Practice Of the time of keeping Easter Vid. Epiphan cont Haeres lib. 3. Tom. 1. cont Sect. Audianotum concerning this particular the Eastern Church keeping Easter with the Jews before the Spring Solstice the Western Church after the Spring Solstice or Equinoctial they did not in the early days next the Apostles separate from each other but as occasion served Communicated together This point was in the Council of Nice determined that the Christians should not symbolize with the Jews nor with them keep the Passover before the Spring Solstice or Equinoctial which was afterwards confirmed by the Synod of Antioch Syn. Antioch Can. 1. and so this difference was composed And I pray God send us as happy a composure of these unhappy differences at this day among Protestants as there was in the Primitive Church of the difference relating to the Feast of Easter By what hath been said of this early difference in the ancient Church concerning the time of keeping Easter it is so much the more evident that it always hath been the practice of the Universal Christian Church to keep Easter Day with a special Solemnity in memory of Christ's Resurrection It was no ordinary Piety strictness devotion with which the Primitive Christians were wont to keep this Solemnity by extraordinary fasting sometime before the better to humble their Souls for their Sins and prepare them for so joyful a Feast and great things do they speak of this day A Great Council calls it syn 6. in Trullo Can. 90 91. Greg. Naz. Orat. 42. The great Sabbath Gregory Nazianzen calls it The Feast of Feasts and Solemnity of Solemnities as much excelling the rest of the Feasts as the Sun doth the rest of the Stars And in the same Oration calls it the greatest of days S. Chrysostom goes so far as to tell us S. Chrysost Tom. 5. Serm. 34. de Resur Christi that this Solemnity is not only a Feast on Earth but a Feast in Heaven To day saith he speaking of Easter-Day there is Joy on Earth to day there is Joy in Heaven And he gives this reason of it For if there be Joy in Earth and Heaven for one Sinner that repenteth how much more will there be Joy in Heaven on this Day when the whole World was extorted out of the hands of the Devil From the Birth of Christ the World began to expect great things from a person so born and attended with such notable Signs and Wonders and still as he grew up and gave Evidence of his Vertue and Power the expectations of men were more raised and strengthned But when he began to Preach and work such mighty Miracles as he did how must Mens Hearts be affected and filled with hopes of great designs to be carried on by such a Person but see how the Scene was altered a little while was it and he on whom all their Eyes and Hearts were fixed was betrayed by the vulgar abused by the Governours condemned by their Instruments Executed his Hands and Feet nailed to the Cross the Sun was under a Cloud the object of the Worlds Hopes and Joy expired gave up the Ghost died was buried and lay for a while in the Grave as other weak frail Mortals What a disappointment this was and how they did lament it you may partly see by the Speech of the two Men going to Emmaus Lu. 24.21 We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel and besides all this to day is the third day since these things were done by which it doth appear how the Friends of Christ were pierced in his piercing and their hopes buried in his Sepulchre Blessed Day was it now when the Lord arose the Sun though set a