Ellis on Article IV: Of the Resurrection of Christ

Tet it should seem that Christ could not raise himself from the Dead. For, (Obj. 1.) It ap- - pears very unaccopntable, that any one held die, and yet raise himself to Life again.

Answ. It is indeed very, unaccountable that mere Man should rise again by his own Pow- er; but: Christ is God as well as Man, ‘Obj.2. The Scriptures generally ascribe the Re= surre&tion of Christ to God the Father ,as Rom.6.4-

Answ. His Resurrection is indeed ascribed to the Father, but not ro him alone : Ir 1s attribured. ro-bath, because, of rhe; perfect U- niry of their. Essence. Wharsoever. rhe Fas ther-does, that does the Son do likewise.

Obj. 3. ‘Tis objefted, That Bodies, after Re- surrettion, are nor, Flesh and’ Bones, but of a $S prripual NA2:ue, 1 Cor. 15.,44- how could Christ TuRR rea ume | Bea, with. Flesh and Bongs © ) . Answ.; Bodies after their Resurrection are said to be Spiritual, ’ not as. ro their Substance and Efence’; but as to their Qualities and Endowments, they. will be like -ro. Spirits, immortal, and wanting neither Meat. nor Driok. . 4 . OSj. 4. Bodies of Flesh are not immartal, bes cause, as the Praphet Ela. 4: 6, says, AU Flesh

3s Grals, Ans®.,

A2 A Defence of the Ans. All Flesh of pure Man is corruptible,and as Grass ; but the Flesh of Christ 1s not such : The Prophet there speaks of the common and ordinary Condition of Mortals, and not of ’ a most glorious Saviour, who is very God, Obj. 5. The Apostle zells us, 1 Cor. 15. 50.

That Flesh and Blood cannor inherit the King- ’

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dom of God ; how then could Christ with both

these ascend up into Heaven ? | Answ. The Apostle speaks of Man as cor- rupted,and nor washed from his Sins by Christ, or else of Flesh nor yer freed from Corruption, That such shall nor inherir the Kingdom of God ; for the Body cannot enter into Hea- ven till it be freed from Corruption. *_ _“Obj.‘6. Christ will not forsake ns even to the * last Fudgment ; for he told his Disciples, Mar.

28. 20. LoIam with you, even to the end of -

the World. ‘And in the way to Damascus he ap- peared to Sr. Paul. Acts9. 19. And again in the Castle, be flood by him in the Night, Acts 23. 1t.

Answ. Christ speaks of a_ Spiritual Pre- sence by | his Grace, -and nor of a Bodi! one by Narure : And’ then ’ whar if Chris did ’ promise his Disciples that he would be with them by a Substantial Presence , if need so required’ 2 We are not to fix Christ so o’r As pore ” if he could not appear upon Earth, ‘as perhaps in an ex- cehordiaary manner he Kd dppent to St. Paul; although many understand that place of a men- ral Viton : However Heaven is the ordinary place of his Residence.

Obj. 7; It is apparent that Christ will not Judge all Men ; for he that believes shall not come into Fudement, John 5. 24. The Prince LE wo

World, the Devil, is already judged, John 16. 11. And also he. that believes not, John 3. 18. s condemned already.

Answ, He thar believeth shall nor come in- ro the Judgment of Condemnarion, bur ‘of Ab- solution : Bur the Devils and all Infidels are already judged in God’s Decree, or .in his revealed Word, or by their own Consciences, which is the beginning of their Punishment ; bur hereafter they will be condemned accord- ding to the Revelation and Manifestarion of Judgment already made, to the Acutenefs of Punistmenr, and ro the Contummarion. of Torments both of Body and Soul.

ART. V. Of the Holy Ghost.