BOOK 7. THE RESURRECTION.
CHAPTER 2.
7.2.3. Of Desiring Jesus in that Respect.
Of Desiring Jesus in that Respect.
Let us desire after Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection. What desire is, we have opened before, "Some call it the wing of the soul, whereby it moveth, and is carried to the thing it expecteth, to feed itself upon it, and to be satisfied with it."
But what is there in Christ's resurrection that should move our souls to desire after it? I answer, 1. Something in itself. 2. Something as in reference unto us. --
1. There is something in itself; had we but a view of the glory, dignity, excellency of Christ as raised from the dead, it would put us on this heavenly motion, we should "fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat," Heb. i. 8. The object of desire is good, but the more excellent and glorious any good is, the more earnest and eager should our desires be; now Christ as raised from the dead is an excellent object; the resurrection of Christ is the glorifying of Christ, yea, his glorifying took its beginning at his blessed resurrection; now it was that "God highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every name," etc., Phil. ii. 9. And in this respect how desirable is he?
2. There is something in reference unto us; as,
(a). "He rose again for our justification," Rom. iv. 25. I must needs grant, that Christ's death, and not his resurrection is the meritorious cause of our justification; but on the other side, Christ's resurrection and not his death is for the applying of our justification; as the stamp adds no virtue, nor matter of real value to a piece of gold, but only it makes that value which before it had actually, appliable and current unto us; so the resurrection of Christ has no part of the price or satisfaction which Christ made to God, yet it is that which applies all his merits, and maketh them of force unto his members. Some I know would go farther, Lucius, a learned writer, saith, "That justification is therefore attributed to Christ's resurrection, because it was the complete and ultimate act of Christ's active obedience:" and from hence inferreth, "That remission of sin is attributed to his passive obedience, and justification or imputation of righteousness, to his active obedience." Goodwin, no way inferior to him, saith, that justification is put upon Christ's resurrection with a "Rather, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again," Rom. viii. 3 4. not but that the matter of our justification is only the obedience and death of Christ, but the form of our justification, or the act of pronouncing us righteous by that his obedience and death depends upon Christ's resurrection; for then it was that Christ himself was justified, and then he was justified as a common person, representing us therein, so that we were then justified with him, and in him, we are said, "to be risen with him, and to sit with him in heavenly places." Burges, one admirably judicious, said. That justification is given to Christ's resurrection, as a privilege flowing from its efficient cause: Indeed Christ's death "is the meritorious cause of our justification, but Christ's resurrection, is, in some sense (said he) the efficient cause, because by his rising again, the Spirit of God doth make us capable of justification, and then bestoweth it on us." I know there is some difference amongst these worthies, but they all agree in this, that the resurrection of Christ was for our justification, and that by the resurrection of Christ, all the merits of his death were made appliable unto us. As there was a price and ransom to be paid by Christ for the redemption of man, so it was necessary that the fruit, effect, and benefit of Christ's redemption should be applied and conferred; now this work of application and actual collation of the fruit of Christ's death, began to be infieri upon the resurrection day, but it was not then finished and perfected; for to the consummation thereof, the ascension of Christ, the mission of the Holy Ghost, apostolical preaching of the gospel to Jews and Gentiles, the donation of heavenly grace, and Christ's intercession at the right hand of God, were very necessary. O the benefit of Christ's resurrection as to our justification! "If Christ be not risen again, ye are yet in your sins, and your faith is vain" 1 Cor. xv. 17. Remission of sin (which is a part of our justification) though purchased by Christ's death, yet could not be applied to us, or possibly be made ours, without Christ's resurrection; and in this respect, Oh! how desirable is it?
(b). He rose again for our sanctification. So the apostle, "He hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together with Christ," Eph, ii. 5, 6. Our first resurrection is from Christ's resurrection; if you would know how you that were blind in heart, uncircumcised in spirit, utterly unacquainted with the life of God, are now light in the Lord, affecting heavenly things, walking in righteousness: it comes from this blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are "quickened with Christ:" it is Christ's resurrection that raised our souls being stark dead, with such a resurrection as that they shall never die more: whence the apostle, "Reckon yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord," Rom. vi. 11. We are dead to sin, and alive unto God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; we may reckon thus for ourselves, that if we be in Christ, there comes a virtue from Christ, an effectual working of Christ by his Spirit into our hearts, and it is such a work as will conform us to Christ dead, and to Christ risen; why, reckon thus, saith the apostle, go not by guess, and say, I hope it will be better with me than it hath been; no, no, but reckon, conclude, make account, "I must live to God, I must live the life of grace, for Christ is risen." To the same purpose he speaks before, "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Rom. vi. 4 . Christ rose again to a new life, and herein his resurrection differed from the resurrection of those others raised by him, as of Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, the widow of Nain's son, for they were but raised to the same life, which formerly they lived, but Jesus Christ was raised up to a new life: and according to this examplar we should now walk in newness of life: this is the end of Christ's resurrection, that we should be new creatures, of new lives, new principles, new conversations: he rose again for our sanctification.
(c). He rose again for our resurrection to eternal life, Christ is both the pattern and pledge, and cause of the resurrection of our bodies, "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead: for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive," 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22. There is a virtue flowing from Christ to his saints, by which they shall be raised up at the latter day: as there is a virtue flowing from the head to the members, or from the root to the branches, so those that are Christ's shall be raised up by Christ. Not but that all the wicked in the world shall be raised again by the power of Christ as he is a judge, for "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth," yet with this difference, "They that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation," John v. 28, 29. In this respect the saints shall have a peculiar resurrection; and therefore they are called "the children of the resurrection," Luke xx. 36. because "they shall obtain a better resurrection," as the apostle calls it, Heb. xi. 35. And is not Christ's resurrection desirable in this very respect? If we should think, these bodies of ours being dust must never return from their dusts, it might discourage; but here is our hope, Christ is risen, and therefore we must rise: it is the apostle's own argument against those that held "that there was no resurrection of the dead," why, saith the apostle, "If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is not Christ risen, -- If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; -- But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept," 1 Cor. xv. 12, 13, 16, 20. He argues plainly that Christ's resurrection is the principal efficient cause of the resurrection of the just, "I am the resurrection, and the life," saith Chirst, John xi. 25. (i.e.) I am the author, and worker of the resurrection to life." "As the Father raised up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will" John v. 21. and hence it is that Christ is called "a quickening Spirit," 1 Cor. xv, 45. Christ is the head and stock of all the elect, Christ is the author, procurer, conveyor of life to all his offspring, by the communication of his Spirit. Christ is a quickening Spirit, quickening dead bodies, the author both of the first and second resurrection. And is not this desirable?
(d). He rose again for the assurance of our justification, sanctification, and salvation. This is the reason why the apostle useth these words to prove the resurrection of Christ, "I will give you the sure mercies of David," Acts xiii. 34. none of God's mercies had been sure to us, if Christ had not risen again from the dead: but now all is made sure; his work of redemption being fully finished, the mercy which thereupon depended, was now made certain, (and as the apostle speaks) "sure unto all the seed," Rom. iv. 16.
Methinks a thought of this object in respect of itself, and in respect of us, should put our souls into a longing frame; is it not a desirable thing to see the King in his beauty? Were not the daughters of Zion glad to go forth, and "to behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals?" Cant, iii. 11. If Christ incarnate, and in human frailty was the desire of all nations, how much more is Christ exalted and in his glory? If it was Augustine's great wish to have seen Christ in the flesh, how should we but wish to see Christ as risen again from the dead? "He is altogether lovely, or he is altogether desirable," Cant. v. 16. desirable in the womb, desirable in the manger, desirable on the cross, even when despised, and numbered with thieves, desirable in his resurrection, yea, all desirable, as risen, exalted, glorified; in this consideration we cannot fathom the thousand, thousand part of the worth and incomparable excellency of Jesus Christ. Or, if Christ's resurrection in itself will not stir up our lazy desires, is it not desirable as in reference unto us? What, that he should rise again for our justification? That by virtue of his resurrection thy soul should appear righteous before the judgment seat of God? O! what a ravishing word is that, what a triumphant challenge? "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifeth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again," Rom. viii. 33, 34. Oh! the stings that many have, saying. What shall I do when I die, and go down to the dust? May not the Lord have something against me at the day of reckoning? Why, no poor soul, if thou art in Christ, it is he that died, yea, rather that is risen again for thy justification; by his resurrection he hath cleared all reckonings, so that now who shall condemn? Not sin, Christ hath taken it away; not the law, Christ hath fulfilled it for us; not Satan, for if the judge acquit us, what can the jailor do? O! my soul, that thy portion may be with theirs who hath right and title to this blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ; but thou sayest again, What is it to me if I be justified in Christ, and yet my heart remain unholy, and unsubdued to Christ; It is true, thou findest a woeful, sinful nature within thee, cross and contrary unto holiness, and leading thee daily into captivity? Yet remember it is Christ that died, yea, rather that, is risen again, and by virtue of his resurrection he hath given thee a new nature; another nature, which makes thee wrestle against sin, and shall in time prevail over all sin. But thou sayest again, What if I be justified and sanctified, if after death I shall not be raised to life? Why, fear not O my soul, for if Christ be risen thou shalt rise, and rise to eternal life, "I am the resurrection and the life," not only the resurrection, but life is in him originally, as water is in the fountain, and from him it is derived to us, "because I live, ye shall live also," John xiv. 19. But thou savest again, O! that I were assured of this? Many doubts and jealousies are upon me from day to-day. Sometimes indeed I have a comfortable hope of my justification, sanctification, salvation, and sometimes again, I am forced to cry, "Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?" Psal. lxxxviii. 14. O! Consider of the ends of Christ's resurrection; was it not to give thee the sure mercies of David? Was it not to apply the merits of Christ's active and passive obedience, and to bring them home to thy soul? Was it not to confirm and ratify thy faith, "else were it in vain?" 1 Cor. xv. 17. O! The person of Christ! And Oh the privileges of Christ as being raised from the dead! O! My soul, that thou wert on the wing in thy desires after Christ! O! that thy motions were as swift as the eagles that hasteth to eat! O that feelingly thou knewest him, and the power of his resurrection! That thou wert resolved to give no sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eye-lids, until thou could say, "Christ's resurrection is mine!" Why Lord, that I should long for vanities, trifles, toys, pleasures, profits, earthly contentments; that I should long, like some women with child, for a deal of baggage, ashes, coals, very loathsome food; and yet that I should feel no pantings, breathings, hungerings, thirstings after Christ's resurrection, to feed upon it, and to be satisfied with it? Come, here is a blessed object, here is delicious fare, O! stir up thy appetite, "Suck and be satisfied, drink yea, drink abundantly, O my beloved."