The Rule of Faith, Exegesis of Apostles Creed · Article 4 · Tenet 4
Buried.
ACT. 13. 29.
And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they tooke him downe from the tree, and put him in a ſepulchre.
THat Chriſt was buried, is manifeſt by the Storie of the Euangeliſts, and is a part of the Creed, not doubted of by any amongſt vsus. Concerning his buriall I propound theſe things to be conſidered.
1. The reaſons why it was needfull Chriſt ſhould be buried.
2. The place where he was buried.
3. The perſons by whom he was buried.
4. The manner how he was buried.
5. The time how long he continued in the graue.
Our Sauiours bodie was buried for theſe Reaſons.
1. That the Scripture might be fulfilled that had prophecied of it: ſee Eſay 53. 9.
2. That it might appeare he was truly dead.
3. That he might purſue and ouercome death in his owne cell or den.
4. That he might burie our ſins with him; and for euer hide them from the ſight of God.
5. That we being made partakers of the fruit of his buriall, might be buried with him in reſpect of our ſins. The immerſion in the water of Baptiſme is a ſigne of this ſpirituall buriall with Chriſt, Rom. 6. 4. Col. 2. 12.
6. That he might ſanctifie our buriall to vsus, and ſo expell from vsus that horror and feare we might conceiue about our lying in the graue, and ſo confirme vsus in the hope of our Reſurrection.
7. That we might learne from thence to giuegive honour to the body of Chriſtians, in prouiding honeſt and decent buriall for them, ſuch as might anſwer the hope wee hauehave of our Reſurrection. Mens bodies ſhall riſe, and to ſignifie ſo much, we ſhould lay them in the graue as in a ſafe place to keepe them till the Reſurrection.
For the place where he was buried, that may be diuerſly anſwered.
1. He was buried in a noted place neere to Ieruſalem: and that for two cauſes: The one, that ſo all occaſion of doubting of his death, or truth of his buriall, and ſo of his reſurrection might be remoued. The other, that by the reſt of Chriſt in the graue, the viſion of reſt and peace (which the name Ieruſalem ſignified) might be knowne to bee procured by Chriſt: Reſt I ſay ſpirituall and eternall.
2. He was buried in a Garden: thereby hauing relation to the firſt Adam: for as our vnreſt began at the ſinne of the firſt Adam, ſo here in a Garden doth the ſecond Adam come to reſt, and ſo begins our ſpirituall reſt. And withall to giuegive vsus hope, that as from the ſinne of the firſt Adam we were caſt out of the garden of pleaſure, ſo by the ſuffering of the ſecond Adam, who lay buried in a Garden, we might hauehave a happy returne to the heauenly Paradiſe. And as Chriſt was carried from the Croſſe to the garden of reſt, ſo ſhall we be taken from the calamities of life, into heauenly reſt.
3. He was buried in a Sepulchre hewed out of a rocke, that ſo his enemies might hauehave no occaſion to cauill, and ſay his Diſciples ſtole him away by ſecret holes, or paſſages vnderunder ground: and withall to ſignifie what the ſtate of our naturall hearts is, when Chriſt comes ſpiritually to reſt in our ſoules, hee muſt hew him a place out of the rocks, if he get roome in our hearts.
4. He was buried in a Sepulchre that was new, that thereby might be ſignified, that the condition of death was by the merit of Chriſt made new, and was altogether different from that which it was wont to be: and withall to tell vsus, that Chriſt will reſt in the heart of no man vnleſſe it be new.
5. He was buried in a Sepulchre in which neuer man was laid, leſt his aduerſaries ſhould cauill, and ſay it was ſome other that was riſen, or that he roſe from the dead by vertue of touching ſome other corps: ſee 2 King. 13. 21.
6. He was buried in another mans Sepulchre, to ſignifie that he died and was buried not for himſelfe, but for other men: and that he might ſhew that graues properly belong to vsus which hauehave ſinned, to warne vsus of our mortalitie. Ioſeph cauſed his ſepulchre to be made in his garden of pleaſure, that he might be thereby put in minde of his mortalitie in the middeſt of the delights of this life.
The perſons by whom Chriſt was buried, are diuerſly deſcribed; as by their names, Ioſeph of Arimathea and Nicodemus; and by their worldly eſtate, they were Senators and rich men; and by their profeſſion or religion, they were diſciples, iuſt men, ſuch as waited for the kingdome of God: but yet all was done ſecretly for feare of the Iewes, and by the authoritie they had to doe it, viz. the conſent of Pilate, Matth. 27. 57. Mark. 15. 45. Ioh. 19. 38, 39.
For the firſt of theſe it is to be obſerued, that God hath giuen theſe men an honourable name in the Storie of the Goſpell, ſo as what they hauehave done ſhall alwaies be remembred where the Goſpell is preached: and this honourable mention they attained not, till this ſeruice done to the dead bodie of Chriſt. Whereby God would teach vsus, that ſuch as honour Chriſt God will honour: and the beſt way to get into the Catalogue of Gods Worthies, is to imploy our ſelues in well-doing, and in the ſeruice of Ieſus Chriſt, and then we can doe no good worke, to Chriſt dead or liuing, in himſelfe or his members, but it ſhall be had in honour, yea it may be in euerlaſting remembrance.
For the ſecond, Chriſt was buried by rich men, Firſt that the Scripture might be fulfilled, that ſaid, He expoſed his graue to the wicked, and to the rich man in his death: To the wicked, becauſe he could not be buried without Pilates conſent; and to the rich man, becauſe hee was buried by Ioſeph of Arimatheas meanes. Thus he was ſaid to be buried and raiſed vp according to the Scriptures, 1 Cor. 15. 4. Secondly, he gaue his dead bodie to rich men, to ſignifie, that amongſt rich men he had his elect, and that the vertue of his death ſhould reach euen to them: for though it bee impoſſible in reſpect of men, that a rich man ſhould be ſaued, yet it is not ſo vntounto Chriſt, who can effect wonderfull things, and ſo can by the vertue of his death ſo vntwiſt the gable of a rich mans heart, as to make it in true humilitie like a thread to goe thorow the eye of a needle, Matth. 19. 24. Iam. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 1. 26. And hence rich men ſhould learne of Ioſeph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, that they ought to profeſſe their louelove of Chriſt and ſincere Religion, not only when Chriſt is adorned with miracles and worldly applauſe, but euen when he fals into the hands of wicked men, and is buried in ignominie, they muſt not feare danger or reproach. They muſt honour Chriſt not onelyonly in the peaceable times of the Church, but in troubled times: Euen when Chriſt in his members is betrayed, perſecuted, oppreſſed, forſaken of his owne, condemned either in ſpirituall Courts or politicall, purſued by warres or any other vexations. And the poore ſeruants of God that ſuffer for the teſtimonie of Ieſus, may hence take comfort, God that ſtirred vp rich men to doe this honour to the bodie of Ieſus, will not forſake the afflicted members of Ieſus; he can ſtirre vp men to prouide for them, and honour them (euen greatmen when it pleaſeth him) both in their life time, and at their death, and after their death alſo.
Now for the third point, they were diſciples of Chriſt, but yet it was ſecretly for feare of the Iewes. Whence we may obſerue the great wonder of Gods power in theſe men. When Chriſt was in proſperitie, they were afraid to be ſeene to follow him, or to profeſſe reſpect to him: Now that Chriſt is in extreme diſgrace, and the enemies of Chriſt fleſhed in cruelty and malice, now theſe fearfull men proue valiant, and whatſoeuer comes of it, Chriſt ſhall be honoured, euen, the dead bodie of Chriſt ſhall not be forſaken by them, Which is the more wonderfull, becauſe the beſt diſciples of Chriſt were ſo ouercome with feare, that they had all forſaken Chriſt. Which may ſerue for great vſe to all of vsus. They that ſtand ſhould take heed leſt they fall. Thoſe that now go for ſtrong Chriſtians, if euill daies come, may proue faint-hearted, and by their fearefulneſſe diſhonour the Religion they profeſſe. And on the other ſide, weake Chriſtians ſhould not be diſmayed, God is able to make them to ſtand, Rom. 14. 4. Such as in dayes of proſperitie were afraid of the reproach of men, may proue ſo full of courage in the euill day, as not to feare though the foundations of the earth be moued.
Further, we may hence gather a diſtinction of true Chriſtians. Some are ſo and ſeeme ſo, they make a profeſſion before men. Some are ſo but ſeeme not ſo, as here theſe Counſellors were iuſt men and diſciples, and waited for the kingdome of God, and yet they were not taken for diſciples, nor knowne to be ſo commonly: which ſhould reſtraine cenſure in raſh Chriſtians; ſome of thoſe perſons they deſpiſe as prophane, may be true Chriſtians in Gods ſight. But yet leſt wicked men ſhould be hence emboldned, obſerue that how weake or fearfull ſoeuer theſe men were, yet they would not conſent to the death of Chriſt: Though the weake Chriſtians I ſpeake of doe not ſo much for the truth, as others doe, and they ſhould, yet they will doe nothing againſt the truth, 2 Cor. 13. 8. and therefore ſuch perſons as not onelyonly make no profeſſion, but withall doe ſcoffe at and oppoſe ſinceritie in others, cannot be reckoned in the catalogue of true Chriſtians.
Pilates conſent was had for the buriall of Chriſt,
1. That there might be no doubt made of his death and buriall, ſeeing ſo great a perſon is made priuy to the ordering of it.
2. That we might know that the hearts of the greateſt men are in Gods hands, and he can turne them which way he will, euen to execute his counſell, when they thinke nothing of it. He can make the very enemies of the Church become friendly and louing when pleaſe him.
And further, in that Ioſeph doth not take the dead body downe, and burie it without leaue of the Magiſtrate, it ſerues to teach men, that they ſhould doe all things with due reſpect, not only of the warrant of the action, but of all circumſtances belonging to it: eſpecially great reſpect ſhould be had to authoritie, that by raſh zeale the power of Magiſtrates be not prouoked againſt vsus.
Thus of the third point.
The manner of the buriall containes diuers things: Firſt, they did it haſtily towards the euening, becauſe of the preparation of the Iowes for the Sabbath, Ioh. 19. vlt. Secondly, they did it openly. Thirdly, they did it with great coſt, for Ioſeph brought fine linnen to wrap it in, and Nicodemus brought a mixture of Mirrhe and Aloes to the quantitie of about an hundred pound weight, Ioh. 19. 39. Mark. 15. 46. but it was done without waſhing or embalming. Laſtly, it is noted it was done after the manner of the Iewes buriall.
For the firſt, in that Ioſeph makes ſuch haſte, in reſpect of the Sabbath approaching, it ſhewes that all men that hauehave worke to doe towards the end of the weeke, ſhould order the matter ſo, as they take vp not any part of the Lords day, but vſe the more haſte and prouidence to hauehave all diſpatched that they may wholly attend vntounto Gods worke in that time which he hath conſecrated to himſelfe. And by the way here ſeemes to be an intimation, that burials are not ſo conuenient to be performed vponupon the Sabbath day, vnleſſe it be in ſome caſe of neceſſitie, when the bodie will not keepe till after the Lords day, and cannot be prepared for buriall before it begin.
For the ſecond, Chriſt was buried openly, that ſo there might be no colour of obiecting, that there was any fraud vſed about his buriall, and beſides to teſtifie that the fruit of his death and buriall did belong to all men: and withall it ſhewes the courage and ſtrength of faith in theſe diſciples, that are now no more afraid of men and their terrors, but giuegive glory to God in their hearts, and will ſuffer what can come of it.
For the third point, diuers things may be noted.
1. From the coſt they are at, we may obſerue that men that will follow Chriſt and be true diſciples, muſt not thinke much to be not only at labour, but at coſt alſo in what may be requiſite for the ſeruice of Chriſt liuing or dead. If rich men muſt be at coſt with the dead bodie of Chriſt, then muſt they alſo doe to the liuing members of Chriſt. And further hence it is manifeſt, that it is not vnlawfull to be at coſt about the funerals of the dead Saints: God makes great account of the dead bodies of his people, that hauehave beene the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, and therefore it is no ſinne according to mens eſtate to be at ſuch coſt as is requiſite to comely and decent buriall according to their condition; though vaine oſtentation or idle ceremonies are not to be iuſtified.
2. In that he was wrapped in pure linnen, and with ſuch coſtly ſpices: it was
1. To proclaime the innocencie of Chriſt, and to take away the ignominie of the Croſſe: and therefore they would not ſuffer his bodie to lye amongſt the carkaſſes of theeues and malefactors: They tell the world hereby that Chriſt was no ſuch man.
2. To ſignifie that the memoriall of the iuſt is bleſſed after they are dead. Therefore they vſed things of ſuch ſweet ſmell in burying the dead, that they might thereby ſignifie how ſweet the memorie of the departed Saints is. They are amiable euen when they are dead.
3. It might in ſpeciall ſignifie, that from Chriſt dead and buried ſhould ariſe a moſt ſweet ſauour in the he…rts of men brought vntounto them by the efficacie of the Goſpel, cauſing Chriſt to dye and be buried in their ſoules.
4. This coſt about the bodies of the dead was vſed to ſignifie their aſſured hope of reſurrection, and therefore they beſtow that coſt, as knowing that it is beſtowed vponupon bodies that ſhall liue againe.
Yet for all this coſt Chriſts bodie was not embalmed, which in reſpect of them came to paſſe by reaſon of the ſhortneſſe of the time, the Sabbath was ſo neere: and therefore the women came the third day to annoint him after the Sabbath was ouer, but he was rifen. But in reſpect of God, this embalming was not performed, that thereby might be ſignified, that Chriſts bodie needed no embalming, becauſe it could ſee no corruption in the graue, Pſal. 16. 10. and that this incorruption might not be imputed to skill, or medicines of men, but only to the diuine power: and withall to ſignifie that by Chriſt wee ſhould be freed from that corruption which the ſinne of the firſt Adam brought vponupon vsus all.
Laſtly, in that it is ſaid, that Chriſt was buried after the manner of the Iewes burying, it ſhewes plainly, that reſpect is to be had to the cuſtomes of any country or place where we liue, and that Gods ſeruants hauehave beene carefull to obſerue them, and not willing to giuegive offence by croſſing ſuch cuſtomes. This is true of all cuſtomes that are not ſinfull, and againſt the word of God; though they be ſuch vſages as are not commanded in Scripture: for this manner of buriall was no where commanded in Gods word, and yet the cuſtome preuailes, and good men obſerue it.
Now in this place I may adde further two adiuncts of the buriall of Chriſt. The firſt was the rowling of a great ſtone vponupon the mouth of the Sepulchre; which was not done ſo much out of any faſhion, as firſt that the bodie of Chriſt might not be expoſed to any indignities or vile vſages by the enemies: and further, that thereby the glory of the power of Chriſt might the more appeare, that could riſe though a great ſtone were rolled vponupon the mouth of the Sepulchre. The ſecond adiunct, was the preſence of certaine women, that were witneſſes of the buriall, when the Apoſtles were fled. Which alſo was done the better to ſhew the glory of Chriſt, and his power and triumph, that could make ſuch weake ones ſtrong, and braue the enemies of mans ſaluation, by ſetting weake women in the forefront of the battell, that hold out the confeſſion of Chriſt, and giuegive not backe for all the furie of the aduerſaries. And thus of the manner of his buriall.
Now for the laſt point, our Sauiour continued in the graue till the third day: for he was buried the euening before the Iewiſh Sabbath, and lay in the graue all the Sabbath day, and roſe about the beginning of the firſt day of the weeke, Matth. 28. 1. and a little after his buriall, his aduerſaries deſired of Pilate, that the Sepulchre might bee watched, leſt his Diſciples ſhould ſteale him away by night. Pilate grants them the Band of Souldiers, who were appointed for the guard of the Temple; and theſe they ſet to watch the Sepulchre, and beſides ſealed the mouth of the Sepulchre: now in all that time the bodie of Chriſt did ſuffer no putrifaction or corruption. Now of all this, foure queſtions may be demanded.
Queſt. 1. Why did our Sauiour continue in the graue three daies?
Anſw. That the type of Ionas might be fulfilled: As Ionas was three daies and three nights in the Whales belly, ſo muſt Chriſt be three daies in the belly of the earth, Matth. 12. 40.
Queſt. 2. Why did he reſt in the graue on the Sabbath day?
Anſw. 1. Becauſe as God when hee had finiſhed the works of the Creation, eſpecially the making of man, reſted the ſeuenth day: So Chriſt hauing finiſhed our Redemption on the Croſſe, reſted the ſeuenth day in the graue.
Anſw. 2. That this reſting of his on the Sabbath might be a pledge of our ſpirituall and eternall reſt from ſinne and labour.
Queſt. 3. Why was the Sepulchre ſo fenced and ſealed?
Anſw. That ſo the glory of Chriſts reſutrection might the better appeare, in that all their power and care could not hinder it: and beſides God hereby catcheth them in the works of their owne hands, for by theſe meanes their owne Souldiers are made witneſſes againſt themſelues of the truth of the reſurrection of Chriſt.
Quest. 4. But what was the reaſon that the bodie of Chriſt did not putrifie?
Anſw. Chriſt was without ſinne, and ſo his bodie could not corrupt, and as for our ſinnes he had made expiation for them on the Croſſe: beſides this was ſo, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, that ſaid, Thou wilt not ſuffer thy holy one to ſee corruption, Pſal. 16. 10. Thirdly, our Sauiour foretold vsus thereby that one day our bodies ſhould be as his was, viz. after the reſurrection they ſhould be incorruptible for euer.
The Vſes of the whole doctrine of the buriall of Chriſt, may be
1. For conſolation: for by the caſting of the body of Chriſt into the graue, wee know that Gods anger is pacified, and our ſinnes are expiated: for as the tempeſt was laied and ſtilled, when Ionas was caſt out of the ſhip into the Sea; ſo when Chriſt was caſt from among the liuing into the graue among the dead, all the tempeſts of Gods wrath conceiued againſt vsus were quieted, and fully ſtilled, and pacified. Beſides, Chriſts buriall may greatly comfort vsus againſt our buriall: His bodie hath ſanctified and perfumed our graues.
2. For inſtruction: and ſo the ſpeciall Vſe ſhould be, to teach vsus to ſtriue to be buried with Chriſt in reſpect of our ſinnes, Col. 2. 12. Rom. 6. 4. and this we may the rather hope to attaine, becauſe there is a vertue flowing from the buriall of Chriſt able to produce this ſpirituall buriall of ſinne in vsus. Now there be foure things in which our ſinnes ſhould be like a dead body in the graue. Firſt, dead bodies are for euer remoued out of the ſociety of men: ſo ſhould our ſinnes be abandoned from vsus. Secondly, dead bodies in the graue vſe to ſpend and confume away by little and little: ſo ſhould our ſins. Thirdly, dead bodies vſe to grow loathſome more and more: ſo ſhould our ſinnes. Fourthly, dead bodies waxe out of memorie, and are quite forgotten: ſo ſhould our ſinnes in reſpect of any delight we ſhould take in remembring them.