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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

that weight value as to add the least grain of allowance or acceptance to this or any other the like performance yet being requested to deliver my opinion of it I could not but say thus much that the learned and pious Author hath herein at least to my apprehension approved himself * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 2 8 a workman that needed not be ashamed yea * Cor. 3.10 a wise Master-builder in the Church of God as having very solidly and judiciously stated and asserted that grand fundamentall article the main pillar indeed of our Christian faith our Saviour Christs Resurrection the truth whereef he hath undeniably prov'd and demonstrated as well by invincible arguments and strength of reason as also clear and evident testimonies and texts of Scripture and that both for the further confirmation of all true Christians and the fuller conviction of all gainsayers whether Atheisticall Jewish or Hereticall Spirits And truly I do not remember to have seen so much Scripture and reason better improv'd in so narrow a compass nor more artificially enterwoven and twisted together and helping one another by a mutuall compliance for the strengthening and support of so substantiall a truth In a word I look upon the Treatise as verifying and performing exactly what it promises in the Title if not more It being a * most perfect and complete Demonstration Demonstratio potissima or rather a twofold Demonstration as Logicians distinguish the one proving the thing * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it was so the other the finall cause or end * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why it was so the one cleering the truth and reality of it as in it self the other declaring the fruit and benefit of it as to believers the one in the former the other in the latter Point or Observation And in both these the Authour shows himself to have been a man singularly well skill'd both in the Theory and Practice of true Christianity of an able head and an honest heart of a strong brain and a gratious spirit The Doctrinall part of the Discourse being not more solid and sinewy in confirming the truth and settling and informing the judgment then the Practicall wholsom and savoury in speaking to the conscience and pressing holiness and purity of life and the power of godliness In which regard I heartily recommend the perusall of it to all good and sober Christians especially in these wavering warping and back-sliding times wherein so many have degenerated and * Turned Apostate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4.1 departed from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and * 2 Pet. 3.17 being led away with the errour of the wicked have fallen from their own stedfastness and I conceive for want of thorow conviction and sound instruction in these main fundamentall truths of the Gospel JAMES DUPORT READER I Wondred not when I met with those expressions of holy triumphing in Gregory Nyssen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nys Orat. 5. de Resur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id Orat. 1. de Resur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyril Hier. Catech. 14. let us extol the Resurrection of the Conqueror the joy of the world the life of all Nations since as he elegantly tells us the Divell our destroyer gaping to devour the bait of Christs flesh when he dyed was struck through and caught with the hook of Christs Divinity when he arose from the dead and as Cyril expresseth it he who by suffering was free among the dead by rising again manifested that he both could and would free the living The asserting of this blessed truth is the noble subject of this learned Treatise I wish I might have been allowed the secret tasting of its Divine delicacies without proclaiming to the world how well I rellish'd them and the rather because this excellent discourse is as far from wanting as are our slight pamphlets from deserving Commendation T is too low an Expression to say this work deserves my prayses worth of a middle size may be so commended I rather judg that my prayses are not worthy of it and may hope that my testimony will rather finde acceptance from it than it from my Commendation When first it came to my hands it found me in such a croud of business that I hardly could finde time to begin the reading thereof but truly when I had once begun to peruse it I as hardly knew how to make an end of reading till I came to the end of the book with such an honest delight did it rob me of the thoughts of my other employments and yet neither must I call it a robbery it was but a change and that an advantageous one for it brought me more benefit by its perusal than I parted with by forbearing for a time my other reading And reader I assure my self if thou art a friend to Christ and thy self thou canst not but with sweetest contentment view the Exaltation of thy dearest Lord and Master in his Resurrection and thereby thine own from the grave both of sin and earth so clearly and fully demonstrated The Authour of this Treatise I never knew and he is now above the resentment of earthly Commendations and therefore tentation I had none either by receiving or expecting any friendship from him to speak so freely of his book but might I dear Christian prevail with thee to read love and live the truths thereof all that good is succesfully obteyned which is I trust sincerely endeavoured by the testimony of thy servant for thy Souls good WILL. JENKYN Pastor of Black-fryers London Nov. 27. 1656. Christian Reader BEing desired to peruse this ensuing Treatise concerning the Resurrection of Christ and to expresse my thoughts of it though my testimony can adde nothing to the worth of it and very little to its acceptance in the world yet the excellent contexture of Scripture and reason which I have found in it requires me not onely to approve it but commend it The subject treated on is that of highest concernment the great pillar of our faith hope as the great Apostle argues 1 Cor. 15. and the maner of handling it is in good measure answerable to the weight and worth of its subject Some may possibly think that this great article of faith needs no Demonstration And I have sometimes been of that conceipt that some principles were so cleare they needed no confirming and some opinions so absurd they needed no confuting but I find my self deceived for in these dayes wherein our lot is fallen there is no truth so cleare and fundamentall but it meets with them that doubt it and deny it and no errour so ridiculous and unreasonable but finds them that will embrace and maintaine it Therefore I cannot but judge the publishing of this worke very seasonable both for confirming the faith of believers for faith despises not reason but

glorious successe likewise in their preaching to convert so many of the Jews Act. 6.7 even a great company of priests themselves and such numbers of the gentiles unto the faith these speake the Resurrection these are not the works of one that lyeth in the power of death Let me tell you there is more in that of S. Paul then every one thinks If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Rom. 10.9 and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Let me tell you further that the paucity of good livers shews plainly the paucity of true believers for this point If I did verily beleeve that Christ were risen from the dead and all power now given him in Heaven and in earth Matt. 28.18 would I so slovenly serve him as I do my service to him is such as if he were rotting in the grave and not sitting at the right hand of the Father why do I therefore Cozen my selfe and others with a vaine conceit that I beleeve the Resurrection Lastly let me tell you that if we do in some measure believe Christs Resurrection yet the more evidences and arguments to show it the sweeter and stronger growes our faith The things indeed to be beleeved cannot be demonstrated by reason but yet this may be demonstrated by reason that it is very reasonable to beleeve them or to speake with S. Aug. that they may be demonstrated by reason 1. Quòd non sit stultum talia credere deinde quòd sit stultum talia non credere first that it is not a foolish thing to beleeve those things and furthermore that it is a foolish thing not to beleeve them The more evidences and arguments therefore to demonstrate the too too reasonablenes of Christs Resurrection the sweeter and stronger growes our faith Forasmuch as many have taken in hand Luke 1.1 c. that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though at my first Catechizing in the principles of Religion I should simply beleeve the Articles of faith yet to know the certainty of them much establisheth my faith Hereunto tends that Rom. 1.11 for I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end you may be established and night and day praying exceedingly that wee might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 1 Thes 3. namely by further doctrine and proofe of the Gospel more and more evidence the truth of it unto you That therefore the Christian may know the certainty of this thing wherein he hath been Catechized namely Christs Resurrection from the dead the third day he rose again from the dead these things may sufficiently do it First the prediction or testimony of the Old Testament Secondly the testimony of so many eye witnesses especially the Grand-Jury of the Apostles to whom he often appeared in the flesh after the Resurrection Thirdly the testimony of the spirit which after his Resurrection and Ascension Christ sent down among his Apostles and Disciples to give them extraordinary holines of life extraordinary power to work miracles extraordinary boldnes and zeale to preach the Gospel extraordinary successe in preaching it these things could not be done by one that was in the power and hands of death but by one that was set down at the power and right hand of the Father And first the prediction of the Old Testament is a good argument to the Christian to beleeve Christs Resurrection Codicem portat Judaeus undo credat Christianus librarii nostri facti sunt quomodo solent servi post dominos codices ferre ut illi portando deficiant illi legendo proficiant Aug. Ps 56. because he sees he is taught to beleeve no new thing but that onely which hath been so often and so long agoe foretold by those Scriptures which the very Jew the maine enemy to the Resurrection cannot deny nay zealously maintaines The Jews carry the bookes by which the Christians may believe they are become our book-carriers even as servants carry their masters bookes after them that whereas the one are weary with carrying the other may profit by reading But where are these predictions of the Old Testament surely had we all those places which our Saviour alledged to the two Disciples beginning at Moses and all the Prophets Luke 24.37 and expounding to them in all the Scriptures the things that concerned his passion and his glory we should be marvellously furnished or had we those which it's likely S. Peter used in his Sermon Act. 3.24 All the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these dayes or those by which Apollo so mightily convinced the Jews Act. 19. shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ Act. 28.23 and those whereby Paul continued perswading the Jews concerning Jesus from morning till evening both out of Moses and the Prophets we should be richly furnished understood we all these But howsoever let these express places prove the Resurrection First that of the sixteenth Psalm urged by St. Peter Act. 2. My flesh shall rest in hope because thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption Secondly that of the second Psalm urged by S. Paul Act. 13. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee manifestly declared thee to be my very son now by my raising thee from the dead Rom. 1.4 Thirdly that of Esay 52.14 15. As many were astonied at thee c. so shall he sprinkle many nations the Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see c. And that of Esay 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes c. Fourthly not to name more particulars all those places prove this that show he must conquer death for how should he conquer death for others that were deteined by it himself Esay 25.7 he wil destroy in this mountaine the face of the covering cast over all people and the vail that is spread over all nations Hos 13.14 And I will ransom them from the power of the grave Fiftly all those places that speak of his everlasting Kingdome Vnto us a child is borne Esay 9.7 and the government shall be upon his shoulders of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end c. these and many other the like places may assure us against Jew or Gentile that for the Resurrection or any other mystery about the Saviour of the world we believe no new thing but that onely which often and long agoe hath been foretold by those Scriptures that were highly magnified not onely by the Jew but also by the Gentile when Ptolomy that

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

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