A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 141 (Question 37 cont.)
SERMON CXLI.
We have followed the Departing, Soul of the Believer, from its Earthly … …de to its Heavenly Habitation, a…d … it lodged in Everlaſting Arms, a…d So…cing it ſelt in the full p…ffe…on of …lest … i…preſſible Glo…. It retains that we look after the Body which it hath left behind, and ſee how it …res with that mean wh…le: or what Benefit it remains owner of, which may being it under th… …pre…ſice of Happineſs at leaſt in reverſion. That the Bodies of Beliervers in their ſeparate ſtate, are not actually happy, in the ſtrict … of Felicity, much leſs perfectly ſo, as the Soul it. is beyond Diſpute. Happineſs can be predicated of … but intellectual and rational beings Things meerly ſeafitire, much more ſo ſ…leſs and …eleſs things cannot hare that decomination. Actual Happineſs confiſts in a compleat and retional Satisfaction taken in the fruition of the Object; and that cannot be ſome by the dead Body, which hath neither life, ſ…ſe, not reaſon abiding in it. The wiſe man tells us, Eccl. 9.5. For the ſiving … that they ſhall …: but the dead know not …ything. It we conſider a bodily Death in the proper or phyſical nature and notion of it, it is certain, that the Bodies of Believers do undergo the ſame Changes by Death, with the Bodies of other Mea. As there is no d…fference in the Death it ſelf, in all there is a ſeparation of the Soul, by which the Body is l…t a lifeleſs and ſenſeleſt Carcaſs, and every way anſerviceable for the functions which it was made for; ſo there is nothing that can befall the Bodies of the Wicked, which thoſe of the Godly are not liable to, both that which is natural, and that which is violent. It is a Subject of putrefaction, and ready to boled on by the Worms, Job 17.13, 14. Iſ I wait, the grace is …ne bouſe: I have made my bed in the darkneſs. I b…ve ſaid to corruption. Thon … my father: to the worm, Thon art my mother, and my ſiſter. It becomes noiſom and noxious to the living. Sarah was a precious Saint, yet when dead, Abraham muſt bury her out of his fight, Gen. 23 4. Its beauty is loſt, and it becomes …haftly and frightful. And it may have all the indiguities offered to it, which the rage & malice of men can vent. A decent Burial may be denyed it, it may be dug out of the Grave, hung up on a Gibbet, and Indibriouſly expoſed to all manner of Contempt, Rev. 11.8, 9. And their dead bodies ſhall lie in the ſtreet of the great city, which ſpiritually is ca…led Sodow & Egypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds, and tongues, & nations, ſhall ſee their dead bodies three days and an half, & ſhall not ſuffer their dead bodies to be put into graves. Which may be litterally as well as meraphorically underſtood. And what indignities have been offered to the dead Bodies of Chriſt's Martyrs, Eccleſiafical Hiſtory ſorniſheth us with plentiful inſtances of. So that there is no Judgment to be made by men in this regard; nor do the Bodies of the Saints hear any Character upon them, by which men may diſtinguiſh them from the Bodies of other men. This notwithſtanding, there is an Happineſs in reſerve for theſe very Bodies, and they alſo are reſerved for that, and ſhall in due ſeaſon be brought to enjoy it in conjunction with their re-united Souls. This ſtate of the Saints Bodies at preſent may in a more large ſenſe be called their Happineſs, in as much as it is a ſafe reſerve of them for it, and makes a vaſt difference between the Bodies of the Godly and the Weeked, though it be ſecret and not diſcerned by ſenſible Obſervation.
THIS then is that Benefit which now cometh under our Deliberation. The Sum of it is, the Body is kept ſafe for Glory, and ſhall not miſs of it in due time: And this is for the preſent a Complement of the Happineſs of the Soul it felt now in Heaven; viz. the ſatisfying aſſurance that it hath of ſh…. David hath ſuch a confideration on this Subject, Pſal. 16.9. Theref…re my heart is glad, and my glory rejoyceth; my fleſh alſo ſhall reſt in hope. Which hope cannot properly be aſcribed to the dead Body, for it cannot exerciſe any faculty or power of a rational being: but it is the Soul which hath this hope, and it rejoyceth in it. God's Children are ſolicitous for the Bodies, being eſſential parts of themſelves; nor can the Soul enjoy a compleat humanity without its Body. The tho't fulneſs about in now is anxious & perplexing; but there it will be with quietneſs and ſatisfaction. It knows that it ſhall have it reſtored to it with all deſireable Adventages, and can cont…ntedly tarry God's time for the Accompliſhment of it. But there are more particulary two things, by which this Benefit is ſet forth in our Catechiſm, viz.
1. That the Union between Chriſt and their Bodies doth abide.
2. That the Body ſhal reſt in the Grave till the Reſurrection.
And we may take a ſhort Survey of theſe two, and fie how great a Priviledge Believers have in regard of their Dead Bodies above other Men,
1. THE Union between Chriſt & their Bodies doth abide. I ſhall not here meddle with nice and curious Enquiries about this Union, which have no footing in the Word of God, and no way ſerve to Edification, but he content to Diſcourſe of it Soberly and Scripturally. Here then obſerve,
(1.) THAT there is a near Union made between Chriſt and all Believers. This is made in Converſion, and the ratification of the New-Covenant between them. That there is ſuch an Union, and what is the Nature of it, we have already taken an account, under the Head of Effectual Calling. And were are here to call to mind, that th…s Union is not Carnal, but Spiritual and Myſtical. It is Relative, or conſiſts in the Relation that is made between Chriſt and his People, and accordingly reſembled by Marriage Union, Hoſ. 2.19. And yet it is ſuch an Union as derives influences from Chriſt to thoſe that partake in it. Hence compared to Head and Members, 1 Cor. 12.12 And ſo cloſe is it, that they are ſaid mutually to have their inbeing, one in another. He is ſaid to be in them, Rom. 8.10. And they to abide in him, and be in them, Job. 15.5. And this flows fron the Covenant th… … between them.
(2.) THAT this Union, comprehends … the Souls only, but alſo the Bodies of the Children … God. And this is evident from the Wo… of God. Not only are we ſaid perſonally is … one with Chriſt; and yet the Perſon con…i… both the eſſential parts of Man, viz. Soul … Body: tho' that might admit of a Syne… … chical Interpretation, intending the Perſon … the Soul: but the Body it felt is expreſly … clared to parricipate in in. Their Bodies … thereupon ſaid to be Members of Chriſt, … 6.15. Chriſt Myſtical is compared to a … tural Body, conſiſting of Head & Members. … the Members or the Body, being parts of … are united to it, firmly knit, and cannot … ſeparated from it without mutilation. … relation which is made between Chriſt … his Redeemed upon their Believing in … graſps in it their Bodies. And therefore … Soul and Body are ſaid to be Chriſt's, … 6.20. For ye are brought with a price: … glorify God in your body and in your ſpi… … are God's.
(3.) THE Death of the Body doth not bro… Union, or make a Separation between Chriſt … it. Death indeed ſeparates Soul and … and they are divided each from the … and can be no longer ſerviceable one to … ther; but it ſeparates neither of them … Chriſt. That was a Natural Union, and … broke aſunder by the diſſolution of the … of Nature in the Man; but this is a … Union, and it remains indiſſoluble for … Death it ſelf is one of thoſe things of … it is ſaid, that they ſhall not be able to … us from the Love of God in Chriſt. Rom … When the Soul goes one way, and the … another, Chriſt ſtill abides firmly knir… … both. For this reaſon Dying. Believ… … ſaid to ſleep in Jeſus, 1 Thef. 4.14. And … the Body that only can properly be … ſleep; that the Soul doth not, we … ready obſerved. Jeſus Chriſt looks … dead Body, that Duſt, to be ſtill a … himſelf, under a myſtical conſiderable … is therefore precious Duſt in his effe… … is a piece of Chriſt that goeth into … every time that the Body of a Saint … thither, and he goes along with it … ſhady Vale.
(4) IT is a wonderful Priviledge that … to the Bodies of Be…evers, that this Union theirs to Chriſt abides after Death. … indeed cannot at preſent reſent it, but … is really and admirably priviledged by … of it. The difference with this puts … the dead Body of a Saint, and that of … is aſtoniſhing, however, to an eye of … may ſeem to be alike. Chriſt hath an … ed Love to that Body, he delights If … Relicts, and accordingly, it is his g… … and therefore he will do well for and … But this Priviledge may be more … Illuſtrated in the next particular.
2. THE body of the … on … till the Reſurve…ion. The … uſed of R…ſ…ing in the Grave, is to be … in a large, and not a limited ſenſe. … of the Grave properly, for a R…po… provided to lay by the Body in, by an …ble Bor…l of it; this is a Priviledge … belongs to Civility, and is aſſo…ded so … and Bad. And yet the boly ones of God. … not always this reſpect ſhown them: … caſually in the Providence of God … d…ow are and in the Sea, or …o… with …, and have no Fu…al gives them: … the c…u…lry and ſpirs of their Ad…ties will not admit of it. We read, in … 79.2, 9. The deal bodies of thy ſervants … they given to be meat unto the ſouls of the …, the fleſh of thy ſaints unto the beaſts of …. Their hi…d h…e they ſhed like mater … Jeruſalem: and there was …e to …. By the Grave therefore we are … underſtand the State of Death, or the … of the Separation of the Soul from … Body, in which the Carcaſs can take no …, not look after it ſelf. And by Reſt… not to underſtand meerly a Sleep, a … from Motion, or a continuance of the … i… that poſture it died in, and in that Place … it was Buried. For the Body paſſeth a … Diſſolution, than a meer Separation … the Soul; it is reſolved into its Princi… it … into duſt, Eccl. 12.7. And that … is many times thrown out of its … ſ…ced in the Air, and mixed with … Duſt: But there is ſomething more …, and i…icial intended in it; and …, in that ſingular Preſervation and … that Jeſus Chriſt will offerd to it, by ver… … it ſhall be forth coming in the ap… ti…. But we may take a more parti… … of what is contained in this …, in the following Concluſions,
… THAT there is a Glorious Reſurrection, … deed Bodies of the Saints are appointed … Doctrine of the Reſurrection, will … …ted of under the next Queſtion. … have mentioned as that, which is … of all that Care which Chriſt now … dead Body. For if it were never … is would be ſupe…tuous. This … the Saints of old had a proſpect and … : and with this they comforted them… under the ſorrows of Life, and appre… of Death. So did Job, Chap. 19.26, 27. … after my skin, worms destroy this … in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God: Whom I … my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhall behold, … anothers: though my reins be conſumed … So did David, Pſal. 49.15. So … …pher, Iſai. 26.29. And the Apoſtle … remark, 1 Cor. 15.19. If in this life … hope in Chriſt, we are of all men … …ble. And he tells us, that all the … of God green for it, Rom. 8.23.
… …AT there is a Time appointed, when this … ſhall be. It is not a thing uncer…ed, tho' it be ſo to us. The Reſurrection is to be the …epar…tory to the laſt Judgment, and is to in…date it, for Men are to riſe in it, Joh. 9.28, 29. And we are told, that God hath appointed the very Day for th… Acts 17.31. There are a great … things to be done in order to it, for elect of which God hath allotted the Seaſon, & when they are brought to paſs, then …e will … all with that.
3. THAT the Body muſt abide in the ſtate of Death till that. It m…ſt tarry till the Great Day, when all ſhall be raiſed, and that is, after the Affairs of this preſent Would are accompliſhed. The … in Chriſt are to riſe firſt, but it is to be, when Chriſt ſhall deſcend, &c. 1 Theſ. 4.16. Mean while, they are to reſt in the Grave, as in a …d, Iſai. 57.2 When the Apoſtle in Viſion had a proſpect of the Souls and of the Altar, crying to God for Vengeance, they had that Anſwer given them, Rev. 6.11. They ſhall reſt for a …tl… ſeaſon, until their fellow ſermons alſo, and their brethren that ſhould be killed as they were, ſhould be fulfilled. Chriſt will do this at once, & there are a great many yet to be born both naturally and ſpiritually; they muſt therefore wait.
4 WHEN that Time comes, the ſame Body muſt be raiſed. I liſt not to diſpute, in what reſpects it is the ſame. This is certain, that it ſhall not be another, but that which died. Job is confident of this, Job. 19.27. Not will all the Cavils of men againſt the rational poſſibility of this, undermine God's Omnipotency, or diſpute the veracity of his Word, The Apostle …ells us, that the ſame Body that was ſown, ſhall be raiſed, 1 Cor. 19.42, 43. Not indeed, could it hear the Title of a Reſurrection, if it were not the ſame; but would be more properly a New Creation, it another Body were beſtowed on the Soul, than that which it once dwelt in.
5. THERE are certain Priviledges, which the Body enjoys in the mean while; by vertue of its Union unto Chriſt. Several of them indeed, are materially no other than what befalls the Bodies of the wicked; but yet, becauſe they derive from Chriſt, and are of their Communion with him, conſequent on their being United to him; they are not feal Priviledges to thoſe, tho' they are ſo to theſe. viz.
(1.) THE Body reſts from all the Labours of this Life. This is enumerated to their bleſſedneſs, Rev. 14.13.—They reſt from their Labours— By which is Intended, not only a ceaſing of the toil, and travail, of the Employments of this Life, but the putting an end to all the bodily Troubles of this World, which the Soul felt only by concomitancy. This indeed belongs to the ſtate of Humanity, and the ungodly Sinner hath this Reſt as well as the Saint. The Grave is thus a Place of Quiet to all ſorts, Job 3.17, 18, 19. But, it is a poor Reſt, which is only a dark Interval, and a Prologue to more diſmal Troubles, and ſo it is with the Ungodly; whereas it hath this accompanying it, relating to the Children of God, that now they put off all Troubles, never to take them up again. The Wic… Trouble and s… begin againſt, as the laſt Day, but who Godly's ends, for ever: Alt Tr… and u…p… …, Rev. 21.4.
(2.) IT is no longer … Inſtrument of Concuſiſ…nce, in the commuting of … …dr…w… indeed an loſt immen…ti the N…w Nature to perform … …oly Acti…, and ſo a Servant of Righteouſneſs. However, the bodily Sor…ſes and Members were … a…p…y …riſp…loyed too often by the Law in the Members, in fulfilling the luſts of it, nod…by… this means the man was …rought into Caprivity, … which made him … ou…, as, Rom. 7.24 …retched … that I … ſhall delwe… … from the holy of this death … this ſhall now…ehe no more, nor will an heavy indiſpoſed Body hinder him, or be longer thus miſerably miſemployed, Rom. 6.7.
(3.) IT ſhall be put one of the … of any Her…, by … thing … World: … the Body is now made inſenſible of any injuries or …ſſion is that are offered to it, ſo there can no hurt be done to it by them. Wiched Men may ſhew their ſpite, and make it appear what they would be … if it were within their power, but it is out of the reach of real injury …though they ſhould …angle it into Atoms, hang its Quarters on Gibbers, expoſe it to all imaginable Se…n: as it feels none of this, ſo neither will it render it ever the more unpleaſing to God, nor hinder it of a Glorious is …ſ…ction. It is all this while aſ…ep in Jeſus. 1 Theſ. 4.14.
(4.) THERE ſhall be no Curſe in his Death. It is a Priviledge of the New Jeruſalem, whereof every true Believer is a Member Rev. 22.3.— There ſhall be no more Curſe. It was one part of the Curſe that fell upon Man for Sin, that he ſhould dye a Bodily Death, which …ſe had never befalles him. But tho' the Thing abides, yet the Curſe is takes out of it, Chriſt having born the Curſe, by being made one, Gal. 3.1…. their Death is become a Bleſſing, and they are bleſſed in it, Rev. 14.13. And this very Death of theirs is a precious thing in the ſight of God, Pſal. 1 16.15.
(5.) THIS Duſt ſhall be look'd after p…d none of it loſt, but be all ſouth coming in the …haſt Day. This is a great Myſtery, and the fleſhly mind entertains grievous Covillings againſt it. But there is no doubt to be made of the poſſibility of i… by one that hath right conceptions of the A… knowledge and Infinite Power of God. If this Affair were loſs, to the management of Angels, in would ſail; their Alchyany would never attain to ſeparate the remains of the Children of God from the other Elementary Parts with which it is mingled, we recollect it from the four Winds into which it is ſeattered. But God, who hath promiſed it is Almighty, and therefore can; Faithful and therefore will perform it for them. When God ask'd the Prophet that Queſtion, we have his reply, Ezek. 37.3. And he ſaid unto me, Son of man, can theſe bones live? and I anſwered, O Lord God, thou knoweſt. And if God had not known how to accompliſh it, he would nev… have given the Security …, the D…ſt of the Wicked, … by the powerful Providence of God … Surr…ion, but that is to Con… I … G… he hath of that of his People i… … caller reſpect the hath for them Ap…t … ſove it is a proper fruit of … continuing united … him. … … …er… ſeaſons why, … Union …iding, Go…i… … do this for the B…i… of G…his … the … ing of our Faith in the …li…f of it …
(1.) BECAUSE God the Fai… … this Body, and given the Charge of … Chriſt cannot but be careful of, and … to the Truſt repoſed on him … the Ereſ… Cor…ant. He …ereſcre fait…, … give Eternal baſe to all that …is … given him, Joh. …7.2. And God … his Choſen to him for this end. And … not only beſtowed their Souls … their whole men. Whenever mention is … of this, they are named perſona…y.
(2.) BECAUSE He himſelf …ie… … only his Faithfulneſy to his Truſt … Love to this Body engageth him. The … Jeſus Chriſt took a compleat P…uiable … upon him, and a Body as well as a Soul … 105. And that was, that he might be … Brethren in at…ibing excepting Sin. As … … fore he took care of his own Body, … have him comforting himſelf about the … and redelivery of it, Pſul. 16. … wilt not leave my ſoul in bell; well … ſuffer thine body One to ſet corruption … will proportionably do for the Bodley … becauſe his Love to them made him … a Body like theirs.
(3.) BECAUSE He hath … rainly Chriſt can not forget or Righte… which he laid down his Elſe for the … of. The Redemption made by Chriſt … too much for him ſo loſe any thing … want of looking after. It coſt him … and he would not ſhed any of th…y … Now this Redemption was for … Man… The w…ele was forfeit… by … poſtacy; and that which was … … ſed. This is the Argument for our … ing God with our Body, … Cor…. 19. … Chriſt hath bought the Body from W… will keep it for the purchaſed Good, … laft ranſom is from the Grave.
(4.) BECAUSE it is the Souls, … The Soul a… preſent enjoys a… … that it is capable of in a ſupara… … it is not it ſelf perfect us …o Hum… … wants a Body to compleat in which … it muſt have reſt… tu…, elſe … have the entire ſy…ci… Nature? … one once, and was ſo …olated to … longs for that, and ſhall be … the Fruition of it, Joh 19.16.
(5.) BECAUSE this Body was an … of the Service of God in this. Life … Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, in which he … abode, 1 Cor. 6.19. And he manage … the Glory of God. This Tongue … … …t…n…s wrought for Chriſt, theſe Feet … him to the Service of the …ingdo…. … all his Powers were confecra…ed for this …. This Service God accepted and Chriſt … …light in, and it ſhall have its ſteward. … therefore he kept to it.
… LET the C…es of God improve the …ſ…er…tion of theſe things, to fortify their … againſt the ſrights of Death. Nature … and reducts at the Thoughts of it. Let … Grace be exerciſed to compoſe your … againſt the Diſtractions of ſuch a re…cy. You love your Bodies, and it may … too fond of the preſent L…e of them. … cannot ſec…re againſt a Diſſolution, …spand… you know how ſoon it ſhall be. Your … in God's Hand. Take care then to … your inbeing in Chriſt, and that happy … which is the Foundation of your Feli… and then improve the Thoughts of it, … the Death of your Body very com…e, whenſoever it comes. That when … …iſſolution approacheth, and the Thread of Life is r…dy to be ſnap… af…der, you may not only be able to commend your Spirit to Chriſt, and believe that he will rece…te it, but may alſo be able to commit your Body to the Grave, as a Bed ſanctified by Chriſt for your comfortable Reſt; knowing that if he will warth over it, and look after it, through all that Night, and keep it ſafe till the Mo… of the Reſurrection, and that no Changes that ſhall paſs over it ſhall fruſtrate your expectation of that happy Reſurrection; count your Death to be no other but a Reſt, a ſweet Sleep, ſecured from all Storms and Tempeſts. And when you cloſe your Eyes, comfort your ſelves with this Thought, that you ſhall awake again, and when that is, that you ſhall be ſatisfyed with his Image, Pſal. 17. ult. Think then, in the inſtant of your Departure, that you hear your Redeemer ſaying to you, as on… he beſpoke good J…h, Gen. 46.3, 4. Fair not to go down to AEgypt.
[FEBRUARY 13. 1699.]