1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:1

WHeir,] in the proposition of which you yet persevere, perseverance being likened to a man that stands firme and upright and posasie to one that falleth.

1 Corinthians 15:2

I ye kep] the Italian Do yee keepe] that is to say will ye persevere in it? Or doe ye not find, that there is some change amongst you? Others exound it thu, I declare unto you, tht is to say I put you 〈◊〉 mind of, & confirm you in the Gospell which, &c. by which yee are saved if ye keep it 〈◊〉 that manner, &c Unlesse yee,] thinke well upon it unlesse yee will loose the fruit of your former faith, Galatians 3:4.

1 Corinthians 15:3

I Deliuered,] that is to say I Declared and taught Received,] that is to say learned of Christ, by the reuelation of his spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:5

Of the Twelue,] namelie of the whole companie of the Apostles, which was not with standing by reason of Iudas. His fall reduced to twelue.

1 Corinthians 15:6

After that,] there two following appearings are not mentioned in Scripture.

1 Corinthians 15:7

Iames,] manie beleeue this to e him who is called the Lords brother see Acts 12:17.

1 Corinthians 15:8

As of one,] by an incomparable grace towards me, who was a parson of no worth nor dignitie, but deserved to bee altogether rejected. Or by singular miracle having not beene framed no prepared before by the LORD, as the other Apostles, were, but in an instant advanced to mine office.

1 Corinthians 15:9

The least,] namelie concerning that which is in me, and mine owne. Though he elsewhere protest himselfe to be no way inferior to others in gifts, or vocation. 2. Cor. 11. 15. Galatians 2:6.

1 Corinthians 15:10

His grace,] namelie his gift and calling, In vaine,] that is to say vnprofitable to the Church and not imployed by me to the uttermost o my power But the grace,] not onely the gift it selfe, but also the will and power the occasions, and means to make use of it, all comes from Godsgrace. See Matth. 10. 20. 2 Corinthians 3:5. Philippians 2:1-30. 3.

1 Corinthians 15:12

If there be,] if that be absolutly denied it must also be denied in Christ, & also if it be denied in the faithfull, Chriss also is disannulled taking away the vertue, principall and inseparable effect of it, which is to raise his faithfull to his owne likenesse, Iohn. 11. 25 and 14. 19. Rom: 4. 25. 2. Cor. 5. 15. 1. hsse. 4. 14. 1 Peter 1:3.

1 Corinthians 15:14

Vaine,] false and unprofitable seeing the ground of it is Christ risen. Now his meanning is that seeing it is impossible that you should have such an opinion of our preaching having undoubted proofes to the contrary rject likewise any thing as may induce you thereunto by a necessary consequence, also vane,] which you will not agree unto, seeing you yet persevered glory in the profssion o〈…〉

1 Corinthians 15:15

〈…〉d we,] which likewise was most aburd, and impossible to erswade the chches unto who werefully assured of the trueth of the Apostles doctrine.

1 Corinthians 15:17

Ye are yet,] theyare not yet purged since the payment is not fully made nor God appeased, if Christ doe yet remaine dead: seeing he cannot deliver others from death, if he himself remaine overcome by it.

1 Corinthians 15:18

A llen a sleep,] namly those beleevers who are dead in Christs faith, of whose salvation it was as unjust as inhumane to doubt.

1 Corinthians 15:19

If in this lfe,] by this false doctrine we make our selves utterly wretched, for seeing it takes away from us eternall happinesse: and that our condition i this world is alwayes mostwithed, we shall find our selves deprived of all manner of good both present, and eternall. Now the ground of this is, that the immortality of the soul, and the perfect happinesse of it, is by Gods order insepable from the resurrection of the bodyes, so that hee which donieth the one annihilates the other. See upon Mtch 22. 32.

1 Corinthians 15:20

The first fruits,] not onely the first in order of the resurrection which is in beleevers as it wea wakning from death, but also in the quality of chief, the cause, and pledg of it in all his members inseparable vnited to him by communion of spirit Romans 8:11 even as under the law in the first fruites offered to God the people had an assurance of Gods blessing upon all their harvest See. upon. Romans 11:16.

1 Corinthians 15:21

For sice], he proves that by Christs resurrection, that of his members necessarily followth for in the order of grace Christ hath bin by God appointed head of all the elect, as Adam had bin of all men in the order of nature: seeing then that Adam hath communicated his sinne and his death to all those who are his, Christ likewise communicates his righteousnesse and his life to his belevers See. Rom. 5. 14. 15. 17 by mn,] the Italian by no man,] by one who beeing true God is likewise true man, in which regard he is the meritorious cause of resurrection, by this perfect obedience, and likewise gives his, beleevers assurance thereof, by the community of human nature, joyned to the communion of the spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:22

All die,] all men that are by nature the sonnes of Adam, and are enfolded in his condemnation, shall all,] namly all beleevers whose father is Christ by grace, and in spirit, by vertue whereof being engrafted in his body, they are also partakers of his life and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:24

The end,] namly of the world, and of temporall things and withall the accomplishment of all Gods promises, of Christs kingdome and the sivation of his elect, when he shall,]namely when the sonne o God who in quality of Mediator hath bin established king or the whole world, d especially of his church, like his fathers great deputy, togather together governe and bring unto himselfe all his elect, and to destroy his enemyes shall have brought his work to an end and the father, with the sonne and the holy Ghost in vnitie of essence shall begin to raigne immediatly over his church, in a manner altogether new namely by himself, without any outward meanes, wihout the work of angels or men, or Ecclesiallicall or politick orders as it is in this world, and likewise without adversaries or opposition filling all his with his light love, life and glory which indeed will not a whit disannull Christs kingdom, but only ch〈…〉g the meaner fore thereof into a more subline and perfect one. See Dan. 2. 44 and 7. 14. 27, Luke 1:33. Rev. 11. 15. 17. and 12. 10.

1 Corinthians 15:25

Must reigne,] namely the sonne of God must execise his empire in this manner, and inferior dispensation, by his word, by the established orders in perpetuall oppositions etc.

1 Corinthians 15:26

death,] whose power shall be quite annihiliated in Christ member by the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:27

When he saith,] we must not thinke that the father by bestowing the office of king upon his sonne, hath dispossessed himself of his soveraigne empire: but after the sonne shall have accomplished his worke, the father shall manifest and exercise his kingdome of glory, and essencein all eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:28

Also himself,] not in his divine nature, wherein hee is alreadie equale to the father. Philiphans. 2. 6. but in this humane nature and as coucerning his church which is his body, and the forme of his government, which then shall give way to the forme which is above described, that God,] may of himself immediately and absolutly worke fully in his elect perfectly united unto him, and may possesse and rule them for ever.

1 Corinthians 15:29

Which are,] from this manner of speech it appeares that the Apostle means not an ordinary ite of the church but a particular custome of some whereof antiquity makes mention: and it should seeme that the beginning thereof was if not altogether good and laudable, yet at the least to terrable. Which was, that when anyone died in Christs faith, before he was christened, some of his kindred or friends, comming to be Christened, would be baptized both in his own name, also in the nam of 〈◊〉 a on whom he protested to be dead in Christs faith, that the church might wright him down in the registers which it kept of belevers who died. This custom was strictly observed by the Corinthians, hereticks who denied the resurrection and preadventure were authors of this error in the Church of Corinth. Now Saint Pauls meaning is that this custome were very absurd if there were no refurrection seeing that the ground and foundation of baptisme 〈◊〉 Christs resurrection, and the end thereof is to scale unto us both our, spirituall and corporall one. Rom. 3. 4. 1. Pet. 4. 3. 21. and the end of this particular observation was the profession of the expectation of the blessed tesurrection, of beleevers. In following ages this thig came to be an abuse and superstition.

1 Corinthians 15:30

Why,] for what reason, and upon what hope do we beleevers expose our selves voluntarily to death and to so many dangers, and troubles for the Gospell, i it bringeth us two happinesse after this life, which happinesse according to gods order, cannot be of the soul alone, without any rela¦tion to the body, beeing eternally separated from it.

1 Corinthians 15:31

By your rejoycing,] the Italian hath it, by be glory,] a kinde of most strong assevertation or a〈…〉n in manner of an oath s if he said. As true as mychif oy and glory in this world is in the blessing of God upon my mistery towards you to oblige the Cori. 〈◊〉 to deprive him of that only comfort amongst so many evills, in Christ Jesus,] spiritually in the communion of Christs grace and 〈◊〉, I de,] death hngeth over me coninually and I do incessantly prepare my self for it. Pa. 119 109.

1 Corinthians 15:32

After the manner,] he seemes by those words to make a difference between this danger whch escaped with any apparent miracle from those of severall ancient father who were relieved by a supernaturall strength and safe guard of God 〈◊〉 Samson. Iudg. 14. 6. David 1. Sam. 17. 34. and Daniel 6:22. Hebrews 11:13 I have sought,] this cident is no where remembred in scripture and it may have a relation to the Romans custome, which was to bring in certain malefactors into the theaters and let loose wildbeasts upon them, against which they were suffered to desend themselves, to please the spectators, and i they did over come, their life was saved peradventure when Saint Paul would have entred into the the Acts 19:40. some such thing happened unto him, which he did ridd himself of, being without or in the entrance of the theater, Tomorow,] as much as to say, if the hope of eternall goods be lost, let us swallow up the present ones while we have the power and time to doe it which will shortly be taken from us by death A prophane and abominable thought.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived,] as beleeving that though you suffer such pestilences of eror amonst you yet you shall keep your selves sound in your faith eill,] thi is a verse of an ancient Greet poet called Mnander. See. Acts 17:28. Titus 1:12.

1 Corinthians 15:34

It is sowen,] the bodies of beleevers are laid in the earth, not to perish there but to put of the qualities of corruption and death and by vertue of the spirits budding to put on those of the everlasting and incorruptible life.

1 Corinthians 15:35

How are,] being uterly consumed, and turned to dust, with what,] another obiction of of prophane men. The dead when they rise shall they have the same bodies as they had in this world and shall those bodies have the same qualities?

1 Corinthians 15:36

Thou foole,] an answere to the first otiction not by anynaturall reason nor common judgment for in deed resurrection 〈◊〉 is not ground upon that but up on the order of gods will and monipotencie, the similitude or reprelentation whereof appeareth in the seedes which are cast into the earth which to produce their plant must first be putrefied See Iohn. 12. 24.

1 Corinthians 15:37

And that,] answere to the second objection, that body,] namely the whole plant, with all s parts, and ornaments.

1 Corinthians 15:38

As it hath pleased,] namely he hath by his soveraigne will appointed it to be so in nature.

1 Corinthians 15:39

All flesh,] there is great difference amonst beasts whose bodies may truely by called flesh, and likewise amongst celestiall bodies according as it hath pleased God to create them, before it ought not to seeme strange unto us if God gives the same bodies diverse qualities in this life and in the life everlasting.

1 Corinthians 15:44

A naturall,] namely viisied after a naturall manner by the soul onely, which hath need of the helpes of the body in eating, and drinking, breathing and the like as other beasts and produceth in the body but a tesiall, mutable, and dissoluble life and cannot free the body from diseases, age, wasting, nor death, nor restore it to life when it hath lost it, spirituall,] nost in the substance but in the new qualities which glorifie bodys do obtaine, namely to be (besides that life which they have from the soule) sustained and viuified without any corporall meanes in an everlasting, incorruptible blessed and glorious life, by the supernaturall vertue of the holy Ghost, infused into them by esus Christ, and by the full communication and power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:45

A living soul,] to be creature that should live tis corporall and natualli by vertue of the soul wich is the fountaine of this life whle it is vnited with th body yet cannot of i self conerre the divi and spirituali life no cause the vnion of the bod to be indissoluble, nor rejoyne it after it is separatted, the last,] namely Christ the head and stock of all the elect hath bi appointed by God, to be the fountaine and author of spirituall and everlasting life, by the cummunication of his spirit, which restoreth life to the dead, & doth inviolably preserve it for ever.

1 Corinthians 15:46

Spirituall,] namely that foresaid quality of his spirit which restoreth life to the dead, and preserveth it inviolably for ever.

1 Corinthians 15:47

Of the earth,] namely composed of all the ele〈…〉ents but principally of the earth. Gen. 2. 29. Ecclesiastes 6:10 earthly,] that is to say participant of all the conditions of other earthly and elementall creatures, which are corruptible, mutable, mortall See Iohn. 3 31 from heaven,] of celestiall originall not in the substance of his body but in regard of his God head. Iohn. 3 13. according to which chiefly he is the head of his Church: and also in regard of the state of celestiall life and glory to which he was ordained by God his father, and of which he hath taken possession, from thence to power doune his spirit upon all those who are his.

1 Corinthians 15:49

We have borne,] beeing engendered by him we have bin like him in nature and qualities, shall also,] being regenerated by him wee shall be also made like him in glory.

1 Corinthians 15:50

Now this,] as the vicious nature of of man, signified by these termes of flesh and bloud, ought to be changed by the gift of the holy Ghost, to have entrance into Gods kingdome: so the body ought to be spoiled of its corruptible, mortall and animall qualities, before it can enjoy the everlasting and glorious life. 2. Cor. 5. 1. 4.

1 Corinthians 15:51

We shall not all,] those beleevers which shall bee found aliue at CHRISTS last comming, shall not die a naturall death which is with sicknesse, sorrow, and perishing of the body but in stead thereof there shall be in them a sodaine change of qualities.

1 Corinthians 15:52

we shall be,] namely those beleevers who shall be then living. And the Apostle speakes thus to teach every one to be prepared expecting that day every moment 1 Thess. 4. 15. 17.

1 Corinthians 15:54

Swallowed up,] destroyed and brought to nothing Revelation 20:14 in victory,] that is to say eternally according to the meaning of this phrase amongst the Hebrews, from whom it is taken.

1 Corinthians 15:56

The sing,] namely that thing which armeth and gives death and hell strength and victory over us, The strength,] namely that by vertue of which sinne produceth utter condemnation and death upon man, namely in so much as he transgresseth the law. Romans 4:15. which besides beeing unable to correct mans wickednesse doth kindle and exasperate it Rom. 5. 20. and 7. 5. 8. 9. 13

1 Corinthians 15:57

Through Our lord,] i as much as through his satisfaction, condemnation is disannulled, and through his spirit of regeneration the kingdome of sinne is ouerthrowne. Rom. 8. 1. 2. 3 and by his coporall death he freeth vs from the reliques of sinne: and by his resurrection he freeth vs from all manner of Subiection to death.

1 Corinthians 15:58

In the worke,] in all actions belonging to your heauenly vocation, and to the servce of God Not in vaine,] namelie without fruit or reward, seeing there is a resurrection; & eternall happinesse In the Lord,] that is o say irespeect of God and of Christ, and accordinge to the manner and order as he vseth in rewarding those who are his with spirituall and everlasting goods, which is spoken in opposition of the world, in which beleevers ought not to looke for there reward.