The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference 3.

* 1.1Is Christ risen from the dead, and that as a publick person and representative of believers? How are we all concerned then to se∣cure to our selves an interest in Christ, and consequently to this blessed Resurrection? What consolation would be left in this world, if the hope of the Resurrection were taken away? 'Tis this bles∣ed hope that must support you under all the Troubles of life, and in the Agonies of Death. The securing of a blessed Resurrecti∣on to your selves, is therefore the most deep concernment you have in this world. And it may be secured to your selves, if up∣on serious heart examination you can discover the following Evi∣dences.

Evidence 1. First, If you are regenerated Creatures, brought forth in a new nature to God, for we are begotten again to a lively hope, by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead. Christs Resurrection is the ground-work of our hope. And the new birth is our title or evidence of our interest in it. So that until our souls are partakers of the spiritual Resurrection from the death of sin, we can have no assurance our bodies shall be partakers of that blessed Resurrection to life.

Blessed and holy (saith the Spirit) is he that hath part in the first Resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, Rev. 20.6. Never let unregenerated souls expect a comfortable meeting with their bodies again. Rise they shall by Gods terrible Citation, at the sound of the last trump; but not to the same end that the Saints arise, nor by the same principle. They to whom the spirit is now a principle of Sanctification, to them he will be the principle of a joyful Resurrection. See then that you get gratious souls now, or never expect glorious bodies then.

Evid. 2. If you be dead with Christ, you shall live again by the life of Christ. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection, Rom. 6.5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.2 Planted together, some refer it to believers themselves, Jews, and Gentiles are planted together in Christ. So Erasmus, believers grow together like branches upon the same root; which should powerfully inforce the great Gospel duty of unity among

themselves. But I would rather understand it with reference to Christ, and believers; with whom believers are in other Scrip∣tures said to suffer together, and be glorified together, to die together, and live together, to be Crucified together, and buried together all noting the communion they have with Christ, both in his death and in his life. Now if the power of Christs death, (i. e.) the mortifying influence of it have been upon our hearts; killing their Lusts, deading their affections, and flatting their appetites to the Creature; then, the power of his life, or Resur∣rection shall come like the animating dew upon our dead withered bodies, to revive and raise them up to live with him in glory.

Evid. 3. If your hearts and affections be now with Christ in Heaven, your bodies in due time shall be there also, and con∣formed to his glorious body. So you find it, Phil. 3.20, 21. For our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour;* 1.3 the Lord Iesus Christ; who shall change our vile body; that it may be fashioned like unto his own glorious body. The body is here called vile, or the body of our vileness. Not as God made it, but as sin hath marred it. Not absolutely and in it self, but relatively, and in comparison of what it will be in its second edition, at the Resurrection. Then those scattered bones, and dispersed dust, like pieces of old broken battered Silver, will be new cast, and wrought in the best and newest fashion: even like to Christs glorious body. Whereof we have this evidence, that our conversation is already heavenly. The temper, frame, and disposition of our souls is already so; therefore the frame and temper of our bodies in due time shall be so.

Evid. 4. If you strive now by any means to attain the Re∣surrection of the dead, no doubt but you shall then attain, what you now strive for. This was Pauls great ambition, that by any means, he might attain the Resurrection of the dead, Phil. 3.11. He means not simply a Resurrection from the dead, for that all men shall attain whether they strive for it, or no. But by a me∣tonymy of the Subject, for the Ajunct; he intends that compleat holiness and perfection which shall attend the state of the Resur∣rection so it is expounded, vers. 12. So then, if God have raised in your hearts a vehement desire, and assiduous endeavour aft••r a perfect freedom from sin, and full Conformity to God in the

beauties of holiness; that very love of holiness, your present pant∣ings, and tendencies after perfection; speaks you to be persons de∣signed for it.

Evid. 5. If you are such as do good in your Generation. If you be fruitful and useful men and women in the world, you shall have part in this blessed Resurrection, Ioh. 5.29. All that are in the Graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the Resurrection of Life. Now it is not every act materially good,* 1.4 that entitles a man to this priviledge; but the same requisites that the School-men assign to make a good prayer; are also necessary to every good work. The person, matter, manner, and end must be good. Nor is it any single good act, but a series and course of holy actions, that is here meant. What a spur should this be to us all, (as indeed the Apostle makes it, closing up the Doctrine of the Resurrection with this solemn ex∣hortation, 1 Cor. 15. Last, with which I also close mine) There∣fore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast unmoveable, alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as you know, that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable Gift.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 3.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In unum co••∣cres••re vel co∣al scere.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Si bonus bora facit benè ad bonum.