A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Unto a lively hope, &c.

Vnto a lively hope, &c.

Four things may be here noted: three of them I will but touch.

Foure things may be here noted: three of them I will but touch.

First, that there is hope unto the righteous: He can be in no such estate, or distress, but there is hope, the poorest Christian hath^a, his hope, and if he were enclosed with crosses, yet he is ^ba prisoner of hope: and therefore we should pray God to show us the ^chope of our calling, and should the more willingly suffer afflictions, ^drejoicing in hope.

First, that there is hope unto the righteous: He can be in no such estate, or distresse, but there is hope, the poorest Christian hath^a, his hope, and if hee were inclosed with crosses, yet he is ^ba prisoner of hope: and therefore wee should pray God to shew us the ^chope of our calling, and should the more willingly suffer afflictions, ^drejoycing in hope.

1. aJob 5.16.Iob 5.16.
2. bZach. 9.11.
3. cEphes. 1.18.
4. dRom. 5.3.

1. eEphes. 2.12.
2. fJob 8.13.Iob 8.13.

Thirdly, there is one hope unto all Gods children: they hope for the same glory, as they have the same faith, and therefore we should live, and love so together, as they that hope to reign together in heaven^h.

Thirdly, there is one hope unto all Gods children: they hope for the same glory, as they have the same faith, and therefore we should live, and love so together, as they that hope to raigne together in heaven^h.

1. hEph. 4.3, 4, 5.

But the fourth thing is the chief, and that is, that there is a lively hope, and a dead hope. For the one is expressed, and the other is manifestly implied: There is in godly men a lively hope; there is in wicked men, but a d•ll and a dead hope.¹ Now if any ask, what difference there is between a lively hope, and a dead hope; or between the true hope, and the false: I answer, that they differ in six things. First, in the use of the means: for a lively hope will use all the means, that are appointed of God, and not that only, but it seeketh and expresseth the ⁱaffections requisite to the right use of the §1means, and it will be painful and patient: Now the common hope of carnal men betrays it self in this, that they think to g•e to heaven, though they never use the […], or […], nor with any §2pains or patience. Secondly, in adversity a lively hope plainly shows it self: For it will make a man to run to God, and pour out his heart before him,³ resting satisfied if it can get comfort, and a promise from God; whereas the dead hope is of no use, when miseries and adversity comes: It delights not in prayer, and will not brook to come in Gods sight; it runs to carnal and devilish helps, and if it fail in them, it excites impatient murmuring, or despair. Thirdly, a lively hope is attended with lively joys: §3when God works the hope of heaven, he works also at some time or other, more or less the joys of heaven, which he utterly denies to wicked §4men. Fourthly, mans hopes may be tried by •he object: A•ke a wicked man, what is the thing he would have in heaven, and he must answer, it is the joys and happiness of heaven: But ask a godly man, what he would have in heaven, and he soon answers, it is the holiness of heaven, he would be there, because he would sin no more: but the wicked would be there, because they would suffer no more: it

¹The use of all this may be to instruct both carnal men, and godly men: Carnal men should take notice of this difference, that so they might address themselves to seek this true and lively hope, which that they may obtain, ⟨p. 37⟩or attain; they must shun hypocrisy, and deny all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and labour for true grace: for the ⁿhypocrites hope shall perish, and we can never attain unto the blessed hope, unless we resolve to ^olive soberly, and righteously, and religiously in this present world; and this everlasting consolation and good hope ^pis had only by grace: and the godly should here learn to hold fast their lively hope, as one of the excellentest fruits of their regeneration, and their daily refuge should be to nourish ^qand strengthen themselves in it, and to that end acquaint themselves constantly with the comforts of the scripture, which were penned especially to that end, that they ^rmight have hope.

¹The use of all this may be to instruct both carnall men, and godly men: Carnall men should take notice of this difference, that so they might addresse themselves to seeke this true and lively hope, which that they may obtaine, ⟨p. 37⟩or attaine; they must shun hypocrisie, and deny all ungodlinesse, and worldly lusts, and labour for true grace: for the ⁿhypocrites hope shall perish, and we can never attaine unto the blessed hope, unlesse we resolve to ^o

And thus much of the third thing.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

By the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead.

Concerning the resurrection of Christ, as it may here be considered of, • propound four things. 1. In what sense it is here to be understood. 2. How his resurrection hath relation to us, in that our new birth is here ha••ed upon it. 3. I answer a question or two, which here may be moved: and then I make use of all.

Concerning the resurrection of Christ, as it may here be considered of, • propound foure things. 1. In what sense it is here to be understood. 2. How his resurrection hath relation to us, in that our new birth is here ha••ed upon it. 3. I answer a question or two, which here may be moved: and then I make use of all.

For the first: Some have understood by the resurrection of Christ here synecdochically, the whole work of redemption: Some understand the words, of his spiritual resurrection in our hearts by faith through the operation of the spirit of grace: for as he dyeth in us by infidelity; so he riseth in us by faith, But I •ake it here, as it is commonly taken, even for the resurrection of his own person, even for that work, by which he did shake off the power of death, and quicken his dead body restoring the soul to it, and receiving to himself in his humane nature, a blessed, celestial, and glorious life. In the belief of this we differ from Pagans: They can believe, that he dyed; but we must believe, that he rose again. This was solemnly foretold by ^sDavid, and foreshowed by ^tJonah; manifested by an ^uAngel; recorded by the Evangelists; published by the Apostles; and demonstrated by ^*six several apparitions.

For the first: Some have understood by the resurrection of Christ here synecdochically, the whole worke of redemption: Some understand the words, of his spirituall resurrection in our hearts by faith through the operation of the spirit of grace: for as he dyeth in us by infidelity; so he riseth in us by faith, But I •ake it here, as it is commonly taken, even for the resurrection of his own person, even for that work, by which he did shake off the power of death, and quicken his dead body restoring the soule to it, and receiving to himselfe in his humane nature, a blessed, celestiall, and glorious life. In the beleefe of this we differ from Pagans: They can beleeve, that he dyed; but we must beleeve, that he rose againe. This was solemnly foretold by ^sDavid, and foreshewed by ^tIo•ah; manifested by an

Now for the second: The resurrection of Christ i• • fountain of singular benefits unto us: For from thence flows, 1. our glorification: for he went away to provide a place for us,¹ even to prepare ^ythose heavenly mansions for us. 2. The resurrection of our bodies: for the spirit that raised Christ from the dead, hath thereby given us assurance, that he will raise our ^zmortal bodies also. 3. The confirmation of our faith, and that in divers things: For his resurrection assures us that he is the promised Messiah, and ^aSon of God: and that our debt is payed, and that he hath discharged the uttermost farthing (for else he had not been let out of prison,) and that he hath vanquished all our spiritual enemies, and utterly foiled and disarmed them, in that they could not keep him down, when they had him in the grave: but he hath triumphed over them. 4. Our justification, and regeneration: for so the Apostle shows in the 4. to the Romans, that ^bhe rose again for our justification, and here it is expressly said, that we are begotten again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now for the second: The resurrection of Christ i• • fountaine of singular benefits unto us: For from thence flowes, 1. our glorification: for hee went away to provide a place for us,¹ even to prepare ^ythose heavenly mansions for us. 2. The resurrection of our bodies: for the spirit that raised Christ from the dead, hath thereby given us assurance, that he will raise our ^z

Quest. But may some one say: If this be true,¹ that we are begotten again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; then it seems, men were not begotten again in the old Testament; or else not by the resurrection of Christ: For he was not then risen.

Quest. But may some one say: If this be true,¹ that we are begotten again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; then it seemes, men were not b•gotten againe in the old Testament; or else not by the resurrection of Christ: For he was not then risen.

1. 1Quest.

Answ. For answer hereunto,¹ we must consider in the resurrection of Christ two things: 1. The act of his resurrection, and 2. the virtue of it: we are not regenerate by the act of his resurrection:² and for the virtue of it, Faith could receive it, aswell as the act was to come, as now in us it doth the act being past: Christ was risen in the old Testament three ways: ⟨p. 38⟩1. In the counsel of God. 2. In the word of prophecy. 3. In the efficacy of it.

Answ. For answer hereunto,¹ wee must consider in the resurrection of Christ two things: 1. The act of his resurrection, and 2. the vertue of it: we are not regenerate by the act of his resurrection:² and for the vertue of it, Faith could receive it, aswell as the act was to come, as now in us it doth the act being past: Christ was risen in the old Testament three wayes: ⟨p. 38⟩1. In the counsell of God. 2. In the word of prophesie. 3. In the efficacie of it.

1. 1Answ.
2. 2Christ risen in the old Testament 3. ways.Christ risen in the old Testament 3. wayes.

²Quest. But how doth it follow, that we are regenerate, because Christ is risen?

1. 2Quest.

¹Answ. I answer: Christ must be considered two ways: first naturally as man: secondly mystically as head. If Christ be considered barely as a man, it doth not follow; but if he be considered in the mystical union with his members, as he sustaineth their person, and was surety for them it will follow, he rose again to this end, that he might receive power to raise our souls by the first resurrection, and our bodies at the last day. Or more plainly thus: Our regeneration depends upon the resurrection of Christ three ways: 1. As his resurrection was a pledge, and assurance, that he would raise us; he showed his power, that he could do it, he laid down his body before our eyes, and quickened it again before our faces, and gave us that sign to assure us, of what he could do focus. 2. As by his resurrection, he merited ours. 3. The spirit of Christ applies the virtue of Christs resurrection for the quickening of us, and the accomplishment of our whole vivification, and new obedience.

¹Answ. I answer: Christ must be considered two wayes: first naturally as man: secondly mystically as head. If Christ be considered barely as a man, it doth not follow; but if he bee considered in the mysticall union with his members, as he sustaineth their person, and was surety for them it will follow, he rose againe to this end, that he might receive power to raise our soules by the first resurrection, and our bodies at the last day. Or more plainely thus: Our regeneration depends upon the resurrection of Christ three wayes: 1. As his resurrection was a pledge, and assurance, that he would raise us; he shewed his power, that he could doe it, he laid downe his body before our eyes, and quickned it againe before our faces, and gave us that signe to assure us, of what he could doe fo•us. 2. As by his resurrection, he merited ours. 3. The spirit of Christ applies the vertue of Christs resurrection for the quickening of us, and the accomplishment of our whole vivification, and new obedience.

1. 1Answ. How our regeneration depends upon Christs resurrection.