Sermon VI
ON CHRIST'S RESURRECTION
WE have heard in the treatise of the Lord's passion, that it is not sufficient to know only the bare history thereof. After the same manner it is not enough here to know how and when Christ rose again, but both the use and the profit, as well of his passion as of his resurrection, must be preached and known, viz., what Christ obtained for us by them. For where only the history is preached, it is a frivolous preaching and without fruit, which both Satan and the wicked as well know, read, and understand, as we do. But when the use of them is preached, and whereunto they profit, that indeed is a fruitful and wholesome sermon, and full of sweet consolation. Wherefore Christ hath declared the use and profit of his passion and resurrection, when he thus talketh with the women, Matt. 28:10, "Be not afraid: go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." And this is the first word which they hear of Christ after his resurrection from the dead, whereby he confirmeth
all his sayings, and all his benefits shewed unto them before, viz., that they should come unto us also that should believe in him, and belong only to the believers; for here he calleth not only the Apostles his brethren, but also all them which believe in him, although they do not see him visibly as the Apostles did. He doth not defer until we pray unto him and call upon, that we be made his brethren. Let any of us now come forth, and boast of his merit, or of the strength whereby he is able to merit anything. What had the Apostles merited! Peter denied Christ thrice. All the rest of the disciples fled away from him, they persevere and stand by him, even as the hare tarrieth with her young ones: he might have called them run-aways, and forsakers of their post in the midst of their conflict, yea, traitors and wicked men, rather than brethren.
Wherefore of mere grace and mercy this word was brought unto them of the matrons, which the apostles themselves then well perceived, and we also thoroughly feel, when we are set in the midst of sins, and are overcome of damnation. This word therefore is full of all consolation and comfort, that Christ careth for such wretched men as we are, yea, and that he calls us his brethren. If so be that Christ be our brother, surely I would fain know what good things we shall want. As therefore the case stands among carnal brethren, so doth it stand here. They that are German brethren by consanguinity, use their goods in common among themselves, having the same father, the same inheritance, otherwise they were not brethren; so we possess in common good things which Christ, enjoying the same Father, the same inheritance is not diminished, by parting it, as worldly inheritances are, but is always made more abundant; for it is a spiritual inheritance, a corporal inheritance, when it is distributed into divers parts, is made smaller, but in this portion of the spirit, the case is such, that he that hath gotten part thereof, hath obtained the whole. What is therefore the inheritance of Christ? In his power are life and death, sin and grace, and whatsoever is contained in heaven and in earth, his are eternal verity, strength, wisdom, righteousness. All power is given unto him, he hath rule over all things, over hunger and thirst, prosperity and adversity, &c.; he reigneth over all things
that can be thought, whether they be in heaven or in earth; and that I may speak at once, all things are in his power, as well eternal things as temporal. Now if I cleave unto him by faith, I shall be made a partaker of all his good things, and shall not obtain a part of the inheritance only, but I shall possess even with him everlasting wisdom, eternal strength. My belly shall not be grieved with hunger, sin shall not oppress me, neither shall I be afraid of the face of death, neither shall I dread the sight of Satan, nor shall I want plenty of anything that is good, even as he wanteth it not.
Hence we may easily understand the sayings uttered commonly in the prophets, and especially in the Psalms, as where David saith, Psalm 34:10, "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." And in another place, "The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil times: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." And again, "I have been young, and now am old: yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." All which things Christ bringeth with him, for that we are, and are called his brethren, not because of any merit, but of mere grace. If we would print these things in our heart, that we might thoroughly feel them, it should go well with us, but they go in at one ear and out at another. This is that in which St. Paul so greatly glorieth, Rom. 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Moreover this title ascendeth so high that man's thoughts are not able to comprehend it; for unless the Spirit, the Comforter, impart this grace unto us, no man shall ever be able to say, Christ is my brother. For reason cannot be bold to say, although one repeat it in words very often, as the new spirits do. It is a higher thing than that it can be so spoken, for except the heart feel it, as it is requisite it
should, it shall be nothing but only flattery. But if thou feel it inwardly in thy heart, it will be so excellent a thing unto thee, that thou wilt much rather say nothing of it, than speak and talk of it; yea, by reason of the greatness of so good a thing, thou wilt perhaps doubt as yet and be in an uncertainty whether it be so or not. They which only cry out thus, Christ is my brother, are fanatical spirits, who vainly pronounce words without any fruit. The case standeth far otherwise, and far more marvellously with a true Christian, so that he is thereby enforced to be amazed, neither dareth he say or confess anything sufficiently thereof. Wherefore we must endeavour, that we do not hear this only with fleshly ears, but that we feel it in our heart, then we shall not be so rash, but we shall be forthwith carried into an admiration thereof, True and sincere Christians enter into the viewing and fear of themselves, thinking thus: O wretched and defiled creature, which am drowned in sins, am I now made worthy, that the Son of God should be my brother? how do I, miserable wretch, attain to such a thing? Thus he is astonished, and doth not well understand the thing. But great study and endeavour surely is required, that a man may believe this, yea, if it were felt, as it ought in very deed, a man should forthwith die thereupon; for he cannot understand it according to his flesh and blood, and the heart of man in this life is more narrow and straight, than that it is able to comprehend so great things; but in death, when the heart shall be stretched out, then I say we shall try what we have heard by the word.
In the gospel of St. John, chap. 20, Christ doth far more plainly declare unto Mary Magdalen this use and fruit both of his death and resurrection, when he saith, "Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God;" this is one of the most comfortable places whereof we may glory and boast. As though Christ should say, Mary, get thee hence and declare unto my disciples, which fled from me, which have thoroughly deserved punishment and eternal condemnation, that this resurrection of mine is for their good, that is, that I have by my resurrection brought the matter to that pass, that my Father is their
Father, and my God is their God. They are but few and very short words indeed, but they contain great matter in them, namely, that we have as great hope and confidence reposed in God, as his own Son himself. Who can comprehend such exceeding joy, I will not say, utter it? that a wretched and defiled sinner may be bold to call God his Father, and his God even as Christ himself. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, chap. 2, did well remember the words of the Psalm, and weighed with himself how it speaketh of Christ, who, as he saith, is not ashamed to call the believers brethren, saying, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." If any worldly prince or nobleman should humble himself so low, that he would say to a thief or robber, or to one that is infected with some loathsome disease, Thou art my brother, it would be a thing which every one would marvel at.
But as this King which sitteth in glory at the right hand of his Father, saith of some poor man, This is my brother, that no man layeth up in the bosom of his breast, neither doth any man consider of it in his mind, wherein notwithstanding our chief comfort and confidence consisteth against sin, death, the devil, hell, the law, and against all sinister success of things, as well of the body as of the mind. Moreover, forasmuch as we are flesh and blood, and therefore subject to all kinds of adversity, it followeth, that the case should stand so also with our brother, otherwise he should not be like unto us in all things. Wherefore, that he might be made conformable and like unto us, he tasted and had experience of all things even as we have, sin only excepted, that he might be our true brother, and exhibit himself openly unto us; which the epistle to the Hebrews plainly setteth forth, chap. 2, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily, he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people: for in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." The profit, use, and fruit of the Lord's passion and resurrection, St. Paul hath gathered very briefly, and as it were into one short sum, when he saith, Rom. 4:25, "Christ was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Whereof thus much at this time shall suffice.