Exposition of 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4 · Verse 14
VERS. 14.
For if wee beleeue that Chriſt died and roſe againe, &c.
THe laſt reaſon preſſing moderation of ſorrow is here couched; taken from certainty of reſurrection to life. Of it hee layes two grounds. Firſt, the reſurrection of Chriſt. Secondly, the Power of God: withall, limits out the perſons to whom this bleſſing belongs. The Article of reſurrection, I meane not here to inſiſt on, but ſo farre onelyonly as it receiues ſtrength from the reſurrection of Chriſt.
Chriſt is riſen: Therefore vsus alſo ſhall God bring, againe from the graue.
Queſt. How followes the Argument? It might be his priuiledge as being the Sonne of God, and hauing in himſelfe Diuine Vertue to quicken his body.
Anſw. Firſt, Probable at leaſt it is made by the reſurrection of Chriſt,pHeb. 2.17. Man like to vsus in all things, ſinne onelyonly excepted; Gods power in rayſing Chriſt from the dead, hath made manifeſt a poſsiblity of returning from death to life. Secondly, if withall wee conſider our vnion with Chriſt by the Spirit, whoſe heauenly influence and Diuine Vertue, in rayſing our ſoules to ſpirituall life, all liuing members in his body hauehave experience of; a neceſſitie wee ſhall ſee of our being rayſed from death to fellowſhip of his glory. Thirdly, his reſurrection is vndoubtfull pledge to vsus of ourqRom. 4.25. Iuſtification, and full diſcharge from guilt and puniſhment of ſinne, that alone keepes vsus vnderunder the Dominion of death, and debarres from entring the glorious preſence of God. So ſtrangely followes the Argument from the reſurrection of Chriſt, to the riſing againe of Chriſtians, euen as many as are by the Spirit members of his body.
So that, if any deſire to know himſelfe a ſharer in the reſurrection of the Iuſt; this let him firſt learne to know, whether hee bee one with Chriſt; that vnion death diſſolues not: yea, ſhall force the graue to render vp the bodies of Saints, that where the Head is, rIoh. 17.24.there may the members be alſo.
Signes of this Vnion: Firſt, Experience ſPhil. 3.10. Rom. 6.5.of the vertue and power of Chriſts reſurrection: enliuing our ſoules to all gracious and holy conuerſation. Secondly, the Sympathie and fellow-feeling we hauehave oftRom. 12.15. the weale and wo, of our fellow-members in the body of Chriſt.u2. Cor. 11.29. Who is afflicted, and ſuch burne not? They hauehave no fellowſhip with Chriſt, whom IOSEPHS afflictions touch not neerely; and to whoſe greateſt merriments, the remembrance thereof puts not a pauſe.
The perſons, to whom belongs fellowſhip in this bleſſed reſurrection, are deſcribed; Such as ſleepe in Ieſus: that is, That continue in that bleſſed vnion and fellowſhip with Chriſt vntil death, and in death. To ſuch is the bleſſing pronounced: To that conditionxReuel. 14.13. Reuel. 2.10.26. are the promiſes limited. In ſuch yHeb. 10.38.as withdraw themſelues, Gods ſoule hath no pleaſure; their former righteouſneſſe is forgotten;zGal. 3.4. their paſſi…ns and patience all become vaine vntounto them.
Vſe. Our care let be,aReuel. 3.11. to hold faſt what we hauehave receiued, the beginning of our ſubſiſtence in Chriſt.
Helpes auaileable. Firſt, Feare of our owne infirmity, in which reſpect we may ſay as SALOMON,bPro. 28.14. Bleſſed is the man that feareth alway: Such feare, firſt, how carefull makes it to flie all occaſions, that may withdraw our hearts from God! Secondly, how conſcionable, to vſe all holy meanes of preſeruation in that bleſſed condition!
Secondly, Deepeſt conſideration of thecHeb. 6.6. & 10.26. 2. Pet. 2.20. fearefull condition of ſuch as fall from the Grace of God; becomming more hopeleſſe then Infidels; more profane then Atheiſts; I doubt not, but more grieuouſly tormented then the moſt ſauage amongſt hopeleſſe Heathen.
Thirdly, Prayer vntounto God, by whoſe grace onelyonly we ſtand; By d1. Pet. 1.5.whoſe power alone wee are guarded through faith to ſaluation.