The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 32
OF EVERLASTING LIFE.
THIS Article is placed in the end: 1. Becauſe it is perfectlie fulfilled after the reſt. 2. Becauſe it is an effect of all the other articles; that is, we beleeue all the other articles for this, and all things that we beleeue were done, that we might beleeue this article, and ſo at length inioy euerlaſting life. This article is the end and roofe of our whole ſaluation and life.
The chiefe queſtions of euerlaſting life.
1 What euerlaſting life is.
2 Of whom it is giuen.
3 To whom it is giuen.
4 Wherefore it is giuen.
5 When it is giuen.
6 How it is giuen.
7 Whether in this life wee may bee aſſured of euerlasting life.
1 WHAT EVERLASTING LIFE IS.
What life is in generall.LIFE is defined among Philoſophers diuerſly; and it is indeede a word of diuers ſignifications, & ſignifiyng diuers things. In generall it is, either the verie exiſtence and being of the ſoul with the bodie, or the operation of a liung thing: that is, it ſignifieth to be, or to doe thoſe things which are proper vntounto a liuing nature, for it is taken both for the firſt act and for the ſecond. Therefore death is the deſtruction of a liuing thing and of the power or facultie of woorking. Or, Life is an aptitude of a liuing thing to worke the operations proper vntounto it, and is alſo the operations themſelues, by reaſon of the Vnion of the bodie with the ſoule. Generally, both as touching god, and Angels, and men, it is the existence or being of a liuing thing, and the facultie or power wherewith euerie liuing thing beeing endewed dooth exerciſe the operations and actions of life. Spirits alſo liue: but they hauehave not that from life, but from their very nature & eſſence. Now when we mention euerlaſting life, we reſtraine the word: for then it ſpeaketh of the euerlaſting life of men & Angels. That is called Euerlaſting, 1. Which hath neither beginning nor ending. Life euerlaſting hath a beginning, but no end.2 Which hath no beginning, and hath an ending, as the decrees of god. 3. Which hath a beginning, but ſhal hauehave no end, as euerlaſting life.
But this queſtion ſeemeth vnexplicable, becauſe it is ſaid thereof. Jſai. 64.4. and 1. Cor. 2.9. Neither eie hath ſeene, neither eare hath heard, neither came into mans heart the things which god hath prepared for them that louelove him. Yet we will ſee what may be knowen concerning this queſtion of the holy Scripture.
1. Life in generall ſignifieth to liue, or to be, as wee reſtraine beeing to a thing liuing: that is, to bee endued with a ſoule, which ſoule is that, whereby we liue; and the naturall life is the remaining or dwelling of the ſoule in a liuing bodie; and the operation of the ſoule, or the facultie of the ſoule working thoſe actions which are proper to a liuing thing. For the ſoule is the eſſential forme of life: which who hauehave, liue.
2. Euerlaſting life is nothing elſe but to be: as we reſtrain being to a regenerate man: which To be, The full definition of euerlaſting life.is to hauehave the Jmage of god reſtored, according to which we were at the firſt created. But to explane & expoūd this we hauehave need of a more ful definitiō. Wherefore euerlaſting life is the habitation or dwelling of god in Angels and men by the holie ghoſt, and the true knowledge of god, his will, and all his woorkes, kindled by the ſame ſpirite in their hearts, and true and perfect righteouſnes and wiſedome, that is a perfect conformitie and correſpondence of their will and powers and operations with the minde and will of god: as alſo a ioy reſting on god, and a ſufficiencie of all good thinges in god as touching both ſoule and bodie, which ſhall neuer be interrupted, hindered, or hauehave an end. Life euerlaſting is, 1 The know…ege of God and wiſedome.The proofe and confirmation of the partes of this definition is eaſie. 1. It is the knowlege of God, and wiſedome. Iohn. 17.3. This is life eternall, that they know thee to bee the onelie verie God, and whom thou hast ſent, Ieſus Chriſt. 2.2 Righteouſnes. It is righteouſneſſe. Luk. 20.36. They are equall vntounto the Angels, 3 Ioy. 4 Sufficiencie in God.and are the ſonnes of God, ſince they are the children of the reſurrection. 3. It is ioy. Ioh. 16.22. Your ioy ſhall no man take from you. 4. It is ſufficiencie in god. Reuel. 21.22. The Lord god almightie and the Lambe are the Temple of it: And the Citie hath no neede of the Sunne, neither of the Moone to ſhine in it: for the glorie of god did light it: and the Lambe is the light of it. All thoſe good things which we poſſeſſe here ſhall then be perfect. 1. Cor. 13.10. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part ſhall be aboliſhed. 5 Without interruption.5. It ſhall not be interrupted. Reuel. 21.4. God ſhall wipe away all teares from their eies. Luk. 1.33. Of his kingdome ſhall bee no end. Dan. 7.27. And the kingdome, and dominion, and the greatnes of the kingdome vnderunder the whole heauen, ſhall bee giuen to the holy people of the moſt high, whoſe kingdome is an euerlaſting kingdome, that is, which hath neither beginning nor ending.
3 Euerlasting life is that, which hath a beginning, but is without end. In this third ſenſe alſo ſhall wee enioy euerlaſting life. Obiection. Euerlaſting life is to liue euerlaſtinglie. But the wicked alſo ſhall be raiſed, and be immortall, becauſe they ſhall liue eternally: Therefore the wicked ſhall hauehave euerlaſting life. Anſwere. By the name of euerlaſting life is not meant the preſence of the ſoule in the bodie, that is, the naturall life: but this being preſuppoſed, there is furder meant a ſpirituall life which the holy Ghoſt woorketh by his proper function and office. Now with the naturall life in the wicked ſhall bee ioyned, 1. A reiection from God. 2. A priuation and want of the knowledge and grace of God. 3. A perpetuall and vnutterable torment and vexation. Their worme ſhal neuer die. There ſhall bee weeping, and gnaſhing of teeth. Here-by is vnderſtoode that euerlaſting death is,The euerlaſting death of the wicked. and is ſo called, not becauſe the reprobate, by once dyeng ſhall fulfill it, but becauſe they ſhall die perpetuallie, and ſhall feele perpetuall tormentes.
2 Who giueth euerlaſting life.
Euerlaſting life, the worke of all three Perſons.GOD alone giueth eternall life; & the Father giueth it by the ſon & the holy ghoſt. Of the Father it is ſaid Ioh. 5.21. As the Father raiſeth vp the dead, and quickneth them, ſo the ſon quickneth whom he will. In which place the ſame is affirmed of the ſon alſo, as in like maner in theſe folowing. Ioh. 14. In him was life. Iſai. 9.6. The Father of eternitie. Iohn. 10.28. I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, that is, not by merit onelyonly, but alſo by power, and working. Of the Holy Ghoſt likewiſe it is ſaide, Iohn 3.5. Except a man bee borne of water and the ſpirit, hee can not enter into the kingdome of God. Rom. 8.11. Hee that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies by his ſpirit dwelling in you. And this teſtimonie is to bee obſerued for the confirmation of the Godhead of both. Obiection. But the miniſters alſo giuegive life: according to that of Paul, 1. Cor. 4.15. In Chriſt Ieſus J hauehave begotten you through the Goſpel. Aunſwere. Chriſt and the holy Ghoſt giuegive life by their owne power: the miniſters are onelyonly inſtruments by whom Chriſt worketh through th… vertue of his ſpirite. Replie. But Chriſt giueth life by a communicated power: Therefore not by his proper power. Anſwere. He giueth it by a power communicated, but communicated from euerlaſting, as he was begotten from euerlaſting. Ioh. 5.26. As the Father hath life in himſelfe, ſo likewiſe hath he giuen to the Sonne to hauehave life in himſelfe.
3 To whom euerlaſting life is giuen.
EVerlaſting life is giuen to all the Elect,All the Elect, & they alone are partakers of euerlaſting life. and to them onelyonly. Joh. 10.28. I giuegive vntounto them eternal life, that is, to my ſheepe, who are his elect and choſen. Iohn. 17.9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haſt giuen me, for they are thine: and verſe 12. Thoſe that thou gaueſt me hauehave I kept, and none of them is loſt, but the childe of perdition. Againe, faith and repentaunce are proper vntounto the Elect only: but theſe are part of eternal life. Therefore eternal life belongeth to the Elect onelyonly. Rom. 11.7. The Elect hauehave obtained it, and the reſt hauehave beene hardened. Wee muſt obſerue in this place, whereas the queſtion is, To whom euerlaſting life is giuen, that it is better to anſwere, That eternal life is giuen to the Elect, than to ſay, it is giuen vntounto the conuerted.*As they are elected, ſo the… are but choſen to eternall life: as they are conuerted, ſo they are in part admitted vntounto it, and begin to b… put in poſſeſſion of it. For conuerſion and faith are the beginning of eternal life: And to ſay, Eternal life is giuen to the conuerted, were all one, as if you woulde ſay, life is giuen to the liuing.
4 For what cauſe euerlaſting life is giuen.
THE impellent or motiue cauſe of euerlaſting life giuen vntounto vsus, is the alone free mercy of God. (For a good thing doth communicate it ſelfe and make others partakers of it) and his louelove towardes mankinde:God of his …ree mercy giueth vsus for Chriſts ſake euerlaſting life, that wee might praiſe and magnifie the ſame his mercy for euer. And he will that euerlaſting life bee giuen vsus, and himſelfe giueth the ſame vntounto vsus, for the alone interceſſion and merit of Chriſt imputed vntounto vsus, by the comming and interpoſing whereof gods mercy is more illuſtrated and manifeſted than without it. But no work of man either foreſeene in vsus, or preſent, is the cauſe of this eternall life, whereunto notwithſtanding wee are brought by many meanes. Before the beginning of eternal life, our woorkes merit eternall death: after the beginning thereof, all our woorkes are effectes thereof: and nothing is cauſe of it ſelfe. The final cauſe, or end, for which eternal life is giuen vsus, is, that the mercy of God might be acknowledged and magnified of vsus. Eph. 1.6. To the praiſe of the glorie of his grace, wherewith hee hath made vsus accepted in his beloued. For the ſame cauſe God giueth vsus eternall life, for which hee choſe vsus.
5 When euerlaſting life is giuen.
Euerlaſting life is begu… here by conuerſion.IN this life is giuen the beginning of eternal life; and that neceſſarily. For vntounto whom life euerlaſting is not begunne to be giuen here, that is, who beginneth not here to feele a part of eternal life, to wit, faith, and conuerſion: vntounto him life euerlaſting ſhal neuer be giuen after this life. 2. Corinth. 5.2. Therefore we ſigh deſiring to be clothed with our houſe, which is from heauen. Becauſe that if we be clothed, we ſhal not bee found naked. It is conſūmated in the worlde to come, by glorification.The conſummation of euerlaſting life is after this life▪ for vntounto whom euerlaſting life is begunne to bee giuen here, to them ſhal it be giuen finiſhed, compleate and conſummated. And of this conſūmation ther are two degrees: one, when the ſoule is preſently carried into heauen; becauſe by the death of the bodie we are freed from all infirmitie: the other degree is greater, higher and more glorious, when in the reſurrection of the bodies the ſoules ſhall againe be vnited to their bodies, becauſe after the reſurrection we ſhal be made glorious, and ſhall ſee God euen as hee is. Iohn 5.24. He that heareth my word, and beleeueth in him that ſent mee, hath euerlasting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but hath paſſed from death to life. 1. Iohn. 3.2. Nowe are wee the Sonnes of GOD, but yet it dooth not appeare what wee ſhall bee: and wee knowe that when hee ſhal appeare, we ſhal bee like him: for we ſhal ſee him as he is.
6 How euerlaſting life is giuen vntounto vsus.
EVerlasting life is giuen vntounto vsus by the holy Ghoſt, God giueth v… euerlaſting …i… by the outw… miniſterie …, & th… … warde mi… of the ſpiritand the holy Ghoſt giueth it vsus in this life by the miniſterie of the word; by the worde he worketh in vsus the knowledge of God and his wil: This knowledge hath following it a ſtudy and deſire more and more to know God, and to liue according to the preſcript of his will. It is giuen heere vntounto infants, ſo that they hauehave an inclination to repentaunce and faith. But the conſummation and accompliſhment of euerlaſting life ſhal be giuen vsus after this life immediately. Now that it is heere giuen vsus mediately by the woorde, is prooued by plaine teſtimonies of Scripture. John. 6.68. Whither ſhall wee goe? (ſay the Diſciples) Thou hast the words of life. 1. Corint. 4.15 Jn Chriſt Jeſus J hauehave begotten you through the goſpel. Rom. 116. The goſpell is the power of God vntounto ſaluation to euerie one that beleeueth. And this is the ordinarie manner of giuing vsus this beginning of euerlaſting life, namely by the woord mediately. But there is another maner of giuing the ſame vntounto infants, and by miracles.
7 Whether we can be aſſured in this life of euerlaſting life.
IN this life not onelyonly wee maie, Our aſſurance of euerlaſting life is neceſſary and grounded vponupon ſure reaſons.but wee ought alſo to bee aſſured and certain of euerlaſting life; otherwiſe we ſhal neuer hauehave it. For it is giuen to al the elect, and to them onelyonly. And wee maie be certaine of it by faith, euen by a full perſuaſion of the good wil of God towardes vsus: likewiſe by the beginning of true repentaunce, which is a ful purpoſe and intent to liue according to gods cōmandements; laſtly, by the peace of conſciēce, by a deſire of God, and by a ioie and gladneſſe in God. This aſſuraunce and certainty is grounded on ſure and ſtrong reaſons. 1. The autor of euerlaſting life is vnchangeable, euen GOD himſelfe. 2. Gods election is vnchaungeable. 3. Chriſt is heard in all thinges, which he deſireth of his Father. But he praied that his father woulde ſaue all thoſe whom hee had giuen him. 4. God will not hauehave vsus to praie for good things neceſſarie to ſaluation with a condition, but ſimplie. 2. Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God remaineth ſure, the lord knoweth who ar his. Ioh. 10.28. No mā ſhal pluck my ſheepe out of my hand. I giuegive vntounto them eternal life: but it were not eternal life, if it could be interrupted or broken off. Of the conſummation of euerlaſting life we muſt bee aſſured by the beginning thereof. Rom. 11.29. The giftes and calling of God are without repentaunce. God is faithfull: therefore as hee hath begunne, ſo alſo will hee accompliſh and end. Wherefore to doubt of the continuaunce and conſummation of euerlaſting life, is to ouerthrow the faith and truth of god. Now of the beginning of eternal life we are aſſured chiefly by a true faith, which withſtandeth doubtes, that is, which hath a purpoſe to reſiſt the Diuel, and crieth, I beleeue Lord, help my vnbeliefe. But this faith cannot bee without repentaunce, and therefore by an aſſured repentance we are alſo aſſured of the beginning of euerlaſting life, and therfore withal of the conſummation thereof.
That which now hath been ſpoken of this article doth ſufficiently declare, what is, To beleeue euerlaſting life: namely, aſſuredly and certainely to bee perſwaded, 1. That after this life there ſhall be alſo a life, wherein the Church ſhall be glorified: and God magnified of her euerlaſtingly. 2. That J alſo am a member of this Church, and therefore partaker of euerlaſting life. 3. That J alſo in this life hauehave and enioy the beginning of euerlaſting life.