BOOK 7. THE RESURRECTION.
CHAPTER 2.
7.2.5. Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect.
Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect.
Let us believe in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection. This is one main article of our faith, "The third day he rose again from the dead," and this now I propound as the object of our faith: O let us believe it, let us believe our part and interest in it. And to that purpose let us look on Jesus as a common person; whatever consideration he passed under, it was in our stead, and in that respect we are to reckon ourselves as sharers with him. Scrupulous souls may object. Is it possible that Christ should rise, and that I should rise with him, and in him? Is it possible that Christ should die as a common person for my sins? And that Christ should rise, and by his resurrection should be justified as a common person in my room! O the mystery of this redemption! Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, 1 Tim. iii. 16. It is a mystery beyond my fathoming, that Christ, who is God in the flesh, should be justified in the Spirit for my justification; that Christ should die in my stead as a condemned man, and when he had finished his work, that he should rise again in my stead as a righteous person. These passages are past fathoming, and beyond believing! O! What shall I do? I find it hard, very hard to believe this point.
Scrupulous souls throw not away your confidence, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory," Luke xxiv. 26 . Was not satisfaction and justification, payment of debt, and discharge of bonds required of him, and of necessity for us? O believe! And that I may persuade to purpose, I shall lay down, First, Some directions, and, Secondly, Some encouragements of faith.
First: For directions of faith in reference to Christ's resurrection, observe, these particulars.
1. Faith must directly go to Christ.
2. Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh.
3. Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh, made under the law.
4. Faith must go to Christ, not only as made under the directive part of the law by his life, but under the penal part by his death; of all these before.
5. Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh, made under the directive and penal part of the law, and as quickened by the Spirit, "He was put to death in the flesh, (saith Peter) but quickened by the Spirit," 1 Pet. iii. 18. And accordingly must be the method and order of our faith: after we have looked on Christ as dead in the flesh, we must go on to see him as quickened by the Spirit, "If Christ was not raised, or quickened, (saith the apostle) your faith were in vain," 1 Cor. xv. 17. q.d. To believe in Christ, as only in respect of his birth, life, death, and to go no further, were but a vain faith; and therefore, shore up your faith to this pitch, that Christ who died is risen from the dead; to this purpose all the sermons of the apostles represented Christ, not only as crucified, but as raised: in that first sermon after the mission of the Holy Ghost, "Ye have crucified Christ, (said Peter to the Jews) and then it follows, whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains or chains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it," Acts ii. 23, 24. In the next sermon Peter tells them again, "Ye have killed the Prince of life;" and then it follows, "whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses," Acts iii. 15. In the next sermon after this, "Be it known to you all, (said Peter) and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, -- Is this man whole," Acts iv. 10. And in the next sermon after this, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree," Acts v. 30. And as thus he preached to the Jews, so in his first sermon to the Gentiles, he tells them, "We are witnesses of all things which Jesus did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew, and hanged on a tree; him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly," Acts x. 39, 40. And as thus Peter preached, so in that sermon of Paul at Antioch, he tells them of the Jews crucifying Jesus, and then it follows, "But God raised him from the dead," Acts xiii. 30. -- "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David, and thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption," verses 34, 35. And after this, Paul as his manner was, went into the synagogue at Thessalonica, and three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, "That Christ must needs suffer and rise from the dead," Acts xvii. 2, 3. This was the way of the apostles preaching; they told them an history, (I speak it with reverence) "Of one Jesus Christ, that was the word of God, and that was become man, and how he was crucified at Jerusalem, and how he was raised from the dead and all this in a plain, simple, spiritual way and manner; and while they were telling those blessed truths, the Spirit fell upon the people, and they believed, and had faith wrought in them. Faith is not wrought so much in a way of ratiocination, as by the Spirit of God, coming upon the souls of people by the relation, or representation of Jesus Christ to the soul. And this our Lord himself hints, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John iii. 14. When the people were stung, God so ordered, that the very beholding of the brazen serpent should bring help (though we know not how) to those that were wounded and stung by those fiery serpents; so God hath ordained in his blessed wisdom, that the discovery of Jesus Christ, as crucified and raised, as humbled and exalted, should be a mean of faith; come then, set we before us, Christ raised; not only Christ crucified, but Christ raised, is the object of faith; and in that respect we must look up to Jesus.
6. Faith in going to Christ as raised from the dead, or as quickened by the Spirit, it is principally, and mainly to look to the end, purpose, intent and design of Christ in his resurrection; very devils may believe the history of Christ's resurrection, "They believe and tremble," Jam. ii. 19, but the saints and people of God are to look at the meaning of Christ, why he rose from the dead. Now the ends are either supreme, or subordinate.
(a). The supreme end was God's glory, and that was the meaning of Christ's prayer, "Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee," John xvii. 1, with which agrees the apostle, "He rose again from the dead to the glory of the Father," Rom. vi. 4.
(b). The subordinate ends were many. As,
(i). That he might tread on the serpent's head.
(ii). That he might destroy the works of the devil.
(iii). That he might be the first-fruits of them that sleep.
(iv). That be might assure our faith, that he is the Lord, and that he is able to keep that which we have committed to him against that day.
(v). That he might be justified in the Spirit, as he was begotten in the womb by the Spirit, led up and down in the Spirit, offered up by the eternal Spirit, so he was raised up from the dead by the Spirit, and justified in his Spirit at the resurrection. Christ was under the greatest attainder that ever man was, he stood publicly charged with the guilt of a world of sins, and if he had not been justified by the Spirit, he had still lain under the blame of all, and had been liable to the execution of all; and therefore he was raised up from the power of death, that he might be declared as a righteous person.
(vi). That he might justify us in his justification, when he was justified, all the elect were virtually and really justified in him; that act of God which past on him, was drawn up in the name of all his saints; as whatever benefit or privilege God meant for us, he first of all bestowed it on Christ; thus God meaning to sanctify us, he sanctified Christ first: and God meaning to justify us, he justifies Christ first; so whatever benefit or privilege he bestowed on Christ, he bestowed it not on him for himself, but as he was a common person, and on representing us, thus Christ was sanctified instead of us, "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through thy truth," John xvii. 19, and thus Christ was justified instead of us, "For as by the offence of one judgment came upon all for condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came on all men unto justification," Rom. v. 18.
(vii). That he might regenerate us, and beget us anew by his resurrection, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again, -- by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Pet. i. 3. And this he doth two ways.
- As our pattern, platform, idea, or exemplar, "Like as Christ was raised from the dead, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Rom. vi. 4, "and likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord," verse 11.
- As the efficient thereof, "For when we were dead in sin, he hath quickened us together with Christ," Eph. ii. 5, and "ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of Gcd, who hath raised him from the dead," Col. ii. 12. O the power of Christ's resurrection in this respect! If we saw a man raised from the dead, how should we admire at such a wonderous power? But the raising of one dead soul is a greater work, than to raise a churchyard full of dead bodies.
(viii). That he might sanctify us, which immediately follows after the other, -- "But yield ye yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God," Rom. vi. 13. In our regeneration we are risen with Christ, and it is the apostle's argument, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth," Col. iii. 1, 2. We usually reckon two parts of sanctification, viz. mortification and vivification, now as the death of Christ hath the special influence on our vivification, "He hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together with Christ," Eph. ii. 5, 6.
O my soul Look to this main design of Christ in his rising again, and if thou hast any faith. O set thy faith on work to draw this down into thy soul! But here is the question, how should I manage my faith? Or how should I act my faith to draw down the virtue of Christ's resurrection for my vivification! I answer; --
- Go to the well-head, look into the resurrection of Jesus Christ, This one act contains in it these particulars, as,
- That I must go out of myself to something else, that is, that check that lies upon the work of grace, to keep out pride, that faith sees the whole good of the soul in a principle extraneous, even the springs of Jesus Christ. Alas! if this vivification were in me, or in my power, what swellings and excrescencies of pride should I quickly nourish? God therefore hath placed it in another, that I may he kept low, and that I may go out of myself to seek it where it is.
- That I must attribute wholly, freely, joyfully, all that I am to Jesus Christ, and to the effectual working of his grace, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me," Gal. ii. 20. "And, by the grace of God, I am what I am;" and "I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me," 1 Cor. xv. 10. The life of grace springs only from the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and therefore, as I must deny myself, so I must attribute all to him from whom it comes.
- I must lie at his feet with an humble expectation of, and dependency upon him, and him alone for the supplies of grace, this was the apostle's practice, "O that I may be found in him! O that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection! -- O that by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead! He lay at Christ's feet, with an humble expectation to feel the power of Christ's resurrection in raising him first from the death of sin to the life of grace, and after from death of nature to the life of glory.
- Lay to these springs thy mouth of faith; it is not enough to have all the treasures of grace, all the actings of Christ for thee, laid before thee, but thou must act thy faith upon that object; O! then go to Christ's resurrection and believe, make a particular application of those glorious effects of Christ's resurrection upon thy soul. Say, "Lord, thou diedst that I might die to sin, and thou wast raised from the dead, that I might be raised to newness of life. Come, Lord, and quicken my dying sparks, give me to lay hold on Christ's resurrection, give me to adhere to it, and to rest upon it, and to close with it; I see without faith, I am never a whit better for Christ's resurrection, and thy commands are upon me, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it," Psal. lxxxi. 10. Why, "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief," Mark ix. 24. This faith is necessary to our vivification as well as Christ. Christ is the fountain of life, but faith is the means of life; the power and original of life is entirely reserved to Jesus Christ, but faith is the radical bond on our part, whereby we are tied unto Christ, and live in Christ; and thus saith Christ himself; "I am the resurrection and the life," Is that all? No, "he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet he shall live," John xi. 25. "And I am the bread of life," Is that all? No, "he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst," John vi. 35.
- "Suck and be satisfied, milk out and be delighted," Isa lxvi. 11 . Christ's resurrection is a breast of consolation; there is in it abundance of life and glory, and therefore we should not believe a little, but much; the word suck, is as much as to exact on Christ; draw hard from Christ; the more we exercise faith, the more we have of Jesus Christ and of vivification; there is a depth in Christ's resurrection that can never be fathomed; when the soul hath as much as its narrow hand can grasp; whole Christ is too big to be enclosed in mortal arms; only the longer our arm of faith is, the more we shall grasp of him; and therefore suck and pull, and draw hard, and to this purpose.
- Pray for an increase of faith, complain to Christ of the shortness of thy arm; tell him thou canst not believe as thou wouldst, thou canst not get in so much of Christ into thy soul as thou desirest, thy vivification is very poor and small; Oh! when Christ hears a soul complain of dwarfishness in faith and grace, then is he ready to let out his fulness, even grace for grace.
- Act thy faith vigorously on Christ's resurrection for a further degree of quickening activity, and lively ability of grace. Christ is an everflowing fountain, and he would have believers to partake abundantly of what is in him; he cannot abide that any should content themselves with a present stock of grace; Christ is not as a stream that fails, or as a channel that runs dry; Christ is not as water in a ditch, which hath no living spring to feed it; no, no; Christ is the fountain of life, he is the chief ordinance of life that ever God set up. I know there are other means of Christ's appointment, but if thou wilt live at the spring, and drink in there, yea, drink abundantly, according to the overflowings of this fountain, O the life, and growth of life that would come in! Oh! the virtue of Christ's resurrection (that Christ's Spirit meeting and assisting) would flow into thy soul for thy vivification.
Secondly: Thus for directions; now for the encouragements of our faith to believe in Christ's resurrection.
1. Consider of the excellency of this object. A sight of Christ in his beauty and glory, would ravish souls, and draw them to run after him; the wise merchant would not buy the pearl, till he knew it to be of excellent price, great things are eagerly sought for; Christ raised, Christ glorified, is an excellent object; O! who would not sell all to buy this pearl! Who would not believe?
2. Consider of the power, virtue, and influence of this object, into all that golden chain of privileges, "If Christ be not raised, you are yet in your sins; then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished," 1 Cor. xv. 17, 18. From the resurrection of Christ flows all those privileges, even from justification to salvation. The first is clear, and therefore all the rest.
3. Consider that Christ's resurrection and the effects of it are nothing unto us, if we do not believe; it is faith that brings down the particular sweetness and comforts of Christ's resurrection unto our souls: it is faith that puts us in the actual possession of Christ's resurrection; whatsoever Christ is to us before faith, yet really we have no benefit by it until we believe; it is faith that takes hold of all that Christ hath done for us, and gives us the actual enjoyment of it; Oh! let not the work stick in us? what, is Christ risen from the dead; and shall we not eye this Christ, and take him home to ourselves by faith? The apostle tells us, "That "he that believeth not, hath made God a liar, because he believeth not the record that God hath given of his Son," 1 John v. 10. Unbelief belies God in all that he hath done for us. O! take heed of this, without faith what are we better for Christ's resurrection?
4. Consider of the tenders, offers, apparitions that Christ raised, makes of himself to our souls; when first he rose (to confirm the faith of his disciples) he offers himself, and appears to Mary Magdalene, to the other women, to Peter, Thomas, and all the rest; and all these apparitions were on this account that they might believe, "These things are written that ye might believe," John xx. 31. In like manner Christ at this day offers himself in the gospel of grace; and by his Spirit he appears to souls. Methinks we should not hear a sermon of Christ's resurrection, but we should imagine as if we saw him, "Whose head and hairs are white like wool, as white as snow, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, whose feet are like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, whose voice is as the sound of many waters," Rev. i. 14, 15. Or, if we are dazzled with his glory, methinks, at least, we should hear his voice, as if he said, "Fear not, I am the first, and the last, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore," Amen, verse 17, 18. q.d. Come, cast your souls on me; it is I that have conquered sin, death, and hell for you; it is I that have broke the serpent's head, that have taken away the sting of death, that have cancelled the bond of the hand-writing against you, that have in my hands a general acquittance and pardon of your sins; come, take it, take me, and take all with me; see your names written in the acquittance that I tender, take out the copy of it in your own hearts; only believe in him who is risen again for your justification. O my soul! what sayest thou to this still sweet voice of Christ? Shall he who is the Saviour of men, and glory of angels desire thee to believe, and wilt thou not say Amen to it? Oh! how should I blame thee for thy unbelief? What aspersions doth it cast on Christ? He hath done all things well, he hath satisfied wrath, fulfilled the law, and God hath acquitted him, pronounced him just, saith he is contented, he can desire no more; but thou sayest by unbelief that Christ hath done nothing at all, unbelief professeth Christ is not dead, or at least not risen from the dead, unbelief professeth that justice is not satisfied, that no justification is procured, that the wrath of God is now as open to destroy us as ever it was. Oh! that Christ should be crucified again in our hearts by our unbelief; come, take Christ upon his tenders and offers, embrace him with both arms.