A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 142 (Question 38)
SERMON CXLII.
QUESTION XXXVIII.
THAT Benefits do Believers receive … from Chriſt at the Reſurrection?
ANSWER.
… the Reſurrection Believers being … up in Glory, ſhall be openly ac…ledged and acquitted at the Day of …, and made perfectly bleſſed in … Enjoyment of God to all Eternity.
… farther we follow the Child of God … tracing of his Happineſs, the more … ing it appears to be. We have traced …gh its Inchoations in this Life, and the …rance that it made towards its Per… at his Death, but the greateſt Glory … domains: As Sanctification ſo Gloriſi… it progreſſive; It is not perfected at … by ſteps and degrees: yet there is … which it ſhall in due ſeaſon arrive …her we are now to follow it. The …en, which now lies before us for our …ptation, is the conſummate Glory … Chriſt will at la… bring his Redeemed … …od put them into poſſeſſion of; the …tion whereof muſt needs be ſweet to all … have here forſaken all for Chriſt, and … confined their Hope in Chriſt to this … Time, but expect and wait for it in … Life, and through Eternity. The … …hen this Affair ſhall be tranſacted, and … …ory, conſummated, we are told, is at … …rection. But here alſo there is a … or ſeveral ſteps to be taken in the … …e…ting of it; And our Catechiſm ſums them up in Three remarkable paſſages,
1. The Quality in which they ſhall riſe; they ſhall …e raiſed up in Glory.
2. The Entertainment that ſhall be given them in the Great and Laſt Judgment, they ſhall be openly acknowledged and acquitted at the Day of Judgment.
3. The …nner bow they ſhall ſpend their Eternity; they ſhall be perfectly bleſſed in the full Enjoyment of God … all Eternity. We may take a diſtinct account of theſe things.
1. THE Quality in which they ſhall riſe; they ſhall be raiſed up in Glory. There are Two Things here proper to be taken under Conſideration, viz. That there ſhall be a Reſurrection? 2. That in that Reſurrection, Believers ſhall be raiſed in Glory.
1. THAT there ſhall be a Reſurrection. And here it is proper to handle the general Doctrine of it, though our Catechiſm only mentions it with reſpect to Believers. The Article of the Reſurrection is purely of Revelation and the whole Confirmation of it muſt be fe…ch'd from Divine Teſtimony. The light of Nature is not only dim, but quite dark as to any diſcovery made by it of this great and preciou… Truth. Hence there is ſo deep a ſilence about it among the Great and Celebrated Philoſophers of the Pagan World. For, tho' we have ſome of them diſputing ſtrongly and rationally for the immortality of the Soul, and a future ſtate of Rewards or Puniſhments, which it is to be the Subject of, yet as to the reſtoring of the Body, and the Sould retu… to it again, they rather ridicule it than aſſert it: And if there be any rare and obſcure hints of it to be found in any of them, we may ſuppoſe, they had it not from the light of Nature, but from their Converſe with the People of God. There are two Topicks, to which the Conſideration of this Doctrine may be refe…red, viz. the Poſſibility & the F…rity of it: And there is a great difference between theſe two. As to the Poſſibility of it, i… muſt be argued, either from the Nature of the Thing, or from the Unlimited Power of him who is the God of Nature. This latter, the natural than hath little acquaitance with or belief of, and therefore is wont to confine his Credit of things to the former, and or, believe …o …fore about it than be can diſcover to …ow from the Nature of the Thing. Now car…l reaſon pleads is impoſſible, from the Nature both of the diſſolved Body, and ſeparate Soul. Man's blinded reaſon is non-pluſt here, and thinks the Faith of it Infatuation. The Philoſopher looks upon the Soul to be incarcerated in the Body, and wofully manach… by it, and that in Death it receives a Jail Delivery and therefore to have no mo… inclination to return to it, than an enlarged Priſoner hath to go back to his Dungeon; and that the diſſolved Body paſſeth through ſo many Changes, that it can never become the ſame any more. Hence when Paul preached the Doctrine of the Reſurrection at Athens, they turned it into a flour, Act. 17.32. And when they heard of the reſurrection of the dead, ſome mocked: and others ſaid, We will bear thee again of this matter. And tho' ſome have argued the poſſibility & facility of this from the equivocal Generation of Inſects, the reviving and flouriſhing of Plants in the Spring; and ſome curious, Experiments in Alchy my; yet all theſe are rather Illuſtrations than Demonſtrations. And it is certain theſe are accommodated to Nature; whereas this Reſurrection is ſupernatural, and requires no leſs than a Creating Powe… And hence Job argues contrary from the ſame head, Job 14.7, 10, 12. For there is hope of a tree. if it be cut down, that it will ſprout again, and that the tender breach… thereof will not ceaſe. But man dieth, and wafteth away: yea man giveth up the ghoſt, and where is be? Man lieth down, and riſeth not till the heavens be no more, they ſhall not …ma…, not be raiſed out of their ſleep. As to the Futurity of it; that is a farther ſ…ep, and doth not neceſſarily follow from the former. It is no demonſtration that a thing ſhall be, becauſe it may be. God doth not work in his Efficiency to the utmoſt of his Divine Power, but hath bounded his Works by his Will; and there is the reſidue of the Spirit with him. For, tho' an Argument from the Divine Power be of uſe to confirm out Faith of any revealed Truth, and therefore the Apoſtle argueth thus about the Reſurrection, Phil. 3.21. Who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby he is able even to ſubdue all things unto himſelf. And tho' there are moral Reaſons that may be given for a Reſurrection; yet the force of them depends upon the good Pleaſure of God, and therefore do not of themſelves inforce a neceſſity, tho' they infer a great probabilty of it. But the Word of God, which is the rule of our Faith, gi… … firm aſſ…ance of it, in as much as it … declares it, and gives us inſtances of … are the firſt fruits & …neſts of it. Or … we had a ſufficient Account under th… … Diſcourſe. But ſort a more diſtinct … of the Nature of this Article, I ſhall … few Particulars to Conſideration,
1. THAT the Reſurrection is purp… reſtoring and reviving of the dead Body, … …uiting of it to its o…n Soul. We have … phetical Type of it expreſſ in Ezek. 37. … The Reſurrection moſt peculiarly … the Body, and ſo it is recorded in our … It is that which fell, that is raiſed … is that which was diſſolved, which is … and that is the Body. Hence that i… … 19. Thy do…d men ſhall live, together with … body ſhall they ariſe: amake & ſing ye … in the dust: for thy … is as the d… of … and the earth ſhall cast out her do…! D… diſſipated all the parts of it, reduced … their Elements, brought them into D…, … taken from it all ſenſe and life and … it is gathered together again to the Re… on, and Life put into it. And this is …ly the return of the Soul again; and it is … ſame Soul which returns and takes up… bode in that individual Body from which … was ſeparated; as hath formerly … evident. And in this reſpect in a … ſenſe, Reſurrection is attributed to the … Man, becauſe, as Death made the Sep… … ſo the Reſurrection procures the to … them, one to another. Hence that … 1 Kin. 17.21. And he ſtretched himſelf … the child three times, and tried unto … and ſaid, O Lord my God, I pray that … childs ſoul come into him again.
2. THAT this Reſurrection is produced … Almighty Po… of God. This is the … Head to which it muſt be reſerved. T… it from the Nature of the Subject is … for there is no natural return from … privation to the Habit again. All th… … ſaid on that account, is, that it is a … capable for Omnipotency to word upon … that nothing elſe can do it to effect is … certain: He who denies that God … may as well deny the Creation. What … too hard for him, who could call … out of nothing? The Reſurrection of … is therefore aſſigned to this power of … 1.19, 20. And what is the exceeding … of his power to us-word who believe, … the working of his mighty power: … worought in Chriſt when he raiſed him … deal, and ſet him at his own right … heavenly places. And becauſe the Po… … erted herein is ſupornatural, there are … ſtruments that are uſed to be inſtru… … to or cauſual of it, but it is an im… … work of Divine Power. The Voice … Arch Angel, and Sould of the laſt … may be preparitory to it, and ſignal of … the Efficacious Will and Word of God, … bring it to paſs. Hence that, Joh. …pan… Marvel not at this: for the hour is … … which all that are in the graves ſhall bear his …, And ſhall come forth, they that have done …, unto the reſurrection of life, and they that … done evil, unto the reſurrection of damnation.
3. THAT there ſhall be a Reſurrection both of the …, & the Unjuſt. We have this diſtribution aſſerted in the forecited Text, joh. 5.20. P…is alſo was a piece of Paul's Creed. Act. 24.15. And have hope a wards G…d, …ci they themſelves alſo allow, that there ſhall be a reſurrection of the dead, both of the juſt and unjuſt. Not only ſhall the Redeemed of Chriſt, and th…ſe that have believed in him, have a Reſurrection, as if all others ſhould remain unraiſed; …ich is the Opinion of ſome: but in direct …diction to the Word of God: But Wicked Men muſt riſe too. So that the meer be… of a Reſurrection doth not afford matter of Conſolation to ſinful men againſt the fears of Death, in as much as this is not a ſingular …ledge of ſome, but a common Lot of … Good and Bad; and muſt therefore carry …ich Terro…ia it to the one, as Comfort … the other.
4. THAT all the Individuals that ever Died, … Riſe again. Here we have both the exten… and the limitation of the Subject. If the …iry be, Who ſhall Riſe again? It may be …ered, Negatively, Not ſuch as never Died, and conſequently, not ſuch as never Lived. … have been ſome, who did not taſte …, as Enoch and Elias, theſe will not riſe …, being Glorified already in Soul and …; tho' it is to be thought that they will … to the Judgment with Chriſt. There … ſome who were raiſed at Chriſt's Reſurrection, Mat. 27.52, 53. And theſe were to be …rt of the firſt-fruits of the power of his …rection. And it is not to be thought … theſe died again, but that they went … him to his Kingdom, and ſo their Re…tion is already paſt. There will be …, ſound alive in the World, when Chriſt …h to Judgment. Of theſe, 1. Theſ. 4.17. … which are alive, & remain, ſhall be … up together with them in the clouds to meet … in the air; and ſo ſhall we be ever … …e Lord. Now theſe ſhall not dye, but …, 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. What this Change … be is diſputed, and I may ſpeak ſomething … hereafter; only it will not be Death, and …ey will need no Reſurrection. But then … be ſaid Affirmatively, all that ever …, and are then ſound Dead without Excep…. It will be of as large extent as Death … Thoſe very Abortions which dyed in … …omb, and never ſaw the Light, if yet … Bodies were formed, and their reaſona… …ls infuſed, ſhall ſtand up again; for … …ad an intire Humanity, and theſe Souls … …metral. And that all of all Sexes, … Degrees, ſhall thus riſe, we are aſſured … they ſhall all appear in the Judgment, … …ch this is an Introduction. See, Rev. 20. … And I ſaw the dead ſmall and great, ſtand … God: and the books were opened: and … book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged … of thoſe things which were written in the books, according to th…t works. And the ſea gave up the dead which were in it: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to …s works.
5. THE Time of this general Reſurrection ſhall be at the End of the World, and immediately before, and prep…i…ry to the Day of General Judgment. There were ſome raiſed in the days of Chriſt's being upon Earth, …nd the times of the Apoſtles, was died again; there remains a ſecond Reſurrection for theſe. I liſt …t here to diſpute about the firſt Reſurrection, mentioned, Rev. 20.5. but ſhall leave thoſe who apply it to a bodily Reſurrection, antecedaneous to the Thouſand happy Years expected, to abound in their own ſenſe, craving I be…y to diſſent from them, a… in a Point extra fundamental: But that the Reſurrection and the laſt Judgment ſhall be together, and the one ſhall make way …or and introduce the other, I firmly believe according to Scripture. Chriſt therefore tells us, that they ſhall riſe to the Judgment, Joh. 5.29. And they are declared to commence at once, Rev. 20.12, 13. How near the approach of this is, it is not for Men to determine, it belongs to the times and ſeaſons which it is not for us to know, the Father having put them in his own Power, Act. 1.7. Only this I believe, that there is a Glorious State of the Church Militant to intervene between this and that.
6. THE great Ender Deſign of the Reſurrection is, that God may be Everlastingly Glorified in Man, in his whole ſpecifical Nature. A Soul and a Body are both eſſential to Humanity, not can a Being be truly called Man, that doth not conſiſt of both. Now Man being placed under God's ſpecial Government, was to be led by it to an Everlaſting State; for which end he was placed under a Law requiring the Obedience of his whole Man, and engaging. either Rewards or Puniſhments to the whole according to his deporting himſelf; for which there is a Day of Judgment appointed: And that he may be there tried, and accordingly diſpoſed of, he muſt riſe again. And in this reſpect we may ſay, that Justice is ſelf requires it not Abſolutely, but Relatively, according as the Rules of God's Governing the reaſonable Creature are fixed In the Covenant Tranſactions between him and them. And in this ſenſo the Apoſtle refers us to the Righteouſneſs of God, 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8.
7. THOUGH all riſe, yet there is a vaſt difference between the Reſurrection of the Godly and of the Wicked. This appears in a double reſpect, viz both the Grounds & Cauſes of their Riſing, and the Quality in which they ſhall Riſe. The latter of theſe will be diſtinctly conſidered afterwards. Tonching the former l… us obſerve,
1. THERE is indeed the Power of God, equally appe…ing in th… one, as in the other. Their Death, under a Phyſical Conſideration, puts their Bodies into alike Condition, and therefore there muſt the ſame Omnipotency be exerted in the raiſing of a Godly, and a Wicked Man. It is equally a Divine Work, and therefore univerſally appropriated to God. 2 Co…. 1.9. But we had the ſentence of death in our ſelves, that the the ſhould not truſt in our ſelves, but in God who raiſed the dead.
2. CHRIST is to be equally the Judge of b…th. The Reſurrection is a preparitory to the Judgment, which Chriſt is to be the Diſpenſer of, and all are to appear before Him, and receive their Sentence from Him, 2 Cor. 5.10. For the muſt all appear before the judgment-ſeat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done i… his holy, according to that he hath done, whether is he good or bad. He is therefore ſaid to be Conſtituted the Judge of both quick and dead, Act. 10.42. which comprehends both the Godly and the Wicked.
3. BOTH riſe, ſo as not to die a natural Death any more. When their Souls & Bodies are thus ſ… united, they ſhall never be ſeparated any more. In this reſpect they ſhall alike partake in Immortality. There is an unchangible Everlaſtingneſs that will attend upon the Change that will be made on them by the Reſurrection. And her… …here are Eternal Receptacles provided for their perpetual Abode, Mat. 25. ult. And theſe ſhall go …ay into everlaſting puniſhment: but the righteons into life eternal.
4. THERE are yet divers reſpects in which there is a manifeſt appoſition in the Grounds or Reaſons of the Reſurrection of theſe and thoſe. Particularly,
(1.) THE Golly riſe to perfect their Happineſs, but the Wicked to compleat their Miſery. This appears, in that the great deſign of their Riſing is to be judged, in which judgment they are to be diſpoſed of according to what they have been in this Life, and therefore they are to receive the Sentence accordingly, Mat. 25. 34, 41. Then ſhall the king ſay unto them on his right hand, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then ſhall be ſay alſo to them on the life hand. Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the divi…and his angels. Accordingly we have that diſtribution, Dan. 12.2. 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.
(2.) THE Godly riſe in purſuance of God's Promiſe, but the Wicked according to his Threatning. There is indeed, God's Faithfulneſs to his Word in both, but one is from a Word of Promiſe, the other a fearful Threatning. God hath engaged Eternal Life to his Children, and they riſe to go to poſſeſs it: and he hath threat…ed Eternal Deſtruction to his Enemies, and this diſpoſeth them for it. The Godly riſe to enjoy endleſs Glory with Chriſt in Heaven; the Wicked riſe to ſuffer enduring Torments with the Devils in Hell.
(3.) THE Reſurrection of the one flows from God's Love; whereas the other's is from his just Severity. As the Reſurrection is to the Wicked a Penalty, ſo it is to the Godly a Bene…. Now all the Benefits which be beſtows upon his own, derive from the Fountain of his Everlaſting Love: and therefore he will this make theſe the Everlaſting Monuments of it a Whereas, becauſe he will ſhew his Wrath and make his Power known in the other, be will thus f… them for it.
(4.) THE Juſt riſe to ſtand for ever, but the Unj…ſt riſe to have the more …earſul fall. Both theſe are Intimated in, Pſal. 1.5. Therefore the ungodly ſhall n… ſtand the judgment, no… ſ… in the congregation of the reg…on…. God …i… eth his own, that be may bring them to the Eternal Kingdom, and exalt them to a Gl…ious Throne, there to abide …umo…ed forever: whereas the Wicked are raiſed, but it is … order to their being thr… … into the Lake of Fire, and …alling into the … Pit. Then will that Triumph are in glorious Accompliſhment, Pſal. 20.8. They … brought … and fallen, but we are riſen … ſtand utrigh….
(5.) THE reſurrection of theſe is an … Chriſt's Merit, whereas that of theſe … his S…v…re…gn Juſtice. The Reſurrection …. Believers muſt needs be precious, … Chriſt hath purchaſed it for them. The … end of his Dying, was that we might five through him, 1 Joh. 4 3. Now the Reſurrection … one part of this Life. Chriſt on this ac… calls himſelf the Reſurrection, Joh. 11.25. which intends, not only the …icient, but … the Meritorious Cauſe of it: And for … reaſon Chriſt tells us, that he is to … his whom his Father hath given him, Joh. 5.33. Whereas, the Reſurrection of the Un…, was not merited for them by Chriſt, … pointed in God's Counſel to them, and … only ſecured to Chriſt as Judge, which … of the glorious Rewards of his Medi… Service, Act. 17.31.
(6.) THE Reſurrection of Chriſt, but a p… cular and peculiar influence into the Reſurrection of his Redeemed. As he died to purchaſe it for them, ſo he roſe again to confirm it … them. The Apoſtle, in 1 Cor. 15. groun… … Believers Faith of the Reſurrection of the Juſt, upon the Reſurrection of Chriſt … makes ſo cloſe a Connection between th…, that he lets us underſtand, that all our… Faith ſtands or falls with our beief of Chriſt Reſurrection, ver. 14. And if Chriſt …e …n riſen, then is our preaching …in, end your ſaith is alſo vai…. &c. Now there is a minifold Co… mation of God's Children in this …ticle f… the raiſing of Chriſt. His Reſurrection … us, that the purchaſe of ours is made. He…e that, Rom. 4. ult. Who was delivered … offences, and was raiſed again for our juſti…. It witneſſeth that he hath made a perſ…. Conqueſt over Death, and it cannot bo… … when he requires us. It is to be an … for the Confirmation of our Faith, be… he roſe as the firſt-fruits; and his are … the Harveſt, ver. 20. He roſe as their … … Members moſt follow …. Now this is only the Co…ſ…lation …, and others have no late…ſt in … therefore gives this as the Reaſon … …ce on this account, Job. 14.19. … …ye ſhall live alſo.
… divers B…quiries made about the … which becauſe they have more … Curioſity is them, than matter …. I ſhall paſs over, only leaving … Remark, viz. That whatſoever … …fire for the perfect Glorification … …es of Believers, or for the making … …ies of the Wicked fit to be Veſſels … …creally, will then be done to them, … A…ighty Power, which will …
… we out then a…viſed, to …y in thee … …y the F…cy of this Reſurrection. … how ſollici…ous he was, P…l. 3.11. … that he might riſe again, for he … …as unavoidable, but that he might … it. If all muſt riſe again, ſurely … …orly …aid in, who never took care … beyond the preſent time. How … …uſt they needs be, who have laid … moſt Care for this Life only, and … the …, or provided, for the Life … is … me? Is there a Reſurrection to … to Contempo? it infinitely con…es … one of us, to uſe utmoſt care to … th…, … and eſcape the other. And … Unchangeable State that the …ect … will put as into, and that according as D… finds us, when it makes a Sie… …. They then are the only wiſe … make it the great Buſineſs of the … and Time, to make Proviſion, that … …th …nti…led to this Death & Re… … Chriſt, they may lie down and … and that when that Morning … may ariſe cloathed with his I… … that you be riſen with Chriſt now; … and true Converſion, then ſhall … which abode during your ſtate of … …ue in your Reſtauration; and if … he ſure to die in the grounded …, Death is unſlinged, the terror … way. And while the Pore-the't … …ction affords matter of Horror to … yield you abundant Conſolation, … in your Fleſh you ſhall ſee God.
[MARCH 12. 1700.]