THat our lorde Iesus Christ , with his owne very true body , did verely arise from the dead , it shal be expedient afore al things to testify & proue . Therefore let the first witnes , euen our Lorde Iesus Christ himselfe , come forth now and beare vs recorde out of the Prophets , concerning hys true resurrection . Math. 12. Like as Ionas ( sayth he ) was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly , so shal the son of man be three dayes & three nights in the hart of the earth . Nowe did not the fish cast vp to the dry land ani other for Ionas , but euen the same Ionas himselfe , whome he had swalowed . Therefore the verye same true bodi of the Lord also , that was buried , arose againe . Which thing the holye Apostle Paule minding perfectly to expres , said : 1. Cor. 15. first of all I deliuered vnto you ( or taughte you ) that which I receiued : how that Christ died for our sinnes , agreing to the scriptures : and that he was buried , and that he rose again the third dai , according to the scriptures .

Lo , what can be spoken more euident and plain ? He that died for our sinnes , and was buryed , euen he himselfe the very same rose also againe . Of this now it foloweth , that the very true substancial body of our lord did rise againe : for euen the same died & was buried . But to the entent that it mighte the soner be beleeued , Paul the holy teacher declareth furthermore , that he speaketh this according to the contentes of scripture , and that the same was taughte in the scriptures afore , meaning vndoutedly the lawe & the Prophets .

Neuerthelesse , we will nowe bring forth the true and euident testimonies of the Angels , who in Marke , Math. 28. Marke . 16. Luke . 24. Luke and Mathew , speake vnto the wemen that came to the sepulchre : Ye seke Iesus of Nazareth , him that was crucified . Why seeke ye the liuing among the dead ? He is risen , he is not heere . Beholde the place wher they had laid him . Remember howe he spake vnto you , while he was yet in Galile , saying , that the son of man must be deliuered into the hands of sinfull men , and be crucified , & the thirde day rise againe . Therefore goe quickly , and tel this to his disciples , that he is risen from the deade . And beholde he shall goe before you into Galilee : ther shal ye se him , as he himselfe tolde you .

These are the wordes of the Angels , which ( if al circumstances be thorowly well considered ) do plainly declare , that the very true body of the Lord did verely arise from the dead . The wemen come & seeke the body of the lord , desiring to annoynt it : therefore the question is , touching the body of Christe . The Angels also speake of the true body of Christ , & make answer , saying : Ye seke Iesus of Nazareth . Whervnto they adde distinctly , him that was crucified . Now are we sure that his very true body was crucified and died . He ( say they ) namely that died , euen Iesus of Nazareth , the same is become aliue againe . Why seke ye the liuing among the dead ? The lord died of a truthe , but deathe must not haue dominion ouer him , nether muste his body putrify or corrupt , as other mens bodies doe , according as holy Dauid sayde before : Psalme . 16. Afore hand , I sawe God alwayes before me : for he is on my right hand , that I shuld not be moued . Therfore did mi hart reioyse , and my tong was glad . Moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope , because thou wilte not leaue my soule in Hell , neither wilte thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption . Thou hast shewed me the wayes of life , thou shalt make me ful of ioy with thy countenan e : and at thy right hand , ther is pleasure for euermore .

These words extend wholely vnto Christ , according as the .ii. excellent Apostles , Actes . 2.13 . namely Peter in the second , and Paul in the 13. of the Acts , do declare . Out of the Angels wordes also is it com into the articles of the crede , as we all confesse with these words : he rose again from the dead . This word ( from the dead ) doth truly expresse the death and resurrection after this sense . He died , as other men also doe , according to the law of nature . And euen in the same fleshe , which he therefore toke vpon him that he might die , receiued the immortalitye and toke it vnto him againe . Therefore say the Angels : he is rise● again . But that thing riseth no vp , which fel not afore : therfore euen the same bodye of Christe , that fell in death , is from death risen vp againe .

Moreouer , they name also the place where he was laide , to expresse perfectly , that the very true body was risen , saying : beholde the place , wher they layed him . The mortall body of the Lorde hath his certaine place , yea his owne place ( that the Logicians cal , Vbi , that is to say , where ) in the which he was laide . And as he now is become immortal , he hath his own place againe . For if the bodye that was raised vp , were euery where , then had not the Angels sayde : Beholde the place wher they laid him . Yea , they had not bene able to shewe any one place , wher he was not if the immortall body must be euery where . But now they shew a place , in the which the immortall body was not , and that with plaine expresse wordes , saying : he is not heere . Of this nowe it foloweth , that the body of Christe . which is but in one place , did verely rise again . In the gospel o● s. Iohn also the sepulchre cloths wherin the Lord was wrapt ( as the hed cloth , & that which was about his body ) are mencioned as strong testimonies of the bodi risen vp : which clothes Pete● and Iohn did perfectly see . Furthermore , the Angels proue his very true resurrection out of th● word of god , and say , remembe● what he saide vnto you while h● was yet in Galilee : the sonne o● man muste be deliuered into th● handes of sinfull men . &c. Wit● these wordes will they instructe vs , that the sonne of man , a very true body , is truly risen againe . They say moreouer : go quickly , tel the disciples , that he is risen from death . Now was the body dead , and ( as all mens bodies , that die ) laid in the graue . And euen the same body was made immortall , & rose again from the dead . He shall go before you into Galilee , yea before you shal he goe , with a true bodi that moueth from one place to another : there , as in a certaine place , shall ye se him . Ye shal se him I say : for with a visible & palpable body is he risen , as ye are told by the Lorde himself , who can neither lie nor deceiue .

NOwe that no man should thinke it to be another body , which he had not afore his resurrection , he addeth thereto immediatly : It is euen I my self . Handle me , & see : a spirite hath not fleshe & bones , as ye see me haue . And wyth that shewed he them his hands and his fete .

With this euident testimony of the Lord , De agone Christiano . cap. 24. was S. Augustine moued , boldly to saye , that they ought not to be heard , which deny the body of the Lord to haue risen againe , as it was layed in the sepulchre . For if it were not so , he wold not haue saide to his disciples after the resurrection : Handle me and see , for a spirite hath not flesh & bones , as ye see me haue . Now is it as much as to rob God of his honor , if anye man wold thinke , that the lord , who is the truth it self , had in any thing , that he spake , not sayd the truthe . &c. Thomas was not there , when the Lord shewed him selfe aliue vnto his disciples : but whan he came againe , they told him with greate ioy , what they had sene & heard . Neuerthelesse he thoughte it had not bene as they spake , and he sayd : except I see in his hands the print of the nailes , Iohn . 20. & put my finger into the holes of them , and my hand into his side , I will not beleeue it . Therfore after .viii. days , whan the disciples were assembled together againe , & Thomas with them , Iesus commeth in , while the dores wer shut , and standeth in the middes among them , and saith : peace be vnto you . Afterwarde sayde he vnto Thomas : reache hither thy finger , and beholde my handes , put thy hande here also and lay it in my side , & be not faithlesse , but beleuing . Thomas answered and said vnto him : my Lorde , and my God . For S. Paule also in the firste chapter of the Epistle to the Romaines doth out of the resurrection of the Lord , Rom. 1. proue the god-head thus : which was borne of the seede of Dauid after the flesh , and euidently declared to be the sonne of god after the spirit that sanctifieth , and by that he rose again from the dead , namely Iesus Christ our lord . What can be spoken more plaine , more euident or more certain ? For freely did the Lorde sette before their eies his body , which was hanged vpon the crosse , that they might see it & handle it . For the body was pearsed with nails , and marked with the printes therof . Oute of this now it foloweth , that the lord with his true bodye did verelye rise again , and not a spirit . And further , the Lorde also sheweth himselfe vnto the seuen , whych then were in Galile , fishing at the sea of Tiberias . The Euangelist addeth likewise thervnto , Iohn . 21. that it was not expedient for any of the Disciples to aske him who hee was : for they knewe that it was the Lord . In the .28 . chapter of Mathewe , the eleuen Apostles saw the Lorde , Math. 28. and worshipped him , as it is declared afore . Some think , that the same was the excellent appearing , that Paul speaketh of , saying : Afterward was he sene of moe then fiue hundred brethren at once : 1. Cor. 15. of whom many are aliue this day , but some are a slepe ( or dead . ) And in the same place dothe the Apostle make mention yet of two moe appearings , saying : after this was he sene of Iames , then to al the Apostles . And laste of all he was seene of me , as of one that was borne out of due time .

Luke the Euangelist , in the beginning of the Actes of the Apostles , hath in maner collected all the probations together . Actes . 1. The Lorde ( sayeth he ) shewed himselfe aliue vnto his apostles after his Passyon , and that by manye tokens , appearing vnto them forty dayes , and speaking of the kingdom of God . S. Peter also , instructing Cornelius in the Faithe of Christ , Actes . 10. said : we are witnesses of all thyngs , which he did in the lande of the Iewes , and at Hierusalem , whom they slue & hanged on tree . Him God raised vp the third day , and shewed him openly , not to all the people , but vnto vs witnesses , chosen before of god for that intent : which did eat and drinke with him after he rose from death . With these plain probations & testimonies ( as I suppose it ) it is euidently declared , and sufficiently shewed , that our Lord Iesus Christ with his owne very true body , which hanged on the cros , did vereli rise from the dead . As touching the glorification , I shal speake therof , when I come to the resurrection of the bodies : and there will I shew more , that the glorification dothe nothing minishe the veritye or truthe of the body , read the sixt chapter .

NOw I wil declare the occasion , whye I haue with suche diligence , and so earnestly preased vnto this , that Iesus christ with his true body did truly rise againe . That is , how profitable & necessary it is , so to beleue , and what frute the true resurrection of Christ doth bring & engender vnto vs . And albeit that hereof , as of a plentiful treasure , muche might be spoken : yet wil I comprehend it all in a short summe . Thoughe we be complete & made perfecte thorowe the deathe of Christ , while the iust iudgement of god is satisfied , the curse taken away , & the penalty recompenced and paid : Yet saith Peter , we are borne again , thorow the resurrection of Iesus Christ , vnto a liuing hope . For like a christ with his resurrection ouercame death , so standeth also the triumph & victory of our faith in the resurrection of Christ . Therfore thorowe his death is sinne taken away , by his resurrection is rightuousnesse brought againe . For how could he with his death , haue deliuered vs from death , if he himself had of death ben ouercome ? Or how could he haue obteined the victory for vs , if he had bene destroyed in the battell himself ? Therfore thorow death is death discomfited , and with the resurrection is life to vs restored .

Hereof commeth it that Paul sayth : if Christ be not risen , 1. Cor. 15. then is your faith in vaine , and ye ar● yet still in youre sinnes : and so they , that be a sleepe in Christe , are lost . And to the Romaines Christ ( sayth he ) was deliuered vp for our sinnes , Rom. 4. & rose again● for our iustification .

Heerevnto serueth it also , that h● wryteth in the. Rom. 10. 10. Chapter . I● thou confesse the lorde Iesus with thy mouth , and beleeue in thin● hart , that God raised him vp from the dead , thou shalt be saued . T● the Philippians he sayth more ouer : Philip. 3. I count al things but loss● for the excellent knowledge sake of Iesus Christe . Out of all this is there yet another thing concluded , namely : that not onli life is restored vnto vs , but also that in the resurrection of the Lord , the immortalitye of the soule is grounded faste and sure . For so sayth the lord himself in the gospell : Iohn . 11. I am the resurrection and the life : he that beleueth on me , thoughe he were deade , he shall liue : and whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me , shall neuer die .

Yet another frute also receiue we out of the resurrection of the lord : namely that we are assured & out of doute , euen as if we had receiued wryting & seale therof , that our owne bodies likewise shal rise from death : forasmuch as in the true resurrection of the body of Christ , oure resurrection hath a fast and vmnoueable grounde For Paule sayeth : Christe ros● from the deade , 1. Cor. 15. & is become th● first frutes of them that sleepe . Fo● by one man came death , & by on● man came the resurrection of ● dead . For as by Adam all die , by Christ shal all be made aliue but euery one in his own order ▪ The first is Christe , then they are Christes . &c. Now he that i● the first can not be alone : the hea● also shal not forsake the member ▪ Seing then that Christ the head ● risen , it must needes folow , tha● we also , as members , muste ri● again . For euen in the same plac● doth Paule conclude : if the dea● rise not again , them is not Chri●● risen againe . And finally oute of the wordes of the holye Apostle Paul we learn , Rom. 6 Collos. 3. that thorow the ensample of Christe , that was raised vp , we are not onli prouoked to take vpon vs a new life , but that we also thorowe the power of Christ are renued , that we mighte leade an innocent and holye life . And thus haue I breefely comprehended and declared the principall frutes of the resurrection of the Lorde .

MOreouer , it shall be exdient to know , to what place the true body of the Lorde was caried or came : whether it was laid in the earthe againe , or vanished away , or turned into the nature of the Godhead , or otherwise chaunged into a sprite . In this poynt , we affirm thus : The right old Christian faith , the vpright holy scripture , & the auncient Doctrine of the Christian church , doth teach , hold , and confes , that Iesus Christ , very go● and man , hath not laid away , no● mixt together , nor yet put of hi● natures , the godhead & the ma●hode : but that he kepeth stil bothe natures in theyr properties v●blemished , & that he ascended v● to heauen very true God & ma● For so we knowledge and confes in the Crede : he ascended vp to heauen . We finde also in the gospell of Marke : so then , when the Lord had spoken vnto them , Marke . 16. he was receiued into heauen , & sitteth on the right hand of god . Item Ruffinus an olde wryter ( who hath declared the articles of the faith ) saith : Ruffinus . he ascended into the heauens : not thether where the worde , that is God , was not afore ( for he was euer stil in heauen and continued in his father ) ●ut thether wher the word , that became man , sate not afore . Yet ●il we declare this more plain●y out of the gospel of Luke , Luke . 24. wher ●t is written thus : and he led them out into Bethanie , & lifte vp hi● handes , and blessed them . And ● came to pas , as he blessed them he departed from them , and wa● caried vp into heauen .

Nowe if thou ponder euery thing heere thorowly , thou mu●● needes acknowledge , and bein● ouercome wyth the truthe , tho● must nedes confesse , that the very true body of the lord was n● layd away , neyther turned int● the nature of the godhead : but h● a very true man , who at one ti●● is but in one place , ascended a● was taken vp into heauen , as ● to one place . He led them out● saith he . Who ? I prai the. Eue● the Lorde Iesus , whiche vnto than , by the space of forty daies , had in very deede truely shewed himselfe vnto his disciples , that he was risen from the dead with a very true essencial body . Euen he , the very same that had taken vnto him a true bodi , led his disciples out vnto Bethanye , & from thence brought he them farther to Mount Oliuet . And in the same place , lifting vp his handes ( no doubt , bodely & humain hands ) yea with the prints & tokens of the woundes , he blessed them , ●amely his disciples : that is , he saluted them , as the maner is of ●hose that take their leaue of vs . And so departed he from them , ● set his body corporally in heauen , as in one place . For afterward it foloweth yet more plain : he departed from them : that is , he was caried into heauen .

For , to be caryed , may heare be spoken , only of the body : and in suche sorte departed he from them , that his body was from the earth taken vp into heauen .

And though all this be euiden● and plain in it self , yet by the Euangelist Luke , Actes . 1. in the Actes o● the Apostles , it is set forthe an● opened more manifestly . For afore all things he testifieth , that th● Lord arose with his owne true b●dy : and that by the space of . 4● daies , with many tokens & euide●ces , he plainli proued & declar● his resurrection vnto the Disciples . And immediatly he addeth therevnto , that euen the very same body was taken vp into heauen . For whan he had spoken these things ( saith he ) while they beheld him he was taken vp on hie : and a cloud receiued him vp out of their sight . Lo , the Lord was taken vp : yea euen in their eye sight was he taken vp on hie , so that a cloud receiued his very true body away from the sight of their eyes . I beseche you , what can be more aptly or more conuenientli spoken of an essencial body ?

It foloweth farther in the Euangelist Luke : and while they loked stedfastly vp towards heauen as he went ( mark that wel ) beholde , two men stode by them in white Apparell , which also sayd : ye menne of Galilee , why stand ye gasing vp into heauen ? This same Iesus , who is taken vp from you into heauen , shal so come , euen as ye haue seene him go into heauen . Wherfore oure Lord Iesus is departed vp into heauen , with his own true essentiall body : yea euen with the same which he raised vp from the dead . For euen with the same very true humaine bodye shall he come again vnto iudgement , according as the Lord himselfe sayd , & the Prophet Zachary , Math. 26. Zach. 12. Iohn . 19. whose words s . Ihon aledgeth : They shal loke on him , whom they haue pearsed .

Thus I truste it is sufficiently proued and declared , that the Lord Iesus , with his own very true bodye which he raised from deathe , is gone vp into heauen . But to the intente that no man mistake this worde ( heauen ) or otherwise imagine any thing , that is darke or not vnderstand , wherby the simple being in erroure , may scase know at the last wher heauen is , or where Christ hath his dwelling : It shal therfore be nedeful , brefely to declare , what the heauen is : and that the Lord with his own true body doth dwell in heauen , as in one place . For heauen is a certain assured place , and not only a name & declaration of the estate & being in heauen . Therfore whan it is sayde , Christ is gon vp into heauen , it is not so much as only to say , he hath taken vpon him an heauenly estate or being : but also , he dwelleth bodely in heauen , as in one place .

THis worde ( Heauen ) in the scripture , is vsed diuers and sondry waies . First for the whol● firmament , which is called th● heauenly host , or beutifull apparell of the heauens . Hereof ha● thou recorde in the eighte an● ninetenth Psalme . Psal. 8.19 .

FIrst , the right hande of God is not referred vnto god him self , but vnto men , that are on the right hand . So that first the right hand of God dothe signify the eternal saluation , and the place of those , that be saued . This did holi Augustine teach , whose words I may well alledge , forasmuche as he also doth confirme & proue his opinion by the diuine and holye Scriptures . In his booke de Agone Christiano , August . de agone Christiano . cap. 26. he sayth : we ought not to heare them , that deny the sonne to sitte at the righte hand of God . For they say , hath god the father also a right or lef● side , as bodies haue ? Nether d● we vnderstand that of the father For with no bodelye proportion can God be described or comprehended . As for the right hand o● the father , it is nothing els but eternall saluation , which he sha●● geue to al godly & faithfull beleuers . In like manner is the left hande rightly taken for the euerlasting damnation , that shall com● vpon the vnbeleuers . So that n● of God , but of the creatures ● must be expounded , that is writte● of the right & left hand . For euen the body of Christ also , which is the church , shall come to the right hand , that is , into saluation , as the Apostle saithe to the Ephesians : Ephe. 2. he hathe raised vs vp together with him , & made vs sit together with him among them of heauen . For though oure bodies as yet be not there , our hope neuerthelesse is there already .

The same holy Augustin saith also further in the boke De fide & symbolo . De fide & symbolo . cap. 7. By the right hand ( saith ●e ) must be vnderstand the highest saluation , wher rightuousnes , peace & ioy is : like as the gotes also shal be set on the lefte hande . That is , by reson of theyr sins & wickednesse , they shal come into great calamity , troble & misery All these are the wordes of holy Augustine .

ANd thus now , to sit at th● right hand of God , is eue● as much , as to be in rest : that to say , al wretchednesse & miser● set aside , to liue in a godly life , to be partaker of eternall ioy Now that this word ( to sitte ) vsed in Scripture for rest , the places declare . In the. 4. boke Moises it is wrytten thus : sha● your brethren go to war , Num 32. & wo● ye sit here ? Mich. 4. And in Micheas : eu●ry one shal sit vnder his vine and figtree . &c. Mani mo such places ther be . Wherfore now , whan the scripture saithe , that the lord Iesus sitteth at the right hand of his father , it vnderstandeth it chefely of his humaine nature : which he he toke vpon him , that the same being discharged and free from al trauaile and misery of man , is now all in ioy , & partaker of the kingdom euerlasting . Thus saithe also Rufinus in his exposition of the Crede : Rufinus . to sit at the right hand of the father , is conuenient for the manhead receiued , which is receiued thorow a mistery . For to ascribe that to the diuine nature , it is vnseemely , as though it had a seate in heauen : but of the humaine nature it is properly vnderstand and spoken .

And the like yet did holy s . Peter teach afore Rufinus time , a● it is to see in the Actes . Actes . 2.3 .

But now might one ask wha● doth the son at the right hand o● the father ? Must he alway sitt● there , & be asmuch as made fast and bound vnto it ? Answere .