A Golden Chain

Thus much of Christs exaltation in general. Now let us come to the degrees thereof, as they are noted in the Creed, which are in number three: I. He ⟨p. 397⟩rose again the third day: II. He ascended into heaven: III. He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty. In the handling of Christs resurrection we must consider these points: I. why Christ ought to rise again: II. the manner of his rising: III. the time when he rose: IV. the place where: V. the uses thereof. For the first, it was necessary that Christ should rise again, and that for three especial causes. First, that hereby he might show to all the people of God that he had fully overcome death. For, else, if Christ had not risen, how should we have been persuaded in our consciences, that he had made a full & perfect satisfaction for us: nay rather we should have reasoned thus: Christ is not risen, & therefore he hath not overcome death, but death hath overcome him. Secondly, Christ which died, was the son of God; therefore the author of life it self: and for this cause it was neither meet nor possible for him to be holden of death, but he must needs rise from death to life. Thirdly, Christs priesthood hath two parts: one, to make satisfaction for sin by his one only sacrifice upon the cross: the other, to apply the virtue of this sacrifice unto every believer. Now he offered the sacrifice for sin upon the cross, before the last pang of his death, and in dying satisfied the justice of God: and therefore being dead must needs rise again to perform the second part of his priesthood, namely to apply the virtue thereof unto all that shall truly believe in him, and to make intercession in heaven unto his father for us here on earth. And thus much of the first point.

Thus much of Christs exaltation in generall. Nowe let vs come to the degrees thereof, as they are noted in the Creed, which are in number three: I. He ⟨p. 397⟩rose againe the third day: II. He ascended into heauen: III. He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almightie. In the handling of Christs resurrection wee must consider these points: I. why Christ ought to rise againe: II. the manner of his rising: III. the time when he rose: IV. the place where: V. the vses therof. For the first, it was necessarie that Christ should rise againe, and that for three especiall causes. First, that hereby he might shewe to all the people of God that he had fully ouercome death. For, else, if Christ had not risen, howe should we haue beene perswaded in our consciences, that he had made a ful & perfect satisfaction for vs: nay rather we should haue reasoned thus: Christ is not risen, & therfore he hath not ouercome death, but death hath ouercome him. Secondly, Christ which died, was the sonne of God; therefore the author of life it selfe: and for this cause it was neither meete nor possible for him to be holden of death, but hee must needes rise from death to life. Thirdly, Christs priesthood hath two parts: one, to make satisfaction for sinne by his one onely sacrifice vpon the crosse: the other, to apply the vertue of this sacrifice vnto euery beleeuer. Now he offered the sacrifice for sinne vpon the crosse, before the last pang of his death, and in dying satisfied the iustice of God: and therefore beeing dead must needes rise againe to performe the second part of his priesthood, namely to apply the vertue thereof vnto all that shall truely beleeue in him, and to make intercession in heauen vnto his father for vs here on earth. And thus much of the first point.