400 Thc Vital Fof7ntain, or, Pani of the Text. would not have fufFered Lazarus to havedied : which for ought we know ismore then the had fiÑfficicnt, ground for. 'Then the wcaknefs and xmperfe£cion ofher faith appears in ehis,that the relied too touch Upon the corporal prcfcnceofChrift, that the afctihed no more power to Chrift, than that by hisprayer hecouldattaìn at Gods handsas much as ever anyholy mail did namely, the life of her brother. i know, faith the. that even now wbatfo'éver thou askeff, God wellgiete it; Whereas Chrift being true God,was able to work anymiracle by his own power. Now the an(wer of Chrift is laid down verfe 23. 7eftufail unto her, thy brother fhallrifeagain. Chrift to comfort Martha,paffeth by her infirmity,and proinifeth to her, thathe will rcftorcher brother to life again, that the thall enjoyher brother again : but this promife is only laid down in general and indifinite terms ; T7tj brother (hall rifeagain. Chrifldoth not fay exprefly, I will raire up thy brother to life, but he fpeaksonly in general terms, Thybrotherfliall rife again: whichwe arc to afcribc to the modefty,andhumility,that alwaycsmaybe obfervedha thefpeeches ofChrift ; Thy brother [hall rife again. Then tvc have the reply of Martha, laid down in verle 24. Martha Laid unto him, / know befiall rife again in thekefurreliion,at the¿4 day. RMartha was no t fatished withthis promife ofChrift : for it feems the foot takeitn the full es tcntof it,therefore arc replica, that as for the laft R.efurreftion theknew indeed that her brother, and all others that were dead, should then rifeagain, this did comfort her: but for any other matter of comfort Ilse could not gather any from the am- fwer of Chrift, and hispromife : therefore Chrift replies again inthe words ofmy Text, And Jefos Paid unto her, I am theRefurrect:on, andthe life, be that believes in me, though be were dead, yet ¡hall he live, and whofoever liveth andbelieveth in me ¡hall never die. Chrift wouldhave Martha know that he was true life, yea, the fountainofall life, and fuch a fountain of life,that whofoever did believe inhim,and cleave to him, nothing thould hurt him, no not Death it fclf. Thusyou fee briefly the coherence, andthe (copeof the words. We come now to thew you themean- ing of them. In thefe words we may obferve thefe twoparts. Firft, here we have laid do woa compoundpropofition. And then the diftin&Espofition, or explication thereof. Firft, here we have laiddown a compound Axiome,or Propofition, a copulative Propofition, wherein Chrift affirms two things ofhimfelf. Firft, Iam the T`eferreîtion. Secondly, I am rhoLife. I am the Aefurre&ion, I am the Life. Now the difference between these two, we-may conceivewith reverend Calvin to be this. I ant the Refurreilion. That is, I have all quickning power in me, I am able to refiore, and give life to thofe that are dead. And then I am the life ; I have filch quickning power in me, thatI am able to preferve, andcontinue the lifethat I have given,oereftored toany ; Iam the Refurretlion and thelife. And then follows theEspofition of this Propofition, andof the feveral members of it : for the truth ofá copulative Propofition depends upon the truth ofboth the parts' and members of it, therefore there follows the Explication, and confirmation ofboth the parts of this Propofition. Firfi of the firft part,/am the Refurrelíion,thisisexplained,and confirmed in there words ; -Lie that believeth inme, though he weredead, yet!hall be live. I have fuch a quickning power inme, faithChrift, that I am able to reflore fpiritual life to that faul that is dead O fins, thereforeI am able to raife'up thebody that is dead in the grave; I am able to give fpiritual'life to the foul, which is greater, and the mort difficultwork ; andifIbe able todo the grcater,Iam abletodochélefs: he that be- lieves in me, faithChrift, thoughbefore he weredead in trefpaffesand finsyet he(hall live, he fhall live the life ofgrace. Then follows the Explication and confirmation of the fecond member of the Propofition in tiefe words, tvbofotvtr livetb and believeth in me, frail never die.
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