Good Things to Come, Part 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Something offered in a brief and general way touching the reſurrection of the dead, from that in 1 Cor. 15. from the 34. to the end of verſ. 50 In order to the better taking knowledge of ſome other matter.
THe Apoſtle Paul, having mentioned a queſtion, that ſome did or might make, vers. 35. How are the dead raiſed up? and with what bodyes do they come? He, in an upbraiding manner, anſwereth in an alluſive way; to the ſowing of grain in the earth, vors. 36. Thou fool, that which thou ſowest, is not quickned, except it die, vers, 37. And that which thou ſoweſt, thou ſoweſt not that body which ſhall be, but bare grain, &c. [a grain ſowen becomes a ſtalk with ears, and grain]: For vers. 38. God giveth it a body, as it hath pleaſed him, and to every ſeed [of this or that kind of grain] his own body [his own in nature and kind: wheat, bringeth forth wheat; barly and all kind of grain, their like. In vers. 39. the Apoſtle alludeth to fleſh: and mentions the ſeveral kindes; all not being the ſame; there is one of men, another of beaſts, another of fiſhes, another of birds: then in vers. 40. He tells alſo of celeſtial bodyes, and bodies terreſtrial. And in vers. 41. he ſpeaks of the difference that is between the celeſtial bodyes in glory; that there is a difference in degree, and in the greatnes of their glory; as in the ſun, and the moon; And how one ſtar differs from another, in glory: and this he doth, in an alluſive way, to the matter in hand.
In vers. 42. He applies that before ſpoken of, to the reſurrection; ſaying, ſo alſo is the reſurrection of the dead, it is ſown in corruption, it is raiſed in incorruption, &c. And ſo according to that alluſive way of ſpeaking of ſowing: mans body is ſo ſown in corruption, and raiſed in incorruption: God giveth a body as he pleaſeth, ſo as he giveth to the grain. A body incorruptible, as is ſet forth in vers. 43. it is ſown in diſhonor, it is raiſed in glory; It is ſown in weakneſs, it is raiſed in power: it is ſown a natural body, it is raiſed a ſpiritual body. There will be a difference betwixt what they are when ſown, and what they will be when raiſed; in ſundry conſiderations. In the latter part of vers. 44. the Apoſtle doth poſitively aſſert, that there is a natural body [ſuch is the preſent condition of all the ſons of Adam] and there is a ſpiritual body; ſo will be the caſe and condition of all the juſt, hereafter, when they are raiſed again. He ſpeaketh, as the holy Scriptures uſe to do, of things, that as yet are not, as if, at preſent, they were. There is a ſpiritual body: it will ſurely be ſo. What he means by ſpiritual body, the matter following, in vers. 45. doth ſhew; he confirms the differencing ſo, by what is written, ſaying, and ſo it is written: the firſt man Adam was made a living ſoul, a living man, Gen. 2. 7. God breathed into his noſtrils the breath of life, & man became a living ſoul. The laſt Adam, to wit, the Lord Chriſt, the prince of life, Acts. 3 15. He was made a quickning ſpirit: being the firſt-fruits of thoſe that roſe from death. vers. 46. He ſhews that the natural ſtate is firſt, the ſpiritual ſtate is afterward. vers. 47. the firſt man is of the earth, earthly: Adam was formed of the duſt of the earth: the ſecond Adam, or man (the Lord Chriſt) from heaven.
Vers. 48. As is the earthy, ſuch are they that are earthy [as was Adam, ſuch are all his poſteritie] as is the heavenly, ſuch are they that are heavenly: as is the Lord Chriſt, ſuch will be all the juſt; they ſhall be like him. 1. Joh. 3. 2. Their vile bodyes ſhall be changed, and made like unto his glorious body. Phil. 3. 21.
Vers. 49. The Apoſtle fully aſſerts it, As we have born [and do yet bear] the Image of the earthy, we ſhall alſo bear the Image of the heavenly. The Apoſtle ſaith, we ſhall: not that we do bear it now: for our preſent ſtate, is a ſtate of regeneration: but our future condition, will be a ſtate of glorification, which we ſhall then attain unto: when Chriſt, who is our life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in glory. Col. 3. 4.
Vers. 50. The Apoſtle hath another poſitive aſſertion, and a reſolve in the caſe: this I ſay, brethren, that fleſh, and bloud, cannot inherrit the kingdom of God. What he means by fleſh, and bloud; that which he ſayth further explains: neither [ſaith he] doth corruption, inherit incorruption; namely; man in his corrupt, unchanged eſtate: earthy Adam; he cannot inherit that incorrupt eſtate as to dwell in the new heaven, and the new earth, wherein ſhall dwell righteouſneſs; or righteous ones, only: ſo in Rev. 21. 27. And there ſhall in no wiſe enter into it anything that defileth, &c.
Man clothed with mortallity, and corrupt fleſh, and bloud, cannot come there, or have any ſhare or inheritance in that bleſſed ſtate, of which holy Peter ſpeaketh, 1. Pet. 1. 4. an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in heaven for you, to wit, ſuch as are begotten again to a lively hope thereof, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt: but muſt be firſt ſown in weakneſs, before they come to be raiſed in glory; or elſe changed in a moment; without which, there is no coming there to inherit: earthy Adam, cannot, fleſh and bloud, ſo, cannot attain to that happy eſtate: though they ſhould cry, Lord, Lord, open to us, it would be in vain.
This briefly premiſed concerning the reſurrection; the better to give light, and make the enſuing matter more eaſily conceived of; it being of neer affinity to it, namely, the myſterie of being changed, in vers. 51.