The Mourners Directory, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. The Reſurrection of the Dead great ground of Comfort in our Sorrow for them: As alſo the Qualities and Endowments of their Bodies, when raiſed.
THE Third Remedy againſt Exceſſive Sorrow for the Dead, is ſure knowledge, and firm belief of the Reſurrection unto Life: Death is oppoſed to Life, as being the privation of it; the Reſurrection is oppoſed to Death, as being a reſtoration to Life: The one is the cauſe of our Sorrow, the other is a ſolid ground of Chriſtian Comfort. It is a Doctrine unknown by the Light of Nature, it is undeniably proved by the Holy Scripture. The Heathens hearing Paul preach the Reſurrection of the Dead, did deride and mock, Act 17.32. for they did judge it a thing incredible, that the dead ſhould be raiſed, Act 26.8. This was the reaſon they ſorrowed for their de…d ſo immoderately, becauſe they had no hope that they ſhould live again; and the Reſurrection and Chriſtian Hope are conjoyned, the one being the Foundation of the other. Act. 23.6. Of the hope and reſurrection of the dead, I am called into question. Act. 24.14. And have hope towards God, which they themſelves alſo allow, that there ſhall be a Reſurrection of the dead, both of the juſt and unjuſt. If the Reſurrection be granted, hope muſt be allowed, and the more hope of this, the more mitigation of ſorrow for the Dead, becauſe they ſhall live again.
In this copious Subject, I muſt omit many things, and content my ſelf with ſo much as is ſufficient for my preſent deſign, which may be done in theſe two things: (1.) That there is ſufficient foundation for our Faith, that the Dead ſhall ſurely live again. (2.) That their Bodies for which we mourn, becauſe d…ad and buried, ſhall not only be the ſame for ſubſtance, but in respect of Qualities, ſhall far exceed what they were while they lived, or when they dyed: And the Faith of this wi… be as much cauſe of Joy, as their Death was of Sorrow, and more abundant.
In the firſt of theſe, three things give me full ſatisfaction. 1. Taken from God. 2. From Chriſt. 3. The abſurdities that muſt unavoidably follow the denial of the Reſurrection of the Dead.
Firſt in this Article of our Faith (from whence I check my Sorrow for the Dead, that it may be kept within bounds) three things in God, (ſo conſidered by us, tho one in him) remove my Doubts, confirm my Hopes in this Caſe: 1. The Wiſdom. 2. The Power. 3. The Will of God.
1. God being Infinite in Wiſdom and Knowledge, I am fully ſatisfied, that he knoweth the number of the dead, and where their Bodies were buried, or conſumed, and which are the bones and Skull, and Duſt of one, and which of another: for this is knowable in it ſelf, and therefore God knows theſe, and all other circumſtances of the Dead, or elſe his Knowledge would be limited and finite Knowledge, and not extended to every thing that may be known, which is contrary to Natural Reaſon, to Scripture and Religion, and to the Infinite Perfection of the Divine Nature; to deny this Knowledge in God, is to Blaſpheme him.
2. God being Infinite in Power, is able to raiſe all the Dead, all which, and every particle of all of them being thus known to him; to raiſe the Dead is an Act of Power, and not of weakneſs, and is poſſible, and not a contradiction. Cannot the ſame Power that made all things out of nothing, cauſe theſe dead-out of ſomething to live again? Cannot the ſame Power that at firſt formed Mans Body of the duſt of the ground, and cauſed it to live, make theſe Bodies to live again, thô they be turned into duſt? Cannot God do what he hath done? Cannot he do all that is poſſible to be done? Is not that which hath been done to ſome, poſſible to be done to others? Are there not many Examples in the Scripture that this hath been done? Have not many Dead been raiſed to Life? The Reſurrection of the Dead being in the rank of things poſſible, comes within the reach of Divine Almighty Power, which to deny is to blaſpheme, theſe two being manifeſt; to compleat the Argument, add,
3. God hath declared his Will and Purpoſe that the Dead ſhall live again. We cannot argue from the Power of God, that a thing ſhall be, becauſe he is able to do it, becauſe he doth not will to do all that he can do; but we might argue from his Will, that what he doth will to do, ſhall be done, becauſe he hath Power to do whatſoever he will. Men might have a will to do ſome things, but they have not Power anſwerable to their Will, and they often would, but never can; but tho' God be not Omnivolent, to will every thing he can, yet he is Omnipotent, to do whatſoever he will.
Wherefore our reaſoning iſſueth in this, Whether it be the Will of God that the Dead ſhall be raiſed to life? The fundamental Error of the Sadduces denying the Reſurrection of the Dead, Chriſt ſhews was in their Ignoronce of theſe two Principles, the Power and the Will of God, which is revealed in the Scripture. Mat. 22.29. Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. The Scriptures do abound in this, fully aſſuring us that it is his Will, that all the Dead ſhall be raiſed, the Wicked to Damnation, the Righteous to Life everlaſting: If you doubt, read theſe Texts, Job 19.25. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth. 26. And thô after my skin, Worms deſtroy this body, yet in my Fleſh ſhall I ſee God. 27. Whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhall behold, and not another, thô my reins be conſumed within me. Joh. 5.28. The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the Graves ſhall hear his voice. 29. And ſhall come forth, they that have done good unto the Reſurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the Reſurrection of damnation. Joh. 6.38. For I came down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the Will of him that ſent me. What's that? 39. And this is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day. Theſe are comfortable words of Chriſt to us: What a ſtrict Charge is here of the Father given to Chriſt! My Son, I give you ſo many men, and charge you with them, that you loſe not any one of them, but that you raiſe every one of them at the laſt day, and ſet them before me in Body and Soul in my heavenly Kingdom. Do you fear, leſt among ſo many millions to be raiſed, any one of yours ſhould be left in the Grave, and never raiſed? Would not then ſuch be loſt? and is not that contrary to the Charge given to Chriſt? and contrary to the Fathers Will? Are not you ſatisfied that Chriſt hath, and will do his Father's Will in every Point? Hear his words: 40. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. Are not you yet ſatisfied with theſe words of him that is able, and can, and faithful, and will, do what he ſaith, reaching to every one, without the loſing of any one? The Father that ſent me, hath declared his Will that I ſhould, and ſo I will raiſe every one of theſe at the laſt day. Believe, and ſorrow for your Dead with no more degrees of Sorrow than becometh one that doth believe that Chriſt will raiſe them up at the laſt day. John 11.24. Martha ſaid to him, I know that he ſhall riſe again, in the Reſurrection at the laſt day: 25. Jeſus ſaid unto her, I am the Reſurrection and the Life, he that believeth in me, thô he were dead, yet ſhall he live. John 6.44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath ſent me, draw him: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. 54. Whoſo eateth my Fleſh, and drinketh my Blood, hath Eternal life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day, 1 Cor. 15. throughout. Rev. 20.12. And I ſaw the Dead ſmall and great ſtand before God — 13. And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it, and Death and Hell [or the Grave] delivered up the d…ad which were in them. Now the Grave and Death hold your Relations that are under their Power faſt, ſo faſt that now there is no help, and you therefore ſorrow; but the day will come, when Death and the Grave ſhall deliver them up, and hold them no longer; here is matter of Hope, therefore do not ſorrow as thoſe that have no Hope.
Secondly, The indiſſoluble connexion betwixt the Reſurrection of Chriſt, and Believers that ſleep in him, may aſſuredly ſatisfie us, that ſuch ſhall alſo be raiſed. Firmly believe the one, and you cannot, or need not doubt of the other, 1 Cor. 15.12. Now if Chriſt be preached, that he roſe from the dead, how ſay ſome among you, that there is no Reſurrection of the dead. 13. But if there be no Reſurrection of the dead, then Chriſt is not riſen. 15. — Whom he raiſed not up, if ſo be the dead riſe not. 16. For if the dead riſe not, then is not Chriſt raiſed. 1 Theſ. 4.14. For if we believe that Jeſus dyed, and roſe again, even ſo them alſo which ſleep in Jeſus, will God bring with him.
Thirdly, The groſs Abſurdities that unavoidably follow the denial of the Deads being raiſed, may confirm us that they ſhall be raiſed. They are ſuch as theſe:
1. Then Chriſt is not riſen, 1 Cor. 15.13.
2. If Chriſt be not riſen, and ſo the Dead ſhall not be raiſed, then Miniſters preaching, and Peoples believing is all in vain, v. 14.
3. Then the Apoſtles were Liars, and falſe, for they affirmed both, 1 Cor. 15.15. and in other Texts.
4. Then thoſe that are Dead in Chriſt, are periſhed, v. 18.
5. Then the beſt men are the moſt miſerable, v. 19.
6. Then a floodgate is opened to all wickedneſs, v. 32.
7. Gods People then are weakened for doing or ſuffering, v. 58.
8. Then Gods Covenant with his People is broke, Mat. 22.39, &c.
Secondly, Beſides the certainty of the Reſurrection of the Dead, the conſideration of the Properties, Qualities and Endowments of their Bodies which ſhall ariſe, adminiſters more Comfort to us, and conſequently will be a further mitigation of our Sorrow. God hath not only aſſured us that theſe dry Bones, conſumed Bodies ſhall live, but alſo hath foretold us what manner of Bodies they then ſhall be, far more noble and excellent than when they lived or died.
1. They ſhall be raiſed Immortal and Incorruptible Bodies. While they lived with us they were always mortal, and did admi…iſter matter of fe…r unto us, while we of…en ſaid, … thought, What if my Husband ſhould die? or what i… my Father or Mother ſhould die? Theſe were fretting fears, and cauſed many diſtr…cting Cares, or troubled us ſitting at our Table, or lying in our Beds, becauſe we knew they were always ſubject to Death, and li…ble to its ſtroke, and we kn…w not how ſoon (tho in Health) they might be taken from us; and ſo the fe…rs of their dying abated our Comfort in th m while they were living, becauſe we looked upon th…m as dying Comforts, and going from us, whilſt they were with us. But when the…, live again, they ſhall die no more, Death ſh…ll have no more dominion over them: Then th…y ſhall be above the ſtroke of death and the fears thereof, and it ſhall be no more a King of Terrors unto them: But as Chriſt their He…d hath ſaid, Rev. 1.18. I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Amen; ſo all theſe his Members ſhall ſay, We are they that live, and were dead, and behold we are alive for evermore. Amen. This is truth, ſo it is. When Death came in by Sin, all mankind became ſubject unto Death: When Sin was turned out by death, and theſe Bodies ſhall be raiſed, no more polluted with it, they ſhall be as free from Death as they ſhall from Sin; before they did die, they were to die: When they were dead, and ſhall live again, Death hath done its worſt, hath done its all, and hath no more that it can do. Death did conquer them, and laid and kept them Priſoners in the Grave; but when they ſhall be raiſed to Life, and redeemed from the Grave, they ſh…ll conquer Death, and then this laſt Enemy ſhall be deſtroyed, and in the morning of the Reſurrection theſe revived Bodies, united to their Souls, ſhall ſing that triumphant Song, O Death where is thy ſting! O Grave where is thy victory? Death and Grave did ſwallow us up, but now the Deſtroyers are deſtroyed, the Spoilers are spoiled, and both are ſwallowed up in victory. Thus the Bodies that were ſown in corruption, ſhall be raiſed in incorruption, 1 Cor. 15.42.54, 55. then Mortality ſhall be ſwallowed up of Life, 2 Cor. 5.4.
2. They ſhall be raiſed powerful and impaſſible Bodies. While they lived here, they were weak and ſuffering Bodies, enduring hunger and cold, and thirſt; crying out of Pains and Sickneſs, or torments by Chollick, Gout and Stone, and Rheumatiſms, ſhaken by Agues, and ſcorched by Feavors, and ſwelling with Dropſie, torn with Coughs, overflowed with Catarrhs, and liable to hundreds of Diſeaſes, inſomuch that they died daily, yea died many Deaths before they died, and many Sickneſſes put them to more and greater pains in time of Life, than Death it ſelf did put ſome of them to in the point of Death; but when they ſhall live again, as they ſhall die no m…re, ſo they ſhall ſuffer no more, nor be ſick any more, feel hunger and thirſt no more, and ſo ſhall grieve, nor groan, weep or ſigh, or ſob no more for ever; no more aking He…ds, no more pained Bowels, no more Griefs of any ſort whatſoever.
Indeed the Bodies of the Wicked ſhall be raiſed Immortal, but ſubject to ſuffering, they ſhall feel more pains and torments after they are raiſed, than ever they did before they died, and their Immortality ſhall be the aggravation of their miſery; for die again they would, but cannot; return to their Grave again, where they felt nothing, they would, but muſt not; becauſe they muſt live for ever, they muſt be tormented for ever. Immortality of Bodies at the Reſurrection, to the Wicked is a Curſe and Plague, to the Godly it is a Bleſſing and a Favour conferred upon them, for tho' they were ſown in weakneſs, they ſhall be raiſed in power, 1 Cor. 15.43.
3. They ſhall be raiſed Spiritual Bodies, not turned into Spirits, for then they would not be Bodies; Spirits have not material Eyes, with which Job ſaid he ſhould ſee his Redeemer at the laſt day with thoſe he then had, and not with others; if it were not the ſame Bodies in ſubſtance, it would not be a Reſurrection, but a new product on. They ſhall then be Spiritual Bodies, in this reſpect, that their manner of Life, ſhall be like the Life of Spirits, having no need of Meat, or Drink, or Sleep, or any ſuch things whereby our Natural Bodies in this Life are ſupported and maintained. In which reſpect Chriſt aſſerts that they ſhall be as the Angels, Mat. 22.30. In the Reſurrection they neither marry, nor are given in Marriage, but are as the Angels of God in Heaven. This will be a great priviledge of Bodies raiſed from the dead at the laſt day, for n… we ſpend a great part of our Life in Sleep, for the refreſhing of our Natural Bodies, ar… in that time we are not, nor cannot be taken up with Admirations of God, nor Contemplations of Divine things, but after the Reſurrection there ſhall be no interruptions nor intermiſſions in our praiſing of God, in our Loving of him, and delighting in him. Our Natural Bodies now require time to be fed, in ſitting at our Tables: when they are empty, we are pained with hunger, when they are full, we are indiſpoſed for Holy Work, and Heavenly Praiſes; but a whole Eternity ſhall be filled with conſtant Hallelujahs, and Spiritual Rejoycings, when our Bodies ſhall be raiſed Spiritual Bodies, and ſuch they ſhall be, 1 Cor. 15.44. It is ſown a natural Body, it is raiſed a ſpiritual Body. There is a Natural Body, and there is a Spiritual Body.
4. They ſhall be raiſed glorious Bodies. Now our bodies are vile Bodies, Phil. 3.21. How full of ill Humours, and loathſome Corruption! Why ſhould any be proud of a comely Face, when he might think what he is within? Now they are Cottages of Clay, Tabernacles of Earth, a Maſs of breathing, walking Mould. God did mend the Matter, elſe our Bodies are as vile as the Earth we tread upon; for out of it they were taken, and into it they are returning; but this is wonderderful, that Bodies ſo vile while they live, and more loathſome when dead, and rotting in the Grave, ſhould at laſt be raiſed as glorious as ſo many glittering Stars, Dan. 12.3. Did I ſay, as glittering Stars? Chriſt ſaith as ſo many ſhining Suns. Mat. 13.43. Then ſhall the Righteous ſhine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who can expreſs the difference betwixt a dead Body in the Grave, and the Sun ſhining in the Heavens? Yet ſo much ſhall be the difference between the ſame Body in the Grave, and raiſed at the laſt day. 1 Cor. 15.43. It is ſown in diſhonour, it is raiſed in glory.
5. They ſhall be raiſed perfect and beautiful Bodi…s. If they were maimed here, they ſhall be entire then; if blind now, they ſhall have Sight to ſee the Lord Redeemer, and the Glory of the Place above, and of the Company in that Palace of the King of Glory▪ if they were any way deformed here, any part redundant, any part exorbitant o… defective, this deformity ſhall be removed, and Beauty ſhall be their Cloathing all over: for whatſoever came in by ſin, and is the Puniſhment and Effects of Sin in ſuch reſpects upon the Body, when the Cauſe is removed, ſuch Evils ſhall …ot remain.
6. They ſhall be raiſed holy and without the leaſt spot or ſtain of Sin, or inclinati…n to it. Now the Body is defiled with ſin, and the parts of it are too often the Inſtruments of Sin: Eyes beholding Vanity, and Windows to let in wickedneſs into the Heart and Thoughts; our Tongues too often ſpeak to Gods diſhonour; our Feet too often run into the wayes of Sin, our Appetite too often over-rules our Reaſon, and we have cauſe to cry out, Who ſhall deliver us from this Body of Sin and Death? Who ſhall? God when he delivers our Bodies from Death, and raiſeth them out of their Graves, will deliver them from all filthineſs of the Fleſh, and Chriſt ſhall preſent them pure and ſpotleſs, without wrinkle, or any ſuch thing, …ph. 5.27.
7. If I cannot ſay all, let me ſay that which comprehends all, they ſhall be raiſ…d like to Chriſts glorified Body: Say our Souls in Heaven ſhall be like Chriſts Soul, and our Bodies raiſed and taken thither ſhall be like Chriſts glorious Body. If we cannot utter the Excellency of the heavenly Qualities and Endowments of the Bodies of thoſe that ſleep in Jeſus, when they ſhall be awaked, ſay they ſhall be like to Chriſts glorious Body: If you cannot conceive it in your Minds, think they ſhall be like Chriſts glorious Body; and if you cannot think how great that is, do not mourn that your holy Friends are gone before in their Souls to ſee that glorious Jeſus, whoſe Glory is ſo great, that it doth tranſcend all your thoughts; and ſpend your time in holy preparing, and earneſt Looking for his coming, than in exceſſive ſinful Mourning for their dead Bodies, that ſhall be made like his at his coming. Phil. 3.20. For our converſation is in Heaven, from whence alſo we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 21. Who ſball change our vile Body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious Body. Lord, how can this be, that ſuch Clods of Earth, and lumps of Clay, when turned into Duſt in the Grave, ſhould be made like to the Body of the glorious exalted Jeſus? How! according to the working whereby he is able to ſubdue all things to himſelf. There muſt be great ability and power to make this change, a body ſo vile to be ſo glorious, this Power muſt be Almighty Power, even ſuch as can do any thing, as can ſubdue all things; and this Power ſo mighty muſt be working Power, to make ſuch a Body that all the Power of all the Angels in Heaven is too weak to do.
Now let thoſe that overmuch ſorrow for their Dead that ſleep in Jeſus, conſider if they have any cauſe or reaſon ſo to do. You look upon their dead Bodies in the Coffin, before they are nailed up; and your Eye is filled with tears, and your Heart with ſorrow. You think of them as they are mouldring and rotting in the grave, and you can ſcarce bear theſe thoughts. Have you not another Eye? Can you have no other thoughts? Have not you an Eye of Faith to look beyond the Coffin and the Grave to a joyful glorious Reſurrection? and ſee what Bodies they ſhall be when they ſhall be raiſed? They are in their Graves, and you can ſee them no more: but you can ſay, Tho their Grave is filled up, and I cannot ſet mine Eyes upon them, yet methinks I ſee how there they lie, and how they do conſume: and if you had an Eye of Faith, which makes things to come as if they were preſent, you might ſay, Methinks I ſee their Bodies raiſed; methinks I ſee how beautiful, how powerful, how glorious they be; methinks I ſee them ſhining as the Sun; if you did, would not this delight your thoughts, ſtop your exceſſive Tears, and remove your immoderate ſorrow? but if you are purblind and cannot ſee afar off, your ſorrow will be nearer.