The Resurrection Asserted: IN A SERMON Preached to the UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, ON EASTER-DAY, 1679.

By JOHN WALLIS D. D. Professor of Geometry in the said UNIVERSITY; One of his Majesties Chap­lains in Ordinary; and a Member of the Royall Society.

[Tudor Rose]
[Scottish Thistle]

OXFORD, Printed by HEN: HALL for JAMES GOOD. 1679.

A SERMON Preached on EASTER-DAY, 1679. TO THE UNIVERSITY of OXFORD, At St. Peters in the East.

1. Cor. 15.20.

Christ is Risen from the Dead; and is become the First-fruits of them that Slept.

THese Words (without farther Preface) contain Two main Articles of our Chri­stian Faith; (Both proper for this Occa­sion:)

  • The Resurrection of Christ; and
  • That of Ourselves.

The former, in these words; Christ is Risen from the Dead: The latter in those that follow; And is become the First-fruits of them that slept.

Both which, are argued at large in this Chapter: And are now to be the subject of our Discourse.

As to the Apostles manner of Arguing these Points; We are to consider, That it was an usual Practice of [Page 2] our Apostle, (as it was also of other holy writers,) in asser­ting the Trueths of God, to accōmodate his Arguments to the Princip [...]es & Concessions of those with whom he did discourse. Which though, to persons of other Prin­ciples, they might seem less significant; were, a [...] lest to Them, Cogent Arguments.

For it is true in other Sciences, as well as Mathema­ticks; That, till there be some Data, some Conces­sions agreed upon; there can be no Demonstration. To him that Owns nothing, we can Prove nothing. And he that Knows nothing, can be Taught nothing. For it is, by the Help of what we Know, that we are to be Taught what we Know-not.

When he had to do with those at Athens, Acts 17.Act. 17.28. In­citing them to the Worship of the True God; (the God that made Heaven and Earth:) He makes use of a Concession of their own Poet, (Aratus,) to that pur­pose; [...]. —’ (For we are also his Off-spring.) Not by ordinary Ge­neration: But in a like sense with that (Luke 3.) which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Luk. 3.38.And in the same sense we are to understand that of Orpheus, to the same purpose, [...].’ (There is but One that Is of himself; and All things else are the Progeny of this One.)

For though they had their Daemons, and Middling Gods (Deos medioxumos,) as the Papists have their Saints and Angels, (for particular purposes;) For the Sheep,Virgil for the Cow, for the't Anthony Pig, (Pan curat Oves, oviumque Magistros:) Yet, beside these Deasters, they did acknowledge one Soveraign Deity, who was [Page 3] Superior to all them; ( [...]:) And, That, from Him, all Mankind,Homer. (as well as other Crea­tures,) received their first Originall: And, That Him, therefore, they ought to Worship.

And Aratus (in the place cited by St. Paul,Arati Phaenomena.) owns the consequence.

[...]. —
[...]. —

(Let us in the first place, make our Application to Him: For, from Him it is, that we have our first Original:) With much more to be there see the place of Aratus, at large, at the end of this Sermon. seen of like import.

Which St Paul summes up to this purpose; That He made the World and all things therein;Act. 17.24. That He is Lord of Heaven and Earth; That He gives Life and Breath and All things;ver. 25. That He Orders and Disposeth of Tim [...]s, Persons, and Places; Of one Blood He made all Man-kind; and Determined their fore-appointed Times;ver. 26. and the Bounds of their Habitations; That,ver. 28. ver. 27. ver. 28. ver. 27. ver. 25. in Him we Live and Move and have our Being; and That he is not far from every one of us; That we are his Off-spring; And That Him, therefore, we ought to seek, and serve.

From whence the Apostle doth farther inferre, (as well he might from those Principles,) That we ought to have more Reverent Thoughts of so August a Deity, ver. 29. than to think Him confined to Temples made with Hands; or standing in Need of our service: or, Likened to Gold, ver. 24. ver. 25. ver. 29. or Silver, or Stones graven by mens Art, and according to their Devise, or Fansy: And, that it should not be thought Un­reasonable, that He should one day Judge the World in righteousness, by that Man ordained thereunto; Of whom he hath already given good Assurance, ver. 31. in Raising him from the Dead. Thus he argues (for the Resurrection and a Future state) with them at Athens.

When he had to do with the Jews, in the Epistle to [Page 4] the Hebrews; (for I take St. Paul to be the Authour of that Epistle;) From the Jewish Worship and Ceremonies, he argues the trueth of the Christian Doctrine. Which, to those at Athens, (who did no more own the Je­wish, than the Christian Doctrine,) would have been insignificant.

Like as on all occasions, where he hath to deal with the Jews, he argues from Testimonies of the Old Te­stament, to prove the Doctrines of the New: And, that of the Resurrection, among the rest.

Gal. 4.26.The New Jerusalem that is Above, typified by that Below;Heb. 12.22. The Heavenly Jerusalem, by that on Earth; And Heaven itself, Heb. 9.24. Heb. 12.24. & 9.15. Heb. 8.6. & 7.22. Heb. 5.6. & 6.20. Heb. 4.14. Heb. 7.11. ver. 23, 24. Heb. 9.26, 28. & 7.27. Heb. 10.1, 2, 11, 12, 14. Heb. 9.24, 25. Heb. 10.12. Heb. 6.20. Heb. 10.20. Heb. 6.20. Heb. 5.9. by the Holy places made with hands, (which are the Figures of the True;) And Jesus the mediator of a new Covenant; of a Better Covenant than that delivered by Moses; but typified thereby; A Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek; Our great High-Priest who is Passed into the Heavens; typified by the Levitical Priesthood; This One, by those Many; And his Perfect oblation once for all, by those Manifold Oblations; which were therefore Repeated, because Im­perfect; And his entring into Heaven once for all, (there to sit down at Gods right hand,) by theirs into the most Holy Place once a year; Whither we also are to enter within the vail, (by the new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,) Whither our Fore-runner is For Vs entred; and, being himself made perfect, is become the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him. The Law being but a Figure for the time present;Heb. 9.28. & 10.1. Col. 2.17. A shadow of good things to come; whereof the Body is Christ.

In like manner, to the Jews at Antioch in Pisidia, Act. 13.Act. 13.35.37. He doth, by undeniable Arguments, drawn from Testimonies of the Old Testament, evince the certain [...]y of Christs Resurrection; And that, of Him, [Page 5] was principally intended, what was said of David but in Type, Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell, nor suffer thine Holy one to see Corruption. Psal. 16.11.

As St. Peter had also done, to those at Jerusalem, Act. 2.Act. 2.29.31.

And our Saviour himself, Mat. 22.Mat. 22.29. Argues with the Sadduces, for the Doctrine of the Resurrection, from a Testimony of Moses; (who's writings the Sadduces did admit, though perhaps not those of the other Prophets;) I am the God of Abraham, Exod. 3.6. Mat. 22.32. and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Living.

Where also he contents himself to prove the Existence of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (that they were then in Being,Exod. 3.6. when this was said to Moses;) and, consequently, That the Soul survives the Body.

For, though the Souls Immortality, do not neces­sarily infer, the Resurrection of the Body; (many of the Heathens admitting the one, who never thought of the other:) Yet, to the Sadduces, it was a good Argument; who did not deny the Consequence of it, but the Antecedent, He lays, therefore,Mat. 3.10. the Ax to the Root of the Tree; and strikes at the Foundation of their Opinion.

For the Ground of their Opinion concerning the Resurrection, was,Act. 23.8. because they held There is nei­ther Angel nor Spirit; (being of a like opinion with a late Writer of ours, That whatsoever is, is Body; and that an Incorporeal Substance, is a like Solecism, as an Incorporeal Body;) and, consequent hereunto, they held, That there is no Resurrection.

Whereas, had they been convinced of the Souls Separate Existence; that [...]f its Re-union, would as ea­sily [Page 6] have passed with them, as with the Pharisees: Both admitting, That they were to Stand or Fall together.

When St. Paul was arguing the same Point be­fore Agrippa, Act. 26..Act. 26.2. He could not take the same measures, as when he was disputing with the Jews. He could not, as to him, take for granted, and con­clude peremptorily from, the Authority of the Old Testament. Which Agrippa did not Beleeve; or at lest, not Profess so to do.

And what St. Paul there says, King Agrippa, belie­vest thou the Prophets?ver. 27. I know thou beleevest: I [...]ake to be rather a Rhetorical Insinuation, than a direct Assertion.

The first step he could there make, was but to shew it Possible.ver. 8. Why should it be thought a thing Incredible that God should Raise the Dead? (That God, who at first made Man out of the Dust of the Earth, should, out of the same Dust, Recover a Bo­dy which once had been?)

And, if not Impossible, it need not, to him, seem strange that it should be Defended: who, though not a professed Jew,ver. 3. was yet expert in all the Cu­stomes and Questions amongst the Jews; and could not but know This to be no New Doctrine, but, what their Twelve Tribes, ver. 6, 7. instantly serving God day and night, were in expectation of, as a Promise made to their Fathers: And therefore, at lest by them, he was unworthily A [...]cused for it. ver. 2.7.

That there might be somewhat of Surprise in i [...], to King Agrippa, as to the Person; He doth admitt. For so it was to himself, at first: Who verily thought with himself, ver. 9. that he ought to do many things contra­ry to the name of Jesus;ver. 12. and, accordingly, did so: Till, [Page 7] by an unexpected Vision from God;ver. 13. ver. 11, 12 as he was go­ing to Damascus, with a Commission to Persecute those who thus Taught; he was directed to Preach, what he did before Persecute: Which he did accordingly;ver. 15, 16. ver. 19, 20. ver. 22. Witnessing both to small and great (what Moses and the Prophets had before said should come to pass,) That Christ was to Suffer, and to be the first that should Rise from the Dead. ver. 23.

So that, What, by Agrippa, was not to be thought Impossible; should not, by the Jews, be thought Vntrue; nor he, by them, be Persecu­ted for it.

Which was said with so much evidence to King Agrippa,ver. 21. well acquainted with the Jewish Doctrine, (though, to Festus, who knew it not,ver. 7, 26. it seemed Madness;) And the matter of Fact,ver. 24. which had then happened being (at that time) so Notorious, as that it could not in reason be denied, (for I am perswaded, saies he to Festus, that none of these things are hidden from King A­grippa; for this thing was not done in a Corner: ver. 26.) That Agrippa professeth himself almost perswa­ded to be a Christian:ver. 28. The matter of Fact being so Evident: and the Argument, so Convincing.

In the Chapter before us, we have our Apostle, from other Grounds, arguing the same Point, with Christians, at Corinth.1 Cor. 15.

Not as if the whole Church of Corinth did disbeleeve the Resurrection: But onely, Some a­mongst them (How say, Some amongst you, that there is no Resurrection?ver. 12.)

Nor did they so much doubt of the Resurrection of Christ, (which seems to have been, then, a thing so notorious as not to be called in que­stion;) [Page 8] as of Our Resurrection, pursuant of it.

Which, it seems, they did either directly Deny; or did otherwise Elude, by putting some Allegori­cal sense up [...]n it; Like that of Hymeneus and Philetus;2 Tim 2.17, 18. who said, That the Resurrection was al­ready past. As if we were to expect no other Re­surrection than such as the Apostle speakes of, Col. 3.Col. 3.1. If yee be Risen with Christ; seek those things that are above: That is, A Dying to Sin, and Living again to Righteousness, or Newness of Life. Rom 6.4, 11, 18.

'Tis much, I confess, that Any, who profes­sed them selves Christians, should be found to Deny so Important an Article of the Christian Faith, as is that of the Resurrection.

But it will appear lesse Strange, in those who, from Gentilism, (not from Judaism,) were lately con­verted to the Christian Faith; (which was then but New, in comparison of what now it is:)

If we consider; That, in our own days, (when Christianity hath been planted, and spread through­out the World, for more than Sixteen Hundred years;) we find those, who, (retaining to them­selves the name of Christians,) do yet leave no stone unturned, to Undermine, and (as much as in them lies) to Overthrow, the most Fundamental Points of Christianity; even the Divinity of Christ; and his Satisfaction to Gods Justice for the sins of Men: (on which Hindge, the whole Doctrine of Christi­anity depends.)

Others; who turne the whole Christian Worship, into a kind of Pageantry, and ridiculous Gesticu­lations: such as are many Fopperies of the Romish Church; (more Absurd than those of the more so­ber [Page 9] Heathens.) Setting to Sale, both Heaven and Purgatory, for summes of Money: And Bartering, not onely for Pardon of sins, but for Leave to sin: (as if, of them, it had been said, My House shall be called, an House of Prayer;Mat. 21.13. but yee have made it a Den of Theeves.) And fill their Legends with such Ridiculous Stories, as would tempt a modest Hea­then, rather to reject the Trueths of Christ, than to admit such Fooleries. And, in the mean time, make no scruple of Murders, and Massacres; of Treasons, and Rebellions; of Assassinating Princes, subverting Governments, and turning the World upside down; to propagate their Devises: Which, we can hardly have so much Charity as to think, that themselves do seriously Beleeve.

Others; who make but Rallery of the most seri­ous things in Christianity; of Heaven, and Hell, and the Day of Judgement; of the Souls Immorta­lity; of the very Being, and Providence of God him­self.Psal. 49.12. As if they were but one degree above the Beasts that perish; or rather, a degree Below them.

But we need not wonder, That the Devil should have Impudence and Wiles inough, to turn himself into as many Disguises for the Interest of Hell; as a Jesuite for that of Rome.

'Tis, therefore, the less strange, that Some, of these New Christians, should (at Corinth) Doubt of the Resurrection.

Now, of these Christians who so Doubted, we are next to consider, What Method St. Paul useth, to convince them of it.

He doth not deal with them as with meere Scepticks, (that would admit of Nothing:) Nor, [Page 10] as with Heathens, (who owned nothing of Scrip­ture; nothing of the Jewish or Christian Do­ctrine:) Nor as with Jews, (who, though they admitted the Jewish, denied the Christian:) But, as with Christians. And therefore takes for grant­ed such Concessions of this kind, as they did, or ought to, admitt of; And argues from thence; That they ought to admit of this also.

1 Cor. 15.1, 3.He tells them, It is that Gospel, which he had Preached to them, which they had Received; wherein they Stand;ver. 2. and whereby, if they persist in it, they are to be Saved.

It had been delivered to them, by the same Apo­stolick Authority with the rest of their Religion:ver. 3. Which they ought not easyly to slight. It had been, in like manner, Received by them: And they should not (like Children) without just Rea­son, part with what, upon good Advise, they had once Received. That, as Yet, they stood fast in that Religion; (without seeing cause to quitt it:) And should therefore in this Branch of it, as well as the rest: As being the Noblest part of that Salvation, which they did expect.

He urgeth the Authority of the Scriptures; that is, those of the Old Testament, (which the Chri­stians admitted in common with the Jews;) That, it was accord [...]ng to the Scriptures that Christ should Dye for our Sins;ver. 3. And, according to the same Scrip­tures, that, being buryed, he should Rise again the third day. ver. 4.

He urgeth the Authority of credible Witnesses, (whom, in matter of Fact, they had no reason to disbeleeve;) That, what had before been Prophe­sied, was now Actually come to Pass. He was seen of Cephas;ver. 5. Then, of the Twelve, (that is, those [Page 11] of the Twelve who persisted, when Judas, one of them, was fallen from them:) He was, after, seen by more then five hundred Brethren at once;ver. 6. whereof the greater part were yet surviving: He was seen of James: Then, of all the Apostles: And, last of all, ver. 7. by himself also. ver. 8.

The thing was Notorious; of which they could not be ignorant. It was seen, and owned, at divers Times, and at divers Places, and by a multitude of Persons, and by many of them more than once. Who could not be imagined to be All Impostors, or All Imposed upon; or Contriving to abuse the whole World; and, Themselves most of all. (Exposing themselves, without any prospect of advantage, to Persecutions, and Martyrdomes, and a world of Miseries, not onely as the most Wicked, but as the most Simple people that ever were, if they had known those things not to be true.)

To which I may adde this also; That this was pro­fessedly Avowed, and publickly Declared (through­out the World,) in a Learned Age: when there were a multitude of Writers, Greek and Latine, who's Works remain [...]o this day. And yet none of them, how averse soever to the Christian Religion, have made it their business to con [...]radict the History.

Which they would certainly have done; (and were much concerned so to do;) had not the mat­ter of Fact been, then, evident beyond Dispute.

Nor do I see how an Historical Truth, can well be capable of greater Evidence.

Ag [...]inst which;Mat. [...]8.12, 13. that sorry shift of Bribing the Souldiers to say, His Disciples come and stole him a­way while we slept; doth sufficiently Confute it­self; and rather Addes to the Evidence. The parti­culars [Page 12] of which are so obvious, & so often noted on these occasions; that I shall need the less to in­sist on them.

Mat. 27.62, 63,That it was before Suspected, and that his Ene­mies Feared, (that either he might Rise indeed, or at lest be Pretended so to do,) is evident by their setting a Watch.ver. 64. And that it would be Mischievous to them, if beleeved; themselves allege, as the reason why they sett it. And it cannot be thought, they would then be so careless, as to set such a Watch as would be All Asleep.

Nor can it be thought, That the Disciples, (being now in a posture to shift for themselves, and Run­away, Mat. 26.31.56. Joh. 20.19. rather than venture on such an Exploit,) durst undertake such a thing, when the Watch was sett. (For, if the Watch were indeed so Sleepy; 'twas yet more then they could know before, or had rea­son to Presume upon. And therefore, as to such a Designe, it was all one as if they had been Awake.)

And, in case they durst Attempt it: yet the Rolling away so great a stone;Mat. 27.60, 66. (whereon also, in like­lyhood, the Souldiers might be then sitting;) and Removing the Body, (with all the Circumstances attending it;) could hardly be done with so little Noyse, as not to Wake some of them.

Nor would the Disciples have been so Carefull, to Stripp the Body, and Fold up the Linnen, and Lay all in order, Luk. 24.12. Joh. 20.6, 7. before they went; being every mo­ment in Fear of the Souldiers waking.

Or (if the Souldiers were indeed so fast asleep, as that nothing of all this could waken Any of them;) How could they tell, Who took him away? He might, indeed, be Risen (for ought they knew,) as was pretended.

VVhich was much more Likely, than that he [Page 13] should, so, be stollen away. (A thing so improbable; that the Souldiers, without a good Bribe, and good security to save them harmless, Mat. 28.12, 24. durst not venture on a Lay so Unlikely to be beleeved.)

And, when all is done, (allo [...]ing it the greatest advantage that may be,) it can amount to no more but this, That the Body was gone they knew not how, and (for ought they knew) the Disciples might have stollen him away while they sl [...]pt. Which could be of no consideration, against the Po­sitive Testimony of such Persons (as was before said) who saw him Alive after his Resurrection.

And even that Allegation, as weak as it was, it seems the Souldiers were rather Passive in, than Active That is, they suffered the High-Priests (without any great contradiction of theirs,ver. 12.15.) to pub­lish such a story.

Yet not so Silently, but that the Truth also brake forth, notwithstanding this subornation.

For from them also it came to be known, That there was a great Earth-quake;ver. 2. ver. 4. and the Appearance of an Angell, who Rolled away the stone, and Frigh­ted the Keepers, that they became as Dead men; (with other circumstances thereun [...]o appertaining:) And, That They told this to the Chief-Priests;ver. 11. ver. 12. ver. 15. and were by them Hired with large money; to say as they we [...]e Taught, rather than what they knew.

'Tis certain therefore, (so far as an Historicall Truth can be made certain,) That Christ is Risen from the Dead. Which is the First Branch of the Text before us; Concerning the Resurrection of Christ, as to his own Person.

The second Branch, concerns, the Effect of Chri [...]s Resurrection, in that of Ours. He is be­come [Page 14] the First-fruits of them that Slept.

The term of First-fruits, is Metaphorical: Al­luding to the Oblation of the First-fruits, Lev. 23 9. &c. in the Levitical Law; As an acknowl [...]dgemen [...], that the whole was Gods; and, that of his Bounty they did receive it: And, by Offering of which, the rest was Sanctified to their use, (according to that, Rom. 11.Rom. 11.16. If the First-fruits be Holy, the Lump is also Ho­ly.) For which cause it was, that they were not to Eat any of the Harvest, (Bread, or Parched Corn, or Green Ears, Levit. 23.14.) till the First-fruits had been first offered.

And with a like Allusion, He is elsewhere called, The First-born from the Dead, and The First be­gotten from the Dead. Col. 1.18. For as the First-fruits, in lieu of all the Crop:Rev. 1.5. so, the First-born, in lieu of all the Brethren, was Consec [...]ated unto God; Im­plying his Title to all the rest.

But, when he is called, the First-fruits of them that Slept; it is not so to be understood, as if he were the first that Slept; (as if he had been, sim­ply, [...]:) But, [...], (the First-fruits from the Dead, of them that slept:Col. 1.18. Rev 1.5.) As he is elsewhere called [...], the First-born, from the Dead.

For I take the words [...], in the Text, to have an Aspect both ways: [...]. From the Dead he is Risen, the First-fruits (from the Dead) of them that slept. That is, The first that should Rise againe, of them that slept: or (as Act. 26.Act. 26.23.) The First that should Rise from the Dead.

[Page 15]Yet not, Absolutely, so neither;1 Kin. 17.21. 2 Kin. 4.35. & 13.21. Joh. 11.44. Mat. 9.25. Luk. 7.15. as if he were ab­solutely the First that was Raised. For we read of one raised by Eliah; another, by Elisha; And Christ himself raised Lazarus, and some others.

But these were so Raised, as to Dy again.1 Cor. 15.53, 54. (Their Corruptible had not putt on Incorruption; nor their Mortal, Immortality.) He was the First that was Raised to Life Immortal.

If it be said, That Enoch, Gen. 5.24. Heb. 11.5. who was Translated that he did not see Death; And Eliah, who's Body was ta­ken up into Heaven in a fiery Chariot; Did, before the Resurrection of Christ, injoy,2 Kin. 2.11. what is Equiva­lent to the Resurrection of the Body. (According to what is here, after, implyed, We shall not all Dy, but we shall all be Changed: The Trumpet shall sound, 1 Cor. 15.51. ver. 52. the Dead shall be Raised, and we shall be Chan­ged.)

Yet (without disputing, how far forth they in­joyed a Glorified Body;) even that, though An­tecedent, in time, to the Resurrection of Christ; was, in nature, Consequent to it, and an Effect of it.

For though, in a Physical Causality, the Effect is never, in time, before the Cause: Yet, in a Moral Causality, it may be. As, when a Debt is Acquit­ted, a Captive Released, an Inheritance Purcha­sed, and accordingly Injoyed, upon prospect of a Price or Ransome, to be payd, by the Surety, somewhile after.

And, in this sense, may Christ be said to be the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.Rev. 13.8. If, at lest, those words, from the Foundation of the World, relate there to that of the Lamb, slain; and not rather to that former clause, written in the [Page 16] book of Life. Who's names are not written (in the book of life of the Lamb slain) from the foundation of the world: That is, who's names were not written, from the foundation of the World, in the Lamb's book of Life. According as the s [...]me is again repeated Rev. 17.Rev. 17.8. Who's names were not written in the book of Life, from the foundation of the World, without mention of the Lamb slain.

But, whatever be the construction of those words; sure it is, that the Efficacy of Christs Death and Resurrection, did as well look backward, to the Beginning of the World; as forward, to the End of it.

And we are expressely told, Heb. 11.Heb. 11.5. That it was by Faith, that Enoch was translated that he should not see Death. Even by the same Faith which he there describes to be the Substance of things hoped for, ver. 1. ver. 2. and the Evidence of things not seen; By which the Elders obtained a good report: and of which he had said, a little before, The just shalt live by faith; and,Heb. 10.38. by which We beleeve to the Salvation of our Souls. ver. 39.

'Twas by Faith therefore in Christ, who Died and Rose again, that Enoch was Translated so as not to see Death; as well as We, from Death are Raised, so a Life Immortal: And Christ, at lest virtually, the First-fruits of both.

Now, the notion of First-fruits, implies two things: a Possession of so much; and a Title to the rest.Rom. 11.16. If the First-fruits be Holy, the Lump also Holy: If God hath right to the one, he hath to the other also.

It is in the nature of an Earnest-penny, (a similitude oft used by our Apostle to the same purpose;) [Page 17] which is both part of Payment, and an Ingagement to pay the rest,

And what, in one place, he calls, the First fruits of the Spirit; (Our selves also, Rom. 8.23. who have the First-fruits of the Spirit, wait for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our Body:) the same he calls; elsewhere, the Earnest of the Spirit;2 Cor. 1.22. 2 Cor. 5.5. E [...]h. 1.13, 14. (Who hath Sea­led us and given us the Earnest of his Spirit in our hearts; And again, Ye were Sealed with the holy Spi­rit of promise; which is the Earnest of our Inheri­tan [...]e untill the Redemption of the purchased Possessi­on.) The First-fruits of the Spirit, which they had then received, was not onely a part of the Pur­ch [...]se; but was an Earnest penny, to bind the Bar­gain, for what was af [...]erward to co [...]e.

And such is the Resurrection of Christ, as to Our Resurrection. Not as a thing, wnich, being once accomplished, was to rest so: But as that which was to draw more after it.Heb. 6.19, 20. We have hope (saith the Apostle) which entereth within the vail, whether our Fore runner is entred, For Vs; (as it were, to take Livery of Seisin in Our stead.) And I go (saith Christ) to prepare a place For you; that, Joh. 14.2, 3. where I am, you may be also.

And that other Phrase,Col. 1.18. The First-born from the dead, implies, that there were more to follow. (That he may be the First-born amongst many Bre­thren. Rom. 8.29.)

And, when St. Paul called Ipenetus, Rom. 16.5. the First-fruits of Achaia unto Christ; he intimates a larger Harvest. And the like of Stephanas elsewhere.1 Cor. 16.15.

The word First, being an Ordinal, is spoken with respect to others that are to follow.

In what respect Christ is Singular; he is not cal­led [...], the First-begotten, (as here, the [Page 18] First begotten from the Dead: Rev. 1.5.) But [...], the Onely-begotten (of the Father.) Joh. 1.14, 18.

1 Cor. 15.20.And that, in this place, he is called the First-fruits from the dead, with respect to a larger Crop; is evident from the words next following, where the same is further amplified. For since by M [...]n came Death;ver. 21. by Man also came the Resurrection of the Dead: For as in Adam all Dy; so in Christ shall all be made Alive:ver. 22. ver. 23. But every man in his own order: Christ the First-fruits; afterwards they that are Christ's, at his coming.

Like as that sentence on Adam, In the day that thou Eatest thereof thou shalt surely Dy, Gen. 2.17. was inten­ded with respect to those that are His, (by Natural Generation:) so that of Christ, Thou art my son, this day have I Begotten thee, Psal. 2.7. (expounded of his Resurrection, Act. 13.Act. 13.33.) do influence also those that are Christ's (by Spiritual Regeneration.)

And therefore, Heb. 1. where the same is, again, so applyed to him, (Thou art my son, this day have I Begotten thee;Heb. 1.5.) he is not called [...] (the Only-begotten;) but [...], the First begotten; (when he bringeth his First-begotten into the World;) Be­cause this had an aspect on those that are his Bre­thren;ver. 6. and were, on that account, so called: (as it after follows, For which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren. Heb. 2.11.)

And this I have the more insisted on, because it is the Apostles great Argument, (for proving Our Resurrection from that of Christ,) That he Rose, not only as a Single person; but, as the First-fruits of those slept: and, That, in pursuance thereof, those that are Christs are likewise to expect a glori­ous Resurrection.1 Cor. 15.49. For, as we have born the image of the Earthy, (dying a natural Death as Adam dy­ed;) [Page 19] so shall we bear the image of the Heavenly ▪ (in a glorious Resurrection like that of Christ.) And he who raised up the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor. 4.14. 1 Cor. 6.14. shall raise Vs also by Jesus.

There is yet one thing more, very considerable, for the explication of this place. To wit, That the Apostles Argument and Discourse, (both in this verse, and the whole Chapter,) extends only to prove the Resurrection of the Righteous; not that of the Wicked. 'Tis, of Christ the First-fruits, 1 Cor. 15.23. af­terwards those that are Christs: (of those who are not Christ's, he says nothing.ver. 49.) As we have born the image of the Earthy, so we shall bear the image of the Heavenly; (which can be meant of the Righteous onely.) It is sown in Dishonour, it is raised again in Glory; or, It is sown a Vile Body,ver. 43. it is raised a Glo­rious Body; (which cannot be understood of the Bodies of Wicked men)

And it is agreed, for ought I find, by all Expo­sitors, (and, amongst the r [...]st, by Grotius and Dr. Hammond,) That, this whole Discourse, is not at all to be understood, of the Resurrection of the Wicked; But, of the Glorious Resurrection of the Righteous onely. And, That, in those Words, As in Adam all Dy, so in Christ shall All be made Alive, the word All is not of the same extent in both Clauses: But extends, in the first clause,ver. 22. to All that appertain to Adam; that is, to All Mankind: in the l [...]tter clause, to All that are Christs; that is, to All the Faithfull. (For 'tis those onely that are made Alive by Christ: That of the Wicked being an Eternal Death: As our Saviour himself distingui­sheth, Joh, 5.Joh. 5.29. They that have done Good to the Re­surrection of Life; and they that have done Evill, to [Page 20] the Resurrection of Damnation.) And, That the Pa­rallel is thus to be understood; As All that are in Adam, do Dy in Him; so All that are in Christ, a [...]e by Christ made Alive: (j [...]stified, sanctified, and sa­ved.)

And this Grotius parallels with that of Rom. 5.Rom. 5.18. As by the Offence of One, (that is of Adam,) Judgement came upon All men to condemnation: so by the Righteous­ness of One, (that is, of Christ,) the Free-gift came upon All-men, for Justification of Life. Where, by All-men in the first clause, Grotius understands All Man­kind; by All-men in the second clause, All Beleevers.

Making this the adequate sense of both places; As all that are in Adam, that is, all the Race of A­dam, do by Adam come to Dy; So all that are in Christ, are Justified by Christ, and by Christ Raised to a Life of Glory.

But what must we then say? That the Wicked are not also to be Raised? Or, that St. Paul did not Know it?

No: we must s [...]y neither of these.

That the Wicked shall be also Raised by Christ; himself tells us expressely, Joh. 5.Joh. 5.28. All that are in the Graves shall h [...]ar the voice of the Son of Man, and come forth;ver. 29. They that have done Good, to the Resurrection of Life, and they that have done Evill, to the Resurrecti­on of Damnation.

And, That St. Paul Knew it so to be; himself as­sures us, in his Discourse to Felix, Act. 24.Act. 24.14. (not as his Own Faith onely, but that of the Fathers also.) So worship I the God of my fathers; Beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets; And have hope toward God (which themselves also allow) that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead, ver. 15. both of [Page 21] the Just and Vnjust. Than which nothing can be more express.

For though the Wicked, by reason of their Impeni­tence and Unbelief, do not injoy the Benefits of Christs Redemption to the Resurrection of Life: Yet are they subject to Christs Dominion (as the Judge of the World,) and shall be raised by his Power to the Re­surrection of Damnation. Which though it be not the business of this place before us, is proved by divers others.

But why then (you will ask) doth St. Paul say no­thing of it in this place, where he speaks so copious­ly of the Resurrection?

To which I make this Answer. We are to take notice of St. Paul as a Close Disputant. It was his manner of arguing (here and elsewhere,) to keep himself close to the point in question: Both as to the Conclusion he was to prove; and as to the Topicks from whence he fetched his Arguments.

Now the matter in question, with these Corinthi­ans, was not, What should become of those that were out of Christ, and not to expect Benefit by him: (and therefore, of that, he saies nothing.) But, What are the Benefits, which they that are in Christ, receive from him. Amongst which, that of Eternal Life was the main; and, of which they doubted. To this there­fore he applies his Arguments, (not to the other,) sele­cting such as were most proper for this Conclusion. (Waving the other; but, not Denying it.)

In like manner as, in our Creed; We profess to Beleeve the Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Ever­lasting; without mentioning that of Eternal Death, or the State of the Wicked after this Life. Yet this we Beleeve also: According to what our Saviour tells us, [Page 22] Math. 25.Math. 25.46. These shal go into Everlasting Punishment; but the Righteous into Life Eternal.

The same is implyed also in the word [...], of those that Slept. 1 Thes. 4.16. That is, of those that are Dead in Christ.

For, to the Death of the Righteous, the Scripture doth usually apply the soft term of Sleep. Joh. 11.11. 2 Kin. 2.10. & Act. 13.36. Act. 7.60. 1 Cor. [...]5.6. Lazarus sle­peth. David slept with his Fathers. Stephen fell A-sleep. And (ver. 6. of this Chapter,) He was seen of five Hundred Brethren at once, whereof some are fallen A­sleep. Whereas the Wicked are said to Perish, to be Cut off, to go down to the Pit; with other the like hard expressions.

And, in a parallel place to this, (1 Thes. 4.1 Thes. 4.13.) it is expounded by those that are Dead in Christ. I would not have you ignorant concerning them which are Asleep; to sorrow as others that have no hope. ver. 14. For if we beleeve that Christ Died and Rose again: even them also that Sleep in Jesus, ver. 15. will God bring with him. I or we that are Alive and Remain at the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them that are Asl [...]ep. For the Dead in Christ shall rise first:ver. 16. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them;ver. 17. and so shall we be ever with the Lord.

Hence it is, that the place of Christian Burial is wont to be called Coemeterium, [...], a Dormitory or place to Sleep in; From whence, at the Resurre­ction, (as the phrase is Dan. 12.Dan. 12.2.) they that Sleep in the Dust shall Awake.

And the word [...], in the Former clause, fitly answers to [...] in the Latter. For [...] (susci­tari,) doth properly signify to be Awakened or Rise from sleep. [...]. Christ is (Awakened, or) Risen from the Dead (as f [...]om a [Page 23] sleep,) the First fruits of those that Slept;. That is, of the dead which Dy in the Lord. For of Their resurre­ction it is that the Apostle is here discoursing.Rev. 14.13.

Now as for the Persons, with whom he doth here dispute; and the Arguments suted to those Persons; (for This Branch, as well as the Former:) We are to consider, that they were Christian Gentiles. Who had before learned the Heathen Philosophy, but did now imbrace the Christian Religion, and Acknowledged most of the Doctrines thereof. Onely this they doubt­ed of (as not consistent with their Philosophy,) That the Dead should Rise again.

And therefore the Arguments he makes use of, are drawn from Principles of Christianity.

If there be no Resurrection, then is not Christ Risen: (Which yet is a matter of Fact,1 Cor. 15.13, 16. so notorious and fully testified, that you Christians cannot doubt it.)

And, If Christ be not Risen; our Preaching is vain, and your Faith is vain; And,ver. 14, 17. ver. 18. ver. 15. those that are fallen asleep in Christ are perished; And, we are found false witnesses of God, who have testified that he raised up Christ. (Which Consequents were things unworthy to be ad­mitted, by any who professed themselves Christians.)

And, If in this life onely we have hope;ver. 19. we are of all men most miserable. (We Apostles, and you Chri­stians; who, upon this account, are exposed to a mul­titude of Miseries in this Life; and do therefore most egregiously play the fools, if in another life there be not a Compensation.)

All which Arguments, though to one who is not a Christian they would be very Insignificant, are very Cogent to one that is.

And good Reason the Apostle had to argue at this [Page 24] rate. Not onely, as being the part of a good Dispu­tant, to take advantage of the True Concessions of those with whom he disputes; as good foundations of a concl [...]sive Argument: But especially, Because these are the True Topicks in Disputes of this nature.

For, the Truthes of Religion being of [...]wo sorts; some discoverable by Natural Light; Others by Re­velation onely: Those of the later sort are not to be proved Conclusively, without admitting that Revela­tion, by which alone we can come to know them.

Thus; That there is a God that made the World; and, That this God is to be Obeyed and Worshiped; and, This in such Manner as himself would have it; Are things which may be argued from Natural Light.

And, that of the Souls Immortality also; at lest with a great deal of Probability; if not with so much Evi­dence as to convince a wilful Sceptick; who therefore Sees not (not for want of Light, but) because he shuttes his Eyes.

But, the Doctrine of the Trinity; of Salvation by Faith in Christ; and the Resurrection of the Body; Are purely matters of Faith; and their Certainty depends onely on Divine Testimony.

That God is Able to raise the Dead▪ and that there is no Inconsistence in the thing; may be discoursed from Natural Light.

But, That he Will do it; and, in what manner; we can no otherwise know than as He hath Declared to us: (either by himself immediately; or, by such as, we have good reason to beleeve, are sent by him.)

Thus Christ, arguing the same point with the Sad­duces: Yee err (saith he) not knowing the Scriptures; nor, Mat. 22.29. the Power of God. Had they well understood the Power of God; they would not have doubted its Possi­bility: [Page 25] And, had they well understood the Scriptures; they might thence have learned, that it must be so.

And, in St. Pauls discourse with King Agrippa, Act. 26.Act. 26.8. As to himself, he had no more to say, but Why should it be thought a thing Incredible, that God should Raise the Dead? But, as to the Jews, (who owned the Scripture then extant,) he pleads,ver. 6, 7. The Promise made to the Fathers; to which Promise their Twelve Tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hoped to come. To him who did not admit the Scriptures; he could onely argue, That the thing was not Impossible, not Incredible; But, to them that did; he argues the Certainty, and that they ought to Beleeve it.

And, in this Chapter, he argues it yet further:1 Cor. 15. As having, here, greater Concessions (from Christians) than from the Jews.

As to the Possibility; he argues (ab Esse ad Posse) Christ is Risen; therefore, the thing is Possible. ver. 4, 16.

Which matter of Fact (that Christ is Risen) He ar­gues, from the Notoreity of it, and from the Testi­mony of so many Eye-Witnesses as themselves could not but beleeve:ver. 5, 6, 7, 8. (the proper Topicks to prove mat­ter of Fact.) And, what was Actually done in him, was no [...] Impossible as to others.

But, as to the Futuriti [...]n, (that indeed it shall be so,) He argues from Divine Revelation: Not onely as testified in the Scriptures, (of Moses and the Pro­phets;) but also by Christ himself; and his Apostles,ver. 3.4. by commission from him.

'Tis (saith he) the Gospel which I have preached to you; and which you have re [...]eived;ver. 1. and whe [...]ein you stand; and whereby, if you persist in it, you are to be saved ver. 2.

Nor is it a Forgery of my own Fansy; But what I delivered, I first of all Received, ver. 3. That is (as chap. [Page 26] 11) I received of the Lord, Chap. 11.23. what I delivered unto you: And, what I taught, was taught also by the rest of the Apostles, chap. 15.9. according to such directions as they recei­ved from Christ. (Whether I, or They, so We preach, and so Yee beleeved. ver. 11.)

And if, as to the rest of the Christian Doctrine, you receive our Testimony; you have no reason to think, that in this we prevaricate,ver. 15. as false Witnesses of God.

Thus arguing, with Christians, from the Doctrine of Christ; as elsewhere, with the Jews, from that of Moses and the Prophets.

And thus much for the Explication of the Text, and the Doctrines thereof.

I shall now, by way of Corollary, observe Three Things.

First, that this Method of the Apostles arguing, may be a good Direction for Us in like cases. When we are preaching to Christian Auditories (such as this;) it is not prudence to quit the Principles of Christianity, and divert to those of Reason and Na­tural Light onely: As if we were Preaching to Hea­thens, not to Christians.

Much of our Religion, depends on Revelation: And, though not Repugnant to Reason, is yet much Above it; and not discoverable by it, without the Scriptures, where those Revelations are recorded.

We do but too much gratify men of Atheistical and Unchristian Principles, when (to comply with their Cavills,1 Thes. 5.21.) instead of Holding fast what is good; we let go our Hold, and dispute our Principles: As if we were now Planting Christianity amongst Heathens; and not, Edifying a Christian Church.

'Tis true, that, in Building, great care is to be taken,Luk. 6.48, 49. that the Foundations be well lay'd; other­wise [Page 27] the Building cannot be Firm.

But there is a time, wh [...]n, Leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, Heb. 6.1. and laying again the Foundati­on; we are to go on to Perfection, and Build upon the Foundation so layd. Not like Children;Heb. 5.12, 13. Who when for the time we ought to be Teachers, have now need to be Taught, what are the First Principles of the Ora­cles of God; as having need of Milk, not of strong Meat

And, When will this time be, if, after more than sixteen Hundred years possession, we do yet admit the Foundations of Christianity, for matter of Doubtfull Disputation. Rom. 14.1.

If, out of a needless scrupulosity, to satisfy the Cavils of those who do not desire to be informed; we be alwaies Digging at the Foundation, upon pretence of Searching it: We do thereby weaken, rather than strengthen it; And (like the foolish Builder) having layd the Foundation, shall never be able to Finish it:Luk. 14.29. 2 Tim. 3.7. E­ver Learning, and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth.

The Being, and Providence of God; The Authority of the Scriptures, his written Word; The Divinity, and Incarnation of Christ; his Satisfaction for the Sins of Men; and our Salvation by Faith in Him; The ne­cessity of Holyness, and a Godly life; The Immortali­ty of the Soul; and the Resurrection of the Body; and the Judgement to com [...]; A Heaven for the Righteous; and a Hell for the Wicked; Are Fundamentals in the Doctrine of Christianity, well setled long agoe.

And, if any go abou [...] to shake these Foundations;Psal. 11.3. we are not therefore, in compliance with their humours, to admit for Disputa [...]le, what ever they please to Ca­vill at: But to hold Fast the Truth;Prov. 23.23. 2 Tim. 1.13. to hold Fast the [Page 28] Form of sound Words; as well settled, and long since agreed upon: And, If any man list to be Contentious, (sayth the Apostle) we have no such Custome, 1 Cor. 11.16. nor the Churches of God.

If they demand New Miracles, and New Revelati­ons, of what hath been sufficiently Revealed and con­firmed already: Our Savior tells us (in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Glutton,) They have Moses and the Prophets;Luk. 16.29. let them Hear Them; (And we have, moreover, Christ and his Apostles:) If they hear not These;ver. 31. neither would they be Perswaded, though one should Rise from the Dead.

Now, if the Miracles and Revelations, in the time Moses and the Prophets, were sufficient for those who lived in the days of Christ; (notwithstanding that they lived not in Moses days:) much more may those also of Christ and his Apostles, suffice for those that live in Our days. And, if a sufficient Evidence, (such as would be enough for a Sober person, that is Willing to be Taught,) prevail not with them: neither would they be perswaded, though they should be gratifyed in what they now demand.

Our Saviour did not think fit to gratify the Hu­mours of the Scribes and Pharises, whensoever they li­sted to Ask a (new) sign. Mat. 12, 38, 39. Mat. 16.1, 5. Mat. 7.6. Tit. 3.10, 11. But refers them to that of the Prophet Jonas.

Nor are Wee to be always casting our Perls before Swine: But, (after a competent instruction,) they are to be Neglected, as [...], self-condemned persons: Who's error lyes more in their Will, than in their Understanding.

'Twas, Because they did not Like to retain God in their Knowledge, (Rom. 1.Rom. 1.28.) that God gave them over to a Reprobate sense, ( [...],) a mind void of judge­ment.

[Page 29]And, it was not so much, because they could not Be­leeve the Truth, as, because they did not Love it, 2. Thes. 2,2 Thes. 2.10, 11, 12. (because they received not the Love of the trueth that they might be saved,) that God sent them strong Delu­sions to bel [...]eve a Lye, that they might be Damned. Be­cause they did not Love what they should Beleeve, God left them to Beleeve what they Loved: And, be­cause they did not Love those Trueths by which they be Saved ▪ he left them to Beleeve those Lyes, by which they should be Damned.

In the last times (we are told) there shall come scof­fers, walking after their own Vngodly Lusts;2 Pet. 3.3, 4. Jude 8, 18. and there­fore Mocking at the Promise of Christs coming. 2 Tim. 3.8. Men of Corrupt minds; and therefore Reprobate concerning the Faith: Mockers and filthy Dreamers;Jud. 8, 18. 2. Thes. 2.12. who therefore Be­leeve not the Trueth, because they take Pleasure in Vn­righteousness: Who do not so much Doubt of it, as Cavill at it to their own Destrction.

To those that are Contentious, (says the Apostle,2 Pet. 3.16.) and Obey not the Truth;Rom. 2.8. (to those who out of Conten­tion, or a spirit of Contradiction, Cavill at the Truth sufficiently discovered;) Indignation and Wrath. And, If our Gospell be Hid; it is hid to those that are Lost.

It may, perhaps,2 Cor. 4.3, 4. pass for a piece of Witt (not of Wisdome) amongst Debauched persons, (with whom Atheism and Ribaldry pass for Witt;) to be able to speak Plausibly, against those things which the common sense of Man-kind admitts for True. (And 'tis very Ea­sy, for any man, that will allow himself to be Profane, thus to be Witty:) But St. Paul gives it a truer Cha­racter, Rom. 1.Rom. 1.22. (speaking of Wiser persons than these are,) Professing themselves to be Wise, they became Fools; ( [...],) while they pretend, to be Witty, they play the Fool. And, 1 Tim. 6. reduceth it to its true cause, Pride and Ignorance. If any man consent [Page 30] not to wholsome Words, 1 Tim. 6.3, 4, 5. and the Doctrine which is accor­ding to Godliness: Hee is Proud, (or Foolish,) and [...]now­eth nothing: Doting upon Questions and strife of words, or idle Cavils ( [...],) from whence come Railing and Perverse Disputings of men of Corrupt minds, and d [...]sti­tute of the Trueth, ( [...], Blaspemies, and [...]dle Dis­courses, as of Crack-brain'd men, and void of Sense:) from whom Turn away; Have nothing to do [...]i [...]h them.

While we are taking pains to Satisfy such (who Resolve, not to be satisfyed;) we may sooner raise new Scruples in the minds of well-meaning persons, than satisfy those who are Willfully ignorant. 2 Pet. 3.5.

Be not deceived (sai [...]h our Apostle here) Evil Com­munications corrupt good Manners: 1 Cor. 15.33. Menander. [...].’ Or,Latter edit of his Paraphrase on the N. Test. (as Dr. Hammond chooseth to render it) good Dispositions Such corrupt Discourse ( [...] are apt to seduce or work upon ( [...]) good Dispositions, or well-meaning people. Expounding [...], by [...], or [...], good-natured persons and easy to be imposed upon. Like as in that other Verse Tit. 1.22. Epimenides. [...].’ The words [...] (slow-bellies) are usually inter­preted (as [...]) by [...], Gluttons.

Canterus.We are not therefore to Hold Parly with them, (as Eve with the Serpent: Gen. 3.1, &c.) But rather (as the Apostle directs) they are to be Rebuked sharply, that they may be sound in the Faith;Tit. 1.13. ver. 11. 2 Tim. 3.6, 9. their Mo [...]thes to be stopped, that they subvert not whole Houses; and, that their Folly pro­ceed no further.

A second thing that I here observe, is this; That the Promise of a glorious Resurrect [...]on, concerns not Vs onely; But the Fathers also before Christ.

[Page 31]We are not to think, that They had onely Promi­ses of Temporal things; but of Eternal also. Christ is the First-fruits of those that Slept (for the time past,1 Cor. 15. [...]0.) as well of those that were to sleep for the time to come.

'Tis true. The Mystery which had been Hidden from Ages and Generations, is now made Manifest to the Saints:Coll. 1.26. Eph. 3.9, 10. It is now more clearly Reveiled, then before it was. And Christ is the Mediator of a Better Covenant (than that delivered by Moses) established upon Better Pro­mises: Better, as to the way of Administration,Heb. 8.6. and the clearness of Discovery; but the same, as to the Sub­stance of the Things Promised.

Christ, as to this, is the same Yesterday, and To day, Heb. 13.8. and for Ever. 'Tis the same Faith, by which the Elders obtained a good Report; and,Heb. 11.2. ver. 5. Enoch was Translated that he did not see Death: Heb. 10.39. By which We beleeve to the saving of our souls. And St. Paul proves (Rom. 4.Rom. 4.1, 6.) that We are Justifyed by Faith; Because Abraham, and David, were so Justified.

Nor was this unknow'n to the Jewish Church. For,Mat. 22.23. though the Sadduces denyed the Resurrection: Yet they were herein Singular; The Pharisees Professed it;Act. 23.8. with the rest of the Jews. Search the Scriptures, Joh. 5.29. (sayth Christ to the Jews,) for in them yee think to have Eternal Life.

And St Paul frequently, from Moses and the Prophets, Act. 13.17, 32. Act. 24.14, 15. Act. 25.8. Act. 26.9, 7, 22, 23. Act. 28.17, 23. Luk. 24.25, 26, 27, 44, 46, 47. and from the Promise made to the Fathers, argues the Point of the Resurrection.

And our Saviour himself, (after his Resurrection,) first to the Two Disciples going to Emmans; and then to the Eleven at Jerusalem; doth from Moses, and the Pr [...] ­phets, and the Psalmes, and all the Scriptures, make it Evident, That thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to Rise from the Dead the third day; and that Repentance and Remission of sins should be prea [...]hed in his name a­mong [Page 32] all Nations.

And (before that) he proves to the Sadduces, the Doctrine of the Resurrection,Mat. 22.29, 32. Mat. 12.24, 26. from that of God to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob; and that they did therefore Erre, because they Knew not the Scriptures, nor the Power of God. Which he would not have sayd, had not the Doctrine of the Resurrection been taught in the scriptures that then were; that is, those of the Old Testament.

So that the Socinians, without allowing that Christ is God indeed; if at lest they will but allow, That he is a Good Man, and a Wise man, (one who did understand the Consequence of an Argument, and did not designe purposely to impose upon us;) must needs acknow­ledge, That the Doctrine of the Resurrection was taught in the Scriptures of the Old Testament; (for sure it is, that Christ thought so:) and That the Promi­ses made to the Fathers, were not onely Promises of Temporal things, but of Eternal Life.

They may as well say, That the Threatning to Adam, In the day that thou Eatest thereof thou shalt Dy the Death, Gen. 2.17: was meant onely of a Temporal Death; (and then surely God would not Punish, beyond what he Threatned;) Contrary to which, St. Jude tells us, that those Before Christ, (as well as since,) do suffer the vengeance of Eternal Fire. Jud. 7.

The Third and last thing which I here observe, is this, That the Rewards and Punishments of ano­ther Life, do concern us, not onely as to our Personal capacities; but, as to our Relative and Politick capa­cities also, As we are Incorporated into Kingdomes, Cities, Families, and other Societies.

We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, to receive according to the things done in the Body, 2 Cor. 5.10. whe­ther [Page 33] Good or Bad. Whatsoever is done in the Body; in whatsoever Capacity.

It may be Objected, That Kingdomes, and Cities, and Bodies Politick, shal not, in that Capacity, rise againe: And therefore cannot, in that capacity, be Pu­nished, or Rewarded. And, consequently, God being equally obliged to punish the sins of Societies, as of single Persons; he is obliged, in this World, to pu­nish the sins of Societies (and to reward their good acts;) since that, hereafter, it cannot be done.

But this Argument, I take to have more in it of Witt and Rhetorick, than of Logick, or sound Divinity: and would do better in a Poem or Panegyrick, than in a Sermon.

For, by the same reason, we may as well say That the sins of Father and Child; of Master, and ser­vant; of Husband, and Wife; must be Allways Punish­ed in this Life, (and in this onely;) Because that, in the Resurrection, they do neither Marry, Mat. 22.30. nor are Given in Marriage. For Oeconomical Relations shall then cease, as well as Political.

If it be said, That, these Relations, are but Relati­ons between single Persons, (not Societies;) and there­fore the Sins thereof may, in those Persons, be Pu­nished.

I say, that this doth not alter the case at all. For, be­side that this is not Universal; (For a Father may have many Children, and may sin against his whole Posteri­ty, to the Third and Fourth Generation; and a Lord or Master may have many Servants,Exod. 20.5. and may Sin against his whole Family; and a man may be Servant to a So­ciety, as well as to a single Person:)

Beside this, (I say,) If this Exception were cogent; we might thence as well conclude, That Kings because single Persons) may, hereafter, be punished for Op­pressing [Page 34] their Subjects, (and that Eternally;) but the States (in an Aristocrary) are punishable onely in this World, (and but with Temporal Punishments,) because These are a Collective Body.

And it would hence follow likewise, That the grea­test Villanies of Societies, are at lest one degree below that of the Papists Venial sins. For, I presume, the Jesuites themselves will not say, that their whole So­cietie; shall, in that capacity, be punished in Hell, not yet in Purgatory, for the greatest Villanies by them committed, as a Socie [...]y. But, Venial Sins, they acknowledge to be punished, at lest in Purgatory, though not in Hell.

And, by this means also, the greatest number of Sins, and those the most Hainous, would, as to another World, remain Unpunished, (and good Actions, Un­rewarded.) For much the greater number of Acti­ons, and the most considerable, are those of persons in their Relative Capacities; (as Parents, Children; Ma­sters, Servants; Husbands, VVives; Friends, Enemies; Neighbours, Strangers; Pastors, People; Princes, Subjects; Societies, and Combinations; Not of sin­gle Persons onely, in a meer Personal Independent Capacity.

I adde also; That, on this account, No sins of Soci­eties could ever be Pardoned. For it not Societies, but single Persons, that are Regenerate and do Beleeve in Christ; without which, there is no Remission.

VVe say therefore; That (as Societies are but made up of single Persons, so) the Acts of Societies, and of persons Related (in such Relative capacities,) whether Sinfull, or Virtuous; are indeed and in Gods account, the Acts of Particular Persons (in such Re­lations and Societies:) And are, in those Persons, punished and rewarded, according to their deserts; [Page 35] both in this World, and in that which is to come.

And thus the Cities (of Sodome and Gomorrha with those about them, Jude 7.) are sayd to suffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire; when indeed it is the Persons of those Cities that so suffer.

'Tis true that, in this World, God doth many times punish the Sins of men, in a way sutable to those ca­pacities wherein they are committed: (the Sins of a Father, by loss of Children, or by a disobedient Child, or unhappy Children; the Sins of a Prince, by loss of his Dominions, or Rebellion of his Subjects; the sins of a Nation, by a common Calamity, wherein the Innocent do many times Suffer with the Guilty:) God by this means, pointing out the Sin in the Affli­ction or Punishment.

But he doth not Allwayes do so: (the Sins of a Pa­rent, may be sometimes punished by the hand of the Magistrate; and the sins of a Prince, by the hand of a Traitor, whom he had not offended:) much less is he Obliged so to do.

And when he doth so: He doth not Therefore do it because he cannot otherwise reach them: Nor is this the adequate Punishment of those sins; but onely a part of it. The greatest part of their punishment, even for these sins, being that of another VVorld.

And though the Sins of men combined in societies, are, in the Judgement of Men, accounted as one Joint Act; (wherein the Innocent are oft involved with the Guilty, and suffer accordingly:Rom. 2.2.) Yet the Judge­ment of God, is according to Trueth. He will distinguish between the Innocent and Guilty in a mixt Society;Mal. 3.17, 18. Psal. 119.71, 75. 1 Cor. 11.32. Gen 18 23, 25. and Spare the one, or but Afflict th [...]m (for their good,) while he doth properly Punish the other: (And, as A­braham speaks, not destroy the Righteous with the Wick­ed:) [Page 36] And, those that are Guilty, each according to the Proportion of his Guilt.

Not alwayes in this World: (where, some times, all things Fall alike to all; and One event to the Righteous and to the Wicked: Eccl. 9.2. Eccl. 8.14. or where, sometimes, it happeneth to the Righteous, acording to the Work of the Wicked; and to Wicked according to the Work of the Righteous:) But,2 Thes. 1.10. Rom. 2.5. ver. 6. at lest, at that Day; At the day of the revelation of Gods righteous Judgement; when he shal render to every man according to his deeds; when he shall bring every Work into Judgement, Eccl. 12.14. and every Secret thing.

In that day; the sentence of Go [...] ye Cursed; for I was Hungry, Mat. 25.41, 42, 43. and yee gave me no Meat; I was Sick, and ye Visited me not; VVill as well reach the sins of So­cieties,Psal. 41.1. in the Commu­nion Service. in not providing for the Sick and Needy; as of those Persons who do not Relieve them.

It is a Righteous thing with God (sayth St. Paul) to recompense Tribulation to them which trouble you;2 Thes. 1.6. (whe­ther they be Societies or single Persons;) in that day; when the Lord Jesus shall be reveiled from Heaven;ver. 10. ver. 7. ver. 8. in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel: who shall be punished with Everlasting destruction. ver. 9.

And St. Jude tells us expressely, that Sodome, and Gomorrha, Jud. 7. and the Cities about them (as well as single Persons) do suffer the vengeance of Eternal Fire.

And our Saviour (upbraiding the Cities wherein most of his mighty workes were done) tells us of Cho­razin, Mat. 11.20, 21, 23. and Bethsaida, of Capernaum, and the Cities against which the Disciples should shake off the dust of their feet upon refusal to receive them;Mat. 10.11, 14. ver. 15. That it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, for Sodome and Gomorrha, Math. 11.22, 24. in the Day of Judgement; than for those Ci­ties. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto Hea­ven, ver. 23. shall be cast down to Hell.

[Page 37]And what is sayd of Cities; may be equally un­derstood of Kingdomes Nations, Towns, Families, and other Societies.Mat. 11.24. Mat. 10.11, 12.13, 14.15.

There be many Practical Uses, which be proper Consequents from this Doctrine of a Glorious Re­surrection to Eternal Life.

As, that of St. Peter; Seing all these things must be dissolved; what manner of persons ought we to be, 2 Pet. 3.11. in all holy conversation and godlynesse; Looking for, and hasting to, the coming of the day of God. ver. 12.

And that of St. Paul; Having these Promises, 2 Cor. 7.1. (dear­ly beloved) let us cleanse our selves from all Filthy­ness of flesh and Spirit; perfecting Holyness in the Fear of God.

And that in the close of this Chapter; Wherefore, beloved brethren, be ye Stedfast and Vnmovable, 1 Cor. 15.58. all­ways abounding in the work of the Lord; For as much as yee know, that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

But, of these things, I shal say nothing at pre­sent; that I may not anticipate the following Dis­courses on subjects of this nature.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father (who hath raised up Christ from the dead;Thes. 2.16. 2 Cor. 4.14. Col. 2.12. 1 Thes. 2.16. ver. 17. 1 Thes. 5.23. & 2 Pet. 3.14. & 1 Cor. 1.8. 2 Tim. 4.18. Tit. 2.13. Phil. 3.21.) who hath loved us and given us everlasting consolati­on, and good hope through Faith; Confirm and stablish us in every good Word and Work; And preserve us (blame­less,) unto his Heavenly Kingdome; and to the Glo­rious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile Bodies, and make them like unto his Glorious Body; according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself: To whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Tim 4.18.

FINIS.

Arati Phaenomena: Initio.

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ERRATA.

REad. pag. 5. l. ult. of its. p. 14. l. 21. as if it had. p. 16. l. 26. to a. p. 29. l. 9. might be.

In English thus.

BEgin we, first of all, with God on high:
(Men as we are!) By no means passe him by.
His Presence fills all places, far and near.
Where ever Men Assemble, Hee is there.
The Sea is full of Him: and Havens Wide.
And all Mankind His Influence abide;
Need his Assistance; All, in Every thing.
His Progeny Wee are: from Him we Spring.
Hee's Kind to Man: affording Seasons good.
He stirs them up to Labour: gives them Food.
He tells the Husband-man, When Earth is made
Fit for the Plough; when, fitter for the Spade.
He points out proper Seasons: How to know,
What time, to Plant; What time is fit to Sow;
And, what for every Seed. 'Tis He sett fast
His Signes in Heav'n; His Stars in order plac't.
And, by the Stars, He measures out the Year:
Pointing, by them, what proper Seasons are
For every mans Affairs: that All things may
In Steady Course proceed, without decay.
That, with His Favour, He would us Befriend:
With Him we first Begin; with Him we End.
O Thou, so highly Wonderfull! O Thou,
The great Support of Man! to Thee I bow.
And humbly make address. While I repeat
(By Thy good leave) the Stars in order sett;
Vouchsafe me Thine Assistance all along;
With thy successefull Ayd, direct my Song.
FINIS.

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