A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

And the first begotten of the dead. In these words is contained the second office of Christ; namely, his Priesthood: the principal actions whereof stand in dying, in rising again from the dead, and making intercession for us. And here S. John alludeth to the estate of the families among the Jews, comparing Christ to the first borne: for as among them, he which was first borne, and eldest of the family, had many privileges and preeminences above his brethren; as Lordship, right of the Priesthood, and double portion, &c. so Christ he hath his privileges, yea even Christ crucified, he hath his prerogatives among the dead, above all that are dead. So Paul expounding this title, calleth him, The first borne, and beginning of the dead, that he might in all things have the preeminence. Coloss. 1. vers. 18.

And the first begotten of the dead. In these words is contained the second office of Christ; namely, his Priesthood: the principall actions whereof stand in dying, in rising againe from the dead, and making intercession for vs. And here S. Iohn alludeth to the estate of the families amōg the Iewes, comparing Christ to the first borne: for as among them, hee which was first borne, and eldest of the familie, had many priuiledges and preheminences aboue his brethren; as Lordship, right of the Priesthood, and double portion, &c. so Christ he hath his priuiledges, yea euen Christ crucified, hee hath his prerogatiues among the dead, aboue all that are dead. So Paule expounding this title, calleth him, The first borne, and beginning of the dead, that hee might in all things haue the preheminence. Coloss. 1. vers. 18.

The privileges of Christ dead, and buried among all the dead, are two: first, That he was the first that ever rose from death to life, and so to glory. Some indeed have risen before Christ from natural death to natural life, as Lazarus, but it was to die again. And Moses and Elijah assumed their bodies in the Mount with Christ in his transfiguration: but yet they laid them down again to the former misery of corruption, for a time. But Christ Jesus ros from death, to life eternal, never to die again: And his resurrection was the first steppe into his glory. Secondly, that by his own power he raised up himself, and by the virtue of his godhead quickened his manhood. The most godly man that is, or ever was, cannot do so: but all the saints of God are raised from death by virtue of Christs resurrection, through that mystical union which is between Christ the head, and all his members; by mean whereof, the power of Christ his godhead, which raised up his manhood, is conveyed to all his members in their resurrection from death to life. And therefore is Christ called