IMPRIMATUR Junii 19. 1689. Guil. Needham R. R. in Christo Pat. ac D. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. a Sacr. Domest THE DOCTRINES OF THE Resurrection AND THE REWARD to COME Considered as The Grand Motives to an HOLY LIFE Discoursed of from 1 Cor. XV. 58. BY The late Pious and Learned JOHN WORTHINGTON D. D. LONDON Printed for Awnsham Churchill at the Black-Swan in Ave-Mary-Lane 1690. To the Honourable Sir PAUL WHICHCOT Knight and Baronet SIR IAm emboldened by the singular Vertues and other worthy Endowments I have been an Admirer of in You to make choice of Yourself to be the Patron of the following Discourse And the Law of Gratitude commands me likewise to take this occasision of making a thankful Acknowledgment of the many Favours which as unworthy as I have been of them I have received from you As to this Treatise and its Authour Silence best becomes me in regard of the near Relation I bear to him Onely this I would suggest That since he had not prepared it for the Press that Accuracy and Exactness ought not to be lookt for in it which otherwise might be expected But I doubt not 't will have the Approbation of all good men as a Discourse well adapted to the Promoting and Furtherance of true Piety And that it may be successful to this best of Ends is the Hearty Prayer of SIR Your most Obliged Kinsman And Humble Servant John Worthington A DISCOURSE ON 1 Cor. XV. 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye Stedfast Unmoveable always Abounding in the work of the Lord for asmuch as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. THESE words are a most just Inference from that great Fundamental Truth of another State another Life after the Death of this Body a reward and blessed Immortality after this present Life which grand important Truth the Apostle doth assert largely confirm and illustrate in this Chapter and that in opposition to those that denyed the Doctrine of the Resurrection or of any other Life besides this present Life as appeared by that wicked Speech of theirs mentioned in Vers. 32. Let us Eat and Drink for to Morrow we shall Die that is Let us live in pleasure be merry and delight our Senses let us take our fill of the good things of this World for to Morrow we Die for within a little while we shall be taken out of this World Death will come ' ere long and seize on us and then there will be an end of us This is at large and in very lively expressions described in the Book of Wisdom where wicked Men are brought in speaking out the inward Atheism of their Hearts Chap. 2. 6 7 8 9. Come on let us enjoy the good things that are present and let us speedily or earnestly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 use the Creatures like as in Youth Let us fill our selves with costly Wine and Qyntments and let no Flower of the Spring pass by us Let us Crown our selves with Rose-buas before they be withered Let none of us go without his part of our Voluptuousness or jollity let us leave Tokens of our joyfulness in every place All this is a larger account of that briefly exprest by the Apostle Let us Eat and Drink And as it follows for to Morrow we Die so upon the like consideration do these in Wisd. 2. encourage themselves to a Sensual Life Vers. 1. Our Life is short Vers. 5. Our time is a very shaddow that passeth away and after our end there is no returning And the like in Vers. 2. 3 4. But let the Sensual ones those that are Atheistically disposed talk at this rate and rejoyce in their Youth let them walk in the ways of their Hearts and in the sight of their Eyes let them mock at the Righteous and account his Life Madness Wisd. 5. 4. They shall one day know That verily there is a reward to the Righteous and doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the Earth The Righteous shall live for evermore their reward is with the Lord and the care of them is with the most High they shall receive a Glorious Kingdom and a Beautiful Crown from the Lords Hand Wisd. 5. 15 16. or as the Apostle here their Labour is not shall not be in vain in the Lord. The Words may be easily resolved into these Propositions 1. Christians must be Stedfast well-grounded and rooted in the Faith Established in the Truth 2. Christians must be Vnmoveable in the Profession of the Truth particularly in the Profession of the Faith of the Resurrection and a Life to come 3. Christians must always Abound in the work of the Lord. 4. Christians have good ground to be assured that their Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. They that abound most in God's work in the Labours of Religion may perswade themselves that they shall not lose their Reward their Labour is not lost is not fruitless but shall certainly be rewarded In speaking to which Propositions we shall not need to seek for Proof elsewhere then in the Text For the following Proposition doth fully and pertinently prove the former as thus Christians must be Sted fast for else they cannot be Vnmoveable Christians must be both Stedfast and Vnmoveable for else they will not they cannot be Abounding always in the work of the Lord. Christians must Abound in the work of the Lord for their Labour will not be in vain in the Lord. PROPOSITION I. Christians must be Stedfast well-grounded and rooted in the Faith Established in the Truth That the Soul be without knowledge it is not good saith Solomon Prov. 19 2. Here is a Litotes not good i. e. it is a sad and miserable condition But in Heb. 13. 9. It is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace that is in the Gospel be grounded in the Truth of the Gospel which is frequently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace in the New Testament in opposition to the Mosaical Law which is here described by Meats and in Chap. 9. 10. 't is said to stand only in Meats and Drinks and diverse Washings c. It is S. Paul's advice to Timothy Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me 2 Tim. 1. 13. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a short form or draught a summary no long and tedious business for the Memory nor made up of many Nice and subtle Speculations The main Substantials of Religion lie in a little room they should be delivered briefly and in an easie and evident way not clog'd with obscure and intricate Notions with unnecessary or doubtful Opinions sound or wholesome words and Doctrine and what that is is plain in 1 Tim. 6. 3. where wholesome words and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness are the same That Doctrine which is proper and powerful to beget and to encrease a Godlike disposition and Life this is sound Doctrine and it makes sound and
see by this admirable Instance how this Noble Mother and her Sons rather then Transgress one Commandment of God forbidding to Tast Swines Flesh suffer'd the most Exquisite Tortures with a Magnanimous Patience despised their Bodies Vers. 11. regarded not their own selves for his Laws sake Vers. 23. offered up their Bodies and Lives for the Laws of their Fathers Vers. 37. loved not their Lives to Death as it is said of the faithful in Apocal. 12. reproched or disdained disesteemed their Lives unto Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is said of Zibulon and Napthali Judg. 5. 18. or as it is in Hebr. 11. would not accept of deliverance which was offered to them And that which enabled them thus to choose rather to die gloriously was this That they might obtain a better Resurrection a Resurrection to Life which the Fourth Brother plainly told Antiochus that he should not have Chap. 7. 14. a Resurrection far more acceptable to them then to be delivered from their present sufferings and to have their Life prolonged and respited for a while upon Earth upon the terms offered to live a little time and a moment longer as the phrase is Chap. 6. 25. And the same Spirit of Faith hath no less shined out in the faithful Martyrs of Jesus under the New Testament who loved not their Lives unto Death Apocal. 12. who did bear in their Bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 4. in Weariness and Painfulness in Watchings often in Hunger and Thirst in Fastings often in Cold and Nakedness in Stripes and Imprisonments as S. Paul saith of himself 2 Cor. 11. and were faithful unto Death not accepting of deliverance upon the terms of scattering a little Incense upon the Altar or puting a little Incense into the Censors And all this they suffer'd willingly as being mindful of that of our Saviour's I will raise thee up at the last Day Jo. 6. or that in Apocal. 2. 10. Be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Consider therefore O faithful Christian and often consider the great encouragement and strong consolation that it stored up in this Fundamental Doctrine of the Resurrection and Life to come If thy Body lie in a Dungeon in cold Irons and perish here Yet it shall be raised up and sit upon a Throne If it be Ioden with Chains it shall hereafter put on Robes of Glory and be Clothed with the Royal Apparel What though thou be here as Christ was Crowned with Thorns yet hereafter thou shalt have a better Crown then a Crown of Gold then the Richest Crown that ever any King or Emperour did wear What though wicked Men Eat the Flesh of Gods People as it is in Micah 3. 3. yet their Flesh doth rest in hope Psal. 16. To conclude this second Particular I might observe That the Doctrine of Christ's Resurrection upon which ours doth depend is full of the greatest comfort and encouragement For as he was delivered to death for our Offences so he rose again for our Justification Rom. 4. 25. His Resurrection did evidence his Death to be an acceptable Sacrifice to God and availeable to the making of Atonement and Expiation of our Sins For had it been otherwise had not Christ our Surety fully satisfied had he not done and suffered all that God required at his hand to the making Atonement for our Sins God would not have loosed the Bands or Cords of Death in raising him up again but he should have been holden fast by Death Acts 2. 24 and still detain'd in the dark Prison of the Grave he had not been taken up into Heaven and Seated at God's Right Hand But his being raised from the Dead and received up into Glory and his Interceeding there in the Vertue of his Death and presenting his Sacrifice in the behalf of all who truly believe and repent are evident proofs of the acceptableness of his Sacrifice and that God was well pleased and fully satisfied and that Christ had fulfilled all that God required of him to make Reconciliation for Iniquity Dan. 9. The Apostle therefore in Rom. 1. 4. saith that Christ was declared or demonstrated to be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the Dead And this if duly consider'd makes much for comfort and strong consolation unto all sincere Christians Hence that of the Apostle in Rom. 8. 34 Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is Risen again who is even at the Right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us 3. This Doctrine of the Resurrection and Life to come is such as properly and powerfully tends to and engages a Christian to the greatest Self-purification to all manner of Purity inward and outward in Soul and in Body to the cleansing of himself from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit which is to perfect Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. And because it makes so much for the Advancement of Holiness and Purity in Heart and Life it is most worthy to be firmly Believed and Profest Accordingly its said in 1 John 3. 3. He that hath this hope the hope of seeing God as he is Vers. 2. purifies himself even as he is pure He endeavours after the greatest Self-purification as knowing that onely the pure in Heart shall see God who is Purity it self Holy Holy Holy as it is thrice repeated in Apocal. 4. 8. but in some Greek Copies Nine times These two are therefore joyned together we shall be like him and we shall see him as he is The Soul must first become like unto God in Purity and Holiness before it is capable of seeing God as he is of enjoying him and having any near and blissful Communion with him The onely means to behold the Face of God is to behold it in Righteousness and Purity and Holiness and such a Christian shall be satisfied when he awakes from the sleep of Death with God's likeness It was to this purpose well observed by Plotinus one of Origen's Schollars in Ennead 1. lib. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let every one that would see God who is Holy and Pure and Good the Original and Fountain of all Beauty and Excellency and Goodness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make account first to become God-like his Soul must first be purified as ever he would hope to seé and enjoy God And now as the Soul sets it self in good earnest upon Self-purification as that which is a necessary Preparation for the enjoyment of God and as it prospers in its sincere and earnest endeavours to purge and cleanse it self from all that within which is contrary unto God by the same degrees and proportion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Hierocles to wards the end of his Comment upon Pythagoras his Golden Verses speaks of the great privileges of a Purified Soul it revives and becomes more lively active and vivacious is more collected within it self and is filled with Divine Strength and
Mire of sensuality then to be of Christ's little Flock to follow Christ in innccency and purity of Life and universal obedience although perhaps some of the more crafty Epicureans may have some care to live inoffensively that so they may keep out of danger of the Laws and keep up a Reputation in the World for their advantage and they may abstain from some sins for their Bodies sake to keep themselves in Life and health Both the Apostles Peter and Jude and other Apostles saith S. Jude in Vers. 17. did in their Epistles foretel that in the last times should come Scoffers walking after their own Lusts 2. Pet. 3. 3. after their ungodly Lusts so saith Jude Vers. 18. And what the Apostles did fear and forewarn of is come to pass Such Mockers as these are even to this Day to be found and where Christianity is Profest But observe the Character of these Men they are such as have a mind to walk after their own ungodly Lusts such as would not be restrain'd from the forbidden Fruit such as would gratifie their self-will and would live as they list to these Men the Doctrine of the Resurrection and Judgment to come is very unpleasing and therefore they Scoff at it and oppose it withal their might But as we are to shun them their Principles and their Practices so let it be our care to shun the giving any occasion or advantage to them For know that Men may condemn Atheism and Sadducism in words and yet by their Lives and Conversations give great advantage and countenance thereto Both Atheism and Sadducism 〈◊〉 steal nourishment and advantage from the Lives and Practices of those who seem to be far removed from them As for Atheism the 〈◊〉 presenting God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foolishly the attributing to God what is unworthy of God what is most unlike God and that fair Idea of him represented in the Holy Scriptures the attributing to him the very imperfections of sinful Man The Representing him in such a way as is not consistent with his Infinite Goodness and Mercy his Holiness and his Justice And again Mens Professing that they know God and yet denying him in their Works as the Apostle speaks Tit. 1. 16. their so living in the World as if there were not in them any powerful and real sense of God's all-seeing and pure Eyes nor of his Justice and Righteousness This is that which hath given too much advantage to the spreading and strengthening of Atheism And for Sadducism which slights the Notion of Spirits or Immaterial Beings and denys the Existence of Souls after their Separation from this Earthly Body and dis-believes the Doctrine of a future State of Glory and a reward in Heaven of Misery and punishment in Heli. How are the Modern Sadducees and Epicureans the more hardned and confirmed in these their Notions by considering that Men generally mind Earthly things their Belly is their God they mind and seriously take care for the things on Earth and do but little relish and set their affections on things above They see also that generally Men who Profess to believe a future Reward and Punishment seem not much to be sensible of any Danger to the Soul by Sin nor much to be affected with the Hellish Misery that is threatned For most Men are very secure and manifest but little watchsulness over themselves and little care to break off from Sin to subdue their Passions to mortifie their Lusts and inordinate Affections All which may seem to argue that they do not heartily Believe what they Profess and that they have no such thoughts of the danger of Sin hereafter as Men have of the danger to their Life by drinking a Cup of deadly Poyson Nor do they seem to be much Sensible of the future Reward and Felicities of Heaven the happiness of another State For they are generally unwilling to leave this present World and it is very unpleasing to them to think that they must Die They do not seem to account Heaven their home and Country and themselves to be but Pilgrims and Strangers in this World Their hopes of such a Glorious State do not seem so much to enravish and strongly affect their Spirits as the hopes of some outward accommodation or enjoyment would do which would tickle and overjoy them and transport them to excess when possest And the hope of obtaining these outward things does engage them to far greater endeavours then the hopes and expectations of Heaven and the Reward to come do usually put Men upon which indeed are but slight and formal and very cold if compared with the other and far from a worthy seeking of the Kingdom of Heaven and as becomes those that believe there is a Glorious Reward there to all Eternity Thou therefore that sayst there is a God dost thou in works deny him Dost thou live without God in the World Dost thou Mis-represent him and so report of him as to make him like to sinful Men Or short of Men in those things wherein he requires they should imitate him Thou that sayst there is a Resurrection and Life to come a Reward and Punishment Heaven and Hell Dost thou so live as one that looks after no other Portion Consolation and Reward then what is in this Life Art thou swallowed up in the cares and ambitions of this World hasting to be Rich and Great in the World And art thou immerst and sunk in the pleasures of this World so as not to relish the things above Be it therefore your care to make it appear by your Life and Spirit your Conversation and Disposition that you are Stedfast and Unmoveable in these Fundamentals of Christian Religion that so living agreeably to these Truths ye may be the Children of the Resurrection and counted worthy to obtain that World the World to come Luke 20. 35. Learn therefore to Die to this present World as S. Paul was Crucified to the World and the World to him To die to this World here to leave it in affection makes the Physical Death the going out of this World less strange and less uneasie Count your selves to be but as Pilgrims and Strangers here and therefore as Pilgrims abstain from Flesbly Lusts which War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. It is remarkably said of Abraham Isaac and Jacob who confessed themselves to be Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth or the Land of Canaan Heb. 11. 13. and accordingly behaved themselves in all Points as such Sojourning in the Land of Promise as in a Strange Country Vers. 9. that they that say such things say and do for it was not a meer Verbal Profession they declare plainly or make it appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they seek a Country even a better Country that is an Heavenly Vers. 14. 16. Accordingly do ye so live be so affected that ye may plainly declare and make it appear to others that ye seek and desire a better Country a better Inheritance a better
a right principle nor directed to a right end And hereby they think they do demereri Deum and oblige Him for ever And yet all is but an empty Shell which they bring a Shell without a Kernel a Cabinet without the Jewels But such is their high esteem of it that they are ready to take it ill and to challenge God for not taking due notice of the Honour and Service they do him and he is not as they think so sensible and regardful thereof as he should be when things go otherwise with them then they wish The Inward Language of their Hearts is fully exprest by Isa. Chap. 58. 3. Wherefore have we Fasted say they and thou seest not Wherefore have we Afflicted our Soul and thou takest no knowledge And yet this was but a meer Outward Humiliation as it is exprest in Vers. 5. The bowing down the Head as a Bul-Rush for a Day and the spreading of Sackcloth and Ashes under them But alas what is the hanging or bowing down the Head while the Heart is unbowed and unhumbled And what is Sackcloth and Ashes whenas Pride compasseth them as a Chain Psal. 73. 6. Here then is the difference between those that are Christians Outwardly and those that are Christians Inwardly as the the Apostle speaks of the Jew Rom. 2. The former make great account of their trifles as if they were the most solid realities and the most precious rarities The other account themselves and their Best performances their most substantial Services to be as nothing before God But though it becomes them to think thus humbly and meanly of themselves yet God who weighs the Spirits of Men and tryeth their Hearts he hath an high esteem of them God is not unrighteous to forget their Work and Labour of Love which they have shewed toward his Name Heb. 6. 10. but he will remember them and their Performances and an Honourable Commemoration shall be made of them at the Last Day Matth. 25. 34. 4. As they are Sensible of the little they have done for God and are grieved at their Omissions so they are sensible of the little time they have to repair their neglects of those fair advantages which they have had for doing good They are apprehensive of the Shortness and Uncertainty of their Life and continuance here that their time is but Short here to Testifie their Love to God in their Love of others and caring for their good they have but a Short space to Labour in and it is but short and as nothing to Eternity if they be in the Morning of their Age or in the Afternoon and indeed such serious Thoughts as these do more commonly possess those that are in the Afternoon of their Life And therefore they rouse up and excite themselves to a greater diligence Awake awake up and be doing they say unto their Soul Stir up the gift of God in thee be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus And show forth that Strength in a Power to do more and to endure more bardness as becomes a good Souldier of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 2. While it is Day while the light of Life shines thou must Work the Works of him that sent thee the Works of God the business of Religion must be heeded by thee For the Night cometh when no Man can Work Jo. 9. 4. the Sunfet of thy Life the Night of Death approacheth and then the seasons and advantages for an active employing thy self about the good of others and Glorifying the Name of God in this World will be over and past And therefore because there is no Work nor deliberation nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou art going whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might Eccles. 9. 19. Love God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more Emphatical word then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all thy Strength with all thy Mind with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul with whatsoever is in thee and in thy Power all thy faculties must be raised up to their best pitch And the best expression and proof of this Love is in serving the Will of God in thy Generation to the best of thy Skill and Abilities Live much in a Short time for the time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought our own Will But Christ hath suffered for us in the Flesh that we should no longer Live the rest of our time in the Flesh to the Lusts of Men to the gratifying of those Appetites which Men generally Indulge themselves in but to the Will of God which is worthy to be obey'd and complyed with in all things by us Let it be our wonder and our grief that we were for so long a time the shortest time is too long Strangers to God and the ways of Religion that we should for any time live without God in the World and be unacquainted with the Best of Services and Employments which are the Services of Religion That we should be estranged from the Life of God which is the Noblest and Sweetest Lise a Life of the highest Excellency and of the most satisfying Pleasure And therefore being now restored to God and having found him whom our Souls Love and whom our Souls should ever have loved him who loved us first how should we cleave the more close to him even with full purpose of Heart How should we live wholly to his Will and Walk Worthy of him unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good Work studying to know what will please him what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God and then to do it with all Alacrity and Faithfulness Live then much in a short time Redeem the time repair thy Omissions in some measure by Redoubling thy diligence Let the Book of thy Life the Book that must be opened at the Last Day be full of Sense and worthy Matter Let there be no void spaces and empty lacunas Idle Words and an Idle Life are such in it Let every Page of it every Day be fill'd with what is Significant Intelligible Rational and Worthy to be Transcribed and Copyed out by others Live in an Exemplary way and follow that best Exemplar the Holy Jesus of whom S. Peter gives this short Character in his Sermon to Cornelius Acts 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He went about doing good Think thou hast lost a Day as it s said of the Emperour Titus Vespasian if thou hast not done some good in it Think thou hast not lived if thou hast not lived to the Service of Religion As that Courtier who retired from the Vanities of this World and seriously applyed himself to the Services of Religion Seven Years before his Death would have this Epitaph Hic jacet Septuagenarius qui septem vixit annos Let that Speech of the Apostle Rom. 12. 11. be often in thy Thoughts let it be Written in fair Letters upon thy Heart Not Slothful in business Fervent in Spirit Serving the
of the Lord. If others are coldly affected yet they are to be a People Zealous of good Works Else they will not Answer the full Intendment of Christ's Death and Sufferings who gave himself for them and Redeemed and Purified them to this end as it s said Titus 2. Let then Christ see of the Travail of his Soul the Fruit and desired effect of his great Sorrows and Sufferings let him see of the Travel of his Soul with joy and delight and be satisfied taking full content and being highly pleased in seeing the fruit of all his labours and pains Shall a dull and dead lazy and liveless Profession of Religion be all the fruit of Christs Sufferings Will he be satisfied where he sees no better fruit then this Did Christ Sweat in the Garden that we should Freeze Is there no Sap no more Life in the Tree of the Cross then to put forth onely Leaves or Blossoms Assuredly the due consideration of Christ Crucified is that which will make a Christian fruitful in Holiness and in every good Work Christians must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patterns of good Works Titus 2. and Examples they must shine as lights in the World Phil. 2. If Others are lazy and content themselves with doing a little Yet They must be Exemplary in diligence go early into the Vineyard and work hard They must do more then others not onely more then Publicans and Sinners but more then the seemingly-strict Scribes and Pharisees more then Formal Christians for they are Men of another Spirit as God said of Caleb and Joshua and must follow God fully They have received from God other Helps and Advantages Spiritual Light and Strength God has made all Grace to Abound towards them that so they may Abound to every good Work 2 Cor. 9. They have other Hopes and Expectations better grounded hopes of a Glorious Reward They have received Mercies more peculiar then others And therefore they should do more then others they should not live as others as they said Wisdom 2. 15. His Life is not like other Mens his ways are of another fashion Yea amongst Real Christians one must strive to Excel another A good strife this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to provoke to Love and good works not onely by words but deeds to strive who shall do most for God who shall most Abound in His Work Labour most in his Vineyard who shall live Best But then they that Abound and Excel others must also Excel in Humility So S. Paul in 2 Cor. 12. 11. and 1 Cor. 15. 10. PROPOSITION IV. Christians have good ground to assure themselves and to be perswaded that their Labour shall not be in Vain in the Lord. I. They may be assured from the Revelation of the Gospel whereby Light and Immortality is brought to light 2 Tim. 2. 10. Light and Immortality that is Immortal Life Eternal Blessedness both for Soul and Body is now more clearly revealed and fully assured by the Gospel S. Paul had Preached at Corinth the Chief City of Achaia for a longer space of time then he used to do in other Cities for he continued there a Year and Six Months Acts 18. 11. and God encouraged him hereunto notwithstanding the many troubles and oppositions he met with from the Jews who unanimously and with one accord set themselves against Paul Vers. 6. and 12. God spake to him by Night in a Vision that he should not be afraid nor hold his peace for though some did oppose yet saith God I have much People in this City Vers. 10. and accordingly its said Vers. 8. That many of the Corinthians believed and were Baptized yea Crispus the Chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his House And in Obedience to this Heavenly Vision S. Paul did for a long time a Year and an half Preach the Gospel to them of Corinth clearly and freely and with much affectionateness to them his whole Heart was set wide open to them they had a great place in his affections This he means when he tells them in 2 Ep. 6. 11. 12. O ye Corinthians our Mouth is opened to you our Heart is enlarged ye are not straitned in us And what was it that S. Paul took such care to Preach amongst them and which he did first of all deliver unto them 1 Cor. 15. 3. It was this That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was Buried and that he Rose again the Third Day according to the Scriptures And this last-mentioned Article of the Resurrection of Christ on which Our Resurrection doth depend 1 Thes. 4. 14. he particularly enlargeth upon proving it from Eye-witnesses and they not onely some single persons as Cephas and James but above Five Hundred Brethren of whom he was seen at once there were Five Hundred Christians and more that at one and the same time saw him after his Resurrection from the Dead of whom although some were fallen asleep or were dead yet saith he Vers. 6. the greater part remain most of them are alive unto this present or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 until now and therefore from some of them they might know and be satisfied about his Resurrection and that he who was Dead was Alive again Yea they might assure themselves of this from S. Paul's own Testimony who though he was no Disciple not a Christian nor an Apostle while Christ conversed upon Earth yet he was afterwards at his Conversion an Eye-witness of Christs being alive again last of all saith he Vers. 8. he was seen of me also and by this appearing of Christ from Heaven was S. Paul Converted The remarkable Story we have recorded by S. Luke in Acts 9. where Christ in Glory and Power with dread and awful Majesty for there was Thunder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 3. and Lightning which flash'd and shone about him Vers. 2. appeared to Paul who was still breathing out threatnings and Slaughters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristophanes in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a like Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thunder and Lightning was in his Mouth and Christ to meet him in his fury appears in Dread to him makes him to tremble Vers. 6. Strikes him down to the Earth Vers. 4. and turns this Raging Lion this Ravening Wolf into a Meek Lamb Lord saith he what wilt thou have me to do The Men that were with Paul saw no Man Vers. 7. not him that spake but Paul saw him and He declared himself who he was I am Jesus whom thou Persecutest Vers. 5 And besides this Testimony from his own seeing of Christ to be alive he useth other Arguments in this 15. Chap. to the Corinthians to prove the Resurrection of Christ. But what is this to the Resurrection of Christians Very much For Our Resurrection depends on Christ's If Christ be Risen then there is a Resurrection from the Dead Vers. 13. 16. and then shall We also Rise again For