The Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lecture 36
THE XXXVI. LECTVRE OF THE RESVRRECTION OF CHRIST.
MATTH. CHAP. XXVIII.
verse 11 Nowe when they were gone, beholde, ſome of the watch came into the Citie, and ſhewed vntounto the High Priestes all the thinges that were done.
verse 12 And they gathered them together, with the Elders, and tooke counſell, and gaue large money vntounto the Souldiours,
verse 13 Saying, Saye, His Diſciples came by night, and ſtole him awaye while wee ſlept.
verse 14 And if this matter come before the Gouernour to bee hearde, we will perſwade him, and ſo vſe the matter, that yee ſhall not neede to care.
verse 15 So they tooke the money, and did as they were taught: and this ſaying is noyſed among the Iewes vntounto this day.
MARKE, CHAP. XVI.
verse 12 After that, hee appeared vntounto two of them in another forme, as they walked, and went into the countrey.
LVKE, CHAP. XXIIII.
verse 13 And beholde, two of them went that ſame daye to a towne, which was from Hieruſalem about threeſcore furlonges, called EMMAVS.
verse 14 And they talked together of all theſe thinges that were done.
verse 15 And it came to paſſe, as they communed together, and reaſoned, that Ieſus himſelfe drewe neare, and went with them.
verse 16 But their eyes were holden, that they could not know him.
WEE hearde hitherto in the Hiſtorie of the Reſurrection of IESVS CHRIST, (Beloued in Him) of ſundrie vvitneſſes of His Reſurrection: Firſt Angels, and next vvomen: Namelie, MARIE MAGDALENE vvas the firſt that gotte the ſight of Him after His Reſurrection: and after her, other vvomen gotte a ſight of Him alſo, and a direction to His Diſciples, to aſſure them, that Hee vvas riſen againe.
Nowe in this TEXT vvhichwhich vvee hauehave read out of the Goſpell of MATTHEVV, vve hauehave a piece of Hiſtorie of another ſorte of vvitneſſes, that teſtified of the Reſurrection of IESVS; euen of the men of vvarre, who were ſent out to watch the graue: they came not to the Diſciples, but to the High Priestes, and t…ey teſtifie vntounto them of the Reſurrection of IESVS. Then, in the Hiſtorie vvritten by MARKE and LVKE, vvee returne to the true vvitneſſes, to vvit, two of them that vvere His Diſciples: Hee meetes with them as they vvere journeying from Ieruſalem to Emaus, and thereafter theſe two tell the reſt, that the Lord vvas riſen. Now to goe thorow theſe two pieces of Hiſtorie ſhortly, as God ſhall giuegive the grace, and as time ſhall permit: When the vvomen that had met with Ieſus, had returned, Some of the ſouldiours that had watched the graue, returnes home to Ieruſalem, to tell the things that had fallen out: but they came not to the place where the Apoſtles vvere, but to the place where the High Prieſts vvere, from whome they vvere ſent, and they tell the Lord was riſen.
The Hiſtorie is plaine: theſe witneſſes are the ſouldiours that vvatched the graue: they hauehave not ſuch a commiſsion as the other witneſſes had: they are not ſent by CHRIST, nor by His Angels, but runne of their owne accorde: but yet they runne by the ſpeciall prouidence of GOD: No doubt, His prouidence directed them to the High Prieſtes, and not ſo much to inſtruct them: for they vvere hardened, as to let them ſee, that they vvere diſappointed of their expectation. They obtained of Pilate, to let men goe out and to keepe Him in the graue, and to hauehave ſmoothered His Reſurrection, that it had neuer come to light and yet the LORD ſendes theſe ſame men to Ieruſalem, as witneſſes of that reſurrection, that they would hauehave ſmoothered, as if they had bene ſent out by the High Prieſtes, to this ende, that they ſhould be witneſſes: they could teſtifie no better of it: the LORD turnes it about ſo, that they could doe no better, if the High Prieſts had hired and waged them, to be witneſſes of His Reſurrection. It is a vaine thing to ſtriue with GOD, and to hide that thing, that Hee will hauehave brought to light: for hide it as thou vvilt, in deſpite of thee He ſhall bring it to light, to thy ſhame, that Hee may bee glorified.
Novve to ſpeake what they teſtified: they teſtified the ſame thing that the vvomen had teſtified: they teſtified the trueth, they teſtified All that was done, that IESVS vvas riſen: yet there is a great difference betvveene them, and the vvomen: when the vvomen vnderſtood, that Hee vvas riſen, they came home vvith joy, the men of vvarre came home vvith ſadneſſe, and vvith diſcontentment, and they preach this to them that were ſad to heare it, and aſhamed of it: they preach it not to the Apoſtles, as the vvomen did, but to the High Prieſtes.
Marke this Leſſon: Looke how ye tell tythings: there are ſome that will make good tithings of euill tithings, and euill tithings of good, as they pleaſe, albeit they be neuer ſo good, if they be not contented with them, they vvill make them euill: but be they neuer ſo euill, if they be contented with them, they will make them good, and tell them vvith joy.
Bevvare hovv ye tell tithings of the Church of ENGLAND of FRANCE, or of GERMANIE, or of other partes. Looke when thou ſpeakeſt of the proſperous eſtate of the Church, that thou ſpeake it with joy: and vvhen yee heare that the Church is troubled, ſpeake that not with joy, but vvith ſadneſſe: Thou that art not content vvith the proſperous eſtate of CHRISTS Church, thou vvouldeſt hauehave hid CHRISTES Reſurrection, as the Scribes did: and if thou hadſt beene liuing with them. So in a vvord: if the Church be ſad, tell it vvith ſadneſſe, and if ſhe be joyfull, tell thy tithings vvith joy: if thou ſpeakeſt of IESVS, and His glorie, ſpeake of Him vvith joy and pleaſure in thine heart.
Novv to goe forvvard: The High Prieſts, when they heare theſe newes: they are nothing content therevvith, but are aſhamed: They call a Councell of the High Prieſtes, and the Senatours of the people. The thing that they decerne, is to bribe the men of vvare that vvatched the graue, and to hire their tongues to lie: they gaue them a great ſumme, to ſay, That the body of the Lord was ſtollen out of the graue by the diſciples, in the night, whilſt they ſlept: and leſt the men of vvarre ſhould bee affrighted for Pilate: and ſo refuſe to lie: they preuent that: for ſay they, take no thought of Pilate: ye ſhall get no harme: If hee heare of this, wee will perſwade him, and ſo keepe you harmeleſſe. Well, theſe men were once diſappointed, and yet leaue they off? No, they will hauehave His glory and Reſurrection ſmoothered: and becauſe they could not get it by violence, nowe, they will ſmoother it by craft: No, that thing that they cannot doe by violence, they ſhall ſeeke to bring it about vvith lies: No, thinke yee, that theſe Traitours and Apoſtate Lordes doe reſt: No, that thing that they could not get done by violence, they ſeeke to doe it by craft.
Well, yee vvould maruell at this▪ yee vvould aske Whether or not they were aſſured that the LORD IESVS was riſen, and beleeued the report of the men of warre? I anſwere: It could not bee, but they beleeued that He roſe by a diuine power: No, it could not be but they thought it: and if they had thought that the diſciples had ſtollen His body away, they would hauehave purſued them, and gotten the bodie againe. Then ſeeing the arme of GOD raiſed Him vp, and they knew that the Lord was riſen: Is not this a wonder, that they repent not, but will oppone them to the power of God? No, wonder not at it. Men, who hauehave once begunne to fight againſt the Holy Spirit, and God Himſelfe immediately, can ſcarcely euer repent, and turne backe againe, but rather goes forward to fulfill their ſinnes, as the Apoſtle ſayes, 1. Theſſ. 2.16. the wrath of God is come vponupon them to the full. This is not the firſt time they fought againſt God immediatly, but they had often times done ſo before, and beginning, they leaue not off, but goe forward. So, learne this leſſon: marke how dangerous a thing it is, once to beginne to oppone thy ſelfe to God: if thou beginneſt once to oppone thy ſelfe againſt that Majeſtie, the wrath of God ſhall ſo ſeaſe on thee, that thou ſhalt not get leaue to goe backe, till thou bee ſhut in hell: So Steuen Acts 7.31. ſpeakes of theſe ſame Iewes: O ſtiffenecked people! yee euer reſiſt the Holy Spirit: that is, as yee hauehave begunne to ſinne againſt that Holy Spirit, ſo yee continue, ye cannot goe backe againe: So that they are ſet out as a ſpectacle of Gods judgement: and it ſhould learne vsus to tremble, once to thinke euill againſt that Holy Majeſtie: theſe people may be a document to all them that oppone themſelues to Him. The Lord ſaue vsus from all ſinnes, but namely, from this ſinne againſt the Holie Ghoſt, that can hauehave no repentance.
Nowe to goe forwarde: The ſouldiers againſt their owne conſcience, ſell themſelues miſerably to lie: and it was a wonder, that the Iewes knew it not to be a lie: the men who made this lie, were prophane men of warre, who commonly vſe to hauehave litle godlineſſe or religion. Indeede, I grant, the Lord hath His owne of all ſortes: but ſeldome finde ye, that men of warre are either good or godly. Beſides this, they were Ethnikes, and without God in the world: in a word, they were prophane hearted men: then what wonder was it, that they ſell their tongue & their conſcience: No, if thine heart be prophane, thou ſhalt ſoone ſell thy tongue, and thy conſcience to any man, and thou ſhalt ſoone ſell thine hande to murther, albeit it were a King, as ye hauehave heard of ſundrie. Our Kings Majeſtie had neede to take heede to this, that there bee no prophane men about Him: for they will ſell him, & his kingdome for a litle price. It is ſaid of Eſau, Heb. 12 16. He ſolde his birthright, he ſolde Heauen, he ſolde his part of Paradiſe, for a meſſe of pottage. What was the ground of all this? The Apoſtle ſayes, Let no prophane man be among you, as Eſau: prophanitie was the ground, and hee brings in this, as an effect following prophanitie: if thou be prophane, thou wilt ſell thy conſcience: and I ſay, this marchandiſe of buying and ſelling of conſciences, that is ſo frequent in this Lande, tells, that this Land is ouerſpread with prophanitie. The Apoſtle ſayes, It is the will of God, that yee bee holy: but Scotland may ſay, farewell holineſſe: Alas, if thou kept in thine heart holineſſe, thou wilt keepe thy conſcience: but if thou be prophane like Eſau, thou wilt ſell thy conſcience for a pennie: So, I direct mine exhortation to all ſortes of men: to Traffiquers, be not prophane but keepe an holy heart, and thou ſhalt keepe a good conſcience, and if thou be a Iudge, if thou bee prophane, thou wilt ſell thy: conſcience for a crowne: art thou a Marchand, if thou wanteſt an holy heart, thou wilt ſell thy conſcience: a Miniſter, if his heart be not holy, hee will ſoone ſell his tongue, and his conſcience. So in a word, Let vsus ſtriue with our conſcience, to hauehave an holy heart: Alas, the ground of all this miſchiefe in Scotland, is prophanitie of heartes. When they hauehave ſold their tongue, they went, and ſaid, He was ſtollen away, and the Euangeliſts note it, That that fame remaines amongſt them vntounto this day. I thinke, ye ſhould maruell, that ſuch a falſe fame ſhould hauehave preuailed: God diſappointed them before, but now He permits them to get the victorie. Woe to that victorie that is gotten againſt God: woe to that man that goes againſt God, if an euill action proſper with him, it is a token, that he ſhall be thruſt in Hell. This was but a ſmall victorie: for no doubt, all that He appointed for life and ſaluation beleeued, that He roſe. Nowe, Brethren, when they are away, the true perſwaſion remaines in our heartes, that the LORD roſe: ſo that euer trueth in the end gets the victorie. Ye would maruell that the people ſhould credite that His body was ſtollen out of the graue: for if it was ſtollen, by whome was it ſtollen? They ſay, by His diſciples: Is it likely, that they who were a companie of timorous and abaſhed perſons, durſt hauehave come out without armour againſt Pilates guarde: They ſay, whilſt they were aſleepe, they tooke it away: then they ſlept very ſound, that they could not heare ſuch an hudge ſtone taken away, and if they were ſleeping when it was taken away, Why followed they not when they wakened: and no doubt, if it had beene true, they would hauehave followed, and hauehave brought the diſciples, and executed them. Yee would wonder now, vvhy theſe people ſhould not hauehave beleeued: I anſvvere, Theſe people were appointed for damnation, and they hated the light: and therefore a lie gets ſoone place in their heartes: they that hate the trueth, the Deuill cannot make ſuch a lie, but they will eaſily beleeue it. What is the cauſe, that the people beleeue the Pope, and that crue of the Antichriſtian kingdome. The cauſe is this: They hate the light: and therefore, as the Apoſtle ſayes, Becauſe they beleeued not the trueth, the Lord makes them to beleeue lies. So our leſſon is this in a word: louelove the trueth, and thou ſhalt hate lies: they hate the trueth, and their heartes drinke in lies. The Lord ſet our heartes vponupon Him, and make vsus to beleeue the trueth.
This for the firſt: we goe to the ſecond, and we ſhall enter in it, and leaue the reſt till the next day, becauſe the time is almoſt ſpent alreadie. Wee come againe to better and more holy witneſſes: There are two of the diſciples of Chriſt, the name of the one is Cleopas, and the name of the other is not expreſſed: theſe were not two of the eleuen diſciples, but two of the common rancke of diſciples that vſed to follow the Lord. The ſame day, ſayes the Text, to wit, the ſame day that Hee roſe, the ſame day that the women went out, and did meete Him, and that ſame day, that theſe women returned and preached to the Apoſtles: Theſe two diſciples went on their iourney, about threeſcore furlongs, which is ſeuen mile of ours, or thereabout from Ieruſalem: They are not going to ſeeke Chriſt, but they leaue Him, and as it were in a manner, they deſpared that euer they ſhould ſee Him, & they were thinking all that time that they had ſpent with Him, was loſt: yet ſuppoſe they were leauing Him, He leaues not them: Theſe women ſought Him, and they found Him: but theſe two diſciples leaue Him: but yet the Lord caſtes Him in their way. Well, Brethren, who euer findes the Lord, man, or woman, it is of grace: if thou haſt found the Lord, thou haſt gotten merciemercy, thou haſt found merciemercy: for if thou findeſt Him, thou haſt found Him, ere euer thou haſt ſought Him: or els if thou haſt ſought Him, thou haſt not ſought Him as thou oughteſt: for Marie ſought Him not as ſhe ſhould hauehave done: and therefore the Angell ſaid, Why ſeekeſt thou the liuing amongſt the dead? So thou that ſeekeſt Him not, and findeſt Him, thanke GOD: and thou that ſeekeſt Him, and ſeekeſt Him not as thou oughteſt to hauehave ſought Him, if thou finde Him, thanke Him: for it is of grace that thou findeſt Him: for if Hee looked howe thou ſoughteſt Him, thou wouldeſt neuer finde Him. Wee faile often in ſeeking of Him: either wee ſeeke Him not with that meaſure of deſire that wee ought, (alas, the beſt of vsus all in this world, cannot ſeeke Him with halfe a great deſire) or if wee ſeeke Him, wee faile, as the women did. And laſt of all, wee ſeeke Him not for that ende wee ſhould ſeeke Him. Wee ſhould ſeeke Him for that life and that grace that is in Him, that we might bee like Him, and partakers of that life. But all men for the moſt part ſeeke Him for ſome worldlie reſpect, as for a deliuerance out of miſerie: and if thou be ſicke, thou vvilt crie for thy health: & if thou be poore, thou vvilt crie for riches: and if thou bee hungrie, thou wilt crie for meate: So that the ſeeking of Him is either for the bellie, or ſome other worldlie thing: ſcarcelie one among an hundreth will ſeeke the Lorde for himſelfe, for Heauen and glorie: and if one can come thus farre to get a grone for Heauen, that vvill bee in a ſober meaſure, and with a great imperfection. Wee are by nature addicted to the thinges that are on the earth, and for them doe wee ſeeke them: but Heauenlie thinges, that cannot bee ſeene, wee ſeeke them not, vvee thinke them but follie. So I ſaye, if wee get a deſire, wee get it with ſuch an imperfection, that it is a wonder. The thing that thou and I ſhoulde moſte ſeeke for, is that ſeconde comming of CHRIST, to put an ende to this miſerie that is vvithin vsus, and vvithout vsus: ſo that this ſhoulde bee our ſaying, Come LORDE IESƲS, and put an ende to this miſerie. But who cryes for this comming? Yea, rather I heare men ſaye, God keepe me from that daye. Alas! knoweſt thou not, that thy miſerie ſhall neuer hauehave an ende vntill that daye? The Apoſtle PAVL ſayes, Wee that hauehave gotten the firſt fruites of the Spirite, wee ſigh in our ſelues, wayting for the adoption, euen the redemption of our bodies, Roman. Chapt. 8. verſ. 23. Wee are nowe the Sonnes of GOD, but it appeares not vvhat ſhall bee: but then it ſhall appeare vvhat thou art. Nowe the Godlyeſt is in moſte miſerie: And alas, it appeares, that the beſt of vsus hath that SPIRITE but ſoberlie, and not in that meaſure that wee ſhoulde hauehave. And if wee had it, wee woulde ſigh and crie, Come LORD IESƲS come: that word would neuer goe out of our mouthes, and our eyes would neuer be from the Heauens, to looke when our Lord would come and breake their cloudes, and theſe viſible Heauens, and then take thee to Himſelfe out of this vaile of miſerie, to that endleſſe joy. So to come to our purpoſe: Whether vve ſee Him firſt, or laſt, it is of grace, that all glorie may redound to Him.
Well, as they are journeying betvvixt Ieruſalem and Emmaus, they are talking as tvvo men vſe to talke together, and all their talke vvas of CHRIST, and His crucifying: for this was but the third day after He vvas crucified. Yee ſee, Brethren, for all this leauing of the LORD, and deſparing euer to ſee Him: yet heere is a piece of godlineſſe in their heartes, and a ſponke of Hope that keepes them, that they drowned not into deſpare: for if they had not preuented, they would hauehave periſhed with the reſt of the Iewes: and as they are thus wreſtling betwixt Hope and Deſpare, the Lord takes them by the hande, to helpe them. It is a good thing, to hauehave, if it vvere but one ſponke of grace: yea, if it were but to ſpeake of Him: For none can call Ieſus the Lord, as the Apoſtle ſayes, except he hauehave gotteen the Spirit of Chriſt. So, holde on, and ſpeake of Him, if thou canſt doe no more.
Yet to goe forward: When they are talking, He comes in, and goes with them: Marke it, This is an argument, that the Lord heard what they were ſpeaking, and as He heares them, Hee joynes with them ſide for ſide. Well, take heede to thine heart, & to thy words, The Lorde is nearer to thee than thou thinkeſt: walke, as if thou wereſt ſpeaking to Him, and as if He heard thee, or ſaw thee: and when thou ſpeakeſt, abhorre not the preſence of the Lord: Thou that wilt runne to an hole, wilt abhorre His preſence: but ay ſay this, Lord be preſent at my ſpeaking, what meanes all this baudrie talke and blaſphemie? Euen this, Thou ſeekeſt not to hauehave thine heart ſanctified by the preſence of thy God: ſo, if thou wilt ſpeake, ſay, Lord, be into mine heart, and Lord, rule my tongue, and open my mouth, & then when He openeth thy mouth, gracious words will come out. So in a word, ſeeke that preſence to ſanctifie your ſpeech and actions. It is ſaid, when He joynes with them, Their eyes are ſo bound vp, that they could not know Him: They know not His face, nor His voyce: Marke ſayes, That he appeared to them in another forme, & Luke ſets downe in plaine wordes how this was, to wit, not that He was of a diuerſe forme indeed, but becauſe their eyes were holden, & cloſed, that they could not know Him, ſo the change was in them, & not in Him, Hee remained in one forme, and was euer like Himſelfe: in all His appearance He neuer altered His preſence, but He altered their eyes that behelde & looked vpō Him. I thinke ſome of you would aske. In what forme appeared Hee? Was Hee naked? The ſouldiours got His clothes, Whether was He naked or not? No, I thinke not that Hee was naked, but Hee appeared with His Ioynes girded, as a man addreſſed to a journey, as He appeared to Marie cled like a Gardener: yet ye will aske, had He indeede cloathes on Him or not: I hauehave no warrant of that: alwayes He appeared to them to be clothed indeede, & they thoght He had cloths on Him: theſe men thought He had clothes on: for their eyes vvere bound vp. It is a wonder that they could not know Him, nor His voyce, He altered not His voyce, and yet they could not know Him: albeit it be naturall by the ſight of the eye to know one with whō wee are acquainted, & it is naturall by the eare to know the voyce: yet this place lets vsus ſee, that the Lord hath a commandement of theſe gifts: & when Hee ſayes, looke that thou ſee not, thou ſhalt not ſee: and if He ſay to thee, looke that thou know not thy father, thou ſhalt not know him: and more, if He ſay, know not the voyce of thy wife, thou ſhalt not knowe her voyce. All this tends to this, We ſhould beg our eyes, our eares, and all at the hands of God, & ay for that gift that thou haſt, thanke God hartily, and ſay, Lord, I thanke thee for this, that I can know the voyce of one creature frō another: ſo all our lifetime ſhould be a begging of His gifts, & if we moue, we ſhould thanke our God. Now, if we ſhould beg this naturall ſight, that we hauehave, much more are we bound to beg the thing we hauehave not, to beg a ſpirituall eye to ſee heauenly things, & then when thou getteſt it, thou ſhouldeſt render thanks to Him. Now of graces this is the beſt, that the Lord giues, an eye to ſee that life, for if thou getteſt one blencke, certainly thou ſhalt ſee Heauen, & that joy and glorie, at the which one day, thou ſhalt wonder. Now, glory bee giuen to Him for all His giftes: and euen for this, that Hee hath giuen vsus theſe bodily eyes, I beſeech Him to giuegive eueryevery one of vsus ſpirituall eyes, that we may get a blencke of Him here, and in the Heauens enjoy His preſence for euermore, through Chriſt our Lord. To whome with the Father, and Holy Spirit, be all praiſe, and honour, for euermore.
AMEN.