A30167:529
Light for them that sit in darkness, or, A discourse of Jesus Christ, and that he undertook to accomplish by himself the eternal redemption of sinners also, that the Lord Jesus addressed himself to this work, with undeniable demonstrations that he performed the same : objections to the contrary answered / by John Bunyan.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
These Saints coming out of their Graves after him; what a Testimony is it, that he, for them, had taken away Sin, and destroyed him that had the Power of Death: yea, what a Testimony was it that he had made amends to God the Father, who granted him at his Resurrection, to have presently out of the Grave, Of the Price of his Blood, even the Body of many of the Saints which slept. He was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Spirit of Holiness, and the Resurrection from the Dead, Rom. 1. 4. It saith not, by his Resurrection, though that be true; But by the Resurrection, meaning the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints which slept, because they rose by virtue of his Blood; and by that he was with power declared to be the Son of God. They I say, were part of his Purchase, some of them for whom Christ died: Now for God to raise them, and that upon, and by virtue of his Resurrection; what is it, but an open Declaration from Heaven, that Christ by his Death hath made amends for us, and obtained Eternal Redemption for us?
These Saints coming out of their Graves after him; what a Testimony is it, that he, for them, had taken away Sin, and destroyed him that had the Power of Death: yea, what a Testimony was it that he had made amends to God the Father, who granted him at his Resurrection, to have presently out of the Grave, Of the Price of his Blood, even the Body of many of the Saints which slept. He was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Spirit of Holiness, and the Resurrection from the Dead, Rom. 1. 4. It saith not, by his Resurrection, though that be true; But by the Resurrection, meaning the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints which slept, because they rose by vertue of his Blood; and by that he was with power declared to be the Son of God. They I say, were part of his Purchase, some of them for whom Christ died: Now for God to raise them, and that upon, and by vertue of his Resurrection; what is it, but an open Declaration from Heaven, that Christ by his Death hath made amends for us, and obtained Eternal Redemption for us?
3thly. When he was risen from the Dead, God, to confirm his Disciples in the Faith of the Redemption that Christ had obtained by his Blood, brings him to the Church, presents him to them alive, shows him openly, sometimes to two or three, sometimes to eleven or twelve, and once to above five hundred Brethren at once, Acts ⟨p. 103⟩1. 3. Chap. 10. 40. Luk. 24. 13, 14, 15, 16. 31. John 20. 19. Chap. 21. 1, 2, 3, &c. 1 Cor. 15. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
3thly. When he was risen from the Dead, God, to confirm his Disciples in the Faith of the Redemption that Christ had obtained by his Blood, brings him to the Church, presents him to them alive, shews him openly, sometimes to two or three, sometimes to eleven or twelve, and once to above five hundred Brethren at once, Acts ⟨p. 103⟩1. 3. Chap. 10. 40. Luk. 24. 13, 14, 15, 16. 31. John 20. 19. Chap. 21. 1, 2, 3, &c. 1 Cor. 15. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
4thly. At his Resurrection, God gives him the Keys of Hell and of Death, Revel. 1. 16, 17. Hell and Death are the Effects and Fruits of Sin. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell, and the Wages of Sin is Death. But what then are Sinners the better for the Death and Blood of Christ? O! They that dare venture upon him are much the better, for they shall not perish unless the Saviour will damn them; for he hath the Keys of Hell and of Death. Fear not, saith he, I am the First and the Last, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and have the Keys of Hell and Death. These were given him at his Resurrection; as if God had said, My Son thou hast spilt thy Blood for Sinners, I am pleased with it, I am delighted in thy Merits, & in the Redemption which thou hast wrought; in token hereof, I give thee the Keys of Hell and of Death: I give thee all Power in Heaven and Earth, save who thou wilt, deliver who thou wilt, bring to Heaven who thou wilt.
5thly. At Christ's Resurrection, God bids him ask the Heathen of him, with a Promise to give him the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession. This Sentence is in the second Psalm, and is expounded by Paul's Interpretation of the Words before, to be spoken to Christ at his Resurrection ⟨p. 104⟩Thou art my Son, this Day have I begotten thee. I have begotten thee, that is, saith Paul, from the Dead.
He hath raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the Second Psalm. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, Act. 13. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Now mark at his Raising him from the Dead, he bids him ask, ASK of me, and that the Heathen: As if God had said, My Son, thy Blood hath pacified, and appeased my Justice; I can […] in justice, for thy sake, forgive poor Mortals their Sin; ASK them of me, ASK them, though they be Heathens, and I will give them to thee, to the utmost Ends of the Earth. This is then the First Demonstration to prove that Jesus Christ by what he hath done, hath paid full price to God for the Souls of Sinners, and obtained Eternal Redemption for them; namely, his being Raised again from the Dead.
He hath raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the Second Psalm. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, Act. 13. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Now mark at his Raising him from the Dead, he bids him ask, ASK of me, and that the Heathen: As if God had said, My Son, thy Blood hath pacified, and appeased my Justice; I can 〈…〉 in justice, for thy sake, forgive poor Mortals their Sin; ASK them of me, ASK them, though they be Heathens, and I will give them to thee, to the utmost Ends of the Earth. This is then the First Demonstration to prove that Jesus Christ by what he hath done, hath paid full price to God for the Souls of Sinners, and obtained Eternal Redemption for them; namely, his being Raised again from the Dead.
Secondly. A Second thing that demonstrateth this Truth, is, That he Ascended, and was received up into Heaven. So after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into Heaven, Mar. 16. 19.
SEcondly. A Second thing that demonstrateth this Truth, is, That he Ascended, and was received up into Heaven. So after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into Heaven, Mar. 16. 19.
This Demonstration consisteth of two parts.
1. Of his Ascending. 2. Of his being Received.
First, For his Ascending. He is ascended on High, Ephes. 4. 8.
This Act of Ascending answereth to the High-Priest under the Law, who, after they had killed the Sacrifice, he was to bring the Blood into the most Holy Place, to wit, the inner-Temple, the Way to which, was ascending or going up, 2 Chron. 9.
Now consider the Circumstances that attended his Ascending, when he went to carry his Blood to present it before the Mercy-Seat: and you will find, they all say amends is made to God for us.
1. At this, He is again attended, and accompanied with Angels, Act. 1. 10, 11.
2. He ascendeth with a shout, & with the sound of a Trumpet, with sing Praises, sing Praises, sing Praises, Psal. 47. 5, 6.
3. The Enemies of mans Salvation are now tied to his Chariot-wheels. When he ascended on High, he led captivity captive, Ephes. 4. that is, he led Death, Devils, and Hell, and the Grave, and the Curse, captive, for these things were our Captivity. And thus did Deborah prophecy of him, when she cried, Arise Barak and lead thy Captivity captive, thou Son of Abinoam. This David also fore-saw when he said, Thou hast ascended ⟨p. 106⟩on high, thou hast led Captivity captive, Judges 5. 12. Psal. 68. 18.
4. The Apostles must be the Beholders of his going up, and must see the Cloud receive him out of their Sight, Act. 1. 11, 12.
