I have briefely set down the riches of the observations that naturally arise from the explication of these two termes ; both which I find comprised in one verse , Psal. 16.20 . Thou wilt not leave my soule in grave , [ there 's the Immortality of the soule ] nor suffer the holy one to see corruption [ there 's the Resurrection of the body . ] This David knowing before ( saith the Scripture ) spake of the Resurrection of Christ , the accomplishment of which prophecy is often repeated in the new Testament ; Act. 2.31 . Act. 13.35 . howbeit David after hee had served his time , by the Counsell of God , hee slept , and was layd with his Fathers and saw corruption : yet by the vertue of an insition into that Christ , whose sacred body the Lord preserved from the least putrefaction , the Prophet apprehends a certaine hope of the Resurrection of his owne flesh to Immortality , and assures himselfe , that God will not give him over to that corruption , which shall seize on him in the grave , that his dead body shall not miscarry , nor vanish away in rottenesse , but bee raised againe in glory .

This meditation leades me by the hand to treate of our Saviours Resurrection , being pertinent and conducing to the series of our discourse .

Angels however they still behold the face of our Heavenly Father , yet they are but his houshold servants , his pages of honor which hee sends on his holy errands , the sacred tutors of the Saints , the guard of Gods elect , the watch-men over the wals of the new Ierusalem , chaplaines in ordinary to the King of heaven , Messengers & Ministers attending about his Throne expecting his pleasure , alwayes in readinesse to make knowne his will unto Man .

When God brought forth his first begotten Sonne into the world , he sayed , worship him all yee Angels , and so they did ; when the blessed Virgin , oreshadowed by the Holy Ghost , carried her divine burthen within her wombe , an Angell appeared unto Ioseph to justify the innocency of the Mother , and the Deity of the Sonne ; when hee was borne the Angels told the same unto the sheepheards , and that with an Ecce too , Luke 1. when Herod ment death to the Babe for the name of a King , an Angell revealed the same unto Ioseph , and willed him to fly into Aegypt with the child , and so , Populus Aegypti qui fuit persecutor primogeniti , became custos unigeniti : when Herod was dead , the Angell bid Ioseph returne againe into Iury . When Satan left tempting him the Angels came and ministred unto him ; when his soule was exceeding sorrowfull unto death , the Angels attended to comfort him ; & when his body was to bee raised from death , an Angell descends to draw away the curtaine , while our Lord came forth of his bed-chamber ; an Angell roles away the stone which his Adversaries had laid upon his grave ; an Angell is the first that reports the glad tidings of his resurrection .

The truth of this Angelicall assertion , was seconded by Truth it selfe ; for what the Angell preached unto the women , what the women reported to the Apostles ( for in this Article were they first catechiz'd by the weaker sex ) our Saviour makes good by his manifold apparitions , being seene at sundry times by such , who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & ideo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , witnesses chosen before of God for that purpose , as the Apostle affirmes in his little Creed to Cornelius Acts 10. wherein is a synopsis or summe of the chiefe points of holy beliefe .

Concerning the Doctrine , verse 36 , 37. Miracles , verse 38. Life , and Death , verse 39. Resurrection , verse 40 , 41. Comming to iudgement , verse 42. of Iesus Christ .

What Peter there recites to his Auditor , his new convert , his Cornelius , what Paul elsewhere to his Corinthians , was all foretold , Per os Prophetarum , by the mouth of the holy Prophets ; for this is sure & convertible , Nothing was done by Christ which was not foretold , nothing was foretold , which was not done . So that there was an Oportet , a forceable reason that he should rise againe , Vt impleretur , that the Scripture might be fulfilled , his Resurrection being , as Aquinas saith , Complementum omnium promissionum , the Consummatum est , the period , the accomplishment of al predictions .

We may farther illustrate this if we looke on our Saviour ( as he was seene by Ezekiel in a vision ) as a King , Ezek. 9.2 . as a Priest , as a Prophet ; walking amongst the midst of the Angels , as a King ; cloathed in white as a Priest ; and with an inkhorne hanging at his girdle as a Prophet ; And here likewise shall wee find an Oportet , that his Propheticall , Sacerdotall , Regall , Offices , each of them implyed a proofe of his Resurrection .

First , let us consider him as a Prophet , even the Prince of Prophets . When the Angels at the Sepulcher sayed unto the women , why seeke yee the living among the dead ? He is not here , Luk 24.6 . but hee is risen : hee addes to remember how he spake unto you , when hee was yet in Galile , saying : The Sonne of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men & be crucified , and the third day rise againe . It is remember 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , not what only , but how , not the matter , but the manner ; remember that : He will keep his word , though he die for it , & though he dye for it , hee will rise againe the third day , to keep it to a minute . The very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , of his resurrection is determined ; He rose the third day , & that early too . When God was to give sentence upon man for sin , he stayed till the heat of the day was over ; but upon this day , being to preach remission of sins , he rose betime , while it was yet darke . It was the Love of God , and tender affection to his Church , which he had so lately , & so deerely bought , made him rise so soone , and appeare so often the same day to distressed soules . In all my Creed there is no other circumstance of Time , but this , of all the Actions of Christ for mee there recorded , onely this Action of rising againe , though of all the most difficult , yet it is to bee beleeved with the circumstance of time & no other ; to shew ; that the doubt and difficulty , the improbability , in respect of meanes bee it what it will , yet whensoever my Saviour promiseth , hee keepeth it , as well as whatsoever he hath promised .

Secondly , as his prophecy , so his priesthood inforced his Resurrection ; How could it appeare that the obligation was cancelled , the law fulfilled , God pacified , if hee had not risen againe ; If the debt had not bene taken off by the surety , it would have lyen still upon the Principall ; If Christ had not risen from the dead , wee should still be yet in our sinnes , and our Faith should bee in vaine . But wee know that our high Priest with one offering hath consecrated for ever , them that are sanctified . Heb. 10.14 . The powerfull operation of this passion endureth for ever ; being the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world , and bleeding , as it were , to the worlds end . Aron and his successors were but onely forerunners of Christ , who is the end of the Law , and for this cause called , Sacerdos accedens , or superveniens , a Priest added to the Priests , a mediator of the new Testament consummating the priesthood of the old . As there was never Priest before , had the love to sacrifice himselfe for the people , so never had any the power to revive that sacrifice hee once killed : but our high Priest Christ Iesus , had love to lay downe his life and power to take it up againe ; by the first hee shewed himselfe to bee the Sonne of man after the flesh ; by the second hee was declared mightily to bee the Sonne of God . Rom. 1.13 . As he could not but dye , having taken on him a body of death ; so hee could not but live againe , because that body was , Vitae sacrarium , the vestry and chappell wherein life was preserved .

Thirdly , as hee was made to be a Prophet like Moses ( Act. 3.22 . ) a Priest like Melchisedech ( Psal. 110.4 . ) so also a King like David ( Luke 1.32 . ) God will give him the throne of his Father David , and hee shall rule over the house of Israel for ever .

Hee was a King by birth , simul natus , simul Caesar , so the wisemen testifyed of him Math. 2.2 . And hee was a King at his death , so Pilate wrote his inscription though in the narrowest limits , Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes , Ioh 19.22 . But to expect the Messias for a temporall Prince was the Iewes perpetuall dotage , the Apostles transient errour , Math. 20.21 . Act. 1.6 . Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel . Of temporall royalty hee had so little a share , that his chaire of estate , was the Crosse ; his crowne made of thornes , his scepter a reede ; and for a Vivat Rex , the people gave him a Crucifige . But Qui subijt , subegit , hee that did undergoe , did overcome ; and as Saint Bernard sweetly , Qui agnus extiterat in passione , factus est Leo in resurrectione ; Hee that stood as Lambe at his Passion to take away the sins of the world ; became a Lyon at his resurrection to spoile all principalities and powers , and to make an open shew of them , Coloss. 2.15 . Then did he manifest himselfe a most victorious conqueror over all his enemies , then did hee receive the keyes of death , and hell , then did hee breake the serpents head , and made all knees bow to him in heaven , earth , and under the earth . And now being raised from death , hee dyeth no more , death hath no more power over him ; for this is his Epithite ( as the beholder and pen-man of that revelation which hath as many mysteries , Apoc. 1.18 . as words hath set it downe ) He that was dead , and is alive , and liveth for evermore .

From hence ariseth naturally matter of Confutation , Consolation .

First , this doctrine of our Saviours Resurrection is a sufficient condemnation to all Iewes , who ( as we have formerly noted ) doe still looke for another Christ : for why should they not beleeve their owne Prophet . They said the Messias should suffer , Christ suffered all things so as they were prophesied ; Who then can be the Messias but hee , in whom all the prophecies are fulfilled .

Secondly , It overthroweth the wicked errour of Corinthus , who taught , that Christ should not rise till the generall Resurrection ; But as Iob confuted the blasphemous speech of his wife , with a Loqueris ut insana mulier ; so Epiphanius worthily saith of this hereticke , Stolidus est & stolidorum magister . I will not take up the graves of the Chiliasts , or Millenaries , in their very name may we reade their errors , but their grosse superstitions & assertions shall for me bee buryed in silence . Thus having melted the drosse from the silver mettall , let us see what fruit wee can plucke from these branches .

Christ , saith Saint Paul , is become the first fruites of them that slept ; 1 Cor. 15.20 . Hee is the first sheafe of the harvest , by & from which all the whole crop of the dead Saints receive vertue . At the time of our Saviours Resurrection , some few eares that were then ripe , and hereafter the whole harvest shall bee carried into everlasting barns . The Evangelist speaking of it saith ; that many bodies of Saints which slept arose ; All the dead did not rise , but many , & those Saints too ; the generall Resurrection is reserved to the last day ; this was a pledge and earnest of it . As many rose with him , so some before him , but all the Resurrections which we read of in former times were wrought in the figure and vertue hereof . Lazarus , the widdowes Sonne , and Iairus daughter , came forth of their graves , or were , recovered to life , Mortui sed morituri : But Christ was the first that rose , Cum victoria Mortis ; that rose to eternall life , never to visit the grave againe .

This assureth us of our Resurrection , Christus e●… typus Christianorum . for as the head must rise before the members ; so the members are sure to follow the head ; if the head bee above water , there is hope for the whole body ; if the roote hath life , the branches shal not long be without ; the first fruites being restored to life , all the rest of the dead are entitled to the same hope : for the Resurrection of our Saviour is not only Auspex & exemplar , but also , fidej iussor , yea Chirographum nostrae resurrectionis ; so that he that did rise will raise . These two resurrections are inseparable . Thus did that great Champion of the Church , who ( as a Father saith ) Priusquam natus erat Dominus Redemptorem suum vidit à mortuis resurgentem . Thus did Iob excellently argue , when from , Iob 19.25 . Scio quod Redemptor , hee inferred , Scio quòd ego , &c. I am sure that my Redeemer liveth , and I shall rise againe at the last day : for , eadem catena revincta est Christi Resurrectio & nostra .

Some divines affirme ( from the assertion of Bonaventure ) D. Boys postil . pag. 868. that the yeere wherein our blessed Saviour arose from the dead , should , according to the Law , have beene the yeere of Iubile : which Feast , was appointed by the Lord to be celebrated every fiftieth yeere for these causes .

First , Why the Iubile was celebrated every 50. yeere . that they might keepe a right Chronology and reckning of times : For as the Grecians did compute their times , by the number of Olympiades , the Romans by their Lustra , so the Iewes by their Iubiles .

Secondly , that a true distinction of their Tribes might be preserved ; because then Lands returned to their owners in their proper Tribe ; and servants to their owne families ; hence was it called Iubile , from a word , which in the originall signifieth , deduxit , or produxit , because it brought men backe againe to their estate .

Thirdly , hee instituted these Iubiles , that they might bee a type to them of their full deliverance by Christ , & for this cause was it called Buccina reductionis , because they blew with Rams-hornes , at this feast , in remembrance of their deliverance out of Aegypt .

And surely the Iubiles The spirituall Iubile . in old time did mystically shaddow forth that Spirituall Iubile , which Christians enjoy under Christ ; by whose blood , wee have not only a reentry into the Kingdome of heaven , which we lost in the transgression of our great Grandfather Adam which wee had formerly morgaged & forfeited by our sins : And this was happily signified by the Israelits reentry upon their lands which they had formerly sould ; and againe the found of the Gospell ( which was in this Feast typed by the noise of the Trumpets ) is gone throughout the world .

The Redemption of Christ , Easter Day . is a yeere of Iubile , the Resurrection of Christ is the chiefe day in the yeere yea , Regina Dierum , as Ignatius stiles it . All Christians , herein imitating the patterne of the blessed Apostle , in honour of Christs Resurrection , 1 Cor. 16.2 . observe their Sabbath on the eight day , which is the first day of the weeke , wheras the Iewes hallowed their Sabbath upon the seaventh day which is the last day of the weeke . So that Easter day is the Sabbath of Sabbaths , an high and holy day , from which every other Sunday hath its name ; being so called , because the Sunne of righteousnesse , arose from the dead this day .

Christs appearing on the eight day , is not without a mystery ; wee labour six dayes in this life , the seventh is the Sabbath of our death , in which wee rest from our labours ; and then being raised from the dead , the eighth day , Christ in his owne body , yea the very same body that was crucified , shall reward every man according to his works .

Happy then is that man , whose whole life is nothing els , but a Lent to prepare him against the Sabbath of his death , and Easter of his Resurrection .

The doctrine of his Omnipotency , is the basis and fundamentall Arch , on which is built our Christian religion ; from the knowledge hereof proceeds all faith ; because wee beleeve with the blessed Virgin , Quia potens est , that God is able to doe all those things which reason is not able to comprehend . Contrariwise the ignorance , or the not right understanding of this truth , is the cause that there bee so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , unbeleevers and misbeleevers : Atheists , without the knowledge of God ; Infidels , without hope or faith in God . It was our Saviours own Argument against the Sadduces , you erre not knowing the Scriptures , Math. 22.29 . nor the power of God , i. e. ( saith the Paraphrase ) yee Sadduces doe erre grossely & damnably , in this your misconceit of the resurrection , & the ground of your errour is your ignorance both of the Scriptures , which have cleerly revealed the truth thereof , and of that Omnipotent power of God , wherby is only this ( otherwise impossible ) worke . If with the men of Berea wee do search the Scriptures , wee shall find , that before the Sadduces had any being in Israel , this heresy of theirs was palpably convinced , with an example of the resurrection , even in Elishaes revived corps . Now the power that can raise one man , can raise a thousand , a million , a world . No power can raise one man , but that which is infinite , and that which is infinite , admits of no limitation .

In the beginning the Word of the Lord was the seminary of all being : his will was his Word , and his Word was his deed . His Fiat and Fuit met together , his Dixit and Benedixit kissed each other . All at first was nothing , and from that nothing carne all : How easy is it then , for him to repaire all out of something , who could thus fetch all out of nothing ? How should we distrust him for our resurrection , who hath approved his Omnipotency in our creation ? Our remainder after death can never bee so small , as our being was before the world , ashes is more than nothing .

The body , wee confesse , that is once cold in death , hath no more aptitude to a reanimation , than that which is mouldred into dust ; only as it was Gods omnipotency to create man out of a substance that had no ability to produce the matter : so likewise it is the Prerogative Royall , to revive that dust , to forme it into a new Adam , to fetch a man a second time from the earth , to live with himselfe , when time shall bee no more .

This Resuscitation of the dead is one of those foure keyes , which ( the Hebrewes say ) are in the hand of him , who is the Lord of the whole world . The Scripture makes mention of each of them .

1. Clavis pluviae , the key of raine ; the Lord will open to thee his good treasure : Deut. 28.12 .

2. Clavis cibationis , the key of food ; Thou openest thy hand and fillest every thing with thy plenteousnesse : Psal. 145.16 .

3. Clavis sterilitatis , the key of barrenesse ; God remembred Rachel , and opened her Wombe : Genes. 30.22 .

4. Clavis sepulchrorum , the key of the grave ; when I shall open your sepulchers : Ezek. 37.12 .

By all which places it is intimated , that these foure things God hath reserved in his owne hand and custody . Namely , Raine , Food , the procreation of children , & the raising of our bodies . For though at first hee made him , ex nihilo , out of nothing , yet he did not make him , ad nihilum , to returne to nothing ; There may be a dissolution of soule and body , for a time , but there cannot bee an annihilation of either , because they must be revnited againe to remaine for ever .

As we have derived a maine proofe of the Resurrection from the power of God ; so likewise may wee argue from his other glorious and divine attributes : but because I will not enlarge a treatise into a volume , I will herein follow the Schoole-men who reduce all communiter ad duo : his Mercy , Iustice .

These be the two master Attributes which set all the rest on work : these bee the two feete of God whereupon he walketh al his wayes .

When God makes a covenant with his owne , it is an incorruptible & everlasting covenant , Numb. 18.19 . therefore it is called a covenant of salt ; to note the perpepetuity of it . In this covenant are all the dead Bodies of the Saints , and the Lord forgetteth them not . When Iacob went down to Aegypt , Genes. 46.4 . the Lord promised to bring him backe againe : but how did the Lord bring him backe againe , seeing hee died in Aegypt ? the Lord was with him when hee was brought out of Aegypt . So the Lord preserveth all the bodies of the Saints , Psal. 34.20 . and hee keepeth all their bones , yea even then when their bed is made in the dust , because they are within the covenant . It is said of Iosias ( although hee was slaine in battle ) yet he was gathered in peace to his Fathers , i. e. to the Spirits of his Fathers who enjoy peace ; for hee was not gathered in peace in his body , for hee was slaine in warre . 2. Chro. 35.

In 22. of Math. and the 32. Christ saith I am the God of Abraham , and the God of Isaack , and the God of Iacob . God is not the God of the dead , but the living ; Hee doth not say , I was the God of Abraham , and of Isaack , and of Iacob ; or I am the God of Abraham that once was : but as implying his owne eternall being , and the certaine being of those holy Patriarches , hee saith , I am the God of Abraham , &c. Now God is not the God of those that are not , and have no existence at all , but of those that have a being . So that hee will raise their bodies , or else he did , Dimidium tantummodò Hominem restituere , else hee were God but to one part of Abraham . But as his mercy is over all his works , so his works of mercy are over all his : His mercy extends both to soule and body , and in the mercy of the most High they shall not miscarry : Therefore shall God raise the bodies of dead men .

But wee must not frame unto our selves a God all of mercy ; but learne to sing that compounded ditty of the Psalmist , of mercy and Iudgement . Gods iustice is himselfe as well as his mercy : As his mercy ( which wee have already shewed ) so likewise his iustice requires , that their must bee an universall resurrection .

If in this life ( saith the Apostle ) wee have hope in Christ , 1 Cor. 15.15 . we are of all men most miserable . Paul indeed was at a , quotidie morior , every houre in danger to bee drawne to the blocke , every day dying , ready to bee offered up for the name of his Lord and Saviour : But to what purpose did hee expose himselfe to such variety of perils , if there were no resurrection ? Miserable is that man that either laboureth , or suffereth in vaine ; Shal Paul beare in his body the markes of Christ Iesus , and shall he not beare in the same body the crowne of his glory ? Shall the labourer endure the heate of the day , and shall hee not at length receive this penny , his wages ? Christiani ad metalla , was a usuall condemnation , but what made them digge so willingly in the mines ? Surely they had a treasure there which the Emperour knew not of , they had infinite more precious wealth from thence then hee : For the hope of the gaining a better life , is the perswasive Rethoricke against the feare of loosing this ; Haec vespera est , & necesse est addi matutinam laetitiam ; and then shal our birth be consummate when the evening and the morning are made one day .