Good Things to Come, Part 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Containing the propoſal of ſome things by way of eſſay, from vers. 53. and 54. concerning the Apoſtles further making out the matter wherein this myſtery conſiſts: with the manner of the effecting of it.
THe holy Apoſtle, vers. 53. 54. further to ſhew the matter, and contents of the miſtery, of not dying, but being changed: he likewiſe ſheweth the way, and manner of it: ſaying, this corruptible, muſt put on incorruption, and this mortal, muſt put on immortalitie: wherein the matter, and likewiſe the manner, is held forth: of which, we ſhall dilate a little. And firſt, for the matter. It is, by being freed, or rid of corruption, defilement, and all pollution: and, by being put into a ſtate of perfect rectitude and uprightneſs: and this, beyond the higheſt degree of mortification, that is to be attained unto here. And on the other part, an attayner of holines, purity, and clearneſs from ſin: an eſtate, beyond the higheſt attainner of ſanctification, that the happy eſtate of regeneration is attended withall, in the polluted world, in this polluted ſtate. We ſhall in this change, be quite rid of ſin, and defilement, and of ſinning any more: then. That which holy John ſayth of thoſe that are the ſons of God, in the bleſſed eſtate of regeneration, ſuch as are born of God: that they cannot ſin, becauſe they are born of God (true only in a ſenſe or conſideration) will then in the higheſt ſenſe, and degree, be made good. And it might be ſaid, they cannot ſin, becauſe they are ſo changed, and have put off corruption, and put on incorruption, holyneſs, and purity: the ſeed of ſin and corruption being quite put away, and they in their perſons waſhed from it in the bloud of the lamb. Rev. 1. 5. Rev. 7. 14. then: with that change: the miſtery of God will be fully finiſhed, to wit, that of full redemption of the body, the whole man; waited for by thoſe that have the firſt fruits, (or earneſt) of the ſpirit, Rom. 8. 23. it will then, be enjoyed, the bodyes of the juſt, and ſaved people, will be changed, and made like the pure, and ſpotleſs body of the Lord Chriſt, Phil. 3. 21. what they loſt in Adam, this change, will reſtore to the juſt, with very many, and great advantages, for it will be a reſtoration, as well as a change; or a reſtoration in the change, very much for the better. And not like that, which attended Adam in paradiſe, which was ſo much for the worſe. This change, will not only have rectitude, and purity reſtored, but alſo a ſtate of ſtability therein: together with immortality, and that which is the effect, following, namely, everlaſting life, Life for evermore.
This is one of the great things in this change: from a ſtate of ſin, defilement, and corruption, to a ſtate of purity, holyneſs and innocency: ſo: as (being wholly pure) to be capable to ſee God; as is promiſed to the pure in heart, Math. 5 8. and to ſee the Lord Chriſt, as he is, in his glory: and alſo to be for ever with him, 1. Joh. 3. 2. 1 Thes. 4. 17.
The ſecond thing in this change, is immortalitie, that put on: and mortality, that put off. This dying body which is dying dayly, as we are carrying it about with us, ſhall then be put into a ſtate and condition of immortality, ſo as not to dye at all, but to live for ever; to have a life eternal, a life everlaſting, inſtead of a life of ſeventy years, or the like, as the poſteritie of Adam have had, and hath been counted a bleſſing from God, Pſal. 91. 16.
But this change, will put men into a ſtate of freedom from ſin; the cauſe; and death, the effect: as for ſin, and iniquity, that prophecy, Jer. 50. 20. will then be throughly fulfilled: at that time, ſaith the Lord, the iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none; and the ſins of Judah, and they ſhall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reſerve: theſe changed ones, in a moment; which is ſomething like that, Zech. 3. 9. And I will remove the iniquity of that land on one day: which things have never been made good: theſe prophecyes were never fulfilled as yet: and though they may in a great meaſure have their fulfilling before, yet are they never likely to be ſo fully, and throughly fulfilled, till that day; when ſin and corruption ſhall be taken away, put off, and death ſwallowed up in victory, and be no more; and Mortality ſwallowed up of life, to wit, life everlaſting; 2. Cor. 5. 4. ſo as death and Mortality will, then, be no more among the righteous, and ſaved ones; who, then, will be changed, and put into an eſtate, as neither to ſin, nor to dye. And if any ſhould think, they had attained to a ſtate of freedom from ſin, here in this world, before that day; if they could aſſure themſelves, or others, of a like freedom from death, and the grave, it were ſomething; otherwiſe, that of holy John, 1. Joh. 1. 8. If we ſay that we have no ſin, we deceive our ſelves and the truth is not in us, compared with Prov. 20. 9. will take place: but then; at that happy time, they ſhall be freed; by being changed, and by putting off corruption, and mortality, and be put into that bleſſed eſtate of freedom, and glorious liberty of the ſons of God.
And the grace of the new teſtament, or covenant confirmed by the bloud of the Lord Jeſus, the bleſſed mediator, and advocate thereof; ſhall, in the higheſt degree be enjoyed by them; then: and there: ſo: as God, being their God, in a gracious wiſe, and they his people, he ſhall keep them in that bleſſed eſtate, for ever, and they ſhall not depart from him any more for ever. Jer. 32. 40. but ſhall enjoy everlaſting life, in the enjoyment of happyneſs and felicity, and freedom from all ſorrow and miſery whatever: the bleſſed fruits of that happy change, into immortality, and everlaſting life.
Now for the manner of this change: it is held forth in a way of putting off, and putting on; a borrowed way of ſpeaking: this corruptible, this mortal, muſt put off and put on; to wit, they muſt be freed; quite rid of ſin, corruption, and mortalitie; and made pure, incorrupt and immortal: and this, by putting off, and puting on, as men put off, and put on raiment, change their clothing, put off, filthy, and torn, or old rayment; they put it off, put it away, lay it by, and put on clean ſound and good clothing, new, and freſh; ſo is this putting off and putting on, here. A plain and known thing alluded unto, a uſual, and known thing, for the manner; ſo, this corruptible muſt put on incorruption; and this mortal put on immortality, having put corruption and mortalitie away, and laid them by.
Further, take we notice of that, of the prophet Zachary, Zech. 3. It is ſpoken of Joſhua, haply as a Type of the thing in hand, or it may be a prophecy eyeing of it, to wit, the change: however the mauner is much the ſame: Ioſhua was cloathed with filthy garments, and ſtood before the Angel: the Angel bids thoſe that ſtood by, to take away his filthy garments from him (as the garments of corruption ſhall be taken from the righteous) and to him, he ſaid, behold, I have cauſed thine iniquitie to paſs from thee (as ſhall then, the corruption, and ſin, and alſo mortality, paſſe away from the righteous): and it is ſpoken, with a behold. In the one, and in the other. A thing, rare, and conſiderable: behold, I ſhew you a myſtery: behold, I have cauſed thine iniquity to depart. Joſhua, his filthy garments, ſhall be taken away. As the changed, ſhall put off their garments of corruption, and mortality: and ſhall put on garments, that are pure, incorrupt, or ſpotleſs, and immortalitie alſo, and eternal life. There is ſomething declared, vers. 2. very high and marvelous; to wit, I will cauſe the iniquitie of that land [the land of Canaan, Iſraels poſſeſſion] to remove in one day. Never yet done: and though much of it may be done before, yet is it not likely to be ſo fully and throughly to be done, till that day of the reſtitution of all things, which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets ſince the world began, Acts. 3. 21. and the time of the glorious manifeſtation of the ſons of God, which the creature grons for, Rom. 8. 19. when the Lord Jehovah ſhall bring forth [again] his ſervant, the branch: this will then be fully performed; and then (according to his promiſe) we ſhall have a new heaven and a new earth, wherein ſhall dwell righteouſneſs, 2. Pet. 3. 13. In the which, iniquity will not be found.
In 2. Cor. 5. The like we may finde, not only ſomething of the matter before treated of: but of the manner: we know (ſaith the Apoſtle) that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands. &c. If our mortal bodies dye, and periſh; we have better provided, we ſhall have ſuch hereafter. And therefore, as in vers. 2. we grone earneſtly, deſiring to be clothed upon, with our houſe which is from heaven, with more pure, incorruptible, and immortal clothing: with glory, and honour, and immortality, and life eternal, Rom. 2. 7. the condition then: will not be righteouſneſs imputed; as now: but righteouſneſs in us; perfect rectitude in our own perſons; we ſhall be like the Lord Chriſt. The attainer then: it will be ſure; beyond that of the attainer in the ſtate of regeneration: and that of imputation, it is likely, will ceaſe.
The clothing, with our houſe from heaven, as it will be very pure, ſo it will be laſting, and durable; and therefore we groan (or deſire) to be clothed with it, to be, in that ſtate, that condition. vers. 3. if ſo be, that being [ſo] clothed with it, we ſhall not be found naked, as Adam and Eve were, when they had ſinned, eating the forbidden fruit; they were ſtripped of that clothing of the Image of God, righteouſneſs, and holyneſs, in the which they were made, Gen. 1. 27. it is ſaid, they were naked: ſin, and ſhame entred together; Adam made garments of figtree leaves becauſe of ſhame, and being naked: as, in like manner, his poſterity have done, and yet do; make garments upon that account. In vers. 4. the holy Apoſtle ſpeaks further, we groan, being burdened, [with our heavy clothing, of ſin, corruption, and mortality] not for that we would be unclothed [namely, dye, and be diſſolved: that, the Apoſtle denyeth to be the tendency of the creature, or man: ſuch as have the firſt fruits of the ſpirit, to groan, for death, or dying; it being as an inſtinct in every creature, as well as man, to preſerve life by all means whatever they can attain: death, is an enemy to life, and is, as an enemy, ſhunned. That's a rare caſe and a kindly ſpirit indeed, that is ſo diſpoſed, as to deſire to be unclothed, ſo: which the Apoſtle denyes] not that we would be unclothed, but be clothed upon with a better clothing, to be changed for a better and a more durable clothing, incorruption, immortality, and life eternal, when and where, we ſhall not be found naked, that is, the tendency and earneſt deſire which the ſervants of God goes out after, and the creatures alſo.
Vers. 54. of this 1. Cor. 15. the Apoſtle adds further, when this corruptible, hath put on incorruption, and this mortal, hath put on immortality [as it will at the time of the raiſing, and changing of the ſervants of God] then will be brought to paſſe [accompliſhed, and done fully] that which is written [Iſay 25. 8.] death is ſwallowed up in victorie; as mortalitie; ſhall likewiſe be of life, to wit, life everlaſting, compared 2. Cor. 5. 4. then the conqueſt and victory over death, will be brought to paſſe, and the righteous freed from being under his dominion any more, for ever: for then, they can dye no more: but be immortal, and live for evermore.
There are very many great things, as well as this victory over death, that do attend this time: very many, great, and high prophecyes contained in the ſcriptures, relating to that time, will, then, be fulfilled and made good: of which, ſomething ſhall be ſaid hereafter: yea, many of the prophecyes of holy Iſaiah, little minded or underſtood in this day: will, then be brought to paſſe, and made good, ſeem they never ſo ſtrange. It was ſo, at our Lord his firſt coming, as the holy ſcriptures do hold out unto us: as Math. 1. 22. Mat. 2. 17. Math. 4. 14. Luk. 24. 44. with very many the like, which I ſhall forbear to ſet down. That of Luke, is the ſaying of our Lord Chriſt, very full: that all things that are written concerning me, in the law of Moſes, and in the prophets, and in the Pſalms, muſt be fulfilled: not one jot, or tittle of the word of prophecy, as to things relating to the Lord Chriſt, and his kingdom: but it muſt all be fulfilled. As it was in relation to his firſt coming: ſo it will be alſo as to his ſecond coming, when he ſhall come in power and great glory: ſeem the things never ſo ſtrange, or unlikely; the power and faithfulneſs of the Lord Jehovah, whoſe word it is, will make them good: of which, more hereafter. But for a cloſe, take we knowledge of one place more in holy Iſaiah, becauſe it is of like tone with what we have treated of, concerning clothing, and garments; and putting on, and off.
Iſa 52. 1. Awake, awake, put on thy ſtrength O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jeruſalem, &c. It ſeems, as to the laſt, and full fulfilling of it, to look at this bleſſed ſtate, and day, we are treating of, when the mariage of the lamb is come, and the bride, the lambs wife, is made ready; Rev. 19. 7. Likewiſe, that of Iſa. 60. 1. Ariſe, and ſhine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee. All of like tendency and import: all prophetical, and eyeing a time, not yet come: and though it may, in a great meaſure, have its fulfilling before, and more eſpecially, when the Jewes are returned to their own land, and converted; yet no time ſo likely to have its full fulfilling, as then: when the Lord Chriſt ſhall come again: and the dead, in him, raiſed, and live again: and the then living ſaints, changed, in a moment; corruption, and all defilement, done away: and glory and honour, purity and holyneſs, immortality, and eternal life, put on: with beautiful and precious clothing. For Zion ſball then put on her beautiful garments, and ſhall ſhine very gloriouſly indeed; being ſo richly adorned, as a bride prepared for the bridegroom the Lord Jeſus; rich, and pure clothing then: without ſpot or wrinckle: and that will be found true, eminently, to the very life: thou art all fair, my love, and there is no ſpot in thee: cant. 4. 7.
And then alſo will it be, that the Lord Chriſt, will preſent the Church [the bride, the lambs wife: the new Jeruſalem] to himſelf, a glorious Church, not having ſpot, or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing: but holy, and without blemiſh: Ephes. 5. 27. ſhe: namely, the Church, is accepted in the beloved, now: and fair and precious, as being clothed with his purity and righteouſneſs. All: now: in the ſtate of regeneration, and living by faith: is by imputation of his righteouſneſs: and as we are in him; the reckoning and account ſtands good, on the behalf of the ſervants of God: but then: that pure white linnen, ſaid, to be the righteouſnes of the ſaints: their own: ſo given unto them for their clothing, at their raiſing, and changing, Rev. 10. 8. It was granted to the lambs wife, that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine linnen, clean and white: for ſo is it ſayd, the fine linnen, is the righteouſneſs of ſaints: they ſhall be like him when he appears. Their bodyes, that were vile, ſhall be made like his glorious body: very glorious, and ſhining: upon the whole, we may well ſay, with the ſpirit, and the bride: O come, Lord Jeſus, come quickly.