Londons Resurrection, Discourse 50
DISCOURSE L.
Of the rebuilding of thoſe houſes of clay, wherein we now dwell, or of the Reſurrection of our bodies.
OUr bodies are houſes that muſt be demoliſhed, and it is as probable by fire, as any how: for feavers are a kind of fire, and they deſtroy a great, if not the greateſt part of mankind. Howſoever duſt they are, and to duſt they muſt return. Yet ſo ſurely as they ſhall fall, ſo certain it is that they ſhall riſe again; there ſhall be a reſurrection of the dead, both of thoſe juſt and unjuſt, Acts 24.15.
I doubt not of the poſſibility of a Reſurrection, ſith I am ſure of the truth of a Creation, and to raiſe the bodies of men out of duſt, is not of more difficulty, than to raiſe a world out of a Chaos, and that Chaos out of nothing.
To ſay though ſuch a thing as a Reſurrection be poſſible, yet it ſhall never be, were to deny that principle which is common to moſt Religions in the world, and which is the main foundation they are built upon, viz. the doctrine of a future eſtate, or of a life after this.
Chriſt told the Jewes, that if they deſtroyed the temple of his body, he would raiſe it up again in three daies, and ſo he did, and that he did ſo, I ſay the evidence, and aſſurance we have that he did do ſo, is the great prop and pillar of our Chriſtian faith: therefore the ſcripture ſaith of Chriſt, that he was declared to be the ſon of God with power, by the reſurrection from the dead, Rom. 1.4. If Chriſt had not riſen again the third day (according to his promiſe) his diſciples had certainly renounced all confidence in him, and taken him for an impoſtor, and not for the Son of God, and Saviour of the world: but we are well aſſured that both they, and many hundreds of others, who lived about the ſame time, or not long after them, did ſtrenuouſly aſſert that Chriſt did riſe from the dead, and did ſeal that truth with their blood, that being the main article againſt them, that they did ſo believe: as S. Paul ſaith, Act. 13.6. Of the hope and reſurrection of the dead, I am …alled in queſtion, and Acts 25.19. They had certain …ueſtions againſt him, of one Jeſus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive. But if there be no reſurrection of be dead, then is Chriſt not riſen, (as the Apoſtle argu…th, 1 Cor. 15.13.) but that Chriſt is riſen, the ſuffeings of ſo many, near unto Chriſt his time, I ſay …eir ſuffering unto death, for the ſeal of Chriſt, …hom they had not known to have been the true Meſſiah, if he had not riſen again (according to his …romiſe) do abundantly witneſs.
Canſt thou believe that all mankind muſt periſh? … it muſt be, if Chriſt be not riſen, for ſaith the Apoſtle, v. 17. If Chriſt be not raiſed, your faith is …ain, ye are yet in your ſins.
Canſt thou believe that God will ſuffer the beſt …en in the world to be of all men moſt miſerable from firſt to laſt? Surely ſuch as have hope in Chriſt, are men of the beſt l…ves of any in the …orld: But if Chriſt be not riſen, then they that …ve hope in Chriſt are of all men moſt miſerable. The …ive arguments which I have given, may convince …ny man (that is not obſtinate) both of the poſſi…ility, and futurity of a reſurrection, that is, both that … may, and ſhall be.
But ſome will ſay, how are the dead raiſed up? and …ith what body do they come? To which objection, or …eſtion, (ſtated by the Apoſtle in thoſe very words, 1 Cor. 15.35.) I anſwer, that it doth not appear that the houſes of wicked men, (their bodies I mean) ſhall be any thing more beautiful, at the reſurrection than they were before, or freed from thoſe deformities which they carried to the grave with them, (but as thoſe trees fall, ſo they ſhall riſe) or if they ſhould, what would it ſignifie? when neither they, nor others could ſee it for want of light? Did goodly houſes, or Churches, look beautifully, in the midſt of flames? when nothing but the wall of fire, that was round about them could be ſeen? but ſure I am, the houſes of good men (that is their bodies) ſhall all, and every of them be beautified at the reſurrection, and whereas ſome of them were like houſes that are low built, others like rooms that are ſhelving (or garret-wiſe,) others dark, like dungeons, others ſlight and thin, like paper-walled houſes, thoſe and all other inconveniences, ſhall be removed, for then ſhall their vile bodies, be changed, and faſhioned like unto Chriſt his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to ſubdue all things to himſelf, Phil. 3.21.
Now the ſouls of men go about like ſnails, carrying their ſhels upon their backs, (which maketh their motion ſlow) but their houſes, or bodies, after the Reſurrection, ſhall be no more clogs, or impediments to their ſouls, than wings are to the flight of birds.
Here our earthly houſes (that is our bodies) do ſoil, and ſtain the ſouls that inhabit them, as the bare walls of new buildings, uſe to do the garments of thoſe that dwell in them, but at the reſurrection they ſhall no more do that, than thoſe rooms defile our cloaths, which are hung with the neweſt, and neateſt tapiſtry. Thoſe houſes which have no filthineſs in themſelves (and ſuch will our bodies then be) can convey none to others.
How glad would the wicked be that theſe their houſes of clay might never be rebuilt? how much rather could they wiſh they might be annihilated? For in theſe very houſes muſt they dwell with conſuming fire, and everlaſting burnings.
Conſider the bodies of good men as the Temple of God (for ſo they are called, 1 Cor. 3.16.) and as the members of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 6.15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Chriſt? conſider them as ſleeping in Jeſus, for ſo the expreſſion is 1 Theſ. 4.14. (as if the boſome of Chriſt were the Urne in which thoſe aſhes were laid up) I ſay conſider them under that threefold notion, and you will ſee no cauſe to wonder, that ſo much care ſhould be taken of thoſe demoliſhed Temples, as to rebuild them, of thoſe loſt members, as to reſtore them, and of thoſe ſcattered aſhes, and diſperſed duſt, as to gather them together again.
Moſt houſes of note (as publick Halls, &c.) and wherein perſons of conſiderable quality were concerned, that were lately burnt down, are like to be built again, and the owners thereof do think, that in point of honour, they can do no leſs, and ſhall not the Temples of God, which are the bodies of his Saints, I ſay, ſhall not they be rebuilt? is it not for the honour of the great God that it ſhould be ſo?
I have ſhewed how much more glorious the new houſes of the Saints, I mean their new bodies, will be, than were their old ones, oh then how glorious a City will the new Jeruſalem (that is, Heaven) be, which ſhall conſiſt of all ſuch ſtately houſes, as the bodies of the Saints are deſigned to be? even ſo glorious as the firmament would be, if every Star therein were as big, and as bright, as is the Sun it ſelf. Mat. 13.43. Then ſhall the righteous ſhine …orth, as the Sun in the kingdom … fathe… ….
I queſtion whether at that time, when Chriſt was transfigured, before ſome of his Diſciples, his body did appear ſo glorious as it doth in Heaven, and yet we read, Mat. 17.2. That then his face did ſhine as the Sun, and his raiment was white as the light. The glory of the body of Chriſt in Heaven, may be more than that which is there deſcribed, if cannot be leſs, and what ſaith the Scripture, 1 John 3.2. When he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him: and our vile bodies faſhioned like his glorious body.
Who would be able to know the bodies and viſages of thoſe Saints, that he ſhall meet in Heaven, or any one of them, (unleſs it ſhall be revealed to him) being ſo much changed for the better as then they will be? Abraham will not, of himſelf diſcern, that that was the houſe in which Iſaac dwelt, or that the materials thereof are the ſame, nor Iſaac that his Father Abraham (when upon the earth,) dwelt in that houſe; I mean in that very body (for doubtleſs for ſubſtance, it will be the ſame, Job. 19.27. whom mine eyes ſhall behold, and not another) which will then appear as much more magnificent, than it was in the world, as is the pallace of a Prince, than the cottage of a poor peaſant.
We know what manner of houſe Lazarus dwelt in, when he was in the world, ſo patcht, ſo leprous, that I had almoſt ſaid, the very dogs began to pity him, (of whom it is ſaid that they lickt his ſores) yet that deſpicable houſe of his, will at the Reſurrection, be metamorphoſed into ſo ſtately a dwelling, as would even dazle Dives, or the rich mans eyes, if he ſhould have leave to behold it.
What matter is it, if the ſouls of divers good men dwell but meanly, and ill-favouredly in this world … is, … …andſom and deformed bodies …ith … they do … ſojourn, as it were in te… and what if they be black as the tents of Kedar?) what … the houſes which they now live in, be ſcarce wind-tide, or water-tide, will ſcarce keep them …arm, or dry? What if the keepers of the houſe do …remble, and the ſtrong men bow themſelves? What if the …lver cord be looſened, or the golden bowl be broken, or the itcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel be broken …t the ciſtern. (which are Solomons expreſſions to ſet forth bodily infirmities) what if their preſent …wellings be ever ſo homely, ſi…h they are not their …ome? theſe their earthly tabernacles will ſoon be …eſtroyed, and when they come to be built again, …hey ſhall be as the pallaces of Princes, fit for them who muſt live, and raign with Chriſt for ever. Had …ur Soveraign then been ſure to poſſeſſe h…s throne as now he doth) it would but little have troubled …m, that he was forced to hide for a time in a hol…ow tree (ſince called the Royal Oak) and as lit…le ſhould the inconvenient habitation of Chriſtians …ouble them (I mean the weakneſs or uncomli…eſs of their bodies for the preſent) ſith theſe …ld houſes of theirs ſhall quickly be pulled down, …nd the new ones which ſhall be provided for them, …t the Reſurrection of the dead will be paſt all ex…eptions.
I ſee no reaſon, on the other hand, why ungodly …en and women, ſhould pride themſelves in thoſe lately houſes, in which their Souls do now dwell I mean in the amiableneſs, and beautifulneſs of …heir bodies.) ſith thoſe houſes muſt ſhortly be …abitations for worms, where they will breed, and …ed and boord, and dye and rot, and be buried, even …n thoſe fine bodies which they are now ſo proud …f, and when thoſe houſes come to be built again (I mean thoſe bodies to be raiſed from the dead) then will they be in worſe condition then ever, that is eternally hanted and poſſeſſed by Devils (worſe than vermine) for what leſs can thoſe children of diſobedience expect, in whom Satan now ruleth?
It is a conſideration which may greatly comfort good men, that at the Reſurrection, they ſhall not only have better houſes then ever they had before, but thoſe houſes ſhall have far better inhabitants than they formerly had, even the Souls of juſt men made perfect, whereas their former houſes were inhabited by the Souls (though of juſt men) yet full of imperfections. It will then be their happineſs to have Sanam mentem in corpore Sano, Souls and bodies proſpering both alike.
What troubleſome houſes are our preſent bodies which need repairing every day by meat and drink, and every night by reſt and ſleep; which are in continual danger of being thrown down by one means, and by another; but thoſe new houſes, (or bodies) which believers ſhall enter into at the Reſurrection, will need no meats or drinks, wherewith to repair them, for then ſhall they be foreign, that is, as the Angels of God, Mat. 22.30. ſhall be obnoxious to no element (whether fire or water) or to any other creature, ſhall be uncapable of being deſtroyed for they ſhall be raiſed incorruptible, 1 Cor. 15.52. and Luk. 20.36. Neither can they dye any more.
How ſtrange is it then that we ſhould read of any which ſhall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and that reſurrection from the dead, the ſtate of the reſurrection being ſo glorious as it is? well may it be ſaid they are children of God being the children of the reſurrection, for ſo the better reſurrection is called, the reſurrection, by way of eminency, though beſides the reſurrection of life, there is alſo a reſurrection of condemnation, John 5.29.
Two extreams there are which may prejudice the Doctrine of the Reſurrection; One is a vein of allegoriſing every thing. We read of ſome who erred ſaying, The Reſurrection is paſt already, 2 Tim. 2.18. and they muſt needs be ſuch as took the Reſurrection for ſome other thing than the raiſing of all men from the dead, viz. in ſome myſtical ſenſe. Others will allow of no figurative expreſſions, and ſuch, if you tell them of a Reſurrection, may (according to their Principles) tell you that Chriſt is the only Reſurrection, becauſe of what is ſaid John. 11.25. I am the Reſurrection (meaning cauſally &c.)
But whilſt we ſpeak of the ra…ſing or rebuilding of our bodies, O the admirable power and wiſdom of God, that is able to build with ſuch Materials, ſome part whereof muſt be fetcht out of the bottom of the Sea, other parts out of the bowells of living Creatures, out of the entrails of Worms and Fiſhes (and ſuch like) which have fed upon them.
Who but he that is omniſcient, could tell where to find that broken, ſcattered, and diſperſed ſtuff, wherewith the bodies of men ſhall be rebuilt? or if they knew where it were, who but he (whoſe Arm is not to ſhort for any purpoſe) were able to come at it? Where is that Artificer that can diſtinguiſh betwixt duſt and duſt? the duſt of one houſe and of another, if the duſt of twenty houſes were mixed together and laid in one heap? or who can build a houſe of meer duſt? I ſay, who but the great God can do either of theſe? and he will do both.
Neither is the condeſcenſion of God, appearing in the Reſurrection of his ſervants, leſs admirable than are the demonſtrations of his power and wiſdom, in that he ſheweth himſelf mindful of his people, in the loweſt condition they can be in, even when he hath brought them into the duſt of death, as the phraſe is, Pſal. 22.15.
The peculiar reſpects which God beareth to them that fear him, will be moſt conſpicuous at the Reſurrection, for then the houſes of his ſervants ſhall overtop the houſes of all wicked men, the Mountain of their houſes ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the Mountains, and ſhall be exalted above the Hills of others (alluding to Iſa. 2.2.) For the upright ſhall have dominion over the wicked in the morning, Pſal. 49.14.
I can but think how the Souls of juſt men, when they have put off theſe earthly Tabernacles, will long to be poſſeſſed of their new houſes, Rom. 8.23. We our ſelves groan, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body: And well then may we long for that time, conſidering that he who hath called the bodies of his Saints the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 6.19. will be much more graciouſly and viſibly preſent in thoſe Temples ſo refined, as they will be at the Reſurrection, than in thoſe we carry about with us, ſo defiled and polluted as they are at the preſent.
It is the leaſt thing I can ſay of the Reſurrection of the juſt, that when that time ſhall come, all their defects, and deformities of body ſhall then be done away for ever; and yet what would not ſome men give to be cured of one bodily defect? be it blindneſs, or deafneſs, or lameneſs, and to be reſtored to any limb or ſenſe they want but for that little time they have to live? But alas how many defects and deformities are there which no Art of man can cure? To ſuch as labour under any of them, I would ſay, Have patience but a little while, get part in the firſt Reſurrection, that you may have intereſt in the ſecond, viz. the Reſurrection of life, lay up a good Foundation for the time to come that thou mayeſt be recompenſed at the Reſurrection of the juſt, Luke 14.14. Make ſhift for the preſent; for a ſhort ſeaſon, a ſorry houſe may ſerve the turn, when death and the Grave, which muſt ſwallow thee down for a while, ſhall deliver thee up again (as the Whale did Jonah) thy next houſe ſhall be a Pallace, that is, the body which thou ſhalt receive at the Reſurrection, or which thou ſhalt riſe with, ſhall be as free from defects, and deformities, as is the glorious body of Chriſt himſelf.
I cannot ſufficiently admire the happineſs of thoſe perſons who live under the ſtrong and comfortable expectations of a better Reſurrection, Heb. 11.35. that is, of a better condition after death, than ever they had before it. Lord fill my ſoul, and the Souls of all thy children, with that bleſſed expectation, and do thou inable me and them to ſay, with thy holy Apoſtle Paul, and thoſe whom he there joyneth with himſelf, We know that if our earthly houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, a houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens, 2 Cor. 5.1.
FINIS.