Book I.v

A S mile from Seed fown.
An Example frofn a body tva(led.
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i Thef 4*
John ?«
Diftwfl and confidence, avbat they can do .
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Cbdp.i4'& 1 9.
Tfoe RefumRi on lengthens feeble minds .
Mxit Cbriflfs Birth did*
forth the type of the refurreCtion than by the fimilitude of feed fown in furrows of the earth. For what it is in nature to hide feed in the earthy the fame it is in the refurreCtion to bury a dead bo¬ dy ; and what it is for feed to grow again, and become a plant, is the fame with mans rifing again ; A body fubjeCt to corruption is committed to the ground : but that {hall revive, all fecblenefle of nature being taken from it : That is buried in the earth which was fubjeCt to many Infirmities calamities difeafes; it {hall rife again lively, quick, free from all infirmities and weaknefies. An exam¬ ple will make it clearer. A fick man that is fpent with a ftrong difeafe, grows pale, and looks wan, fad, fwart, ill favour’d, earthy ly : and his whole body grows fo lean, and confumed, that his lively juice being fpent, you cannot know him: But this man by well liking, and his skin grows fo fine, that you would think he were painted. So in the^refurreCtion the fame body comes up again, but more glorious, and there will appear in it no marks of the old corruption.
An example of this was firft begun in Chrift, who by nothing did more effectually declare his Divinity, than by his triumphant RefurreCtion. That example of his fhuft be fhew’d forth in all by his vertue $ who, as Paul faith, fhall change our vile bodies , and make, them like his gloriom body^ according to his power, whereby he can fubjeCt all things unto himfelf. Wherefore the Apoftle would not have us to be tormented with fear of death, or to grieve over-much for it. For they that fleep in Chrift, fhall be railed by the Word of God, and fhall live everlaflingly with him. Which our Saviour foretold that it fhould fo come to paffe 5 The hour fhall come , that all that are in their graves fhall hear his voyce , and they that have done well fhall come forth to the RefurreBion of Life , and they that have done evilto the refur reBion of condemnation. By which words he comforts dejeCted minds, that they fhould not faint under dan¬ gers*, but to wicked and unpenitent men they ftrike terrour and amazement, who would never make an end of. finning, unlcfle they confider’d, that after this life the rewards of fin and godlineflc fhall be paid unto men. Wherefore Job in his worft condition, when nothing was wanting to make him miferable, comforts him¬ felf with this certain hope 5 I knew that my Redeemer Uvetb, and I fhall rife cut of the Earth in the lajl day , and I fhall fee Cjod my Saviour in my flejh, whom I fhall behold my [elf and not another for me : This hope is laid up in my breft, that is, no man fhall take from me this confidence and aflurance. Since therefore all hopes of obtain¬ ing falvation, and all comfort in the greateft dangers is in the faith of the RefurreCtion, let us fet this faith againft all the terreurs and temptations wherewith the Devil endeavours to overthrow and weaken our minds 5 and let us hope afluredly in him who is the Author unto us of fo great advantage and liberty. The long expected birth of our Saviour did exceedingly raife the Souls of men to.a high hope of falvation and confidence of it. His conver- * * " . - ~ - fation
Chap.i4« and certainty of the Re furred ion. 5 5
fation amongft men, his upright: life, his dodtrinc, and laftly, his death which he fufered for us, to free us from dcftru&ion, did confer much thereunto : But the truth of his refurredion did effed this, that when he had got the vidory over death, no man need to t0*
doubt of his falvation, but ought to hold a firm hope, chat what hath been done already in Chrift their head, fhall be perfected in them alfo. Wherefore all our hope depends on our Saviours Refurredion, whereby he vanquifhed death, and thereby he pul¬ led out the Ring of death, that is, fin, that bred the Enmity be¬ tween God and us. Wherefore fmee we have obtain’d fo great felicity by the death and refurredion of Chrift, let us not be re- Peter, x. movedfrom the truth, buclet us endeavour to partake of the fruit of fo much good works, and look ftcadfaftly upon him, who by his lingular favour and mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope by Chrifts riling from the dead, and hathreftored us to life that fhall never end, and hath affigned unto us an immortal Inhe¬ ritance, pardoning all our offences, and blotting out the hand- eolof.t . writing that was againft us. The memory of this benefit fhould rhe Refumffi be alwaies before our eyes ; efpecially at our laft confiid, when enfihouid (uu~ deteftingall the wickcdneflc of our former life, we muft oppofc b':™ our againft Satan, fin, death, and hell, the immenfc mercy of God mn the Father, by our full aflurance in Chrift, by whom there is pro¬ vided cercainly for us falvadon, and remiffion of all our fins and reconciliation by his blood 5 By him we have admijfiion and entrance unto the Father. He is the propitiation for our fins . For fo (foci loved confidence in the world, that he gave his onely Sonne to redeem us> that every one that ^^lvesus believes in him , trujls in him , and relyeth on his promifes , may not perijh , but have everlafling life. Which confidence raifeth our minds to bring forth good fruits by works of charity, whereby we love God above all things, and our neighbour for his fake. What Faith Matth.zs. didates. Charity performs ; For a working Faith begets charity, Paith -o and charity nourifheth faith. So in the foolifh Virgins lamps, to low* the light of faith went out becaufe there wanted oyl of charity.
Wherefore* this faith and confidence of promifed mercy that is infufed into our hearts by the* Holy Ghoft, muft be ftirred up and nourifhed in us, that by the meric of Chrift our Mediatour we may cry, Abba Father . Foe the Spirit of Adoption, and the earneft gm. 4, of our Inheritance, raifeth up our hearts, and comforts us with the redemption and pofleffion purchafed for us, and takes from our minds all fear and trembling, and terrour of Confidence, and makes us acknowledge Gods favour, prefence, and mercy,and that wc may attain Redemption and Reconciliation by the help of Jefus Chrift, whom. God hath let forth to be our peace-maker through fairh in his blood. Wherefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, and a fettled Conic iencc, and a quiet mind, fo that all diftruft and defperation is difeufled, and we apprehend certain hopes of che.Rcf'urredion and Immortality, and doubt no¬ thing of our lalvation ; fo that we depart from hence chcarfully toour heavenly Country and place of reft, to enjoy cverlafting
comfort
5*
Of the Immortality of the Soul,