Now further, by way of gradation and assent, to make us raise up our thoughts in assurance of this, the 1Apostle useth a second reason, that is, Because Christ our surety is not only dead for us, and so hath paid our debt, but also is risen again to make the poor believer ⟨p. 149⟩more sure, he hath paid the debt. And the strength of the argument is thus. If Christ had not risen again, but been still in the power of the grave, and kept under by the enemy of our salvation, the poor believer might have been justly afraid his debt had not been paid, but Christ being risen and out of hold, he is out of doubt. As when the debtor sees the Kings Son that was his surety at liberty, and in the Kings Court, he fears not but his debt is paid; so when the poor believer sees Christ set free from the power of the grave, &c. he knows God hath accepted the payment he hath made as sufficient for him. Let us therefore look upon our selves as having a part in Christ, and know whatsoever he did, it was for us, even for every true believer; so that he rising again, we rise again, which being so, it manifests that God hath accepted Christ his payment, if any thing could hinder, it must be death and the grave; but Christ being risen, they have lost their power, and so none able to condemn, Rom. 6. 9. Christ rose for us never to dye again, and therefore that we should never dye eternally.
Now further, by way of gradation and assent, to make us raise up our thoughts in assurance of this, the 1Apostle useth a second reason, that is, Because Christ our surety is not onely dead for us, and so hath paid our debt, but also is risen again to make the poor believer ⟨p. 149⟩more sure, he hath paid the debt. And the strength of the argument is thus. If Christ had not risen again, but been still in the power of the grave, and kept under by the enemy of our salvation, the poor believer might have been justly afraid his debt had not been paid, but Christ being risen and out of hold, he is out of doubt. As when the debtor sees the Kings Son that was his surety at liberty, and in the Kings Court, he fears not but his debt is paid; so when the poor believer sees Christ set free from the power of the grave, &c. he knows God hath accepted the payment he hath made as sufficient for him. Let us therefore look upon our selves as having a part in Christ, and know whatsoever he did, it was for us, even for every true believer; so that he rising again, we rise again, which being so, it manifests that God hath accepted Christ his payment, if any thing could hinder, it must be death and the grave; but Christ being risen, they have lost their power, and so none able to condemn, Rom. 6. 9. Christ rose for us never to dye again, and therefore that we should never dye eternally.
- 12. Reason.
