The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 23
THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAINE FROM THE DEAD.
I Beleeue that Chriſt ſhooke off death from himſelfe, quickened his deade body, reunited his bodie vntounto his ſoule, reſtored vntounto himſelfe a bleſſed, celeſtial, and glorious life, and that by his owne proper power.
The chiefe Queſtions of chriſts reſurrection are,
1 Whether Chriſt roſe againe.
2 How he roſe.
3 For what cauſe he roſe.
4 The fruit of his reſurrection.
1 WHETHER CHRIST ROSE AGAINE.
THat Chriſt roſe againe, is prooued by the teſtimonies of Angels, weomen, Euangeliſtes, Apoſtles, and other Saintes, who after his reſurrection ſawe him, felt him, and talked with him. And wee were to beleeue the Apoſtles in reſpect of the authority which they had from heauen, although they had not ſeene him.
2 HOW CHRIST ROSE.
CHRIST roſe, firſt by his owne power, euen by his Godheade. Iohn 2.19. Destroie this temple, and in three daies I will raiſe it vp againe. Ioh. 10.18. I hauehave power to laie downe my ſoule, and hauehave power to take it vp againe. Ioh. 5.21. As the Father raiſeth vp the dead and quickeneth them, ſo the Sonne quickeneth whom he will. Obiection. But the Father raiſed him, Rom. 4.24. Therefore hee raiſed not himſelfe. Aunſwere. The Father raiſed the Sonne by the Son himſelfe, not as by an inſtrument, but as by another perſon of the ſame eſſence and power with the Father. The Sonne is raiſed of the Father by himſelfe: Himſelfe hath raiſed vp himſelfe by his ſpirite. Secondlie, Ieſus Chriſt true God and man roſe according to that nature according to which he ſuffered, namelie according to his humane nature, euen the true humane nature, and the ſame in eſſence and properties, and that not deified, but glorified, al infirmities thereof beeing done away. Luk. 24.39. Behold my handes and my feete: for it is I my ſelfe: handle me, and ſee me: for a ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones as yee ſee mee hauehave. And truely nothing elſe coulde riſe againe, but that which had fallen. The ſame bodie therefore which fell did riſe againe: which is the greateſt comfort vntounto vsus. For hee muſt hauehave been one and the ſame Mediatour, who ſhould merit for vsus a communicating and participation of thoſe benefits, which we had loſt by ſin, & who ſhould reſtore the ſame vntounto vsus, and applie them to euerie one. Againe, except Chriſtes fleſhe hadde riſen, neither ſhoulde ours riſe. Thirdly, Chriſt did riſe truly and indeed, ſo that his ſoule did truelie and indeede returne vntounto his bodie, and he did truely come foorth, euen out of the graue alſo, in deſpite of the watchmen, they beeing withal amaſed and ſtroken therewith. Fourthly, he roſe the third daie, as it was foreſhadowed in Jonas: and becauſe that type of Ionas was ſo fulfilled; thence it certainly followeth, that this Ieſus is the Meſſias promiſed vntounto the Fathers.
3 FOR WHAT CAVSE HE ROSE.
CHriſt roſe 1. In reſpect of the prophecies which were vttered of his reſurrection. Thou ſhalt not leaue my ſoul in the graue: neither ſhalt thou ſuffer thy holy one to ſee corruption; Pſa. 16.10. And Iſai. 53.10. When hee ſhall make his ſoule an offering for ſinne, hee ſhall ſee his ſeede, and ſhall prolong his daies. He ſhall ſee of the trauaile of his ſoul, and ſhal be ſatisfied. Matth. 12.39. No ſigne ſhall bee giuen vntounto it, ſaue the ſigne of the Prophet Ionas: For as Ionas was three daies, & three nightes in the Whales bellie: ſo ſhall the ſonne of man bee three daies and three nightes in the heart of the earth. Matth. 17.23. They ſhal kill the ſonne of man, but the third day ſhall he riſe againe. Ioh. 20.9. As yet they knew not the Scripture, that hee must riſe againe from the dead. 2. He roſe, for his Fathers and his owne glorie. Rom. 1.4. Declared to be the ſon of God by the reſurrection from the dead. Ioh. 17.1. Father, glorifie thy Sonne, that thy ſonne maie alſo glorifie thee. 3 For the worthineſſe and power of the perſon that roſe. For firſt, Christ is the beloued and onlie begotten Son of God. Ioh. 3.35. The father loueth the ſonne, and hath giuen al thinges into his hand. Secondlie, Chriſt is true God and autor of life. Ioh. 10.28. I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, and they ſhall neuer periſh, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my hand. It had beene abſurd then that hee ſhould not bee raiſed, who giueth life to others. Thirdly, Chriſt is righteous in himſelfe, and ſatiſfied for our ſinnes which were imputed to him. Now where ſin is not, there dooth not death raigne any more. 4 In reſpect of the office of the perſon who roſe. For firſt, the Mediatour, who was true God and man, ſhould raigne for euer. 2. Sam. 7.13.14. I wil ſtabliſh the throne of his kingdome for euer: J will bee his father & hee ſhall bee my ſon. Pſa. 45.6. Thy throne O God is for euer & euer: the ſcepter of thy kingdome is a ſcepter of righteouſneſſe. Pſal. 89.3. I hauehave made a couenaunt with my choſen: I hauehave ſworne to Dauid my ſeruaunt: Thy ſeede will I ſtabliſh for euer, and ſet vp thy throne from generation to generation. And againe, I hauehave ſworne once by my holynes, that I will not faile Dauid, ſaieng, His ſeede ſhall endure for euer, and his throne ſhall bee as the ſunne before mee. Hee ſhall be eſtabliſhed for euermore as the Moone. Ezech. 37.23 24. They ſhall bee my people, and I will bee their god: And Dauid my ſeruaunt ſhall bee king ouer them, and they all ſhall hauehave one ſheephearde. Dan. 7.27. The kingdome and dominion, and the greatnes of the kingdome vnderunder the whole heauen, ſhall bee giuen to the holy people of the moſt high, whoſe kingdome is an euerlaſting kingdome, and al powers ſhall ſerue and obey him. Luk. 1.33. Of his kingdome ſhall bee none ende. Secondly, The Mediatour, who was to bee our brother and true man, ſhould euer make interceſſion for vsus, and as an euerlaſting Prieſt appeare for vsus before God. Pſa. 110. Thou art a Prieſt for euer, according to the order of Melchiſedech. Rom. 8.34. It is Chriſt which is dead, yea or rather which is riſen againe, who is alſo at the right hand of God: and maketh requeſt for vsus. Thirdly, The Mediatour, which is to bee true man, ſhould bee Mediatour both by his merit & by his efficacie or power. For it ſufficed not, that hee died for vsus: but hee was furder to beſtow through his power his benefites vponupon the Church and vsus all, who by dying or by his death, had obtained for vsus righteouſnes, that is, the Holy Ghoſt, life and glorie eternall. For both belong vntounto the Mediatour, who therefore obtaineth them for vsus by his interceſſion and death, and in whom alſo the ſame benefites are therefore placed by the Godhead, that hee ſhould make vsus partakers of them. Ioh. 1.16. Of his fulneſſe hauehave al wee receiued. Neither ought it to ſeeme any maruell, that Chriſt doth beſtow the ſame benefites on vsus, which hee obtained of the Godhead by his death for vsus. For a man may both obtaine a thing of one for another, and alſo beſtow the ſame on him for whom hee obtained it. As be it that one maketh requeſt for thee vntounto the Prince for a gift of a thouſand crounes: the prince doth this for his ſake that requeſted it, and beſtoweth alſo that gift on him, that he may beſtow it on thee: hee then ſhall obtaine this gift for thee of the Prince, and withall ſhall beſtow the ſame on thee. Now albeit Chriſt could hauehave beſtowed the benefits of his death vponupon vsus by his Godhead, by the meanes wherof wee are iuſtified and regenerated, and beginne faith, and new life by the holy Ghoſt: yet notwithſtanding, as God decreed, by man to raiſe the dead (for by man came the reſurrection. 1. Cor. 15.21.) and by man to iudge the worlde; ſo alſo hath hee decreed to beſtowe theſe giftes by Ieſus, man, that the ſame might be and continue mediatour, who is true God and man. Therefore alſo it was requiſite, that Chriſt ſhould remaine for euer our brother and our head; & that we of the other ſide being engraffed into him by a true faith, ſhoulde alwaies remaine his members. Which thing al the teſtimonies doe confirme, which attribute an eternall kingdome vntounto the ſeede of Dauid. For on that kingdome is our ſaluation grounded: and the kingdome of Chriſt the Sonne of Dauid could by no meanes hauehave been eternal, if his humane nature had continued in death. Obiection. But in the old teſtament, before his incarnation, or humiliation, Chriſt without his humanitie, did beſtow the ſame benefits on the Fathers, which hee bestoweth on vsus in the new Teſtament, and was no leſſe before the taking of fleſh Mediatour, than ſince: alſo he did the ſame thinges before his comming, which he dooth after his comming in the fleſh. Anſ. But neither had hee then doone thoſe thinges, except hee ſhould hauehave beene afterwards man, and hauehave continued alwaies man: ſo neither now ſhould he doe the ſame, if hee did not reteine the nature which he tooke for euer. Iohn 5.27. The father hath giuen the ſonne alſo power to execute iudgement, in that hee is the ſonne of man.
5 He roſe for vsus, and that in three reſpectes. 1. For our Iustification. Rom. 4.25. our Lord Ieſus chriſt was deliuered to death for our ſinnes, and is riſen againe for our iuſtification. Now the reſurrection of our Mediatour was requiſite, for our iuſtification, firſt becauſe, except his puniſhment had beene finite, wee coulde not hauehave recouered out of euerlaſting death, from which the Mediatour was ſo to deliuer vsus, as that hee ſhoulde vtterly ouercome it in vsus. If then our Mediatour was vtterlie to vanquiſh and ouercome death in vsus, hee ought then ſo to die, as to ouercome death firſt in himſelfe, and ſo to fulfill indeede that which was foretolde. Oſe 13.14. 1. Cor. 15.54. Death is ſwallowed vp into victorie. O Death, where is thy ſting? O graue, where is thy victorie? Againe, Except Chriſt had ouercome death, he could not hauehave beſtowed his benefites on vsus, which by his death hee had merited for vsus; neither ſhould we knowe that hee had ſatisfied for vsus; becauſe, if hee had continued in death, it had beene a certaine argument that he had not ſatisfied, but was ouercome of death, & of the burdē of ſin. For where death is, there is ſinne: or if he had ſatisfied, & yet had remained in death, this had been contrarie to the iuſtice of God. Wherefore Chriſt was to riſe, both that wee might knowe, that hee had promerited benefites for vsus, and alſo that himſelfe might applie the ſame vntounto vsus: that is, that by his merit and efficacy we might be perfectlie ſaued and iuſtified. 2. Chriſt roſe for our regeneration. For iuſtification, or remiſſion of ſinnes ſufficeth not, without the inchoation and beginning of a new life. 3. For our ſaluation and glorification. God wil by this meanes euerlaſtinglie quicken and glorifie vsus, that beeing inſerted and engraffed into the maſſe of his Son, that is, his humane nature, wee maie for euer bee carried of it, and out of it drawe life. For theſe cauſes it was neceſſarie, that Chriſt ſhoulde riſe againe, that is, that his ſoul, which was laide downe from the body, ſhould be againe ioined with the ſame body. For reſurrection is nothing elſe, than a coniunction or reuniting of the ſame body with the ſame ſoule.
4 What are the fruites of Chriſtes Reſurrection.
ALL the cauſes of Chriſts Reſurrection are not fruites of his Reſurrection. And after a diuerſe maner are the cauſes, and the fruites of his reſurrection conſidered: and moreouer the benefites of Chriſt beſtowed by his reſurrection, are one way conſidered as cauſes of Chriſts reſurrection, and otherwiſe as fruites of the ſame. For the Queſtions are diuerſe, Wherefore christ roſe: And, What fruits Chriſts reſurrection bringeth vntounto vsus.
Furdermore the fruite of Christs reſurrectiō of two ſorts: the one reſpecting chriſt, the other, vsus. For firſt (as the Apoſtle ſayth Rom. 1.4.) Hee is declared by the reſurrection to bee the Sonne of God: euen the onelyonly begotten and beloued Sonne of God, who is alſo God himſelfe. Againe, Chriſts humane nature alſo was by his reſurrection adorned with that glorie, which becommeth the nature of the Son of God. The fruit of Chriſts reſurrection which reſpecteth vsus, is of many ſorts. But, to ſpeake in general, all the benefites of chriſtes death are the fruites, which we receiue by his reſurrection: For Chriſtes reſurrection maketh, that his death hath his effect. Chriſt by his reſurrection dooth applie vntounto vsus thoſe benefites, which he merited for vsus by his death, & by this means the ſame are the benefits both of his death & reſurrection, which are otherwiſe merited for vsus, thā they ar beſtowed on vsus. For it was not neceſſarie that the verie act of meriting & deſeruing ſhould dure all the time both of the old and the new Church: but onelyonly the act of beſtowing or applieng the ſame, and therefore it was neceſſarie alſo that the Mediatour ſhould be continually, that hee might beſtow thoſe benefites on the Church, which hee was once to merite, for this can not bee doone without a Mediatour, and therefore neither can the Church be for one moment without a Mediator. In the old church Chriſt the Mediator did beſtow on the Fathers the benefits of his death to come by the force and efficacy of his reſurrection to come: nowe he beſtoweth them on vsus by the efficacie of his reſurrection alreadie paſt.
It remaineth now that wee in ſpeciall reckon the chiefe fruites, which the reſurrection of Chriſt bringeth vntounto vsus. Firſt then by the reſurrection of Chriſt wee know him to be the Meſſias, as in whom the prophecies were fulfilled.
Secondly, We are confirmed and warranted by Chriſtes reſurrection, 1. Of his merit: That hee hath fullie and perfectlie ſatisfied for our ſinnes. For one onelie ſinne, not being ſatisfied for, had withheld chriſt ſtill in death. He was caſt into ſuch a priſon, as that, except he had paied the vtmoſt farthing, he had not beene let goe: But he was let goe and dimiſſed: Therefore he paied the vtmoſt farthing. 2. We are confirmed, of the application of Chriſtes benefites, which could not hauehave been beſtowed, if he had not riſen: For, as was ſaid before, it was neceſſarie that the ſelfeſame Mediatour, beeing man, ſhould riſe againe. Ioh 7.39. The holy Ghoſt was not yet giuen, Ieſus was not yet glorified. Wherefore wel ſaith Saint Paul, Rom. 4.25. That Chriſt is riſen again for our righteouſnes, that is, to confer and apply righteouſneſſe vntounto vsus.
Thirdly, A fruit of chriſtes reſurrection is the gift of the holie Ghoſt, by whom chriſt regenerateth vsus and giueth vsus eternal life. Before time the Godlie were alſo endued with the holie Ghoſt, and regenerated, but more ſparingly than nowe in the newe Teſtament, and yet both by the force and vertue of his reſurrection. For the holy Ghoſt, by whoſe vertue and operation onelyonly wee are regenerated, cannot be giuen but by the reſurrection and aſcenſion of chriſt.
Fourthly, We muſt alſo aſcribe and attribute it vntounto chriſtes reſurrection, that hee preſerueth vsus by his perpetuall and applied righteouſneſſe, that hee beginneth in vsus eternal life, and ſo dooth alſo aſcertaine and aſſure vsus of the conſummation and accompliſhment of eternall life, whereof wee cannot bee certaine except wee hauehave the beginning thereof: and the beginning we ſhould not hauehave, except we had the holy Ghoſt.
Fiftlie, The reſurrection of our bodies is the fruite of chriſtes reſurrection, 1. Becauſe chriſt is our Heade, and wee his members. Now it is expedient for the Heades glorifie, that the members bee glorious. Chriſt indeede ſhoulde bee by himſelfe, though hee had no members, or if his members continued in death: but hee ſhould not be Head: becauſe he is not heade but in reſpect of his members: Neither ſhoulde hee bee a king without a kingdome, according to the nature of correlatiues, whoſe verie beeing dependeth vppon neceſſarie relation which one hath to the other: and according to the nature of correlatiues a glorious head doth require glorious members, and ſuch as are correſpondent vntounto it. 2. Becauſe if Chriſt be riſen, he hath alſo aboliſhed ſinne: If he hath aboliſhed ſinne, either hee hath aboliſhed his own ſin, or ours: but not his owne, therefore ours. If he hath aboliſhed our ſin, he hath aboliſhed death alſo: For, if the cauſe be taken awaie, the effect likewiſe is taken awaie. The wages of ſinne is death. Further, if he hath aboliſhed death, and that by a ſufficient ſatisfaction for our ſinnes, which ſatisfaction hee hath ſhewed and declared by his reſurrection to bee ſufficient: it is certaine that his reſurrection is a moſt certaine teſtimonie of our reſurrection: for he hauing perfourmed a ſufficient ſatisfaction for the ſinnes of his members, the members cannot remaine in death. But the reſurrection of Chriſt the Heade is an argument of the perfect ſatisfaction for the ſinnes of his members. Therefore Chriſtes reſurrection is alſo an argument of the perfect reſurrection of his members. 3. As the firſt Adam receiued bleſſinge… for himſelfe, and all his poſteritie, and loſt the ſame from all: So Chriſt the ſecond Adam receiued life and al other giftes for himſelfe and others, and therefore alſo will communicate eternall life with vsus. 4. Seeing the ſame ſpirite dwelleth in vsus which did in Chriſt, hee ſhall woorke alſo the ſame in vsus, which in our Head he did. For the ſpirit is alwaies like, neither dooth he woorke in the Head, and ſleepe in the members. Therefore ſeeing Chriſt hath raiſed himſelfe vp by his ſpirite for the dead, he wil verilie alſo raiſe vsus vp. For if hee raiſed himſelfe vp beeing dead, much more ſhal he bee able beeing aliue to raiſe vsus vp. 5. Becauſe Chriſt is man: for execept hee were man, we ſhoulde hauehave no hope of the reſurretion of our fleſh. For by man came reſurrection. 1. Cor. 15.21. Obiection. 1. Then the wicked ſhall not riſe againe: becauſe chriſtes reſurrection is neither an argument, nor the cauſe of the reſurrection of the wicked, but of the godlie onelie. Aunſwere. There be other cauſes for which the wicked ſhal riſe again: euē for the iuſt iudgement of God, whereby he hath appointed them to eternall paines. For the ſame thing maie hauehave moe effectes, and diuerſe cauſes. Obiection. 2 Theſe are the benefites of his death: therefore not of his reſurrection. Aunſwere. They are of his death: as by it he deſerued them; of his reſurrection, in reſpect of the application of his benefites. Hee beeing rich was made poore, and beeing poore was made rich againe, that he might enrich vsus. Obiection 3. The effect is not before the cauſe. The cauſe of theſe benefites which is his reſurrection, was not before the first reſurrection: therefore neither the effect, that is, the benefites themſelues. Aunſwere. The reſurrection was not, as touching the accompliſhment thereof, but in the counſell of God and in efficacie and vertue, it was in the olde Teſtament. For then alſo were men receiued into fauour, they were endued with the holie Ghoſt, and receiued the other benefits: but for and by the Mediator which was in time appointed to be humbled and glorified.
The laſt, though not the leaſt fruite of chriſtes reſurrection is, The conſummation and perfecting of all his benefites, and the glorifieng of his church. For chriſt did therefore die, and is therefore riſen, and hath therefore perfectlie deliuered vsus from ſinne: that wee may bee ioint-heires with him of his kingdome. Coloſſ. 1.18. Hee is the firſt borne of the dead. Rom. 8.17. Wee are the heires of God, and heires annexed with Chriſt. He ſhal conforme vsus and make vsus like vntounto himſelfe, becauſe we liue by the ſame ſpirit, whereby he dooth. And this ſpirite is not vnlike himſelfe. Rom. 8.11. Jf the ſpirite of him, that raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead, dwell in you: he that raiſed vp Christ from the deade, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, becauſe that his ſpirit dwelleth in you. Ioh. 14.3. I wil come againe, and receiue you vntounto my ſelfe, that where I am, there maie yee bee alſo.
Now in this we obſerue, That the whole humiliation of the Mediatour doth not dure for euer. For it was enough that hee ſuffered once: but the efficacie and power thereof in preſeruing and maintaining the bleſſings thereby comming, endureth for euer. Chriſt therefore roſe, that is, by his owne proper vertue and power brought againe and returned his ſoule vntounto his bodie, that both ſoule and bodie might bee deliuered from al ignominie and infirmitie; and be adorned with immortalitie and perfect glorie; That is, 1. Hee recalled his ſoule vntounto his bodie. 2. But both yet beeing now glorified and freed from infirmities. 3. By his owne proper power he receiued his ſoule. I beleeue then that Chriſt is raiſed from the dead, that is, that he therefore roſe againe from the dead, that hee might make vsus partakers of his righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, glorification, which hee purchaſed for vsus by his merite. Seeing therefore Chriſt is riſen, it is manifeſt that hee is declared to bee the Sonne of God, and as touching his humanitie, is endowed with that glory, which becommeth the nature of the Sonne of God: and further that he endueth vsus alſo with his ſpirite, regenerateth vsus by the vertue of his ſpirite, and wil at length conſummate and perfect the new life begun in vsus, and make vsus compartners of the ſame his glory, felicity, and euerlaſting life.