V H R. 5. Ephefian.r,Chap.z. 1 Zs,z ickned] There is a threefold death, fo a threefold life; Nature. of Grace. Glory. Here he fpeaketh ofdie life ofCraw,wherein tlwfe beleeving . phe- Threefold life. fans, who had been dead, were now alive; Interlacing our free falva tion , he cometh to the fecond degree , our Refurredion in Chrift: There is a double Refurreotion; the one is therefurreGtion of the juft and unjuft, ofthe Body, as in the Creedwe profeffe to bcleevea refur- re/tion at the Loft day, as Ioh.6.39 Theother refurrection is from the death of finne, in fome meafure to be quickned by the voyce ofChrift, fo that we live a new life, even the life of God : being before all of us by nature dead in finne, and tre gaffes, and the uncircumciPion of the heart, blind inour mindes, and fo eltrangedfromthe life ofGod,hard inour hearts,unholy in our affedi- ons : now this firft refurrettion ftands in this, that we live a new life, even the life of God, which ftandeth in the light ofthe mind, in Àe(hie tenderues of hearts,in the holy motion of the affections , that in the vertueof Chrifts refurre6tion we rife to newnesof life, that inhimwe s cot. 5.77. be a new Creature. The third thing is that which followeth [glorifying in the heavens] and this is that he fpeakethoff, when he faith Cite Chrift ]We are ¡et in heavenly places. So that the words joyntlyconfidered tend to this fenfe: Evenwhenwe were deadinourfrnnes,flinking in our lulls and corrupt na- tures, theta didGod of his rickmercy bring us to life, railing us up together in Chrilt. And whenhe faith [inChrifl] it is plaine that we are favedofhis =ere grace : yea, though we dwell in thefe mortal! bodies, yet we have in Chrift the refurrection of thefe bodies ; yea , though we are now abfent fro ,n the Lord, Pilgrimes here, yet in Chrifiwe are after a fort fet glorioufly in theheavens, we are already feifed of thofe everla- fting mansions. The dignity of the perfon giving, eztendeth the mercy : and thegricvoufneffc ofour milery, doathexceedingly ampli- fie the mercy. Obfcrve ad}, what it is which fetteth out the rich kindne(JeofGad; it Doff. is thie, even our mifery, andwretchednelfe wherein he findeth us. Ezech. Mans mifory r 6. 3,h, 5,6. When thy navel(was not cut, not wafted in water, nor[sited Gds meen . with /tlt, when noeye pityed thee , whenpolluted in thyblood, c. Even Hzech.ró. ;ae then tPaidunto thee, Thou (halt live. a. Cor. b. Fornicators, Idolaters, r Cor.ó.rr, Adulterers.Wanttns, Busgerers,Theeves,Covetous, Drunkards, be. Each (faith the Apo ffl c)were[ome ofyou.Tit.3. 3.Tee were in times pal! unwife, difobediét,d, ceived, ferving lulls & diverspleafures,living inmalicioufnes Tá.;.;. and envy, hateloft, and hating one another. But when the bountifalneffe and love ofcod our saviour appeared, be. in this appeared Love, not that we loved him, but that he lovedusfirg : Evenwhenwe were enemies, ; roh.Mrn, he reconciledus to him[elfeby the deathofhis Son. if is be well confide. Rom.s.ro. red,it will makeus to fee the rich mercy ofGod toMan. There
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=