that he entered into the field, and fet upon the bloody SERM, conflict with our foes; in this he returned a triumphant XXX. conqueror, having utterly vanquished and quelled them: the fury of the world, the malice of hell, the tyranny of fin, the empire of death, all of them combined to render us miferable, he did in his refurrection perfectly triumph over: and doth it not then become us to attend his glorious victories with our joyful gratulations? Is it not extremely comfortable to behold our gallant champion, (the only champion of our life and welfare,) after all the cruel blows which the infernal powers laid on him, after all the ghaftly wounds which human madness did inflict, after he had paffed through the fcorching flames of divine wrath and justice, after he had felt the foreft pangs of death, perfectly recovered from all those diftreffes; standing upright, and trampling on the necks of his proud enemies ? Are not most sprightful expreffions of gratitude, are not moft cheerful acclamations of praise due from us to the invincible Captain of our falvation? Shall we not with great alacrity of mind contemplate the happy fuccefs of that mighty enterprise, wherein no lefs our welfare than his glory was concerned? Is it not a pleasure to confider ourfelves fo exempted from that fatal doom, to which all human race was sentenced; to see life and immortality fo fpringing forth upon us; to view ourselves, the children of duft and corruption, from hence in age and dignity fo nigh equalled to the firft-born fons of the creation? 41. Quod cre It is faid of the firft difciples, that although they faw and felt our Lord rifen, yet for joy they could not believe Luke xxiv. it; fo incredibly good was the news to them; excess of love and delight choked, or rather suspended their faith: dunt tardiwe cannot be fuch infidels from surprise; but let us be faithful in our joy. as perfidia, us, non eft • Σήμερον ἡμῶν τὰ λαμπρὰ νικητήρια γέγονε. σήμερον ἡμῶν ὁ δεσπότης τὸ κατὰ θανάτου τρόπαιον ςήσας, καὶ τοῦ διαβόλε τὴν τυραννίδα καταλύσας τὴν διὰ τῆς ἀνατάσεως ὁδὸν ἡμῖν εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐχαρίσατο. “Η ποθεινὴ καὶ σωτήριος ἑορτὴ ἡ τῆς εἰρήνης ὑπόθεσις, ἡ τῆς καταλλαγῆς ἀφορ μὴ, ἡ τῶν πολέμων ἀναίρεσις, ἡ τὸ θανάτου κατάλυσις, ἡ τοῦ διαβόλου ήτα Chryf. tom. v. Or. 85. fed amoris, Chryfoft. Serm. 81. 9. SERM. 3. Great confolation furely it ought to breed in us, tỏ and we become entirely capable of falvation; that in it a 4. This confideration fhould be a forcible engagement Rom. xiv. upon us to obedience and holy life. Our Lord did by his refurrection gain a dominion over us, unto which if we do not submit, we shall be very injurious and wicked; unto which if we do not correspond by all humble obfervance, Acts iii. 26. we shall be very ingrateful and undutiful; He was raised to bless us, in turning every one of us from our iniquities; and no lefs unhappy than unworthy we shall be, if we defeat that gracious purpose; it is the condition of our obtaining the happy fruits and benefits of his refurrection, Rom. vi. 4. that we should ourselves rife with him unto righteousness and newness of life; by not complying therewith, we shall render his refurrection unprofitable to us, becoming unworthy and uncapable of any good advantage thereby. Eph. v. 14. Awake, faith the Apostle, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life; to awake from our fpiritual flumber, to arife from dead works, are the terms on which Chrift doth offer that eternal happy life for as the pains and ignominies of his death will nowife Phil. iii. 10. avail those who are not conformable to his death, in dying to fin and mortifying their lufts; fo will not they be concerned in the joys and glories of his refurrection, who are not planted in the likeness thereof by renovation of their 2 Cor. v. 15. minds and reformation of their lives; for as de died, fo he was alfo raised for us, that we should not henceforth live to ourfelves, but unto him who died and rofe again for us: Rom. vi. 5. 1 15. our fins did flay him; it must be our repentance that re SERM. XXX. viveth him to us, our obedience that maketh him to live in our behalf; for Chrift is not in effect rifen to impenitent people as they continue dead in trefpaffes and fins, as they lie buried in corruption of heart and life, fo their condemnation abideth, and death retaineth its entire power over them; they fhall not xaravтav eis Thy tavágaon, attain Phil. iii. 11. unto that happy refurrection, whereof our Lord's refurrection was the pledge and pattern; fo did our Lord affure in his preaching; He, faid our Lord, that believeth in the John iii. 36, Son (that is, who with a fincere, ftrong, and lively faith, productive of due obedience, believeth in him) hath everlafting life; but i ά, he that difobeyeth (or with a practical infidelity difbelieveth) the Son fhall not fee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him; whence we may well infer with St. Paul, Therefore, brethren, we are debt- Rom. viii. ors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: for if we live after the flesh, we shall die; but if through the Spirit we do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live; that is, affuredly by obeying God's will we fhall obtain, by dif obedience we must forfeit, all the benefits of our Lord's refurrection. 12, 13. Phil. i. 23. 5. Laftly, The contemplation of this point fhould elevate our thoughts and affections unto heaven and heavenly things, above the fordid pleasures, the fading glories, and the unstable poffeffions of this world; for him we should Rev. xiv. 4. Eph. ii. 6. follow whitherfoever he goeth; rifing with him, not only from all finful defires, but from all inferior concernments, foaring after him in the contemplation of our minds and affections of our heart; that although we are abfent from 2 Cor. v. 6. the Lord in the body, we may be present with him in spi-iii. 20. rit, having our converfation in heaven, and our heart there, Matt. vi. where our treasure is ; for if our fouls do ftill grovel on the earth, if they be closely affixed to worldly interests, deeply immerfed in fenfual delights, utterly enslaved to corrup-2 Pet. ii. 19. tion, we do not partake of our Lord's refurrection, being o quite fevered from his living body, and continuing in vaft (Gal. vi. 8. distance from him: I fhall therefore conclude, recom- 1 Tim. v. mending that admonition of St. Paul; If ye then be risen 6.) 21. Rom. viii. Rev. iii. 1. Col. iii. 1 SERM. with Chrift, feek thofe things which are above, where Chrift XXX. fitteth on the right hand of God: fet your affections on Heb. xiii. 20, 21. things above, not on things on the earth: for you are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in God; that when Chrift, who is our life, fhall appear, then ye may also appear with him in glory. Amen. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is wellpleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. He afcended into Heaven, and fitteth at the right hand of God. SERMON XXXI. MARK XVI. 19. He was received up into heaven, and fat on the right hand of God. OUR Lord after his refurrection having confummated SERM. what was requifite to be done by him upon earth, for XXXI. the confirmation of our faith, and the conftitution of his Church; having for a competent time converfed with his disciples, enlightening their minds with knowledge of the truths concerning him, and in right understanding of the Scriptures relating to him; establishing their faith in immoveable conviction, enflaming their affections by pathetical difcourfe, comforting their minds with gracious promises against tribulations ensuing, and arming their hearts with courage and patience against all oppofitions of earth and hell; directing and prescribing to them how they fhould proceed in the inftruction of men, and converfion of the world to the belief of his doctrine, the acceptance of his overtures, the observance of his laws; furnishing them with authority, and giving them orders to attest the truth concerning him, to difpenfe the grace and mercy procured by him, and to promulgate the whole will of God to mankind; promifing them fpiritual gifts and aids (both ordinary and extraordinary) neceffary or conducible either |