The summe of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism, and then afterwards more enlarged by a sound and judicious exposition, and application of the same : wherein also are debated and resolved the questions of whatsoever points of moment have been, or are controversed in divinitie
Ursinus, Zacharias, 1534-1583., Parry, Henry, 1561-1616,, Pareus, David, 1548-1622., A. R.,
4. What are the fruits of Christs resurrection?

THe questions are divers, Wherefore Christ rose: and, What fruits Christs resur∣rection bringeth unto us. For, all the causes of Christs resurrection are not fruits of his resurrection: and after a diverse manner are the causes and the fruits of his resurrection considered: and moreover, the benefits of Christ, bestowed by his resurrection, are one way considered as causes of Christs resurrection; to wit, in asmuch as it was necessary that he should rise from death to bestow them on us: and otherwise as fruits of the same; namely, in asmuch as by the power of his resur∣rection he bestoweth them on us.

Furthermore, the fruit of Christs resurrection is of two sorts: the one respecting Christ;* the other, us. For first (as the Apostle saith) He is declared by the resurre∣ction to be the Sonne of God: even the only begotten and wel-beloved Sonne of God, who is also God himselfe. For he revived by his owne power, which is the property of God alone.*In him was life. As the Father hath life in himselfe, so like∣wise hath he given to the Sonne to have life in himselfe. Againe, Christs humane na∣ture also was by his resurrection adorned with heavenly gifts, immortality, and that glory which becometh the nature of the Sonne of God. God wrought accor∣ding to the working of his mighty power in Christ,*when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his right hand in the heavenly places, farre above all principality, and power, and might, and domination, and every name that is named, not in this world onely, but also in that which is to come. And hath made all things subject under his feet, and hath appointed him over all things, to be the head of his Church. The fruit of Christs resurrection which respecteth us, is of many sorts. But, to speak in generall, All the benefits of Christs death are also the fruits, which we receive by his resurrection. For Christs resurrection maketh that his death hath his effect. Christ by his resurre∣ction doth apply unto us those benefits, which he merited for us by his death; and by this meanes, the same are the benefits both of his death and resurrection, which are otherwise merited for us, than they are bestowed on us. For it was not necessary that the very act of meriting and deserving should dure all the time both of the old and new Church; but onely the act of bestowing or applying the same: and therefore it was necessary also that the Mediatour should be continually, that he might bestow alwayes those benefits on the Church, which he was once to merit. For this can∣not be done without a Mediatour: and therefore neither can the Church be for one moment without a Mediatour. In the old Church Christ the Mediatour did bestow on the Fathers the benefits of his death to come, by the force and efficacy of his resurrection to come: now he bestoweth them on us, by the efficacy of his resurrection already past.

*It remaineth now that we in speciall reckon the chiefe fruits, which the resurre∣ction of Christ bringeth unto us.

First, then by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, We are confirmed and warranted, 1. Of his merit, That he hath fully and perfectly satisfied for our sinnes. For one onely sinne, not being satisfied for, had with-held Christ still in death. He was cast into such a prison, as that, except he had paid the utmost farthing, he had never been let go: But he was let go and dismissed; therefore he paid the ut∣most farthing. In regard therefore of this his merit, we have remission of sinnes, and are justified before God. 2. We are confirmed of the application of Christs benefits, which could not have been bestowed, if he had not risen: For, as was said before, it was Page  311ne∣cessary that the self-same Mediatour, being man, should merit and bestow gifts, and therefore should rise againe. Whereas then he is risen, we are assured not only that he hath merited for us, but also that he is able, and doth bestow on us the fruit of his merit. Wherfore well saith Saint Paul,*That Christ is risen againe for our righteous∣nesse, that is, to conferre and apply righteousnesse unto us.

[ 2] *A fruit of Christs resurrection is the gift of the holy Ghost, by whom Christ re∣generateth us, and giveth us eternall life. It behoved him first to shake off death from himself, and afterwards from us: it behoved us to be engraffed into him, as in∣to our head that from him the holy Ghost might be derived unto us. Wherfore, af∣ter his resurrection, he obtaineth the holy Ghost for us, and bestoweth it on us, and by the holy Ghost engraffeth us into himselfe, regenerateth and quickneth us. Be∣fore time, the godly were also endued with the holy Ghost, and regenerated, but more sparingly than now in the New Testament, and yet both by the force and vertue of his resurrection, which was then to come. For the holy Ghost, by whose vertue and operation only we are regenerated, cannot be given but by the resur∣rection and ascension of Christ into heaven. The holy Ghost was not given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.*

[ 3] *The resurrection of our bodies is a fruit of Christs resurrection: For Christs re∣surrection is a pledge for our resurrection: [ 1] 1. Because Christ is our head, and we his members. Now, it is expedient for the heads glory, that the members be glorious. Christ indeed should be by himselfe, though he had no members, or if his mem∣bers continued in death; but he should not be head, because he is not head, but in respect of his members: neither should he be a King without a kingdome, accor∣ding to the nature of correlatives, whose very being dependeth upon necessary re∣lation which one hath to the other: and, according to the nature of correlatives, a glorious head doth require glorious members, and such as are correspondent unto it. [ 2] 2. Because, if Christ be risen, he hath also abolished sinne: If he hath abolished sin, either he hath abolished his owne sinne, or ours: but not his owne, therefore ours. If he hath abolished our sin, he hath abolished death also: For, if the cause be taken away, the effect likewise is taken away. The wages of sinne, is death. Further,* if he hath abolished death, and that by a sufficient satisfaction for our sins, which satis∣faction he hath shewed and declared by his resurrection to be sufficient; it is certain that his resurrection is a most certain testimony of our resurrection: for he having performed a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of his members, the members cannot remain in death. But the resurrection of Christ the head, is an argument of the per∣fect satisfaction for the sinnes of his members. Therefore Christs resurrection is al∣so an argument of the perfect resurrection of his members. [ 3] 3. As the first Adam received the blessings for himselfe, and all his posterity, and lost the same from all: So Christ, the second Adam received life, and all other gifts for himselfe and others, and therefore al∣so will communicate eternall life with us. [ 4] 4. Seeing the same spirit dwelleth in us which did in Christ, he shall work also the same in us, which in our head he did. For the spirit is alwayes alike, neither could he work in the head, and sleep in the members. There∣fore seeing Christ hath raised himselfe up by his spirit from the dead, he will veri∣ly also raise us up. If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you:*he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bodies, because that his Spirit dwelleth in you. [ 5] 5. Because Christ is man, and our brother: for except he were man, we should have no hope of the resurrection of our flesh. For,* by man came the resur∣rection. Therefore, for his tender love and affection, he will not leave us in death, and so much the rather in regard of his power and glory. For, if he, being dead, raised himselfe, much more being alive shall he be able to raise us up: and if in the time of his humiliation he had power to raise himselfe, much more may he raise us out of the grave now he reigneth in glory a the right hand of his Father. Object. 1. Then the wicked shall not rise againe: because Christs resurrection is neither an argument, nor the cause of the resurrection of the wicked, but of the godly onely. Answ. There be other causes for which the wicked shall rise againe; even for the just judgement of God, whereby he hath appointed them to eternall paines. For the Page  312same thing may have moe effects, and diverse causes. Object. 2. These are the bene∣fits of his death: therefore not of his resurrection. Ans. They are of his death, as by it he deserved them: of his resurrection, 1. In respect of the manifestation of them; for by his resurrection he declared, that those benefis were purchased for us: For, by escaping from this punishment, he made plaine proofe of his full and perfect satisfaction for sinne. 2. In respect of the application of them: Because, by his resurrection he applieth his benefits unto us.*He being rich, was made poore, and being poore, was made rich a∣gaine, that he might enrich us. Object. 3. The effect is not before the cause. The cause of these benefis (which is his resurrection) was not before the first resurrection: therefore, neither the effect, that is, the benefits themselves. Answ. The resurrection was not, as touching the accomplishment thereof, but in the counsell of God, and in efficacy and vertue, it was in the Old Testament. For, then also were men received into favour, they were indued with the holy Ghost, and received the other benefits: but for and by the Mediatour, which was in time appointed to be humbled and glorified.

[ 4] *By Christs resurrection we know him to be the Messias, as in whom the prophecies were fulfilled.

[ 5] *By it we are assured, that he now executeth the office of the Mediatour, that he apply∣eth unto us the benefit of redemption, that he preserveth us perpetually in that righteousnesse which he hath applied unto us, that he beginneth in us a new life. and so doth also assure and ascertain us of the consummation and accomplishment of eternall life; all which he could not doe, except he had risen againe.

[ 6] *Seeing he now liveth, and reigneth for ever, we are certaine that he will preserve and defend his Church.

[ 7] *The last, though not the least fruit of Christs resurrection, is, The consummation and perfecting of all his benefits, and the glorifying of his Church. For Christ did therefore die, and is therefore risen, and hath therefore perfectly delivered us from sin, that we may be joynt heires with him of his kingdome and glory.*He is the first-borne of the dead. We are the heires of God, and heires annexed with Christ. He shall conforme, and make us like unto himself, because we live by the same spirit whereby he doth. And this spirit is not unlike himselfe.*If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you: he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bo∣dies, because that his spirit dwelleth in you.*I will come againe, and receive you unto my selfe; that where I am, there may ye be also.

The summe of the fruits of Christs resurrection is, that seeing Christ is risen, it is manifest that he is declared to be the Son of God; and, as touching his humanity, is endowed with that glory which becometh the nature of the Sonne of God; and further, that he endueth us also with his spirit, regenerateth us by the vertue of his spirit, and will at length consummate and perfect the new life begun in us, and make us co-partners of the same his glory, felicity and everlasting life.

*Now, what is the meaning of this Article; I beleeve in Christ which rose againe the third day from the dead? Answ. The meaning hereof is, that I beleeve, 1. That Christ did truly recall his soule into his dead body, and quickned it. 2. That he retained a true soul and true body; but both now glorified, and free from all our infirmities. 3. That he rose by his owne vertue and power. 4. That he rose to this end, to make me a partaker of his righteousnesse, sanctification, and glorification, which he had purchased for us by his death.