verted, nor have they any Means allowed them to better their Condition. And from Hell there is no Redemption; but there the worm dieth not, and the fire fhall never be quenched, Mar. ix. 44, 46, 48.

IF it be faid, that Chrift defcended into Hell to triumph over Satan and the Powers of Darknefs within their own Dominion; this also hath fmall ground for it: For Chrift triumphed over Principalities and Powers at his Death upon the Cross, Col. ii. 14, 15. And when he afcended into Heaven, he led Captivity Captive, Eph. iv. 8.

THE fourth Opinion is, That by Chrift's DeScent into Hell is meant his Continuance, for fome Time in the State of the Dead. For Hell may fignifie the common State of the Dead, as the learned Hammond proves in his Catechifm. And this Senfe of the Article feems most reasonable, and agreeth beft with the Order of the Creed: For the Creed proceedeth gradually, mentioning Chrift's Sufferings, then his Crucifixion, then his Death, and after that his Burial: Because he might have fuffered, and not have been crucified; and he might have been hanged on the Cross, and yet have been taken down before he had died. And because he might have died, and been buried, and forthwith again been raised from the Dead; therefore 'tis added, He defcended into Hell, that is, he continued in the State of the Dead, his Soul being feparated from his Body for fome Space.

THE Belief of Chrift's Continuance in the State of the Dead fhould move us to continue in a State of Mortification 'till we have finished our Courfe in Holiness. If we hold the beginning of

our

our confidence ftedfaft unto the end, we are made partakers of Chrift, that is, of the Benefits which he hath purchased, Heb. iii. 14. But if we end in the Flesh, after we have begun in the Spirit, we fhall of the Flefh reap Corruption. For all our former Piety and Holinefs will avail us nothing, if we fall back to our old Sins. But much better had it been for us not to have known the way of righteoufnefs, than after we have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto us, 2 Pet. 21.

CHAP. XVI.

of CHRIST'S EXALTATION; Of

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

T

SHE State of Chrift's Exaltation is that bleffed Condition, wherein being raised from the Dead, and afcended into Heaven, he is exalted at God's right Hand, and crowned with Glory and Honour; and fhall in the last Day come with Power and Majefty to judge the World: Though the Meffias is fometimes foretold to come humble, and fometimes glorious; yet two feveral Perfons, under the Name of the Meffias, were not promifed, as the Jews affirm. But the fame Meffias was both to fuffer, and alfo to be glorified. And Jefus, our Lord, being the true Meffias, firft fuffered for our Sins, and then entred into VOL. I.

S

his

his Glory, Luk. xxiv. 26. And as the Person of Chrift fuffered according to his Humane Nature : So the fame Perfon, according to that Nature, is highly exalted.

THE Perfon of Chrift is exalted by the Manifestation of his Glory, which he had from Eternity, and by the Acquifition of all Power and Dominion in Heaven and Earth. For Chrift, after his Sufferings, was glorified with that glory, which he had with the Father before the world was, Joh. xvii. 5. And because Chrift humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the crofs; therefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, Phil. ii. 8, 9.

AND Chrift, according to his Humane Nature, is exalted, in that he hath laid aside the Infirmities which he affumed, and is adorned with wonderful Glory and Perfection. For after he had purchased Redemption for us by his Sufferings, he put off all humane Infirmities, and is no more fubject to Death and Mifery, but perfectly glorified both in Soul and Body, and advanced far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named; not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, Rom. vi. 9. Eph. i. 21.

BUT Chrift, according to his Divine Nature, is not properly exalted: For the Godhead can neither be humbled nor exalted, but remaineth for ever the fame without Alteration. And all the Exaltation, which the Holy Scripture attributes unto Chrift, belongs rather to his Perfon than to his Divine Nature. For the Perfon of Christ was humbled and exalted; not according to his Divine, but Humane Nature, which alone is capable thereof. THE

THE State of Chrift's Exaltation confifteth of

four Degrees :

I. His Refurrection from the Dead.
II. His Afcenfion into Heaven.
III. His Seffion at God's right Hand.
IV. His coming to judge the World.

THE first Degree of Chrift's Exaltation was his Refurrection from the Dead. After our Blessed Saviour had humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, he justly deserved to be raised again from the Dead. And if his continuance, for a time, under the Dominion of Death, had not been needful to prove the Truth and Reality of his Death and Resurrection, he might have re-affumed Life in the next inftant after his Death. For Chrift, by his Death on the Cross, triumph'd over Sin, the cause of Death, and merited immediate Freedom from the Dominion of Death. But if he had fuddenly rifen, there might have been fome doubt whether he was truly dead. And if his Death had been doubtful, his Refurrection could not have been certain. But when he had continued fo long in the State of the Dead, that the Reality of his Death was evident, he truly arofe from the Dead according to the Scripture.

THE Refurrection of Chrift was foretold by the Prophets under the Old Teftament. And there are two fpecial Prophecies of it: The one is contained in Ifai. liii. 10. When thou shalt make his foul an offering for fin, he shall fee his feed, he shall prolong his days. But because he was to fuffer Death, and thereby to make his Soul an Offering for Sin, how could he fee his Seed, and prolong S 2

his

his Days, unless he arose from the Dead? The other Prophecy of Chrift's Refurrection, which is more clear, is that in Pfal. xvi. 10. Thou wilt not leave my foul in hell; neither wilt thou Suffer thine holy one to fee corruption. This Prophecy is applied to the Refurrection of Chrift by two eminent Apoftles. For David (faith St. Peter) here Speaketh of the refurrection of Chrift, that his foul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh fee corruption, A&t. ii. 31. And David, (faith St. Paul) after he had ferved his own generation by the will of God, fell on fleep, and was laid unto his Fathers, and faw corruption: but Chrift, whom God raised again, faw no corruption, 'A&. xiii. 36, 37.

AND Our Saviour himself, when there was little Probability of his Suffering, clearly foretold his own Death and Refurrection, with the precife Time of his rifing again: As, Joh. ii. 19. 21. Deftroy this temple, (faith Chrift, meaning the temple of his body) and in three days I will raise it up. And, Matth. xvi. 21. & xvii. 22, 23. The Jon of man fhall be betrayed into the hands of men ; and they fhall kill him, and the third day he shall be raifed again.

AND according to these Predictions, our Lord Jefus, the true Meffias, was raised from the Dead the third Day after his Paffion. For God, who fuffered him to be flain by wicked hands, raifed him up, having lofed the pains of death, because it was not poffible that he should be holden of it, A&t. ii. 23, 24. And the Truth of Chrift's Refurrection is confirmed by fuch Proofs, that no reasonable Man can doubt thereof. For befides the Teftimony of the Soldiers, who kept Watch at the Sepulchre of Jefus, and faw him rife out of it, and were aftonifhed with the Wonders which attended