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A77515 Two treatises the one, handling the doctrine of Christ's mediatorship : wherein the great Gospel-mystery of reconciliation betwixt God and man is opened, vindicated, and applyed. The other, of mystical implantation : wherein the Christian's union and communion with, and conformity to Jesus Christ, both in his death and resurrection, is opened, and applyed. / As they were lately delivered to the church of God at Great Yarmouth, by John Brinsley, minister of the Gospel, and preacher to that incorporation. Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.; Ashe, Simeon, d. 1662. 1652 (1652) Wing B4737; Thomason E1223_1; ESTC R22919 314,532 569

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as the same Apostle hath it cap. 1.2 the last Time or Times so St Peter cals them 1 Pet. 1.5 20. And St John the last Hour 1 John 2.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the last Time or Hour So did the Apostles then look upon the world as drawing towards a period a consummation And that not far from it in their times what then may we do in ours But I passe on Thus Christ appeared in the end of the world and that but Once Once and but once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the Priests under the Law they appeared Often before God in the execution of their Ministeriall function The Priest went always say the 6th and 7th verses of this chapter i. e. daily every day into the first Tabernacle the holy place the second court of the Tabernacle or Temple accomplishing the service of God But into the second the Holy of Holies went the High Priest once every year Thus they appeared Often But Christ our High Priest appeareth but Once Once upon Earth and Once in Heaven Once upon Earth before Men Of this speakes the Apostle here in this 26. verse Once in Heaven before God Of this he speakes verse 12. By his own blood he entred in once into the Holy place i. e. Into Heaven Marke it Once he appeared upon Earth and once in Heaven Christ appeareth once upon Earth and once in Heaven As for any such second appearing upon Earth and returning to heaven before his coming to the last and generall Judgment Millenaries confuted as some imagine this our Apostle taketh no notice of it And therefore I dare not avouch it Nay hee tels mee expresly in the last verse of this chapter that Christ having been once offered to bear the sins of Many he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation unto them that looke for him Marke it Christ appeareth not twice upon Earth once to suffer and once to reign there personally and twice in Heaven once after his Resurrection and once after the settlement of his supposed Government as some have conceived but Once upon Earth and once in Heaven As for his second Appearing it shall be unto Salvation to the compleat and perfect salvation both of Soul and Body in heaven so Expositors I think universally expound that place of all those who love and look for that Appearing Heb. 5.9 2 Tim. 4.8 In the mean time let it be enough for us that he hath appeared once upon Earth So it may well be if we do but consider what followeth viz. the end of this Appearance which was To put away sin How Christ is said to have put away sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Abrogating abolishing taking away of sin Not taking it out of the world No the world still lyeth in wickednesse 1 John 5.19 Nor yet taking it out of the persons of his redeemed ones so as that it is should have no abiding no inbeing in them No this is a perfection reserved for heaven not to be looked for on Earth But so taking it away as that it shall not be imputed to them nor yet reign in them For both these ends Christ appeared upon Earth for the abolishing of sin in his people both in respect of Guilt and Power It is the former of these that is here properly and principally intended So much will appeare from the next clause which setteth forth the way and means whereby Jesus Christ effecteth this abrogation and abolition of sin viz. By the Sacrifice of himselfe The Sacrifice of Christ himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This was the Sacrifice which Christ our High-Priest offered Not the Bodies of other creatures as those Legall Priests did but his own body Offered upon Earth Vide D. L. in Heb. 1.3 9. ver 26. himself And this Sacrifice he offered up not in Heaven as the Socinian would have it in presenting himselfe before God his Father but upon Earth viz. in his Passion upon the Crosse There was this Sacrifice offered up Duplex est ut legalium quarundam victimarum ita Christi oblatio prior mactationis altera ostentationis Grot. de satisfact cap. 10. True indeed it was afterwards presented in heaven but it was first offered upon Earth So was it with some Sacrifices under the Law The blood of them was represented by the High Priest in the most Holy place as this our Apostle tels us ver 7. of this chapter but they were offered before viz. in the slaying and sacrificing of them by the Priest So was it in this Sacrifice of Christ How ever it be presented before God in heaven which is an other part of Christs Mediatorship as God willing I shall shew you hereafter belonging to the next branch his Intercession yet it was offered up upon earth viz. in his Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In mactatione Sacrificium Grot. de Satisf cap. 10. Thus were sacrifices said to be offered up when they were slain So profane Authors ever use the word and Scripture the like When God biddeth Abraham go offer his son Gen. 22.2 he addresseth himselfe to slay him ver 10. which because hee had intentionally done though not with his hand yet in his heart he is therefore said to have offered him up Heb. 11.17 Therein was Isaak a Type of Christ who was offered up after the same manner being actually slain There was he truely offered Hence it is that Saint John calleth him onely the Lamb slain Revel 5.6 and 13.8 which Saint Paul renders Sacrificed Offered Christ our Passeover is sacrificed or offered for us 1 Corinthians 5.7 Thus was Christ first offered up upon Earth Neither was this only a Preparation to that oblation which is made in Heaven as the Socinian would have it but a perfect Oblation The death of Christ more then a preparation to his oblation So was the offering made by the Priest in the Holy-place It was more then a Preparation to an offering a true Sacrifice As for the presenting of the blood of the Sacrifice in the Holy of Holies it was not properly a Sacrifice Grotius ibid. but rather the Commemoration of a Sacrifice already made So standeth it betwixt Christ's Oblation and his Intercession The former was done upon Earth There was the Sacrifice offered The later is only a Commemoration of that Sacrifice a presenting it unto God as it were continually to put him in minde of what was done that for the merit thereof hee may bee propitious unto his people And this is the Sacrifice whereby Christ is said to put away sin By this sacrifice Christ putteth away sin Not properly his Intercession in heaven but his Immolation his oblation upon earth in his death upon the cross So the Spirit of God clearly carries it every where ascribing the work of our Redemption the taking away of sin to the death and blood-shed of Christ He
name Mediator to be given to any save only to Christ And hereabout he professeth he will not contend with us Neither shall I at the present here enter the lists with him or any other about this subject whether the Name or thing This being a beaten controversie betwixt us and the Church of Rome which many having dealt fully with I may well spare my labour As for us hold we fast this truth of God One Mediator Exclusively which this text fo clearly holdeth forth unto us There is one Mediator betwixt God and men the man Christ Jesus One Exclusively one and but one In this office Christ hath no partners As for the word Mediator we will not much contend about it whether it may in a qualified sense be given to some others As it was to Moses at the giving of the Law so in a like sense it may be given to the ministers of Christ under the Gospel whose office it is to go and deal betwixt God and his people And possibly taking the word in a large sense it may be given to private christians who by way of charity intercede for others in their prayers to God on their behalfe But seeing the Spirit of God in the Scripture is not acquainted with this language therefore we own it not wee approve it not Rather chusing to reserve this as a Title of Honour peculiar unto Jesus Christ He is the One and Only Mediator As for Angels or Saints departed we cannot allow them either name Angels and Saints no Mediators of Intercession or thing As for those forenamed distinctions in asmuch as they find no footing in Scripture we acknowledge them not Sure we are which our adversaries wil not deny properly Mediators betwixt God and men they neither are nor can be no not of Intercession Two requisites in such a Mediator both wanting in them In a Mediator of Intercession there are at least these two things requisite Hee must be designed and appointed by God unto this office or service And he must be acquainted with the condition of those for whom hee is to intercede But neither of these shall wee find agreeing whether to Saints or Angels 1. Their Deputation 1. For their Deputation we know no such office or service designed to either Angels indeed they are appointed to be Guardians unto the Saints upon earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They are ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for the good of them which shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1. last But as for Mediators Intercessours betwixt God and men wee know no such office conferred upon them As for Saints upon earth they have indeed a general commission to intercede one for another But what commission the Saints in heaven have to intercede for their Brethren upon earth that we know not which if they had they are not capable of executing and discharging it In as much as in the 2d place 2. They are not privie to the estates of men upon earth 2. They are not privie to the states and conditions of men here below Whatever Angels are sure they are not That of the Preacher seemeth to speak so much Eccles 9.5 6. The living know that they shall dye but the dead know not any thing Not any thing which is done here below So the next verse explains it Neither have they any more portion for ever in any thing which is done under the Sun No their transactions and negotiations are above the Sun As for occurrences here below they are not in an ordinary way privie to them A truth more then probable which if any shall question it may be extorted and made good by way of Argumentation Arg. If Saints departed be acquainted with humane affairs upon earth Evinced by Argument they must have this knowledge either in an Immediate or mediate way Either Immediately by themselves or Mediately from some other But not the former They do not of themselves take immediate cognizance of things here below So much is rightly concluded from that passage 2 Kin. 22. last where the Lord promiseth Josia that hee would gather him unto his fathers in peace and his eyes should not see all the evill which he would bring upon Jerusalem Saints in heaven are neither eye nor eare witnesses of what happeneth upon earth However sure we are they cannot take notice of all persons and all occurrences in all places of the world at the same time This is an infinite perfection which neither Man nor Angell is capable of Nor yet the later They do not attaine this knowledge at the second hand by way of Revelation or Information For if so then they must have it either from God or from Angels or from soules departed But all these are no lesse then ridiculous 1. Such is the first To imagine that God should first reveal our necessities and our prayers to the Saints to the end that they should intercede with him for us How absurd is this circulation what were this but to make God an Intercessour for us to the Saints who are pretended to be Intercessours for us to him 2. And such is the second In as much as Angels themselves neither do nor can take notice of all things which are done here below Besides that in this way they should be our Mediatours to the Saints 3. And such is the third In as much as souls departing do not themselves know all things How should they inform the Saints in heaven of what themselves were ignorant of upon Earth Upon these reasons and grounds we must conclude Saints in Heaven in an ordinary way ignorant of humane affairs here below Doubtlesse thou art our Father saith the Prophet though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not Isai 63.16 The Schoolmen's Speculum Divinum a fancie I am not ignorant of what Bellarmine and others of the School-men here dream of viz. of a Speculum divinum how that Saints and Angels behold all things in God as in a looking Glass which being set before one representeth unto him what is behind him so as he therein beholdeth at once whatever is in the room But this is but a fancie a groundlesse speculation wherewith I shall not trouble you or my selfe Sure we are Neither Saints nor Angels know the hearts of men some things there are which neither Saints nor Angels know as viz. the hearts of men This they cannot do but they must do if they be Intercessours for others How else shall they know the mentall prayers and suits of their Clients How shal they know them to be in the number of true believers such whose prayers shal find audience in heaven surely they wil not as too many Advocates upon earth do undertake a promiscuous solicitation and intercession for all comers for Judas as well as Peter Hypocrites as well as Saints And if not so then they must be able to discern the spirits and to search the hearts of
vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlinesse c as the same Apostle directs 2 Pet. 1.5 6. That so you may come behind in no grace no gift as Paul saith of his Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.7 Then adding one degree of grace to another faith to faith The righteousnesse of God saith the Apostle is revealed from faith to faith Rom. 1.17 that is from one degree and measure of faith to another According as faith is revealed more and more so is the Righteousnesse of Justification more assured unto the soul Labour to get your faith which is the radicall grace the very heart of this new-man confirmed and strengthened daily not neglecting such means as God hath appointed for that end amongst which the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper whereof some of you have this day been made partakers is a chief and principall one Then seek after the like growth and increase in love in humility in patience so in all other graces These are the members of this new man let it be your care that as it is in true Augmentatation which is secundùm omnes partes a proportionable growth in every part every of these may grow and increase with the increase of God Thus do you perfect holinesse in the feare of God as the Apostle exhorts 2 Cor 7.1 Being thus changed into the Image of Christ from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord as you have it v. last of the 3d. chap. of that Epistle 5. In respect of heavenli-mindedness 5. And lastly Rise more and more in respect of Heavenlimindednesse Your hearts are like ponderous bodies still tending downwards towards the Earth And therefore let it bee your daily worke to raise and scrue them upwards by frequent Meditation and Contemplation of Heaven and Heavenly things and in particular of that heavenly Glory to which Christ is raised Beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord saith the Apostle in the place last named 2 Corin. 3. last which Grotius expounds of the Glory of Christ in his Kingdome of Glory This Behold as in a glasse that is saith hee seriously and attentively cosider and contemplate it With all labouring to raise your Affections thither If yee bee risen with Christ c. Set your Affections on things which are above and not on things on the earth Col. 3.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Minde things above and let them have your Hearts your Affections As for the things of this world labour daily to sit more loose to them that so you may bee willing to part with them when ever God shall be pleased to call you hence Thus being Risen yet rise daily more and more Which that you may do still seeke after a further and more intimate Vnion and Communion with the Lord Jesus Christ Still seeking after a more intimate union and full communion with Jesus Christ by whose spirit it is that you are and must be raised That you may more and more participate of that vertue which is in him Paul had no small share in this vertue yet hee desireth that he might still have further experience of it That I may know him and the vertue of his Resurrection Philip. 3.10 Let the same be your desire and indeavour that you may daily feele this divine vertue put forth in you more and more raising you up more and more from the death of sin to the Life of grace here Then rest assured the same vertue shall at the last day raise you up from the death of nature to the Life of Glory Being here made conformable unto Christ in your first Resurrection you shall be also in the second which shall be to you a Resurrection of life And thus I have at the length through the good hand of God leading and conducting me passed thorough this excellent portion of Scripture wherein you have held forth unto you that great Gospel Mystery of the Christians Vnion and Communion with and conformity to Jesus Christ both in his death and Resurrection The sweetnesse of the subject hath drawn forth my meditations beyond the staple which I first intended them May but my labours herein prove acceptable and profitable unto you I have what I aimed at Which that they may be let us Pray FINIS
God for them 1. Appearing for them Thus are Atturnies said to appear for their Clients in the Courts of Justice Sum of Sacred divinity published by John Downham p. 330. answering for them And from hence saith that learned and judicious Divine-Lawyer the Apostle may seem to have borrowed that phrase of Christ appearing in the presence of God for us in that place forenamed Heb. 9.24 This he doth as our Attourney sitting at the right hand of God his Father as a generall person representing the whole mysticall body whereof himselfe is the Head appearing and making answer for every member thereof 2. As he appeareth so also he acteth for them doing what he doth in their name 2. Acting in their name in their room and stead Thus he took possession of Heaven upon his ascension not in his own name onely but also in their name This is that he tels his Disciples John 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you A Similitude borrowed from Travellers amongst whom some one goeth before to bespeake and take up roomes for the rest against they come The like office hath Jesus Christ done for his people He is gone before entred into the Heavenly Places not onely for his owne sake but his peoples in whose name hee hath taken up those Everlasting Mansions And as he hath taken so hee keepeth possession in their name in their room and stead Hence is it that the Apostle speaking of beleevers Eph. 2.6 he saith that they are raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ So they do though not actually in their own persons yet in the person of Christ That which an Atturny doth for another himself is said to do it Thus one taketh possession of a house or ground which himself never saw viz. by another whom he appoints in his room as his Atturny to do it in his stead And thus hath Jesus Christ taken and now keepeth possession of the heavenly places in our stead 3 Which he doth being 3. And this he hath done being Authorized and deputed thereunto Even as Atturnies in Courts are Authorized and deputed Authorized by the Judge and deputed by the parties Otherwise they cannot appear or Act as Attournies for others Even so is Jesus Christ authorized and deputed to be as it were our Attourny Authorized by God his Father to appear and answer for us Authorized by God his Father Him hath God the Father sealed John 6.27 id est as I shewed you before Authorized him to execute the office of a Mediatour to be as an Attourney for his people in the Court of Heaven Deputed by them And Deputed by those for whom he appeares Christ doth not undertake to doe the office of an Advocate or Attourney for any without their consents No Attournies must be retained by their Clients And so is Jesus Christ by all those who have any benefit by his Advocation his Intercession They are such as have retained him and committed their cause to him such as have received him and doe acknowledg him resting and relying upon him as their Mediatour 4 As a Solicitor presenting and promoting their desires 4. In the fourth and last place he appeareth also before God as a Solicitour What the Solicitours office is it is well known viz to present and promote the desires and Requests of another in such a way as that they may finde acceptance And such a Solicitor is the Lord Jesus on the behalf of his people In which respect againe he may fitly be said to be a Mediator betwixt God and Men. Such a Mediatrix was Queen Hester who appeared in the presence of King Ahasuerus presenting unto him the Petition which Mordecai had put into her mouth in the behalf of her people Ester 5. And such a mediatour is a Master of Requests in a Princes Court who appearing in the Presence Chamber there presents the Petitions of the People which are put into his hands And such a Mediatour is the Lord Jesus the great Master of Requests who appearing in the presence of God his Father presents both the prayers and services of his people unto him and that in such a way as that they become acceptable unto him So that Text commonly hath been and for ought I know properly may be understood for what other sense to make of it I well know not Rev. 8.3 where we finde mention of an Angell which stood at the Altar having a golden Censer and there was given to him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the throne This Angel is the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus which offereth up the prayers of Saints unto God being mixed with the precious odours of his own merits This is the incense which is offered with or added for so the word in the Original hath it as the margin in our new Translation renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might give or add to the prayers of all Saints Such are the merits of Christ an additament to the prayers of Gods Saints Like that Incense which was offered up by the Priest under the Law for to that the Spirit there clearly alludeth under the Law whilest the people were praying without the Priest was offering up Incense within So you finde it Luke 1.10 A Type of Christs Intercession Whilest his people are praying without upon Earth he is within appearing before God in the heavens there offering up Incense presenting those prayers mingled with his own merits Which are not unfitly compared to Incense Incense being a sweet perfume the smoake thereof doth easily and gratefully penetrate into the nostrils of Man Even so doth the Merit of the Lord Jesus being added to the prayers of Saints it penetrates into the nostrils of God so it there followeth verse 4. The smoak of the Incense of which came with the prayers of the Saints and ascended up before God out of the Angels hand And by that meanes those prayers and services wherewith it is offered they become grateful unto God Ye are an holy Priesthood saith S. Peter speaking to beleevers to offer up spiritual sacrifices viz. Prayers and praises c. acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And in this respect may he fitly be said to be a Mediator betwixt God and men A Mediator as an Inteecessour And thus I pass off from the fourth staff to the fifth and last Christ is a Mediatour betwixt God and man quà Gubernator as a Vice-Roy The 5th staffe of this mysticall Ladder Christ a Governour a Deputy Governour such a Mediatour was Joseph betwixt Pharaoh his people Being taken out of Prison he was advanced set at Pharaohs right hand next to him in the Kingdome and so set over all the land of Egypt Herein was he a Type of our Mediatour the Lord Jesus who being in like manner taken out of prison as
suppose it be directed to others men dead in trespasses and sins Such exhortations not uselesse to others yet such Exhortations are not uselesse unto them In as much as through those channels God is pleased to convey his grace and spirit wherby he enables them to do what hee requireth from them Thus in raising Jairus his daughter from the death-Bed our Saviour cals to her Talitha Cumi Damosell arise Mark 5.41 And in raising Lazarus from the grave he cries unto him Lazarus come forth Joh. 11.43 not that either the one or the other had power of themselves to do what was commanded but there was a power went forth together with the word like that which went forth with that Creating word at the first God said Let there be light and there was light Gen. 1. There was a power went forth with the word giving a being to that which was not Thus doth God cal things which are not as if they were Rom. 4.17 By his word making things to be what they were not And thus doth be call upon dead souls to awake and arise by and through his word conveying that spirit and power unto his Elect wherby they are inabled to do what of themselves they cannot The first Resurrection is a work of no lesse power no lesse difficulty then the second 5. To these adde in the fifth place Resemb 5. This spirituall resembles the corporall Resurrection in the Indisposition of the Subject In the indisposition of the Subject A dead Corps lying in the grave it hath no disposition no aptitude no inclination to rise again As it cannot raise it selfe so neither can it do any thing in a way of tendency towards its own resurrection It can no wayes fit or prepare it self for it Nay it cannot so much as will or desire it Even such an indisposition is there in a dead soul to this first Resurrection A soul dead in sin as it cannot raise it selfe to the life of grace so neither can it do any thing which tendeth that way Such an Impotency is there in man since the fall All are now by nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without power When we were yet without strength Christ died for us Rom. 5.6 Not able to contribute ought towards this blessed change Not able to do any thing by way of preparation to fit themselves for the receiving of the grace of God no nor yet so much as will and desire it when the grace of God first meeteth with man it findeth him a meer patient like a dead body lying in the grave having only a passive capacity rendring him a subject capable of receiving the impressions of grace and so of having a new life put into him Man hath not only an outward but an inward Impediment to this Resurrection So indisposed is man naturally to the work of God's grace not only having an outward Impediment as Papists and Arminians would have it like a Prisoner as some of them frame the similitude who having fetters upon his legs cannot walk but yet he hath an inward power in himselfe so to do if that outward impediment were removed Not onely so but man hath also an inward impediment Being like a dead carkass lying in the grave which though all the grave-clothes be taken from it yet it cannot move nor stir untill a new life be put into it Until God doth breathe the breath of a new life into the soul the man is whole indisposed unto this blessed change I might go a step further Man not only indisposed but averse to this Resurrection and shew you how he is not onely indisposed to this life but averse to it In which respect the first Resurrection goeth beyond the second The second Resurrection meeteth with a Body which though of it selfe it be indisposed to live again yet it maketh no resistance no opposition against its own resurrection But in the first Resurrection when God cometh to raise up a dead soul from the grave of sin he findeth it not only indisposed but opposite to it making resistance against the work of his grace Ye stiffe-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost As your fathers did so do ye saith Saint Stephen to the Jewes Acts 7.51 To these I might yet add one more 6. This spirituall resembles the corporall Resurrection in the efficient causes of it Resemb 6. The Efficient Causes of it and that both Principall and Ministeriall and Instrumentall In the second Resurrection the Resurrection of the body the Principall Efficient is God himselfe the Ministeriall the Angels the Instrumentall the sound of a Trumpet You have them all together 1 Thes 4.16 The Lord himselfe shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall arise Now see a resemblance of all these in the first Resurrection The same Principall Efficient God God quickneth the dead Rom. 4.17 as dead bodies so dead souls The like Ministeriall and Instrumentall Cause Herein God maketh use of his Angels Revel 2. 3. and of his Trumpet His Angels the Angels of the Churches the Ministers of the Gospell whom he now sendeth forth to gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other Mat. 24.31 His Trumpet is his word in the mouth of his Ministers A spirituall Trumpet shadowed out by those silver Trumpets under the Law by the sounding whereof the Priests called the people to the publick Assemblies on earth Numb 10.2 Thus do the Ministers of the Gospel by lifting up their voice like a Trumpet as it is given in charge to the Prophet Isaiah Isai 58.1 by preaching and publishing the Gospell they call men to the Kingdom of God Hereby awakening and raising them up The hour is coming and now is saith our Saviour when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they which hear it shall live John 5.25 Men dead in sin hear the voice of Christ in the Ministery of his Word and thereby the Spirit concurring with the Ordinance and giving efficacy to it they are quickned and raised up to a new spirituall and heavenly life Even as dead bodies shall be at the last day raised from their graves by the voice of an Arch-angel and sound of a Trumpet Thus then you see this Generall made out How that the first resurrection the resurrection of the soul from the death of sin to the life of righteousnesse carries with it the resemblance of a Resurrection resembling it in the Order in the Nature in the Integrity in the Difficulty of the work in the Indisposition of the Subject in the Efficient Causes of it both Principall Ministeriall and Instrumentall Now come we in the second place to see how it resembleth the Resurrection of Christ 2. The spirituall Resurrection resembles the Resurrection of Christ So it doth
Christ now doth being risen from the dead and living and reigning with his Father he maketh it his work to glorifie him In that he liveth saith the Apostle ver 10. of this Chapter he liveth unto God that is with God to the Glory of God 2. To be glorified with him And now 2. Passively to be glorified with God O Father glorifie thy Son with the selfe same glory which I had with thee before the world was So he goeth on John 17.15 This Glory the Godhead of Christ the second Person reassumed after his Resurrection and the Manhood was assumed to the participation of the same glory in such a degree and measure as it was capable of Thus was Christ raised from the dead to the Glory of the Father And in this Thus is the believer raised the Christian's Resurrection carrieth with it a like resemblance of his Resurrection He is thus raised from the death of sin to the glory of God his Father Actively to the glorifying of him Passively to be glorified with him 1. To the glorifying of him 1. Actively to the glorifying of God This is the end wherefore God bestoweth this his grace upon his Elect people viz. that they should be to the praise of his glory Ephes 1.12 which they are when his grace shineth forth in them Now they are to the glory of God glorifying of him themselves Therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your spirit for they are Gods 1 Cor. 6.20 And others glorifie God on their behalfe Let your light so shine before men that others seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in heaven Mat. 5.16 Thus is the believer raised to the glory of God in as much as those fruits of Righteousnesse and Holinesse which are conspicuous in his renewed conversation they are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Phil. 1.11 2. Passively to be glorified with him 2. He is raised to be glorified with God his Father God hath called us to glory and vertue saith Saint Peter 2 Pet. 1.3 to vertue on earth to glory in heaven Thence is it as I told you that Sanctification is comprehended under the name of Glorification Rom. 8.30 The one is a pledge of the other Grace ends in Glory The glory which thou gavest me saith our Saviour I have given them John 17.22 speaking not of that power of working miracles called the glory of God John 11.40 which he gave unto his Apostles after his Ascension as Grotius apprehends it but of that eternall glory which himselfe was now to enter upon This he had purchased for them and all believers this he had promised to them and this in due season he will confer upon them Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory ver 24. This shall all believers do They shall continually be with the Lord beholding his glory And beholding it they shall be transformed into it We all with open face as in a glasse beholding the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. last from grace to grace and from grace to glory To this believers are called to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 2.15 And this they shal have possession of Christ waited for his Glory after his Resurrection and so doth the Believer Though not presently I might add that as another Resemblance which I shall onely touch upon Christ being raised from the dead he was raised to the glory of God his Father yet was he not presently possessed of that Glory He waited for a time during his forty dayes betwixt his Resurrection and Ascension In the mean time he was not perfect as he should be So much he willeth Mary to take notice of John 20.17 where he saith to her Touch me not for I am not yet ascended unto my Father intimating to her that he would not have her to fix her thoughts so much upon his present condition in as much as that was not the highest pitch of his Exaltation which was to follow upon his Ascension Thus fareth it with the Christian though he be raised up to the glory of God his Father made an Heir of glory as all true believers are If children then heirs heirs of God and joynt heirs with Jesus Christ Rom. 8.17 Through the grace of God already vouchsafed to them they are made in measure meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light as the Apostle hath it Col. 1.12 yet is he an heir under age having a Jus ad rem but not in re a Right to heavenly glory through Christ but not the actuall possession of it For this he must wait We which have the first fruits of the spirit saith the Apostle Rom. 8.23 even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption even the Redemption of our bodies Believers they have received the first fruits of the spirit those graces of the spirit which are to them a pledge and assurance of the full crop of perfect glorification in due season But this they must wait for untill the time appointed of the Father They are raised up to the glory of God the Father but not presently glorified I shall proceed no further Thus you see this Parallel made out and withall the first branch of the former Proposition made good viz. that the Christian's first his spirituall Resurrection carries with it a resemblance of Christ's Resurrection 2. The believers corporall Resurrection resembling Christs And so shall his corporal resurrection There is the 2d branch upon which I shall not insist long looking upon the former as principally eyed by the Apostle in this place As the believer is comformable to the resurrection of Christ in this first resurrection the resurrection of his soul so he shall be in the second Resurrection the resurrection of his body This shall carry a resemblance of Christ's Resurrection As Christ was raised so shall the believer be raised The Paralel or Comparison betwixt these two I might shew you in divers particulars I shall mention some few of the principall reducing them to two heads The Christian's Resurrection shall resemble the Resurrection of Christ both in the verity and quality of it Two generall Resemblances 1. In the Verity of it 1. In the Verity of it It shall be a true Resurrection Such was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ a true Resurrection The same body that was buried was raised again Christ's Resurrection a true Resurrection Destroy this Temple saith our Saviour to the Jewes and in three dayes I will raise it up again Joh. 2.19 This he spake of the Temple of his Body saith the Evangelist ver 21. This Temple the Jews destroyed this Temple he raised up again Not another Temple another Body in the room of it but the same body That it