Sermons on Isaiah 11:1-10, Sermon 7

Sermons on Isaiah 11:1-10 · Sermon 7

p. 384The Believer his Proſpect, through the dark Valley of Death.

SERMON VII.

2 COR. 5.1, 2.

For we know, that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens:

For in this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to be clothed upon with our houſe which is from heaven.

THe Particle For, points at the connexion of theſe words with the laſt verſe of the preceeding Chapter; wherein the Apoſtle gave the reaſon of his not fainting under all the preſſures and afflictions he ſuffered in the body; becauſe he looked not ſo much by preſent ſenſe to the things he ſuffered here, as by faith and hope he looked to things eternal p. 385in heaven, to wit, unto an eternal reſt, and an immortal Crown of Glory, which not ſeen by ſenſe, yet he believed was reſerved for him in heaven: Now faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ſeen, Heb. 11.1. And the light afflictions in this preſent life, are not to be compared with theſe eternal things not ſeen nor perceived by ſenſe, Rom. 8.18. What theſe eternal things are, the Apoſtle deſcribes in part, in the two firſt verſes of this Chapter; even an immortal and glorified body in the day of the reſurrection: therefore he faints not, but hath Chriſtian courage in all the pain and ſhame he ſuffereth at the hand of men, now in his frail and mortal body; for we know (ſaith he) although our earthly houſe of the tabernacle of the body ſhall be diſſolved; when all the pins and joynts will be diſſolved, yet we have a building of God, and we look for an houſe, even a glorified body, not of mans making and giving; though our frail body be framed in the womb by the Lord, yet the glorified body is of the Lords making and giving, in a more ſpecial manner; becauſe in the day of our reſurrection, he ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious body, Phil. 3.21. It is an houſe eternal, and well ſituat in the heavens, where it will not be ſubject to ſtorms and tempeſts, as it is in this life: my aſſured knowledge (ſaith he) of that future happy condition, ſtirreth up in my p. 386ſoul an earneſt deſire and longing to remove out of the body, that I may be clothed upon with glory in my ſoul after death, and with immortal glory both in ſoul and body at the day of reſurrection.

By earthly houſe here, is meant our body, called an houſe of clay, Job 4.19. becauſe the body of the firſt Adam, of whom by propagation we have our bodies, was formed out of the red earth, from which man was called Adam: it is underpropped for a time by meat, drink, ſleep, and ſometimes by medicine, to fill up the breaches, and to repair the decayes of this houſe of clay, which in end will fall down to the duſt of the earth.

It is called a tabernacle; becauſe the ſoul dwells in the body for a time, as the Ark did reſide in the Tabernacle, built for divine worſhip for a time in the wilderneſs; until it got a ſettled reſidence in the Temple of Jeruſalem: in like-manner, our ſouls in this time of our ſojourning on the earth, are lodged in frail bodies, ſubject to many changes, and to a continual flux.

By building, or an houſe not made with hands, is meant the immortal glorious body in Heaven: here in this life, the parents do miniſter the materials of our frail and natural bodies; but the immortality and glory of the heavenly body, will be only from God himſelf, as is evident, Phil. 3.20, 21. It is ſaid we groan, p. 387(foreign) as men ſtraitned and preſſed with a burden, that hinders them to go ſo faſt in their journey as they would: therefore the holy Apoſtle groans and longs to be eaſed of that burden of the body, which retards him in his motions toward his countrey that is above; and he deſires to be clothed upon with that heavenly houſe of incorruption; and to be inveſted in that full glory, when the ſoul will be re-united unto a glorious body for ever without ſeparation; as likewiſe the body will be ever with the ſoul, and where-ever it deſires to be; for the deſire of the ſoul will be ſatiſfied in Heaven, as Auguſt. de Civit. Dei, ſaith truly, Protinus ubi volet ſpiritus, ihi erit corpus, where-ever the ſpirit will deſire to be, there incontinent ſhall the body be.

In the words we have, 1. The Apoſtle his aſſured knowledge of that far better eſtate after this life, verſ. 1. For we know that if our earthly houſe, &c. 2. The effect this knowledge wrought in the holy Apoſtle, to wit, an earneſt deſire after that eternal houſe, verſ. 2. For in this we groan, earneſtly deſiring, &c.

From the words we draw clearly theſe four Concluſions, 1. The diſſolution of the body is certain, Our earthly houſe will be diſſolved. 2. The glory of the bodies of believers in this life, is certain in the life to come, We have a building of God, &c. 3. There is a great difference and oppoſition between our preſent and future condition p. 388in the body: now the body of believers is in this life, earthly, and hath need of earthly ſupports and propps: but hereafter in Heaven it will be heavenly, in reſpect of its qualities: it will not be groſs and heavy, but ſubtile and agile; it is now corruptible, but then it will be eternal; now it is on the earth, as a poor cottage of clay in the wilderneſs; then will it be in Heaven, as a Pallace, beautiful, ſtrong and unmoveable upon Mount Zion that is above. 4. The aſſured knowledge of our intereſt and title through Chriſt unto that happy condition of glory both in ſoul and body, will ſtir up in believers a vehement deſire of that compleat happineſs in Heaven, for in this we groan, &c.

Concluſ. 1. There will be a diſſolution of the body by death, For we know, that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, that is, although it were diſſolved, as the particle which is alſo here (foreign) is well rendered, 1 Cor. 4.15. Though you have ten thouſand inſtructers in Chriſt: and the ſame particle is ſometimes taken for (foreign) when, 1 Joh. 3.2. We know that when he ſhall appear, &c. and ſo it may be well rendered here alſo; when our earthly houſe of this tabernacle ſhall be diſſolved. Certain it is, it ſhall be diſſolved, Heb. 9.27. It is appointed for all, to die. Rom. 5.12, 17. Sin came over all, and by ſin alſo death. 1 Cor. 15.22. In Adam all die. Rom. 6.23. The wages p. 389of ſin is death. If man had not ſinned, he had never died: and of this immortality of the body upon the condition of his continuance in the eſtate of innocency, the tree of life was a viſible Sacrament and ſeal of aſſurance: ſo as man was created with a poſſibility (I do not ſay, a power or inclination) to ſin or not to ſin, according as he ſhould uſe the power of his own free will: even ſo accordingly he was created with a body capable of mortality or immortality. It is a groſs errour of ſome, who have it from the Pelagians, denying Original ſin; That man would have died, although he had continued in the eſtate of innocency; by reaſon (ſay they) of the materials of the body, made up of contrary qualities, that by wearing one upon another, would have made an alteration in the body, and in end brought corruption. But although mans body was compoſed of contrary qualities, apt to war and wear one againſt another; yet if man had continued in harmony and correſpondence with his Creators will, he would have kept theſe qualities in a juſt harmony one with another; as he reſtrained the Lion and Wolf from devouring the Lamb and Kid in the Ark of Noah; the Lion from doing any harm to the Prophets Aſs, 1 King. 13.24. and the fire from finzing the hair of the head of the three Children, Dan. 3.27. Is it not very probable, the glorified Bodies in Heaven will have theſe ſame primitive p. 390natural qualities, and yet they will be without any alteration or corruption? is it not evident, that the ſentence of death was threatned only upon the condition of ſinning againſt God, The day thou eateſt, thou ſhalt die? That this is not to be underſtood only of the ſpiritual death of the ſoul, in being deprived of the favour of God, is clear, Gen. 3.19. In the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken; for duſt thou art, and unto duſt ſhalt thou return. So that the ſentence formerly threatned, is execute upon man after his failie, and for his failie.

Seing this earthly houſe will be certainly diſſolved, our care of it ſhould be moderat, and not immoderat: let us not torment our ſelves with vexatious care, what we ſhall eat, or what we ſhall put on; if we have food and raiment in any competent meaſure, let us be content therewith, as ſojourners are content with a ſmall portion in the time of their ſojourning: Let your greateſt care be of your immortal ſouls, which are as a precious jewel incloſed in the body for a time: Is it not a ſhame for many perſons to have ſo much care, and take ſuch pains for adorning a mortal body, and in the mean time to neglect their immortal ſoul? Were it not a ſenſleſs folly in a man, to put forth all his care upon the repairing of the outſide of his houſe, and yet to have no care of the precious ſtuff and pleniſhing within it? Frequent p. 391meditations of the certainty of the diſſolution of our bodies, would keep our ſpirits more humble and ſober in the dayes of proſperity and health: to this end, the very Heathens did often think upon their mortality; a Lictor or Serjeant was put into the triumphal chariot beſide the Conquerour, to put him in mind of his mortality, by crying to him, Memento te eſſe mortalem, remember thou art a mortal man. Philip of Macedon commanded his Page to knock every morning at his chamber door before he roſe, and to cry, Memento mori, remember thou muſt die. The great Emperour of the Schythians, Tamberlan, in his military march, cauſed carry before him his winding-ſheet, as well as the royal ſtandart; and many of the people of God amongſt the Jews had their tombs in their gardens (as we read Joſeph of Arimathea had) to keep their ſpirits ſober in the midſt of their worldly pleaſures and delights: but mens forgetfulneſs of their approaching diſſolution, makes many ſo impudent and obſtinat in their ſinful courſes, Lam. 1.9. Her filthineſs is in her skirts, ſhe remembreth not her laſt end; therefore ſhe came down wonderfully; ſhe had no comforter. We have dayly warnings of the approaching diſſolution of this houſe of clay, 1. From the propps we make uſe of dayly to ſupport it, as our meat and our drink, they are for repairing this ruinous houſe for a time; and yet do what we can, it p. 392will fall down to the duſt: take warning from thy going to ſleep, and …emember, as thou puts off thy cloaths, ſo thou muſt put off this garment of mortality: If at any time thou take medicine, remember it is but as a plaiſtering for a time of a decaying mud-houſe. 2. Let ſickneſs in the body at any time, put thee in mind of thy diſſolution by death; becauſe alteration doth tend in end to corruption; as a drop from the roof doth in end wear the ſide-walls. 3. Take warning from the death and burial of others; when thou ſeeſt their ſcull, or bones, or duſt: this is a pious Necromancy thereby to divine of thine own diſſolution by death. 4. Take warning from the winter ſeaſon; when thou lookeſt on the earth, thou ſeeſt neither graſs nor flower, then remember thou that, of 1 Pet. 1.24. All fleſh is as graſs, and all the glory of man, as the flower of graſs: the graſs withereth and the flower thereof falleth away. But thou who ſoweſt in tears, rejoyce in the hope of that harveſt of compleat glory at the Reſurrection, which is the ſpringtime of the immortality of the body; when the bodies of the Saints ſhall ſpring up in glory, like the lillies, that were hid under the ground in time of winter, Iſa. 26.19. Thy dead men ſhall live, together with my dead body ſhall they ariſe: awake and ſing, ye that dwell in the duſt; for thy dew, is as the dew of herbs, and the earth ſhall caſt out the dead:

p. 393There is great reaſon, wherefore we ſhould be preparing dayly for the diſſolution of the body by death, 1. This diſſolution is inevitable, and there is not exemption from it by any humane power. It is true, God himſelf did exempt Enoch and Elias from diſſolution of the body; becauſe he is the ſupreme Lawgiver, and may diſpence with his own penal ſtatutes: but no perſon can exempt himſelf from the neceſſity of a diſſolution of the body: riches cannot bribe death; the rich glutton died: honour and majeſty in the great ones of the world, cannot daſh death out of countenance, nor chaſe it away; Kings are laid in their graves: might and power of Armies cannot affright death; it has taken away Kings and great Commanders upon the head of their Armies, wiſdom and eloquence cannot diſſwade it from approaching; the wiſe and eloquent die, as well as fools and ignorant men. The Piety of the godly, will not turn it away; Abraham the fathe… of the faithful, and all the Patriarchs died. 2. This diſſolution is uncertain in reſpect of the time, manner, and place: We come into the world one way, but go out of it a thouſand divers wayes: that rich worldling, (Luk. 12.18.) was taken away on a ſudden; the Shunamit's ſon goeth forth well in the morning, but dies before the evening: though our dayes are numbred of God, yet they are uncertain to us: our breath is in our p. 394noſtrils; if either the air we draw in, or the air we breath out, be ſtopped, we are gone in an inſtant: if but the ſmall paſſages from the reins be obſtructed, our heart is ſuffocat. Therefore let us not in our vain preſumption number years unto our ſelves; but let us pray daily to God, that he would teach us ſo to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts unto wiſdom, Pſal. 90 12.

Queſt. How ſhall I be prepared for my diſſolution and death? Anſ. That thou mayeſt be prepared, 1. Repent of thy ſins, and be reconciled unto God through faith in Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator, without delaying, even while thou art in the way, and cannot tell how ſoon thou mayeſt be removed, that thou may appear before thy Judge, Mat. 5.25. Delay not till the very term of thy diſſolution be come; for then it will be with thee as with a careleſs debt or, who takes no courſe with his debts in time; at the term-day he is confounded with fear, leſt death as a rude Meſſenger, ſent from the great Judge, ſhall hale him to the bottomleſs priſon, from which there is no redemption. 2. Embrace Chriſt the Saviour of ſinners into the arms of thy faith, that ſo with old Simeon thou mayeſt depart in peace, Luk. 2.29, 30. Holy Ambroſe at his death, beholding his friends weeping ſore, ſaid, Why weep ye? I have not ſo lived, that I am aſhamed to live longer, if it ſhall ſo ſeem good in the eyes of God; p. 395neither am I afraid to die, becauſe I have a gracious Lord. 3. Be thou diligent in thy Chriſtian, and alſo in thy particular lawful Calling; the fore-ſight of death, and appearance after death before the Tribunal of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, made Paul careful to approve himſelf to God in his Apoſtolical Calling, 2 Cor. 5.9, 10. Wherefore we labour, that whether preſent or abſent, we may be accepted of him; for we muſt all appear before the Judgement ſeat of Chriſt, &c. Upon this account Peter was alſo careful to do his duty faithfully, 2 Pet. 1.13, 14, 15. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to ſtir you up, by putting you in remembrance, knowing that ſhortly I muſt put off this my tabernacle, &c. 4. In all the wayes of thy Chriſtian converſation, ſtudy to perſevere in keeping a good conſcience, that at death thou mayeſt die with ſome comfortable evidence in thy ſelf of thy future happineſs, 2. Tim. 4.7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, &c. 5. Labour thou to be prepared, as were the wiſe Virgins, (Mat. 25.) with the light of ſound knowledge in thy mind, that thou mayeſt ſay with the Apoſtle, 2 Tim 1.12. I know whom I have believed. And alſo having the oyl of ſincere love in your heart toward God; for the heart cannot conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. As alſo having ſincere p. 396love in your hearts toward all the Saints, 1 Joh. 3.14. We know that we have paſſed from death unto life, becauſe we love the brethren. 6. Be thou prepared as theſe faith…ul ſervants, (Luk. 12.36.) who truſſed up their garments, that they might be the more expedit and ready to open the door to their Lord at his return: In like manner do thou retire thy heart in time from the exceſſive love of the things of this preſent world, that it be not entangled thereby: but ſet thy heart upon God and things above; for as Pleniſhing or Houſhold-ſtuff fixed faſt in the wall, is ordinarily broken before it can be removed; ſo a worldly-minded man, his heart is broken with grief and worldly ſorrow, when he is removed from his preſent enjoyments: his ſpirit is rather taken from him againſt his will, then by him freely commended, and chearfully put over into the hands of his Heavenly Father, Luk. 12.20.

Concluſ. 2. The future glory of the bodies of the Saints in Heaven, is not only ſure and certain, in it ſelf, in reſpect of the object promiſed by God; but alſo in reſpect of the ſubject, to wit, believers on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who may and ſhould be aſſured of it; for it is ſaid here by the Apoſtle, not only in his own name, but alſo in the name of all believers on Jeſus Chriſt, We know we have an houſe, &c. It is expreſſed in the preſent tenſe, (foreign, we have) to ſignifie the certainty of it in a believer; p. 397ſo, Joh. 3 36. He that believeth in me, hath everlaſting life. This aſſurance Job had, Job 19 27. Whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhall behold, and not another, &c. And David, Pſal. 17.15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteouſneſs: I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake, with thy likeneſs.

The reaſons are, 1. Becauſe not only the ſoul, but alſo the body of a believer, is a part of the myſtical Body of Chriſt, who is the Saviour of his whole body, Eph. 5.23. 2. As the body of believers, is an inſtrument and veſſel of honour to God in this life; ſo theſe ſame bodies ſhall be veſſels of glory in the other life, that they may receive there according to their ſervice done unto God here in the body, 2 Cor. 5.10. 3. The bodies of the Patriarchs, do now reſt in their graves; and as we may be aſſured, they ſhall be raiſed unto glory, Matth. 22.32. Joh. 5 28, 29. So all true believers on Jeſus Chriſt, may be aſſured, that their own bodies alſo ſhall be raiſed in glory unto eternal life.

As we would be aſſured of glory to our bodies in heaven, let us uſe our bodies here as temples to the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 8.11. If the Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead, dwell in you, he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Now the body is uſed as a temple to the Holy Ghoſt, 1. by ſeparating p. 398it from the ſervice of ſin and iniquity, as the temple of Jeruſalem, which ſometime was a threſhing-floor before it became a Temple to God, it was ſeparate from that common uſe; So our bodies muſt be ſeparat from the ſervice of iniquity, before it can be conſecrat to the ſervice of God, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God, &c. wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparat, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. 2. As the temple of Jeruſalem was not only ſeparat from a profane or common uſe, but was alſo dedicat and conſecrat unto the ſervice of God, and ſpiritual employments; in like manner, our bodies ſhould be preſented and dedicat to the ſervice of God, according to the duty of our Chriſtian calling, Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye preſent your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. As all the veſſels in the Temple, whether great or ſmall, were holy; ſo ſhould all the members of our body be employed unto righteouſneſs, Rom. 6.13. Neither yield ye your members as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs unto ſin; but yield your ſelves unto God, as thoſe that are alive from the dead, and your members as inſtruments of righteouſneſs unto God. Our eyes ſhould be turned away from beholding vanity, and imployed p. 399to behold the power and wiſdom of God in the works of Creation and Providence; our ears ſhould be circumciſed and tu…ned away from hearing profane or obſcene ſpeeches, and turned to hear what may be profitable for our edification; our tongues ſhould be turned away from all unſavoury communication, and ſhould miniſter grace to the hearer. 3. The Temple was guarded and kept by the Porters, leſt any thing ſhould enter or creep into the Temple, which might defile it, 2 Chron. 23.19. In like-manner ſhould we watch over the Ports of our eyes and ears, that nothing enter in by them, which may defile the ſoul, which is the very ſanctuary within the temple of our body. No ſtranger was admitted unto the temple of Jeruſalem, Act. 21.28. ſo we ſhould not admit willingly, any ſtrange thought or ſtragling motion, which would turn the heart away from God, Pſ. 119.113. I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love. If through our inadvertence ſuch motions creep in, or through violence ruſh into the ſoul and moleſt the body, then as our bleſſed Lord in his zeal, did ſcourge out the buyers and the ſellers out of the Temple, we ſhould in a holy indignation, and commendable ſelf-revenge, caſt out theſe thoughts that would ſell our bodies and the members thereof unto iniquity: If thus ye be careful to uſe your bodies as a temple to the Holy Ghoſt, then may ye be aſſured, the Holy G…oſt who dwelled p. 400in the ſoul, and over-ruled the body in the day of reſurrection, will fill his temple with glory; even as the temple of Jeruſalem was firſt built by Gods command, and thereafter filled with the cloud, and ſenſible preſence of God himſelf. But theſe who diſhonour God in the body and members thereof, as by blaſpheming the Name of God, by uncleanneſs, by drunkenneſs or other ſins acted by the ſubſerviency of the body; can ſuch perſons, or dare they ſay, We know we have an eternal houſe in heaven? Yea, do they not know, and are convinced from the threatnings of God, and from their own conſcience bearing witneſs to the truth and juſtneſs of the ſame, that if they live and dye in their ſins without repentance and amendment of life, there is a bottomleſs dark priſon with torments everlaſting, prepared both for their ſoul and for their body? Gal. 6.8. For he that ſoweth to his fleſh, ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption.

Concluſ. 3. There is a great difference and oppoſition between the bodies of believers in this life; and the condition of their glorified bodies in the life to come: here the body is an earthly houſe, mouldering down dayly; but in heaven, it will be fixt, eternal and incorruptible. This oppoſition is clearly ſet forth, 1 Cor. 15.41, 42, 43. 1. Now the body of the Saints is ſubject to alteration and corruption, It is ſow… ſaith the Apoſtle, in corruption, p. 401but raiſed in incorruption. The body now, is in a continual flux and decay; ſome pickles of our duſt are running dayly: our life is like a lamp within this pitcher of clay, having need dayly to be recruited by freſh oyl: but in heaven our bodies will be of a fixed condition, without any need of reparation; then the vital and animat ſpirits of the body, will be pure and free from all ſuperfluous humors, and from all conflict of one bodily quality againſt another; which, like contrary tydes, do make a great commotion within the body: but in heaven there will be a perfect harmony amongſt all the elementary qualities in the body; and therefore no poſſiblity of alteration, or declining to old age. 2. There is an oppoſition in reſpect of the feature and beauty of the body; The body is ſown in diſhonour, but raiſed in honour. Our body in this life, is called a vile body, Phil. 3.20. Saccus ſtercorum; and the greateſt on earth muſt carry about with them theſe monitories of humility: A little time before death, the face becomes pale and earth-like; as wine near-run, doth ſmell of the dreg: after the ſoul is gone, like an heavenly ſpark of fire out of a mud-houſe, then the body becomes naſty and loathſome through ſtench. Abraham deſired to bury his ſome-time beautiful Sarah out of his ſight. But in the day of reſurrection the bodies of the godly will be raiſed in honour, like unto the glorious body of Chriſt. As the tabernacle in the wilderneſs, was made according to the pattern p. 402ſhown unto Moſes in the Mount; ſo the tabernacle of our body will be raiſed according to the pattern of Chriſts b…y, ſhown in mount Tabor, when he was transfigured, Mat. 17. They will be raiſed in great comelineſs both for ſplendor and proportion: theſe bodies that had any defect or deformity in this life, through want of any member, ſhall have all made up in that day of reſtoring all things: he that bringeth forth the lillie from under the ground in beautiful colours, exceeding the glory of king Solomon, and he that reſtored Malchus his ear, will adorn the body with beauty, and with integrity of members: all doubts, how ſuch a thing can be, are reſolved by the Apoſtle, Phil. 3.21 He will do it according to the working, whereby he is able, even to ſubdue all things unto himſelf. 3. There is an oppoſition in reſpect of the healthful diſpoſition and conſtitution of the body; It is ſown in weakneſs, but will be raiſed in power. The beſt conſtitution of the body now, in compariſon of that it had in the eſtate of innocency, is at the beſt but weakneſs: although all bodies now be not alike weak; yet a ſharp fit of an ague, or of the ſtone will lay the ſtrongeſt man on his back; even the ſtrongeſt bodies through much labour do become weak and feeble, as a ſtrong bow, through much ſhooting, becomes flug and remiſs: Sampſon, notwithſtanding his great ſtrength, became weary and thirſty after his fight with the Philiſtines; and on death-bed the ſtrongeſt man is not able to carry a drink to his own head, or to turn p. 403himſelf in his bed: but in the day of reſurrection, the body will be raiſed in power and ſtrength, and ſo continue without all wearineſs: for weakneſs in the body, and wearineſs after labour, is a conſequent of mans fall, and of original corruption; if man had not fallen, his labour in the garden would have been only a pleaſant recreation without toil and ſweat: but in heaven there will be no remaines of corruption in the ſoul; and therefore no wearineſs in the body. 4. There is a great oppoſition between our body now, and the glorified body in the reſurrection, in reſpect of exerciſe and operations; It is ſown a natural body, but will be raiſed a ſpiritual body: not of a ſpiritual, Aerial, or Etherial ſubſtance, for the ſame individual body will be raiſed, and it was not in this life Aerial or Etherial: there will be a raiſing up of that ſame body which is fallen, foreign, and that was a terreſtrial body; it is ſaid demonſtratively, 1 Cor. 15.54. This corruptible, and this mortal. But the body will be raiſed up with ſpiritual qualities; now it is a natural body, and has need of natural means for preſerving and continuing the ſpece and kind by Generation, as alſo of meat, drink and ſleep for preſerving the Individual by nutrition: but after the reſurrection, the body will be abſtract and retired from the uſe of theſe natural means and operations; the glorified Saints will be like unto Angels, neither giving in marriage, nor taking in marriage, Mat. 22.30. The number of the Elect, and of the Church p. 404Triumphant, will be compleat at the reſurrection; there will be no more enlargeing of the Church by poſterity: the whole deſire and delight of the Sa…nts glorified, will be ſo …ully taken up with the viſion and fruition of the all-ſufficient and unchangeable God, that the beatifick viſion will drown and ſwallow up any remembrance of natural deſire or delight on the creature: if Peter (Matth. 17.) was ſo deeply affected with a ſight of that created glory he ſaw on mount Tabor, that he forgot all his former contentments and enjoyments worldly below the mount, when he ſaid, It is good for us to be here: How much more will the Saints in heaven be raviſhed with the ſight and knowledge of that increated glory of God himſelf in their ſouls, when he ſhall be marvellous in his Saints, 2 Theſ. 1.10. and when they ſhall alſo behold the glory of Jeſus Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs in his humane glorified body? The glorified body will not have any uſe or need of meat, drink or ſleep, becauſe the body then will be of a fixed and durable conſtitution and conſiſtence, without all poſſibility of alteration or decay, Rev. 7.16 In heaven the body will be ſpiritual, in reſpect of lucidity and agility in motion; like unto the celeſtial Spirits and Angels, who in a very ſhort time make their motions through a vaſt ſpace and interval, as the Angel Gabriel did, Dan. 9.23. In like manner, our bodies then will be carryed quickly in an imperceptible moment of time, whereſoever our ſouls ſhall deſire to be, 1 Theſ. p. 4054.17. We ſhallbe caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. As for theſe members of the body, which in this life ſerve for neceſſar and natural uſe, they will ſerve in heaven for ornament and integrity of the body: as the breaſts of the woman come to old age, who ſometimes gave ſuck; although in old age they will not ſerve for that uſe, yet they do ſtill ſerve for the ornament and integrity of the body.

Herefrom is matter of great comfort to the godly, who ſuffer hard things in the body here: be of good courage ye are not to dwell for ever in that ſilly frail houſe; at the term of removal by death, ye know of a durable houſe; now it is mouldering down daily, like an houſe of clay after a great ſhower; but in heaven ye will have a manſion and fixed ſtation in your fathers houſe, Joh. 14.2. Although poſſibly there be ſenſible weakneſs, or viſible deformity now in thy body; yet be thou patient in the hope thy body will be raiſed in ſtrength and beauty, as the body of Lazarus, without any ſores: It is true, after the Reſurrection of our bleſſed Lord, the print of the nails remained in his hands and feet, as alſo the hole of the wound in his ſide; but that was for a ſhort time out of his merciful condeſcenſion to cure Thomas his doubting; as alſo his eating (Joh. 21.) was not to ſatisfie neceſſity, for then his body was glorious and immortal; but it was to feed and confirm their faith of the Reſurrection of his body. 3. Though now thou be weary in the body after much labour, ſo was our bleſſed Lord in this, like unto us, as in all things, except ſin, Joh. 4.6. But be of good comfort, thou who exerciſeſt thy ſelf in well-doing, ſhalt riſe p. 406in the body, as one refreſhed in the morning after a ſound and quiet ſleep▪ then ſhalt thou be like unto Angels, in doing the will of thy Lord with all chearfulneſs, without all poſſibility of wearineſs. 4. Now in the body thou art ſometimes troubled about a livelyhood and things neceſſar; but after the Reſurrection thou ſhalt be ſatisfied to the full both in ſoul and body with the fruition of our all-ſufficient and unchangable God; even with that hid Manna of the ſweet▪ full, and unſpeakable variety of delight, both in the ſenſe of the love of God toward thee, and in the ſenſe of thy love reflected on God, Rev. 2.17. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden manna. 5. Now thou art moleſted and faſhed with the ſtirrings of inordinat concupiſcence dwelling in the body, as Sarah was grieved with Hagar, dwelling in the ſame houſe with her: but it is thy comfort, after the Reſurrection of the body, as there will be perfect calmneſs in the affections, without the leaſt unruly motion; ſo in all the members of the glorified body, there will be perfect quietneſs; as when the ſea is calm, there is no agitation in the Ship. 6. Though now at the diſſolution of the body, and at the departure of its noble gueſt the immortal ſoul, there may be, and ofttimes is, much pain and agony, like unto the grief Jacob had at parting with his dear Benjamin: yet rejoyce thou in the hope of that joyful meeting again of thy ſoul and body, as the joy was great when Jacob and Joſeph met again together: the glorified ſoul will bring glad tydings from heaven to the body, like the faithful ſpyes, Num. 14. for the encouragement of the body to go along with it to the third heaven: this joy will be increaſed at their meeting with Chriſt, accompanyed with millions of Angels; and it will be perpetuated with him in the paradiſe of p. 407God, for we ſhall be ever with the Lord, 1 Theſ. 4..71

Concluſ. 4. The aſſured knowledge believers have of that happy eſtate of ſoul and body in Heaven, ſtirreth up in them an earneſt deſire after the fruition of it; for it is ſaid, verſ. 1. We know, &c. and, verſ. 2. In this we groan earneſtly, &c. for the knowledge and perſwaſion of the truth of the good ſet before us, doth ſtir up the heart to deſire, quickens us to diligence in uſing all lawful means for attaining the good deſired; and encourageth us againſt difficulties in the way: The pleaſantneſs and fertility of the land of Canaan, ſeen and known to the faithful ſpyes, (Numb. 14.) ſtirred up in them an earneſt deſire of poſſeſſing the promiſed land; it quickened them to diligence in the way, and gave them courage againſt the ſons of Anak. who were to oppoſe them in their way to it, Numb. 14.9. The Apoſtle Paul, knowing it was beſt to be with Chriſt, did deſire to be diſſolved, Phil. 1.23. This deſire made him diligent and faithful in all the parts, both of his Chriſtian and Apoſtolick Calling; it made him alſo couragious and reſolute againſt all difficulties and diſcouragements, Acts 21.13. 2 Cor. 4.16, 18. 1 Tim. 6.12. But groſs ignorants, who know or believe nothing concerning the compleat happineſs of ſoul and body in Heaven, have no true or well-grounded deſire to remove out of the body: and wicked obſtinat ſinners, though they have ſome literal knowledge of it; yet they have not that lively hope, which purifieth the heart; and therefore at death they are driven out of the body, ſore againſt their will, as a Malefactor condemned, is forced from his houſe to the priſon, Job 18.18. He ſhall be driven from light into darkneſs, and chaſed out of the world. As in his lifetime, the wicked man ruſhed into ſin, like an horſe into the battel, without all fear of God: ſo he ſhall be driven as a beaſt into that dark and bottomleſs p. 408priſon; he ſhall be chaſed and purſued with the fears and terrours of an evil conſcience, Pſal. 140.11. Evil ſhall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

Object. But ſometimes even the godly are unwilling to die, as was Hezekiah, Iſai. 38.10. and David, Pſ. 39.13. What is the cauſe of this unwillingneſs in them who walked uprightly before the Lord? Anſ. The cauſes are, 1. An immoderat love ſometimes in the godly toward ſome of their neareſt and deareſt relations: it maketh them to linger in their deſires and reſolutions to die; as Lot did linger in his departing out of Sodom Gen. 19.16. his great affection to his ſons-in-law, made him ling…r longer than he ſhould: but when death takes the godly by the heart, as the Angel did Lot by the hand, then they are willing to ſubmit to the will of God; and they ſay, as our bleſſed Lord did at his death, Father, into thy hands I recommend my ſpirit. 2. Their deſire to do good in their ſtation in the world, is a cauſe of their unwillingneſs to remove for a time from that ſtation: and this I think made David and Hezekiah ſomewhat unwilling, out of their great reſpect to the people of God over whom they were ſet: this made Paul to hover, and to be in a ſtrait, whether to depart or abide in the fleſh; even his great deſire to benefit the Church of Chriſt, by preaching the Goſpel, Phil. 1.23. Theſe are truly pious deſires and commendable purpoſes; yet when the children of God perceive it is Gods peremptory will to remove them by death, they commend their ſpirits to God, and the care of all their concernments unto their wiſe Lord, who can raiſe up a Joſhua in the place of Moſes, and an Eliſha in the place of Elijah, and alſo enable them with the ſpirit of their Calling. It is alſo a natural and pious deſire of godly Parents, to live that they may bring up their young children in the knowledge and the fear of the Lord, and under p. 409God provide for them: nevertheleſs when they perceive it is Gods will to remove them by death from their children, they willingly ſubmit themſelves to the will of God; and as they caſt themſelves and the care of their ſoul upon the God of their ſalvation; ſo with confidence they commit their children to God, who taketh this title unto himſelf, to be the father of the fatherleſs. And I know well, the God of truth doth not aſſume empty titles; but is fully anſwerable unto them in the work of his gracious and fatherly providence. 3. A cauſe of their unwillingneſs to die, is ſometimes their want of full aſſurance of the remiſſion of their ſins, and of the ſalvation of their ſouls: but if they had this, they profeſs they would be moſt willing to die. For anſwer to this ſcruple, I confeſs it is no wonder the child of God deſire this full aſſurance; becauſe the more they have of a well-grounded aſſurance, they have the more of inward peace and comfort: yet though thou have not that full aſſurance, which is called foreign, the full aſſurance of faith; yet if by thy true repentance thou haſt forſaken thy former evil wayes, and haſt brought forth fruits meet for repentance in the amendment of thy life, and by faith cleaveſt to Chriſt, and to the merit of his perfect righteouſneſs, I ſay unto thee, as our bl…ſſed Lord ſaid unto the Ruler of the Synagogue, Mark 5.36. Be not afraid, only believe: Remember that of John 3.18. He that believeth on him, is not condemned. And (Joh. 3.36.) He that believeth on the Son, hath everlaſting life. That full aſſurance, called in a borrowed phraſe, foreign, is like that of a Ship coming in to the Harbour with full Sails before the wind: yet ſome Ships in time of a ſtorm will come in ſafe alſo with a piece of a Croſs-ſail: Bleſs thou God for thy faith of adherence to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to the promiſes of ſalvation in him: p. 410if with Job thou can ſay with an upright heart, Job 13.15. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him. Conſider I beſeech thee, for thy comfort, that God is more zealous of his own honour in performing his faithful promiſe made unto believers, who depend upon him by faith and obedience, than thou canſt be of thine own ſalvation: as he takes no pleaſure in the deſtruction of a ſinner; ſo he takes much pleaſure in thy turning and truſting in him: if thou die leaning by faith on him and his promiſe of ſalvation, then ſhalt thou be ſaved and carried by him out of this wilderneſs unto that Paradiſe which is above; as it is ſaid, Cant. 8.5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderneſs, leaning upon her beloved? If the Son of God, the beloved of the Father, be alſo thy beloved; and if thou die, leaning on him, then ſhalt thou come out of the wilderneſs of this world; and ſhalt be filled with his everlaſting love, and fulneſs of the pureſt joy and delight in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Queſt. What are the means and helps to make the children of God willing to remove out of the body? Anſ. 1. A ſpecial mean is that, ſet down here in the Text, to wit, the aſſured knowledge of a far better eſtate after this life: Moſes, a little time before his death, went up to the top of Piſgah, Deut. 34. and there the Lord ſhewed unto him the pleaſant and plentiful land of Canaan, that was on the other ſide of Jordan; after which ſight, he willingly died there: in like-manner the Lord our God, for their further encouragement, elevats the minds of his children, by the eye of faith, toward their eternal reſt in Heaven; then their hearts are ſo affected with love and deſire to be there with Chriſt, that they ſay as Paul did, Phil. 1.23. I deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all. Old Simeon, a long expectant of glory, waited for Chriſt, the conſolation of Iſrael; and p. 411when he got him in his arms, he ſaid, Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation, Luk. 2.29, 30. In like-manner, faith embracing Chriſt the Saviour, and the hope of ſalvation in him and with him, doth depart in peace. 2. The ſeal of the Holy Spirit, in the work and courſe of our ſanctification, doth encourage and make us willing to die▪ as the Seal of earthly Kings, make ſure to men their earthly poſſeſſions; ſo the King of kings, by the Seal of the Holy Spirit, as our Sanctification is called, (Eph. 1.13) maketh ſure unto believers their heavenly inheritance, which is ſaid to be among them which are ſanctified by faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Acts 26.…8. Therefore as ye would die willingly in the hope of that heavenly inheritance, be very careful, that your gift thereof paſs not only through the Common Seal of the outward Ordinances of hearing the Word, and receiving the holy Sacraments; but alſo through the Privy Seal of purifying and ſanctifying the heart; for, Bleſſed are they that are pure in heart, they ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5.8. and without holineſs none ſhall ſee God, Heb. 12.14. There is no coming unto the heavenly inheritance without regeneration as a child yet unborn cannot actually have the poſſeſſion of an inheritance. 3. The earneſt of the Spirit, which is alſo called, The firſt fruits of the Spirit, (Rom. 8.23.) maketh a man willing to die: as a man receiving, though a ſmall earneſt-peny out of the hand of one that is faithful and able to perform the whole bargain at the term, doth truſt to his faithful promiſe; and withal having received ſome earneſt of the promiſed ſum; the nearer the term of performance is▪ he is the more joyful: In like-manner, the child of God, having ſometime received an earneſt or firſt-fruits of his ſalvation, in the ſenſe of Gods love, ſhed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghoſt; p. 412ſome peace in his conſcience by faith in Jeſus Chriſt the Saviour of ſinners; and ſome joy of the promiſed ſalvation, from a lively hope to be with Chriſt; the nearer he is to the term of his removal, he is or may be the more joyful: ſo it was with the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Cor. 5 8. He alſo hath given unto us the earneſt of the Spirit; therefore we are confident and willing rather to be abſent from the body, and to be preſent with the Lord. Theſe firſt fruits of the Spirit in the ſoul, are like unto theſe few cluſters Joſhua and Caleb brought from the valley of Eſhcol; they give ſome refreſhment to the ſoul, and withall encourage it to go forward to Heaven, where they ſhall get no worſe, but much more of ſuch fruits. Although thou haſt not ſuch a meaſure of the ſenſe of Gods love towards thee, as thou deſireſt: yet if there be in thine heart a true and ſincere hatred of all ſin; and a true and deep ſenſe of thine own love toward God, that thou mayeſt ſay in humility and ſincerity, as Peter did, Joh. 21. Lord, thou that knoweſt all things, knoweth I love thee: then mayeſt thou die willingly, becauſe (1 Cor. 2.9.) Eye hath not ſeen, &c. what God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 8.3. If any man love God, the ſame is known and approven of him. Peace in thy conſcience, from faith reſting on Jeſus Chriſt and his perfect righteouſneſs, is the earneſt of thy full and everlaſting peace in Heaven, when thou ſhalt ſee God as he is. Although thy peace of Sanctification may be interrupted now and then by thy ſinning ſometimes againſt thy light, as it was in David, Pſal. 51. yet in Heaven there will be perfect righteouſneſs inherent for ever, and the fruit thereof will be perfect and everlaſting peace in the ſoul. Spiritual joy, which is called the joy of the Holy Ghoſt, becauſe he is the Author of it; and is alſo called the joy of ſalvation, becauſe eternal ſalvation in Heaven is the object of it▪ p. 413if at any time God hath given joy to thy heart after thy mourning in ſecret for thy ſins; and after thy believing in Jeſus Chriſt, who came into the world to ſave even the chief of ſinners; then look thou upon that joy, as a love-token ſent down to thee from Heaven; and as an earneſt of that full and everlaſting joy in Heaven that ſhall never be taken from thee. This conſideration and joyful expectation maketh the children of God willing to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt at whoſe right hand is fulneſs of joy, and pleaſures for ever: For if there be ſuch joy from the earneſt and firſt fruits, that it is called, (1 Pet. 1.8.) Joy unſpeakable and full of glory, What will the joy be after this life, when we ſhall receive the full ſum of glory, and ſhall reap the full harveſt of joy in the kingdom of Heaven? It is true, ſome of the dear children of God, who ſometimes in their lifetime have had peace in their conſcience, and joy in their heart from the hope of ſalvation, have been a little before their death under a cloud and great wreſtlings againſt temptations to unbelief and deſpondency, which were fierce as the ſons of Anak at their coming out of this wilderneſs: but before their diſſolution, that cloud evaniſhed, and they expreſt their joy, like the joy of the wiſe men, when they ſaw the Star that led them to Chriſt appearing again, Mat. 2.10. and they cried out, Venit venit, He is come, he is come; And then they ſay, (as Iſa. 25.9.) This is the Lord▪ we have waited for him, we will be glad, and rejoyce in his ſalvation.

Uſe. For exhortation unto willingneſs at death to remove out of the body: to this end we would ſeriouſly and frequently conſider, 1. This is the place and the time of our ſojourning; our reſt is not here: therefore let us paſs the time of our ſojourning here, in fear, 1 Pet. 1.17. Like unto loving and dutiful children in the time of their travels abroad, who are afraid to do any thing p. 414in a ſtrange countrey, that may diſhonour their loving father, who ſent them to their travels for a time, and bare all their charges in the time of their abſence: this fear to diſhonour our heavenly Father, and our active care to honour him in this preſent world, will make us willing and confident to return unto him at death, who will make us welcome at our return, and give us reſt in theſe eternal manſions in our Fathers houſe: this fear to offend God, and care to pleaſe him in all things, made the Apoſtle Paul willing and confident in the thoughts of his departure from this world, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8 I have fought a good fight, &c. henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteouſneſs, which the Lord, the righteous Judge ſhall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them alſo, that love his appearing. 2. Conſider often the place thou leaveſt at death, and the place thou goeſt to after death; and the vaſt difference between theſe two, as the Heaven is diſtant from the Earth: thou leaveſt a world of iniquity and miſery; but goeſt to that other world, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs & all happineſs: there is a vaſt difference between the earthly houſe thou flitts from at death, and that eternal houſe and manſion to which thy ſoul flitts immediatly after death, and ſhall reſt from all thy labours, Rev. 14.13. Thy ſoul dwelleth now in a dark houſe; there is much ignorance even in the beſt of Saints here: and any light or knowledge we have now in the body, is but like the light unto a priſoner in the dungeon, through crevices and ſlitts, by the miniſtry of our outward ſenſes, our hearing and ſeeing: but in that heavenly manſion, whereto the believer goeth at death, there is full light, Pſ. 36.9. In thy light ſhall we ſee light. 1 Joh. 3.2. We ſhall ſee him as he is. There will be an identity in the object, God himſelf, ſeen by all the glorified Saints: yet there is an infinit variety of all things deſireable for our happineſs, to p. 415be ſeen and known in God himſelf, infinit in excellency an goodneſs: even as a man beholdeth diverſe re…ractions fr…m one and the ſelf ſame ſparkling precious Diamond: his light and knowledge in the ſouls of glorified Saints wil… endure for ever, Rev. 21.23. The city had no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to ſhine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. This ea…thly houſe doth oft-times ſmoak, and maketh our eyes to guſh ou… with tears, as ſmoak doth from a ſoaking fite not y…t put out: ſo the many ſinful motions and fumes, ariſing from in-dwelling concupiſcence in the body, maketh the children of God here many times to mourn in ſecret before the Lord, and in the bitterneſs of their ſpirit to cry out with the Apoſtle. Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am! who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? But at death the fire of concup…ſcence will be wholly quenched; as at flitting, the fire of the houſe, wherein they formerly dwelt, is wholly put out: but after death we ſhall follow the Lamb in white robes, not only without blame, but alſo without all ſtain. Now we dwell in a ſtrait and narrow houſe; here are foreign great p…eſſures and oppreſſions of ſpirit, with one affliction after another; but after death, we ſhall be enlarged from all trouble and pain; then God ſhall wipe away all tears from our eyes, Rev. 21.4. Now we dwell in a dropping houſe; one defluction after another, from our weak and diſtempered head, do trouble this earthly body: but after death, in our eternal houſe, there will be a perpetual influence of life, health, peace and joy, from our ſtrong and everlaſting Head, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Now we dwell among many evil and troubleſome neighbours, who make us oft-times cry out with David, Wo is me that I dwell in the tents of Meſecb. But in heaven there will be perfect peace, a ſweet harmony in minds and affections amongſt all the fellow-citizens: there we ſhall be in a perpetual communion with the bleſſed Angels, and with the glorified Saints. Yea that which crowneth all, we ſhall be in an immediat, full, and perpetual communion with God himſelf, infinit in glory, Rev. 21.3. God himſelf ſhall be with them. And at the reſurrection of the body, we ſhall live in a communion of the viſible glory of Chriſt the Lord, whom we ſhall ſee with our bodily eyes, 1 Theſ. 4.17 p. 4163. Laſtly, conſider what joy thou haſt had at any time here from faith in Jeſus Chriſt, whom having not ſeen ye love, in whom, though now ye ſee him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unſpe…kable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. O what ſhall our joy be after death, when we ſhall ſee him face to face! If now thy joy be ſo great in ſeeing him only through the latteſſe of his Ordinances, and if ſome of the Saints have ſuch joy in ſuffering for him here, how great ſhall their joy be in reigning with him there? If we have ſome peace and calmneſs in our conſcience, when we are in the ſea of this world, what ſhall be the peace and calmneſs, when we ſhall be brought within that haven of …he third heaven, where the ſalvation of God ſhall be our perpetual bulwark? Old Jacob, when he conſidered the miſery and famine of the Land from which he parted, when he looked to the waggons and proviſion ſent to him by his beloved Joſeph, and when he conſidered he was going to be with his own Joſeph in honour and great plenty, he departed willingly from the place of his former abode: So let us conſider this preſent world from which we part; it is a place of ſin and miſery; let us conſider, any proviſion of inward comfort God hath ſent us at any time, it ſhould be as a waggon and fiery chariot to carry our hearts upwards toward God, the fountain of all comfort and happineſs: Conſider our dear Joſeph the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that was ſold for our iniquities, is now at the fathers right hand, the great Steward and Diſpenſer of grace and glory; by death we are going to him, in whom and with whom we ſhall enjoy all happineſs for ever. If there be comfort ſometimes from a drop of joy here, how full, ever-flowing and over-flowing will our joy be, that ſhall proceed from the viſion and fruition of God for ever? Theſe everlaſting pleaſures and pureſt joyes, are that pure river of water of life, clear as cryſtal, proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb, Rev. 22.1. I cloſe with that of the Apoſtle Jude, ver. 24.25. Now unto him that is able to keep you …rom falling, and to preſent you faultleſs before the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wiſe God our Saviour, be glory and majeſty, dominion and power, now and ever. Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · William Colvill, Sermons on Isaiah 11:1-10 (1673)