his resurrection unprofitable to us, becoming unworthy and incapable of any good advantage thereby. Awake,' saith the apostle, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life;' to awake from our spiritual slumber, to arise from dead works, are the terms on which Christ doth offer that eternal happy life; for, as the pains and ignominies of his death will no-wise avail those who are not conformable to his death in dying to sin, and mortifying their lusts, so will not they be concerned in the joys and glories of his resurrection, who are not planted in the likeness thereof by renovation of their minds, and refor mation of their lives; for as he died, so he was also raised for us, that we should not henceforth live to ourselves, but unto him who died and rose again for us.' Our sins did slay him, it must be our repentance that reviveth him to us, our obedience that maketh him to live in our behalf; for Christ is not in effect risen to impenitent people; as they continue dead in trespasses and sins, as they lie buried in corruption of heart and life, so their condemnation abideth, and death retaineth its entire power over them; they shall not karαVTĀV εἰς τὴν ἐξανάτασιν, attain unto that happy resurrection,'' whereof our Lord's resurrection was the pledge and pattern; so did our Lord assure us in his preaching: He,' said our Lord, that believeth in the Son (that is, who with a sincere, strong, and lively faith, productive of due obedience, believeth in him) hath everlasting life;' but ó áæɛdwv, ‹he that disobeyeth (or with a practical infidelity disbelieveth) the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath Eph. v. 14. 2 Phil. iii. 10; Rom. vi. 5; 2 Cor. v. 15. 3 Phil. iii. 11. 6 of God abideth on him;" whence we may well infer with St. Paul, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh; for if we live after the flesh, we shall die; but if through the Spirit we do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live ; that is, assuredly by obeying God's will we shall obtain, by disobedience we must forfeit all the benefits of our Lord's resurrection. 5. Lastly, the contemplation of this point should elevate our thoughts and affections unto heaven and heavenly things, above the sordid pleasures, the fading glories, and the unstable possessions of this world; for him we should follow whithersoever he goeth;'3 rising with him, not only from all sinful desires, but from all inferior concernments, soaring after him in the contemplation of our minds, and affections of our heart; that although we are absent from the Lord in the body, we may be present with him in spirit,' having our conversation in heaven,' and 'our heart there, where our treasure is; for if our souls do still grovel on the earth, if they be closely affixed to worldly interests, deeply immersed in sensual delights, utterly 'enslaved to corruption,' we do not partake' of our Lord's resurrection, being quite severed from his living body, and continuing in vast distance from him I shall therefore conclude, recommending that admonition of St. Paul; 'If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on 2 Rom. viii. 13. 1 John, iii. 15, 36. Rev. xiv. 4; Eph. ii. 6. the earth; for you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God;' that' when Christ, who is our life shall appear, then ye may also appear with him in glory.' Amen. 1 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Pet. ii. 19; Rom. viii. 21; Gal. vi. 8; Apoc. iii. 1; 1 Tim. v. 6; Gal. iii. 1. SERMON IV. JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, PROVED BY HIS RESURRECTION. BY ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON. JOHN TILLOTSON was born in 1630. He was elevated to the Archiepiscopal see of Canterbury in 1691; and died, 1694.] |