HOMILY ON THE RESURRECTION FOR EASTER DAY

Short-Title Catalogue 13675. Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.1.
copyright 1994 Ian Lancashire (ed.) University of Toronto

Edited to 2003 American English* by Curtis I. Caldwell on 21 November 2003 

 

A HOMILY OF THE
Resurrection of our Savior Jesus
Christ.
For Easter Day.

Of the Resurrection of Christ.
[Title from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Episcopal Church USA,
Articles of Religion Article XXXV, Of the Homilies]


If ever at any time the greatness or excellence of any matter spiritual or temporal has stirred up your minds to give diligent care (good Christian people, and well beloved in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ) I doubt not but that I shall have you now at this present season most diligent and ready hearers, of the matter which I have at this time to open unto you. For I come to declare that great and most comfortable article of our Christian religion and faith, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. So great surely is the matter of this article, and of so great weight and importance, that it was thought worthy to keep our Savior still on earth forty days after he was risen from death to life, to the confirmation and establishment thereof in the hearts of his disciples. So that (as Luke clearly testifies in the first chapter Acts of the apostles) he was conversant with his disciples by the space of forty days continually together, to the intent he would in his person, being now glorified, teach and instruct them, which should be the teachers of other, fully and in most absolute and perfect wise, the truth of this most Christian article, which is the ground and foundation of our whole religion, before he would ascend up to his father into the heavens, there to receive the glory of his most triumphant conquest and victory. Assuredly, so highly comfortable is this article to our consciences, that it is even the very lock and key of all our Christian religion and faith. If it were not true (says the holy apostle Paul) that Christ rose again, then our preaching were in vain, your faith which you have received were but void, you were yet in the danger of your sins. If Christ is not risen again (says the apostle) then are they in very evil case, and utterly perished, that are entered their sleep in Christ, then are we the most miserable of all men, which have our hope fixed in Christ, if he is yet under the power of death, and as yet not restored to his bliss again. But now he is risen again from death (says the apostle Paul) to be the first fruits of them that are asleep, to the intent to raise them to everlasting life again (1 Corinthians 15:14-20). Yes, if it were not true that Christ is risen again, then were it neither true that he is ascended up to heaven, nor that he sent down from heaven unto us the Holy Ghost, nor that he sits on the right hand of his heavenly Father, having the rule of heaven and earth, reigning (as the prophet says) from sea to sea (Psalms 72:8), nor that he should after this world, be the judge as well of the living as of the dead, to give reward to the good, and judgment to the evil. That these links therefore of our faith should all hang together in steadfast establishment and confirmation, it pleased our Savior not straightway to withdraw himself from the bodily presence and sight of his disciples, but he chose out forty days, wherein he would declare unto them, by manifold and most strong arguments and tokens, that he had conquered death, and that he was also truly risen again to life. He began (says Luke) at Moses and all the Prophets, and expounded unto them the prophesies that were written in all the Scriptures of him (Luke 24:27), to the intent to confirm the truth of his resurrection, long before spoken of: which he verified indeed, as it is declared very apparently and manifestly, by his frequent appearance to various persons at various times. First, he sent his angels to the sepulcher, who did show unto certain women the empty grave, saving that the burial linen remained therein (Matthew 28:5-6). And by these signs were these women fully instructed, that he was risen again, and so did they testify it openly. After this, Jesus himself appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:16), and after that to certain other women, and straight afterward he appeared to Peter, then to the two disciples, which were going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-15). He appeared to the disciples also, as they were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, the door shut. At another time he was seen at the sea of Tiberias by Peter and Thomas, and by other disciples, when they were fishing (John 21:1, 4). He was seen by more than five hundred brethren in the mount of Galilee, where Jesus appointed them to be by his angel, when he said, "Behold, he shall go before you into Galilee, there shall you see him as he hath said unto you." After this he appeared unto James, and last of all he was visible seen of all the apostles, at such time as he was taken up into heaven (1 Corinthians 15:6-7, Acts 1:9). Thus at various times he showed himself after he was risen again, to confirm and establish this article. And in these revelations sometime he showed them his hands, his feet, and his side, and invited them to touch him, that they should not take him for a ghost or a spirit. Sometimes he also ate with them, but ever he was talking with them of the everlasting kingdom of God, to assure the truth of his resurrection. For then he opened their understanding, that they might perceive the Scriptures, and said unto them: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from death the third day, and that there should be preached openly in his name pardon and remission of sins to all the nations of the world" (Luke 24:45-47). You see (good Christian people) how necessary this article of our faith is, seeing it was proved by Christ himself by such evident reasons and tokens, by so long time and space. Now therefore as our Savior was diligent for our comfort and instruction to declare it, so let us be as ready in our belief to receive it to our comfort and instruction. As he died not for himself, no more did he rise again for himself. He was dead (says Saint Paul) for our sins, and rose again for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). O most comfortable word, evermore to be born in remembrance. He died (said he) to put away sin, he rose again to endow us with righteousness. His death took away sin and sickness, his death was the ransom of them both, his death destroyed death, and overcame the devil, which had the power of death in his subjection, his death destroyed hell, with all the damnation thereof. Thus is death swallowed up by Christ's victory, thus is hell spoiled for ever. If any man doubt of this victory, let Christ's glorious resurrection declare him the thing. If death could not keep Christ under his dominion and power, but that he arose again, it is manifest that his power was overcome. If death be conquered, then must it follow that sin, wherefore death was appointed as the wages, must be also destroyed. If death and sin be vanished away, then is the devil's tyranny vanished, which had the power of death, and was the author and brewer of sin, and the ruler of hell. If Christ had the victory of them all by the power of his death, and openly proved it by his most victorious and valiant resurrection (as it was not possible for his great might to be subdued by them) and it is true, that Christ died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. Why may not we, that be his members by true faith, rejoice and boldly say with the prophet Hosea, and the apostle Paul, "Where is your dart, Oh death? Where is your victory, Oh hell?" Thanks be unto God, say they, which hath given us the victory by our Lord Christ Jesus.

This mighty conquest of his resurrection, was not only signified before by various figures of the Old Testament, as by Sampson when he slew the lion, out of whose mouth came sweetness and honey, and as David bare his figure when he delivered the lamb out of the lion's mouth, and when he overcame and slew the great giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:35, 49), and as when Jonah was swallowed up in the whale's mouth, and cast up again on land alive (Jonah 1:17): but was also most clearly prophesied by the prophets of the Old Testament, and in the new also confirmed by the apostles. He has spoiled, said Saint Paul, rule and power, and all the dominion of our spiritual enemies. He has made a show of them openly, and has triumphed over them in his own person (Colossians 2:15). This is the mighty power of the Lord, whom we believe on. By his death, has he wrought for us this victory, and by his resurrection, he has purchased everlasting life and righteousness for us. It had not been enough to be delivered by his death from sin, except by his resurrection we had been endowed with righteousness. And it should not avail us to be delivered from death, except he had risen again, to open for us the gates of heaven, to enter into life everlasting. And therefore Saint Peter thanks God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for his abundant mercy, because he has begotten us (says he) unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, to enjoy an inheritance immortal, that never shall perish, which is laid up in heaven for them that are kept by the power of God through faith (1 Peter 1:3-5). Thus has his resurrection wrought for us life and righteousness. He passed through death and hell, to the intent to put us in good hope, that by his strength we shall do the same. He paid the ransom of sin, that it should not be laid to our charge. He destroyed the devil and all his tyranny, and openly triumphed over him, and took away from him all his captives, and has raised and set them with himself among the heavenly citizens above (Ephesians 2:6). He died, to destroy the rule of the devil in us, and he rose again, to send down his Holy Spirit to rule in our hearts, to endow us with perfect righteousness. Thus it is true that David sang, "Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky" (Psalms 85:11). The truth of God's promise is in earth to man declared, or from the earth is the everlasting truth God's Son risen to life, and the true righteousness of the Holy Ghost looking out of heaven, and in most liberal bounty dealt upon all the world (Captiuam duxit captiuitatem., Ephesians 4:8). Thus is glory and praise rebounded upwards to God above, for his mercy and truth. And thus is peace come down from heaven to men of good and faithful hearts (Luke 2:14). Thus is mercy and truth as David writes, together met, thus is peace and righteousness embracing and kissing each other (Misericordia and veritas obuiauerunt sibi., Psalms 85.10). If you doubt of so great wealth and happiness that is wrought for you, oh man, call to your mind that therefore have you received into your own possession the everlasting reality of our Savior Jesus Christ, to confirm to your conscience the truth of all this matter. You have received him, if in true faith and repentance of heart you have received him. If in purpose of amendment, you have received him for an everlasting gage or pledge of your salvation. You have received his body which was once broken, and his blood which was shed for the remission of your sin. You have received his body, to have within you the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for to dwell with you, to endow you with grace, to strengthen you against your enemies, and to comfort you with their presence. You have received his body to endow you with everlasting righteousness, to assure you of everlasting bliss, and life of your soul. For with Christ by true faith are you revived again (said Saint Paul, Ephesians 2.1-2) from death of sin, to life of grace, and in hope translated from corporal and everlasting death, to the everlasting life of glory in heaven, where now your conversation should be, and your heart and desire set. Doubt not of the truth of this matter, however great and high these things are. It is characteristic of God to do no small deeds, however impossible they seem to you (Luke 18:27). Pray to God that you may have faith to perceive this great mystery of Christ's resurrection, that by faith you may certainly believe nothing to be impossible with God. Only bring you faith to Christ's holy Word and sacrament. Let your repentance show your faith, let your purpose of amendment and obedience of your heart to God's law, hereafter declare your true belief. Endeavor your self to say with Saint Paul, "From henceforth our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a Savior, even the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like his glorious body, which he shall do by the same power whereby he rose from death, and whereby he shall be able to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:20-21). Thus (good Christian people) forasmuch as you have heard these great and excellent benefits of Christ's mighty and glorious resurrection, as how that he has ransomed sin, overcome the devil, death, and hell, and has victoriously gotten the better hand of them all, to make us free and safe from them, and knowing that we are by this benefit of his resurrection risen with him by our faith, unto life everlasting, being in full assurance of our hope, that we shall have our bodies likewise raised again from death, to have them glorified in immortality, and joined to his glorious body, having in the means while this holy spirit within our hearts as a seal and pledge of our everlasting inheritance. By whose assistance we are replenished with all righteousness, by whose power we shall be able to subdue all our evil affections, rising against the pleasure of God. These things, I say, well considered, let us now in the rest of our life declare our faith that we have in this most fruitful article, by framing ourselves thereunto, in rising daily from sin, to righteousness and holiness of life. For what shall it avail us (said Saint Peter) to be escaped and delivered from the filthiness of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, if we be entangled again therewith, and be overcome again? Certainly it had been better (said he) never to have known the way of righteousness, than after it is known and received, to turn back again from the holy commandment of God given unto us. For so shall the proverb have place in us, where it is said, "The dog is returned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire again" (2 Peter 2:20-22). What a shame were it for us, being thus so clearly and freely washed from our sin, to return to the filthiness thereof again? What a folly were it, thus endowed with righteousness, to loose it again? What madness were it to lose the inheritance that we are now set in, for the vile and transitory pleasure of sin? And what an unkindness should it be, where our Savior Christ of his mercy is come to us, to dwell with us as our guest, to drive him from us, and to banish him violently out of our souls, and instead of him in whom is all grace and virtue, to receive the ungracious spirit of the devil, the founder of all naughtiness and mischief. How can we find in our hearts to show such extreme unkindness to Christ, which has now entered within us? Yes, how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? (For where one is, there is God all whole in majesty, together with all his power, wisdom, and goodness) and fear not I say the danger and peril of so traitorous a defiance and departure? Good Christian brethren and sisters, advise yourselves, consider the dignity that you be now set in, let no folly loose the thing that grace has so preciously offered and purchased, let not willfulness and blindness put out so great light that is now shown unto you. Only take good hearts unto you, and put upon you all the armor of God, that you may stand against your enemies, which would again subdue you, and bring you into their servitude (Ephesians 6:11). Remember you be bought from your vain conversation, and that your freedom is purchased neither with gold nor silver, but with the price of the precious blood of that innocent lamb Jesus Christ, which was ordained to the same purpose before the world was made. But he was so declared in the latter time of grace, for your sakes which by him have your faith in God, who has raised him from death, and has given him glory, that you should have your faith and hope towards God (1 Peter 1:18-20). Therefore as you have hitherto followed the vain lusts of your minds, and so displeased God, to the danger of our souls, so now, like obedient children thus purified by faith, give yourselves to walk that way which God moves you to, that you may receive the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9). And as you have given your bodies to unrighteousness, to sin after sin, so now give yourselves to righteousness, to be sanctified therein (Romans 6:19). If you delight in this article of our faith, that Christ is risen again from the death to life, then follow you the example of his resurrection, as Saint Paul exhorts us, saying, "As we be buried with Christ by our baptism into death, so let us daily die to sin, mortifying and killing the evil desires and motions thereof" (Romans 6:4). And as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the Father, so let us rise to a new life, and walk continually therein, that we may likewise as natural children live a conversation to move men to glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). If we then are risen with Christ by our faith to the hope of everlasting life, let us rise also with Christ, after his example, to a new life, and leave our old. We shall then be truly risen, if we seek for things that are heavenly, if we have our affection on things that are above, and not on things that are on the earth. If you desire to know what these earthly things are which you should put off, and what are the heavenly things above, that you should seek and ensue, Saint Paul in the epistle to the Colossians declares, when he exhorts us thus. Mortify your earthly members and old affection of sin, as fornication, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is worshipping of idols, for which things the wrath of God is accustomed to fall on the children of unbelief, in which things once you walked, when you lived in them (Colossians 3:1-2, 5-9). But now put you also away from you, wrath, fierceness, maliciousness, cursed speaking, filthy speaking, out of your mouths. Lie not one to another, that the old man with his works are put off, and the new be put on. These are the earthly things which Saint Paul moved you to cast from you, and to pluck your hearts from them. For in following these, you declare yourselves earthly and worldly. These are the fruits of the earthly Adam. These should you daily kill, by good diligence, in withstanding the desires of them, that you might rise to righteousness. Let your affection from henceforth be set on heavenly things, sue and search for mercy, kindness, meekness, patience, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel to another, as Christ forgave you, even so do you. If these and such other heavenly virtues you ensue in the residue of your life, you shall show plainly that you are risen with Christ, and that you are the heavenly children of your Father in heaven, from whom, as from the giver, comes these graces and gifts (James 1.17). You shall prove by this manner, that your conversation is in heaven, where your hope is, and not on earth, following the beastly appetites of the flesh (Philippians 3:20). You must consider that you be therefore cleansed and renewed, that you should from henceforth serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of your lives, that you may reign with them in everlasting life (Luke 1:74-75). If you refuse so great grace, whereto you are called, what other thing do you, then heap to you damnation more and more, and so provoke God to cast his displeasure unto you, and to revenge this mockery of his holy sacraments in so great abusing of them? Apply your selves (good friends) to live in Christ, that Christ may still live in you, whose favor and assistance if you have, then have you everlasting life already within you, then can nothing hurt you (John 5:24). Whatsoever is hitherto done and committed, Christ you see has offered you pardon, and clearly received you to his favor again, in full assurance whereof, you have him now inhabiting and dwelling within you. Only show yourselves thankful in your lives, determine with yourselves to refuse and avoid all such things in your conversations as should offend his eyes of mercy (Colossians 3.5). Endeavor your selves that way to rise up again, which way you fell into the well or pity of sin. If by your tongue you have offended, now thereby rise again, and glorify God therewith, accustom it to laude and praise the name of God, as you have therewith dishonored it.

Restitution. And as you have hurt the name of your neighbor, or otherwise hindered him, so now intend to restore it to him again. For without restitution, God accepts not your confession, nor yet your repentance. It is not enough to forsake evil, except you set your courage to do good. By whatever occasion  you have offended, turn now the occasion to the honoring of God, and profit of your neighbor. Truth it is that sin is strong, and affections unruly. Hard it is to subdue and resist our nature, so corrupt and leavened with the sour bitterness of the poison which we received by the inheritance of our old father Adam (Psalms 36:1). But yet take good courage, said our Savior Christ, for I have overcome the world, and all other enemies for you (John 16:33). Sin shall not have power over you, for you are now under grace, said Saint Paul. Though your power is weak, yet Christ is risen again to strengthen you in your battle, his Holy Spirit shall help your infirmities (Romans 6:9, Romans 8:26). In trust of his mercy, take you in hand to purge this old leaven of sin, that corrupts and sours the sweetness of our life before God, that you may be as new and fresh dough, void of all sour leaven of wickedness, so shall you show yourselves to be sweet bread to God, that he may have his delight in you (1 Corinthians 5:7). I say kill and offer you up the worldly and earthly affections of your bodies. For Christ our Easter lamb is offered up for us, to slay the power of sin, to deliver us from the danger thereof, and to give us example to die to sin in our lives. As the Jews did eat their Easter lamb, and keep their feast in remembrance of their deliverance out of Egypt, even so let us keep our Easter feast in the thankful remembrance of Christ's benefits, which he has plentifully wrought for us by his resurrection and passing to his Father, whereby we are delivered from the captivity and servitude of all our enemies. Let us in like manner pass over the affections of our old conversation, that we may be delivered from the bondage thereof, and rise with Christ. The Jews kept their feast in abstaining from leavened bread, by the space of seven days (Exodus 12:15). Let us Christian folk keep our holy day in spiritual manner, that is, in abstaining, not from material leavened bread, but from the old leaven of sin, the leaven of maliciousness and wickedness. Let us cast from us the leaven of corrupt doctrine, that will infect our souls. Let us keep our feast the whole term of our life, with eating the bread of pureness of godly life, and truth of Christ's doctrine. Thus shall we declare that Christ's gifts and graces have their effect in us, and that we have the right belief and knowledge of his holy resurrection, where truly if we apply our faith to the virtue thereof in our life, and conform us to the example and significance meant thereby, we shall be sure to rise hereafter to everlasting glory, by the goodness and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory, thanksgiving, and praise, in infinita seculorum secula, Amen.


*Editing goals: Clear the text from obsolete words and phrases and from references local to England, its constitution, and laws.

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