IV. Proved by solid reasons — Ratio I from Christ's resurrection and our union with him
IV. It is proved by most solid reasons. Although the bare Apostolic assertion of this dogma suffices, yet lest anything be lacking against deniers and sophists, it is also proved through the whole of 1 Cor. 15.
Ratio I. From Christ's resurrection and our conformity and conjunction with Christ as members with the head, v.13: If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ also has not been raised. The consequence is proved: (1) if there is utterly no resurrection, neither did Christ rise, since he was one of the dead; (2) he called himself the vine and us the branches (John 15:5) and is head of the body, the Church (Col. 1) — so if the joined members remain dead, the head itself also remains in death. From the same principle Paul argues at 1 Thess. 4:14. Then, the consequent granted, many absurdities follow: vain preaching; vain faith; we still in our sins; the Apostles false witnesses of God; those who fell asleep in Christ have perished.
Latin
IV. Probata est rationibus solidissimis. Etsi sufficiat nuda hujus dogmatis assertio Apostolica, tamen, ne quid desit contra negatores & sophistas, etiam probatur 1 Cor. 15 toto. Ratio I. Est a resurrectione Christi & conformitate conjunctioneque nostri cum Christo, tanquam membrorum cum capite, v.13. Resurrectio mortuorum, ait, si non est, Christus quoque non est suscitatus. Probatur consequentia: 1. Si nulla prorsus est resurrectio, neque Christus resurrexit, quippe qui unus fuit ex mortuis. 2. Ipse se vitem esse dixit, nos palmites, Joh. 15.v.5. & est caput corporis, i.e. Ecclesiae, Col. 1. Ex quo necessario sequitur, si juncta membra mortua sunt manentia, caput quoque ipsum in morte manet. Ex hoc eodem principio disputat Paulus 1 Thess. 4.v.14. Deinde, posito consequente, multa sequuntur absurda: vanum praeconium; vanam fidem; nos adhuc in peccatis; Apostolos falsos testes Dei; eos qui obdormierunt in Christo periisse.