The Marrow of Divinity, Religious treatise · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Questions, and Cases of Conscience about our Bodies.
Quest. WHat is the condition and state of our bodies in this life?
Answ. They are vile and base, and that not only the bodies of the wicked, but also of the dearest children of God, Phil. 3.21.
Quest. How may this be made out?
Answ. Our Original is base, we are dust, and to dust we must return. Besides, our continuance is full of changes, we are subject to sicknesse, sores, paine, hunger, &c. and base we are, because we are upheld by inferiour creatures. We enter into the world one way, and then go out a thousand: somtimes by violent, sometimes by more natural deaths: Are subject to divers diseases, loathsom to the eyes and noses, especially when we are nearest our end: then our countenances wax pale, our members tremble, and all our beauty is gone: when we are dead, our carcasse is so lothsom, that it must be had out of sight, yea, though of Abraham, Gen. 23.4. For as mans body is of the finest temper of all others, so the corruption of it is most vile.
Quest. Is there then no glory belonging to our bodies?
Answ. Yea▪ For, First, its Gods Workmanship, and therefore excellent: so excellent, as the Heathen Galen being stricken into admiration at the admirable frame thereof, brake out into an Hymne of praise to the Maker of it: and David cries out, I am wonderfully made, Psal. 139. God made this his last work as an epitome of all the rest.
Secondly, the Scripture teaches us that we owe glory to our bodies, and therefore it forbids us to wrong our bodies, and speaks infamously of self-murtherers, as of Saul, Achitophel, Judas, &c. and God to shew the respect that we owe to our bodies hath provided pleasing objects for every sense, as …ight for the eyes, flowers for the smell, and musick for the ears, &c.
Thirdly, these bodies of ours are members of Christ redeemed, and sanctified Temples of the Holy Ghost, indeed as it keeps the soul from heaven, so its the grave of the soul: but otherwise its the House, Temple, and instrument of the soul.
Quest. But can those bodies be called base for which Christ shed his precious blood?
Answ. Whilest Gods children live here, their bodies are in no better a condition then the bodies of others: Hezekiah is sick: Lazarus hath his sores; David and Job are troubled with loathsome diseases: and its reason it should be so. For,
1. It was so with Christ, he took our base ragged nature on him: He hungred, thirsted, was pained, yea, death had a little power over him▪ and shall we desire a better condition then our head, and Master had? Its … decree that we must returne to the dust as all … fellow Saints have done▪ … we must partake with … mean estate▪ … we will partake … his glory.
2. Hereby God doth exercise our faith, and hope, causing …s to expect a bettter resurrection; and by this meanes our desires are quickned after a better life.
3. As yet there is sinne in us, from the danger whereof, though we are delivered, yet there is corruption which remains behind in us; and by this God will teach us to see the contagion of sinne, and how the devil hath deceived us, when he promised a better condition.
4. It shews Gods wisdome in vanquishing sin by death, which is the child of sinne: For be it we shall be purged from sinne, and from corruption both of body and minde, and thus is our base estate made a way to our excellent estate hereafter.
Quest. Shall these vile bodies of ours be raised againe at the last day?
Answ. Yea, its an article of our faith: it was typified by Aarons dry rod budding, and by Jonas's deliverance out of the belly of the fish, where he had been three days, and three nights: It was believed of all the Fathers, Heb. 11.13. Its a grounded truth that these bodies of ours that are sowne in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption, 1 Corinth. 15.4…. And for our further security, Enoch before, and Elias after the flood, were taken into heaven in their bodies.
Again, its not contrary to reason, though above the reach of reason; For Christ takes care that the dust whereof we are made, and to which we return be preserved: and why cannot Christ as well raise a body out of the dust, as at first he made it out of the dust, especially seeing the soul is preserved in heaven to this end, to be joyned again to it. Nay, it is not contrary to the course of nature: We yearly see that Summer succeeds Winter, Day the Night, Youth comes out of Infancy, Mans age out of Youth, and 1 Cor. 15.36. Thou fool, the corn is not quickened except it die. Nay we see daily strange things wrought by Art, and shall we think Gods Almighty power cannot work more strange effects.
Quest. Who shall raise up our bodies at the last day?
Answ. Christ, John 6.39, 40. For he is our Head, and the body must be conformable to the Head: Hence, Romans 8.11. If the Spirit doth dwell in us that dwelleth in Christ, the Spirit that raised him up, will raise us up also.
Secondly, Christ is a whole Saviour, and therefore will raise up our bodies as well as our souls: For he is a Saviour of both: hath delivered both from hell, and therefore will raise up both to heaven.
Thirdly, Christ is the second Adam: as we did beare the image of the first Adam in corruption, so we must bear the image of the second Adam in glory.
Fourthly, Christ is the seed of the woman that must break the Serpents head, and therefore he must work this change.
Fifthly, Christ changed his own body being burdened with all our sins: and therefore as an exemplary cause, shall much more raise us up. For sin, which is the sting of death being once overcome, what can keep us in the grave?
Quest. What may the consideration hereof teach us?
Answ. First, it may strengthen our faith in consideration that we have such strong Saviour, that nothing shall be able to separate us from his love, nor take us out of his hand.
Secondly, it may direct us how to honour our bodies, not making them instruments of sinne against him, but so to use them, that we may with comfort, and joy expect, and desire his coming to change these our vile bodies.
Thirdly, to labour to assure our selves of our parts in this change at our resurrection, and this we shall know.
1. If we finde Christs Spirit in us. For then the same Spirit that raised him up, if he be in us, will raise us up also, Rom. 8.11. For the first resurrection is an argument of the second, and he that finds his understanding enlightned, his will p…able, and his affections set upon right objects, will easily believe the resurrection of his body.
2. If we hope for this change, and so hope, that we are stirred up thereby to fit our selves for it.
3. If we grow in grace, 2 Pet. 1.11. it's a sign that we have an entrance into Christs Kingdome: For God doth ever honour growth with assurance of a blessed estate.
Fourthly, this may comfort us in time of death, considering that we lose nothing but basenesse, and our bodies are but sowen in the earth, and this depositum which God committeth to the fire, aire, earth, water, &c. must be rendred up again pure, and changed by Christ.
Fifthly, it may comfort us also at the death, and departure of our friends, knowing that they are not lost, and that the earth is but an house, and hiding place for them to sleep in, and that God will not forget at the last day to raise them up with the rest of his Saints, and to change them, and make them like to his glorious body, 1 Thes. 4.18.
Sixthly, to pray to God to teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts unto wisdome, as Psal. 90.12.
Quest. When shall the time of this blessed change be?
Answ. At the day of judgement, and not before, as will appeare by these Reasons.
1. Because all are then to be gathered together: even those that were buried foure thousand years ago must stay till the number be fulfilled: And it will make for the honour of Christ that we should all meet together to attend on him with multitudes of Angels, so that they cannot be perfected without, or before us, and we shall not prevent those that are asleep.
2. This makes for the comfort of Christians that are weak, that the Martyrs, and constant professors of Christ should be pledges of their rising, who continually …ry, How long Lord?
3. Gods will is that now things should be carried in a cloud, and that the last day should be the day of revelation, which could not be, if this change should be before.
Quest. But how shall our bodies be fashioned to Christs glorious body?
Answ. First, as he is immortal never to die againe, so shall we, we shall be freed then from all sin, and so consequently from all mortality.
Secondly, we shall be incorruptible, we shall neither have corruption within us, not without us, 1 Cor. 15.53. we shall be embalmed with the Spirit that shall cause us for ever to be incorruptible.
Thirdly, we shall be unchangable: alwayes the same without sicknesse of body, or indisposednesse of mind.
Fourthly, we shall be in perfect strength: Here we contract to our selves weaknesse from every little thing, as alteration of aire, labour, &c. but there the body shall be enabled to every thing, whereas here we are weak, unfit, and soone weary of every duty: Even Moses hands must be supported.
Fifthly, we shall have beauty and comelinesse: the most lovely complexion and proportion of parts, there shall be no dregs in our body; all wants shall be supplied: what is misplaced shall be reduced into right order. If we lose limbs for Christs sake he will not be indebted to us, but will restore them againe.
Object. But Christ retained wounds after his resurrection, much more shall we be imperfect?
Answ. This was a voluntary dispensation for a time for the strengthening of Thomas his faith, not of any necessity.
Sixthly, these bodies of ours shall be spiritual, 1 Cor. 15.44. A natural body is upheld by natural means, as meat, drink, Physick, &c. but then there shall be no …eed of such things. Christ shall be all in all to us.
Seventhly, then our bodies shall obey our spirits: now the body keepes the Spirit in slavery, but then it shall readily yeeld to every motion of the spirit.
The ground of the glory of these our bodies shall be the beatifical vision, and our union with Christ. If our beholding him here in his Ordinances be of such a power as to translate us from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3.18. what a change shal be wrought in us, when we shall see him as he is? and if his first coming had that power in it to make all things new, 2 Corinth. 5.17. much more when he comes the second time in glory shall he make all things new and glorious.
Quest. What lessons may the consideration hereof teach us?
Answ. First, in all cases of dismay and trouble, it may encourage us rather to lose our bodies, then to offend God, knowing that if we give them for God, we shall receive them againe with advantage.
Secondly, labour we to make our bodies instruments of his honour, and let us honour our bodies wherein are the seeds of immortality: and glory in so using them, as that they be carried to the grave with honour.
Thirdly, let us honour the bodies of the deceased Saints of God, and the places of their sepulture, as cabinets wherein the precious dust of the holy Saints is laid up in keeping.
Fourthly, when we die we should not trouble our mindes with the discomfortable thoughts of wormes, rottennesse, darknesse, &c. but with the eye of faith let us look beyond these upon Heaven, whither we are going. This made Job, though covered with ulcers, chearfully to say, My Redeemer liveth, &c.
Fifthly, if we want limbs, yet to comfort our selves, the resurrection will restore all.
Sixthly, let us serve God here with our best endeavours: Its but a while and our labour shall not be in vain. Is it not better by doing thus to partake of this blessed change, then to spare this vile body, and by pampering it, and prostituting our selves to vile and base courses, thereby to disenable our selves in the resurrection to lift up our heads with joy, because our redemption draws nigh? See Dr. Sibs on Phil. 3.21.
Quest. How may our bodies be made serviceable to our minds, and instrumental to Gods glory?
Answ. They must be maintained with great care, but not with much tendernesse: For we should use them to be content with a little, and with things easie, and ordinary, looking lesse for pleasure, then for health, which yet is the way to get a lasting pleasure.
Quest. Why should we be so careful of the health of our bodies?
Answ. Because of all earthly things it is the most precious: without health of the body the minde will have much adoe to maintain its liberty, and stability: the disorder of the humours of the body disturb the minde, and make i… froward; yea, sometimes reason is qui…e overturned by reason of some corporal indisposition.
Quest. By what means then may the health of our bodies be preserved?
Answ. Especially by these … things.
1. Serenity of mind. 2. A sober di…. 3. Exercise.
Quest. How is serenity of minde a means to preserve bodily health.
Answ. Serenity of minde, and health of the body preserve one another: But the minde is a more powerful agent upon the body, then the body upon the mind. A chearful spirit keeps the body healthful, whereas frequent excessive fits of choller, and deep sadnesse, sowre the whole masse of blood, and poison the fountain of animal spirits▪ whereby the body loses its lively colour, and good plight, and droops into a lingring consumption, Prov. 12.25. Heavinesse in the heart makes it stoop, Prov. 15.13. By sorrow of heart the spirit is broken; and on the contrary, Prov. 17.22. A merry h…art doth good lik… a medicine; and to get this mercy heart the Wise man advises us to keep our mindes in a mild temper. Prov. 11.17. The merciful man doth good to his own soul, but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh: And the body thus preserved in health by the serenity of the mind, pays him readily for that good office: for the minde is kept in tranquillity by the good constitution of the body.
Quest. How is a sober diet … meanes to preserve the health of the body?
Answ. As there is nothing that wears the body, and sets the minde out of frame so much as intemperance in diet: and truely not only such as glut themselves with meat and drink, but generally all that live plentifully, ea… and drink too much, and confound in their stomacks too many various ingredients, giving to nature more then it needs, and more then it can dispense with; which superfluity, that especially of the third concoction, turns into ill humours, whence various diseases are bred, answerable to the variety of our dishes, as in the Common-wealth idle persons▪ and uselesse souldiers are they that stir up seditions, and trouble the State.
Then natural heat, which serves to the nutritive faculty, being put to an over great labour, wears away before the time; and the spirits serving to make the pot boile below, leave the intellectual part ill served in the upper roome: and that overplus of nourishment growing to pride of blood, breeds no better effect in the soul then to swell the appetite, and to provoke it to rebellion against the reason: whereas if we would bring our selves to a more simple, and sparing diet, both our bodies and mindes would enjoy a better health: The fewer vapours the belly sends to the brains, besides what are necessary, the clearer is the skie in that upper region: the best rule therefore for such as feast plentifully, is to fast frequently: Most sicknesses in their beginnings, may be cured by this abstinence.
Quest. But what should they do that use sparing diet?
Answ They should allow themselves some seasons for good cheere. Indeed it oppresseth such whose ordinary meales are so many feasts: but it renews the vigour of those that use it seldome: wine is given by God to make glad the heart of man, Psal. 104.15. Prov. 31.6. It's of singular vertue to charm cares: A draught or two extraordinary, when the mind is dejected with crosses, will put upon a mans businesses a smoother and calmer face.
Quest. How doth exercise conduce to the health of the body?
Answ. Without exercise the body becomes a… unweildy bag of corrupt humours: Great eaters need the more exercise, but the most sober need some: the naturallest, and pleasantest is walking, to which they that use a sedentary life, must allow sometime: But if one be shut up, or hath lost the use of his leggs, he must invent some other way instead of walking to exercise his body, and prevent sicknesse, and if he cannot use exercise, he must eat and drink the lesse.
It's a wise course to harden the bodies of children, and young men especially, against cold, which is the cause of most diseases in aged persons: But when one hath been tenderly brought up, it's imprudence to go about to inure his body to hardnesse in his declining age, which is more then it can beare.
Quest. These are good rules to preserve bodily health, but how shall we mend it when its impaired?
Answ. First, Physicians must be consulted withal, and remedies used; about which two rules should be observed.
1. Let it be betimes, before sicknesse hath taken root.
2. Let it be seldom: For two many remedies are worse then the disease. Physick, and Physicians should be used for necessity, not for wantonnesse: the chief use of that Art is to prevent diseases. But every man ought to have enough of it to know his own body, and to keep off the indispositions to which he is obnoxious, and not to wear out his bodie with drugs without great necessity: There are certaine simple, and easie helps which being used betimes would prevent great inconveniences; and what wise man would not keep himself from painful diseases, if the use of a little Sage, or Juniper berries would do it, whatsoever remedies are used for the prevention of sicknesses, it's certaine that the abstinence from unwholsome things is better then the use of wholsome.
Secondly, let the body be well clad, for commodity, not for shew, neither curiously affecting the mode, nor opposing it with a fantastical singularity. Let all that we weare be cleanly and wholsome, not to please other mens eyes but our own: For he that is slovenly in his attire, will thereby grow sad and dejected before he be aware. Why should a man make himself contemptible to the world, and displeasing to himself by a wilful lazie neglect of his person?
Thirdly, let there be order, and sutablenesse in our houshold furniture, though it be never so course. Let not any thing want his proper place, though never so little. Confusion is offensive to the minde, but order gives a secret delight.
Fourthly, let our habitations be lightsom if it be possible, in a free aire, and neer a garden. Gardening is an innocent delight: it was the trade of man in the state of innocency.
Fifthly, for exercises, such should be chosen that bring a publick utility, as the hunting of such beasts as are an annoiance to the Countrey, as Foxes, Badgers, Wolves, &c. Or the use of military pastimes which fit men to serve their countrey. It's a double content to a generous and well disposed nature, when he doth good for his pleasure; whereas Games of hazard do very much discompose the minde: they accustom it to hang upon the future, and to depend on fortune (as they call it) to which every wise man will give as little power over him as he can. They also provoke passion, and cause much disturbance in the soul for things of nothing. Games that consist in dexterity of body, or mind are much to be preferred before these. Chess will sharpen the wit, but buzie it overmuch, and toile the spirits instead of recreating them, which is the proper use of play. Of all Gaming the lesse the better; and when it disorders the passion, the least is too much.
He that ventures much money at play, ventures with it, not only the tranquillity of his minde, but makes a certain loss of it, whatsoever becomes of the money: this bold venturing proceeds not from a contempt of this worlds goods (as such Gamesters pretend) but out of an insatiable greedinesse to gaine much in a short time: wherefore to them that have but a little money, and to great lovers of it, great losses at play are very smarting: and yet the gain is more hurtfull then the losse: for it enflames Covetousnesse, and sets the heart upon a wicked labour to grow rich by the ruine of others: Hereby also the Fountain of Charity is dryed up, and so the streams of charitable deeds: squand…ing away of money in play, is not the way to make friends of that un…ighteous Mammon, that receive a man into everlasting habitations, but an enemy rather, that will turn him out of his temporall habitation. It is the way to lose both Earth and Heaven.
When we have an undoubted right to our money, and the present possession of it, what a mad part is it to call that into question whether it must be ours or anothers, and decide that question with the cast of a Die? And what ungratefulnesse is it to the great giver of all good gifts, to play those gifts away, which he hath afforded us of his bounteous liberality, and which have been acquired for us by the sweat and hard labour of others: and though the pa…ties at play be consenting to that strange way of acquisition, yet that consent makes it not lawful, neither of them being owner of those goods which he calls his, but only Stewards, who must give an account to their master. So then, whether we winne, or lose we commit robbery: For if we rob not our adversary▪ we rob our selves, our families, and God: and herein are worse then that ill servant that hid his talent in a napkin: for the Gamester if he be a looser hath made away his talent wherewith God had intrusted him: and though he be a gainer, yet he makes himself uncapable of giving a good account of his talent to his Lord, seeing he hath put it to an unrighteous bank.
Dr. Du Moulin upon Contentment.
Quest. Why is just honour due to our bodies?
Answ. As they are necessary instruments of the soul to work by: As they are Temples of the holy Ghost, and as they are members of Christs body.
Quest. How manifold is the care of our bodies?
Ans. The one Evil, and forbidden, which tends to the fulfilling of the lusts of the flesh, Rom. 13.14. the other good, and lawful which tends to the preservation of our life, and health, that so we may be the better fitted and enabled to the duties of our callings, general, and special.