The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

That Christ did rise from the dead, we believe against all Jews, Turks, and profane Mockers, and are induced so to do by testimony both divine and humane. The divine testimonies are three: first, the Spirit of God, which testifieth two ways; first, by the Apostles and Evangelists, in the Evangelical Story, which we ought to believe if the Apostles had never been eye-witnesses: for if the witness of men be received, the witness of God is greater. Secondly, in the heart of every believer that relies upon the Gospel, Joh. 15. 26. The second testimony is the witness of Angels, who were sent from heaven of purpose to signify so much, Luk. 24. 5. as by Angels the conception and birth of Christ was testified from heaven, so was his resurrection. The third was the Apparition of Christ, showing himself many times alive from the dead. The Humane testimonies were three; first was the testimony of Mary Magdalen, and the other women that came to anoint the body of Jesus, Joh. 20. 1. as a woman was the first that brought from the Devil the tidings of sin unto the first Adam, so a woman is the first that from the good Angels brings the tidings of the Resurrection of the second Adam, by whom we are justified from our sins. The second was, the testimony of the Apostles, and fifty Disciples, and S. Paul, who all saw Christ after he was risen, 1 Cor. 15. 6. The third was, the testimonies of the Soldiers that watched the Sepulchre: wherein observe the great providence of God, that makes the high Priests against their wills from these men to know, that Christ was risen from the dead, who were set of purpose to hinder the report of the Resurrection, by watching the Sepulchre lest his Disciples should steal away his body by night.

That Christ did rise from the dead, we beleeue against all Iewes, Turkes, and prophane Mockers, and are enduced so to doe by testimony both diuine and humane. The diuine testimonies are three: first, the Spirit of God, which testifiech two waies; first, by the Apostles and Euangelists, in the Euangelicall Story, which wee ought to beleeue if the Apostles had neuer beene eye-witnesses: for if the witnesse of men be receiued, the witnesse of God is greater. Secondly, in the heart of euery beleeuer that relyes vpon the Gospell,