Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	believe_v	receive_v	unrighteousness_n	1,743	5	11.2223	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85735	A demonstration of the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and therein of the Christian religion. Very usefull for the further satisfaction and confirmation of all good Christians; as likewise for the confutation and conviction of those that have a Jewish or atheisticall spirit in them. / Written by Richard Garbutt, Bachelour in Divinity, sometimes fellow of Sydney Colledge in Cambridge, and afterwards preacher of the Gospel at Leeds in Yorshire [sic].	Garbutt, Richard.; Jackson, Nathaniel, d. 1662.; Cartwright, Christopher, 1602-1658.	1656 (1656)	Wing G207; Thomason E1693_1; ESTC R202150	67,066	193

much affliction with joy of the holy Ghost And St. Peter speaking of the sufferings of Christians and fiery triall of their faith what testimony gives he them scil this that through their faith though they saw not yet believing they rejoyced with joy unspeakeable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 And they that read Ecclesiastical history know that the Martyrs and Confessours went so joyfully to their sufferings that divers considering it were converted all wondred their adversaries that tormented them fretted fretted and were full of greife to see them so full of joy to see them goe to the stake as if it had been but to a bonefire to be merry also to see them burne in the flames as if they had been but beaking in the sun to see them stretching on the rack as if they had been stretching themselves on their beds of Ivory to see them that all the rest of their life through a Christian gravity and modesty looked like mourners see them now have such cheerfull countenances as if nothing but mirth and joy sat in their faces c. whence therefore had the primitive Confessours and Martyrs this extraordinary grace of sufferings to suffer so universally so invincibly so patiently so joyfully but from the power of the holy Ghost Vse 1 Use First If their be such evidences of Christs Resurrection then this may let us see the great necessity of Christian faith how necessary it is to believe as we believe how can I but believe that which the sufferings of so many Martyrs and Confessours the lives of so many Saints the powerfull conversion of so many Gentiles the strangeness of so many miracles the Apostolikeness for extraordinary graces in the first preachers the impossibleness of those eye-witnesses their being either deceivers or deceived the harmony also and consent of the old Testament the very record of the Jews how can I but believe that which is witnessed unto by all these If I will needs yet let infidelity lurke in my heart how many things have I may justly condemne me Moses and the Prophets that foretold these things shall condemne me those eye-witnesses that witnessed his Resurrection which if wilfully I shut not mine own eyes must needs appeare to me could neither be deceivers nor deceived shall condemne me those first preachers that could not have their extraordinary grace but from the power of him that was risen from the dead shall condemne me those strange miracles that strange conversion of the Gentiles that strange sanctity and holiness of converts that strange suffering of Martyrs that could none of them have been but by the power of him that was risen from the dead shall all condemne me if I believe not now the Gospel how justly am I condemned Wee are all ready in reading the story of the old Testament to condemne the Jew that he should be in many things so stubborne and unbelieving notwithstanding such manifest declaration of Gods presence among them but if all things were well cast up wee shall find that we have more reason ten to one to believe under the Gospel then they had under the Law and if an infidel-Jew may well go to Hell an infidel-Christian deserves to sinke far the lower there An infidel Jew if he believed not it was still a thing to come that he believed not the infidell Christian a thing past Christs Resurrection an infidel-Jew had no argument almost to confirme his beliefe but the consideration of a little strange miraculous working the infidell-Christan hath arguments above all miracles and moreover miracles above all Moses his miracles and therefore let us by the evidences of Christs Resurrection and so consequently of the whole Gospel for the Resurrection is the seale and warrant and complement of all therefore in their choice of a twelfth they name nothing thing but onely to be a witnesse of the Resurrection Act. 1.22 let us hereby charme and conjure out of our hearts all infidelity and let us establish our selves in our most holy faith this how necessary it is not onely to believe but also to see the necessity of our beliefe let two places teach you Luke 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scil That thou maist know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed And These things have I written to you that believe 1 John 5.13 that ye may know that ye have eternal life If it had not been a necessary thing and of much use to labour to see the necessity of Christian faith the one would not have rendered it for a reason in the beginning of his Gospel why he writ his Gospel and the other in the end of his Epistle why he writ his Epistle and therefore first if there be such evidences consider the necessity of Christian faith Vse 2 Secondly If there be such evidences of Christs Resurrection let us see the necessity of Christian life if there be such compelling arguments to perswade me to see the necessity of Christian faith then what remains but that in the next place I should thinke of the necessity of Christian life How dare I live as an Atheist if I cannot but professe and believe as a Christian how dare I cast away my commandements if I cannot but embrace my creed how dare I make so little of the holiness of the Gospel if I cannot but acknowledge the truth of the Gospel Verily this is the condemnation of many that Christian faith being so cleare Christian life is so bad This is the condemnation that light is come into the world sc not light hid under a cloud or under a bushel John 3.19 but light appearing to be light yet men love darkness rather then light John 15.24 And If I had not done among them the works which none other did they had not had sin c. And When the Spirit is come he will reprove the world of sin John 1.7 because they believe not on mee And They shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time 2 Pet. 2.13 When the truth of the Gospel is so cleare that if indeed there were any cause why thou mightest doubt of the truth of the Gospel if the mouth of all infidelity were not sufficiently stopt if Gods truth and testimonies were not very sure Psal 93.3 Credibilia factanimis then som reason there might be of thy hankering and hovering and back-hanging in the course of a godly life but if the truth of the Gospel be so plaine beware of hardning thy heart against the holiness of the Gospel He whom the truth of the Gospel convicts the holiness of the Gospel being neglected shall confound The wrath of God sayes the Apostle is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Rom. 1.20 who hold the truth in unrighteousness even the truth shewing it self onely in the evidence of nature much more in the evidence of the Gospel

makes much of it so long as it keeps its place and also for convincing of Atheists and unbelievers with whom it deals upon their own terms viz those of reason and in this tottering age declining so fast to Scepticisme and Atheisme there is need of both But I will not deteine the reader from the worke it selfe which will best speake for it selfe wishing every Christian a rationall and fiduciall knowledge of the truth and an experimentall knowledge of Christs Resurrection EDW. BOWLES A DEMONSTRATION OF THE Resurrection of Christ 1 Cor. 15.20 But now is Christ risen from the dead the first fruits of them that slept CORINTH was a famous Church if any other planted by the Apostle himself residing among them a whole yeare and an halfe for the preaching and setling of the Gospel Acts 18.24 and afterwards watered by Apollo an Eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures but though it were thus planted thus watered yet not many years after there crept in many abuses into that Church for the reforming whereof S. Paul spends most of this Epistle and the two chiefe abuses a dangerous schisme and a dangerous heresy He picks out purposely one to be medled with first of all and the other last of all because things spoken first and last take best impression and nothing he desired to take deeper impression then dehortation from schisme and haeresy the one breaking the bond of charity the other the bond of faith Their schisme that one said he was of Paul another of Apollo another of Cephas another of Christ is confuted thorowout the four first chapters Their heresy that some among them denyed the resurrection is with great vehemency and contention of reasoning confuted thorowout his fifteeth Chapter and good cause that the Apostle should so bestirre himself in confirming the doctrine of the resurrection it being the very knot and tye of all Religion and all Religion falling asunder without it deny the Resurrection and the world would soone be as bad as hell it self if the dead rise not again let us eat and drinke for to morrow we dye but affirme the Resurrection and beleeve it perfectly aright and the world would be almost as holy as Heaven it selfe Acts 24.15.16 My hope towards God is that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of just and unjust and herein do I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men therefore good reason that the Apostle should so bestirre himself about this point The Resurrection of the dead is the Christians confidence Fiducis Christianorum Resurrectio mortuorum Tertull Now he proves the Resurrection first more directly by plaine arguments unto the 35. vers Secondly more indirectly and underhand by answering the surmised doubts that might be against it But some will say How are the dead raised up c This how is not an how of enquiry for then he should not have answered thou foole but thou curious fellow but an how of objection against the very matter How how is it possible that the dead putrified body should rise again that every one should have his own body being eaten perhaps of the beasts or the fish or the fowle and turned into their substance how also is it convenient that these vile bodyes of ours that were nothing but clogs and troubles to us here should be restored to us and this is the implyed Objection How are the dead raised up c. which the Apostle answers in all the parts of it shewing it first not to be impossible because wee see the like dayly in the seed sowne it dyes and quickens again and also no feare of the impossibility because it is God that doth it and cannot he restore the body and the same body too he can tell how to sever the flesh of men from the flesh of beasts c. And secondly he shewes it not to be inconvenient because it shall be the same body for substance yet not for irksome conditions but as celestial and terrestriall bodies differ a great deale for glory and excellency so it from it self dying and being raised up again It is sowne in corruption it is raised in incorruption and in shewing this glorious change thereby answering the surmised objection of inconvenience he spends most of the rest of this Chapter from the fortyeth verse unto the end Now for the direct proofe of the Resurrection in the former part of the Chapter it beares it selfe especially upon this argument That Christ is risen and therefore we shall rise again too and after that he hath a long time tossed and touzed and waved and argued it up and down with a great deale of zeale that Christ is undoubtedly risen for it is the thing that he is long and earnest about and troubles him most the other That we should therefore undoubtedly rise would easily follow none would much gainsay it After therefore he hath so belaboured the point of Christs Resurrection thereby to inferre ours in my text he casts up the summe of all shewing what all his former reasoning had amounted unto namely to this to tall But now is Christ risen from the dead c. There are two things First That Christ is risen Secondly Not so onely but risen as The first fruits to sanctify and hallow unto his father all the faithfull that sleep in Christ assuring them by his Resurrection of their blessed Resurrection at last too As the whole harvest was blessed and sanctified and halloved in a little handfull of the first fruits dedicated to God that blessed and hallowed the whole harvest so Christs Resurrection blesseth and warrants all ours And First That Christ is risen But what you will say needs any proving of this point There are no Painims here to deny the Resurrection there are no Thomasses here to doubt of it we all beleeve the article of the Creed The third day he rose again from the dead Beloved I would it were so but let me tell you what our Saviour saith Luke 18.8 When the son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth and what S. Paul saith 2 Thes 3.2 Non omnium est fides all man have not faith to beleeve that Christ by his Resurrection is the Resurrection and life to others is a matter that may well have a Beleevest thou this set upon the head of it let me tell you it is not for nought that the Gospels every one of them are so large in the Demonstration of the truth of Christs Resurrection by variety of circumstances and variety of apparitions and that the Acts are written in effect for no other end as Chrysostome wel observes Hom. 1. then to prove Christs Resurrection by his powerfull sending of the holy Holy Ghost by his powerfull endowing them with gifts of miracles with gifts of a more then man-like courage and fortitude to preach stoutly the Gospell notwithstanding all opposition by the

famous King of Egypt caused them a long time before our Saviors coming in the flesh to be translated out of hebrew into greek a tongue more known to the nations that those Holy Scriptures also might be better known to the nations our comfort and stay of faith therefore may be that with S. Paul we say and believe none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses-did say should come Act. 26.23 that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead c. Secondly the testimony of so many eye-witnesses witnessing the truth of his Resurrection from his often apparitions unto them as First to Mary Magdalene 2. to the women by the way going from the sepulcher to the Disciples to acquaint them with that which had befalne there 3. to Peter alone 4. to the two Disciples travelling to Emaus whose eyes were a while holden that they knew him not 5. to the Disciples gathered together and the doores shut upon them when Thomas was away and all these five apparitions were the first day 6. to the Disciples eight dayes after when Thomas also was among them 7. to seven of the Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias when they had that extraordinary draught of fishes at his command bidding then cast on the right hand though all night they had fished and catched nothing 8. In a mountaine of Galilee as himself being alive had foretold them and this most thinke to be that famous apparition understood here by S. Paul when he tells us of one of his appearings to be to more then 500 brethren at once 9 Upon Mount Olivet from whence he ascended up to Heaven And these apparitions are recorded in the Gospels whereunto S. Paul mentioning some of these adds also some other apparitions besides as this of his appearing to more then 500 brethren at once if it be not the same with that apparition in Galilee also a distinct apparition to James also another distinct one when he saies To all the Apostles and lastly an apparition to himself as one borne out of time and these are the witnesses chosen before of God as Peter speaks to whom he shewed himself openly he shewed himself openly not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God Act. 10. and therefore seeing wee are compassed about with such a cloud of witnesses we have ground sure enough for our faith Nothing can be objected against their testimony but that either they were deceivers or were deceived Deceivers so the Jews objected that while the watch slept his Disciples came by night and stole his body away and so spread abroad the errour of his Resurrection Matt. 28.13 but this is too too incredible it is too too incredible that they could do this and it is more then too too incredible that they would do it First too incredible that they could do it for consider a text in St. Matt. 27.62 c. Now the next day that followed the preparation c. The High Priests said to Pilate command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure c. If they had intended to steale away his body why not the first-night before the Watch was set for all the circumstances here well considered give it a thing too too incredible that they could do it after so vigilant diligent and abundant Watch that questionless was set for why they came about it even on the Sabbath day and that was an high day too Secondly the very words that our Saviour said that within 3 dayes he would rise again stuck in their stomacks vilely 3. They confessed that if it should so fall out the last errour would be worse then the first 4. they had full leave of Pilate to do whatsoever they would for the making all sure would they not thinke you therefore set a most vigilant Watch c and so it appears they did Matt. 27.66 They went and made the sepulchre sure c. they would not trust any other how should it therefore be a thing credible that these should or durst be so negligent as to fall a sleep nay would be so negligent for in all likelyhood in a thing that they had such speciall care of they pickt out for the Watch some forward zealots that the very zeale of the cause would keepe them waking as well as the aw and dread of authority especially it being but one night they watched how is it credible also that the poor sneaks the Disciples that shewed their heels so finely when their master was apprehended should now when he was in the grave take heart of grace so courageously to attempt the thing against so strong a Watch how further is it credible that the rowing away of the stone before the door of the sepulchre the stone that was a very great one when the women that came to anoint him tooke great care how to get it rowled away how credible that this should not have waked some of the Watch hard by how further is it credible if the Disciples had stolne him away that the winding sheet should have been left behind in the sepulchre lying decently in one place and the napkin that was about his head wrapped up in another place by it self would they not rather if they had stolne him not have stript him but carried him away as he was in his grave-geare common humanity would not let them strip him and carry him away in so horrid a manner as stark naked and common wit would not let them thinke that they should have had so much leisure without feare of waking any of the Watch as to strip him especially being wound up in linnen cloaths with Mirrhe and other spices of a clammy and sticking nature like pitch to strip him of this and to have leisure then to wrap up the linnen cloaths and the napkin upon his head severally by themselves these are not signes of such as are in feare and hast so that it is no marvell that hereat the Evangelist said John 20.8 that the Disciple saw and believed How lastly is it credible that the Watch durst go home to the high Priests with such a fine tale in their mouths While we slept his Disciples came by night and stole him away what had this been but to have pronounced sentence against their own Souls when the Angel had brought Peter miraculously out of prison Act. 12.19 the keepers were examined and put to death though innocently for the escape what could they have looked for but the like sauce the impunity of the Watch is argument enough to any that hath but halfe an eye in his head that there was dawbing in the matter and casting heads about it and lastly that Dilemma of Aug. against this fine tale of the Watch. Either it was false that they slept Aut falsum erat quòd dormierant mendacibus credere non debuerunt aut verum erat quòd dormierant quod

must the wrath of God needs be revealed c. Marke the connexion of the Psalmist Thy testimonies are very sure and what then Holiness becomes thy house for ever Psal 93.5 Well I will wind up this with the grave speech of that good man Mirandula Magna profectò insania c. It is sayes he a great madness not to believe the Gospel the truth whereof so many things evidently speake and proclaime the sufferings of the Martyrs c. but it is a farre greater madness if any doubt not of the truth of the Gospel yet so to live as if he doubted not of the falseness of the Gospel what is this but to see Hell and yet to leap into it to see Heaven and yet not to care for falling from it what is it in a word but to run ful butt against God with eyes wide open and what is madness if this be not surely such sacred majesty will not be rubbed and jurred upon by profaneness that is blind but it shal beare the punishment for profaneness to run full butt against God with eyes wide open what punishment then may be looked for this is far worse then Balaams carriage he would but have gone upon the Angel of the Lord standing in his way with a sword drawn in his hand and not seeing the Angel neither But to see God-standing in the way to stop the sinner and the sinner to say yonder he stands yonder that would stop me in my unlawfull gaine stop me in my unlawfull pleasure stop me in my profane course of life yonder he stands but yet have at him what madness is this When the pitcher flyes against the wall and breaks not when a man runs his head full butt against a pillar and his brains dash not out then shal he run thus ful butt against God and his known ordinances and shatter not perish not not utterly be confounded body and soul for ever And therefore this also may let us see the great necessity of Christian life consider those things that shew the necessity of Christian faith and be an Atheist if thou canst consider the necessity of Christian faith and be a profane wretch if thou darest see Hell and leap into it see Heaven and contemne it see God in thy way and run full butt upon him with eyes wide open Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Vse 3 Thirdly If there be such evidences of Christs Resurrection then we may know how to give a reason of the hope that is in us 1 Pet. 3.15 Be ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you not to every one that asketh you a reason of any point of Christian Doctrine or Bible-bearing that is too much for every Christian to doe but every Christian should be able to give a reason of the Christian hope that is in him now the hope of a Christian is to be saved by Christ the Saviour risen from the dead as you have it 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead he therefore that can give a reason of Christs Resurrection from the dead gives good reason of his Christian hope he hath good reason to trust him for a Saviour that hath saved himselfe and to believe his Doctrine that God hath sealed the truth of it with raising the Prophet that taught it from the dead Marke the Apostle how he toucheth upon these three very same reasons here for the establishing us in our lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead whereupon we have insisted for the proofe of the Resurrection verse 10. First upon the testimony of the old Testament Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired verse 12. c. Secondly upon the testimony of the eye-witnesses which are now reported unto you c. Thirdly by the testimony of the Spirit which the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven c. and what now follows but that therefore we have good reason to stand firme in our hope verse 13. wherefore gird up the loyns of your mind be sober and hope to the end hope unto the end and let neither the fury of the unbelieving world persecuting you nor the fleeres and jeeres of the profane world flouting you be able to dash you in your hope but hope to the end for now that you know that Christ must needs be risen from the dead you know how to give an answer to any one that shall aske a reason of the hope that is in you Act. 26. Paul in his Apology toucheth much upon the same reasons Vse 4 Fourthly if there be such evidences of Christs Resurrection then it is evident that Christ was the right Messias for if he had been an impostor and false Prophet neither could he have raised up himselfe being but a meere man nor would God have raised him up being but a meer impostor nor can it be said that the Divell might raise up his false Prophet for he that cannot give sight to one borne blind John 9. can much lesse give life to one stark dead he cannot revive all the senses and the whole man that cannot so much as revive one sense the sight if the Divell could raise up a dead man to life he might as well make a man of dead matter It will be Gods sole priviledge for ever to be a God that raiseth up the dead 2 Cor. 1.9 if therefore there be such evidences of his Resurrection this is thought argument enough by our Saviour and the Apostles to prove him to be the right Messias this Resurrection from the dead So when they called for a signe from our Saviour to prove him that he was the right Messias as he pretended he instanceth in his Resurrection as signe enough alone to convince them that he was the Messias Matt. 12.38.39 Master we would see a signe c. no signe but the signe of the Prophet Jonas as he was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the son of man be three dayes c. So when the Jews seeing him take upon himselfe the office of the Messias asked him what signe he showed the signe he instanceth in was onely this Destroy this Temple and I will raise it up in three dayes Joh. 2.19 so when yee have lift up the son of man sc crucified him John 8.28 and he be raised again from the dead then shall yee know that I am be Act. 2.36 So St. Peter Therefore because he hath raised him from the dead let all the house of Israel know that God hath made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ so St. Paul Rom. 1.4 Declared to be the son of God by the Resurrection from the dead and so undoubted an

tormenting anxious feares for our owne deaths as being assured that Christ is not onely risen from the dead but risen as the first fruits to ensure the glorious Resurrection of all those that belong to him This use of thankfulness for so great a blessing the Apostle makes Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.3 which hath begotten us againe to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead And here St. Paul in the present Chapter O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ And indeed he that considers what death is backed with sin and the unalterable Law of God can easily be moved to thankfulness for victory over it through our Lord Jesus Christ and his death and Resurrection Seventhly if Christ be risen as the first fruits c. then let these bodies of ours be sacred and holy to him here which we looke should be glorious and happy in him hereafter in him as glorified members of him a more glorious head he will never make him a glorious member that is not first a holy member never deliver him from the bondage of death that does not seeke first to be delivered of sin never deliver him from the corruption of the grave that does not seeke first to be delivered from the corruption of lust If it were possible that any member of Christ in Heaven should either be a sinfull member or a poor contemptible member sooner should it be a poor contemptible member then a sinfull member our Saviour sometimes here upon earth had a vile contemptible body but never a sinfull body looke we therefore that these bodyes of ours should be happy and glorious in him hereafter let them be sacred and holy to him here Think with thy selfe when gluttony and drunkenness dishonours thy body is this drunken body fit to be a member of Christs glorious body when filthyness and uncleanness defiles thy body is this filthy body fit to be a member c thinke with thy selfe when violence bribery injustice cozenage and trading Legerdemanie cleaves to thy hand is this hand fit to be a member of Christs glorious body c when pride envy avarice adultery sits in thy eye is this eye fit to be a member of Christs glorious body c when profane and cursed speaking horrible swearing slandering backbiting c. furres thy tongue is this filthy furred tongue fit to be a member of Christs glorious body c How does the Apostle reason against the abusing of the body by the sinne of fornication 1 Cor. 6.13 Now the body is not for fornication but for the Lord and is it fit that that body that is the Lords body looks to be raised up a glorious member of him already a glorious head is it fit that body should be for filthyness and fornication If we will needs so dishonour our selves as to make our bodyes the members of harlots let us know that Christ will not so dishonour himselfe as to make the members of harlots his own members If therefore Christ be risen as the first fruits c. he will not have like Nebuchadnezzars image the head to be of gold and any of the members though the very feet the lowest to be of base clay and dirt Eighthly If Christ be risen as the first fruit then let us be bold to venture these bodies of ours be it unto the death in behalfe of him and his glory who dyed for us and rose againe to ensure the glorious Resurrection of these bodies our bodies are not so sure our owne now that we have them and are clothed with them as when they are off at his bidding he does but lay them up in a sure wardrobe to restore us them again far better then we doft them off so much deceived were those heathenish persecutours that burning the Christians gathered up the ashes of their bodies and threw them into the river Rhone to be carried away who knowes whither that they might make the Christians without all hopes of the Resurrection but little knew they that they had a head in Heaven that as those bones by prophecying came together bone to his bone so by but speaking unto them could make all those ashes come together were they never so scattered with the four winds Euseb 5. see how this the ensurement of our glorious Resurrections in and by Christ is made a speciall ground and motive in Scripture for our sufferings 2 Cor. 4.14 Act. 20.20 1 Cor. 15.32 Gal. 6.12 so we believe and therefore speake speake without concealment of any part of the truth of the Gospel though thereby we procure our selves great persecution at the hands of the Jews and what is the ground of his boldness Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus so 1 Tim. 6.13 Exhorting Timothy to constancy in the Gospel whatsoever befell upon it 2 Tim. 2.8 upon what ground does he it sc this Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead Rev. 2.8 c. so the Lord exhorting the Church of Smyrna to endure tribulation for his names sake upon what ground does he it sc this these things saith the First and the Last which was dead and is alive c. And so though you dye in his cause feare not he will make you alive againe if therefore Christ be risen as c. Ninthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits let us while we are in these bodies of ours be constant and abundant in all good works knowing that our labour none of it all shall be lost but a day shal come when if we could be sorry for any thing it should be especially for this that we have slugged it so much in the work of godliness Let not thine heart envy sinners Prov. 23.17 18. for surely there is an end even that end 1 Cor. 15.24 and thine expectation shall not be cut off And have hope towards God Act. 24.15 16. that there shall be a Resurrection c. and herein do I exercise my selfe to have a conscience alwayes void of offence both towards God and man And here in this Chapter after the Apostle hath sufficiently proved Christs Resurrection and also our glorious Resurrection in him This is the very use he makes of it in the last verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore my beloved be ye stedfast setled grounded confirm'd in the infallible faith of Christs and your Resurrections and unmoveable not onely setled but unmoveably setled that nothing be able to shake you from that stedfastness not the violence of Tyrants persecuting you not the subtilty of Philosophers seeking to circumvent you and if you continue thus stedfast and unmoveable in this your faith what will then follow but that you should abound not be spare and scanty but abound and that not when you are ready to lay downe these bodies of yours onely but alwayes Abounding alwayes in the work of the Lord. FINIS