From “A Sermon for Easter Day” (1606)
This scripture [Romans 6] is, as the Feast of Easter is, of the resurrection. The benefit we remember, is so great and the feast we hold, so high that, although at other times we might be forborne, yet on this day, we may not… The sum of our account is set down in these words, that we fashion ourselves like to Christ, dying and rising. We cast ourselves in the same molds; we express him, in both, as near as we can… By knowing Christ’s death we die to sin; by knowing his resurrection, we live to God…
For, never was a thing known in this world, so confidently, constantly, certainly testified, as was this, that Christ is risen. By testifying it, the first apostles got nothing in the earth. Got nothing? Nay, they lost by it their living, their life, all they had to lose. They might have saved all…But to their very last breath, to the very last drop of their blood, they bore witness to the truth of this article: and chose rather to lay down their lives, and to take their death, then to deny; nay, then not to affirm his rising from death. And thus did they know, and knowing testify, and by their testimony came the Romans to their knowing: and so do we. But (as I said before) we, to a much surer knowing then they. For, when this was written the whole world stopped their ears at this report and would not endure to hear them, and they stood out strongly against them.
Our first particular is: that Christ is risen from the dead…That death is a fall, we doubt not; it came with a fall, the fall of Adam. But, what manner of fall? For it has been held as a fall from which there is no rising. But, by Christ’s rising, it falls out to be a fall, that we may fall, and yet get up again. For, if Christ is risen from it, then is there a rising; if a rising of one, then may there be of another: If he is risen in our nature then is our nature risen.
Our second particular is, that as Christ is risen, so, now he dies not. This is no idle addition, but has his force and emphasis. For, one thing it is to rise from the dead; and another, not to die any more. The widow of Nain’s son, the ruler of the synagogue’s daughter, Lazarus — all these rose again from death, yet they died afterward: But, Christ rising from the dead, dies no more…
We must therefore so rise, as Christ, that our resurrection be not a returning back to the same life, but a passing over to a new… It is Pascha (that is) the Passover, not a coming back to the same land of Egypt,* but a passing over to a better, the land of Promise where Christ our Passover is passed before us, and shall in his good time, give us passage after him.* Paul expresses it best, where he says, that Christ by his rising has abolished death, and brought to light life and immortality — not life alone, but life and immortality…
Truly, rising is not enough; rising, not to die again is not enough, except we may be quit of this dominion, and rid of that, which we either feel, or fear, all our life long. Therefore does the Apostle Paul add (and so it was needful, he should) “death hath no dominion over him”…
Christ’s death and his rising show his two natures, human and divine: his human nature and weakness in dying;2 his divine nature and power, in rising again. These show his two offices, his priesthood and his kingdom: his priesthood in the sacrifice of his death; his kingdom in the glory of his resurrection. They set before us, his two main benefits: his death, the death of death; his rising, the reviving of life again. Here we see the one, what he had ransomed us, and from the other, what he had purchased for us…
Now about his life: he lives unto God… When he lived to man, he lived to much misery; so, now he lives to God, he lives in all felicity. This part being oppositely set down to the former: living, to exclude dying again; living to God, to exclude death’s dominion, and all things pertaining to it.
The sum or charge of which account is set down in these words, that we be like Christ, carry his image who is heavenly, as we have caried the image of the earthly: Be conformed to his likeness that what Christ has wrought for us, the like be wrought in us… He died to sin, there is our pattern… He lives to God: there is our similitude of his resurrection. Our second account must be, count yourselves living unto God… But, as out of Christ, or without Christ, we can do nothing toward this.. So, in him, and with him, enabling us to it, we can think good thoughts, speak good words, and do good works, and die to sin, and live to God.
Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626) was Bishop of Chichester and Winchester, one of the most influential scholars and church leaders of his day. He was one of the principal translators of the Authorized “King James” Version of the Bible, and a widely admired preacher. He is commemorated on September 26 on the calendar of several Anglican churches.
