The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 23

The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death · Chapter 23

p. 443CHAP. 23.

The eleventh Conſolation. The glorious Reſurrection of our bodies.

WHen God Created Angels he gave them a Spiritual nature, that had little or no relation with the Elements; I confeſs that ſome of theſe Heavenly Spirits have often appeared in humane bodies to the ancient Patriarchs; but, thoſe bodies were extraordinary and ſubitaneous, formed by Almighty Gods Power, for ſuch occaſions; beſides, thoſe holy Spirits were not in thoſe bodies as the Soul is in ours, quickning and animating them in the ſame manner, but onelyonly as the Pilot is in the Ship that he governs; therefore as ſoon as they had fulfilled the work about which they were employed by God; they left thoſe bodies without prejudice to their beings, as the Pilot leaves and goes out of the Ship, when he hath brought it to the deſired Haven. All the happineſs of theſe glorified Spirits conſiſts in this, that God hath confirmed them in his grace and love, and admitted them for ever to a continual contemplation of his glorious face. It is not ſo with our Souls, for although they be alſo ſpiritual and of an Heavenly ſubſtance, God hath not created them to be alone and to ſubſiſt at a diſtance from all matter, but to live in the pleaſant company of thoſe Element…l bocies which he hath faſhioned in a moſt Artifi…ial manner. When he creates an humane Soul and pours it into an organized body, it is not that it ſhould be there as water in a Veſſel, or as a King in his Palace: it lives not thereas an aſſiſting form, or as an outward cauſe of the Bodies operations, but it is united to it by a very ſtrict union, and ſerves as an eſſential form; It is the Principle of our life, the internal cauſe of motion of Senſe, and p. 444of underſtanding: So that if we will ſpeak properly, Man cannot be ſaid to be altogether of a Spiritual nature, as the holy Angels, nor a ſingle body, as the Sun, and the Stars; but, he is made up of both: Therefore if our Souls wiſh to depart out of this Earthly Tabernacle, it is not out of any diſpleaſure againſt it, as it is in it ſelf, for none did ever hate his own body, every one ſeeks to nouriſh and cheriſh it: But, by accident, becauſe of the vanity and corruption unto which ſin hath enthralled it, we deſire earneſtly to depart out of it, to a place where righteouſneſs, and true holineſs raign, that we might be with the Lord Jeſus, to behold him nearer. It is therefore an undoubted truth, That, unleſs the body partakes of the ſame happineſs and glory of the Soul, Man cannot be ſaid to be perfectly and entirely happy. I confeſs, it is no light occaſion of joy to us, to know, that when our Soul caſts off this earthly body, it enters into the eternal Dwellings of Heaven, whether it goes to behold the face of the Father of lights; But, this holy Joy is diſturbed with ſad reflections, and this Heavenly ſweetneſs is ſtrangely altered with the bitter conſiderations of this poor body caſt into the earth, and left to the mercy of the crawling Worms; for, it is a moſt hatefull thing to behold our body rotting and turning to aſhes; that body that was our pavillion, our Palace; nay more then ſo, that was a half part of our ſelves: Therefore if we will render our Joy accompliſhed, and apply an effectual comfort to our Souls, we muſt nouriſh and entertain this pleaſant aſſurance, That the ruine of our bodies, which cauſeth us to lament ſo much, ſhall not be eternal; but, as our bodies fall down by Death, they ſhall riſe again one day at the general Reſurrection. This is one of the nobleſt and moſt excellent Myſteries of our Chriſtian Religion, and one of its moſt glorious advantages: The Wiſdom of the World, with all its reaſonings, and the heatheniſh Philoſophy, with its rareſt ſubtleties, could never attain to this wholeſome and comfortable Doctrine: Therefore, when St. Paul p. 445Preached to the Council of Athens, he was heard with admiration, until he had ſpoken to them of the Reſurrection; as ſoon as he began to mention that, they laughed at him.

Therefore, while Humane Reaſon remains in its darkneſs and Natural ignorance, it cannot of it ſelf find out the glorious Myſtery; but, as ſoon as it is enlightned with this light from above, it diſcovers its moſt temarkable circumſtances, and acknowledgeth the Juſtice and Neceſſity of the future Reſurrection of our Bodies.

Firſt, Seeing that Rewards and Puniſhments ought to be proportionable and anſwerable to him who is to puniſh and reward, we muſt of neceſſity eſtabliſh the Reſurrection of our Bodies; otherwiſe, the pains of the wicked cannot be moſt violent, nor the happineſs of the Godly can never be abſolute and perfect.

Secondly, As when a Traytor is executed, men are wont to faſten to the Scaffold, or to burn in the fire, the Inſtruments and Tools with which he had aſſaulted or offended his Prince; in the ſame manner, the bodies of the prophane and impious varlets, of the Traytors againſt God's Divine Majeſty ought to be treated, they ought to be eternally puniſhed with their Soul in Hell fire; becauſe they have been the unhappy inſtruments employed in affronting our Creator.

Thirdly, The body is not onelyonly the inſtrument employed by the wicked againſt God, but, encourageth them and hurries them on in ſin; for, its humors ſtir it up, inflame it, and carry it to evil Acts: For example, its ſanguine conſtitution makes it luxurious, and inclinable to the filthy luſts of the fleſh; its choler carries it to violent and furious actions; its mellancholy prompts it to the moſt horrid and helliſh attempts: So, that if ſuch are to be puniſhed that cauſe us to perform ſuch grievous actions, it belongs to Gods juſtice to inflict upon the body, as well as upon the Soul, eternal puniſhments.

Fourthly, To every thing ther eis a ſeaſon, and a time, to every purpoſe under the Heaven. Eccleſ. 3. As the body of the p. 446wicked and of the reprobate hath had its good things, and its ſatisfactions during this life, it muſt needs have alſo in another life its puniſhments, and its torments.

Fifthly, But, not to forget the reaſons which have a relation to the faithful, and which are the Pillars and ſupporters of our faith and hope; we may ſay, That Jeſus Chriſt is no leſs able to ſave us then Adam was to damn us: Now Adam having loſt both Soul and body, we muſt conclude, that it belongs to Chriſt to ſave them alſo; Therefore the body is to riſe again, that it may partake of that Salvation or Redemption procured unto us by this great Saviour.

Sixthly, As we have born the Image of the firſt man, who was of the duſt of the Earth, we muſt alſo bear the Image of the ſecond man, who comes from Heaven, 1 Cor. 15 Now, we bear not this Image at preſent, in this life, we muſt therefore bear it in another.

Seventhly, God hath not made a Covenant with part of man, but with all man, compoſed of Soul and body: The body therefore muſt needs riſe again, that it might gather the eternal fruits of glory and happineſs, which are promiſed unto us by this Divine Covenant.

Eighthly, God is not onelyonly ſtiled, The Father of Spirits, and the God of the Spirits of all fleſh; Heb. 12. But he declares himſelf to be the God of Abraham, and of his Poſterity, Numb. 16.27. He is not onelyonly the God of the Soul; or, the God of the body alone; but he is the God of believing perſons, of both their Souls and bodies: from hence it follows of neceſſity, That the bodies of ſuch as are deceaſed, are not utterly deſtroyed, for God will raiſe them up again. With this argument Chriſt ſtopt the mouths of the Saduces, who denyed the Reſurrection; Concerning the Reſurrection of the Dead (ſaid he) Have you not read what God himſelf ſpeaks to you? I am the God of Abraham, the God of Iſaac, and the God of Jacob; God is not the God of the Dead, but of the living.

Ninthly, God hath adopted us to himſelf by Jeſus p. 447Chriſt, according to the good pleaſure of his Will, to make us the heirs of his Kingdom, and coheirs of his Son. From this paſſage we may gather a certain aſſurance of the Reſurrection, for when this Father of Mercies ſhall ſee our bodies lying in the duſt, out of his tenderneſs and compaſſion, he will ſay there are the bodies of my Children, the members of mine onelyonly Son; it is not convenient to leave them alwayes in that ſhamefull eſtate, in the bowels of the Earth; that love that I bear to them cannot ſuffer it; doubtleſs it was this conſideration that cauſed the Apoſtle to call the redemption of our bodies Adoption, for by that he aſſures us that he ſhall fetch out of their graves the bodies of all them whom he hath Adopted; and that our future Reſurrection is an effect, and a neceſſary conſequence of our Adoption.

Tenthly, If we conſider Death in it ſelf, as it is in its own nature, we ſhall find it to be the wages of ſin, and a puniſhment of our crimes: Now Jeſus Chriſt hath paid for us theſe wages and ſatisfied for all our ſins, aboliſhing them in his Croſs, we may therefore conclude that Death … to be deſtroyed in reſpect of believers, and that their bodies muſt needs riſe again.

Eleventhly, St. Paul aſſures us that Jeſus Chriſt is the Saviour of his body: Now the body of this great God and Redeemer conſiſts not onelyonly in that infinite number of Souls, purchaſed with his Blood, but alſo in the Union of all the bodies that have been the companions of theſe bleſſed Souls: Therefore as he hath ſaved our Souls from Spiritual Death, and eternal damnation, he muſt alſo ſave our bodies from corporal death, and redeem them from the power of the grave.

Twelfthly, If death did for ever detain our bodies in the grave, we could not ſay, to ſpeak properly, that our Saviour hath ſwallowed up death into victory, and that he hath deſtroyed the Sepulcher, for in ſuch a caſe, Death and the Grave would remain victorious, and triumph eternally over theſe miſerable Bodies.

p. 448Thirteenth, Our Saviour hath ſuffered in his Soul and in his Body, and by that means he hath purchaſed to himſelf both our Souls and Bodies, according to St. Pauls excellent intimation; You are bought with a price, glorify therefore God, in your Bodies, and in your Souls, that belong unto God. From hence we muſt conclude, that this glorious Saviour will be deprived of part of that which he hath purchaſed by his ineſtimable ſufferings, if our Bodies did alwayes continue in the power of Death.

Fourteenth, The holy Ghoſt hath Sanctified our Bodies and made them his Temples, as St. Paul teacheth us, Know ye not that you are the Temple of God, and that the holy Ghoſt dwelleth in you? From hence the Reſurrection of our bodies muſt needs follow as a neceſſary conſequence, for can we imagine that God will ſuffer the Temple of his Holineſs to continue for ever in its ruines and Deſolation; will he not rear up again the noble Pavillion of his glory caſt down by Death?

Fifteenth, God hath predeſtinated us to make us conformable to the Image of his Son, that he might be the firſt-born amongſt many Brethren: Now the Soul and the Body of this onelyonly begotten of the Father that were ſeparated by Death, have been joyned again in his glorious Reſurrection, and received into Heaven; therefore our Soul that departs out of the World to enter into Paradiſe, muſt return again to its Body, that we may aſcend up to Heaven both in Soul and Body. All the difference that appears between Chriſt and us is, that the precious Body of our noble Chieftain could not be ſubject to corruption, but was raiſed again as ſoon as it fell, becauſe of that ſtrict and perſonal Union between his Humanity and Divinity; whereas the moſt part of all other bodies are corrupt, and reduced to Aſhes.

Sixteenth, We have the ſame holy Spirit, and Divine vertue dwelling in us, which was in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the efficient cauſe of his Reſurrection, although not in the ſame meaſure and degree; therefore it will produce p. 449in us the ſame effect, and raiſe our bodies alſo from the duſt: St. Paul makes uſe of this Reaſon in the 8 of the Romans, if the Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead, dwelleth in you, he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Seventeenth, The dead body that touched the bones of the Prophet Eliſha revived again on a ſudden: We have more cauſe to expect the Reſurrection of our bodies, becauſe our bodies don't onelyonly touch Jeſus Chriſt dead and riſen again, but we are become one body with him, fleſh of his fleſh, and bone of his bone: I am (ſaid he) the Reſurrection and the life, he that liveth and believeth in me ſhall never die; and he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet ſhall he live, Eph. 5. John 11.

Eighteenth, God hath imprinted upon our bodies his own Signet, and the marks of his love; he hath given to them viſible and palpable aſſurances of their future bleſſedneſs. Under the Old Teſtament believers carried the Seal of the Covenant of God in their fleſh: for Circumciſion was the Seal of the righteouſneſs obtained by Faith and hope of a bleſſed immortality; they did alſo eat the fleſh of the Paſchal Lamb, which was a type of Jeſus Chriſt the true Lamb of God, that taketh away the ſins of the World. Likewiſe, under the New Covenant, God conſecrates to himſelf our Bodies by the Waters of Baptiſme, and by the Bread and Wine of the Lords Supper: So, by this means he aſſures them of a Joyfull and glorious Reſurrection. For, if by eating of this Bread, and drinking of this Wine, we eat and drink ſpiritually the fleſh and the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt, it is an infallible aſſurance that this Divine Saviour will raiſe us up again at the end of the World; as he himſelf promiſeth, Whoſo eateth my fleſh and drinketh my Blood, hath eternal life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day, St John 6 54.

Nineteenth, The body of believers endures many aſſaults and evils for Chriſts ſake, and for his holy profeſſion, p. 450it is often expoſed to the moſt ſhamefull and moſt cruel torments; and partakes on the ſame ſufferings as he did on Earth; therefore it is juſt that it ſhould partake in his triumphs, glory, and eternal happineſs: It is a faithful ſaying, for if we be dead with him, we ſhall alſo live with him; if we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo raign with him. We always bear about in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jeſus, that the life alſo of Jeſus might be made manifeſt in our mortal fleſh, 2 Tim. 2. 2 Cor 4.

Twenty, There is nothing that God doth in vain, he never beſtowes upon us uſeleſs deſires; therefore, to what purpoſe hath he kindled in us ſuch an earneſt deſire to ſee this wretched Body out of the miſery and corruption into which ſin hath enthralled it, and the fruition of glory and immortality? As St. Paul tels us in theſe words. The creature was made ſubject to vanity, not willingly, but by reaſon of him who hath ſubjected the ſame in hope, becauſe the creature it ſelf alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God: He adds immediately after, For, we know that the whole creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now, and not onelyonly they but our ſelves alſo, which have the firſt fruits of the Spirit; even we our ſelves groane within our ſelves waiting for the Adoption, to wit the Redemption of our Body. Rom. 8.

Finally, Seeing, that whatſoever God hath appointed in his eternal Councel muſt be fulfilled in time, and that all things in the World attain to thoſe ends, for which he made them, and ſeeing that he created our Souls not to be alone, but to live in the company and fellowſhip with the Body, therefore this Body which falls down by Death muſt needs riſe again at the Reſurrection, that the immortal Soul might return to and dwell with it for ever.

To ſay that the Reſurrection of our bodies is impoſpoſſible, is the greateſt and moſt abominable Atheiſm in the World: 'Tis to deny with impudency the infinite power p. 451of God, and the ſacred Hiſtory of the Worlds Creation: For if things are in their beings, as they are in workings, and if their operations are correſpondent to their natures, we muſt of neceſſity conclude, That if there be a God of an infinite being, he muſt needs have a power anſwerable to his being; And, by conſequence that this Almighty God, may, without difficulty raiſe the dead. If thou believeſt that God calls the things that are not as if they were; Wherefore doſt thou not alſo believe that this ſame God will alſo call the things that have been already to reſtore them that being which they have formerly enjoyed from his Almighty Hand? If thou believeſt that God hath faſhioned Eve out of one of her Huſbands ribs, that he made Man of the duſt, and created this duſt out of nothing, canſt thou not alſo believe that God is able at the day of the Reſurrection to make again thy body of that duſt into which it is reduced, by Death? If thou believeſt that God hath breathed into Adams Noſtrils the breath of Life, that he hath created thy Soul, and infuſed it into thy Body, where it was never before; How canſt thou queſtion his power, of returning one day the ſame Soul into the ſame Body, where it formerly made its abode? In ſhort, if thou believeſt that the holy Ghoſt by moving upon the Waters, hath cauſed ſo many beautiful and noble Creatures to appear, and that he hath made light to ſhine out of darkneſs, canſt thou not be alſo perſwaded, that this ſame holy Ghoſt can ſhew his Power amongſt the Graves, and fetch thy Body out of the dark ſhadows of Death, to introduce it …nto the light of the living?

Thou ſeeſt by experience that every day a new Houſe … built up of old materials, and doſt thou wonder …ow the great Architect, who hath built the great World, …y his Word alone, can gather up the old pieces and ma…erials of this little World, to make up a new building, …dorned with Divine Graces and Beauty? Shall the Statue …aker be able to reſtore again his bruiſed Image, reduced p. 452to Aſhes, and ſhall not God be able to reſtore man created after his own Image, and likeneſs, to his primitive eſtate and being? In a word, let the difficulties ſeem never ſo great, remember (Chriſtian Soul) what the Angel Gabriel told the bleſſed Virgin, With God nothing ſhall be unpoſſible.

I know very well that it is an old Axiome of Philoſophy, From privation to the habit there is no returning. That is to ſay, when once we are deprived of, and have loſt, a natural faculty, it is never to be recovered again. But the prophane Atheiſts do wrongfully abuſe this Maxime, againſt the Article of our Reſurrection, for it is moſt true, in reſpect of natural and ſecondary cauſes: It is not to be doubted that when the faculties of nature are once loſt, they are not to be reſtored by Humane Art or Skill; and when a man is dead, 'tis not poſſible for all the Creatures to bring him to life again: But nothing is able to limit the power of an infinite Agent. He that hath formed the wonderful eye in whom we live, move and have our being, cannot he open the Eyes of a Man born Blind and reſtore Life to a dead Corps? This ſame Philoſophy whereof the Maximes are brought againſt the Reſurrection declares openly, That God can do all things, that imply not contradiction. Now there is no contradiction in believing that God can render life to him that had loſt it; and that what is fallen down by Death, ſhould riſe again by the Reſurrection. To the end that this Reſurrection of our Bodies might ſeem leſs ſtrange, God hath been pleaſed to give us in nature many Images, and likeneſſes. I am perſwaded (Believing Souls) that you will not be diſpleaſed if I mention here ſome of the chief.

As when the Sun goeth down, and the Earth is covered with the dark ſhadowes of the night, Mans declining and the darkneſs of the Grave is repreſented; likewiſe, when this King of the Stars riſes, when he brings with him the day over our Heads; there is a beautiful and perfect Image of the Reſurrection.

p. 453Secondly, When the Moon parts with all its light and Splendor, which it borrowes from the Sun, when it covers it ſelf with a Vaile of darkneſs, 'tis the Image of Death, and a repreſentation of that Vaile which it draws over our eyes: but when the Sun begins to look upon it again, and by that means it recovers its former brightneſs and Glory, it diſcovers before our Eyes in a manner that which ſhall happen to our Bodies, when the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall riſe and caſt upon them his favourable aſpect.

Thirdly, The Spring, Summer and Autumn, follow one after another, and the Winter ſhews us an Image of Death: but when the Sun begins to return again upon our heads, when it covers the Earth with a beautiful green, and revives the ſleeping vertues of Nature, he expreſſeth to us the Reſurrection in lively colors.

Fourthly, The Trees that are in Winter without Flowers, Fruits or Leaves, diſcover to us the hideous aſpect of Death, that ſtrips mans body, and deprives him of all that is beautiful and pleaſant to the eye; but, when theſe ſame Trees flouriſh again, and are loaden with freſh leaves and fruits, they put us in mind of the bleſſed Reſurrection of our Bodies.

Fifthly, The ſeeds that corrupt and rot in the ground, repreſent our Bodies rotten in their Graves; but when theſe ſeeds appear above Ground, and flouriſh▪ they expreſs excellently well the bleſſed eſtate of our Bodies, riſing again to a new life, and recovering a perfect beauty, and a new glory. This ſimilitude the Son of God himſelf recommends to us: If the grain of Wheat which falls to the Earth, doth not die it remains alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit, John 22. And the Apoſtle St. Paul inſiſts at large upon this compariſon, thereupon he exclaimes againſt the ſtupid Atheiſts who will not believe that a dead Body can revive again. O fool! that which thou ſoweſt is not quickned except it die, 2 Cor. 15.

p. 454Sixthly, I find more wonderfull what is ſaid of certain herbs which riſe again out of their Aſhes; for example, if you burn Gall. Armois and fling its Aſhes upon the Earth, you ſhall ſee the ſame herb grow again: Many have tryed and found this by experience. The ſame is reported of a kind of Palm-tree, and becauſe in the Greek foreign, a Palm, is called Phaenix; this experiment hath given occaſion to the Fable of the Phaenix, a Bird that is ſaid to revive again out of its own marrow and Aſhes. Who is it but will ſay, that this is an excellent expreſſion of the Reſurrection of our Bodies?

Seventhly, There are alſo ſeveral ſorts of Inſects which ſhadow out unto us Death and the Reſurrection: As the ſilk Worms; for, when theſe ſmall creatures have finiſhed their work, and ſpun out that ſilk with which the Garments and ſtately attire of Kings and Princes are made, they bury themſelves in the Tomb which they build; afterwards, they become like to a little Beane which hides under its thin skin the formation of a white Butter-fly. The ſame is obſerved of the Chenilles, Caterpillars, for when they ſeem ſtark dead, they creep out of their little Sepulchers in the forms of Butter-flies, of ſo many rare and various colors, that they raviſh the Eye into admiration; ſo that many curious perſons keep them in their Cloſſets amongſt their rarities.

Eightly, Amongſt the Beaſts alſo, ſome ſeem to be dead for ſeveral Months of the year, being without Senſe or Motion, but afterwards they awake again or rather they begin a new life to move about as they did before.

Ninthly, But we need go no further then our ſelves to find the Image of Death, and of the Reſurrection; for, Is there any thing that can expreſs Death more perfectly then our dead ſleep, that Stupifies our Senſes, puts a ſtop to the Spirits of our Bodies, and binds up our moſt active faculties? So that we have then Eyes without feeing, ears without hearing, a noſe and cannot ſmell, p. 455and a living Body but we have no feeling: But as ſoon as ſuch a perſon comes to awake again, to open its eyes, to ſtir, and to act, he repreſents a moſt perfect Image of the Reſurrection.

I might alſo add amongſt the Images of Death and the Reſurrection, the ſeveral changes and alterations that happen to the States and Empires of the World; for oftimes they appear as dead and buried, but afterwards they riſe again from their falls, and march out of their obſcurity as in a glorious Reſurrection: But, I ſhall wave theſe ſimilitudes, and conſider only ſuch as the Church of God in ſeveral Ages have recommended to us as Types of the future Reſurrection of our Bodies.

Firſt, Noah and his Family, (in which, all the Church of God of that time was comprehended) remained in the Ark as in a floating Coffin, during the ſpace of one hundred and fifty dayes; But, after the deluge, God cauſed them to march out of that Ark: In the ſame manner, after that our Bodies ſhall have been in their Graves ſo many years or ages (as God hath appointed in his wonderful Wiſdom) he will draw them out again by his infinite power, and will ſay to us all. Come out and appear to Judgment.

Secondly, The People of Iſrael went down into Egypt and dwelt there 200 years, or thereabouts, as in a kind of Sepulcher, but God delivered them and at laſt cauſed them to go up to the Land of Canaan, as by a bleſſed Reſurrection.

Thirdly, The Red Sea, into which this People went down, and in which Pharao with all his hoſt was drowned, is an Image of our Grave, and the great power which God diſcovered to make this people paſs through that dreadful Sea, and to go up out of its depths, as by a miracle, ſhews to the blindeſt underſtandings that Almighty Power which God will one day declare in drawing his people out of the depths of Death, that we may be able to ſing the Song of Moſes and of the Lamb.

p. 456Fourthly, When the Ark of Gods Covenant was taken Captive by the Philiſtins, and ſhut up in the houſe of Dagon, it was a Type of thoſe Bodies which God hath choſen for his Ark, and which are to remain for a time in Satans Priſons, under the Command of Death; but when the Philiſtins ſent back again this Ark, and that the Children of Iſrael received it with outward expreſſions of great Joy, it is a plain deſcription of that which ſhall happen, when God ſhall oblige Death to open all its Priſons, and releaſe all its priſoners; a deſcription I ſay of the wonderful Joy of the inhabitants of the Celeſtial Canaan.

Fifthly, Babylon alſo, where the Church of Iſrael remained Captive threeſcore and ten years, is a Symbolical repreſentation of the Grave; where theſe miſerable Bodies are to continue in Captivity: Therefore, by alluſion, the Prophet ſtiles it a Lake without Water, but the deliverance of Iſrael from the Babyloniſh Captivity is a Type of our glorious Reſurrection: For that reaſon the holy Men of God declare it in ſuch termes as have reſpect to the Reſurrection of our Bodies from the Grave.

Sixthly, Solomons Temple, that was demoliſhed and pull'd down by Nebuchadnezar, and that lay many years in a deſolate condition, is another Type of the Body of believers deſtroyed by the Devil, and remaining for a time in the duſt: But, when the Jews were returned from Babylon, they reared up the Walls of this Temple, and building it again: This repreſents the Reſurrection of our Bodies, the Temples of the living God. Our Saviour had an eye to this alluſion, when he told the Jews, Deſtroy this Temple, and I will build it up again in three dayes; for, his beloved Diſciple adds immediately after, that he ſpoke of the Temple of his Body.

Seventhly, You may find the Types and Images of the ſame thing in many of the faithful, in Joſeph, Daniel and Jonns; for, as the Priſons of Egypt, the Lyon's-den and the Whales Belly, repreſent the Grave; likewiſe, when Pharaoh p. 457commands Joſeph out of Priſon, when Darius cauſeth Daniel to be taken out of the Den, and when God orders the Whale to return Jonas upon the dry ground, the Reſurrection is thereby deſcribed.

Eightly, But, there is no paſſage, Type nor figure more expreſſible in the Old Teſtament, concerning the Reſurrection, then that of the 37 of Ezekiel; for, that the Children of Iſrael might underſtand the greatneſs of Gods power, able to free them from the Babyloniſh Captivity, he cauſed the Reſurrection of the dead to appear before his Prophet; he carried him away into a large Field, covered all over with dead and dry Bones; but, at Gods command theſe Bones drew near one to another, and began to be joined; afterwards the Sinews appeared, the fleſh covered them, and the skin was ſtretched over them; then a breath came from the four Winds upon theſe dead Bodies, entered into them, and they roſe up alive upon their feet, ſo that they ſeemed as a great Army.

But, God hath not only repreſented the Reſurrection by many illuſtrious and excellent Types, but he hath alſo expreſly foretold it by the holy Prophets: Iſaiah ſpeaks of this myſtery in an excellent manner, Thy dead Men ſhall live together, with my dead Body ſhall they riſe; awake and ſing ye that dwell in the duſt, for thy dew is as the dew of h…rbs, and the Earth ſhall caſt out the dead, Iſ. 26. And there can be nothing plainer than the Prophecy of the Prophet Daniel, And many of them that ſleep in the duſt of the Earth ſhall awake ſome to everlaſting life, and ſome to ſhame and everlaſting contempt, Dan ….2.

Therefore, in hopes of the Reſurrection, the Patriarchs were very careful of their Tombs. Abraham the Father of the faithful, had no inheritance in the Land of Canaan, and yet he was very deſirous to buy for himſelf and Family a burying place: When Jacob lay upon his Death Bed, he commanded his Son Joſeph in this manner; Deal kindly and truly with me, bury me not I pray thee in Egypt, but I will be with my Fathers, and thou ſhalt carry me out of Egypt p. 458and bury me in their burying place, Gen. 47. And, when Joſeph was ready to yield up his Soul unto God, he told his Brethren, That God would ſurely viſit them, and that they ſhould carry his Bones from thence, Gen. 50.

All the faithful of the Old Teſtament have publickly declared their expectation of this bleſſed Reſurrection from the dead; As may appear by that notable paſſage of Job. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth; and though after my skin Worms deſtroy this Body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God, whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhall behold and not another, Job 19. As may alſo appear by the magnificent words of David. I will behold thy Face in righteouſneſs, I ſhall be ſatiſfied when I wake with thy likeneſs, Pſ. 17.

Martha, the Siſter of Lazarus was well acquainted with this Myſtery, as is to be proved by what ſhe told our Saviour Chriſt; I know that my Brether ſhall riſe again at the Reſurrection at the laſt day: And, the Phariſes maintained the belief of the Reſurrection from the dead againſt the Saduces, who denied the Reſurrection, and immortality of the Soul: Therefore, when St. Paul was to anſwer for himſelf before the Iews Tribunal, where half were Phariſes, and half were Saduces, he made this crafty Declaration; I am a Phariſe, and the Son of a Phariſe; for the hope of the Reſurrection of the dead I am called in queſtion: And when he made his Apology before Felix the Governor, he ſpake in this manner; This I confeſs unto thee, that after the way which they call Hereſie, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets, and have hope towards God, which they themſelves alſo allow, that there ſhall be a Reſurrection of the dead, both of the Juſt and Ʋnjuſt.

As the Jews of our time have forſaken God, God hath alſo forſaken and given them over to a reprobate ſenſe, for, as they ſet aſide the infinite merits of the Death and Raſſion of Jeſus Chriſt, they vainly perſwade themſelves, that their ſins are ſufficiently expiated by their own p. 459Deaths: Notwithſtanding the grievous corruptions that are to be found in their Doctrines, they depart out of this life in hopes of riſing again one day; for that reaſon they are careful in waſhing their dead Bodies, in burying them with honor and decency; and, when they have thus laid them in their Graves, they bow themſelves three times towards the Earth, and caſt behind them Graſs newly pluckt up from the Ground; by which ceremony, they would have us underſtand, that the Corps which they lay in the Earth ſhall one day riſe again, and puſh forth, according to the Prophets expreſſion, Your Bones ſhall grow as the Graſs.

But this Article of the Reſurrection of our Bodies, which is found in ſome few paſſages of the Old Teſtament, is to be ſeen almoſt in every Page of the New; And, the paſſages concerning this truth are ſo plain and expreſs, that 'tis not poſſible to reject this wholeſome Doctrine; but we muſt at the ſame time abjure Chriſtian Religion, and give the lie to the holy Ghoſt.

That our faith might be ſetled the better, God hath been pleaſed, not only to publiſh this Reſurrection from the dead by his Prophets and Apoſtles, he hath not only diſcovered to us many excellent and delightful Types and Figures of the Truth; but, to give to us a more experimental teſtimony of his power, he hath raiſed ſeveral from the dead. In the Old Teſtament God raiſed up two Children, one at the Prayers of the Prophet Eliſha, the other at the requeſt of Eliſha's Succeſſor, 1 Kings 17. And, when a dead Body had been laid in Eliſha's Grave, and touched his Bones, he returned to life again, 2 Kings 6. And during our Saviours abode on Earth, he raiſed to life the Daughter of Jairus that was dead, the Widows Son of Nain, who was carried out of the Gate to be buried; and Lazarus who had been four dayes lying in his Grave, whoſe body began to ſtink, Math. 9. Luke 7. When this merciful Saviour gave up the Ghoſt upon the Croſs, The Graves were opened, and many Bodies of Saints p. 460which ſlept aroſe, and came out of the Graves after his Reſurrection, and went into the holy City and appeared unto many, Math. 27. After his Aſcention he raiſed from the dead Dorcas a charitable Widow, at the Prayers of St. Peter, and to comfort the poor Widows that wept for her; and a young man named Eutyches, was reſtored to life by the means of St. Paul; that the Congregation of believers, who were troubled at the unexpected fall, and ſudden Death of that man, might have cauſe to rejoyce, and comfort themſelves in an aſſurance upon God.

But chiefly we have the example of our Lord, who hath raiſed himſelf up by his Divine Power: This glorious inſtance is able not only to ſtir up our admiration; but alſo to ſettle our Faith, and nouriſh our hopes: For, the Reſurrection of other perſons ſhew what God can do, but the Reſurrection of Chriſt declares unto us what God will do, and is an earneſt to aſſure us of our future Reſurrection. It is not poſſible to believe as we ought, that Ieſus Chriſt is riſen from the dead; but we muſt alſo, by a neceſſary conſequence, believe that he will raiſe us likewiſe: This St. Paul endeavours to teach us, If we believe that Jeſus Chriſt is dead and riſen, even ſo them alſo which ſleep in Jeſus will God bring with him. 1 Theſſ. 4. As the head is ſo ſhall the members be: As the firſt-fruits are, ſo ſhall the reſt of the harveſt be. The ſame Apoſtle labours to perſwade this truth in theſe excellent words; Chriſt is riſen from the dead, and become the firſt-fruits of them that ſlept; for ſince by man came Death, by man came alſo the Reſurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, ſo in Chriſt ſhall all be made alive: But every man in his own order, Chriſt the firſt-fruits, afterward they that are Chriſts at his coming.

Some are ready to oppoſe againſt this holy and Divine Doctrine this objection; That ſome Bodies are conſumed by fire, and burn'd to aſhes; it is true: But, What follows from thence? For whether the Bodies be reduced to duſt or aſhes it matters not, God is able to reſtore them and p. 461render unto them their primitive forms: Seeing that certain herbs (conſumed to aſhes) riſe again out of the ground, by a natural inclination, as we have already obſerved; and, ſeeing that art is ſo induſtrious, as to make tranſparent Bodies (of an extraordinary beauty) of melted aſhes; ſhall not God, who is ſo far tranſcendent above all abilities of nature, created by him, and of all Arts and Sciences, which proceed from his direction, be able of aſhes, to compoſe a beautiful and a perfect body?

Others pretend next, That a great many bodies have been drowned in the Seas, and ſwallowed up in the Waters; I acknowledge that to be true: But I affirm, that God is altogether as able to draw a body out of the depths of the Sea, as out of the bowels of the Earth. He that hath preſcribed bounds to this great Sea, that dries up its vaſt concavities, and layes open its bottomleſs bottom; Hath not he a command over this Sea? Cannot he oblige it to a reſtitution of thoſe bodies that have been committed to its keeping, as when he commanded the Whale to bring again to Land the Prophet Jonas, whom it had ſwallowed up alive?

Some object, That there are bodies devoured by the Beaſts, which have been their Food, and have been turned into their ſubſtance: But, this objection is not to be valued; for, when an humane body ſhall have paſſed through the bowels of the Beaſts, and been changed a thouſand and a thouſand times into their ſubſtance, there is nothing that can hinder God from reſtoring them again at the day of the Reſurrection; for, thoſe Animals ſhall never riſe again: It is therefore nothing to the purpoſe to inquire after them, when the body ſhall reaſſume that which they ſhall have devoured, and turned into their own ſubſtances. The ſtrongeſt and moſt plauſible objection concerns the Anthropophages, the eaters of Men; for it is very well known, that in the Indies there are ſome Savages ſo barbarous as to feed upon humane fleſh, and to eſteem it as their greateſt dainties: Some anſwer to this, p. 462That ſuch kind of inhumanities are not ordinary, and that ſuch wretched Indians never practice ſuch hainous things but in urgent neceſſity, or when they purpoſe to revenge themſelves upon their Enemies: But, ſuch as have given an account of the New found America, relate, That in ſome Provinces there have been ſuch cruel and inhumane Savages, as not only to devour the fleſh of their Enemies whom they ſacrificed to their Idols, but alſo of their deareſt Friends, whom they do cut in pieces in their Shambles: Theſe ſame Hiſtorians tell us, That ſome of the barbarous people are ſo impiouſly miſtaken, as to reckon it an act of piety and duty to their Parents and Friends, to give them a Sepulchre in their own ſtomachs. Moreover they ſay, That yet there are ſome, who, like ſo many mad Dogs feed upon Infants, and hunt after Men as we do after wild Beaſts of the Field. In caſe all theſe relations ſhould be true, I muſt deſire my Reader to take notice that are two kinds of parts that compoſe the humane body, the one ſolid, as the Bones and Nerves, and ſo eſſential to it, that without them it would ceaſe from being any longer an humane body; the other parts are adventitious, accidental and changeable, they ſerve to maintain it almoſt as the food and nouriſhment: Now, this I affirm, as an undoubted Truth, that when it happens that Men feed upon their own Kind, God takes care, by his wonderful Providence, that the eſſential and ſolid parts of the Man devoured never enter into the ſubſtance or compoſition or the ſolid parts of the devourer. At the great day of the Reſurrection, the bodies will reaſſume all their eſſential and ſolid parts, without which they cannot be true bodies; but, they ſhall not need the accidental and fluid parts, as are the humors and the Blood, for then, they ſhall have no more inward heat to conſume them, no more hunger and thirſt; Therefore they ſhall never have any need of meat or of drink, or of any other thing whatſoever to ſerve them inſtead of Nouriſhment. Let the mettals be never ſo much mingled p. 463the Goldſmith ſeparates them with eaſe. Thus let our humane Bodies be never ſo much altered and mingled, God will be able enough to ſeparate and diſtinguiſh them from one another: Shen the Goldſmith will ſeparate the mettals he caſts them into the melting-pot, and cauſeth them to paſs through the Fire; but God who can do all things without means, hath no need of the Fire or of the melting-pot, for by his word at the twingling of an eye, he can cauſe this ſeparation to be made; and render unto every Body that which neceſſarily belongs to its compoſition. In a word, when the difficulty ſhould be far greater than it is, and when the reſolution of this objection were not ſo eaſie to be made as it is; it ſhould not weaken our Faith, or cauſe us to doubt of the Reſurrection of our Bodies.

When it concerns things that the holy Scripture doth not expreſly declare and decide, or that cannot be drawn from it by a neceſſary conſequence, it is lawful to diſpute either for, or againſt ſuch things; but if it concerns ſuch as this ſacred Writ, inſpired of God, plainly ſets forth, our Faith muſt learn her Duty, to ſubmit to Almighty God, and believe that there is nothing impoſſible with him. Now this Doctrine of the Reſurrection of the dead is ſo expreſſy and plainly found in this Holy Scripture, that it ſeems as viſible as the beams of the Noon-Sun. Many queſtions are made upon this ſubject, ſome are of that importance, that a reply will give moſt ſatisfaction upon this excellent ſubject; firſt, they inquire by whom and by whoſe Power ſhall the Reſurrection be effected? The Scripture gives an occaſion to make this inquiry, for it aſcribes it ſometimes to the Father as in the 5 of St. John, The Father raiſes the dead and quickens them, ſometimes to the Son as in the 3 of the Phil. Jeſus Chriſt ſhall change our vile Bodies according to his mighty working, whereby he is able to ſubdue all things unto himſelf. And ſometimes to the Holy Ghoſt, as in 8 Rom. If the Spirit of him who hath raiſed Jeſus from the dead, dwelleth in you, he that hath raiſed up Jeſus p. 464from the dead ſhall quicken your mortal Bodies by his Holy Spirit that dwelleth in you. This difficulty may thus be reſolved; All the outward works of God, that concern the Creatures, are common to the three Perſons, of the moſt Holy, moſt Glorious, and moſt Wonderful Trinity.

So that we ſhall riſe again by the the infinite Power of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Nevertheleſs, the Reſurrection is eſpecialy aſcribed to the Son as he is Judge of the quick and of the dead: In order to the diſcharge of that glorious employment, all Power hath been committed to him in Heaven, and in Earth, and in the Seas.

2. Some inquire further, When ſhall this Reſurrection be? I anſwer, that it ſhall be in the day which God hath appointed, to Judge all the World, by the Man whom he hath ordained, Acts 17. You are not to expect from me, Chriſtians, that I ſhould point out unto you preciſely the day when this ſhall come to paſs, for it belongs not to us, to know the times, and the Seaſons which God hath reſerved to himſelf. It is true, we may ſee that moſt part of the Prophecies are already fulfilled, ſo that we may ſay in general terms, The Lord is at hand, and our Salvation is nearer to us then when we began to believe, Phil. 4 Rom. 13.

Nevertheleſs, I cannot undertake to make out unto you this Glorious Day, nor to tell you the year, nor age, when this ſhall be; There is no Man upon Earth, nor Angel in Heaven that is able to ſpeak of it with certainty; therefore Jeſus Chriſt himſelf informs us, But of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man, no not the Angels of Heaven, but my Father onelyonly, Mat. 24. If our Saviour ſaith more, that the Son himſelf knoweth not the Day, Mark 13. We muſt underſtand this as he is a Man, and during his abode in the World, for as he is God he knoweth all things, from all Eternity; and now that he is glorified as he is Man, he underſtands all things. But he hath hid from Men, the time of his coming, that we might expect him at every moment; as he tells the Holy Apoſtles, Watch therefore, p. 465for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come, but know this, that if the good man of the Houſe had known in what Watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have ſuffered his Houſe to be broken up, Mat. 24. He writes in the ſame Language to the Angel of the Church of Sardis, Remember how thou haſt received, and heard, and hold faſt, and repent; if therefore thou ſhalt not watch, I will come on thee, as the thief, and thou ſhalt not know what hour I will come upon thee, The firſt Chriſtians were very well acquainted with this wholeſome Doctrine, as we may judge by this paſſage of St. Paul, to the Theſſalonians, But of the times, and of the Seaſons, Brethren ye have no need that I write unto you, for your ſelves know perfectly that the day of the Lord ſo cometh, as a thief in the night: for when they ſhall ſay Peace and Safety, then ſudden Deſtruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a Woman with Child, and they ſhall not eſcape, 1 Theſſ. 5. As the dayes of Noah were, ſo ſhall be the coming of the Son of Man; for as they were before the deluge, Eating and Drinking, Marrying and and giving in Marriage, and were not ſenſible of the danger, until it was come, and carried them all away, ſo ſhall it be at the coming of the Son of Man, Mat. 24.

The Wiſeman tells us, that hope delayed cauſeth the heart to languiſh, Prov. 3. But we muſt except the hope and expectation of the Reſurrection, for when this bleſſed Reſurrection ſhould not come to paſs, yet many thouſand Ages, it ſhould not cauſe ſuch as dy in the Lord to languiſh, for whiles their Bodies are in their Graves, they ſuffer nothing, and as they are there without feeling cannot be impatient, no more then a Man that is in a deep ſleep; for the Soul it enjoyes, in the contemplation of Gods Face, ſuch unſpeakable ſatisfactions, that it is not capable of grief, ſorrow, diſpleaſure, or the leaſt diſturbance. St. Peter tells us, that a thouſand years with God are but as a day, 2 Pet. 3. We may ſay the ſame of thoſe who are admitted to Gods glorious preſence, to behold his Face, for a thouſand years, in ſuch an happy Eſtate, appear leſs then p. 466one day in this miſerable condition. The hundreds and thouſands of years paſs away far quicker to the bleſſed Inhabitants of Heaven, then the moments do to ſuch as live in troubles upon Earth.

3. Others deſire to know where this Reſurrection ſhall happen? The Jewiſh whimſeys and extravagancies have given occaſion to this queſtion, for they think that the dead ſhall riſe in no other place but in the Holy-Land; and therefore they have made another childiſh Fable, that the Bodies of all their Nation that die in ſeveral parts of the World, ſhall go through earthly vaults, and roule through the ſecret conveyances of this Globe, until they come to the Land of Canaan; where they are to ariſe from the dead; and as one error occaſions another, they ſay further, That they ſhall feel more or leſs pain in their paſſage, according to their goodneſs, or ſins of their lives. I need not ſpend any time in the refutation of this fooliſh and impertinent opinion; but it may juſtly cauſe us to acknowledge the juſt Judgment of God, upon this unhappy people, who have refuſed with a divelliſh obſtinacy the great Saviour of the World; for becauſe they have not received the love of the truth that they might be ſaved, God hath ſent them ſtrong deluſions, that they might believe a lie, and hath given them over to a reprobate ſence, 2 Theſſ. 2. For us, Chriſtians; we ſay that without ſo much ado where the body is, at the laſt day, there it ſhall riſe from its Grave.

4. The next queſtion is, What ſhall riſe from the dead? I anſwer, that the ſame body which falls by Death ſhall riſe again at the General Reſurrection; if God did make a new Body to joyn it to our Souls, it would be no more a Reſurrection, but rather a new Creation: neither ſhall we onelyonly take ſuch a Body as our own, for things that are only like, are not the ſame; let them be never ſo much a like; but we ſhall take again the ſame Body, which our Soul doth animate, during its abode here below; and if I may employ the expreſſions and terms of Divines, it p. 467ſhall not only be the ſame Body, but alſo the ſame Individual; as in the firſt Reſurrection, God creates not a new Soul, but he regenerates and ſanctifies that which was dead, in its treſpaſſes and ſins; thus in the ſecond Reſurrectioin God makes not another Body, but he onelyonly beſtows another life upon that which was lying in corruption, and amongſt the dead. As when our Saviour roſe from the dead, he made not for himſelf a new Body, but he took again that ſame which had been formed in the Womb of the bleſſed Virgin. Likewiſe, in the General Reſurrection, he will not create for us a new Body, but he will render unto us that ſame which we had from our Mothers Womb; this argument is not to be anſwered, for the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt is not onelyonly the efficient or merritorious cauſe of ours, but alſo the patern and model, or as the School-men tell us, it is the exemplary cauſe of our future Reſurrection, but there is no need of arguments, when the Word of God is ſo clear and expreſs on this ſubject. St. Paul informs us, That the Lord ſhall change our vile Body, that this corruptible muſt put on incorruption, this mortal muſt put on immortality, Phil. 3, And that the life of Jeſus ſhall be made manifeſt in our mortal fleſh, 2 Cor. 4. And the only Job ſaith, Job 19. not only that he ſhall ſee God, but that he ſhall ſee God in his fleſh, and that he ſhall ſee him with his Eyes: For the ſame reaſon in ſome ancient Copies of our Apoſtles Creed, as in the Creed of Aquilia, I find not only, I believe the Reſurrection of the fleſh, but I be ieve the Reſurrection of this fleſh.

5. Some aske whether the Bodies of the wicked ſhall riſe from the dead, as well as the Bodies of the righteous? the Jews that delight in whimſycal inventions, fancy a Reſurrection only for the Juſt, in which unbelievers and reprobates have no ſhare. To ſtrengthen this dream they abuſe the words of the firſt Pſalm, The wicked ſhall not ſtand in judgment, nor ſinners in the Congregation of he righteous.

p. 468Finally. They are ſo much beſotted with an high conceit of themſelves, that none are righteous but of their own Nation; That none are pleaſing to God, or that ought to riſe again from the dead but the Iſraelites; but, we Chriſtians, are brought up and inſtructed in better Doctrine, we believe, without difficulty, that all Men that are dead ſince the beginning of the World, of every People and Nation under Heaven, ſhall riſe again at the day of Judgment: for St. Paul aſſures us, That there ſhall be a Reſurection of the Juſt, and of the Ʋnjuſt. David in the firſt Pſalm ſpeaks nothing againſt this truth, which is clear as the Sun, and as well grounded as the Heavens, and the Earth, for he ſaith not that the wicked ſhall not riſe again, but only that he ſhall not ſtand before God in judgment; that is to ſay, that he ſhall not ſubſiſt before the Tribunal of Gods Juſtice, nor be able to abide the fiery preſence of God, angry and diſpleaſed for their impieties: But this we may obſerve, that although God will raiſe up all the Men of the World, without exception from their Graves, there ſhall be a notable difference between them; for he will raiſe the wicked up and draw them out of their Graves, as a Judge drags an Offender out of his Dungeon to ſentence him to Death; but he will raiſe again believers as their Redeemer, that their Bodies as well as their Souls might enjoy the bleſſed fruits of their Redemption purchaſed for us: therefore this Divine Saviour ſtiles them Children of the Reſurrection; for none but they ſhall inherit his bleſſings, and partake of his Eternal Glory.

6. Some inquire further, in what manner ſhall this Reſurrection be? I anſwer, That our Lord and Saviour ſhall come down from Heaven cloathed with light and glory, and attended upon by the Angels of his Power and millions of his Saints, He ſhall be preceded by the cry of an Arch-Angel, and the Trumpet of God: for the Trumpet ſhall ſound, and as at the ſounding of the Silver Trumpet, that did Proclaim the Jews Jubile, all the p. 469Priſons were opened and the Priſoners ſet at liberty; in the ſame manner, at the ſound of the laſt Trumpet, all the Priſons of Death ſhall be broke open, and the Bodies that were impriſoned ſhall go out; to ſpeak in the Language of the Holy Ghoſt; The Sea ſhall give up the dead, and Death and Hell ſhall reſtore the dead that are in them. And as Lazarus roſe up as ſoon as Jeſus Chriſt had called to him in his Tomb, Lazarus come out; likewiſe, when the Voice of this great God and Saviour ſhall ſound in our Tombs, at that moment we ſhall riſe again, and appear before him; for the hour cometh that ſuch as are in the Graves ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that ſhall hear ſhall live.

7. The next queſtion is, in what ſtature of Body ſhall we riſe? ſome are perſwaded that we ſhall riſe in the ſame ſtature that we dy; this they gather from St. Iohn's deſcription of the laſt Judgment, I ſaw the living and the dead, the great and ſmall ſtanding before God. Others think that all the elect ſhall riſe again in perfect ſtature, and ſhall be all like to our Saviour Chriſt; which they endeavor to prove, by St. Paul's words; We ſhall meet in a perfect Man, to the meaſure of the perfect ſtature of Chriſt.

When it concerns things that relate to our Salvation, it is reſpective ignorance to refuſe, to pry into thoſe things which God hath concealed, or not thought fitting to reveal; therefore as the holy Writ is ſilent concerning this, we cannot ſpeak of it with too much ſobriety; I dare not affirm, that we ſhall all riſe again in the ſame ſtature. I confeſs, that this opinion, That all the Saints ſhall have a ſtature like to our Saviour Chriſt; and that they ſhall bear his Image and likeneſs, in that reſpect in their Bodies, contains nothing contrary to piety, but I dare ſay, that this cannot be proved by the words of St. Paul, for the ſequel of his diſcourſe ſhews moſt evidently that he intends not the ſtature of the Body, but that of the Soul, which conſiſts in knowledge and holineſs.

p. 470That opinion which appears to be moſt likely, and moſt conformable to the Analogy of Faith, is, that the Elect ſhall all riſe again in a perfect ſtature; for the beauty and perfection of the ſtature contributes much to the Glory and Majeſty of the Body, without which man cannot be ſaid to be moſt perfectly happy: beſides this perfection is anſwerable to that Command and Dominion which God ſhall give to the Saints, over the Creatures after the Reſurrection: if thoſe that die in their childhood, did riſe again in the ſame ſtature, if thoſe that depart in their old and decrepid Age, did come out of their Graves with their feeble and craſie Bodies, How could either of them be fit for that Glory and Perfection, where nothing ſhall be amiſs or wanting? As the promiſed Land was the Type of the Celeſtial Canaan, it is not without good cauſe that the Scripture takes notice that there was no Body of thoſe that went over Jordain into the Holy Land that was old and decrepid; unleſs it were Joſhua and Caleb; none of the reſt was threeſcore years old; I may alſo apply to the Jeruſalem above, that which the Prophet ſaith of the Jeruſalem here below, the Type and Figure of the Celeſtial: From thenceforth there ſhall not be any Child of a few days old, nor no ancient perſon who fulfilleth not his dayes. Finally, As God created Adam and Eve in a perfect ſtature, to ſettle them in the Terreſtial Paradiſe, it is my opinion, that he will alſo raiſe up all the faithful in a perfect ſtature, to introduce them into the Celeſtial Paradiſe. In this life the Body of a Child is many years before it can to attain to the ſtature of a perfect man: but at the great day of the Reſurrection God will grant it to him in a moment.

That which is ſpoken of in the 20 of the Revelations doth in no wiſe oppoſe this Doctrine, for when the holy Ghoſt ſaith that the dead ſmall and great ſhall ſtand before God. That relates not to the ſtature or bigneſs of Body, but to the ſtate, and condition of the perſons; that is to ſay, the Kings and Princes ſhall appear to Judgment as well as the vileſt and moſt contemptible Subjects and the moſt wretched p. 471ſlaves; therefore theſe former words are deſigned to expreſs nothing more than what St. Paul ſaith, That we muſt all appear before the Judgement Seat of Chirſt, that we might receive in our Bodies according as we have done, whether it be good or evil.

8. Some are ready to ask what manner of Bodies ſhall the Reprobates have after the Reſurrection? I have no mind to ſpeak any thing of my ſelf, otherwiſe I ſhould anſwer, That in conſideration of the fury of Hell Fire, the ſmoak of the bottomleſs pit, and the violence of the exceſſive Torments which they ſhall ſuffer, they ſhall appear moſt deformed, ugly, il-favoured, and dreadful to look upon; I ſhould ſay, that there ſhall appear in their guilty looks, and frighted countenances, the Devils Image, and that of the Helliſh Furies; but it will be ſufficient to reply, That the Bodies of the wicked ſhall be Immortal, and that their Immortality ſhall be moſt miſerable; that it had been far better for them to have never been, or to have been as the Beaſts, that Die without any hopes of living again; for they ſhall Live to Die eternally, and they ſhall Die but never conſume away. It ſhall not be poſſible to add any thing to their moſt violent Tortures, for they ſhall be infinite; nor to the continuance of their ſufferings, for they ſhall be eternal; Therefore as we have already taken notice, they ſhall ſeek Death, that is, they ſhall deſire to be reduced to nothing, but Death ſhall flie away from them, and give them over to a Worm that ſhall never Dye, and to a Fire that ſhall never be extinguiſhed. O miſerable Bodies! O wretched Souls! whom God ſhall caſt into the midſt of Hells furious flames, and againſt whom the Devils ſhall let flie all their Arrows, diſcharge all their Fury, and kindle all their Fires, and whom they will take pleaſure to torment for ever and ever.

9. Some inquire what manner of Bodies the Children of God, and the Members of Chriſt ſhall have after they are riſen from the Dead, I anſwer, that their ſubſtance ſhall be the ſame which they had before Death; they ſhall not be p. 472Phantaſms or falſe appearances, but true humane Bodies, made up of fleſh and bones; for we may ſay of all the Bodies of the faithful, as of that of our Saviour Chriſt, that the Reſurrection will procure unto them a conſiderable Glory, which they never had before, but it ſhall not deſtroy their Nature and Manhood. They ſhall be able to ſpeak in the Language of our Redeemer, feel and ſee, a Spirit hath neither Fleſh nor Bones, as ye ſee that I have. All our Soul ſhall loſe nothing of its Being, only it ſhall be perfectly cleanſed from all Sin and Corruption, and ſanctified in ſuch a manner, that it will not be poffible for it to entertain any vicious inclination; likewiſe there ſhall be no alteration in the eſſential part of our Bodies, but there ſhall be a wonderful alteration in regard of the qualities, for they ſhall caſt off all corruption and mortality, and ſhall never be ſubject to Sickneſs, Pain, nor to the inconveniences that diſturb it during this life. And if they have now any imperfection, they ſhall be perfectly freed; ſo that we may juſtly ſay of the Celeſtial Jeruſalem, that in it, no Blind nor Lame ſhall be admitted to enter, for all the Bodies of the Saints ſhall be ſo perfect and beautiful, that the leaſt ſpot or blemiſh ſhall not be ſeen in them, 1 Sam. 6.

I know that Jeſus Chriſt tells us in his Goſpel, Matth. 5. If thy right Eye offend thee pluck it out, and caſt it from thee, for it is better that one of thy Members periſh, than that thy whole Body ſhould be caſt into Hell; and if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off and caſt it from thee, for it is better that thou ſhouldſt enter into life lame or maimed, than to have two feet and two hands, and to be caſt into eternal Fire, Mark 4. But theſe words are figurative; by them our Saviour would teach us, that for his ſake and glory we muſt deny our deareſt affections, and our moſt importunate luſts: and when theſe words ſhould be taken in their literal ſence, we muſt underſtand a Suppoſition if it were poſſible to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with one eye, lame, maimed, it would be far better to be admitted to that p. 473bleſſed eſtate, then to have a perfect and a whole body, and to be caſt into the Torments of Hell. From thence we cannot conclude, that the faithful are to riſe from their Graves, with imperfect and deficient Bodies, for that is repugnant to an accompliſhed happineſs, ſeeing that ſin ſhall be utterly aboliſhed and deſtroyed, the puniſhment of Sin ſhall continue no longer.

There are nevertheleſs ſome that believe with ſeveral ancient Doctors of the Primitive Church, that the holy Martyrs ſhall bear about them the ſcars and other marks of their Sufferings, for the Name of Jeſus, in the ſame manner as this glorious Saviour after his Reſurrection could ſhew the print of the Nails, that had faſtened his feet and hands to the Croſs, and in his ſide the hole that the Spear had made. They eſteem ſuch Marks, glorious and honorable Stars, ſo that according to their judgement, the Martyrs ſhall be like to the generous and noble hearted Souldiers, who have received Wounds in the ſervice of their Prince, which they bear about as undoubted expreſſions of their Courage. I ſhall not altogether contradict this opinion, for it is not contrary to the Analogy of Faith, but I dare not affirm it as a certain truth, for we cannot learn from the holy Scriptures, that repreſent theſe Bleſſed Martyrs, cloathed with long Robes, waſhed and whitened in the Blood of the Lamb, without making any mention of their former ſufferings. Our Saviour he was pleaſed to preſerve the Marks of his Sufferings, that he might convince St. Thomas of his unbelief, and that he may one day diſcover and ſhew them to thoſe that have pierced him through. But from this inſtance I cannot ſee how we can gather any conſequence; we may ſafely ſay, either that the Martyrs ſhall have no ſuch ſcars, or if they have, they ſhall bring no deformity to their Bodies, nor ſhall they deprive us of any Member or part required in us, to make us perfect. If it ſhould be otherwiſe, we could not be entirely and perfectly happy. After the Reſurrection, the Bodies of Gods Children ſhall have none of theſe p. 474imperfections, that Sin hath brought into the World; they ſhall not feel any of the infirmities, unto which the Bodies of Adam and Eve were ſubject, in the eſtate of their innocency, for their life was ſenſual and animal like, diſturbed with hunger, thirſt, and wearineſs, therefore they had need of nouriſhment and drink, and eſpecially of the Fruits of the Tree of Life, to ſupply ſo much of their radical humor, as was decayed and conſumed by their natural heat. I conceive alſo, that they ſtood in want of reſt and ſleep; and although God would have protected them from all dangerous accidents, if they had continued in their integrity; if we conſider them in themſelves, without any ſuch protection, they might have been injured by fire and ſword, and burned with the heat of the ſcorching Sun. But it ſhall be otherwiſe with the Bodies of the Righteous, after the Reſurrection, they ſhall not be ſubject to any infirmity, they ſhall be free from pain, wearineſs, and from the ſenſe of any diſpleaſure, as the holy Spirit promiſeth, they ſhall hunger nor thirſt no more; the Sun ſhall not beat upon them, nor any heat incommode them. It is not to be doubted, but that a glorified Body ſhall enjoy all the perfections that a humane Body is capable of; and that the greateſt and rareſt Beauties on Earth, are but difform objects, in compariſon of the Celeſtial, which ſhall never change nor fade away, no accident ſhall ever be able to deſtroy or diminiſh them. The years, ages, and thouſand of ages, ſhall not imprint upon our glorious faces, the leaſt wrinkle, we ſhall always be young and luſty, as a precious Stone that preſerves its Luſter and Beauty without alteration, and as the Sun that never decreaſeth in light and heat. Theſe glorified Bodies ſhall caſt off all groſs and heavy qualities, that incline them to the Earth, ſo that they ſhall be more nimble then the Eagles, and ſhall be able to fly up as quick as the fire. St. Paul intends to teach us this truth, when he tells us, that this Body is ſown an earthly and a ſenſual Body, but it ſhall riſe again an heavenly and a ſpiritual Body; we are not ſo to underſtand theſe words, as to think that God will change p. 475them into Spirits, or into ſuch uncompoſed bodies, as are the Heavens, for they ſhall yet be made up of fleſh and bones, and they ſhall have all the eſſential parts of an humane Body, as we have already taken notice; but I conceive that they are named ſpiritual and heavenly, becauſe they ſhall have no more the groſs and earthy qualities, and they ſhall live no more a Senſitive and an animal life. In a word, they ſhall need no more meat or drink, than the Stars and Celeſtial Bodies, no more than the holy Angels of God.

I confeſs, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt aſcended up into Heaven in a cloud, not becauſe that a Cloud was neceſſary to uphold and keep up his glorious Body; for if in the eſtate of his infirmity and humiliation, this divine Body was able to walk upon the waves of the Sea, without ſinking, by the aſſiſtance of his divine Nature, how much more ſince its glorification, ſhall it be able to aſcend up on high, and to go whither he liſteth. If the help of any Creature had been neceſſary to uphold him, he might have had Legions of Immortal Angels to carry him up, but Chriſt needed not to be aſſiſted, neither by a Body, nor a Spirit, nor by any other Creature. This Cloud therefore that appeared at his Aſcention, was no token of the infirmity of his humane Nature, it did rather manifeſt the glory and magnificence of his Divine Majeſty, unto which this precious Body was united perſonally. God hath often revealed himſelf, attended by a Cloud, as upon Mount Sina, in the Ark of the Covenant, at the Dedication of Solomone Temple; therefore that Cloud in which God was pleaſed to diſcover himſelf, is ſtiled, The Glory of God, that is, the Sign and viſible expreſſion of his Glorious Preſence, and Divine Majeſty. Let us therefore gather from hence, that the Cloud which attended upon the glorified Body of Jeſus Chriſt, was no needful help to carry him up to Heaven, but as it were a Chariot of Triumph, to cauſe him to go with more glory and pomp. The Bodies of the Saints, after the Reſuriection, ſhall ſhine and be full of glory; p. 476they ſhall not only have ſome ſuperficial ſplendor upon their Countenance or Skin, as Moſes when he had been with God forty days and forty nights in the Holy Mountain, but they ſhall ſhine within and without, as a true Diamond, that caſts abroad on all ſides its light and flames. So that it ſhall happen to them, as it happened to our Saviour upon Mount Tabor, for it is ſaid, that his Garments became White as the Light. In the ſame manner, at the time of our Transfiguration, our bodies that are but the Garments of our Immortal Souls, ſhall be as clear as the Light, and as bright as the Celeſtial Globes. I ſpeak here nothing, but what the Prophet Daniel ſaith, before me, Daniel 12. They that be wiſe, ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the Firmament, and they that turn many to righteouſneſs, as the Stars for ever and ever. And our Saviour aſſures us, Math. 23. That the Children of God ſhall ſhine in the Kingdom of their Father as the Sun.

Theſe glorified Bodies, ſhall never corrupt nor putrify, but they ſhall be for ever uncorruptible. Therefore St. Paul aſſures us, that the Corruptible muſt put on incorruption; ſo that I may ſafely affirm, that their glory ſhall be more durable than that of the Sun, or of the Moon, or of the Stars; for although theſe Celeſtial Bodies never corrupt, out of any inward principle; although there can be no alteration happen to them, neither from their eſſential form, nor from the properties that come from it, nor from any other inherent quality, they ſhall nevertheleſs corrupt, out of an external principle, for the Almighty hand of God which made them, ſhall change and alter them, as the royal Prophet tells us, in 102 Pſalm, The heavens ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt endure, yea, all of them ſhall wax old like a garment, as a veſture ſhalt thou change them, and they ſhall be changed, 1 Pet. 5. Unto this St. Peter doth very well agree, The Heavens, ſaith he, ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe. Where as the glorified Bodies ſhall never corrupt, neither by any internal principle, nor by their eſſential form, nor by the properties and accidents p. 477that flow from it, nor by any external cauſe, nor by any accident whatſoever, that can be imagined, for the Almighty hand of God, ſhall make them never to marr them again. From hence it follows, that they ſhall Die no more, but ſhall continue Immortal, for with incorruption they muſt put on Immortality; therefore when our Saviour ſpeaks of the eſtate of the glorified Saints, Luk. 20. he ſaith, not only that they ſhall not Die, but that they cannot Die any more, becauſe they ſhall be like the Angels, being the Children of the Reſurrection. In this conſiſts the difference between them and thoſe whom God hath raiſed up, already mentioned in the Old and New Teſtament.

For they were forced to return to their ſenſual life, to eat and drink, and therefore they were again ſubject to corruption and Death; but at the day of the general Reſurrection, whatſoever is Mortal, ſhall be ſwallowed up by Life; therefore St. Paul applies to this glorious day, the accompliſhment of this Prophecy, Death is ſwallowed up into Victory: and he brings in theſe who ſhall be cloathed with this Immortal Glory, braving Death and the Grave, in this triumphing Language, O Death! where is thy Victory? O Grave I where is thy Sting?

In ſhort, to make us ſenſible, that our Bodies ſhall put on all the richeſt and moſt noble qualities that can be imagined, and to expreſs all in a word, the Holy Ghoſt aſſures us, that they ſhall bear the Image of the Son of God, and be made conformable to his glorious Body, St Paul declares this Truth, in the 15 Chap. of the firſt of the Corinth. The firſt Man, ſaith he, was of the Earth Earthly, the ſecond Man was the Lord from Heaven; as is the Earthy, ſuch are they that are are Earthy; and as is the Heavenly, ſuch are they alſo that are Heavenly; and as we have born the Image of the Earthy, we ſhall alſo bear the Image of the Heavenly. And in Philip. 3. he ſaith, we wait for the Lord Jeſus from Heaven, who ſhall change our vile Body, that it may be like to his glorious Body; from hence you may gather Chriſtians, p. 478that at the rebuilding of this little Temple of the Godhead, there ſhall happen no ſuch thing, as at the rearing up of the Temple of Jeruſalem, for when that was Rebuilding, at the return from the Babiloniſh Captivity; they that had ſeen the former Temple, and its wonderful glory, wept aloud, ſo that their weeping interrupted the others expreſſions of joy and gladneſs. At the Reſtauration of the Temple of our Bodies, nothing ſhall be heard but Songs of Triumph and Jubile. Such as have ſeen, with the eyes of Faith, Mans Body, as it was in the eſtate of its integrity, in the earthly Paradiſe, ſhall not be then ſorry, that it hath been defaced by Sin, and deſtroyed by Death; they ſhall not be ſorry for any thing that is paſſed; they ſhall not be able to wiſh for any increaſe of happineſs and glory for the future, for at the very inſtant of its riſing from the Grave, it ſhall be raiſed to its higheſt Splendor, Happineſs, and Magnificence, ſo that it ſhall be truly ſaid, That the glory of this Second Houſe, ſhall be greater than that of the Firſt, Hag. 2.

Now that we have treated ſufficiently, of ſuch as ſhall riſe from their Graves, it remains, that we take a view of them, whoſe Bodies ſhall never be laid in the Duſt, and who ſhall be alive at Chriſts coming down from Heaven: for that purpoſe. St. Paul informs us, 1 Cor. 15. Behold I ſhew you a Myſtery, we ſhall not all ſleep, but we ſhall be all changed in a moment, at the twinckling of an eye, at the ſound of the laſt trumpet; and he ſpeaks in this manner to the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſ. 4. For this we ſay unto you, by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, ſhall not prevent them which are aſleep, for the Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a ſhout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God, and the Dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, then we which are alive and remain, ſhall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and we ſhall ever be with the Lord, wherefore comfort one another with theſe words, I know very well that St. Paul tells the Hebrews, that it is appointed p. 479unto all Men once to Die. Therefore I conceive that this great change that ſhall be made in the Bodies of them that ſhall be then alive, ſhall be a kind of Death, for Chriſt will deſtroy and aboliſh altogether in them, all corruption and inclination to Mortality. And when he ſhall change the Bodies of the Reprobates, he will make them like to the other Reprobates, whom he ſhall fetch out of their Graves; he will make them Immortal, that they may be eternally tormented in Hell. But he will cauſe the Bodies of Believers then alive, to be like the other Believers, that they may all partake and enjoy the ſame glory and eternal Bliſs.

Chriſtians, in what condition ſoever you be in, ſeriouſly apply to your ſelves, theſe Divine Conſolations, you that are grieved to ſee your Bodies maimed and deprived of one of your Members, of your Eyes, Hearing, or of ſome other of your ſenſes, whether you be ſo born, or whether ſuch a privation hath happened unto you by a Diſeaſe, by a Miſchance, or by any other Means, rejoyce and comfort your ſelves with this aſſurance, that you ſhall ſee one day, this wretched Body reſtored to a perfect eſtate, to a perfection that ſhall never be loſt; you that fret and vex your ſelves, to behold now old Age and Sickneſs have diſfigured your Bodies, what breaches and ruines they have cauſed in you; Comfort your ſelves in expectation of this glorious Reſurrection, which ſhall ſupply this decayed and languiſhing Body, with new ſtrength and vigor, and adorn it with a perfect beauty, and an eternal glory.

And you whom Death undermines, and intends ſhortly to lay in the Duſt, grieve not at it, for you ſhall looſe nothing at preſent, but you ſhall find it again, at the great day of the Reſurrection. When Joſeph died, he commanded his Brethren, concerning his Bones, that they ſhould carry them out of Egypt into the Land of Canaan. Now our Bones are the Bones of Jeſus Chriſt, our true Joſeph: Therefore he will command his Angels to gather them up ſafe, he himſelf will have a care to preſerve them, at the p. 481great Morne of the Reſurrection, he ſhall fetch them out of their Graves, as out of an Egypt, out of an Houſe of Bondage, and will carry them to his Celeſtial Canaan. When the Tabernacle was taken in pieces, the High-Prieſt did deliver every piece in charge to the Levites, ſo that when they were to ſet it up again, there was nothing wanting. Likewiſe our Saviour hath given in charge, and delivered by retail, every Member and part of our Bodies; theſe Tabernacles which he hath Conſecrated for himſelf to our Graves, therefore they ſhall all be found again at the Reſurrection, without the leaſt imperfection. Theſe Tabernacles ſhall not only be found entire, but they ſhall be beautified with a far greater Glory and Splend or than before

There is none but would be glad to lay himſelf down to ſleep in his Bed, and pull off his garments willingly, if he were certain to be more healthy, and to find his garments freſher and more beautiful in the Morning, if he were perſwaded, that inſtead of old rags, he were to cloath and put on a royal attire, and moſt m…gnificent garments. Who would not willingly go out of a pittiful Cabin, and forfake a miſerable lodge, which ſhall be one day changed into a Golden Palace, adorned with precious Stones? Comfort thy ſelf, believing Soul, and rejoyce in God thy Redeemer; caſt off willingly this Garment that is ſo incommodious and troubleſome to thee; forſake this wretched Body, undermined by ſickneſs and diſeaſes, and conſumed by time. Sleep quietly in the Lord Jeſus, and repoſe thy ſelf in his Boſome, for when thou ſhalt wake again at the ſound of the Archangels Trumpet, thou ſhalt find this garment whither then Snow, and as bright as the Light; grieve not to ſee this craſy dwelling fall to pieces and rot, for God ſhall build it up again with his own hands, and convert it into his Temple, and a pavillion of his glory. Thou mayſt be certain, ſhortly to return again, and to find this woful lodge of Earth, become an heavenly Palace, purer than fine Gold, and brighter than the Diamonds, p. 480the Rubies, and all the precious Stones. Weep not, for thy beautiful eyes that are ſhut, nor for the reſt of thy Senſes that are loſt, nor for the Members of thy Body that conſume away one after another; for with theſe ſame eyes that have loſt, or ſhall ſhortly looſe the ſight of the day light, thou ſhalt behold a Divine Light, that ſhall ſhine eternally in Heaven; thou ſhalt behold the face of the King of Kings, and all the Glory and Magnificence of his Kingdom, with theſe ears that are deaf, and that ſhall ſhortly be ſtopped, thou ſhalt hear with tranſports of Joy, the raviſhing harmonies of the Saints, and the Songs of the Bleſſed Angels, with this ſtammering Tongue, which is to looſe the faculty of Speech; thou ſhalt ſing with a loud voice the praiſes of Almighty God, in the glorious company of the Church triumphant; with theſe unſteddy hands that can ſcarce hold any thing, thou ſhalt one day receive Immortal Palmes, and Golden Viols, which thou ſhalt never quit with theſe feet that are dying, and that can ſcarce hold thee up, thou ſhalt follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth, and thou ſhalt walk about the Streets of the heavenly Jeruſalem, and this ſame body that is going to rot, and to be turned to duſt, ſhall one day ſhine as the Firmament, and as the Sun in its greateſt ſplendor.

What deſireſt thou more Chriſtian Soul for thy comfort, what addition can there be made to thine happineſs? for thou art going to the fruition of eternal Joyes, and of endleſs pleaſures in Heaven. In the mean while, thy Body ſhall endure no pain, nor grief; and God will ſhortly raiſe it up again from this deep ſleep, that begins to dull thy ſenſes, and cloſe thine eye lids. Shortly God will publiſh the year of the great Jubile, all the Priſons of Death ſhall be then opened, and the Priſoners ſhall be ſet at liberty. Thou ſhalt ſhortly hear the found of the laſt Trump that ſhall rouſe thee out of the duſt, and cauſe thee to appear in the preſence of thy great Redeemer. Thou leaveſt a wretched Body, full of darkneſs and corruption, aſſaulted by Death on all ſides, but it ſhall p. 482ſhortly be made uncorruptible, immortal, and adorned with Light and Glory.

Let therefore thy Heart rejoyce, thy Tongue be glad, and thy fleſh reſt in hope, for the Lord will not leave thee always in the Grave, he will not ſuffer thee to continue for ever in duſt and corruption, he will not only diſcover to thee the ways of life, but he will ſhortly come down himſelf from Heaven, for to lead thee thither.

When Death ſhould be already upon thy lips, when ſhe ſhould be ready to lay thee in thy Grave, let not this diſturb the quiet of thy Soul, nor the peace of thy Conſcience, let it not ſhake thy precious Faith that keeps thee up, nor drive thee from the Author of thy Bleſſed hope fixed in Heaven, where Jeſus Chriſt is entered as thy forerunner; in ſhort, when thy Body ſhould be all covered with ſores and boiles, as that of Job, Job 19 when it ſhould all fall to pieces before thine eyes, let nothing hinder thee from crying out with this patient Man, I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth, and though after my skin, worms deſtroy this Body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God, whom I ſhall ſee for my ſe f and mine Eyes ſhall behold and not another. And with St. Paul, Phil. 3. We look from Heaven for the Saviour the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious Body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able even to ſubdue all things unto himſelf.

p. 483A Prayer and Meditation of a Chriſtian, who being ready to depart out of the World, comforts himſelf with an aſſurance and expectation of the glorious Reſurrection of his Body from the Duſt.

O Eternal and Divine Word! by whom all things were Created, and without whom was not any thing made, that was made; Thou haſt not only created our Souls, and faſhioned our Bodies with thy skilful hands, but when they were miſerably loſt and corrupted with Sin, thou haſt been pleaſed to redeem both our Souls and Bodies with thy moſt precious Blood, and to reſtore thy glorious Image in us. This wretched Body is but an Earthen Veſſel; yet thou haſt incloſed in it, the richeſt Treaſuries of Life and Light. Thou haſt appointed it to be the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, and a noble Pavillion of the Godhead, to participate with the Soul in the eternal happineſs of thy Kingdom. I feel my ſtrength failing me, and this Earthly Tabernacle decaying every day, and every hour, ſo that I am certain that it ſhall ſhortly fall to duſt. But Lord I am ſufficiently comforted with the knowledge, that if the outward Man decays, the inward is renewed day by day. If this wretched Body falls down by Death, thou ſhalt raiſe it up again at the general Reſurrection. My Lord, and my God, thou art ſufficiently able, for all power is given to thee in Heaven and in Earth, and in the depths of the Sea. As the Father raiſeth and quickneth the Dead, thou doſt alſo quicken them whom thou haſt choſen. Thou haſt faſhioned my Body of Duſt, and created this Duſt of nothing; and ſhalt not thou be able of the ſame duſt, into which this my Body ſhall be turned by Death, to make and faſhion it again: Thou haſt by thine Almighty power, created my Soul and infuſed it into this Body, and canſt thou not return it again, p. 485when it ſhall pleaſe thee, to live for ever in a more bleſſed ſociety than ever it hath been before? O Prince of Life, Death hath ſufficiently felt thy great and overflowing power. It intended to ſwallow thee up, but thou haſt ſwallowed it up in a glorious manner into Victory. Thou haſt been dead, but thou art returned to life, and thou liveſt for ever and ever. And now thou holdeſt in thy hands the Keys of Death. Thou openeſt and ſhuteſt up thy black Dungeon at thy pleaſure; Thou killeſt and makeſt alive, thou caſteſt into the Grave, and fetcheſt up again. Lord Jeſus, who art the Reſurrection and the Life, as thou haſt an ability to cauſe my Body to come out of the Duſt, thou art willing and reſolved to take it out again, for thou haſt promiſed to awake with the ſound of the Archangels Trump, and to lead away with thee all them that ſleep in thee, and repoſe themſelves upon thee, when thou ſhalt come from Heaven with thy powerful Angels, at the great day of thy Triumph, and at the Crowning of thy Spouſe, all the Priſons of Death ſhall be opened, and the priſoners ſet at liberty. It ſhall not be long O Lord, before thou wilt cauſe the laſt Trumpet to ſound, to publiſh and proclaime the great Day of Reſt and Joy. Thou ſhalt then put us in poſſeſſion of all the advantages which we have loſt. Thou ſhalt command the Sea, the Earth, and the Grave, to reſtore all the Bodies which they have ſwallowed up, and they ſhall readily obey thee. Thy mighty word that Created the World and ſuſtains it, ſhall be heard in our very Graves, and at that inſtant we ſhall go out to appear before thy dreadful Tribunal. We ſhall not go out in the ſame manner as Lazarus with our winding ſheets about us; we ſhall leave in the Grave all tokens of our former infirmities. Thou ſhalt not only draw our Bodies out of their Tombs, but thou ſhalt make them more beautiful, more perfect and glorious than ever they were before, ſo that we are able to ſay for a truth, I hat the glory of this ſecond Houſe, ſhall be greater than the glory of the former, For thou ſhalt change this vile body, and make it like to thy glorious body; this corruptible ſhall put on incorruption, and whatſoever is mortal in us, ſhall be overcome and ſwallowed up by life. With p. 484theſe ſame languiſhing eyes I ſhall behold thee upon a Cloud of the Heavens, and a Throne of fire; with theſe ears that are going to be ſtopt, I ſhall hear the ſound of the laſt Trump, and the Songs of the bleſſed Angels; with this Tongue that can ſcarce ſpeak and move, I ſhall ſing forth thine Eternal and Divine praiſes with the Church Triumphing; with theſe dying hands I ſhall embrace and take hold of thee; with theſe feet that are already in the Grave, I ſhall follow thee whither ſoever thou goeſt, and walk about the ſtreets of the new Jeruſalem; this ſame Body that is now dropping into the rotten Grave, ſhall be carried up into Heaven, to ſhine as the Stars, or as the Sun for ever and ever. O Lord, I am ready to depart out of this Tabernacle, there is nothing but a breath in my noſtrils, the ſhadow of Death appears upon mine eye lids, and my Soul is upon my lips, but I am fully perſwaded, that in this fl…ſh which ſhall be caſt away to the worms, and left in a rotten Grave, I ſhall behold thy Glory and magnificence, I ſhall ſee thy face and ſhall be ſatisfied with thy likeneſs when I ſhall awake again. Amen.