diligent that other enemies of theirs could say when they came to Thessulonica These that have turned the world up side down are come hither also Act. 17.6 so diligent that by their means in a small time the sound of the Gospel went into all the earth Rom. 10.18 and their words unto the end of the world and that leaven of the Kingdome spoken of Mat. 13. had leavened the whole lumpe Fourthly Grace of sincerity to take all this pains for no sinister worldly respect whatsoever but meerly for the Gospels sake to plant it whence could they have this sincerity but from the same power of the Holy Ghost How sincerely they preached the Gospel without seeking either praise or profit by it see a little Not praise Act. 3.12 for when upon the cure of the lame man the people came flocking about them and admiring them almost as halfe Gods what sayes S. Peter Ye men of Israel why looke ye so earnestly on us as if by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walke And when upon the like occasion the men of Lystra would have honoured Paul and Barnabas for Gods they were so far from seeking their own praise that they did all they could to hinder it Act. 14.14 c. they ran in among the people crying out and saying Sirs why do you these things we also are men of like passions with you c. And when some magnifying Paul and some Apollo and some Cephas calling themselves after their great Masters I am of Paul c. how doth Paul take up all pride that might arise thereupon 1 Cor. 3.5 who is Paul and who is Apollo but ministers by whom ye believed And we preach not our selves 2 Cor. 4.5 but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Christs suke If therefore that of our Saviours be true John 7.18 He that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his own glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him then they seeking not their own glory when it was offered them but anothers that sent them it must needs be that they speake not of themselves but acted by his spirit that sent them So for profit how sincerely they preached the Gospel without perverse aime that way Their hungry bellyes oftentimes in hunger and thirst which was not voluntary abstinence for that is meant afterwards in fastings often 2 Cor. 11.27 Their cold backs in cold and nakedness Their purse penniless Act. 3.6 silver and gold have I none these show what a little gain they made of the Gospel Paul would never have writ for a cloake as far as from Rome to Troas four hundred miles if poor man he had had that variety or his converts had been so franke unto him as to have furnished him with money to have bought a new one he made but a little harvest of the Gospel that was glad to write for an old cloake 400 miles to hap him against winter The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus 2 Tim. 4.13 bring with thee And that it was for happing to his back against the cold winter you may gather from that which followeth do thy diligence to come before winter verse 21. verily this argument if any other that the Appostles should with that sincerity preach the Gospel all praise and all profit set aside this helps to confirme the truth of the Gospel if any other that they should take such infinite pains in that harvest send forth Labourers into thine harvest and aime at no harvest at all thereby for themselves in the world Mat. 9.38 And therefore not without good reason does St. Paul so often stand upon this thing Act. 20.33 1 Cor. 4.11 and 9.3 2 Cor. 11.10 and 12.14 1 Thes 2.5 to stablish his converts in the truth of the Gospel which he preached Neither at any time used we flattering words Who is there even among you that would shut the door for nought But what a deal of pains tooke they for nought or rather they knew well enough whom they trusted and who it was that said lift up your eyes and looke on the fields for they are white already to harvest He that reapeth receiveth wages John 4.36 They would never have sweat so in this harvest and so little wages here but that they knew of those other wages Fifthly The grace of extraordinary patience whence also could they have it but from the power of the Holy Ghost who were they and what were their bodyes was their strength the strength of stones and their flesh of brasse Job 6.12 that they should be able to hold out against hunger and thirst against cold and nakedness stripes and imprisonments c was their Souls not like other mens but heavenly spirits sheathed in earthly bodyes that they should not be overcome no not much affected with all the opprobries reproaches ignominies that the world could cast upon them that all the paine and all the shame the world could put them to they should still continue as strong as steddy as anvills unstirred unmoved for all the blows What can this be but the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon them if so many strong men with Iron hammers should let drive at a piece of glass or earthen vessel and not be able to breake it all men would say it were an enchanted glass or vessel how many let drive at those earthen vessels the humane natures of the Apostles with such bats and blows as would almost have broken steele and adamant That therefore these earthen vessels were not broken with all these blows what should be the reason but onely that they were enchanted enchanted with that power of the Holy Ghost coming upon them that made their frail natures hold out so against dint of stroke of all persecutions I will turn aside saith Moses and see this great sight why the bush burnes with fire and consumeth not Exo. 3.3 that was a strange thing to his conceit so a strange thing it must needs be to any ones consideration that the Apostles who for their fraile humane natures were nothing but bushes and brushwood and combustiblest stuffe that could be strange that they should continue in the fire the fire of tribulation and consume not burne not yeeld not but as though their bodies were burnish't brasse shine onely the brighter for the fire surely what can be the reason but onely because as the Lord was in the bush and so it consumed not so the Lord was in these bushes these weak Apostles and they consumed not In the third of Daniel the Princes Governours Captains and the Kings Councellours all flocked together to see those men upon whose bodies the fire had no power they thought that a wonder surely I know not whether it be a greater wonder that the bodies of the Apostles flesh and blood like other men
cut a whet-stone a funder with a rasor for a vestal virgin to draw water in a sive for another to pull a ship up Tyber with her girdle when with Cables all the company besides could not make her stir for Mahomet to make the moon seeme to come in at his sleeve c. Such wonderments toyish wonderments does the Divell ordinarely work but where are his mercies his curing the sick c indeed sometimes he cures some sick Postquam definunt laedere curasse creduntur Tert. Apol. but it is but una eademque manus c. but healing where he hurt when they cease to hurt they are thought to heale as if I should ease by pulling away the pin that I thrust into another sides it is but thus healing where he hurt or else in some lesser diseases perhaps that are within his skill healing sometimes that he may hurt wounding the Soul to the heart through healing the ripled skin of the body And thus it appears that the miracles of the Apostles had some specialness in them and were done by no other Magick then that of our Saviours Yet shall receive power of the holy Ghost c. And if so then that our Saviour is not in the grave but risen indeed that could send this power of the holy Ghost upon them I will end this point with St. Austin If any say that these speciall miracles were not indeed wrought by the Apostles to confirme Christs Resurrection and ascension Hoc nobis unum grande miraculum sufficit quòd ea terrarum orbis sine ullis miraculis credidit This one great miracle sufficeth us that the world believed these things without miracles There are these incredible things sayes he One that Christ is risen from the dead and ascended bodily into heaven Another that the world should have believed so incredible a thing A third incrediblest of all that a few silly obscure meane fellows should perswade the world to this beliefe either therefore they wrought some speciall miracles to perswade the world thereunto Et Eloquia persuadentium mira fuerunt facta non verba and their perswasive arguments were wondrous works not words or else this is the miracle of all miracles that the world should believe those few silly men without miracles De civitat 22.7 Quisquis ergo adhuc prodigia ut credat inquirit magnum est ipse prodigium qui mundo credente non credit 22.8 John 3.2 and 12.37 Aug. de Civit. Dei 21.6 Vide quandam auream catenam apud Chrys in 1 Cor. Hom. 7. Whosoever therefore doth yet require miracles that he may believe he not believing when the world believeth is himself a great miracle Thirdly Whence had the Apostles that extraordinary grace of such happy successe in their preaching in so short a time to draw almost the world after them to bring all to their lure to make all dance after their pipe whence but from this power of the holy Ghost coming on them and making their words to be very charms unto the people verily verily sayes our Saviour to his Disciples he that believeth on me John 14. the works that I do shall he do also and greater works then these now what are these greater works Our Saviour he cured all diseases and cast out Divils he raised the dead what greater works did the Apostles yes the conversion of the world and the subversion every where of his Kingdome that is called the Prince of the world were greater works a farre greater work to raise up the dead world then one dead Lazarus Lazarus had been four dayes in the grave and was ready to stinke the world had stunke many and many years together in the grave of all Idolatries impieties lusts wickednesses c. a farre greater work to cast out Satan every where out of his Temples out of his worship out of the hearts of men that every where he possessed then out of the bodies of a few Corporally possessed whence therefore could the Apostles do these greater works but from the power of the holy Ghost from the reason rendred in that text because I go unto my Futher c. because I cannot be deteyned in the grave but rise again to have all power given me both in Heaven and in earth Now consider with me from some particulars the greatness of his worke by twelve men such as they were to convert a World such as it was to embrace a Doctrine such as they preached Consider the greatness of this work and then say my text is proved But now is Christ-risen from the dead else this work could never have taken that such a doctrine to such a world by such twelve men should have been effectually preached First such a Doctrine a Doctrine that might have offended as a new Doctrine an incredible Doctrine a Doctrine too high for the world wallowing in flesh and blood a Doctrine bringing the crosse and persecution after it a Doctrine that for the enduring the crosse and for the crucifying their flesh and blood gave no present promises but the promises to envite unto the Gospel were future and in another world a Doctrine that might have offended thus many wayes First as a new Doctrine that should have overturned all their old Religion no more the same rites the same Ceremonies the same Altars the same Temples the same Gods that they and their predecessors had so long time worshipped but all must be cashierd and a new upstart tother-day Religion about one Jesus of Nazareth never heard of before forsooth must come in the roome away with such new Doctrine Novelty that in other things is pleasing to the nature of man is odious in Religion The Divell knowes what he does when he seekes to cast upon us by our adversaryes the aspersion of novelty of a new Gospel and new Gospellers new Bibles and new every thing even the very old cobwebs in the Temple are sacred and superstition is loth to have them brushed down though they have venemous spiders in them and webs of lawne might be hung in their roome so odious is Novelty in Religion and therefore first it might have offended as a new Doctrine Secondly as an incredible Doctrine what credibleness that life and Salvation should be preached in the name of a pretended God borne but of a poor Jewish woman brought up like a poor Carpenters son crucified like a wicked malefactor dead and buried like a weake man and affirmed by almost the whole nation of the Jews to be yet under the power of death when as but two or three obscure fishermen and the like talke of his Resurrection What credibleness in this Doctrine Is it credible that he that was so borne so bred so crucified so dead and buried and no talke but by a few obscure Galilaeans of his Resurrection that he should be the onely God blessed for ever principalities and powers and thrones and dominions and all the renowned Gods up
an horrid manner Thirdly They had a Vision of Angels that affirmed unto the women that he was risen and withall remembred them that it was but as he had told them before that he would rise again the third day and therefore they need not distrust it Fourthly They had after many corporall apparitions unto them of our Saviour himself and still you may observe there goes alwayes almost with the apparition some notable circumstance one or other to be an argument to confirme the verity of it as First for the apparition to Mary you have this observable circumstance that though Jesus had talked with her a while and she knew him not but thought he had been the Gardiner yet at the speaking of one bare word Mary she presently knew him and sayes Rabboni this was either a plaine effect of his Divinity so on the sudden to work on her heart or else of his humanity to speake just in that familiar form which he used when he was alive so that she knew him to be he by his voice The Divil may sooner counterfeit a visage then a voice Again for the apparition to the two Disciples by the way you have these two circumstances First Their hearts extraordinarily burning within them while he opened to them the Scriptures which argues his Divinity Secondly A speciall manifestation of himselfe unto them by breaking of bread using the same form of thanks-giving or same form of action in breaking or both which he used while he was alive and that argued the same humanity Again for the apparition to the Apostles when Thomas was absent you have two circumstances that are most demonstrative of a true living body First this handle me and see me for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see me have Then this Luke 24.41 Have ye here any meat c Though the Divell can form a body of the Elements a body that may be felt yet not true live body that can eat and digest meat not a true live body that hath flesh and bones that hath heat and pulse and all the temper of a true live body If this were so how should we be sure one of another that we are not fantasms Nay if handle mee and see me were not a good argument how were the Jews sure that it was the true Jesus that was Crucified the true Jesus that was laid in the sepulcher If they were sure they Crucified and buryed the true Jesus the Disciples were as sure that it was the true Jesus that rose again and appeared unto them And this is that circumstance which afterwards brought Thomas off from his infidelity when eight dayes after Christ appeared unto them John 20.28 Thomas being with them and thrust his hand into his side and said my Lord and my God And this is so strong an argument that S. Peter cares for no more Act. 10.41 He shewed himself openly not to all the people but to chosen witnesses even to us who did eat and drinke with him after he rose from the dead he did eat and drinke with them most familiarly and sensibly conversed with them even as familiarly and sensibly as when he was alive so that if we were sure of him then we are as sure of him now And this is the argument S. John beats so on That which we have heard which we have seene with our eyes c. 1 John 1.1 Consider now further that this was forty dayes together that he thus at severall times conversed with them that all his speech at those times with them was not about such things as the speech of a deceiving Divell would have been but of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God Act. 1.3 of the things whereby the Apostles afterwards destroyed every where the Kingdome of the Divels and their Idolatrous worship Consider also that the Disciples were so incredulous formerly of the Resurrection that the words of the women that told them he was risen seemed to them idle tales Luke 24.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that also our Saviour upbraided them with unbeliefe and hardness of heart that they believed not them namely the women and the two Disciples and Peter which had seene him after he was risen That Thomas also for all that the other Disciples averred it unto him yet he would believe none of them all hee would believe nothing but his own hands and fingers would these men therefore that were so hard of beliefe would ever they have believed such a thing without most infallible proofes as it is Act. 1.3 To whom he should himself alive after his passion by most infallible proofes c. and therefore neither were they deceived but knew well enough what they said when they answered the High Priests and rulers of the Jews straightly charging them to speake no more of Jesus and the Resurrection with a Non possumus wee cannot but speak the things which wee have seene and hoard Act. 4. 20. If therefore they could neither bee deceived nor deceivers there is weight enough in those words this Jesus hath God raised up whereof wee are all witnesses and again they urge it Act. 2.32 Act. 3. Act. 5. Act. 10. The testimony therefore of these eye-witnesses is in the second place assurance enough unto us of Christs Resurrection Thirdly the testimony of the Spirit which Christ after his Resurrection and ascension sent down from Heaven to be a powerfull witnesse unto the world of his Resurrection by giving unto his extraordinary grace of holiness extraordinary grace of preaching the Gospel extraordinary grace of confirming it by miracles extraordinary grace of a happy successe in the busines to draw in so short a time almost the world after them these things shew that Christ was not in the power and hands of death but sate down at the power and right hand of his Father It is plaine a King is not in hold by his enemies when every where he does such things that makes the world ring of him as plain that Christ was not deteined in hold by that enemy death when every where by the Spirit which he sent he did such things as made the whole world ring of him Whence first had the Apostles and Apostolicall men that extraordinary grace of preaching the Gospel but onely from fulfilling that promise in Act. 1.8 ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem c. Hence had they their extraordinary grace of promptness grace of diligence grace of sincerity grace of patience grace of tenderest love and affection after the Salvation if they could of every Soul First The grace of boldness whence could they have it but from that power of the Holy Ghost coming upon them How timorous and white liver'd otherwise they were their running all away when their Master was apprehended their hardiest mans I meane Peters denyall of him at the speech of a silly
his Epistles begin with these thanks and prayers First Rom. 1.8 1 Cor. 1.4 Ephes 1.15 Phil. 1.3 Col. 1.3 1 Thes 1.2 I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken thorowout the world And I thanke my God alwayes on your behalfe for the grace of God which is given by Jesus Christ Fifthly See it in St. Pauls grieved spirit when at any time men declined and went backward in the way of grace Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears And who is weake and I am not weake 2 Cor. 2.4 who is offended and I burn not 2 Cor. 11.29 And I feare lest when I come among you my God shall humble me among you and that I shall bewaile many that have sinned already 2 Cor. 12.21 Sixthly See it in St. Pauls recomforted and revived spirit again at the good news of the mens thriving and prospering in the way of grace 2 Cor. 7.4 I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyfull in all our tribulation And 1 Thes 3.7 When Timotheus came from you we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distresse by your faith And so St. John 3 John 4. I have no greater joy then to heare that my children walke in truth Seventhly See it in St. Pauls unmercenariness so far that he is willing yea glad very glad to spend and to be spent for mens Salvations yea those that the more abundantly he loves them the lesse perhaps he may be beloved again I seeke not yours but you And I will very gladly spend my wordly means if I had any and be spent quite exhaust forth strength and spirits in laborious endeavours for you 2 Cor. 12.15 Eighthly See it in St. Pauls willingness not thus to spend goods and strength and spirits but even life it selfe for mens Salvations being affectionately desirous of you 1 Thes 2.8 and in the second to the Philippians Phil. 2.17 he raiseth this willingness to dy for others Salvations into a joy to dy for them Yea and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy and rejoyce with you all Ninthly See it in St. Pauls willingness not onely to dy for mens Salvations but to be withheld for a while from fellowship with Christ in his glory for the furtherance of others in their Salvations Phil. 1.23 24. and 25. I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you c. He must needs love much that having been in the third Heavens and having had so many revelations of Christ yet makes it a strait and a hard choice whether to chuse whether to be with Christ in blisse or with poor lost men in misery for hope of his Salvation Tenthly See it in St. Pauls willingness not onely to be withheld a while from the fellowship of Christ in his glory but to be accursed for ever from this fellowship of Christ in his glory for that is his meaning to be accursed from the fruition of his glory not of his love I say the truth in Christ Rom. 9. â— 2 3. I lye nâ—t my conscience also bearing me witnesse in the holy Ghost That I have great heavinesse and continuall sorrow in my heart For I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh How serious and unfained how ponderous and weighty his wish is that it must needs be no lesse then his eternall perishing from Christ for their Salvations his so solemne and sacred attestations and protestations show I say the truth I lye not c. Whence now thinke you could St. Paul have this grace of tenderest love and affection to others Salvation discovering it self in his such sollicitous holy care and feare about them in his so studious diligence to edify by all means that he could devise every Soul in the way of Salvation c Whence but onely from the power of the holy Ghost And now by this time if you consider all these the grace of extraordinary boldness of extraordinary promptness of speech and wisdome c. that showed themselves in the Apostles and first preachers of the Gospel you may know why the Apostle should say I would that yee knew what great conflict I have for you Col. 2.1 and for them of Laodicea and for as many as have not seene my face in the flesh Why for as many as had not seene his face in the flesh Why because they that by Pauls corporall presence among them had but experience of his holy boldness in the Lord of his promtpness of speech and wisdome in the Lord of his unspeakeable pains and diligence in the Lord c. they that thus saw his face in the flesh knew all his heavenly carriage and consolation in the Lord and in the word of his truth they could not but be exceedingly perswaded of the certainty thereof so full of arguments was St. Pauls face his bodily presence and conversation in the Lord to perswade unto the certaine beliefe of the Gospel which he preached And hereupon it is from these arguments in his face especially that he saith If our Gospel be hid 1 Cor. 4.3 it is hid to them that perish and that at his time of departure out of the world he remembers Timothy of these arguments especially in his face But thou hast fully knowne my doctrine manner of life 2 Tim. 3.10.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned knowing of whom thou hast learned them viz. of him that hath made them good by so many good arguments in his face O that our people could but see thus arguments in our faces to confirme them in the truth of the Gospel But alas our faces our faces are the confusion rather and confutation of the Gospel then the confirmation of it rather enough to make infidels then converts rather enough to offend the strong then to strengthen the weak If the Gospel were now to be planted again all the miracles in the world I think would not make it take while our moralls are that they are A miracle may strike a little wonderment at first but good morality it sinkes it soakes to the heart perversness may fay a miracle is from the Divel but who can say that good morality is from the Divel I meane Universall good morality for otherwise the Divel and his doctrine may have a shred of morality a little good morality neare the list but he is never good thorowout the whole cloath as 't were the whole body of morality Chrys in 1 Cor. Hom. 3. and 6. but feele him a little farther neere the rig and you shal see the Divell to be the Divell for all his good morality near the list Secondly whence had the
glorious successe likewise in their preaching to convert so many of the Jews Act. 6.7 even a great company of priests themselves and such numbers of the gentiles unto the faith these speake the Resurrection these are not the works of one that lyeth in the power of death Let me tell you there is more in that of S. Paul then every one thinks If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Rom. 10.9 and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Let me tell you further that the paucity of good livers shews plainly the paucity of true believers for this point If I did verily beleeve that Christ were risen from the dead and all power now given him in Heaven and in earth Matt. 28.18 would I so slovenly serve him as I do my service to him is such as if he were rotting in the grave and not sitting at the right hand of the Father why do I therefore Cozen my selfe and others with a vaine conceit that I beleeve the Resurrection Lastly let me tell you that if we do in some measure believe Christs Resurrection yet the more evidences and arguments to show it the sweeter and stronger growes our faith The things indeed to be beleeved cannot be demonstrated by reason but yet this may be demonstrated by reason that it is very reasonable to beleeve them or to speake with S. Aug. that they may be demonstrated by reason 1. Quòd non sit stultum talia credere deinde quòd sit stultum talia non credere first that it is not a foolish thing to beleeve those things and furthermore that it is a foolish thing not to beleeve them The more evidences and arguments therefore to demonstrate the too too reasonablenes of Christs Resurrection the sweeter and stronger growes our faith Forasmuch as many have taken in hand Luke 1.1 c. that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though at my first Catechizing in the principles of Religion I should simply beleeve the Articles of faith yet to know the certainty of them much establisheth my faith Hereunto tends that Rom. 1.11 for I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end you may be established and night and day praying exceedingly that wee might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 1 Thes 3. namely by further doctrine and proofe of the Gospel more and more evidence the truth of it unto you That therefore the Christian may know the certainty of this thing wherein he hath been Catechized namely Christs Resurrection from the dead the third day he rose again from the dead these things may sufficiently do it First the prediction or testimony of the Old Testament Secondly the testimony of so many eye witnesses especially the Grand-Jury of the Apostles to whom he often appeared in the flesh after the Resurrection Thirdly the testimony of the spirit which after his Resurrection and Ascension Christ sent down among his Apostles and Disciples to give them extraordinary holines of life extraordinary power to work miracles extraordinary boldnes and zeale to preach the Gospel extraordinary successe in preaching it these things could not be done by one that was in the power and hands of death but by one that was set down at the power and right hand of the Father And first the prediction of the Old Testament is a good argument to the Christian to beleeve Christs Resurrection Codicem portat Judaeus undo credat Christianus librarii nostri facti sunt quomodo solent servi post dominos codices ferre ut illi portando deficiant illi legendo proficiant Aug. Ps 56. because he sees he is taught to beleeve no new thing but that onely which hath been so often and so long agoe foretold by those Scriptures which the very Jew the maine enemy to the Resurrection cannot deny nay zealously maintaines The Jews carry the bookes by which the Christians may believe they are become our book-carriers even as servants carry their masters bookes after them that whereas the one are weary with carrying the other may profit by reading But where are these predictions of the Old Testament surely had we all those places which our Saviour alledged to the two Disciples beginning at Moses and all the Prophets Luke 24.37 and expounding to them in all the Scriptures the things that concerned his passion and his glory we should be marvellously furnished or had we those which it's likely S. Peter used in his Sermon Act. 3.24 All the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these dayes or those by which Apollo so mightily convinced the Jews Act. 19. shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ Act. 28.23 and those whereby Paul continued perswading the Jews concerning Jesus from morning till evening both out of Moses and the Prophets we should be richly furnished understood we all these But howsoever let these express places prove the Resurrection First that of the sixteenth Psalm urged by St. Peter Act. 2. My flesh shall rest in hope because thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption Secondly that of the second Psalm urged by S. Paul Act. 13. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee manifestly declared thee to be my very son now by my raising thee from the dead Rom. 1.4 Thirdly that of Esay 52.14 15. As many were astonied at thee c. so shall he sprinkle many nations the Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see c. And that of Esay 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes c. Fourthly not to name more particulars all those places prove this that show he must conquer death for how should he conquer death for others that were deteined by it himself Esay 25.7 he wil destroy in this mountaine the face of the covering cast over all people and the vail that is spread over all nations Hos 13.14 And I will ransom them from the power of the grave Fiftly all those places that speak of his everlasting Kingdome Vnto us a child is borne Esay 9.7 and the government shall be upon his shoulders of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end c. these and many other the like places may assure us against Jew or Gentile that for the Resurrection or any other mystery about the Saviour of the world we believe no new thing but that onely which often and long agoe hath been foretold by those Scriptures that were highly magnified not onely by the Jew but also by the Gentile when Ptolomy that
huge army of tall souldiers well appointed and runing with their naked bodies in the thick of them should deale their blows so fast and so bestirre them that they should kill some wound others lead others away Captive vanquish all and themselves receive no harme would not all say that this were a work Divine What were the twelve silly Apostles but these twelve men unskilfull of warre c what was the whole world but a huge huge army of tall souldiers well appointed against them what was the running of those twelve men with naked bodies into the midst of the army but the venturing of the Apostles upon the pikes point in the midst of the world up in arms against them what was the bestirring themselves so of those twelve men killing some c. but the bestirring themselves so of the twelve Apostles in the world as to subdue a great part of it upon the field and to foile all the rest that they could not withstand them what was the receiving no harm of those twelve themselves in the midst of all that garboile but the continuing of the Apostles so long undestroyed amidst all the uproare and garboile of the world against them Having obtained help of God I continue unto this day continue in spite of all the worlds being in an uproare against me witnessing both to small and great c. And Act. 26.22 We have this treasure in earthen vessels 2 Cor. 4. that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us What was the Apostles subduing the world and casting downe every high thing that exalted it self against the knowledge of God but the silly Rams horns making the high walls of Jericho fall downe flat Joshua 6.20 or Gideons silly Barley cake tumbling in the hoste of Midian and overturning the tent Judges 7.13 And therefore to put all together whence but from the power of him that was risen from the dead sending the power of the holy Ghost upon the Apostles and their labours could such a Doctrine to such a world by such twelve or thirteen men to adde Paul to the dozen have beene effectually preached surely he that was set at the right hand of the Father had remembred what he had said John 15.16 I have chosen you and ordayned you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine And this this was that did the deed else what hope that they should have gone and brought forth such fruit in the conversion of the Gentiles such plentifull fruit such lasting fruit Not without good cause for one part of the mystery of Godliness is this 1 Tim. 3.16 God believed on in the world not without good cause that Paul calls the worke of the Gentiles-conversion the opening of a doore Act. 14.27 1 Cor. 16.9 2 Cor. 2.12 Act. 12. Chrys Hom. 34. and 76. in Matt. Hom. 7. in 1 Cor. if God had not miraculously opened this doore as he made the Iron gate to open to Peter of its own accord the Gentile had stood without for ever Fourthly Whence had the primitive Christians and Converts such extraordinary grace of holiness of life but from the power of him that was risen from the dead sending the power of the holy sanctifying spirit upon them Act. 2. Consider those three thousand first converted Act. 4. And the five thousand Consider their extraordinary piety unity community Their extraordinary piety ' towards God testified by their zeale in religious exercises They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine c. Their extraordinary Vnity or agreement among themselves And all that believed were together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not so much in place for three thousand one place would hardly receive them as in affection they were of one heart and one Soul Act. 4.32 Lastly their extraordinary community for communion of all things to the mutuall help one of another and had all things common c. See but the backwardness now adays in these Christian duties and acknowledge their forwardness in the same to have been the very finger and worke of Gods spirit They continued stedfastly or indefatigable in the Apostles Doctrine c we perhaps are but quarterly or monthly or fortnight men or women herein or if weekly then forenone people onely or if so good as afternoone people too yet our yawnings our nods yea and perhaps our Naps too argue our sluggishness in these duties but they continued indefatigable c. Again they even the multitude of them that believed which is signanter spoken signanter that a multitude and a multitude of raw converts should be so were so united and knit in one that they had all as 't were but one heart and one Soul but one heart and one Soul to act and move so many many bodies three thousand Chap. 2. nay five thousand Chap. 4. Whereas we run division so that it were a very wonder to see now but three or five men to be that which three nay five thousand men were then even to have but one heart and one Soul laughing and weeping all together nilling and willing all the same things nay rather for five of us our Saviours words what if they proved true that five should be divided three against two and two against three but they even the multitude of them that believed being about five thousand were of one heart and of one Soul Again for outward fortunes they had all things common They that had goods and possessions sold them and they sold them not to retaine the money in their own hands to give a little as they listed but they laid it down at the Apostles feet alienating away the right of it from themselves to serve for the common stock wholly and this they did when they could looke for no other but present persecution that money in their purses in their flight when they were persecuted would have done well This they did also without the Apostles exhorting them thereto as is intimated by the phrase laid it down at the Apostles feet namely the Apostles being unwilling to receive it and plainlier expressed by that of Peter to Ananias While it remained was it not thine own c. This Lastly they did having no doubt some of them wives and children to take care for of their own and were they thinke you without affection to their own that had such affection to every Christian Let our own hearts now tell us whether this that they did could well be any thing else but the very finger and worke of the spirit this that whereas the world huncheth to give a little of that they have they gave all whereas the world huncheth to give these little in time of peace they gave their all when nothing but persecution could be looked for whereas the world not with all the exhortations that can be used they without exhortation at all whereas the world thinkes wife and children
must the wrath of God needs be revealed c. Marke the connexion of the Psalmist Thy testimonies are very sure and what then Holiness becomes thy house for ever Psal 93.5 Well I will wind up this with the grave speech of that good man Mirandula Magna profectò insania c. It is sayes he a great madness not to believe the Gospel the truth whereof so many things evidently speake and proclaime the sufferings of the Martyrs c. but it is a farre greater madness if any doubt not of the truth of the Gospel yet so to live as if he doubted not of the falseness of the Gospel what is this but to see Hell and yet to leap into it to see Heaven and yet not to care for falling from it what is it in a word but to run ful butt against God with eyes wide open and what is madness if this be not surely such sacred majesty will not be rubbed and jurred upon by profaneness that is blind but it shal beare the punishment for profaneness to run full butt against God with eyes wide open what punishment then may be looked for this is far worse then Balaams carriage he would but have gone upon the Angel of the Lord standing in his way with a sword drawn in his hand and not seeing the Angel neither But to see God-standing in the way to stop the sinner and the sinner to say yonder he stands yonder that would stop me in my unlawfull gaine stop me in my unlawfull pleasure stop me in my profane course of life yonder he stands but yet have at him what madness is this When the pitcher flyes against the wall and breaks not when a man runs his head full butt against a pillar and his brains dash not out then shal he run thus ful butt against God and his known ordinances and shatter not perish not not utterly be confounded body and soul for ever And therefore this also may let us see the great necessity of Christian life consider those things that shew the necessity of Christian faith and be an Atheist if thou canst consider the necessity of Christian faith and be a profane wretch if thou darest see Hell and leap into it see Heaven and contemne it see God in thy way and run full butt upon him with eyes wide open Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Vse 3 Thirdly If there be such evidences of Christs Resurrection then we may know how to give a reason of the hope that is in us 1 Pet. 3.15 Be ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you not to every one that asketh you a reason of any point of Christian Doctrine or Bible-bearing that is too much for every Christian to doe but every Christian should be able to give a reason of the Christian hope that is in him now the hope of a Christian is to be saved by Christ the Saviour risen from the dead as you have it 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead he therefore that can give a reason of Christs Resurrection from the dead gives good reason of his Christian hope he hath good reason to trust him for a Saviour that hath saved himselfe and to believe his Doctrine that God hath sealed the truth of it with raising the Prophet that taught it from the dead Marke the Apostle how he toucheth upon these three very same reasons here for the establishing us in our lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead whereupon we have insisted for the proofe of the Resurrection verse 10. First upon the testimony of the old Testament Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired verse 12. c. Secondly upon the testimony of the eye-witnesses which are now reported unto you c. Thirdly by the testimony of the Spirit which the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven c. and what now follows but that therefore we have good reason to stand firme in our hope verse 13. wherefore gird up the loyns of your mind be sober and hope to the end hope unto the end and let neither the fury of the unbelieving world persecuting you nor the fleeres and jeeres of the profane world flouting you be able to dash you in your hope but hope to the end for now that you know that Christ must needs be risen from the dead you know how to give an answer to any one that shall aske a reason of the hope that is in you Act. 26. Paul in his Apology toucheth much upon the same reasons Vse 4 Fourthly if there be such evidences of Christs Resurrection then it is evident that Christ was the right Messias for if he had been an impostor and false Prophet neither could he have raised up himselfe being but a meere man nor would God have raised him up being but a meer impostor nor can it be said that the Divell might raise up his false Prophet for he that cannot give sight to one borne blind John 9. can much lesse give life to one stark dead he cannot revive all the senses and the whole man that cannot so much as revive one sense the sight if the Divell could raise up a dead man to life he might as well make a man of dead matter It will be Gods sole priviledge for ever to be a God that raiseth up the dead 2 Cor. 1.9 if therefore there be such evidences of his Resurrection this is thought argument enough by our Saviour and the Apostles to prove him to be the right Messias this Resurrection from the dead So when they called for a signe from our Saviour to prove him that he was the right Messias as he pretended he instanceth in his Resurrection as signe enough alone to convince them that he was the Messias Matt. 12.38.39 Master we would see a signe c. no signe but the signe of the Prophet Jonas as he was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the son of man be three dayes c. So when the Jews seeing him take upon himselfe the office of the Messias asked him what signe he showed the signe he instanceth in was onely this Destroy this Temple and I will raise it up in three dayes Joh. 2.19 so when yee have lift up the son of man sc crucified him John 8.28 and he be raised again from the dead then shall yee know that I am be Act. 2.36 So St. Peter Therefore because he hath raised him from the dead let all the house of Israel know that God hath made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ so St. Paul Rom. 1.4 Declared to be the son of God by the Resurrection from the dead and so undoubted an
their feet an exceeding great army he knowes that that of Esdras though it be Apocryphall writing yet it is Canonicall truth 2 Esd 4.40.42.43 Go thy way to a woman with childe when she hath fulfilled her nine moneths if her wombe may keepe the birth any longer within her For as shee that is with childe hasteth to escape the necessitie of the travell so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them That which thou desirest to see shall be shewed thee from the beginning and therefore if Christ be risen the first fruits what need I feare that that can neither hold me long nor hurt me at all that can neither end my hopes nor can begin my miseries Fourthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits then let this comfort us against immoderate griefe and sorrow for the death of friends Why should we immoderately grieve for the death of friends whose death for their Souls is their present gaine and for their bodies but onely a casting of the seed into the ground to rot and rest there for a while that it may sprout and spring up a farre more glorious body greene and fresh and a goodlier body then it fell in as is intimated here in verse 37 And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body which shall be c. but God giveth it a body as it pleaseth him a greene and fresh a statelyer and goodlyer body by farre then it was sowne and so for their Soul death is their present gaine if so be they can say with Paul to me to live is Christ for then it will follow Phil. 1.21 to me to dy is gaine Againe except it be no gaine to be delivered out of a sinfull and miserable body yea a sinfull and miserable world and carried into a holy and happy place where sin and misery never peept in It is our weakness and errour to thinke of our friends departed as Jacob of Joseph Joseph was in great honour in Egypt and Jacob when he saw his bloodied coat thought that surely an evill beast had devoured him and Joseph was not but Joseph what bids he his brethren tell their Father to comfort him You shall tell my Father of all my glory in Egypt So wee when wee see the bloodied coats of our friends as 't were Gen. 45.9 2 Cor. 5.4 their dead bodies I meane the garments of the Soul we are ready to thinke that death that evill beast hath made an end of them and they are not but tell my Father c. So let us thinke of all the glory that they have in Heaven and be comforted Why should we therefore immoderately grieve for our friends whose death for their Souls is their present gaine c Wee that do so immoderately grieve for the death of our friends do we not mind what is the first thing used to be read at their burials I am the Resurrection and the life and while the earth is cast upon the body Forasmuch as it hath pleased c. do we not mind these things If we mind these things certainly we have either little faith in us to believe the glorious Resurrection of them that dy in Christ or little hope in us to perswade us that this our friend is dead in Christ or little patience in us under the good will and providence of God wisely ordering all things If it be impatience in us let us consider Job and what he said when among other things God had taken away his seven Sons and three daughters at once Job 1.21 The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away Blessed be the name of the Lord. If it be because that we have little hope that our friends are dead in Christ why do we not then grieve for them when wee see that our friends do not live in Christ this griefe would be profitable it would make us seeke their amendment If lastly it be because we have little faith in us to believe the glorious Resurrection of them that dye in Christ Let us consider that if Christ be risen the third day then all that dy in Christ shall as undoubtedly rise the last day If we believe sayes the Apostle that Jesus dyed and rose againe even so them also which sleep in Christ will God bring with him also 1 Thes 4.14 If therefore Christ be risen c. their graves are but their beds to rest their wearied bones in a while till the day of the Lord dawne and that great trumpet sound to waken them out of their sleep and who now that loves one another dearlyest mournes when he bids him Good night to go lye downe in his bed till next morning Fifthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits Let this comfort us against the present frailties and weaknesses and vileness of these bodies of ours bodies that are so soone puling and complaining for a little excesse of cold or heat a little defect of meat or drinke bodies that are so soone wearied and tyred out with a little labour and pains in the Course of ones calling bodies that are so often vexing us with cramps and aches and sundry sicknesses bodies that are soone withering and waxing old and mouldring away bodies every way so vile that some have irked to have any pictures made of their bodies as but the picture of their shame and indeed were it not that they are our own bodies and that every one have bodies alike they would soone be seene how irksome they are but if Christ be risen c. these corruptibles shall put on incorruption and these mortalls shall put on immortality and thus Job comforted himselfe when he was so struck with sores and boils from the sole of the foot to the crowne of the head and so spent and wasted in his body with the heat and inflammation of those burning boils that he was even escaped with the skin of his teeth had no more left almost upon that poore carcasse of his then on his very teeth where is nothing at all yet being in that case he thus comforted himselfe I know that my Redeemer liveth and though after my skin as having almost nothing now on this back but a little withered skin worms destroy this body this poore torne tattered rent spent carcasse of mine yet in my flesh shall I see God And thus St. Paul also intimates comfort against the vileness and abjectness of these bodyes of ours by considering the glory they shall have at the Resurrection Phil. 3.21 who shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body c. Sixthly If Christ be risen as the first fruits c. then what thankes owe we to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for so great a blessing so great a blessing as affords this comfort against all the present frailties and vileness of our bodies against all excessive greife for the death of our friends against all