1. There was an apparition of Angels, she seeth two Angels in white, sitting, 1the one at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. I will not stay here, only for the opening of the words I shall answer these questions; As 1. What means the apparition of Angels? I answer, it is not only a preparation to Christ's apparition. Mary's loss must be restored by degrees; though she saw not Christ at first; yet she saw his Angels; it often pleaseth Christ in the desertions of his people, to come to them by degrees, and not at once, he comes first by his Angels; so it was at his birth, and so it is at his resurrection.—But, 2. What do Angels in a Sepulchre? it is a place fitter for worms than Angels: we never read of Angels being in a grave before this time; they are blessed creatures, and is the grave a fit place for them? O yes! since Christ lay in the grave, that very place is a blessed place; Blessed are the dead, 2which dye in the Lord from henceforth. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. But, 3. Why are the Angels in white? Solomon answers, that white is the colour of joy. Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head lack no ointment. 3When Christ was transfigured, his Raiment was all white, no Fuller in the earth could come near it; and the Saints in Heaven are said to walk in white Robes. And here the Angels are in white, to signify the joy they had in Christ's resurrection from the dead. —But, 4. Why are they one at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain? Some answer, that as Mary Magdalen had anointed his head and feet, so at those two places the two Angels sit; as it were to acknowledge so much for her sake. Others think it speaks comfort to every one of us; if we are but in Christ, we shall go to our graves in white, and lye between two Angels, who are said to guard ⟨p. 424⟩our Bodies even dead, and to present them alive again at the day of the resurrection.
1. There was an apparition of Angels, she seeth two Angels in white, sitting, 1the one at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had layen. I will not stay here, only for the opening of the words I shall answer these questions; As 1. What means the apparition of Angels? I answer, it is not only a preparation to Christ's apparition. Maries loss must be restored by degrees; though she saw not Christ at first; yet she saw his Angels; it often pleaseth Christ in the desertions of his people, to come to them by degrees, and not at once, he comes first by his Angels; so it was at his birth, and so it is at his resurrection.—But, 2. What do Angels in a Sepulchre? it is a place fitter for worms than Angels: we never read of Angels being in a grave before this time; they are blessed creatures, and is the grave a fit place for them? O yes! since Christ lay in the grave, that very place is a blessed place; Blessed are the dead, 2which dye in the Lord from henceforth. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. But, 3. Why are the Angels in white? Solomon answers, that white is the colour of joy. Let thy garments be alwayes white, and let thy head lack no ointment. 3When Christ was transfigured, his Rayment was all white, no Fuller in the earth could come near it; and the Saints in Heaven are said to walk in white Robes. And here the Angels are in white, to signifie the joy they had in Christ's resurrection from the dead. —But, 4. Why are they one at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had layen? Some answer, that as Mary Magdalen had anointed his head and feet, so at those two places the two Angels sit; as it were to acknowledg so much for her sake. Others think it speaks comfort to every one of us; if we are but in Christ, we shall go to our graves in white, and lye between two Angels, who are said to guard ⟨p. 424⟩our Bodies even dead, and to present them alive again at the day of the resurrection.
- 1John. 20.12, 13.Iohn. 20.12, 13.
- 2Rev. 14.13. Psal. 116.15.
- 3Eccles. 9.8. Mark 9.3. Rev. 7.9.
