ARTICLE IV. Of the Resurrection of Christ. Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith. he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day. THE subject of this Article, being that of Christ's resurrection, is one of the most important, and upon which the whole of the Christian dispensation is established: it is, therefore, highly necessary, that we should be firmly, and scripturally, built up in this most precious faith, and that we should be able to give our assent to the Article with full and unshaken confidence. We have already seen, that the sufferings and death of our Lord, were part of the obligation to which he gave himself as man's Surety, and that they were really endured, in virtue of that covenant design which " laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." But Jesus was to suffer as an all sufficient Surety; and it was equally necessary that He should give unquestionable evidence, of His ability to discharge the debts for which He had contracted. This could be done in no other way than by the release of His soul and body from arrest. We have seen that decided manifestations of this release began to be given, in respect of his soul, even when His body hung upon the Cross; and we are likewise in possession of full testimony, that the body was released from the cords of death, and presented before the admiring eyes of His followers, as the justified Person, who, having fully satisfied the divine demands, was fully restored from prison, and delivered from the grave. We cannot wonder that this article of our faith should be opposed by the enemies of salvation by Christ. Well did the Jews understand, that if Christ's resurrection could be proved, their opposition would be in vain, that hereby every pretension of Jesus of Nazareth must be established, and that they would be found the crucifiers of the Lord of Glory. Well also were the powers of darkness persuaded, that upon this fact great and mysterious consequences hung dependant,—and although they were conscious, that no diabolical attempts could frustrate this act of power and justice, yet with desperate rage and subtlety, the endeavour was made to blind men in prejudice, and to harden them in unbelief. We find the chief priests, &c. aware of the peril, to which their cause was exposed, and making an impotent attempt to defy the promise of the Saviour, by making the stone of the sepulchre sure; see : Matt. xxvii. 62-66 when confounded, and convicted by the report of the astonished guard, who fled from the tomb in alarm and dismay, they persisted in their infatuated counsels, and laboured to prove that the body had been stolen by the disciples; Matt. xxviii. 11-15: endeavours, which only served to proclaim their wickedness and folly. If the soldiers were asleep, how was it that they could affirm what had taken place during that period? Is the evidence of men, confessedly in the power of this mighty visitant, to be accepted by reasonable men? If they were not asleep, how came it to pass that the unarmed disciples could prevail? and that the conflict which must have ensued, between the opposing parties was not more public? Amongst Jews, under judicial blindness, such futile arguments may be received: but their emptiness must immediately appear to the candid mind. Blessed be God, we have, however, unquestionable evidences that satisfy the Christian, and to these we may turn with gratitude and consolation; and, notwithstanding the machinations of hell and earth, rejoice in a risen and triumphant Saviour,--the very effort made to deny the fact, being rendered subservient to the greater confirmation of the truth. The witness, which is given by the apostles, is clear and unquestionable: the fullest evidence was granted to their minds, and the most satisfactory testimony is by them proclaimed unto men. That these men were by no means predisposed to the belief of the resurrection is very manifest, since, during their association with Jesus, they evinced the greatest degree of prejudice, and blindness, whenever our Lord discoursed upon the subject: on many occasions they exposed themselves to reproof for their slowness of belief; and it is confessed of them that they understood not the words which He spake. Luke xviii. 34. When Jesus died, they suffered their hopes also to wither, and decline: they communed together on this event with despondency, and with the expression of anguish and disappointment: Luke xxiv. 18-24: when the body was deposited in the tomb, it was with no expectation of being farther associated with the Lord, until they might meet Him in the eternal world: and when, after the resurrection, tidings were brought, that the Lord was risen indeed, the words were to them "as idle tales," and they were more ready to believe that the Jews had conveyed the body away: John xx. 1-9. 15. Mark xvi. 11. Luke xxiv. 11: yet, these very persons were, afterwards, so strongly persuaded of the fact, that they voluntarily attested it in opposition to every consideration of personal safety, honor, or present ease. In avouching the resurrection they exposed themselves to the rage of the incensed Jews, to the power of the Gentile court, to persecutions, shame, bodily sufferings, and death, without any D prospect of reward, or any motive but what must have been derived from the blessed truths connected with the fact of spiritual and eternal possessions. That they were men of veracity, we have no right to dispute: that they were harmonious in their witness cannot be denied: and that they were persons every way qualified for determining the truth, is equally clear, seeing that the person of Jesus was familiarly known to them all, and as fully recognized by them when their eyes were opened to behold Him as risen again. Acts i. 1-3. After the various appearances, by which the Lord revealed himself to His disciples, He also visibly ascended up into heaven in presence of many of His followers, who, obedient to the command of the Lord, had assembled together to meet Him on Mount Olivet. Acts i. 4-11. That the appointment of "chosen witnesses," is not to be urged in objection to the fact, will appear upon reflection. It is asked by the infidel, Wherefore not have made the appearance of the ascension of the risen body as public as the crucifixion had been, and so have left the matter beyond question? It is answered, In the first place, this would have been inconsistent with the nature of Christ's kingdom, which is spiritual, and established through faith: it would have been to the dishonour of the Holy Spirit's part in the covenant, to whom it belongs to bring sinners to believe, and live: it would have proved against |