The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · Christ's two natures · Question 45
ON THE 17. SABBATH.Queſt. 45. What doth the Reſurrection of Chriſt profit us?
Anſw. Firſt, by his Reſurrection he vanquiſhed death, that he might make us partakers of that righteouſneſſe which hee had gotten us by his death.aRom. 4.25. 1 Pet. 1.3. 1 Cor. 15.16. Again, wee are now alſo ſtirred up by his power to a new life.bRom. 6.4. Col. 3.1 &c. Eph. 1.3. & 2.5 Laſtly, the Reſurrection of our head Chriſt, is a pledge unto us of our glorious reſurrection.c1 Cor. 15.20, 21.
The Explication.
THus farre have we continued the Treatiſe of Chriſts humiliation: It remaineth that wee proceed unto his glorification, for which hee roſe the third day from the dead: For the humiliation of the Mediatour was not to endure for ever; but it was enough that he ſuffered once and died: notwithſtanding the efficacy and power thereof, in preſerving and maintaining the bleſſings iſſuing and flowing thence with full ſtream, endureth for ever. Now in Chriſts Reſurrection two things are eſpecially to be conſidered; the history, Two things to be conſidered in Chriſts reſurrection.and the fruit thereof. In the hiſtory wee are to obſerve, Who roſe.Who it was that roſe from the dead; 1. The hiſtory, and therein.to wit, Chriſt, both God and man, in that body in which he died: For this the Word never put off. How he roſe.The manner of his riſing: which was, that he, who was verily dead, revived from death, recalling his ſoule to his body, and gloriouſly came forth of his Sepulchre on the third day, according to the Scriptures; and that both by his Fathers, and his own force and power, I ſay, not the power of his fleſh, but of his God-head: For he was raiſed of the Father by himſelf; becauſe the Father worketh by the Son. The teſtimonies of his riſing.The testimonies of his true reſurrection. Hee ſhewed himſelf openly to many women and Diſciples; the Angels bare witneſſe thereunto,4. The fruits of Chriſts reſurrection. &c. The fruits of Chriſts reſurrection are expreſſed in theſe queſtions following.
The chief queſtions of Chriſts Reſurrection are,
1. Whether Christ roſe againe.
2. How he roſe.
3. For what cauſe he roſe.
4. What are the fruits of his reſurrection.
1. Whether Christ roſe again.
INſidels beleeve, that Chriſt died, but beleeve not that he roſe from death. Nevertheleſſe, that Chriſt roſe again, is proved by the reſtimonies of Angels, Women, Evangeliſts, Apoſtles, and other Saints, who after his reſurrection ſaw him, felt him, and talked with him. And we were to beleeve the Apoſtles in reſpect of the authority which they had from heaven, although they had not ſeen him.
2. How Christ roſe.
THe maner of Chriſts Reſurrection is declared by theſe circumſtances following: 1. Chriſt did riſe truely and indeed, ſo that his ſoule did truely and indeed returne unto his body, from which it was ſevered by death,Truely. and hee did truely come forth even out of the grave alſo, in deſpite of the Watch-men, they being withall amazed and ſtricken therewith. 2. He roſe the ſame perſon which he died: the ſame Jeſus Chriſt, God and Man, according to the nature, wherein he ſuffered, namely,In his true body. according to his humane nature, even the true humane nature, and the ſame in eſſence and properties, and that not deified, but glorified, all infirmities thereof being done away. Behold my hands and my feet: for it is I my ſelfe, handle mee, and ſee mee; for a ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones, as yee ſee mee have. And truely, nothing elſe could riſe againe,Luke 24.39. but that which had fallen. The ſame body therefore which fell, did riſe again: which is the greateſt comfort unto us: For hee muſt have been one and the ſame Mediatour, who ſhould merit for us a communicating and participation of thoſe benefits which we had loſt by ſin, and who ſhould reſtore the ſame unto us, and apply them to every one. Again, except Chriſt fleſh had riſen, neither ſhould ours riſe. 3. He roſe by his owne power; that is, he put death to flight, and ſhook it from himſelfe, quickened his dead body, re-united it to his ſoule,By his own power. John 2.29. John 10.18. John 5.21. Rom. 4.24. & 8.11. and reſtored un to himſelf a bleſſed, heavenly and glorious life, and that by the might and power of his God-head. Destroy this Temple, and in three dayes I will raiſe it up again. I have power to lay downe my ſoule, and have power to take it up againe: As the Father raiſeth up the dead, and quickneth them, ſo the Son qu…ckneth whom he will. Obj. But the Father raiſed him: For it is ſaid, If the Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwell in you, &c. Therefore he raiſed not himſelf. Anſ. The Father raiſed the Son by the Son himſelf, not as by an instrument, but as by another perſon of the ſame eſſence and power with the Father, by which the perſon doth ordinarily work: The Son is raiſed▪ of the Father by himſelfe, himſelfe hath raiſed up himſelfe by his Spirit: For,John 5.19. Whatſoever things the Father doth, the ſame things doth the Son alſo. 4 Hee roſe the third day by his Fathers and his owne power,The third day. 1. Becauſe the Scriptures (in which are underſtood all the prophecies and types under the Law) doe ſhew, that Chriſt ought to riſe the third day: as for example, wee may inſtance in Jonas, who fore-ſhewed Chriſt. 2. Becauſe his body was to riſe, not being tainted with any corruption: and yet not forth-with the firſt day, that his death might undoubtedly be knowne; but the third day after his Paſsion on the Croſſe. The circumſtance therefore of the third day, is inſerted in the Creed, that the truth might be correſpondent to the type, and we aſcertained, that this Jeſus is the Meſsias promiſed to the Fathers, becauſe he alone roſe the third day.
3. For what cauſe Chriſt roſe.
CHriſt roſe, The glory of the Father and the Son. Rom. 1.4. John 17.1.For his Fathers and his owne glory: Declared to be the Son of God by the reſurrection from the dead. Father, glorifie thy Son, that thy Son may alſo glorifie thee: For the glory of the Son is the glory of the Father.
Becauſe of the prophecies. Pſal. 16.10. Acts 2.27.In reſpect of the prophecies which were uttered of his death, and of his reſurrection. Thou ſhalt not leave my ſoule in the grave, neither ſhalt thou ſuffer thine boly One to ſee corruption. When hee ſhall make his ſoule an offering for ſinne, hee ſhall ſee his ſeed, Eſay 53.10. Mat. 12 39.and ſhall prolong his dayes. Hee ſhall ſee of the travell of his ſoule, and ſhall be ſatisfied. No ſigne ſhall be given unto it, ſave the ſigne of the Prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three dayes, and three nights in the Whales belly; ſo ſhall the Sonne of Man be three dayes, and three nights in the heart of the earth. As yet they knew not the Scripture, Mat. 25.54.that hee must riſe againe from the dead. In regard of theſe and other ſuch prophecies, it was neceſſary, that Chriſt ſhould die and riſe againe, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. How then ſhould the Scriptures be fulfilled, which ſay that it muſt be ſo? to wit, becauſe of Gods unchangeable decree revealed in the Scriptures: of which decree the Apoſtles in the Acts ſpeak,Acts 4.27, 28. ſaying: Doubtleſſe, againſt thine only Son Jeſus, whom thou haſt anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Iſrael, gathered themſelves together, to doe whatſoever thine hand and thy counſell had determined before to be done. Hither alſo belong Chriſts own predictions hereof.Mat. 17 23. John 2.19. They ſhall kill the Son of Man, but the third day hee ſhall riſe again. I will raiſe up this Temple again.
The worthineſſe of the perſon riſing. Acts 2.14. John 3.35.For the worthineſſe and power of the perſon that roſe: For, for this cauſe it was impoſſible, that Chriſt ſhould be held of death, as Peter teſtifieth: and that, 1. Becauſe Chriſt is the beloved and only begotten Son of God: The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands. So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. &c. 2. Chriſt is true God, and authout of life: I am the reſurrection, and life. John 5.26.…1. &. 10.28.As the Father hath life in himſelfe, ſo likewiſe hath he given to the Son to have life in himſelfe. As the Father raiſeth up the dead, and quickneth them, ſo the Son quickneth whom he will. I give unto them eternall life. It had been abſurd then, that he ſhould not be raiſed, but ſleep in death, who giveth life to others. 3. Chriſt is righteous in himſelf, and, by dying, ſatisfyed for our ſins, which were imputed to him. Now where ſin is not, there doth not death reigne any more. With one offering hath he conſecrated for ever them that are ſanctified. Heb. 10.14. Rom. 5.10.In that he died, he died once to ſin; but in that he liveth, he liveth to God.
The office of the perſon.In reſpect of the office of the perſon who roſe: which, had he remained in death, he could not have diſcharged: For, 1. The Mediatour, who was true God and Man, ſhould reigne for ever: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the Scepter of thy Kingdome is a Scepter of righteouſneſſe. Pſal. 45.7. 2 Sam. 7.13, 14.I will ſtabliſh the throne of his Kingdome for ever: I will be his Father, and he ſhall be my Son. I have ſworne once by my holineſſe, that I will not faile David. Pſal. 83.34, 35, 36. Ez. 37.23, 24.His ſeed ſhall endure for ever: and his ſeate is like as the Sun before mee. Hee ſhall ſtand fast for evermore as the Moone, and as the faithfull witneſſe in heaven. They ſhall be my people, and I will be their God, and David my ſervant ſhall be King over them, and they all ſhall have one ſhepheard. The Kingdome and dominion, and the greatneſſe of the kingdome under the whole heaven, Dan. 7 27. Eſay 9.7. Luke 1.33.ſhall be given to the holy people of the most High, whoſe kingdome is an everlasting kingdome, and all powers, ſhall ſerve and obey him. The increaſe of his government and peace ſhall have none end. Of his kingdome ſhall be no end. It was therefore needfull, that the humane nature, which was the ſeed of David, ſhould be raiſed, that it might raigne. 2. The Mediatour, who was to be our brother and true Man, ſhould ever make interceſsion for us, and as an everlaſting Prieſt appeare for us before God.Pſal. 10.4. Rom. 8.34. Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchiſedech. 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 us.
3. Chriſt Jeſus the Mediatour, which is to be true Man, ſhould be Mediatour both by his merit, and by his efficacy or power. For it ſufficed not, that he died for us: but he was further to beſtow through his power, his benefits upon the Church and us all, who by dying or by his death, had obtained for us righteouſneſſe, that is, the holy Ghoſt, life, and glory eternall: For both belong unto the Mediatour, who therefore obtaineth them for us by his interceſſion and death: But he could not have beſtowed them, had he remained in death; ſith then hee ſhould have had no being. And he who is not, or hath no being, worketh nothing. In him alſo the ſame benefits are therefore placed by the God-head, that he ſhould make us partakers of them.John 1.16. Of his fulneſſe have all we received.
Neither ought it to ſeem any marvell, that Chriſt doth beſtow the ſame benefits on us, which he obtained of the God-head, by his death for us. For a man may both obtaine a thing of one for another, and alſo beſtow the ſame on him for whom he obtained it: As, be it that one maketh requeſt for thee unto a Prince for a gift of a thouſand crowns: the Prince doth this for his ſake that requeſted it, and beſtoweth alſo that gift on him that he may beſtow it on thee: he then ſhall obtaine this gift for thee of the Prince, and withall ſhall beſtow the ſame on thee. Now, albeit Chriſt could have beſtowed the benefit of his death upon us by his God-head, by the meanes whereof we are juſtified and regenerated, and begin 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) and by man to judge the world;1 Cor. 15.21. ſo alſo hath he decreed to beſtow theſe gifts by Jeſus-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 ever our brother, and our head; and that we of the other ſide, being ing…affed into him by a true faith, ſhould alwayes remaine his members.John 15.4. Abide in me, and I in you. For in the ſeed of David is grounded our ſalvation. My ſervant David ſhall feed them for ever. Now, he had not continued our brother,Ezek. 34.23. neither …ad we been his members, if his humane nature had continued in death. Which …hing all the teſtimonies doe confirme, which attribute an eternall kingdome unto …he ſeed of David. For on that kingdome is our ſalvation grounded: and the kingdome of Chriſt the Son of David could by no meanes have been eternall, if his hunane nature had continued in death. Ob. But in the old Teſtament, before his incarnation or humiliation, Chriſt, without his humanity, did beſtow the ſame benefits on the Fathers which he beſtoweth on us in the new Teſtament, and was no leſſe, before the taking of fleſh, Mediatour, than ſince; alſo he did the ſame things before his coming, which he doth after his coming in the fleſh. Therefore it was not neceſſary that Chriſt for this cauſe ſhould become man, and ſuffer death. Anſw. But neither had he then done thoſe things, except he ſhould have been afterwards man, and have continued alwayes man: ſo neither now ſhould he doe the ſame, if he had not riſen, and if he did not retaine the nature which he took for ever.John 5.27. The Father hath given the Son alſo power to execute judgement, in that he is the Son of Man.
Our ſalvation. Rom. 4, 25.He roſe for our ſalvation: and that in three reſpects: 1. For our Juſtification. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was delivered to death for our ſins, and roſe againe for our Justification. Now, the reſurrection of our Mediatour was requiſite for our juſtification: 1. Becauſe, without the reſurrection, his ſatisfaction had not been perfect, nor his puniſhment finite: and except his ſatisfaction had been perfect, and his puniſhment finite, we could not have recovered out of everlaſting death, from which the Mediatour was ſo to deliver us, as that he ſhould utterly overcome it in us. If then our Mediatour was utterly to vanquiſh and overcome death in us, he ought then ſo to die, as to overcome death firſt in himſelfe, and ſo to fulfill indeed that which was foretold; Death is ſwallowed up into victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, Hoſ. 13.14. 1 Cor. 15.54. Mat. 27.42.where is thy victory? and ſo ſhould confound his enemies, which caſt in his teeth: He ſaved others, himſelfe he cannot ſave.
Againe, Except Chriſt had overcome death, he could not have beſtowed his benefits on us, which by his death he had merited for us; (but it belonged to the ſame party to merit and beſtow the Mediatours benefits on us, as hath bin heretofore proved:) neither ſhould we know that he had ſatisfied for us, becauſe if he had continued in death, it had been a certain argument that he had not ſatisfied, but was overcome of death, & of the burden of ſin. For where death is, there is ſin: or if he had ſatisfied, and yet had remained in death this had bin contrary to the juſtice of God. Wherefore Chriſt was to riſe, as well for this end; that he might fully accompliſh his ſatisfaction for us: as alſo for this; that we might know that he had fully accompliſhed it, and had promerited benefits for us: and finally to this purpoſe, that himſelfe might apply the ſame unto us: that is, that by his merit and efficacy, we might be perfectly ſaved and juſtified. 2. Chriſt roſe for our regeneration. For juſtification, or remiſſion of ſinnes ſufficeth not, without the inchoation and beginning of a new life. 3. For the preſervation or continuance of his benefits towards us, our raiſing againe unto life, and glorification. God will by this meanes everlaſtingly quicken and glorifie us, that being inſerted, and engraffed into the maſſe of his Son, that is, his humane nature, we may for ever be carried of it,1 Cor. 15.21. and out of it draw life. By man came death, by man alſo came the reſurrection of the dead. For theſe cauſes it was neceſſary, that Chriſt ſhould riſe againe, that is, that his ſoule, which was laid down from the body, ſhould be againe joyned with the ſame body.What reſurrection is. For reſurrection is nothing elſe than a conjunction or re-uniting of the ſame body with the ſame ſoule.
4. What are the fruits of Chriſts reſurrection?
THe queſtions are divers, Wherefore Christ roſe: and, What fruits Christs reſurrection bringeth unto us. For, all the cauſes of Chriſts reſurrection are not fruits of his reſurrection: and after a diverſe manner are the cauſes and the fruits of his reſurrection conſidered: and moreover, the benefits of Chriſt, beſtowed by his reſurrection, are one way conſidered as cauſes of Chriſts reſurrection; to wit, in aſmuch as it was neceſſary that he ſhould riſe from death to beſtow them on us: and otherwiſe as fruits of the ſame; namely, in aſmuch as by the power of his reſurrection he beſtoweth them on us.
Furthermore, the fruit of Chriſts reſurrection is of two ſorts: the one reſpecting Christ; Rom. 1.4.the other, us. For firſt (as the Apoſtle ſaith) He is declared by the reſurrection to be the Sonne of God: even the only begotten and wel-beloved Sonne of God, who is alſo God himſelfe. For he revived by his owne power, which is the property of God alone.John 1.4. & 5.26. In him was life. As the Father hath life in himſelfe, ſo likewiſe hath he given to the Sonne to have life in himſelfe. Againe, Chriſts humane nature alſo was by his reſurrection adorned with heavenly gifts, immortality, and that glory which becometh the nature of the Sonne of God. God wrought according to the working of his mighty power in Chriſt, Eph. 1.20, 21, 22.when he raiſed him from the dead, and ſet him at his right hand in the heavenly places, farre above all principality, and power, and might, and domination, and every name that is named, not in this world onelyonly, but alſo in that which is to come. And hath made all things ſubject under his feet, and hath appointed him over all things, to be the head of his Church. The fruit of Chriſts reſurrection which reſpecteth us, is of many ſorts. But, to ſpeak in generall, All the benefits of Christs death are alſo the fruits, which we receive by his reſurrection. For Chriſts reſurrection maketh that his death hath his effect. Chriſt by his reſurrection doth apply unto us thoſe benefits, which he merited for us by his death; and by this meanes, the ſame are the benefits both of his death and reſurrection, which are otherwiſe merited for us, than they are bestowed on us. For it was not neceſſary that the very act of meriting and deſerving ſhould dure all the time both of the old and new Church; but onelyonly the act of beſtowing or applying the ſame: and therefore it was neceſſary alſo that the Mediatour ſhould be continually, that he might beſtow alwayes thoſe benefits on the Church, which he was once to merit. For this cannot be done without a Mediatour: and therefore neither can the Church be for one moment without a Mediatour. In the old Church Chriſt the Mediatour did beſtow on the Fathers the benefits of his death to come, by the force and efficacy of his reſurrection to come: now he beſtoweth them on us, by the efficacy of his reſurrection already paſt.
The fruits of Chriſts reſurrection are: 1. A teſtimony of his perfect ſatisfaction, and of the application of his benefits.It remaineth now that we in ſpeciall reckon the chiefe fruits, which the reſurrection of Chriſt bringeth unto us.
Firſt, then by the Reſurrection of Chriſt from the dead, We are confirmed and warranted, 1. Of his merit, That he hath fully and perfectly ſatisfied for our ſinnes. For one onelyonly ſinne, not being ſatisfied for, had with-held Chriſt ſtill in death. He was caſt into ſuch a priſon, as that, except he had paid the utmoſt farthing, he had never been let go: But he was let go and diſmiſſed; therefore he paid the utmoſt farthing. In regard therefore of this his merit, we have remiſſion of ſinnes, and are juſtified before God. 2. We are confirmed of the application of Christs benefits, which could not have been beſtowed, if he had not riſen: For, as was ſaid before, it was neceſſary that the ſelf-ſame Mediatour, being man, ſhould merit and bestow gifts, and therefore ſhould riſe againe. Whereas then he is riſen, we are aſſured not only that he hath merited for us, but alſo that he is able, and doth beſtow on us the fruit of his merit. Wherfore well ſaith Saint Paul, Rom 4.25.That Chriſt is riſen againe for our righteouſneſſe, that is, to conferre and apply righteouſneſſe unto us.
The giving of the holy Ghoſt.A fruit of Chriſts reſurrection is the gift of the holy Ghoſt, by whom Chriſt regenerateth us, and giveth us eternall life. It behoved him firſt to ſhake off death from himſelf, and afterwards from us: it behoved us to be engraffed into him, as into our head that from him the holy Ghoſt might be derived unto us. Wherfore, after his reſurrection, he obtaineth the holy Ghoſt for us, and beſtoweth it on us, and by the holy Ghoſt engraffeth us into himſelfe, regenerateth and quickneth us. Before time, the godly were alſo endued with the holy Ghoſt, and regenerated, but more ſparingly than now in the New Teſtament, and yet both by the force and vertue of his reſurrection, which was then to come. For the holy Ghoſt, by whoſe vertue and operation only we are regenerated, cannot be given but by the reſurrection and aſcenſion of Chriſt into heaven. The holy Ghoſt was not given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified.John 7.39.
Our reſurrection Five reaſons hereof.The reſurrection of our bodies is a fruit of Chriſts reſurrection: For Chriſts reſurrection is a pledge for our reſurrection: 1. Becauſe Chriſt is our head, and we his members. Now, it is expedient for the heads glory, that the members be glorious. Chriſt indeed ſhould be by himſelfe, though he had no members, or if his members continued in death; but he ſhould not be head, becauſe he is not head, but in reſpect of his members: neither ſhould he be a King without a kingdome, according to the nature of correlatives, whoſe very being dependeth upon neceſſary relation which one hath to the other: and, according to the nature of correlatives, a glorious head doth require glorious members, and ſuch as are correſpondent unto it. 2. Becauſe, if Chriſt be riſen, he hath alſo aboliſhed ſinne: If he hath aboliſhed ſin, either he hath aboliſhed his owne ſinne, 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 away, the effect likewiſe is taken away. The wages of ſinne, is death. Further,Rom. 6.23. if he hath aboliſhed death, and that by a ſufficient ſatisfaction for our ſins, which ſatiſfaction he hath ſhewed and declared by his reſurrection to be ſufficient; it is certain that his reſurrection is a moſt certain teſtimony of our reſurrection: for he having performed a ſufficient ſatisfaction for the ſins of his members, the members cannot remain in death. But the reſurrection of Chriſt the head, is an argument of the perfect ſatisfaction for the ſinnes of his members. Therefore Chriſts reſurrection is alſo an argument of the perfect reſurrection of his members. 3. As the firſt Adam received the bleſſings for himſelfe, and all his poſterity, and loſt the ſame from all: So Chriſt, the ſecond Adam received life, and all other gifts for himſelfe and others, and therefore alſo will communicate eternall life with us. 4. Seeing the ſame ſpirit dwelleth in us which did in Chriſt, he ſhall work alſo the ſame in us, which in our head he did. For the ſpirit is alwayes alike, neither could he work in the head, and ſleep in the members. Therefore ſeeing Chriſt hath raiſed himſelfe up by his ſpirit from the dead, he will verily alſo raiſe us up. If the ſpirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead, dwell in you: Rom. 8.11.he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, becauſe that his Spirit dwelleth in you. 5. Becauſe Chriſt is man, and our brother: for except he were man, we ſhould have no hope of the reſurrection of our fleſh. For,1 Cor 1….11. by man came the reſurrection. Therefore, for his tender love and affection, he will not leave us in death, and ſo much the rather in regard of his power and glory. For, if he, being dead, raiſed himſelfe, much more being alive ſhall he be able to raiſe us up: and if in the time of his humiliation he had power to raiſe himſelfe, much more may he raiſe us out of the grave now he reigneth in glory a… the right hand of his Father. Object. 1. Then the wicked ſhall not riſe againe: becauſe Chriſts reſurrection is neither an argument, nor the cauſe of the reſurrection of the wicked, but of the godly onelyonly. Anſw. There be other cauſes for which the wicked ſhall riſe againe; even for the juſt judgement of God, whereby he hath appointed them to eternall paines. For the ſame thing may have moe effects, and diverſe cauſes. Object. 2. Theſe are the benefits of his death: therefore not of his reſurrection. Anſ. They are of his death, as by it he deſerved them: of his reſurrection, 1. In reſpect of the manifestation of them; for by his reſurrection he declared, that thoſe benefis were purchaſed for us: For, by eſcaping from this puniſhment, he made plaine proofe of his full and perfect ſatisfaction for ſinne. 2. In reſpect of the application of them: Becauſe, by his reſurrection he applieth his benefits unto us.2 Cor. ….9. He being rich, was made poore, and being poore, was made rich againe, that he might enrich us. Object. 3. The effect is not before the cauſe. The cauſe of theſe benefis (which is his reſurrection) was not before the first reſurrection: therefore, neither the effect, that is, the benefits themſelves. Anſw. The reſurrection was not, as touching the accompliſhment thereof, but in the counſell of God, and in efficacy and vertue, it was in the Old Teſtament. For, then alſo were men received into favour, they were indued with the holy Ghoſt, and received the other benefits: but for and by the Mediatour, which was in time appointed to be humbled and glorified.
Knowledge that Chriſt is the prophecied Mel…ias.By Chriſts reſurrection we know him to be the Meſſias, as in whom the prophecies were fulfilled.
Aſſurance that he is the Mediatour.By it we are aſſured, that he now executeth the office of the Mediatour, that he applyeth unto us the benefit of redemption, that he preſerveth us perpetually in that righteouſneſſe which he hath applied unto us, that he beginneth in us a new life. and ſo doth alſo aſſure and aſcertain us of the conſummation and accompliſhment of eternall life; all which he could not doe, except he had riſen againe.
Affurance that he will alwaies defend his Church.Seeing he now liveth, and reigneth for ever, we are certaine that he will preſerve and defend his Church.
The conſummation of all his benefits.The laſt, though not the leaſt fruit of Chriſts reſurrection, is, The conſummation and perfecting of all his benefits, and the glorifying of his Church. For Chriſt did therefore die, and is therefore riſen, and hath therefore perfectly delivered us from ſin, that we may be joynt heires with him of his kingdome and glory.Col. 1.18. Rom. 8.17. He is the firſt-borne of the dead. We are the heires of God, and heires annexed with Chriſt. He ſhall conforme, and make us like unto himſelf, becauſe we live by the ſame ſpirit whereby he doth. And this ſpirit is not unlike himſelfe.Rom. 8.11. If the ſpirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwell in you: he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, becauſe that his ſpirit dwelleth in you. John 14.3.I will come againe, and receive you unto my ſelfe; that where I am, there may ye be alſo.
The ſumme of the fruits of Chriſts reſurrection is, that ſeeing Chriſt is riſen, it is manifeſt that he is declared to be the Son of God; and, as touching his humanity, is endowed with that glory which becometh the nature of the Sonne of God; and further, that he endueth us alſo with his ſpirit, regenerateth us by the vertue of his ſpirit, and will at length conſummate and perfect the new life begun in us, and make us co-partners of the ſame his glory, felicity and everlaſting life.
The meaning of the Article, He roſe againe from the dead.Now, what is the meaning of this Article; I beleeve in Christ which roſe againe the third day from the dead? Anſw. The meaning hereof is, that I beleeve, 1. That Chriſt did truly recall his ſoule into his dead body, and quickned it. 2. That he retained a true ſoul and true body; but both now glorified, and free from all our infirmities. 3. That he roſe by his owne vertue and power. 4. That he roſe to this end, to make me a partaker of his righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and glorification, which he had purchaſed for us by his death.