The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 53
CHAP. LIII. The Reſurrection of Chriſt is not only a real ground for the inſtitution, but a cogent Argument for the holy obſervation of the Lords day.
WHen our hearts are dead and curdled into formality upon the Lords day, then every one of us ſhould thus beſpeak his ſoul. O my ſoul, this day is the triumph of thy Redeemer, when he trod upon the Serpents head, when Gen. 3. 15. foreign. Baſil in Hexam.he took from death its ſting, from hell its ſtandard; ſuppoſe my ſoul, thou hadſt ſtood by the Sepulcher, and ſeen the Sun of Righteouſneſs covered with a cloud before, now ſhining forth moſt gloriouſly on the morning of the Reſurrection day; how would this have raiſed and raviſhed thy heart! How glad were the Diſciples when they ſaw the Lord, they believed not for joy, John 20. 20. Luke 24. 41. The day of 2 Sam. 23. 5.Chriſts riſing from the dead was a day of joy and gladneſs, Ille eſt primus dies in quo deus tenebras ut materiam, cum mutaſſet mundum effecit, & quòd in codem die Jeſus Chriſtus conſervator noſter è mortuis excitatus eſt. Juſt. Mart.Pſal. 118. 24. No day like this ſince the Creation, then our ſurety was releaſed, the Covenant and ſure mercies of David fully ratified and confirmed; our hope wonderfully revived, heaven and eternal life plenteouſly aſſured. Theſe thoughts of Chriſts Reſurrection might quicken our hearts, and make them ſparkle with life and affection: It may be we never took the crown of this day into our hands to feel the weight of it, and that makes our ſervices … flat, and our thoughts (to ſpeak in Nazianzens phraſe) ſo chained to the ground upon this ſeraphical day. And therefore Clemens Romanus argues ſharply and pathetically, What ſhall excuſe us with Die dominico qui eſt dies reſurrectionis, Templum adite, quid enim excuſare poterit apud deum qui eo die ad audiendum non convenit? &c. Clem. Rom.God, if we fill not up this bleſſed day, with bearing the word, with holy prayer, with reading the Scriptures, with ſinging the praiſes of the Lord, and other duties, ſeeing God makes all things by Chriſt, and ſent him into the world to die for ſinners, and raiſed him again as on this day? Innocentius calls Chriſts Reſurrection day, the firſt day of our joy, the bright luſtre of heavens ſhine. And Ambroſe ſaith, The Lords day is a day …f joyes, in the plural number, to ſhew the Variety and the Increaſe of them. Joy is the Shibboleth of this day, the foreign.Spring-tide, and the full Sea of this weekly Feſtival. And Tertullian profeſſeth, That on this day we indulge our ſelves Plus gaudere debemus propter reſurrectionem glorioſam, quàm dolere propter paſſionem ignominioſam. Bern.with holy joy. The primitive Chriſtians were wont, when they ſaw one another to have this joyful ſalute, The Lord is riſen, and the others ordinary anſwer was, True, the Lord is riſen indeed; we ſhould not, ſaith Bernard, ſo much mourn at Chriſts igneminious paſſion, as we ſhould rejoyce at his glorious Reſurrection. And this day is not only ſweetned with joyes, but enriched with gain; the death of Chriſt Haec eſt illa dies quae ſuâ magnitudine omnia beneficia obſcurat. Conſt. Apoſt. l. 7. c. 37.was the ſowing of the Corn, the raiſing of Chriſt, was as the ſpringing up of the Corn; the benefits of Chriſts death are reaped in his Reſurrection. The death of Chriſt was as the caſting of Joſeph into the pit, the ſelling him into Aegypt, and putting him into priſon: But the raiſing of Chriſt was as the preferring of Joſeph, by which he comes into a capacity foreign.to ſave his Family, and ſo enrich all his Relations. Clemens Romanus tells us, This day is ſuch a day of love, ſuch a day of gain, that the greatneſs of thoſe benefits we receive by this day, ecclipſe and obſcure the ſhew and appearance of all other benefits. Athanaſius calls the Reſurrection day, The beginning of the New Creation: And another learned tells us, That Chriſts Reſurrection was a great and an excellent Miracle, and therefore it gave life and name to the Lords day. Indeed Mans all is folded up in the triumphant ſucceſs of this day: Let us a little hearken to the good News that Chriſts Reſurrection brought to the world; and theſe Cords of love ſhould faſten us to Holy duties, and becoming carriages on the Lords day.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt was the compleating of his work. Indeed many fair lines were drawn before in the great work Joſephus i… tertium uſ que annum in … dete…tus, ſ…t, poſteà tamen libe…tus eſt, & Egypti conſtitutus eſt dominus; Et ſalvator noſter ad tertium uſ que diem detentus eſt in carcere ſepulchri, & tum reſurrexit ſanctorum dominus & dominus dominantium. Ger.of Mans Redemption, every tear which dropt from Chriſts eye, every drop of bloody ſweat which fell from his ſacred body contributed to our ſalvation; but when Chriſt roſe again, then he put the laſt hand to the beautiful frame of this glorious work: And therefore he is ſaid then to be perfected, Luk. 13. 32. when Chriſt breath'd out his laſt, he cried out, conſummatum eſt, It is finiſhed, John 19. 30. But that had relation to his ſufferings; but when he roſe again, he was perfected, in relation to his people; he then became a perfect Redeemer: Chriſt on his reſurrection-day folded up his bottom, and had nothing left to do, but to aſcend to his Father, and to take his place at his right hand, and to give him an account, that the glorious work of mans Redemption was now fully finiſhed; Chriſts dying-day was the perfection of his love, but his riſing-day was the perfection of his work: when he ſprang from the Grave, he threw off the cloths of his own mortality, and of our ſin. Thus the Sun works through the Cloud, and makes its own way, till it is freed from that dark incumbrance, and appears to the World in its ſweeteſt brightneſs: And ſo our Saviour after a ſhort ſleep in the tenacious duſt, awakes and comes as a Bridegroom out of his Chamber, to ſpeak a few words to his Pſal. 19. 5.Diſciples, and to take witneſs of his reſurrection, and ſo to go up to his Father, ever to make interceſſion for us. And ſhall Chriſt compleat his work upon his reſurrection-day, Heb. 7. 25.our Chriſtian Sabbath, and ſhall we be defective in ours? Shall he be perfected on that day, and ſhall we be polluted? Surely when we trifle and ſin away our Sabbath, we never think, that on that day Chriſt put his laſt hand to the bleſſed work of our Redemption. This will condemn careleſs Chriſtians, when they are ſo ſhort, and Chriſt ſo full on his Reſurrection-day, our bleſſed Sabbath.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt was the Conqueſt of his, and our Enemies. On this day, the ſeed of the woman did bruiſe the Gen. 3. 15. Promeruit in cruce Chriſtus, ſed poſteà peregit. Zanch.Serpents head, and Chriſt did triumph in his own perſon over Sin, Death, and Satan; Upon the account of which, the Apoſtle cries Victory, 1 Cor. 15. 54, 55. On this day Chriſt ſpoiled principalities and powers, and openly triumphed over them, Col. 2. 15. Chriſt merited Victory by his paſſion, Acts 10. 39, 40.but he executed Victory by his riſing from the Grave; he died a Sufferer, but he roſe a Conquerour; not onelyonly Mat. 28. 18.arrayed with honour and immortality, but richly inveſted Phil. 2. 9.with power and principality; and then were the Keys of Eph. 4. 8, 9.Death and Hell reſigned up to him, as the Trophies of his Revel. 1. 18.triumphant Reſurrection; Then was Chriſt proclaimed Lord of quick and dead, Rom. 14. 9. then Death gave its laſt groan, and then Satan fell like lightning: the forces of 1 Cor. 15. 55.Hell were ſcattered and diſcomfited, when Chriſt appeared Luke 10. 18.in the Field after his detention in the Grave. Chriſt by riſing brake both the Chains of death and darkneſs together; Reſurrectione Chriſti, et vita initium, et mors recepit interitum.and ſo far put the Law out of date, that it ſuper-annuated its threats, that they are inſignificant to the Believer; Chriſt now had ſuffered whatever the Law could demand upon the Sinner: And as his ſufferings anſwered all the clamours of the Law, ſo his Reſurrection brake all the Chains of his Reſurrectio Chriſti plena fuit mortis abolitio, et vitae reductio. Alap.ſufferings. Indeed (through the Grace of God) we may read, inflamed love, Rom. 5. 8. and eternal life, John 3. 15. in the death of Chriſt; but the hope and aſſurance of both, is built upon his Reſurrection: and therefore when the Apoſtle would ſet the door of hope wide open to us, 1 Pet. 1. Col. 2. 14.3, 4. he ſhews us an empty Sepulchre, and tells us, with the Angel, He is riſen, 1 Cor. 15. 17, 18, 19. The Promiſe is foreign. Juſt. Mart. Apol. 2. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Col. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.the ground and Anchor-hold of our hope, and that is performed by our Lords Reſurrection; by which he brake the Serpents head, and ſcattered his power, Acts 26. 6, 7, 8, 9. This day then is Chriſts triumphal day, when all his enemies were drawn at his Chariot-wheel.
And is not Chriſt in this our Enſample? Shall not we on this day trample Satan under our feet, conquer luſt, and get above the ſnares, nay thoughts of the World and in holy and divine Ordinances purſue triumphant grace? Conqueſt is our great work on the Sabbath-day, then are we to ſubjugate our paſſions, to ſubdue our corruptions, to keep under the fleſh, to fetter the Old man, and to bring into obedience our whole man to Jeſus Chriſt. The Sabbath properly is a day of Victories; then light is to overcome our darkneſs, the word to overcome our hearts, Chriſt to over-rule and Conquer our affections, and then is the ſeaſon for the ſpirit to ſubdue, and to bring into Captivity every high thought to the obedience of the Goſpel. And ſhall we then on Chriſts conquering-day, be ſlaves to our fancy, to foreign. Ignat.ſpend our time in vanity and recreations, be Vaſſals to our luſts, to ſpend our Sabbaths in riots and prophaneneſs, be ſubjugated by the fleſh, to ſpend this golden ſeaſon in ſloth or formality? Is not this to pour contempt on Chriſts triumphal-day, and to cover the glory of it with thick darkneſs? As if one ſhould draw a Canvas Curtain before a curious Picture. It may truly be ſaid of thoſe who prophane the Lords day; they are the ecclipſes of Chriſts Reſurrectionday, ſpots in that Feaſt, and the foul blemiſhes of that lovely ſeaſon. Ignatius will tell us, It is but a Jewiſh trick, and a falling back and recidivation to their ſin and folly.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt was the looſing of his fetters; then, and not before, did our dear Jeſus reſt from the temptations of Satan, from the perſecutions of the Jewiſh and the Gentile World, from the flaſhes and ſcorching of his Fathers wrath, and from the bonds of his own tranſient death: His riſing-day was his reſting-day, and all his diſturbance and diſcompoſures were ſcattered, as the Clouds Vos in die, quem dicunt ſolis ſolem colitis, ſicut autem nos eundem diem dominicum vocamus; In eo non ſolem ſed reſurrectionem domini laetè veneramur.which have neſtled together, are put to flight at the riſe of the Sun. And therefore it was the will of God, that the day of Chriſts Reſurrection ſhould be honoured as holy, rather then any other day of his Incarnation, Birth, Paſſion, Aſcenſion; becauſe his riſing-day, was his reſting or Sabbath-day, and whereon his reſt began. So the day of Gods reſt from the work of Creation, and the day of Chriſts reſt from the work of Redemption, are only fit, the one to be the Churches Sabbath in the time of the Law, the other to be the Churches Sabbath in the time of the Goſpel. The Lord Aug. contr. Fauſt Manich. lib. 18. cap. 5.Chriſt in the day of his Birth did not enter into his reſt, but rather made an entrance into labour and ſorrow, and then began his work of Humiliation: And ſo likewiſe in the day of his Paſſion, he was then under the ſoreſt part of his labour, in the bitter Agonies in the Garden and on the Croſs; and therefore none of theſe could be conſecrated to be our Sabbath: Nor could the day of his Aſcenſion be fit Gal. 4. 4, 5.to be made our Sabbath, becauſe although Chriſt then and thereby entred into the third Heavens, his place of Reſt, yet he did not then make his firſt entrance into his eſtate of Reſt, which was in the day of his Reſurrection. This day then was the firſt ſtep of Chriſts exaltation, the dawning of his glory; Dies dominicus Chriſti reſurrectione eſt ſacratus, Aug.when, as Elijah, he dropped the Mantle of all natural imperfections: Now Chriſt was to bear no more bruiſes, to give his Cheek to no more Smiters, to tread the Winepreſs of his Fathers wrath no more. This bright Sun was no more to be masked with Clouds; this Morning Star was no more Iſa. 53. 10.to be veiled with ſhade or darkneſs; Chriſts riſing left his Iſa. 50. 6.Grave-cloaths behind him, to ſhew us, that now no more Revel. 22. 16.he was to taſt any thing which ſavoured of ſorrow or mortality.John 20. 5, 6.
And now how incongruous is it, that the day of Chriſts freedom, ſhould be the day of our fetters; That when he threw off his bonds, we ſhould bind them on us the faſter; That we ſhould be fetter'd to any way of ſin, or chained to our ſenſual appetite, or wanton fancy on the Lords day, the weekly commemoration of Chriſts Reſurrection? On Di…s dominicus die… eſt, quam nobis ſalvatoris no…tri reſurrectio conſecravit.this day Chriſt threw off his Grave-cloaths, and ſo ſhould we caſt off whatever ſavours of duſt and earth. In a word, to be captivated to any way of offence on this holy day, no way comports with the nature and freedom of Chriſts reſurrection; then all his bonds were looſed, and then ſhould we Le… Epiſt. 93. cap. 4.caſt from us whatſoever may hinder us from running the ways of Gods Commandements, all our ſloth, frothineſs of Spirit, carnal delights, cold formality, and whatever may ſlacken our pace in our duties and ſpiritual ſervices.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt is the very life of the Goſpel; So the Apoſtle moſt expreſly, 1 Cor. 15. 14. If Chriſt be not riſen, then is our preaching in vain, and your ſaith is alſo vain. Chriſts death had been wholly ineffectual for the remiſſion of ſins, if Chriſt had not conquered death, but ſtill had been Peccatum plenè aboletur, quia ejus effectus, (i. e.) mors aboletur. Chryſoſt.detained in his duſt: But Chriſt hath aboliſhed ſin, becauſe he hath conquered death, the effect of ſin, by his glorious reſurrection; as Chryſoſtom well notes and obſerves, All the ſufferings of Chriſt were animated by his reſurrection, that glorious Act put worth and value upon them. Had he not riſen, all our hopes had been buried in the ſame Grave with him; but he is truly riſen, and this is the comfort of our Souls, and the riches of his ſufferings. Chriſts reſurrection makes faith a ſaving grace, and therefore the (rather) is put upon Chriſts riſing, not upon his death, Rom. 8. 34. His Reſurrection makes the Goſpel a lively and glorious Goſpel, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Totum Evangelium eſſet vanum, et mera fabula, ſi Chriſtus non reſurrexiſſet. Par.and Chriſt an all-ſufficient Redeemer: When Chriſt roſe, the Jews blaſphemy was execrated, Scripture-propheſies and types verified, the hearts of believers revived, and the Goſpel was made a Doctrine full of grace and truth, fit to be preached for life and ſalvation. The Prophet Hoſea tells us, Hoſ. 6. 2. After two dayes he will revive us, and the third day he will raiſe us up, and we ſhall live in his ſight: which text Hoſ. 6. 2.of Scripture Tertullian rightly accommodates to the Reſurrection Quem locum Tertullianus lib. adv. Judeos, cap. 13. ad Chriſti reſurrectionem rectè accomodat. Ger.of Chriſt, which was on the third day; then did our life ſpring with his, and the Sun riſing cauſed our light. The Reſurrection of Chriſt is that pleaſant ſpring which the Law foreſaw, the Goſpel diſcovers, and the Chriſtian rejoyces in. Had Chriſt been ſhut up in the Grave, and there kept as Natures Priſoner, all the truths of the Word had been as fading leaves, and the believers faith an empty notion, the Preachers pains unprofitable ſweat, and the ſinners ſoul irrecoverably loſt, and the profeſſors of Chriſtianity truly of all men moſt miſerable, as 1 Cor. 15. 19. And that curſed Quantas divitias comparavit nobis iſta fabula Chriſti. Leo. 10. Pap. Rom.ſpeech of Pope Leo the tenth, (viz.) How much wealth hath this Fable of Chriſt brought to our Coffers, might have eſcaped a reproof.
And now ſhall the Reſurrection of Chriſt put life into the Goſpel, and none into us upon our Sabbath, the commemoration of that glorious Act? Shall every truth of the Goſpel be confirmed by it, and ſhall not we be eſtabliſhed in our duties on this holy day? Chriſt roſe, and our hopes ſprang and budded with his riſing, and ſhall not this animate our ſervices on the Lords day? Either let us lay aſide Faith in the Act, or be more conſcientious in keeping the day of Chriſts bleſſed Reſurrection.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt was not only the breaking of his own chains, but the breaking out and harbinger of our joyes; For Chriſt, as a common perſon, is become the firſt fruits of 1 Cor. 15. 20.them that ſleep, 1 Cor. 15. 20. which is an alluſion to a rite and ceremony in the Law. All the ſheaves in a field being unholy in themſelves, there was ſome one ſheaf in the name and room of all the reſt, which was called the firſt fruit, lifted up and waved before the Lord, and ſo all the ſheaves abroad in the field, by that act done to this one ſheaf, were Chriſtus opp… nitur omnibus terroribus in die judicii, & quidem quadruplici ratione. 1. Chriſti morte qua peccata expiavit. 2. Reſurrectione quâ j…ſtitiam peperit 3. Evectione ad dextr…m dei, quâ ſp. ſanctum effudit. 4. …nterceſſione quâ meritum effi…acitèr applicat: Qu…tu…r …iſ…e gradibus, totum Redemptionis opus à Chriſto peractum eſt. Par.conſecrated unto God by vertue of that Law, Lev. 23. 10. Rom. 11. 16. And thus when we were all dead, Chriſt as the firſt fruits riſeth, and this in our name and ſtead, and ſo we all riſe with him, and in him; we are all vertually riſen in him, and this in as true a ſence, as if we were perſonally riſen. As on the contrary hand we being perſonally alive, yet are reckoned dead in Adam, becauſe he was a common perſon, and had the ſentence of death pronounced upon him, by vertue of which, we muſt die, and this by the force of the ſame law, 1 Cor. 15. 21, 22. Adam was the firſt fruits of them who died, and Chriſt of them that riſe. Hence we are ſaid to be riſen with Chriſt, Eph. 2. 5. and which is yet more, to ſit together with him in heaven, Eph. 2. 6. Becauſe Chriſt is a common perſon repreſenting us, and he ſits there in our name, and in our ſtead. Now let us a little canvaſs the equity of this law: If ſentence of condemnation was firſt paſſed upon Adam alone, yet conſidered as a common perſon for us, we were condemned in him: therefore alſo this acquitting and juſtification, which was paſſed upon Chriſt at his Reſurrection, (for then he had fully ſuffered whatever divine juſtice could demand for our ſin) was paſſed upon him as a common and publick perſon for us; yea, in this his being juſtified, Chriſt muſt much rather be conſidered as a common perſon repreſenting us, then Adam was in his condemnation: V…va ego, & quamvis mortem feram, reſurgam, et vos quo que vivetis, (i. e.) quia videbitis me, laetabimini, et quaſi o…ciſi revi…iſ…e… in meâ manifeſtatione. Theoph.For Chriſt in his own perſon had no ſin, ſo he had no need of juſtification from ſin, nor ſhould ever have been condemned; and therefore this muſt be only in reſpect to our ſinnes imputed to him, and if ſo, then in our ſtead; and ſo herein he was more purely to be conſidered, as a common perſon for us, then ever Adam was in his being condemned; for Adam beſides his ſtanding as a common perſon for us, was furthermore condemned in his own perſon; but Chriſt being juſtified from ſin, could only be conſidered as ſtanding for others. Thus Chriſt roſe as a common perſon in our ſtead, and for our good, to be the object of our faith, the incentive of our hope, and the forerunner of our glorious reſurrection.
By Chriſts riſing to life we receive,
A life of joy; His ſpringing from the grave was the bloſſoming of our joy: The retirement of our beloved into his tomb, was but tranſient, the delay of three dayes, and then In diem ſolis laetitiae indulgemus. Tert.he came from behind the hangings, and in this our joy is full: This dried up Mary Magdalens tears, and ſwallowed up the Diſciples griefs; and this inflames the Chriſtians triumphs; And as Chriſt ſaith, John 16. 22. I ſhall ſee you again, and then your heart ſhall rejoyce. And as Theophylact obſerves, The Diſciples as it were roſe from the dead, tranſported with joy.
A life of Righteouſneſs. For as Chriſt died for our ſins, ſo he aroſe for our juſtification, Rom. 4. 25. It was the riſing of Martis Chriſt… proprius finis erat, peccatorum exp…; ſed reſurrecti… nis, juſtitiae imputatio. P…r. Ideò Chriſtus promeretur nobis juſtitiam, et vitam ſpiritualem, quae conſiſtit in remiſſione peccatorum, et juſtitiae imputatione, per quam coramdeo juſti reputemur quia ex morte reſurrexit. Ger.Chriſt which made his death au…hentical and ſatisfactory. Paraeus obſerves, The proper end of Chriſts death was the expiation of our ſins, and the proper end of his reſurrection was the imputation of his own righteouſneſs. The foundation of our comfort is laid in Chriſts death, but we receive it in his reſurrection. Our peace and joy is ſown in his death, but we reap it, and begin to poſſeſs it in his reſurrection. And though Chriſts riſing adds nothing to the price which was paid in his death, yet it is a demonſtration of the ſufficiency of it, and thereby a confirmation of our comfort by it: for if Chriſt had not roſe again, his death had done us no good, and all our comfort had been a withered branch. If death had overcome him, wrath had overcome us. Chriſt by riſing hath promerited a righteouſneſs for us, Jer. 23. 6. our wedding garment came from this Wardrobe; his breaking from the grave, made our joys and his own merits full, which are applicable to us by faith.
A life of Grace: Chriſt by his reſurrection hath purchaſed the donation of the ſpirit, which he ſent down extraordinarily Ex plenitudine Chriſti gratiam pro gratiâ accepimus, non tantùm gratiam remiſſionis peccatorum, ſed … vitam a ternam quae credentibus ex gratià datur. Aug.preſently after it upon his holy Apoſtles, Acts 2. 2. and ſtill in ſweet and ſutable meaſures upon his people, John 1. 16. Now this True Vine, John 15. 1. flouriſheth in glory, to which his reſurrection was the firſt ſtep, he drops ſap into his branches here below, John 15. 4. Chriſt after his reſurrection obtains the Holy Ghoſt for us, and beſtoweth it upon us, and by this bleſſed ſpirit engraffeth us into himſelf, regenerateth and quickneth us. An evidence of this truth we have, John 7. 39. The words of which Text run thus: But this be ſpake of the ſpirit, which they who believed on him ſhould receive, for the Holy Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not glorified. This royal gift only waited the glory of his reſurrection.
A Life of Glory: The Reſurrection of Chriſt opened the gates of Heaven to believers, and from that firſt aſcent, he Chriſtus coelum Ipſum ingr…ſſ…s eſt, n…n t…m proſe, et ſ… gloriâ; quam pro nobis & noſtra gloriâ Chriſtus praecurrit, ut nob… v…am ſter…eret, et pararet; …t que praecurren…em brevi ſubſequ…emur, qui enim a…teri prae…urrit, ut pertas aperi…, et aper… ſerv…t… parv… interv…ll… qui ſequitur intr…b…t. Theoph. Null… operatio in die dominico agatur, niſi tantùm Hymnis et Pſalmis, et cantionibus ſpirita…libus dies ill tranſignur. Linw.went up to his Father to prepare a place for us, John 14. 2. Had Chriſt been locked in the Grave, we had been locked out of Glory; but Chriſt roſe to go to his Father, and in this he is our fore-runner, as the Apoſtle ſaith expreſly, He is entred into Heaven for us, Heb. 6. 20. to take up our room, and prepare our eternal Thrones. Theophylact hath a pretty ſimilitude, When one goes before, ſaith he, and opens a gate, it is but a little ſpace, but thoſe who are to follow come and enter; ſo the Saints ſhall not be long before they ſhall enter within the vail, whither our fore-runner is gone before, and this ſublimates a Believers hope. Our Su…ety hath taken our places for us, and after a few breaths, a few flying moments, we ſhall come and take up our eternal abode and reſidence.
And what is the iſſue of all this? Shall Chriſts reſurrection be the fountain of our good, and not the incentive of our duty? Shall we riſe with him, and not live to him on his own holy day? Had the Reſurrection only concerned himſelf, and been the Emblem of his own perſonal glory, ſome Apology might have been made; but when it is not an incloſure, but a Common for the Saints to live upon, how ſhould this influence us upon the Lords day, How ſhould our hearts riſe in holy affections, how ſhould our voice riſe in praiſe and thankſgivings, how ſhould our thoughts riſe in heavenly meditations! A couchant earthly frame upon this day, no way accords with this beneficial, nay, beatificall reſurrection.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt is the certain aſſurance of ours: The Head is riſen, and the body muſt follow; the Elder Eph 1. 21. 22. Hoc ſperate mem…ra, quod in capite praeceſſ…. Aug.Brother is ſprung out of the duſt, and the Younger Brethren ſhall not always lie there. The Vine is now planted in Heaven, and there the Branches muſt receive their eternal flouriſh. Chriſt roſe again, not as the Jews priſoner, under a Dies vitae noſtrae eſt dies Paraſceves, ſuccedit dies qutetis in ſepulchro, quem ſequitur dies reſurrectionis ad vitam. Ger.ſentence of condemnation, but as the Chriſtians Harbinger, for their unſpeakable conſolation. It is worthily obſerved of a learned man, The day of our life is our Preparation day, then follows our Reſt in the grave, to which ſucceeds our Reſurrection day to life and eternity: As Chriſt died to make the purchaſe, ſo he roſe again to ſee it made good to believers, and his Reſurrection is but the earneſt of ours: This glorious act of Chriſts riſing, gives us ſecurity for theſe enſuing particulars:
That Divine Juſtice is ſatisfied. When the Priſoner for Debt is freed, it is preſumed, the debt is diſcharged, and the Quia Chriſtus reſurrexit, ideò non amplius ſumus ſub peccatis, quia praeſtita eſt plena pro iis ſatisfactio, &c. Ger.Creditor fully ſatisfied: Chriſt in his Reſurrection opened the priſon doors of the grave, and ſhewed himſelf to many witneſſes free, and diſcharged from all incumbrances which fully ſpeaks, that divine Juſtice is paid to the utmoſt farthing.
That God and Man are fully reconciled: For ſin only commenced the controverſie, and kept up the difference, Iſa. 59. 2. Now ſin being removed by a full acquittance and diſcharge, …am Chriſtus mortuus eſt, immò jam reſurrexit, ergo peccata noſtra non amplius coram dei judicio nos condemnare poſſunt.viz. By the delivery and Riſing of our Surety, the wound naturally cloſeth, and all is peace between God and believers: And ſo the Sun of Righteouſneſs aroſe with healing in his wings, Mal. 4. 2. The Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 15. 17. If Chriſt had not riſen, we had been ſtill in our ſin, which fully implies, he riſing again, our ſins are taken away, and blotted out as a thick cloud, and nothing remains to break the peace between God and believers.
That conſcience may be ſerene and fully ſatisfied: For nothing ſtung conſcience, and wounded that tender part, nothing Chriſtus reſurrexit, ideò pacatam & tranquillam conſciemtiam habere poſſumus, ſcimus enim pro peccatis, quae deum et nos dividebant per Chriſtum fit ſatisfactio, noſ que ideò deo reconciliatos eſſe.kept it raw, full of pain and anguiſh, but only ſin, which being fully ſatisfied for by Chriſts death, and ſo clearly declared by his bleſſed Reſurrection, the burden removed gives eaſe to conſcience; and ſo the poor believer being ſenſible his peace is made, and he is reconciled to his angry Father, he hath Halcyon dayes in his boſom, and he lies down with comfort; and ſaith, his lot is fallen in a pleaſant place, and God hath given him a goodly heritage, Pſal. 18. 6. And this the Apoſtle Peter compriſeth in fewer words, 1 Pet. 3. 21. But the anſwer of a good conſcience towards God, by the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt.
That our Redemption will certainly follow: So ſaith our bleſſed Saviour expreſly, John 20. 17. I aſcend unto my Per Chriſtum quaſi anteſignanum et mortis dominatorem in Orbem illata eſt Reſurrectio mortuorum. Alap. Rom. 8. 11. Chriſtus ſolis bonis eſt cauſa meritoria reſurrectionis, ſed efficiens omnibus: Reprobi verò reſurgunt, non ad vitam, ſed ad damnationem, mortem potiùs quàm vitam. Thom.Father, and to your Father, and unto my God, and your God. And if Chriſt aſcend unto our Father, ſhall not we likewiſe come to his houſe, John 14. 2. Shall not we ſee his face, ſhall not we riſe again to enjoy his glory? Yes verily, God is a God of the living, and not of the dead; of triumphant Saints, and not of putrid carkaſes, Mat. 22. 32. Let us further argue, if Chriſt be our Head, and we his Members, then it is expedient for the glory of the Head, that the Members be glorious: And it may be further conſidered, that as the firſt Adam received bleſſings for himſelf and his poſterity, and loſt the ſame for all: So Chriſt the ſecond Adam received life, and all other gifts for himſelf and others; and he riſing gloriouſly, his Saints likewiſe ſhall be charioted to glory by a glorious Reſurrection: And ſo moreover, Chriſt being our Elder Brother in his tenderneſs and affection will not leave us in the grave, there always to ſleep the ſleep of death, and ſo much the rather, becauſe he can raiſe us with a Call, with the ſould of a Trumpet, by the meſſage of an Archangel, 1 Theſ. 4. 16. For he being dead raiſed himſelf, much more being alive ſhall he be able to raiſe us up. And withall, we ſhould conſider our Ʋnion with Chriſt by the Spirit, whoſe heavenly influence and divine vertue in raiſing of our ſouls to ſpiritual life is moſt eminent and admirable; how much more clearly may we conclude the neceſſity of our being raiſed from death to fellowſhip with him in glory? And Virtutem reſurrectionis Chriſti, non tantùm cognoſcimus per fidem, ſed et per experientiam ut Chriſti reſurgentis potentiam ſentiamus.ſhall not we know the power of Chriſts Reſurrection, to uſe the Apoſtles words, Phil. 3. 10. in raiſing us on his own bleſſed day to heavenly-mindedneſs, to get above the world, and to have our hearts taken up in the divine ſervices of it? We ſhould remember when Chriſt roſe, it was the ſeal of our Reſurrection; and can we think of a Reſurrection, and ſleep away Sermons, trifle away Sabbaths, and formalize away Ordinances, which then muſt come unto a ſevere account? ſhall we, who hope to riſe to a Crown, be entombed in ſloth and idleneſs upon a Reſurrection day? The very thoughts of our Reſurrection ſhould ſtrike an awe upon us, and bridle us from vanity and lightneſs of ſpirit; knowing 2 Cor. 5. 10.that our Sabbaths are not over when we have ſpent them, but they will meet us at Gods tribunal, and at his tremendous Rev. 20 12.Bar. Nothing can more acutely check the prophane perſon, who pollutes Gods day, and unravels that golden ſeaſon in froth and formality, then the ſerious thoughts of a certain Reſurrection, whereof Chriſts riſing was an undoubted pledge.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt was an evidence of infinite power: And therefore Dr. Twiſſe rightly faſtens the Lords day on Chriſts Reſurrection day, becauſe as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, Rom. 1. 4. Chriſt was declared mightily to be the Son of God by the ſpirit of ſanctification in his Reſurrection from the dead. Hereby Chriſt was manifeſted to be the Son of God, the very Lord of glory. Chriſts Reſurrection was the manifeſtation of moſt glorious power; that the tomb ſhould not confine him, nor the duſt hold him, nor the grave ſtone ſtop him, but throwing off theſe clogs, as Samſon did his withs, he ſhews himſelf a while to his beloved Ones, and ſo takes his joyous aſcent to the right hand of his Father.
Love laid Chriſt in the grave, and Power raiſed him from the grave; love rocked him aſleep, and power awakened him again; love made him die as a Malefactor, Luke 23. 33. and power raiſed him as a Saviour, to give full aſſurance that all was done which was required to procure life and ſalvation. Indeed this did manifeſt wonderful power, when after three dayes being dead, the Sepulcher ſealed, the ſtone rolled to the mouth of the grave, a ſtrong watch placed; that Chriſt ſhould break through all bars, beat down all oppoſition, and 1 Cor. 15. 55.ſpring forth out of his yielding duſt as a triumphing Conqueror Heb. 2. 14.over Death and Devils. The Jews cryed out, Let him Plus erat de ſepulchro ſurgere, quàm de cruce deſcendere, et plus mortem reſurgendo deſtruere, quam vitam deſcendendo ſervare. Greg.come down from the Croſs, and we will believe on him, Mat. 27. 42. But it is more, ſaith Gregory, to riſe from the grave, then to deſcend from the Croſſe, to deſtroy death by riſing, then to preſerve life by deſcending.
Reaſ. 5 And ſhall Chriſts Reſurrection be an evidence of his power, and not an argument for our piety upon his own bleſſed day, which is the Commemoration of this glorious act? Surely he who could pierce the grave, and ſhake off the chains of death for the good of believers, can exert as great power for the deſtruction of ſinners, eſpecially thoſe who prophane his day. Chriſts love in dying ſhould allure, and his power in riſing ſhould enforce Sabbath-holineſs; it is not ſafe nor providential to provoke the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who trampled upon death and the grave, eſpecially on the day of his Reſurrection, when his power was moſt illuſtrious.
The Reſurrection of Chriſt was unparallel'd: Others indeed were raiſed from the grave: So Lazarus, John 12. 1. So Dorcas, Acts 9. 40. And women received their dead raiſed to life again, Heb. 11. 35. But all theſe retired to their Chriſtus poſt quam reſurrexit, talem vitam amplius non vivit, immò mori ampliùs non p…ſſit. Alap.graves again; their renewed life was only a ſhort apparition which was quickly ſmoothered, a little Candle ſet up after it had been put out, which burned for a while, and ſpent it ſelf till it went out again. But our Saviour, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. 6. 9. Being raiſed from the dead, dyeth no more: This Sun being riſen ſets no more; nay, it is no more inveloped in a Cloud, but ſhines in a higher ſphear, in a more ſublime Orb to eternity. Chriſts Reſurrection was not damped with a revocation, nor did he fly back again to his empty tomb, there to ſhelter himſelf till the general Reſurrection. Nay, let us run a little higher; the Reſurrection of Chriſt was that glorious work above all others, which the Scriptures mention to the Fathers honour, Rom. Gal. 1. 1.1. 4. Acts 2. 24, 32. Acts 3. 26. Acts 4. 10. Acts 10. 40. This work it was, by which Jeſus Chriſt is made▪ both Lord and Chriſt, and is exalted to ſit at the right hand of his Father. This act of Reſurrection advanced him to the throne, who before was ſtigmatized with the Croſs, and changed him from a priſoner, to be a Prince and Saviour, Acts 3. 31. Acts 10. 41.Nay to be the Prince of life, Acts 3. 15. And nothing but glory and honour are the Attendants of his Throne. To Acts 2. 32.publiſh this glorious act, Chriſt principally did chooſe his Diſciples, Acts 10. 41. Acts 2. 32. Chriſts Reſurrection Acts 2. 25.was the Motto of the Apoſtles embaſſie, and the emphaſis of their Errand, the grand argument by which they both 1 Cor. 15. 14.made and comforted believers: For indeed, the receiving of 1 Pet. 1. 3.our Chriſt again after the certainty of his death, and the ſolemnity of his burial, is the ſpring of our joy, the fountain of 1 Pet. 3. 21.our comfort, the ſtay of our hearts, and the aſſurance of our Hymnus Angelicus ad nativitatem Chriſti accipiatur. 1. Tanquam gratulatio & gratiarum Actio. z. Tanquam Angelorum votum quod Angeli optant hominibus. 3. Tanquam doctrina, quae vera eſt pax, ſcil. in Chriſto ſolo. Theod. Mat. 4. 2.juſtification. This bleſſed work of Chriſts riſing put the laſt hand to the work of our Redemption, and ſo faſten'd it, that it cannot unravel. The Birth of Chriſt was accompanied with the joy of Angels, Luke 2. 13. His life was embroidered with wonders and miracles, for every word our Jeſus ſpake was not leſs than a wonder, John 7. 46. His death was imbittered with ſorrows and perplexities, and ſighs were the eſcutcheons about his Hearſe, but his Reſurrection was the new Birth of the World, and the ſparkling ſpirits of a Believers conſolation. The wiſe-men of the Eaſt rejoyced at his Star, Mat. 2. 10. when it did proclaim the Birth of Chriſt: But Believers rejoyce at himſelf, when he himſelf proclaims his Reſurrection: The Star retires at the Suns riſing.
And now ſhall the Reſurrection of Chriſt be unparallel'd for glory; and ſhall it not ſo far influence us, as to make us exemplary for ſanctity upon its weekly commemoration, the Lords day? Shall every thing concur to the honour of Chriſts reſurrection; and ſhall onelyonly our looſneſs and vanity on the day of it, caſt a damp and put an ecclipſe upon it? When we prophane the Sabbath, what do we but draw a veil before the glory of Chriſts reſurrection, and practically deny that he is ſprung from the Grave? What loves can thoſe Chriſtians have to, or what eſteems for their dear Jeſus, who, when his reſurrection-day gave new life to the world, freſh joy to the Diſciples, and new wonders to Mankind, can yet pollute and defile the Sabbath, its conſtant Memorial? Sabbath-breakers are worſe than Sadduces; they onelyonly deny Acts 23. 8.our Reſurrection, but theſe vertually deny Chriſts; for if Chriſt be riſen, why do they not adore the riſing Sun, by Eph. 5. 11.walking in the light on his own bleſſed day? But why do they attempt to ecclipſe this glorious day by their ſins and deeds of darkneſs?