NOTES.
(a) P. 178. — ' I have learned It is very significant in the original.' The
original is ,a£//,!j};/j(,a/, = I have been fully taught, I have heen initiated. The Vul- gate is closer than our version, ' institutus sum.' The Bishop of Gloucester (Ellicott) has an interesting note on this a-r. \iy!iijj. of the New Testament in loc. (ver. 12).
(6) P. 18-i. — ' Lord, deliver me from my miserable necessities.' The saying is that well known one of Augustine, 'A necessitatibus meis libera me Domine.' Of. note a. Vol. IV. p. 304.
(c) P. 192. — ' " He never casts in the teeth," as James saith.' The verb is ov£/S/^w, which the authorised version in Mat. xxvii. 44, renders precisely as Sibbes does here. G.
VOL. V.
THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
THE po\\t<:r of cnmsT's resurrection.
NOTE.
' The Power of Christ's Kesurrection ' forms the second of two sermons issued in a tiny volume in 1638 (18mo). The former has already appeared. See Vol. II. pp, 200-208. The general title-page will be found at page 198 ; the separate one is given below.* In footnote at page 198, read Cotes, not Coates. The present sermon takes its place naturally here along with the others from the Epistle to the Colossians. G.
* THE SECOND
SERMON.
THE POWER
OF CHRIST'S
RESURRECTION:
O E,
A SERMON UPON
Colo s. 3. 1.
Preached by that Faithfull and
Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbcs,
D. D. and sometimes Preacher to
the Honorable Societie.
of Grayes-Inne ;
And Master of Katherine Hall in
Cambridge.
E p H E s. 2. 4, 5, 6. According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that wee should be holy, S^c.
THE POWER OF CHEIST'S RESURRECTION.
If ye he risen tvtth Christ, seek those thinrjs which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. — Col. III. 1.
This verse hath dependence on the second chapter, and the twelfth and thirteenth verses of that chapter, where the apostle tells the Colossians that * they were risen with Christ from the dead by faith, and quickened by his Spirit ;' and thereupon follows this inference : * If therefore ye be risen with Christ,' shew it by seeking after those things which are in heaven, and are heavenly.
The apostle hath much ado to root out those dangerous conceits, which false teachers had settled in the hearts of the Colossians, touching some legal ceremonies, as ' touch not, taste not, handle not.' These dead things he tells them have no more use now ; and therefore, ' if you be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above.' These ceremonies were indeed appointed by God at the first, but now they are ended and brought to theii* grave ; and therefore no more to be revived, because they were not only dead, but deadly. Non solum mortua sed mortifera.
Now the apostle finding their hearts tainted with this false doctrine, having first sought to purge it out of their hearts, he then begins to season them with heavenly doctrine ; and he begins with general instructions, and so proceeds to particular callings, as of husbands and wives, and children and servants. Now because the well managing of the particular duties of these particular callings depends on a good general ; therefore he begins first to season their hearts with grace, knowing that it is so much the easier to be good in their particular callings, when they are first good in their general. But if not good in general, then never good in the particular. If a good man, then a good husband, a good father, a good master, fit for any good service ; but if not a good man, then good for nothing. So a woman, if a good woman, then a good wife, or good in any calling. So for children and servants, if good in the general, then good in every particular.
These words contain a ground, and an inference upon the ground : ' If you be risen with Christ,' There is the ground. ' Then seek the things that are above.' There is the inference. From the ground observe two things : first, that Christ is risen himself; secondly, that we shall rise.
Doct. 1. For the first, It is an article of our faith ;* and the Holy Ghost * In margin here, Fiducia Cliristiana. — G.
198 THE POWER OF CHRIST's RESURRECTION.
lialli tiikon a groat dual of pains to prove it. It is the confidence of Christians.* It is the main freehold that wo have, for we hold all by the resurrection of Christ. Therefore we had sixteen apparitions of Christ to make it firm and evident. It was impossible that he should be held of the bonds of death, Acts ii. 24. Impossible, first, as ho was invested with these three oifices, a king, a priest, and a prophet. Impossible, first, as he was a king ; for how then could he have triumphed over his enemies ? Secondly, impossible as he was a priest; for if he had not risen, how could he have made daily intercession for his peoi)le '? Thirdly, impossible as he was a prophet ; for else how could he have instructed his people ? r Use. Now as Christ rose the third day — manifesting thereby that he was dead — to his greater glory, so is it with his members. Never nearer help than when they are at the worst. Then that it may appear to be God's work, he will raise them apparently,! that he may be glorified. So like- wise when we are in any distress in the world, void of the help of man, then comes God in and raiseth us up, whether in our credit, estate, &c., as he will do our bodies at the last day. Let us therefore have patience for a while.