Two Sermons, Sermon 2
THE POWER OF Christs Resurrection.
COLOS. 3. 1.
If yee he risen with Christ, seeke those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.
THis Verse hath dependance on the second Chapter Coherence.before, the twelve and thirteen Verses of that Chapter; where the Apostle tells the Colossians, that they were risen with Christ from the dead by Faith, and quickned by the Spirit that raised him: hereupon followes this inference; If therefore yee be risen with Christ, shew it by seeking after those things which are in heaven, or are heavenly.
The Apostle had much adoe to roote out those dangerous seedes of conceit which false teachers had sowen upon these Colossians, touching some legall ceremonies; as touch not, taste not, handle not; he tells them that these dead things have no life of use now, and that therefore, if they be risen with Christ they must fall to other matter, seeking those things that are above. These ceremonies were indeede appointed by God at the first, but now being ended and brought to their grave, they must be buried, there never to rise againe. And therefore no more to be revived as being not dead onelyonly, Non solum mortuae sed mortifera.but deadly.
As I sayd, the Apostle finding their hearts tainted with this false doctrine, having first sought by purging to drive it out of their hearts and liking; he now begins to season them with that truth which is after godlinesse, that is, with heavenly and other truths and doctrines, not of men, such as were those of these false Apostles, but of God, where hee begins with generall instructions, and then proceeds to particular callings; as of husbands and wives, of parents and masters, of children and servan's. Now because the well managing of the particular duties of these particular callings depends on a good principle; that is, that they bee sound in Christianitie, which is the generall: Therefore hee begins first to season their hearts with that grace of their generall callings; knowing that it is so much the easier to bee good in their particular callings, when they are first good in the generall. But if not good in the generall, then never good in the particular. If a good man, then a good husband, a good father, and a good master, fit for any good service; but if not a good man, then good for nothing. So a woman, if a good woman, then a good wife, and good in any calling. So for children and servants, if good in the generall, Divis. 2. Parts.then good in the particular also.
But to come to the order of these words: they containe first a ground, and then an inference upon that ground. If you be risen with Doct From the first part.Christ, there is the ground: then seeke the things that are above, there is the inference. 1.From the ground 2.observe two things; First, that Christ is risen himselfe; Doct. 1.Secondly, that wee therefore shall rise.
For the first, It is an Article of our Faith, and the Holy Ghost hath taken a F id…ia Christiana,great deale of paines to prove it. It is the confidence of Christians; it is the maine, or free hold that Tertullian deresurrect. cap. 1.wee have; for wee hold all by the resurrection of Christ, as of fee; and wee have sixteene apparitions of him to prove this. Besides, it was impossible that hee should bee held of the bonds of death. Impossible I say, being invested with these three offices of King, Priest and Prophet. Impossible as hee was King; for how then could hee have triumphed over his enemies here and in hell? Impossible as hee was Priest; for, if hee had not risen, how could hee have made daily intercession for us as he doth? And lastly, impossible as he was a Prophet, for else how could he have instructed his people in doctrines of salvation?
But when rose hee? wee say with the Scriptures and Doct. 2.our Creede, the third day. Now as Christ rose, and rose the third day, (manifesting thereby that he was dead) and this after so great basenesse, for his greater glory. So it is to teach us, that as it was with him; so it is with all his members: never nearer helpe then when at the worst; nor more glorious then when basest for Christ, for then it appeares to bee Gods owne worke, who therefore will raise them to glory, that he may be glorified in and by them.
When therefore wee are in any distresse, voyd of the helpe of man, then God will come in and raise us up, whether in our credit, estate or persons, &c. onelyonly therefore let us have patience for a while and waite his comming.
But as Christ is risen so Doct. 3.we shall rise. Hee is the meritorious cause of our resurrection; hee hath deserved that wee should rise. Also he is the worker of it; and by that same power whereby he rose againe; by the same will he raise up us at the last day. He is every way the cause of our rising, (and hereupon) we are risen with him: As hee was a publick person in his death; and as upon the Crosse hee stood in the place of all the elect; so as all their sinnes (committed, or foreseene to be committed) were layd upon him, and hee bare the iniquitie of us all: so after and now he freed himselfe and us by his Resurrection. First, he freed himselfe of his suretiship, our bond was taken up, and our debt payd; where justice lost not a penny by us. So wee were freed in him, and for him, and therefore he rising wee are to rise with him. for what should hold us in the grave, now that deaths bands are loosed, or shal the head be above water, and the members perish in it? But further to speake of the Resurrection. This Resurrection of Christ is twofold; spirituall and corporall: spirituall, when wee take life from Christ; and, (being quickned by him) begin to rise with him; corporall when our bodies shall bee raised at the last day. When wee beleeve that Christ is dead for our sinnes; our sinnes are then in their grave, and Christ is then crucified to us: and when wee beleeve that hee (that was dead) is now risen from death, and dies no more: we beleeve that our graves also shall be opened, and that we shall rise (as he rose) to immortalitie of life.
Hence every true Christian Vse 1.may draw water of life to comfort him in all his distresses. For Christ hath conquered all his spirituall enemies; and the resurrection of Christ is an evidence of his most certaine conquest of them all. For if he had not so conquered, hee could not have risen: and therefore when he rose the third day, hee bad his Disciples not to feare, Matth. 28. 10. as much as to say; feare not death, for I have overcome death with the power of my resurrection from death. Feare not sin, for I have satisfied for sin; nor the divell, for I by my resurrection have layd him flat upon his backe, bruised his head, and led him in triumph openly. Feare not this evill world; for I have overcome it. And what shall I say more? I have trod upon the neckes of all your spirituall enemies, I have conquered them all. So then, what cause of feare? therefore, feare not; for if you bee risen with Christ, you are begotten to a lively hope; where spirituall Resurrection is, there is hope of life, as the Apostle doth soundly reason, 1 Pet. 1. 3. A ground therefore of precious comfort to every true Christian.
Now in that wee are raised by the same power to a Use 2.spirituall life, whereby Christ rose from the grave; it teacheth us how wee should conceive of the work of the new birth; also of the Image of God in us; and of the new creature. The worke of grace in a Christian, is not a slight worke (a word and away, as many thinke) but it is a powerfull worke; as appeares in that there are so many hinderances to keepe a man (dead in sinne) from rising out of it: many more then there were to keepe Christ from rising out of the grave of the earth. Yet in his resurrection did the power of God mightily appeare, as Ephe. 1. 19, 20. Now as Christ was killed and had a stone rolled over his Tombe: So he, that is dead in sinne, hath the stone of long custome rolled upon his heart; which to remove requireth as great a worke of Gods power as was required to raise Christ. Wherefore let those that finde a change in their hearts (the stone removed) breake forth into the praise of God for an inestimable favour such as this is, which is the powerfull worke of God, more powerfull then the making of the world of nothing; for there are many adversaries.
For another use: Consider this rightly, eyther to Vse 3.provoke unto thankefulnesse if you have beene wrought upon; or to prayer if not; seeking unto God for this in the use of the meanes, who onelyonly is able to work this change in you, and will in his good time.
But to cut off many things that might here be spoken of; wee will (to bee short) now speak of the inference; If you be risen, and risen with Christ by his power, then seeke those things which are above. The inference or reason is thus much: they that are thus risen have a new life, (for every resurrection notes a new kind of being) if spirituall then a spirituall being, if bodily Rom. 6.then a glorious life. This life is sutable to our Resurrection; as if the Apostle had sayd, you are risen with Christ from the death of sinne, therefore manifest your Resurrection by the life of righteousnesse: more specially by actions proportionable and cohaerent with your new estate. This is the meaning, from whence wee note this Doctrine;
That every life and state of life requireth answerable Doct. Generall.actions; If you be risen with Christ, and so have a spirituall life as you professe to have, then carry your selves answerably, and seeke those things that are above; that is, such things as may maintaine, and are sutable to that life of yours. This is the Apostles manner of reasoning in this place. And this is so in nature, yea and so in corrupt nature; it is so in grace, and shall bee so in glory.
For the first, it appeareth plainely; for even those creatures that are in the water, delight in it, because it is their proper element, and they cannot live without it. Secondly, it is so in corrupt nature, he that is covetous, the very conceit that hee hath of his riches doth as it were feede him, he cannot live without them. So he that lives a carnall life here, dies if hee be taken from it; then hee is as a Fish upon dry ground. Take a Fish out Tanquam picis in arido,of his element, and he cannot live: So for this man, take his wealth and take his life; it is so in grace, and shall bee so in glory, when the body is risen glorious. There is a forsaking of all communion with sinfull men, and there wee shall have communion with God and Christ, and Christ shall be all in all unto us. Then Col. 3. 11.that which all creatures supply to us here, Christ will there. Then our songs will be holy, and our actions holy, fitting such a glorious condition. And this heaven is begun here, or it will never be. Grace is therefore called heaven, because heaven is begunne where grace enters: and because glory, that is, heaven cannot begin but where grace is.
So then a Christian that is risen with Christ, must Use 1.have nothing to doe with carnall men; nothing I say further then he is thrust upō them, or that he may convert them. They must not familiarly company with men of a contrary spirit; they must seeke by all meanes to act godlinesse in their conversation. And thus should the life of a Christian bee set, sutable to his new estate and holy calling.
But if wee should try all Use. 2.by this rule: how few would be sound to be risen with Christ? for how few would delight in heavenly company, or in heavenly actions; as to praise God, or to commune with God in prayer? This is a death to most men, and to be so, is to bee out of the world; also to have such company, and to bee so exercised is a dead life in their fleshly opinions.
And now againe to the Expl. 1. What is meant by seeking.Apostle; the Apostle saith here, Wee must seeke those things which are above with Christ. Seeking implyeth first a want; a man will never seeke for that which (he knowes) he hath. Secondly, 2.it implyeth a valuation and esteeme of the excellency of that thing which we seeke. Thirdly, it implyeth hope to get 3.it; else who would seeke it, but leave it rather as a thing desperate? Fourthly, it 4.doth imply meanes, and the use of meanes to attaine to that wee seeke through want or other wayes, with hope of finding it. Lastly, 5.he that wants a thing which he doth highly esteeme, and may attaine unto in the use of the meanes; will by all meanes avoyd all contraries that may disappoint his hope of speeding.
And here consider what 2. What we must seeke.this thing is that wee must seek for. Briefly & in short, it is Christ Iesus the joy of all hearts; in whom are hid all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome. Him we seeke in capite, and together with him all those things which are above, and whatsoever tends to true blessednesse. And indeede all the excellency which wee have, or can hope to have is from above. Our full happinesse and glorious inheritance is kept for us in the Heavens. All our priviledges are from above; our kingdome is in heaven; and qualification for this happy estate spoken of there. Our holinesse and heavenly mindednesse is from above; fulnesse of grace is from thence, and all graces that lead to perfection are there. Power to enable us to any holy duty is from above, yea the meanes are from above; as the ordinances, the word and Sacraments. To summe up all; thus much the words import, seeke for a nearer communion with Christ; for a further assurance of heaven; for a further qualification for heaven, and so as you may bee more and more in heaven while you are below on the earth, by enjoying through faith, your heavenly priviledges, prerogatives and excellencies: seeke for further increase of holinesse, for a greater measure of grace; and for grace to bring you to the fruition of whatsoever is from above. And here attend upon the Word of God, upon the Sacraments, upon holy conferences where Christ is present in a speciall manner; and by holy actions seeke for glory in the use of the meanes. Reach not too high, nor above your pitch, which is arrogancy, pride and high mindednesse; but seeke for heavenly things by heavenly meanes, and in humble manner.
Againe, where wee must seeke the things above, because wee are risen with Christ, (the Resurrection of Christ being an article and ground of Religion;) wee learne, That heavenly duties have their spring from the articles and grounds of Religion.
The reason is; The ground of our faith is the cause of holy duties; and therefore corrupt in faith, corrupt in obedience in that degree. Evill opinions breed an evill life; and a sound understanding an holy conversation.
The use is to admonish us to labour to understand the Vse.maine grounds of Religion, with like labour, to digest them: So as to see the truth of them in the regularitie of our lives. And here labour with God by prayer to write them in your hearts with the pen of his holy Spirit.
Againe, in that the Apostle willeth them to seeke heavenly graces, and that because they are risen with Christ; note further this inference;
That as a Christian ought Doct. 2.to be heavenly minded, that is, minded to seeke heaven ly graces; so hee must doe it for this reason, viz. because hee is in an estate fitting for it.
Therefore let none say, Vsehe cannot for outward troubles or businesse; unlesse he will deny himselfe to be a Christian, by denying to have any leasure for holy businesse. He that will bee a Christian must pretend to no impossibilities this way. For, art thou risen with Christ? then thou must finde time to seeke those things that are above, and to bee heavenly minded. A Christian that is risen with Christ will; God here doth not as Pharoah; bid us to doe our worke, and to gather the straw our selves: but he bids us doe upon a power given us, and by quickning us with his Spirit, and enabling us to doe what he requireth to be done. He fits us for such actions as hee taskes us unto, and gives us the power of doeing them.
Againe, so farre as a Christian Doct. 3.is raised by Christ, so farre hee cannot but seeke those things that are above. Wee neede not teach a bird to fly, for shee is taught of her nature so to doe; flight is naturall to her. So a Christian cannot but doe the things answerable to his Christian nature. Hee is of a new nature, and therefore cannot but bee heavenly minded; hee cannot prophane the Lords day, hee cannot sweare, hee cannot lye, hee cannot blaspheme, he cannot delight in carnall courses, he cannot doe these things, so farre as hee is a Christian. And it is in this sense that the Apostle saith, He that is borne of God sinneth 1 Ioh. 3. 9.not, that is, so farre as he is borne againe.
Againe, as hee is a Christian hee may doe it, and ought to doe it, and cannot but doe it.
But I adde further, and for a further point, Hee glories Doct. 4.in it. To bee heavenly minded, and exercised in spirituall duties, is his happinesse, and his joy. Hee is never so well, never so much himselfe, as when he is most possessed of a heavenly mindednesse, & most frequent, or not often exercised in spirituall duties: so farre forth as hee is a Christian and enlarged by the Spirit of Christ, so far forth he glories in holy actions & in heavenly mindednesse.
Is this in all true Christians, if such? what then may Vse 1.we thinke of the most part of the world, that professe religion but from the teeth outward? Surely they are still in the grave of old nature, they are not risen with Christ. Such is the ambitious man, the covetous man, the voluptuous man, for they savour not the things that are above, the truth is, they have no new nature in them: for if they had, it would lead them higher then these underfoot things, or things below. They that live in the defilements of the flesh, shew too well that they have none of this new mould in them; for if they had, they would get strength against them; at least they would have a continuall conflict, and wrastling in themselves to overcome them.
Another use may bee for tryall of thy estate; and here see what power there is of the Spirit of God in thee to make thee heavenly minded, to joy in things hat are above, more then in all the world againe. If thou finde this power in thee, then thou art a Christian indeede; thou canst then speake by experience, what is the worke of the Spirit, and thou knowest well what is the vertue of the Resurrection of Christ. Then thou canst say with Saint Paul, that thou art still striving to finde the vertue of Christ more and more in Psal. 3. 9. 10.thee, to make thy selfe more fully assured of thy part in Christ, and to finde the power of his Spirit mastering the power of corruption in thee in an excellent degree. Let us therefore labour for this power; for this is to seeke the things that are above; and here let us labour to finde the want of it, and to greeve that wee have not so much of it as we have neede of. And further let us labour to know the excellency of this power, esteeming more of it then of any power else, and better then of all powers of darkenesse in this flattering world, for when all other things leave us; the things above will comfort us, and (for our comfort) goe with us. Let us therefore labour to see some hope of growing in them. Thou hast a promise (using the meanes) to attaine unto them; for the same Spirit is set over by assurance unto thee that raised up Christ from the dead: use therefore all sanctified meanes for the attaining of these spirituall good things, use heavenly wayes for thy way to heavenly things: attend upon the ordinances of God: labour with him in prayer to make thee such a one as hee may delight in, and fit thee for that estate that he hath provided for thee. Labour to encrease in vertuous actions, and fly all contrary courses; as worldly mindednesse, and the pleasures of this present world. Beware that none of these draw away thy heart, and with it, thy selfe from an earnest seeking of heavenly things, (so) as thou shouldst. We are all seekers, wee are a generation of seekers, as the Psalmist saith; We seeke Psal. 2 4.while wee are here, our possession is hereafter.
Labour therefore to see the want of heavenly graces, and to esteeme of them aright, and to see hope to attaine them, and hope to attaine them, and use the meanes, and avoid all contrary courses. Doing thus you shall finde the vertue of Christs Resurrection raising you up more and more to seeke after heaven and heavenly things, even those things that are above.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Sibbes, Two Sermons (1639)