A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 143 (Question 38 cont.)
SERMON CXLIII.
… in that Reſurrection, Believers ſhall … …ſed in Glory. The Reſurrection it … on to Good and Bad: And ſhall … different Grounds, and on a diverſe … already been obſerved. We … now to proceed to a particular … of the Beneſis that Believers re… … …iſt by and in this Reſurrection, … be very wonderful & ſurprizing. And that wi… take a proper account of this Affair, but us obſerve in general. That t…e …otime of the …ſurrection conſiſts, in the reſ…ring of the diſſ…lt of Body, end re-…ting of it with the Soul, which Death hath ſeparated from it. New thi… …otious State which the Man ſhall be put into, hath a proper reference to his Body. We have before obſerved that the Soul is perfected at Death, and enters into a wonderful Felicity before hand, whiles the Body is made a Carcaſs, and returns to its Duff. but was received for a better Condition in the appointed Seaſon; and now it comes. The Body ſhall now have wonderful Beauty and Glory put upon it; and this ſhall be at the Reſurrection. The Apoſtle therefore cells as, that we lock for ſuch a thing, in which he gives as a comprehenſive deſcription of this, Phil. 3.20. For our converſation is in hea…, from whereas alſo we book for the Savi…, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And be illustrateth it by oppoſing the Qualities that Death puts it into, to ſuch as the Reſurrection confers upon it, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. That therefore which now lies before us, is to take an account of the State in which the Bodies of Believers ſhall riſe; by which we ſhall plainly diſcover the Glory in which they ſhall be raiſed, and what an Happineſs ſhall be conferred upon them in …d by it. The word Glory, is uſed in various Senſes among Men: As alſo are the Hebrew and Greek Words by which it is expreſſed in the Scriptures. I ſhall here only point at Three; all of which may be ſuppoſed to refer to the thing under Conſideration. Sometimes Glory & Happineſs are put Synony mically; ſo in Pſal. 73.24. Thes. ſhalt guide me with thy counſel, and after receive me to glory. i.e. into a ſtate of perfect Bleſſedneſs. And it is certain that the Reſurrection of Believers belongs to their Glorification. It in one Article of the Felicity which God hath promiſed to make them to partake in at the laſt Day. As Chriſt's riſing from the Dead was one ſtep of his Exaltation; ſo ſhall that of his Redeemed be of theirs. Sometimes it intends a paculiar and tranſcendant acknowledgment that is paid to a Perſon, for ſome ſingular & extraordinary vertues which we conceive to be in him Praiſe, Honour, and Glory, ſeem to be ſo many degrees of deference given to another. Praiſe being a verbal Commendation, Honour a ſignal reſpect added to make it appear indeed that we have an high eſteem of him, and Glory a ſuperlative Praiſe and Honour that we confer upon him; by raiſing Trophies, erecting Monuments for his Memory, recording his worthy Actions, and renowned Endowments. Thus are we commanded to give Glory to God, Pſal. 29.1, 2. Give unto the Lord (O y… mighty) give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. And without doubt, the luſtre in which the Bodies of the Saints ſhall then appear, will gain them glorious eſteem. But the main thing, and that which is nextly here intended, is, Glory is put for the worth, of excellency which is make Subject, which …ecders it worthy of having that Glory paid … it. When the worth of it is ſurpaſſing, it is ſaid to be Glorious. Hence it is ſaid of God Enod. 17.11. who is like … thee, O Lord, amongſt the gods! who is like time, gl… in baba… fearful in praiſes, dang …ders. And 1 Chron. …9.11. There, O Lord is the greatneſs and the power, and the glory, and the … and the majeſty, for all that is in the heaven and in the …; there is the kingdom. O Lord, and thou … exalted as bead … all. So that by the Glory in which the Body ſhall be raiſed, we are to underſtand all thoſe admitable O… r…ments that ſhall be conſorved upon it by which it ſhall be mode fit for the happy State which it is raiſed to poſſeſs, in which it ſhall be com-glorifyed with its reſtored Soul. And that we …y take a right account of this, we muſt confine out ſelves to thoſe notices that are given us about it in the Word of God; from whence alone we have the aſſurance that theſe ſhall be a Reſurrection, and what manner of one if ſhall be. We may therefore eſſay the laying out the grounds and rat… of this in the following Concluſions.
1. THAT the great and of the raiſing of the Saints Body, is, this it may accompany the Soul, and …re with it in …erad Bleſſedneſs. The Reſurrection is in order to the Conſummation of our Glorification, and is made a neceſſary ſtep to it. God having choſen the Man to Eternal Life and the Man conſiſting of Soul and Body, he cannot be compleatly hapor but in-both in conjunction: And becauſe Death had made a ſeperation between them, they muſt be brought together again, elſe the Man doch not enjoy an intire Humanity; not can the Body be capable of any ſenſe of well being till it be animated again with its Soul; and this is the very thing that it is come to by this Change: For which reaſon it is called the Reſurrection of life, Joh. 5.29.
2. To the fitting of the Body thus to ſ…e in Happineſs. It muſt be a ſuitable Organ for the Soul to perform its bleſſed Operations in. The Glory of the Body conſiſts in its being compleatly ſuited for its end. Now it was made for the Soul, to be its Inſtrument; and muſt therefore ſerve it to its ends. Should the Soul, which is the moſt noble part in Man, be prejudiced or obſtructed in its Felicity, by being re-united to the Body, it would be a Penalty and not a Benefit beſtowed upon it. It muſt therefore be ſuch a Body, as in it the Soul may enjoy it ſelf, and not be clogged or impeded, in its ſeeing, enjoying, and glorifying of God for ever, in which its Eternal Bleſſedneſs doth conſiſt. Not can the Body it ſelf be perfect in Glory, unleſs it be qualify'd; becauſe otherwiſe it would loſe its end and uſefulneſs: and that would be its real miſery. It muſt therefore be wholly freed from any either natural or occaſional Indiſpoſitions, in order to its enjoying of a conjunct Glory with the Soul.
3. THE Body of Man had ſuch a Glory as this put upon it as firſt, which it Loſt by the Apo… Whether we conſider it … its …tural … and Compo…cie, or in its co…atural San… Infi…re Wiſdom ſuited it …o its great … Glorifying God. It we confider the compoſed of the Body and diſpoſing of it to be … its Sanctions, it was a wondrous Pabrick … 1…9.14. I will praiſe thee, for I am fearfull … wonderfully made: … are thy … that my ſoul … well. But when if conſider, the Body as adorned with the … of God, and every Member and Power of … Sanctifyed, what a Glory was this. Well … the Pſalmiſt ſay, Pſal 6.5. For then … have a little lower then the angels, and beſt … glory and …. But Man … hath laid all this Glory in the Duſt, and … veſted it of the image of God, indiſpoſ… to all that is honourable, and debaſed it … Slavery that renders it igacmi…ious, and … ſequently expoſeth it to Contempt. For … reaſon it hath gotten that Epithet of … tributed to it, Phil. 3.21.
4. THERE ſoull therefore be a … Change made in the Body, by the Riſu… from what it was in this Life. Whether … Man had kept his Integrity, there would … have poſt ſome Alteration on his Body, … him for a glorify'd State, is matter of … Speculation. But it in certain, that all … Damages which it hath ſuſtained by the … which have put it out of Repair, muſt … newed, all its Defects be ſupplied; i… … ners muſt he taken away, and that by a … derful Change. Of which, Phil. 3.21. … ſhall change our …de body, that it may be … like unto his own glorious body, according as … working, whereby he is able even to ſub… … things unto himſelf. Where we have the … thor of it, Chriſt himſelf; the Change it …, is from Vileneſs to Glory; the Pattern of … his own moſt Glorious Body; the Vertes … which it ſhall be done, the Working of … mighty Power. When therefore we … taken a view of this Change, we ſhall … a Proſpect of the Glory under Conſiders … Here then we may conſider this Change.
1. Negatively. in two Things.
1. THIS Change will not be in the … Frame, or humane Shape of the Body. … be an humane Body ſtill. For ſubſtance … be the ſame Body that we had before. … Body that went into the Grave ſhall be … out of the Duſt. This hath been before made evident; only let me add to the Con… on of it, that we are told that the …eſum…, on of our Body ſhall be analogous to th… … Chriſt, Phil. 3.21. And we are ſure his … the ſame. And therefore he ſaid to his … ciples, Luk. 24.39. Behold…rcy bands & my … that it is I my ſelf; handle me, and ſee, … ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones, as ye ſee … Chriſt will take the ſame Materials, & … them a new Make, and build them into a … ly Fabrick. Our Bodies are ſaid to be of the Duſt. i. e. they are Elementary; and it is this Duſt that ſhall awake, Iſal. 26.19. … ſhall not be an Etherial Body …rrogated in the … of the other, as ſome have without … and contrary to Scripture imagined. And it ſhall return to an humane Shape, for … Chriſt's and in that Form or Figure … he repeat to his Diſciples, after he was …. And indeed, infinite Wiſdom contrived his Shape at that which was moſt covenant for ſuch a Creature, both for Beauty, & Glory and F…eſs for being and ſtreamer of the S… in its Operations; and therefore it ſhall …h when raſed. It ſhall therefore: have all the bodily Members which it had before. … they were every one placed in the Body in the perfection of Humanity, and fitting is for its End. And it is preſump…ou…tly …ed that ſome ſhall then be uſeleſs, for … do we know what honour Good will have by …? And it is certain that Ca…, who in the Pattern of our Reſurrection roſe in the … Body, with all its Members, for his … were ſaw Corruption.
1. HENCE it follows, that the Man ſtall … be …ged unto any other Species, or kind of …. Some miſtaking that expreſſion (in 1 Cor. 15.44. It is form a natural body it is … a ſpiritual body. There is a anurad body, … is a ſpiritual body.) have ſuppoſed that ſhall be charged into a Spirit, or an Arge… Subſtance; But how then will it be a … Far Bodies and Spirits. are of two … Species; ſo that it muſt thus …oſe its …. It ſhall have nothing put upon it … Change, which is inconſiſtent with, or …ctive to at Humane Body. for ſo had at Chriſt's Body. When therefore Chriſt … that it ſhall be equal to the Angels, … 20.36. Neither can they die any more; for … unto the angels, and are the chil… of God, being the children of the reſurrection he doth not intend that they ſhall be … into Angels, but only that they ſhall … …lly priviledged with them in that … State. Much leſs then ſhall their … be adorned with Divine Perfections, … …quity, Omnipotence, &c. for neither in Chriſt ſo in his Humanity, whatſoever ſome love vainly dreamed.
2. Mainely: Obſerve in general, that this … George will be in their bodily Quality; and … will conſiſt their conformity to Christ's … Body. And this Change will be ſo … and wonderful, as will advance them …lations State. And the more attoniſh… muſt needs be, in that it will be done, … or a Body made of Earth, or of an … Original, but alſo on a Body which … de…ced, and made ſo vile. And this … be ſummarily compeized under two …
3. …LL the evil Qualities which the Body was … with by Sin, ſhall be removed and all …rory Qualities requiſite to make it Glori…full be reſtored or beſtowed upon it. I put thoſe two together, becauſe they do mutually … me the other; and there is in it as it … return from the Privation to the tis…. We obſerved, that Man's Body was made Glorious … firſt, that it loſt this Glory and became vile by Sin. All this ſhall no… be recoreted, and the raiſed Body ſhall have none of thoſe Miſchief upon … leave them behind; not ſhall it … any of theſe Primitive Excellencies, which were put upon it in its Creation. In particular.
(1.) THE Body ſhall by … all its Deformity, and be made muſt be…. It ſhall have a Conel…eſs put upon it, and r…ing will be unlovely in its. All the Defomities on Man's Bodies are Penalties of Sin: whether it be a …netry of Parts, redundancy of deficiency of Members, or the like. Whatever of theſe the Body had before, it ſhall not riſe with them. Chriſt is altogether lovely, and ſo ſhall the Believer be. Among Chriſt's Redeemed at the Reſurrection, there ſhall be no Dwarfs, no little Children, none with any Member wanting or ſuperſ…ous; none Crooked or Deformed; but all ſhall be Comely, Beautiful, Amiable. And this is …eluded in that, 1 Cor. 15.42. It is from in …, it is raiſed in glory; it is from in weakneſs, it is raiſed in power.
(2.) IT ſhall put off us …, and be …de Immortal. It was Sin that brought Death into the World, Rom. 5.12. Man in his ſtate of Integrity, was ſo made Immortal, that if he had not ſinned, he had never dyed. The Reſurrection ſhall put an end to this Death. They ſhall die no more, but live Eternally. We ſhall therefore after that be ever with the Lord in our Bodies, 1 Thſ. 4.17. And this is intended, in 1 Cor. 15.42. So alſo is the reſurrection of the dead, it is ſome in corruption, it is raiſed in incorruption. Hence that of our Saviour, Luk. 20.26. Immortality is a new Spit which the Body ſhall put on when it riſeth, ver. 53. For this corruption muſt put on incorruption and this mortal muſt put on immortality. Not ſhall it any more have the leaſt diſpoſition or tendency to a Diſſolution.
(3.) IT ſhall be pecfectly ſecond from all Diſeaſes, and Informities. It was here full of Maladies. an Hoſpital for all manner of Diſtempers to lodge in, liable to the infections of the All and every all Accident, expoſed to acute and chronical Maladies, which wofully impeded both its Service and Comfort. But all theſe were buried with it, and ſhall be left behind and riſe no more; it ſhall enjoy perfect Health and Vigour, without the leaſt Pain or Grief. Then ſhall that prophecy be compleated, Iſal. 33.24. And the inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am ſick: the pesp…a that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquity.
(4.) IT ſhall no more ſtand in need of Ch… ing. Man in innocency had no occaſion for it, much leſs ſhall there be any in the Reſurrection. That which firſt made it neceſſary was the ſhame that Sin had brought upon it's and the need was increaſed by the Miſeries of the Seaſons, that we were hereupon expoſed unto. And tho' Pride hath made Man count it their Glory, yet every Garment that we not on is a Bedge of our lg…ion a mark of Diſgrace upon us. This will their be itm…eed. The Body will be ſo glorious that to ſhame will abide as it, and it will tem…e to a C…rate where a will actor be expoſed to any Injutice. In a Word.
(5) THERE ſtall be …thing is the … …g the Sads free, and aninter…d … February; had all … is a q…t is a B…dy that frail … for … be given to it. There ſhall be neither Weak eſ… Wearineſs to a…eml it. It ſhall ſpend a F…ly lathe Celebra…g the Praiſes of God in Singing endleſs Halol loſſes. It ſhall be ever Co…em plating of the Glory of God and acting Love upon him, and never …ed; it ſhall be quick and active. And in this reſpect it may be ſaid to be ſ…uc…t u…kneſs, &c. And a m…al half, &c. 1 Cor. 15.43, 44. Had Man kept his integrity, he had never known what it was to be tited in his Work, to he faint, and forced to give out. Not ſhall the raiſed B…dy be any more a clog to the Soul, or the Bo… ver have any …aſion to ſay, the Spirit indeed is willing, but the Fleſh is weak. And when it hath been employed in that Happilying Buſineſs of Heaven Miltions of Ages, it ſhall remain ſtill as froſt, and active, and ready to purſue it as ever. So that there was nothing loſſ in Adam, but what ſhall be reſtored in Chriſt, when that Day comes, in regard of the Body.
2. THE Body ſhall have ſomething ſuperadded unto it, …b…ve what it had in us firſt Creation which ſhall further augment the Glory in which it ſhall he raiſ…d. What might have been it he had never ſell, I diſpute not, but this is certain, that the ſtate of the Body in Creation, was in ſome things ſhort of what, that …f the Saints ſhall be in the Reſſurrection. And that will appear in the things that are appr…p… ted to the C…leſtial State, to the Poſſeſſion whereof, the Reſurrection is a deſigned Medium, And they are chiefly,
(1.) THEY ſhall live with at Food. The firſt Adam, and Mankind in him, had a ſubordinate Done dance on the Creature for the Na… ment of his Body, and maintaining that Life which was put into it. G…d therefore provided other Creatures for his Suſtentation, and beſtowed them upon him for Food. Gen. 2.10. And the Lord God commanded the man, ſlying. Of every tree of the garden thou mayeſt freely eat. But the State of Heaven to which he is raiſed is another thing. They are corruptible things which were to ſuſtain our Life, but there is no ſuch thing there, where we are to be entertained after we riſe. And therefore out Bodies ſhall have no occaſion for them, elſe the want would be our Miſery. Thus alſo it is Spiritual Body. God will hold it up in his own Hand, as he doth the Angels, and therefore Hungring & Thirſting ſhall then ceaſe, Rev. 7.16.
(2) IT ſhall live without Sleep. And in this it ſhall alſo be like the Angels. Sleep is thought to ariſe from Fumes engendred by the Nouriſhment taken, and the ex…ed the Spirits by Labour. Adam in … could not do without Sleep, becauſe be … to live upon Nutriment, and on their … there was a Night for Reft, as well as a l… for Work. But now nothing of this will be not the Body need it. And hence there … be … Night, Rev. 21.25.
(3) It ſhall five without Merri…ge. The reaſon of that was becauſe God would have all Mankind to derive from one Originator, ſo be might treat with them in a Cove… is one Head; and accordingly this Ordi… was it ſliteted in Man's State of la…my. But now all Generation ſhall be at an … and ſuch Relations will ceaſe and be … Th…s therefore is the main thing in wiſdom Saviour tells us that they ſhall be like the … gen, Mat. 22.30.
(4.) THE Body ſhall no more be empl…d in ſuch Caller as were app…l…tted for Near p… vi…ing for his holly Ke…e…. For when he Occaſions for it ſhall ceaſe the Vocations … were purpoſely deſigned for it, will caſe too. Adam was put into the Garden to … it, Gen. 2 15. But now the Body is di… ged from all ſuch Buſineſſ, to be intimity a L…betty for thoſe Glorit us and Cela… … ployments in which in ſtall reſt from all … Labours, and Celebrate an Eternal wh… rapted Subbath, in which its actual …dy will conſiſt. Thus will the Body be … in Glory.
USE I. LET the Toughts of re… … help the Children of God th…rſally is … the b…lity in…vention is of this Life. … part of our Trouble in his World ariſeth … the Body, and I know no better reflet t…'s contemplate this great Change that … ſhortly have. When you ſee and feel … is now, at begin to be diſcouraged, look … and believe what it ſhall be then, and … over againſt the other, and let that … with Patience to beat the Preſent … cauſe it will be over are long, and … Change ſhall come upon you. An … be your Comfort, Pſal. 17.15. … will beheld they face in righteouſn it … ſatished, when I awake, with th… ….
USE. II. LET this atſ…gement to … thoughts of your Diſſolution. There are …y things apt to imb…en them, and we do … dily pore upon them; but here is th… … may put a better relish into them. Wh… this Frame muſt be taken in piecer. … member, Sin hath put it out of off…, … is diſſolved but to being new b…iſt. I'll when you are going to lie down in the … how gloriouſly you ſhall riſe againſt; … this make the Meditation of that D…y … ous to you. Think often what an an… ble Benefit it will be, to have this … ſhine like the Sun in the Firmament, … adomed with all the ſtately Perfection … ſhailmake is fit for the moſt noble…mploy … and Enjoyments in the Eternal Kingdom: W… made immortal, impaſſible, ſpiritual. … … make you free to beat the Changes which … paſsover you in the coerſe of Providence. …ding to God's Al wiſe Counſel, in order to the making … for this happy Change. Be …ling to be down in the Duſt, till he ſhall … you our of it, and dreſs you up as a Bride … meet her Bridegroom, in the Day of his …reſt Solemnities. Believe, that he who … promiſed is able and faithful to perform …, and threfore it ſhall be thus and a great … better than you can at preſent to conceive. And let this Faith make you teſt in Hope and very willing to paſs through and out of, this …e of Tears, that ſo that which is imperfect may be done away, and that which is p…fect may come.
[APRIL 9. 1700]