The Triumph of a True Christian Described, Commentary on verse · Verse 11
VERSE 11.
But if the Spirit of him that raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, becauſe that his Spirit dwelleth in you.
COme we now to the 11. Verſe: But if the Spirit of him, &c. Our Apoſtle goes further to cheare vp the beleeuing Romans, and he here makes knowne to them to their further comfort, that though their bodies were ſubiect to death by reaſon of ſinne ſtill abiding in them, and ſhould dye, yet their bodies being dead, ſhould not remaine perpetually and for euer vnderunder the power of death, but ſhould in time be quickened and raiſed vp againe from death to life, euen to a glorious life together with their ſoules. And this comfort the Apoſtle propounds not barely, but in the proofe of it he proues it by an argument taken from the effect of Gods Spirit dwelling in them, on this mamanner, If the Spirit of God dwell in you, he will certainly quicken your mortall bodies, he will not ſuffer your dead bodies alwayes to abide vnderunder the power of death; it is his office to quicken, and to giuegive life, and he will performe his office: he will one day put life into your bodies though they be dead, and he will raiſe them vp againe to an heauenly and glorious life, that the whole man may liue and be bleſſed for euer.
Now this proofe of the quickening and raiſing vp of the dead bodies of the true beleeuing Romans, from the indwelling of Gods Spirit in them, is amplified and enlarged by the worke of Gods Spirit in raiſing vp Chriſt from the dead, à paribus, namely thus, God raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead by his Spirit, and therefore by the ſame Spirit he will likewiſe or in like manner quicken and raiſe vp your mortall bodies, you being mēbers of Chriſt: he raiſed vp Chriſt the head, he will likewiſe raiſe vp the members. If the Spirit of him that raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, becauſe that his Spirit dwelleth in you, by his Spirit dwelling in you. We ſee then that in this verſe is laid before vsus a proofe of the reſurrection of the bodies of Gods children, from the indwelling of Gods Spirit in them, amplified by the worke of Gods Spirit in raiſing vp Chriſt from the dead, with relation to that which went before verſe 10. That howſoeuer death preuaile ouer the bodies of Gods children, yet they are to know to their comfort, that the Spirit of God dwelling in them, they ſhall not alwayes abide vnderunder death.
If the Spirit of him. By the word him, Interpretatiō.is here meant God the Father, from whom the holy Ghoſt proceeds, and therefore he is called his Spirit, as verſe 9. That raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead: that is, the bodie of Ieſus, by a ſynecdoche the whole being put for the part, raiſed vp the bodie of Ieſus which was crucified and dead, from death to life. Dwell in you. That phraſe we hauehave formerly opened, and the meaning of it here is this, Be in you by his true powerfull working preſence, by the efficacie and power of his grace. He, namely, the ſame God that raiſed vp Chriſt: that is, the bodie of Chriſt, from death to life, ſhall alſo or in like manner quicken your mortall bodies. Some thinke that the Apoſtle here ſpeaketh of the continuall working of Gods Spirit in mortifying the reliques of ſinne in true beleeuers, but indeed that is not agreable to the context, neither will the word beare that conſtruction: for the Apoſtle ſpeaking of the time to come, Shall quicken your mortall bodies, he pointeth at the reſurrection that ſhall be, and not at that which is preſent in riſing to newneſſe of life. And the word mortall, doth giuegive vsus to vnderſtand ſo much, that he intends the laſt and finall reſurrection of the bodie, which is mortall and ſubiect to death and diſſolution. Now the word quicken here vſed, is verie emphaticall and weightie, it ſignifies thus much, Shall not onelyonly raiſe from death to life, nor yet to an immortall life onelyonly, for ſo the bodies of the wicked ſhall be, they ſhall be raiſed from the dead, and they ſhall be made immortall, and able to abide for euer in the ſtate whereto they ſhall be iudged: but to a further matter, ſhall raiſe the bodies of Gods children to an immortall happie life, to a life perfectly glorious, and ſhall make their bodies like the glorious bodie of Chriſt, as Philip. 3.21. and ſhall make them ſpirituall bodies, as 1. Corinth. 15.44. that is, bodies not onelyonly quickened by a liuing ſoule, but with a farre more excellent vertue, namely, the vertue of the Spirit deſcending from Chriſt their head: ſo much is compriſed and ſignified by the word quicken. Becauſe, or rather by, that his Spirit dwelleth in you, as it is in the originall: that is, by the power & vertue of that Spirit of God being in you by his true powerfull working preſence, and by the efficacie of his grace in them. The meaning then of the Apoſtle in the words of this verſe is thus to be conceiued, as if the Apoſtle had ſaid:
But if the holy Spirit of God the Father, who raiſed vp the body of Ieſus when it was crucified and dead, from death to life, be in you by his true powerfull working preſence, and by the efficacie of his grace, euen the ſame God that did raiſe vp the body of Chriſt from death to life, ſhall alſo, and in like manner, raiſe your bodies that are mortall and ſubiect to death, euen when they are dead, from death to life, yea to an immortall happie life, and to a life perfectly glorious: and ſhall make your bodies ſpirituall, and like to the glorious body of Chriſt, by the power and vertue of that Spirit of his, being in you by his true powerfull working preſence, and by the efficacie of his grace.
Firſt obſerue we, that the Apoſtle here chearing vp the beleeuing Romans, with this comfort, that though their bodies were mortall, and though they were dead, yet they ſhould not alwayes abide vnderunder the power of death, but ſhould be quickened and raiſed vp againe from death to life; he puts downe this comfort in the proofe of it, that Gods Spirit dwelling in them, he would not ſuffer their bodies to abide vnderunder the power of death, but would one day raiſe them vp againe from death to life. Hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
Doct. 1 That the holy Spirit of God neuer forſakes the bodies of Gods children,The holy Spirit of God neuer forſakes the bodies of Gods children though they be dead and buried. though the bodies of Gods children be dead and buried: and though they be turned into duſt and aſhes, yet they are ſtill deare and precious to the Lord, and he ſtill watcheth ouer the very duſt of them, and his hand doth ſtill hold and keepe them, in time to quicken them, and to reſtore them to life againe: the Lord hath regard to the bodies of his children, and hath a care ouer them, though they be dead and rotten in their graues: for why.
The dead bodies of Gods children are ſtill members of Reaſon. 1 Chriſt, and they are ſtill knit to him, and being dead, they reſt and ſleepe in him, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Theſſ. 4.14.1. Theſ. 4.14. If we beleeue that Ieſus is dead and is riſen, euen ſo them which ſleepe in Ieſus will God bring with him. Rom. 14.8.Rom. 14.8. the Apoſtle ſaith, Whether we liue or dye we are the Lords. There is an inſeparable and perpetuall vnion betweene Chriſt and eueryevery true beleeuer, not onelyonly in regard of the ſoule, but of the bodie alſo. 1. Cor. 6.15.1. Cor. 6.15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Chriſt? and the bodie being once knit to Chriſt, it ſo continues for euer; though death ſeuer the ſoule from the bodie, yet it ſeuers not the bodie from Chriſt.
Againe, the Lord hath made an euerlaſting couenant of Reaſon. 2 grace with his children, that he will be their God for euer; and that couenant is not made onelyonly in regard of their ſoules, but of their bodies alſo, euen in regard of the whole man: and when the Lord ſaith, I am the God of Abraham, his meaning is not that he is the God of Abrahams ſoule onelyonly, but alſo of his bodie; and therefore doubtleſſe the Lord hath regard to the bodies of his children, and hath a care ouer them though they be dead and rotten in their graues, and he ſtill watcheth ouer the very duſt of them, and his hand doth ſtill hold and keepe them, in time to quicken them, and to reſtore them to life againe.
Haply ſome may ſay, Chriſt ſaith Mat. 22.32. Obiect. God is not the God of the dead, but of the liuing.
I anſwer. God is not the God of the dead, Anſw. according to the iudgement and opinion of the Sadduces, and as they conceiued of the dead: that is, as of thoſe who were altogether dead both in bodie and ſoule, and neuer to riſe againe; for that was the opinion of the Sadduces, they denied the reſurrection, and according to that opinion of theirs Chriſt there ſpeakes, that God is not the God of the dead in that ſort, for God cannot ſuffer ſuch a death to preuaile ouer his, he is a God of merciemercy and of life it ſelfe, and therefore will in time reſtore the dead bodies of his children to life againe. So that this we may ſet downe as a certaine truth, that the Lord hath regard to the bodies of his children, and hath a care ouer them though they be dead and rotten in their graues: yea though they be in the bottome of the ſea, or whereſoeuer they be, yet they are deare and precious to the Lord, his hand doth hold and keepe them, in time to quicken them, and to reſtore them to life againe.
Vſe. Comfort to Gods children in time of trouble, and when the pangs of death are vponupon thē.And this is a ground of ſweete and of excellent comfort to all Gods children: this may ſerue to arme and ſtrengthen them againſt the feare of any trouble whatſoeuer; yea to hold vp their hearts with comfort when the pangs of death are vponupon them. For what though the world tell them of perils and dangers, and threaten much euill and miſchiefe againſt them, yet let them remember not onelyonly this, that the diſpoſing of all euents is in the hand of the Lord, but that themſelues are alwayes his both aliue and dead, and that euen their dead bodies are deare and precious to him; and that will ſtay them, and hold them vp with comfort and aſſurance, that come what can come to them, yet they ſhall be ſafe, and wel, and in good caſe, they are the Lords, and the Lord is all-ſufficient to keepe his owne, and will aſſuredly keepe his owne: and though death ſeparate bodie and ſoule aſunder, yet remember thou being a child of God, it cannot diuide thee from thy God: no, no, it is a meanes to bring thy ſoule nearer to God, and thy bodie laid vp in the earth and there turned to duſt, is ſtill within the couenant, and knit to Ieſus Chriſt; and thou art ſtill deare and precious to the Lord both in thy ſoule and bodie: and why then ſhouldſt thou feare the ſtroke of death, or the horror of the graue? It was an excellent comfort the Lord gaue Iacob when he was to go downe into Egypt, Gen. 46.4. I will go downe with thee into Egypt, and I will alſo bring thee vp againe. Iacob died in Egypt, and his bodie when it was dead was brought backe againe into Canaan, and yet the Lord ſaith, that he would bring him backe againe, and that he would ſtill be with his bodie though it were dead, and bring that againe into Canaan. And thus is the Lord with the dead bodies of all his children, and that is to be thought on to their comfort.
In the next place obſerue, that the Apoſtle here ſaith, that the Spirit of God, or God by his Spirit, raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead: and againe; he that raiſed vp Christ from the dead. Whence note we.
That Chriſt in reſpect of the bodie was once among the Doct. 2 dead, and he deſcended into the ſtate of the dead,Chriſt in reſpect of his bodie was once in the ſtate of the dead, & death had power ouer him for a time. How that is to be vnderſtood. and his bodie lay downe amongſt the dead, yea the bodie of Chriſt was for a time vnderunder the power of death: death had power and dominion ouer Chriſt for a time, therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 6.9. Chriſt being raiſed from the dead dyeth no more, death hath no more dominion ouer him. Thereby implying and giuing vsus to vnderſtand, that death had once power ouer Chriſt for a time, yet that is not to be vnderſtood as if Chriſt had bene forced to yeeld to death, as if death had bene ſtronger then he, and yt by the power of it, it had ouercome Chriſt, he being not able to ſtand againſt the force and power of it: no, but that Chriſt willingly and of his owne accord did ſubmit himſelfe to death for the ſinnes of Gods choſen, he by voluntarie diſpenſation taking on him their ſinnes, otherwiſe death had no power ouer him, but as he voluntarily tooke on him the ſinnes of Gods choſen, and did willingly ſubmit himſelfe to death: ſo indeed death had power ouer Chriſt for a time, and he was amongſt the dead in reſpect of his bodie, and he deſcended into the ſtate of the dead. And this truth is euident and cleare from the buriall of Chriſt, in that he was buried by Ioſeph of Arimathea, as appeares Mat. 27.59.60. the text ſaith, Ioſeph tooke the body of Ieſus, and wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth, and put it into his new tombe which he had hewed out in a rocke, and rolled a great ſtone to the dore of the ſepulcher. And with him ioyned Nicodemus that came to Ieſus by night, Ioh. 19.40.41.42. The buriall of Chriſt ſhewes the certaintie and truth of his death, that his death was not a phantaſticall death, a death onelyonly in ſhew, a ſeeming death, but that he was truly and certainly dead, that his bodie was truly dead and buried, and deſcended into the ſtate of the dead, and lay amongſt the dead for a time. And one ſpeciall reaſon and ground of this truth is this.
Reaſon 1 The manifeſtation of the mightie power of Chriſt, euen to ſhew that he not onelyonly vanquiſhed death on the croſſe, and on the croſſe triumphed ouer the diuell, and ouer all the powers of hell; as Coloſ. 2.15. the Apoſtle ſaith, He ſpoiled the principalities and powers, and hath made a ſhew of them openly, ane hath triumphed ouer them in the ſame croſſe: but that he alſo as a moſt valiant and mighty conqueror, vanquiſhed death as it were at his owne home, and pluckt him out of his owne cabbin and den. And therefore doubtleſſe did Chriſt put himſelfe vnderunder the power of death for a time, and was amongſt the dead in reſpect of his bodie, that he might get the greater victorie and conqueſt ouer death, and that he might more manifeſt his power in ſubduing death, and triumphing ouer death more gloriouſly.
Ʋſe. And this may ſerue as a ground of further comfort to Gods children, & to ſuch as truly beleeue in Chriſt: Death in it ſelfe is the king of feare, foreign Iob 18.14.it is dreadfull and terrible to nature; and the graue in it ſelfe is vgly and lothſome, and the houſe of perdition, if a man looke at it with the eye of nature: but to Gods children, the nature both of death and of the graue is changed, and they are made to them ſweet and comfortable: and that on this ground the bleſſed and glorious bodie of Chriſt Ieſus was once amongſt the dead, and lay downe amongſt the dead for a time; and that holy and bleſſed bodie hath ſanctified and ſweetened death, and as it were perfumed the graue to all Gods children, and made the graue to them but as a bed of downe, and a place of ſweet repoſe and comfortable reſt, wherein their bodies reſt from all their paines and labours, and reſt in hope of glorie hereafter to be giuen to them. And that is an excellent comfort to all the children of God, and to all ſuch as rruly beleeue in Chriſt. It is but a poore and ſilly comfort that ſome baſtard Chriſtians cheare vp themſelues withall, as that they hope to be fairely and well buried, to hauehave a faire and goodly tombe or ſepulcher, to leaue abundance of wealth behind them to their children. Alas, as one ſaith well, if men hauehave no better comfort then this, this is but comfortleſſe comfort: here is the ſound comfort of a true beleeuing Chriſtian againſt the feare of death, and againſt the terror of the graue, that the bleſſed bodie of the Lord Ieſus was once amongſt the dead, and lay in the graue vnderunder the power of death for a time, and that bleſſed bodie hath ſanctified death, and ſweetened the graue to all his members. And therefore thou that art a child of God, conſider this to thy comfort, when death hath done as it were the worſt, when it hath preuailed ouer thee, & brought thine head as low as thy feete, yea lower, thy bodie is now encloſed in the bowels of the earth, it is ſwallowed vp of the graue, the graue hath ſhut her mouth on thee, yet the graue ſhall not alwayes hold thy bodie: and though it do hold it for a time, yet thou belonging to Chriſt, thy bodie is in the ſame condition that once the bodie of the Lord Ieſus was for a time; and therefore thou haſt no cauſe to be abaſhed, and to be too much troubled with the feare of death, with the horror or lothſomneſſe of the graue. Thinke on that to thy comfort.
But if the Spirit of him that raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed vp Chriſt. We ſee here, I will but point at it in a word, that the Apoſtle cals the Saints departed this life dead men. The Papiſts take exception againſt vsus,A fooliſh exception of the Papiſts touching the Saints departed met withall. that forſooth we call the Saints depa…ted dead men, when we reaſon againſt their inuocation of Saints departed, and tell them that they pray to the dead, Oh (ſay they) you diſdainfully call the triumphant Saints in heauen dead men, as if they had no credit with God, nor any care or compaſſion of men. A fooliſh cauill and an idle exception: we ſpeake no otherwiſe then the holy Ghoſt hath taught vsus, we call the Saints departed this life dead men, not in diſdaine as they charge vsus, but as the holy Ghoſt doth in this and in many other places of Scripture: as for their credit with God, and their care of men, we doubt not of it, but yet we cannot thereupon yeeld to this, that they be mediators betweene God and vsus, that is diſhonourable and derogatorie to the perfect mediation of Chriſt Ieſus. Let it ſuffice to hauehave touched that in a word.
Obſerue we further, the Apoſtle here ſaith, that God b… the power of his holy Spirit raiſed vp the bodie of the Lord Ieſus, crucified, dead, and buried, from the dead, from death to life againe.
Queſt. Now here growes a queſtion; how this can agree with that ſpeech of Chriſt, Ioh. 10.18.Ioh. 10.18. No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it downe of my ſelfe, I hauehave power to lay it downe, and hauehave power to take it againe: whence it is cleare that Chriſt raiſed vp himſelfe?
Anſw. I anſwer. Theſe two may well ſtand together, God by the power of his Spirit raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, and Chriſt alſo raiſed vp himſelfe. For we muſt know, that the raiſing vp of Chriſt from the dead was a worke of the whole Trinitie,Opera Trinitatis ad extra ſunt indiuiſa. all the externall workes of the Trinitie being vndiuided, and ſo God the Father raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, and Chriſt as God raiſed vp himſelfe, and God the holy Ghoſt alſo raiſed him vp. Now then hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
Doct. 3 That the raiſing vp of Chriſt from the dead was a wonderfull worke,The raiſing vp of Chriſt from the dead was a worke wherein God did manifeſt the greatneſſe of his power. it was a worke of the whole Trinitie; yea not onelyonly ſo, for ſo is the raiſing of our bodies, but a worke as it were of the whole hand of God, we find it ſo ſet forth to vsus in the booke of God, as a worke wherein the Lord did manifeſt the greatneſſe of his power. Epheſ. 1.19.20. the Apoſtle ſpeakes plainly to this purpoſe, That the eyes of your vnderſtanding may be lightened, that ye may know what the hope is of his calling, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saints: and what is the exceeding greatneſſe of his power towards vsus, which beleeue according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Chriſt when he raiſed him from the dead. Rom. 1.4. the Apoſtle ſaith, Christ was declared mightily to be the Sonne of God, touching the Spirit of ſanctification by the reſurrection from the dead. Chriſt by raiſing himſelfe from the dead, declared the greatneſſe of his power, euen the power of his Godhead: for why, Reaſon. the humiliation of Chriſt by death was maruellous great, neuer was any, neither could anie be bound with ſuch ſtrong bonds of death, nor held with ſuch ſorrowes of death, as they are called Act. 2.24. as Chriſt was for a time. And therefore it muſt needs be, that in diſſoluing and looſing thoſe bonds and thoſe ſorrowes, the Lod did manifeſt the greatneſſe of his power.
And this is of vſe, Ʋſe. A meanes to hold vp the fainting hearts of Gods children in their greateſt extremities.to this purpoſe we are to call to minde and to remember this truth; when we are plonged into the greateſt diſtreſſe either of bodie or mind, the due conſideration of this truth will be a meanes to hold vp our fainting hearts in our greateſt extremities. For why, conſider with thy ſelfe, did the Lord manifeſt the greatneſſe of his power in raiſing vp Chriſt from the dead? did he then looſe the bonds and ſorrowes of death, when death had as it were drawne Chriſt into his cabbin & den, and there held him in bondage for a time, yea in ſuch bondage as neuer was anie, neither could be? and will he ſuffer anie of the members of Chriſt to be held vnderunder the bands and ſorrowes of death, not ſo ſtrong, and not looſe them? No, doubtleſſe he will not, he is the ſame mightie and powerfull God, he looſed the bonds of death, when death ſeemed to triumph ouer Chriſt, and all hope ſeemed to be gone, he then put to his whole hand to the looſing of thoſe bonds, and he as it were with his little finger will looſe the bonds of thy ſorrow and of thy diſtreſſe, either of bodie or mind: euen then when in mans iudgement thy diſtreſſe is hopeleſſe and remedileſſe. And aſſure thy ſelfe thou being a member of Chriſt, he will looſe the bonds of thy diſtreſſe, if it may ſtand with the glorie of his name and with thy good. And indeed a child of God is vpheld by the hand and power of God in time of his great diſtreſſe, otherwiſe he would vtterly faile, ſinke, and fall downe flat vnderunder the burden. But alas, Note.a child of God cannot then ſo well diſcerne the working power of the Lord, and his hand ſupporting of him, nor ſo well take notice of it, becauſe his iudgement is the… ouerſhadowed with the feeling of his preſent diſtreſſe, and with the greatneſſe of it. And therefore in time of our greateſt extremities we are to call to mind and to remember the mighty power of God, manifeſted in looſing the bonds and ſorrowes with which Chriſt was held and bound, and in raiſing vp Chriſt from the dead; and that will be a meanes to confirme and ſtrengthen vsus in our hope and dependance on the Lord at all times. The raiſing vp of Chriſt from the dead, was a worke of the whole hand of God, and the looſing of thy ſorrowes and of the bonds of thy diſtreſſe, is but a worke as it were of his little finger: and therefore be not diſcouraged in thy greateſt diſtreſſe; thou being a child of God, he will ſet thee free from it in his due time, if it may be for his owne glorie and thy good. Thinke on that to thy comfort.
The Apoſtle here ſaith, that he that raiſed vp Chriſt from the Head, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies. He aſcribes to God the raiſing vp of the dead bodie of the Lord Ieſus, and alſo the quickening and raiſing vp of the bodies of the true beleeuing Romans. Whence note we.
Doct. 4 That the raiſing vp of the dead is a worke of diuine power, a worke of God onelyonly:The raiſing vp of the dead is a worke of Gods owne mighty hand alone. Deut. 32.39. 1. Sam. 2.6. it is a worke farre aboue the ſtrength of all creatures, men, or Angels; all men and Angels in heauen or earth are not able to put life into a dead bodie, and to raiſe it vp from the dead, that is a worke of Gods owne mightie hand alone. Deut. 32.39. the Lord takes it as proper to himſelfe, Behold I kill, and I giuegive life: which is againe remembred by Hannah in her ſong, 1. Sam. 2.6. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue, bringeth downe to the graue and raiſeth vp. A proofe of the Godhead of Chriſt.And this may ſerue as a ſpeciall euidence and proofe of the Godhead of Chriſt, in that he raiſed vp himſelfe from the dead, and ſhall alſo raiſe vp others at the day of iudgement. And indeed it is true, that the holy Prophets and Apoſtles ſometimes raiſed the dead,1. King. 17.22. 2. King. 4.35. Act. 9.40. as Eliah did, 1. King. 17.22. and Eliſha, 2. King. 4.35. and Peter, Act. 9.40. but that was by a borrowed power, by power from God, and in the name of Chriſt, and not by any power of their owne: but Chriſt raiſed vp himſelfe, and ſhall raiſe vp others from the dead, not as an inſtrument, but as a principall efficient, and by his owne proper power. And that ſtrength proues the Godhead of Chriſt, it is an infallible argument that Chriſt is truly God. I forbeare further to ſpeake of it.
Now in that the Apoſtle here ſaith, that God that raiſed vp Chriſt ſhould alſo quicken the mortall bodies of the beleeuing Romans, we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
That the dead bodies of Gods children, & true beleeuers, Doct. 5 ſhall not alwayes abide vnderunder the power of death,The dead bodies of Gods children ſhall one day be quickened & raiſed vp frō death to life againe. but ſhall one day be quickened and raiſed vp from death to life againe. It is a fundamentall truth, an article of our faith, we beleeue or at leaſt ought to beleeue the reſurrectiō of the body, which being ſeuered from the ſoule & ſo dead, ſhall one day be reuiued and quickened, and hauehave life put into it againe. The Scripture is plentifull in the proofe of this truth, Iob 19.25.26.27. I am ſure (ſaith Iob) that my Redeemer liueth, and he ſhall ſtand the laſt on the earth. And though after my skinne wormes deſtroy this bodie, yet ſhall I ſee God in my fleſh. Whom I my ſelfe ſhall ſee, and mine eyes ſhall behold, and none other for me, though my reines are conſumed within me. Iſay 26.19. the Lord ſaith by the Prophet, Thy dead men ſhall riſe, euen with my bodie ſhall they riſe: awake and ſing, ye that dwell in the duſt. 1. Corin. 15. the Apoſtle proues the reſurrection of the dead bodies of true beleeuers by many ſtrong and vnanſwerable arguments, I will not ſtand to repeate them particularly, onelyonly marke what he ſaith from verſe 13. to 18. If there be no reſurrection of the dead, if the dead ſhall neuer riſe againe, then is Christ not riſen, then the faith of Chriſtians is vaine, the preaching of the Gospell vaine: and the godly departed this life are periſhed. All which are foule and groſſe abſurdities, therefore doubtleſſe the bodies of Gods children and true beleeuers ſhal not alwayes abide vnderunder the power of death, but ſhall one day be raiſed from death to life againe.
There be many grounds of this truth,Grounds of the reſurrection of the body. it is built on many ſtrong grounds, as on the truth of the word of God, wherein reward is promiſed to the good and godly, and the iuſtice of God which goes hand in hand with this truth, that whatſoeuer is promiſed in the word of God, the equitie of his iuſtice requires the accompliſhment of it. On his merciemercy promiſed in the couenant of grace, and on his almightie power: yea on the ground the Apoſtle here ſpeakes of, namely, the being of the Spirit of Chriſt in all true beleeuers. The ſame Spirit that raiſed the bodie of Chriſt being dead, ſhall alſo raiſe the dead bodies of his members: for the ſame working cauſe will certainly bring forth the ſame effect, hauing nothing more to hinder it in the one then in the other. And therefore it muſt needs be, that the dead bodies of Gods children and true beleeuers ſhall not alwayes abide vnderunder the power of death, but ſhall one day be raiſed vp from death to life.
Obiect. Haply ſome may ſay, Shall not the dead bodies of the wicked be one day raiſed from death to life? ſhall they alwayes abide vnderunder the power of death?
Anſw. I anſwer. No, they ſhall not, they alſo ſhall one day be raiſed, and hauehave life put into them againe, but it ſhall not be by the ſame power by which the dead bodies of Gods children ſhall be raiſed: the dead bodies of Gods children ſhall be raiſed by vertue from Chriſt as their head, by the power of his Spirit, and by vertue of his reſurrection: but the wicked and reprobate ſhall be raiſed by the power of Chriſt as he is God, euen by his powerfull voice, which ſhall be vttered by the blaſt of the laſt trumpet, as 1. Cor. 15.52. citing them to appeare in a moment, which they ſhall not be able to auoid.
Queſt. It may be further demanded, whether the ſame bodies that now Gods children and others hauehave, ſhall be raiſed vp and reſumed, or any new bodies giuen vntounto them?
Anſw. I anſwer. Euen the ſelf ſame bodies that now both the godly and the wicked are clothed withall, and eueryevery part & parcel of thoſe bodies, ſhall be raiſed vp, and none other for them. Iob ſaith, Iob 19.27. I my ſelfe ſhall ſee God, and mine eyes ſhall behold, and none other for me, though my reines are conſumed within me: euen theſe very eyes. And the Apoſtle ſpeakes foreign, 1. Cor. 15.5…. This corruptible muſt put on incorruption, and this mortall muſt put on immortalitie: as it were pointing at his owne bodie. This then we may reſolue on as a truth of God, that the dead bodies of Gods children, yea the dead bodies of all both good and bad, ſhall one day be raiſed from death to life, and ſhall hauehave life put into them againe: yea euen the ſelfe ſame bodies that now both the godly and the wicked are clothed withall, and eueryevery part and parcell of thoſe bodies, ſhall be reſtored, and none other for them.
And this truth in the firſt place is to be thought on for our Ʋſe 1 further ſtrengthening in that article of our faith,Confirmatiō of that article of faith, the reſurrection of the bodie The reſurrection of the body. On this ground we are to be further ſtrengthened in that article; it is an article aboue the reach of naturall reaſon: it hath bene ſtrongly oppugned; the heathen Phyloſophers made a mocke at it, yea they ſaid Act. 17.18. that Paul was a babler and a ſetter forth of ſtrange Gods, when he preached to them of the reſurrection. Yea howſoeuer many amongſt vsus are able to repeate that article of faith, and ſome do repeate it as a prayer (which is groſſe ignorance) yet they hardly beleeue the truth of this article, it will hardly ſinke into their heads and hearts, that the dead bodies of good and bad ſhall one day be raiſed, or at leaſt that the ſelfe ſame bodies ſhall be reſtored and no other for them, that they can hardly beleeue: yea ſome ſticke not to ſpeake it in expreſſe words, that they cannot be perſwaded of it, you ſhall not make them beleeue that the ſelfe ſame eyes that now they carrie in their heads, and now ſee withall, ſhall be reſtored againe. Why, theſe eyes ſay they, ſhall be putrified and conſumed, and can they be reſtored againe? Ah poore ignorant ſot, whoſoeuer thou art, thou ſpeakeſt ignorantly, thou knoweſt not the Scriptures nor the power of God, as Chriſt ſaid to the Sadduces, Mat. 22.29. yea thou ſpeakeſt as an Atheiſt; and herein thou ſheweſt thy ſelfe no better then a vile wicked Atheiſt, for herein thou denieſt the truth of God, the power of God, the iuſtice of God, the merciemercy of God: and in ſo doing thou denieſt God himſelfe, and thou art no better then a monſtrous Atheiſt: for on all theſe grounds ſtandeth the reſurrection of the bodie, yea the reſtoring of the ſelfe ſame bodies that now we hauehave, with eueryevery part and parcell of them. God who is truth it ſelfe and cannot lye, hath ſaid it ſhall be ſo: we find it on record as part of Gods eternall truth reuealed in his word.
And againe, God who was able to make all things of nothing, is much more able to make eueryevery mans bodie at the reſurrection of his owne matter, yea to diſtinguiſh the duſt of one mans bodie from the duſt of another. Thou ſayeſt, thou canſt not beleeue that the ſelfe ſame eyes that are in thy head ſhall be reſtored againe. I pray thee who made the eyes? did not God? and whereof did he make them? was it not of nothing? where were thine eyes an hundred yeares ago? And is not he that made thine eyes of nothing, able to reſtore them being diſſolued and turned to duſt? The Lord, ſaith the Prophet Iſay 40.12. hath the waters in his fiſt, and he comprehendeth the duſt of the earth in a meaſure: and it is more eaſie for him to diſcerne the duſt of one mans bodie from another, then it is for a man that hath his hand full of ſeuerall ſeeds, to open his hand, and to ſeuer one kind of ſeed from another, and to put eueryevery ſort of ſeed by it ſelfe.
And further, the iuſtice of God requires that the ſelfe ſame bodies ſhould be reſtored, and no other for them: for as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Corinth. 5.10. EueryEvery one muſt receiue the things done in his bodie according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill. And it ſtands not with the iuſtice of God that one bodie ſhould do good things, or ſuffer for well doing, and another bodie ſhould receiue the crowne. Shall the bodies of the Saints in this world endure bonds, impriſonment, racking and rending, whipping and ſcourging, and the ſcorching heate of the fire till they be turned to aſhes, and ſhall other bodies for them be glorified? And ſhall the wicked in their bodies worke wickedneſſe, and practiſe filthineſſe, and ſhall other bodies for them receiue the wages of their iniquitie? No, no, it cannot be, the iuſtice of God will not ſuffer it. And laſtly the glorie of Gods merciemercy requires that the ſelfe ſame body ſhould be raiſed. For ſhall the malice of Satan and ſinne bring that on the bodie which the merciemercy of God cannot remedie? it is not poſſible: and therefore on theſe grounds learne we to be ſtrengthened in that article of our Chriſtian faith, that the dead bodies of all, good and bad, ſhal one day be raiſed vp, and hauehave life put into them againe, yea euen the ſelfe ſame bodies that men, both the godly and wicked, are clothed withall, ſhall be reſtored, and eueryevery part and parcell of thoſe bodies, and none other for them. And let vsus not hearken to any motions of infidelitie, and of our owne vnbeleeuing hearts in this point, mouing and ſtirring vsus vp to call this truth into queſtion: if we do, we call into queſtion Gods truth, power, iuſtice and merciemercy; and that is a dangerous thing, we ruſh on a dangerous rocke, it will cruſh vsus to duſt and powder: take we heed of it, and withall conſider, that this truth is a ground of ſpeciall comfort to Gods children; take away this, and ye take away the chiefe pillar and ground of comfort from a true beleeuing Chriſtian.Iob. 19.25. Iob in his greateſt extremitie made this the comfort of his ſoule, that one day he ſhould riſe againe, and in his bodie enioy the glorious preſence of his Creator and Redeemer, Iob 19.25. And therefore labour we to be reſolued and ſetled in the truth of this article, and to be perſwaded of it, that the dead bodies of all ſhall one day be raiſed, and hauehave life put into them againe.
Yet further, is it ſo that the dead bodies of all, both good Ʋſe 2 and bad, ſhall one day be raiſed vp from the dead,How carefull we ought to be in well vſing of our bodies. and hauehave life put into them againe, ſhall euen the ſelfe ſame bodies that now we carrie about, and eueryevery part and parcel of them, be reſtored, and no other for them? Oh then I beſeech you conſider it, how carefull ought we to be in well vſing of our bodies, and of eueryevery part and member of them. We ſhould hereupon take notice of it, that we are to poſſeſſe our veſſels in holineſſe and in honour, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, 1. Theſſal. 4.4.1. Theſſ. 4.4. that we are to vſe our bodies and eueryevery part and member of them, as inſtruments of holineſſe, of Gods glorie, and of doing good, and to take heed we defile not our bodies, or any part or member of them with any knowne ſinne.
For why, we muſt one day ſee the Lord with theſe verie eyes that now we carrie about vsus: and how ſhall we be able to looke on him with defiled eyes? how ſhall the adulterous eye, the hauhgty, proud, and ſcornefull eye, the couetous eye, and the like, be able to looke God in the face? We commonly ſay of a man that hath done ſome vile notorious wicked act, that men take notice of, and crie ſhame vponupon, he will neuer be able to ſhew his face amongſt honeſt men againe; and how do we thinke that a wicked debauſhed wretch, a filthie adulterer, a common blaſphemer, a beaſtly drunkard, an vſurer, or the like, ſhall be able to ſhew his face before the moſt great and glorious holy maieſtie of God? EueryEvery one be he neuer ſo wicked and vile, will he, nil he, muſt one day appeare before the Lord face to face, euen theſe verie eyes of thine, that now it may be are full of adulterie, and cannot ceaſſe to ſinne, 2. Pet. 2.14. euen thoſe luſtfull eyes of thine, and that bodie of thine that now thou abuſeſt to filthineſſe, that body of thine that now thou doſt diſguiſe, and make euen a monſter by thy new fangled attire, muſt one day come before the glorious preſence of the Lord: and that verie mouth of thine that is now foule and filthie, and powers out curſing, ſwearing, rotten and filthie ſpeeches, ſhall one day be preſented before the Iudge of all the world; and thoſe hands of thine that now are defiled with filching, with fraud, yea with telling and taking thy curſed intereſt money, thou being a curſed vſurer, muſt one day be held vp at the barre of Gods iudgement ſeate. Oh that adulterers, proud perſons, blaſphemers, vſurers, and ſuch like, had but hearts to conſider this. Well, let vsus thinke on it, & remember it, that theſe verie eyes that now we carrie about, and no other, ſhall one day ſee the Lord.Hebr. 12.14. And howſoeuer it is ſaid, Hebr. 12.14. That without holineſſe no man ſhall ſee the Lord: the meaning is, without holineſſe no man ſhall ſee the Lord to his comfort. The moſt vile and wicked caitiffe that is ſhall ſee the Lord, and that with his owne eyes, and none other but he ſhall ſee him to his terror, and to his vtter amazement and confuſion, and he ſhall wiſh that the hils and mountaines would fall on him and couer him from the glorious preſence of the Lord.
Then learne we to take heed that we do not pollute and defile our bodies, or any part or member of them with any knowne ſinne; and let vsus on the ground of comfort now deliuered, learne to poſſeſſe our veſſels in holineſſe, and to vſe our bodies, and euerie part and member of them, as inſtruments of Gods glorie, and of holineſſe, and of doing good: and then doubtleſſe we ſhall be able to looke on the Lord, euen with theſe eyes that now we carrie about, with comfort, yea to ſtand before the Lord with ioy, and with much reioycing.
Now further obſerue we the word the Apoſtle here vſeth, quickened, ſhall quicken your mortal bodies. He ſaith, He that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead ſhall alſo quicken. The word quicken is verie emphaticall and weightie (as I ſhewed:) it ſignifies not onelyonly a raiſing vp from death to life, no, nor yet to an immortall life onelyonly, but to an immortall happie life, to a ſpirituall glorious life. So much is compriſed vnderunder the word quicken: and hence this concluſion ariſeth.
That though the ſelfe ſame bodies that now Gods children Doct. 6 carrie about,Though the ſelfe ſame bodies that Gods children carry about ſhall be raiſed from death to life at the day of reſurrection, yet they ſhall be altered & changed in qualitie. ſhall be raiſed vp from death to life at the day of reſurrection, and the verie ſame bodies for ſubſtance ſhall be reſtored to them that now they are clothed withall; yet thoſe bodies ſhall be altered and changed in qualitie, they ſhall then be endued with ſuch excellent and heauenly qualities as now they hauehave not; as firſt, the bodies of Gods children ſhall then be made immortall, and incorruptible, powerfull, and free from all paſſion and ſuffering, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Corinth. 15.42.43. The bodie is ſowen in corruption, it is raiſed in incorruption, it is ſowen in weakneſſe, it is raiſed in power. And verſe 53. This corruptible muſt put on incorruption, and this mortall muſt put on immortalitie. And the bodies of Gods children ſhall not then be ſubiect to weakeneſſe, infirmities, ſickneſſes, diſeaſes, miſeries, and to death, neither ſhall they ſtand in need of meate, drinke, apparell, ſleepe, and the like, by which our naturall life and our mortall bodies are now preſerued: but the bodies of Gods children raiſed vp from the dead, ſhall be made perfect bodies, perfect both in beautie and comelineſſe, and alſo in reſpect of parts, eueryevery blemiſh and euerie deformitie that is now in the bodie of a child of God, ſhall then be remoued, and the bodies of Gods children ſhall then be moſt beautifull and comely, yea euerie defect in the bodie of a child of God, as lameneſſe, blindneſſe, and the like,Note. ſhall then be remoued: and if any member of the bodie be loſt or wanting, as an arme, a legge, a finger, and ſuch like, it ſhall then be reſtored and ſupplied: for the periſhing of a member is nothing elſe but the death of that member, and the Lord restoring other parts and members of the bodie, he is able, and he doubtleſſe will alſo reſtore that loſt member againe. The Lord Ieſus who when he was on the face of the earth, gaue ſight to the blind, and ſtrength to the lame, is able and will without queſtion giuegive health and ſoundneſſe to the limbes that are lame, and will reſtore and ſupplie euerie part and member that is wanting. Yea it is the iudgement of ſome Diuines, that the bodies of Gods children ſhall be raiſed vp in perfect ſtature, euen the bodies of infants dying in their infancie, for they ſhall be like the bodies of our firſt parents before the fall, yea like to the glorious bodie of the Lord Ieſus: and therefore the bodies of Gods children raiſed from the dead ſhall be made ſpirituall bodies. 1. Cor. 15.44. It is ſowen a naturall bodie, and is raiſed a ſpirituall bodie: not ſpiritual in regard of ſubſtance but ſpirituall in reſpect of qualitie, they ſhall then be of ſuch a ſpirituall temper, as they ſhall be acted and moued whither their ſoules will without reſiſtance; yea they ſhall then be ſo lightſome, quicke, and nimble, as without any difficultie they ſhall be able to moue any way, euen vpwards, and to meet the Lord in the ayre. 1. Theſſal. 4.17. Yea the bodies of Gods children ſhall then be fully acted, and moued, and gouerned by the Spirit of God, and ſhall readily yeeld to the motion and guidance of the Spirit in euerie part and member of them: they ſhall then be fully and perfectly quickened with the life of the holy Spirit of God deſcending from Chriſt their head, and ſo ſpirituall: for the bodies of Gods children raiſed from the dead ſhall be made glorious bodies. 1. Corinth. 15.43. It is ſowen in diſhonour, and is raiſed in glorie: yea they ſhall be made like to the glorious bodie of the Lord Ieſus, Philip. 3.21. they ſhall be like to his bodie in brightneſſe and glorie, yet in different degrees, ſome ſhall be clothed with a greater meaſure of glorie, and ſome with a leſſe, Dan. 12.3. They that be wiſe ſhall ſhine as the brightneſſe of the firmament, and they that turne many to righteouſneſſe ſhall ſhine as the ſtarres for euer and euer. Mat. 13.43. Chriſt ſaith, The iuſt ſhall ſhine as the Sonne in the kingdome of their father. And 1. Cor. 15.41.42. the Apoſtle ſaith, There is one glorie of the Sunne, another of the Moone, and another glorie of the ſtarres, for one ſtarre differeth from another ſtarre in glorie: and ſo is the reſurrection of the dead. Thus then are we to conceiue of the change that ſhall be of the bodies of Gods children at the day of reſurrection, that they ſhall be raiſed vp, changed, not in ſubſtance but in qualirie, and ſhall then be made immortall, and incorruptible, powerfull and free from all miſerie, perfect in beautie and comelineſſe: and in reſpect of parts, ſpirituall and glorious, euen like to the glorious bodie of Chriſt in brightneſſe and glorie.
It may be demanded, Queſt. whether the bodies of the wicked raiſed from the dead ſhall thus be changed, or no?
I anſwer. In part they ſhall, Anſw. they ſhall be made immortall and incorruptible, and able to abide for euer in that ſtate whereto they ſhall be iudged, and that without meate, drinke, or the like: but yet they ſhall be bodies moſt foule and vgly to looke on, anſwerable to the guiltineſſe of their conſciences, for their worme ſhall not dye, neither ſhall their fire be quenched, and they ſhall be abhorring vntounto all fleſh, Iſay 66.24.Iſay 66.24. Apoc. 22.15. They ſhall be as dogs, Reuel. 22.15. how great, or how honorable, or beautifull ſoeuer they hauehave bene in the world; and their bodies ſhall be paſſible and liable to ſuffer extreme torments into which they ſhall be ſent. Mat. 21.46.Mat. 21.46. Ʋſe. Sweet comfort for all Gods children againſt the weakneſſes & frailties, they are now ſubiect vntounto.
Now then this truth may ſerue as a ground of ſweet and excellent comfort to all Gods children; let vsus further meditate and thinke on it, and conſider it ſeriouſly: Thou that art a child of God, thy bodie is now weake and fraile, and ſubiect to aches and paines, to ſickneſſes, to diſeaſes, and to death it ſelfe; the time ſhall come when that verie bodie of thine that is now full of aches and paines, and haply now lyes vnderunder ſore and grieuous diſeaſes, ſhall be free from ach and paine, and from all manner of infirmities: and not onelyonly ſo, for that is the condition of beaſts when they are dead, but the bodie being dead ſhall one day hauehave life put into it againe, and be made ſtrong and powerfull, and ſhall feele vnſpeakeable ioy and delight, and moſt ſweete eaſe and contentment in euerie part and member of it. Thy bodie is now tumbled and toſſed vp and downe, and many wayes turmoiled, and thou haſt cauſe of griefe and ſorrow, weeping and mourning for thine owne ſinnes and for the ſinnes of others, but the time of refreſhing will come from the preſence of the Lord, as Peter cals the day of reſurrection. Act. 3.19. When all teares ſhall be wiped away from their eyes, and there ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow, neither crying, neither ſhall there be any more paine. Reuel. 21.4.Apoc. 21.4. and thou ſhalt be free from all things that may hurt or offend thee. The bodie it may be is now deformed, crooked, blind, lame, or the like: the time ſhall come when eueryevery deformitie and euerie blemiſh that is in thy bodie ſhall be remoued and taken away, and euerie defect that is in it ſhall be ſupplied, and thy bodie ſhall be made moſt comely, and moſt beautifull: yea thy vile and baſe bodie ſhall be made like to the glorious bodie of the Lord Ieſus: euen that bodie of thine that is now baſe in the world, and baſe in the eſtimation of others, the wicked eſteeming thee as they do all Gods children, baſe and contemptible, and the refuſe and off-ſcouring of all things, euen that baſe bodie of thine ſhall one day ſhine like the moſt glorious bodie of Chriſt, in brightneſſe and in glorie. Yea the wicked reprobate that now contemne thee, and thinke baſely of thee, becauſe thou doſt not ruffle it out as they do, and thou art not ſo braue and glittering in thy apparell as they be, ſhall then ſee the brightneſſe and glorie of thy bodie, and be aſhamed and confounded in themſelues, their owne bodies being moſt foule and vgly to looke on; yea they ſhall then be foule themſelues, and crie out, Oh we fooles thought this man a baſe preciſe foole, and now behold his brightneſſe and glorie, and behold our owne vglineſſe and baſeneſſe. Yea thy bodie that is now heauie and lumpiſh, ſhall then be made a ſpirituall bodie; thou now complaining of the dulneſſe and heauineſſe of thy bodie in doing of good things, thou findeſt as Chriſt ſaid, Matth. 26.41.Mat. 26.41. That the ſpirit is ſometimes readie, but the fleſh is weake: the time ſhall come that thy bodie ſhall be no burden nor impediment to thy ſoule in doing of good things, but ſhall be acted and moued by thy ſoule without reſiſtance; yea thy bodie in euerie part and member of it ſhall be acted and moued by the holy Spirit of God. Thinke on that to thy comfort, and withall conſider, that if thy bodie ſhall be ſo glorious, if thy baſe bodie ſhall be made like to the glorious bodie of the Lord Ieſus, and ſhall ſhine as the Sunne in the firmament, oh what ſhall be the glorie of thy ſoule? Vndoubtedly the glorie wherewith thy ſoule ſhall be inueſted, ſhall be vnſpeakeable, yea vnconceiueable. Oh then cheare vp thy ſelfe on this ground againſt contempt, diſgrace, and reproches that are throwne on thee by the wicked and prophane world. They now crie downe with Puritanes, but the time ſhall come, when the wicked of the world ſhall ſinke downe to euerlaſting perdition, and thoſe that now they crie ſhame on, ſhall be highly aduanced, and be made moſt glorious in their bodies and in their ſoules; and they ſhall ſee it to their vtter amazement and confuſion. And that is a ground of excellent comfort, let it be thought on for the comfort of euerie child of God: and care not then, thou being a child of God, for the barking of dogges; wicked and prophane perſons are no better in Gods account, but be encouraged to endure the croſſe, and to deſpiſe the ſhame that is caſt on thee in the world, and runne the race that is ſet before thee with patience and comfort.
Now before I come to further matter of doctrine, I hold it not amiſſe to anſwer an idle cauill of the Papiſts,A cauill of the Papiſts anſwered. which they would faſten on the truth now deliuered; in that we affirme and ſay, according to the truth of the word of God, that the bodies of Gods children raiſed vp from the dead, ſhall be made ſpirituall bodies. They would draw this concluſion from it, that therefore the bodie of Chriſt alreadie raiſed from the dead, and now glorified, is inuiſible: it being a ſpirituall bodie (ſay they) it is inuiſible, and ſo it may be really preſent in the Sacrament and not be ſeene. A verie idle and fooliſh cauill; the bodie of Chriſt raiſed from the dead is a ſpirituall bodie: it is true, it is then ſtill a bodie not a ſpirit, it is not changed into a ſpirituall ſubſtance. No, no, Chriſt in riſing from the dead, did not put away the corporall ſubſtance of his bodie, his bodie ſtill remaines a true bodie, a bodie changed, not in ſubſtance but in qualitie; euen a bodie of a ſpirituall temper, lightſome, actiue, and able to moue any way without difficultie or reſiſtance. And that bodie of Chriſt raiſed from the dead is ſtill a viſible bodie: the text is plaine, Ioh. 20.20. after his riſing from the dead he ſhewed his hands and ſide: the text ſaith, They were glad when they had ſeene the Lord: and verſe 27. he ſaid to Thomas, Put thy fingers here, and ſee my hands, and put forth thine hand, and put it into my ſide, and be not faithleſſe, but faithfull. The bodie of Chriſt raiſed from the dead was ſtill a palpable bodie that might be felt, and a viſible bodie that might be ſeene: and therefore it is but a meere ſhift and cauill of the Papiſts, in that they ſay the bodie of Chriſt raiſed from the dead, and being a ſpirituall bodie is therefore inuiſible, and ſo may be really preſent in the Sacrament and not be ſeene. And indeed if we marke and conſider it, we ſhall finde that this argument of theirs makes againſt themſelues, euen againſt their owne ground, teaching the reall preſence of Chriſt his bodie in the Sacrament; for they ſay (marke it I beſeech you) the bodie of Chriſt raiſed from the dead is a ſpirituall bodie, therefore inuiſible, and ſo really preſent in the Sacrament and not ſeene: then it followes, that the bodie of Chriſt when it was not a ſpirituall bodie but a naturall bodie, as indeed it was before his reſurrection, it was then like to our bodies in all things ſinne onelyonly excepted, that then it was not inuiſible, and that then it was not in the Sacrament really preſent and not ſeene; for if it were, then their argument is naught, and yet they ground the reall preſence of Chriſt his bodie in the Sacrament, on the words of Chriſt in the inſtitution of the Sacrament, This is my bodie: which words were deliuered before Chriſt was crucified, and ſo before his bodie was raiſed from the dead; and how theſe things can agree and hang together, let any man of anie vnderſtanding iudge; they entangle themſelues in their owne words, and before they be aware they ouerthrow their owne grounds. I leaue them, and go on to further matter: there is yet ſome thing of ſpeciall vſe offered vntounto vsus from this verſe.
Obſerue we further, the Apoſtle ſaith, He that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies: and he ſubioynes, by his Spirit dwelling in you: that is, as we ſhewed, by the power of his Spirit, being in you by his true powerfull working preſence, by the efficacie and power of his grace. Hence then we are further giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
That it is onelyonly the dwelling of Gods Spirit in men and Doct. 7 women by his true powerfull working preſence,True and cō fortable hope of reſurrection to life and glorie in heauen, belongs to none but ſuch as hauehave Gods holy Spirit in them by his true powerfull working preſence. by the efficacie and power of his grace, that giues them good and ſound hope and aſſurance of the quickening and raiſing vp their bodies to an immortall, happie, and glorious life. There is no true hope of the reſurrection with comfort, and to life and glorie in heauen, to any but onelyonly to ſuch as hauehave the Spirit of God dwelling in them, to ſuch as hauehave the holy Spirit of God in them by his true powerfull working preſence, and by the efficacie and power of his grace mortifying ſinne and corruption in them, and quickening them to newneſſe of life. And for further clearing and confirming of this, marke what the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Theſſ. 4.14. They that ſleepe in Ieſus will God bring with him: OnelyOnly them that ſleepe in Chriſt, and onelyonly ſuch as are dead in Chriſt, will God bring with Chriſt at his comming to iudgement with comfort. And who are thoſe that ſleepe in Chriſt and are departed this life in Chriſt? Surely thoſe that liued in Chriſt, or rather in whom Chriſt liued, as Galat. 2.20. by his grace, and by the power of his Spirit, them onelyonly will God bring with Chriſt at his comming, with ioy and with comfort. And to the ſame purpoſe ſpeakes the Apoſtle, Coloſ. 3.4. When Chriſt which is our life ſhall appeare, then ſhall ye alſo appeare with him in glorie. He ſaith not barely, when Chriſt ſhall appeare, but when Chriſt which is our life, when Chriſt who is the author and matter of our ſpirituall life, and by the power of his Spirit doth communicate that life to vsus, ſhall appeare, then ſhall we alſo appeare with him in glorie. Reuel. 20.6. it is ſaid, Bleſſed and holie is he that hath his part in the firſt reſurrection: he that is raiſed vp from the death of ſinne to the life of righteouſneſſe, which is the firſt reſurrection, ouer him the ſecond death hath no power: he ſhall be freed from the ſecond death, and he ſhall be partaker of the ſecond reſurrection, the reſurrection of the bodie with comfort. A moſt plaine text prouing the point in hand, that it is onelyonly the dwelling of Gods Spirit in men, euen the being of his holy Spirit in them by his true powerful preſence, that giues a good aſſurance of the quickening of their bodies to an immortall life, to the life of glorie in heauen.
Reaſon. For why, the reaſon of this is the conſtant order which the Lord holdeth in bringing thoſe that belong to his election to life and ſaluation. Gods conſtant order in bringing his choſen to life and glorie in heauen is this, He firſt reſtores life to their ſoules, he quickens their ſoules here in this world with the life of grace and holineſſe, and then he reſtores life to their bodies; he quickens their bodies here, and makes them inſtruments of holineſſe, and of doing good things here, and then he quickens and raiſeth vp their bodies being dead, to immortalitie and glorie, euen to life and glory in heauen. And therefore doubtleſſe it is only the being of Gods holy Spirit in men and women, that giues them good hope and aſſurance of quickening of their bodies to an immortall life, to life and glorie in heauen.
Ʋſe. 1 Now this truth meets with an erronious conceit of the Papiſts,An erronious conceit of the Papiſts met withall. they hold and teach, that the carnall preſence of Chriſt his fleſh in the Sacrament, is the cauſe and ſeed of the reſurrection of the bodie; and therefore they houſle the ſicke. Alas, they are deceiued; indeed it is true that Chriſt ſaith, Ioh. 6.54. Whoſoeuer eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my bloud, hath eternall life, and I will raiſe him vp at the laſt day: but that is to be vnderſtood of the ſpirituall eating of the fleſh and drinking of the bloud of Chriſt by faith, by vertue whereof the bodies of true beleeuers ſhall be raiſed againe at the laſt day. It is a ſpirituall eating of the fleſh of Chriſt, and a ſpirituall drinking of his bloud, euen a ſpirituall fellowſhip and communion with Chriſt, which may be without the Sacrament, that is the cauſe of the reſurrection of the bodies of Gods children; and ſo it is onelyonly the being of Gods holy Spirit in them, that giues them good hope of quickening and raiſing to an immortal life, to the life of glory in heauen. And indeed that the carnall eating of Chriſt his fleſh in the Sacrament, (beſides the impoſſibilitie of it) is not requiſite or neceſſarie to the reſurrection of the bodie, is euident and cleare by this, in that the Saints of God that died before Chriſt was incarnate, could not in that manner eate and drinke the fleſh and bloud of Chriſt, and yet they died in hope of the reſurrection to life and glorie in heauen. And therefore it is a groſſe error of the Papiſts, that carnall eating and drinking of Chriſt his fleſh and bloud in the Sacrament, is the cauſe and ſeed of the reſurrection of the bodie.
Now for vſe of it to our ſelues: is it ſo that onelyonly the being Ʋſe. 1 of the holy Spirit of God in men or women by his true powerfull preſence, by the efficacie of his grace,How many deceiue thē ſelues touching a ioyful reſurrection to life & glorie in heauen. is the thing that giues them good hope of quickening their bodies to an immortall life, to life and glorie in heauen? This then may ſerue to diſcouer that thouſands in the world deceiue themſelues in this particular, euerie one perſwades himſelfe well of himſelfe, and he hopes to be ſaued, he hopes one day to hauehave an happie and ioyfull reſurrection, and to riſe to life and glorie in heauen: but alas few there be that are able to conclude their hope on this ground, that the holy Spirit of God is in them by his true working preſence, and by the efficacie of his grace: Nay thouſands in the world are ſo farre from this, as they hauehave in them a contrarie ſpirit, they are ſtrongly poſſeſſed of Satan, he rules and he reignes in them, and holds vp his ſcepter in their hearts, and carries them on after the luſts of their owne hearts to do his will, to pride, to drunkenneſſe, to whoredome, to ſwearing, to Sabbath breaking, and all maner of prophaneneſſe. Yea ſome are ſo farre from hauing the holy Spirit of God in them by his true powerfull preſence, by the efficacie of his grace, as they ſcoffe and ſcorne thoſe that hauehave, and in whom they may diſcerne the power of grace, and in mocking and deriſion they call them men of the Spirit: HaueHave ſuch perſons any ſound hope of an happie reſurrection to life and glorie in heauen? No, no, their hope is a fancie, it is but as the Prophet ſpeakes, Iſay 29.8. As an hungrie man that dreames he is eating, and when he awaketh his ſoule is empty. They do but dreame, yea in that they thus ſpeake, they do with their owne mouthes publiſh and pronounce their owne damnation. If thou whoſoeuer thou art, wouldſt hauehave good euidence and good hope that thy bodie ſhall be raiſed vntounto life and glorie in heauen, neuer reſt till thou find the holy Spirit of God in thee by his true powerfull working preſence, and by the efficacie and power of his grace; and if thou find not that, though thou beeſt the greateſt Monarch in the world, thy bodie ſhall but lie downe in diſhonour, and be raiſed vp to greater diſhonour, euen to euerlaſting ſhame and perpetuall contempt, Dan. 12.2. And to ſpeake one word of comfort to Gods children, Ʋſe. 3 doſt thou find and feele the holy Spirit of God dwelling in thee by his true powerfull preſence and grace?Comfort to Gods children that holy Spirit of God will neuer leaue thy bodie; thy bodie is here a veſſell of honour, an houſe and temple of the holy Ghoſt: and aſſure thy ſelfe though thy bodie die, and be turned into duſt, and taſt of corruption, the holy Spirit of God that now dwels in thy bodie, ſhall be as a precious balme to preſerue it to immortalitie, and he ſhall raiſe it vp againe to endleſſe honour and glorie: thinke on that to thy comfor. Come we now to verſe 12.