2. He appears arguing his Resurrection from deeds, wherein is an act and object. 1. The act is, Thomas seeing and feeling, and q. d. Thomas, thou wilt not believe except thou seest, ⟨p. 439⟩and feelest, now this is against the nature of saith; it consisteth not in seeing or feeling, but on the contrary, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Indeed in things natural a man must have experience; and then believe: but in divine things a man must first believe, and then have experience, and yet to help thy unbelief (saith Christ) I am willing thus far to condescend,1 and yield unto thy weakness, come, feel the print of the nails, and of the spear, Come reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. Christ compassionates his children, though full of weakness and wants; He pities them that fear him, for he knoweth our frame, 2he remembereth that we are but dust. 2. The object is Christ seen or felt; his prints, and scars, are the very witnesses of our redemption, and of his resurrection; they declare that Satan is overthrown, that death and hell are swallowed up in victory, that He hath spoiled principalities and powers; and to this purpose are these texts, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? By Edom, is meant death, by Bozrah (the chief City of Edom) is meant the state of the dead or hell; from both which Christ returned at his glorious resurrection, For, thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, 3neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption, Psal. 16.10. Now saith the Prophet, or some Angel, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, who is this that cometh so triumphantly, with the keys of Edom, and Bozrah, of death and hell at his girdle? to which the answer is given, I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save; as much as to say, it is I Jesus Christ, I that am righteous in speaking, and mighty in saying; whose Word is truth, and whose Work is salvation, it is I, even I; this answer given, another question is propounded, Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? q. d. here's nothing but scars, and wounds, and blood; if thou art so mighty to save, How comes thy apparel to be so red, and sprinkled, or stained with blood?
2. He appears arguing his Resurrection from deeds, wherein is an act and object. 1. The act is, Thomas seeing and feeling, and q. d. Thomas, thou wilt not believe except thou seest, ⟨p. 439⟩and feelest, now this is against the nature of saith; it consisteth not in seeing or feeling, but on the contrary, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Indeed in things natural a man must have experience; and then believe: but in divine things a man must first believe, and then have experience, and yet to help thy unbelief (saith Christ) I am willing thus far to condescend,1 and yield unto thy weakness, come, feel the print of the nayls, and of the spear, Come reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. Christ compassionates his children, though full of weakness and wants; He pities them that fear him, for he knoweth our frame, 2he remembreth that we are but dust. 2. The object is Christ seen or felt; his prints, and skars, are the very witnesses of our redemption, and of his resurrection; they declare that Satan is overthrown, that death and hell are swallowed up in victory, that He hath spoiled principallities and powers; and to this purpose are these texts, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? By Edom, is meant death, by Bozrah (the chief City of Edom) is meant the state of the dead or hell; from both which Christ returned at his glorious resurrection, For, thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, 3neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption, Psal. 16.10. Now saith the Prophet, or some Angel, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, who is this that cometh so triumphantly, with the keyes of Edom, and Bozrah, of death and hell at his girdle? to which the answer is given, I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save; as much as to say, it is I Jesus Christ, I that am righteous in speaking, and mighty in saying; whose Word is truth, and whose Work is salvation, it is I, even I; this answer given, another question is propounded, Wherefore art thou red in thine apparrel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? q. d. here's nothing but skars, and wounds, and blood; if thou art so mighty to save, How comes thy apparrel to be so red, and sprinkled, or stained with blood?
- 1Heb. 11.1.
- 2Ps. 103.12, 13.
- 3Col. 2.12, 13. Isa. 63.1, 2, 3.
