original corruption and preach unto him humiliation and repentance as weariness so sickness in the body is a fruit of sin It is a commotion and collision of those humors in the body which God restrained from breaking out one upon another so long as man by sin transgressed not the bounds set to him by God but when man passed his bounds then the humors of the body passed their bounds and like an impetuous flood after the bulwark is removed over-runs the whole body Sin made way to this inundation which in the estate of integrity was barred up in the body by the over-ruling providence of God who shutteth up and openeth the barrs even of the great ocean at his own pleasure Thirdly from sin is that tormenting fear of death 3 Tormenting fear of death which keepeth the heart of miserable man in straitness and bondage Heb. 2.15 Through the fear of death all their life time are subject to bondage In which words a sinner is compared to a Malefactor condemned shut up in prison and under a continual fear of the execution of the sentence It is the Apostles allusion also Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath shut up all under sin that is it hath convinced all men of guiltiness and of obligation to eternal death Iob 18.14 Death is called the King of terrors Heathens called it the most fearful of all fearful things Caligula the fourth Roman Emperour hid himself under a bed when he heard the noise of thunder guiltiness in the conscience is the worm that breeds this gnawing and tormenting fear of death Cains guiltiness made him fear every one that met him would kill him This fear of death until it be qualified and tempered by Faith in the Merit of the death of our Lord doth exceedingly torment and disquiet the heart of man in the midst of all his pleasures even a glancing thought of death maketh his heart sorrowful Amidst all his plenty he is like unto Damocles who had not a heart to taste the dainties on Dionysius his table for fear of the drawn sword hanging over his head by an hair in like manner the fear of death in his adversity doth wonderfully disquiet him he taketh a very small cross though it were but a sore head to be a beginning of his endless woes to be a drop of that cloud of fierce wrath that is to be poured out upon him in vials at his death and judgement and to be a Messenger sent of God to arrest him Fourthly 4. Pain in dying Pain in dying is also a bitter fruit of sin This bitterness and Antipathy betwixt the living man and death is a part of the wages of original sin It is true some wicked men may have little or no pain at their death Psal 73.4 There are no bands in their death But all that calmeness is but a shore Sun-shine before a storm the fearful tempest of Gods wrath abideth them their day comes on apace wherein their worm dyeth not and their fire will not be quenched The rich Glutton no doubt at his death had store of all Lenitives that could give him any ease whereas Lazarus had none But that rich man afterward felt the pain to the uttermost he got not a drop of cold water to refresh him The death of some wicked men is like those Fishes going down with much facility through Jordan till they once fall into the dead Sea and there they die so the wicked man is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his death Prov. 14.32 Fifthly 5. Separation of the soul and body In the first death is implyed the dissolution it self when the soul and body by their union making up one person are separated the one from the other This actual separation is also a punishment of sin Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death It is true Enoch and Elias were born in sin but had not this separation of soul and body yet it is certain when they were translated in the body to heaven they were separate from the society of men living on the earth they were changed from a state of corruption which was a separation not of the soul from the body but of all corruption from the body and of the remainders of sin dwelling in both Moreover God who is above all his penal Laws and Statutes might according to his good pleasure give an Indulgence and Immunity to his servants from that penal Ordinance of death as he did grant unto David an Indulgence to eat of the Shew-bread notwithstanding there was a positive Statute to the contrary The sixt and last evil of misery implyed in death threatned against man before his fall and deserved by his fall 6. The cuâ—â—â— of death is the curse of death when it serve has a darke dreadful passage into the second dâ—aâ—h and outer darkness This by the fall was deserved by all and herein stands the curse of death that not only it separateth the soul and the body but as Gods officer it openeth the prison door to the end the soul the prime malefactor may be first drawn forth and put under the execution of wrath and therefore the body which did second the soul in obeying the lusts of the flesh is put to the suffering of eternal wrath at the day of resurrection Death to the rich Glutton was a dark trance carrying him into hell As hell it self and the bottomless pit are the wages of sin deserved by all so is also the curse of death in being a passage unto hell due unto all sinners for as the Malefactor deserveth the execution of the sentence of death so in like manner to be carried in such a way that leads to the place of execution This Doctrine serveth for our humiliation Vse 1 seeing sin is the cause procuring death with all the alterations going before Sin is matter of humiliation in all bodily distempers the pain accompanying and the destructions following it It is our duty when ever any change seiseth on the body to humble our spirits before God and to acknowledge the sins of our souls Remember the distemper of the soul brought on all the distempers and indispositions upon the body There may be many new and strange diseases in this sinful age whereof it is hard for the most skilful Physitian to finde out and shew the true natural cause but it is most easie to find out the true spiritual cause both of our new and old diseases which is the corruption of our inward man as in the last and worst of times new and strange sins do abound foretold 2 Tim. 3. which our Ancestors and many honest Pagans having nothing but natures light would have abhorred and said as Hazael Am I a dead Dog to do such things so no wonder there be new diseases inflicted justly by God as new punishments of new and uncouth transgressions Therefore at what time soever thou findest any alteration in thy
daily experience the body is sown in dishonour a little before death the face becomes pale earthlike and the body of one dying doth smell of the earth like wine neer run out smelling of the dreg after the soul and breath is gone the body corrupteth and beginneth to stink like an empty earthen house without fire in it at such a time the body is loathsome even to the nearest friends Sarah had a fair and comely body yet after her death Abraham desired a place to bury her out of his sight But in the day of resurrection the bodies of the godly will be raised in honour in great comeliness and splendor though they be sown in dishonour and thrust into the dust yet like the root of a Lilly shut up under the ground in time of Winter they shall spring up again and be cloathed with beauty by the power of God who cloaths the Lilly 3. In respect of constitution and healthfull disposition the body is now sown in weakness saith the Apostle but will be raised in power Our constitution of body in this life at the best is weak though all bodies be not alike weak a fit of the burning Ague or of the Stone will lay the strongest man on his back and though the bodies of sonne be strong for bodily imployments yet through frequent labour and exercise they languish and become weary Sampson though of matchless strength yet did waste his spirits in the labour of the fight and became weary and thirsty the strongest bow will slug thorow too much bending and shooting and the strongest body will become weary with too much exercise on a death bed the strongest man is not able to hold the drink to his own head or to turn himself in his bed But in the day of resurrection the body will be raised in a strong constitution then will there be no weariness in the body nor faintness in the spirits This weakness of body now is one of the Symptoms of original corruption but death as a Catholicon will purge out that bitter peccant humour which maketh our bodies weak and after that purgation our bodies will be preserved and raised to a strong and confirmed health for ever in the heavens where the body will be kept from all corruption from within or alteration from without 4. In respect of exercise and operation it is sown a natural body saith the Apostle but it is raised a spiritual body not of a spiritual substance but with spiritual qualities for if it were raised an Aerial body as some erroneously have asserted then should not the same body which died be raised for it is sown an earthly body but it is called a spiritual body in respect of the exercise and use of the body after the resurrection it is here on earth a natural body having necessity of natural means and helps for preserving the species by procreation and for conserving the person by nutrition but after the resurrection the body will be abstract and retired from all such natural operations and employments the glorified Saints will be like angels neither giving nor taking in marriage Mat. 22.30 The number of the elect and triumphant Church wil be then compleat and their whole delights will be in an immediate communion with God which will drown both the remembrance and the desire of all creature-delights neither will the body then have need or use of meat and drink because the body will be of a fixed and durable constitution without any possibility of alteration or decay They will be filled with God and this will fully satisfie and delight both the soul and the body they will not hunger nor thirst because they will be ever full of the bread of life and of the water of life It will be a spiritual body in respect of Agility for Spirits are Agile The Angel Gabriel in a very short time came from the heaven to the earth Dan. 9. And the Angel Act. 8. carried Philips body in a very short time from one place to another so shall our spirits carry our bodies in a very short time through a large space and intervall Augustine Augustine in his book of the City of God lib. 22. ch 30. saith That certainly whereever the Spirit and soul would be straight wayes the body will follow the desire of the heart and be in that place Neither will the soul desire any thing which is unbeseeming for it self or the body as the helm turneth the Ship in a very short time wheresoever the Steersman will so our bodies will turn instantly at every motion of our Spirits our body will be caught up by our Spirits into the third heaven in a short time as Philips body was caught up and carried from one place to another Act. 8.39 where the same word is used which ye have 1 Thes 4.17 As for those members of our bodies which served to natural uses and employments in the time of our sojourning here they will remain in the body for ornament and integrity as the brests in women come to old age though they do not serve them for giving suck as sometime they did yet are they for the ornament of their bodies Augustine in the place above cited saith well Augustine all those members and bowels of the incorruptible body which in the time of mortality served for divers uses now they will serve for matter of praise to God This Doctrine serveth for admonition Vse 1 seeing there are different ends of the resurrections Be careful in this life to do well some will be raised to life and glory others to damnation Let it be thy desire and endeavour to be of their number in this life who do well because glory is appointed for such how earnest should we be to know that our resurrection will be unto life If many prisoners were shut up in one common prison and it were told to them all that some of them should be taken forth unto liberty and honour and others unto shame and pain in such a case how earnest would each of those prisoners be to enquire if himself were one of those appointed for liberty and honour It is certain death as a Jaylor will shut up all mankinde in the common prison of the grave and corruption how solicitous then should we be to know if we be appointed of God unto life and glory in this text our Lord giveth unto us a sure evidence of a glorious resurrection unto life to wit if thou hast done good in the body They that have done good shall come forth unto the resurrection of life It is true good works have no place or interest in the work of our salvation by way of merit Christ our Mediator only hath Merited it by the work of his righteousness by him alone we have boldness to enter into the holiest Heb. 10.19 Neither have good Works any efficacy on our salvation It is the free gift of God Rom. 6.23 Yet it is
38. but desire of life should be well qualified 1. It must be ever with submission to the good will of thy heavenly father thou must say as our Lord did Father if it be thy will let this cup pass away from me yet not my will but thine be done 2. It must be out of a serious intention and resolution to honour the God of thy life by bringing forth the fruits of righteousness after thy sickness that all who know thee may praise thy God not only in his power manifested in thy bodily recovery but in his mercy for healing thy soul and making thee to grow in grace after thy sickness 3. It must be with an earnest desire to glorifie God in thy calling As Paul Phil. 1.24 It is best for you that I abide in the flesh As Parents being sick may lawfully desire to live that they may bring up their children in the knowledge and nurture of the Lord but all this must be done with a submission to the will of God Object Object May a man out of discontentment for troubles worldly desire to be dissolved Answ That was Jonahs sinful fit of impatience Answ but it lasted not It is not lawful our of discontent to desire death we should be much displeased and discontent with our sins but in no wise with the good and blameless providence of God in afflicting us for our sins It were evil for us if death should take us away in such a fit It were with the silly fish but a leaping out of the lukewarm water into the hot fire It is a weakness of spirit to fret and faint under crosses but the strong spirit beareth them with resolution To this purpose Augustine doth argue well Augustine that Cato and Lucretia were both of weak spirits in so far as they could not bear those disgraces wherein they were innocent sufferers but out of their weakness of spirit and a desperate discontentment they became Agents in their own perpetual shame and confusion by self-murder and leaving their station without any order from God who had placed them therein It is most certain that crosses through Gods grace sanctifying them are means to wean the heart of the child of God from the world as babes are weaned from the brest after it is crossed with wormwood But the main ground wherein riseth and standeth the desire of Gods children to be dissolved is this that they may be delivered from the burthen and bondage of indwelling corruption and be with Christ which is best of all Therefore whatsoever thy present condition be labour thou to be content therewith This is a sure ground of comfort after thou art once in a state of grace and favour with God through Christ Thy present estate be it what it will prosperity or adversity it is ever the best Reverence his wise and holy providence God hath placed thee in this world Submit thou to his will for the time of thy abode or removal As God put Noah in the Ark so the holy man stayed there till God commanded him to come forth Joseph and Mary stayed in Aegypt till God sent them word to depart out of it So must we with patience abide in a miserable world until the time God sendeth for us and when death cometh as a messenger from God then should we answer as Rebekkah did to her nearest friends when they said Gen. 24. Wilt thou go with this man She answered readily and resolutely I will go She leaveth parents friends and all So at death should we be willing to leave all in this present world for it is best to be with Christ the prince of life and Lord of Glory To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost be all Praise Honour and Glory for now and ever Amen The glorious resurrection of the body by CHRIST JOH 5.28 29. Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice And shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation THe great priviledge of the glorious resurrection of our bodies The resurrection of the body a fruit of Christs Merit is also a sweet refreshing stream flowing out from the fulness of Christ his love merit and power 1 Cor. 15.22 Since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead we get a right and claim to this priviledge by Faith in Jesus Christ the purchaser of it Ioh. 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into damnation but is passed from death into life It is spoken of the whole person and supposeth man made up of soul body also in the praeterit time he is passed from death unto life because his interest and claim to Christ doth ensure unto him all the benefits purchased by the death of Christ As the purchase is by the merit and satisfaction of Christ The application and appropriation of the right and claim by Faith in Jesus Christ so we are put in the possession of it by our Lord at his second coming Philip. 3.21 he shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned according to his glorious body In the words we have these four points considerable 1. In the words 4. points 1. The certainty of the resurrection of the body The hour is coming Our Lords Disciples and hearers marvelled when they heard of the Mysterie of the first resurrection whereof our Lord was speaking that those who were yet dead in their sins and trespasses should be quickned by the word and Spirit in these words he saith marvel not at that for not only is there a first resurrection in this world to a new life but also a second resurrection in the other world into eternal life 2. The universality of the resurrection All in the graves 3. The powerful means of the resurrection They shall hear his voice and shall come forth 4. The different ends of the resurrection according to the difference of the persons that will be raised They that have done good unto life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation From the first point we observe this Doctrine and Conclusion Doctrine There shall be a resurrection of the body It is most certain there will be a resurrection of the body The hour and time appointed for it in Gods purpose is coming saith our Lord in whose lips was never found guil There is a certainty of infallibility in respect of divine prediction for heaven and earth will pass away before one of his words fall to the ground and there is also a certainty of immutability in respect of Gods Decree and eternal purpose for the counsel of the Lord shall stand and he shall do all his pleasure Isa 46.10 The resurrection of the body is
of enjoying I will behold thy face 3. His perfect disposition and condition in the state of happiness I shall behold in righteousness having my heart perfectly conformed to the will of God the perfect and adequate rule of righteousness 4. The measure of his happiness I shall be satisfied my happiness will be full in the measure without want of any thing that can make me happy all my desires shall be satisfied and my happiness in respect of duration shall be eternal without a shadow or fear of a change The time when his compleat happiness will begin is The time of full happiness at the day of resurrection when I awake This is no wayes to to be understood of the awaking of the soul as if the soul during the sequestration of it from the body were as in a sleep without all sense either of pain or joy until the day of resurrection This is contrary to the holy Scriptures that tell us the spirit returns to him that gave it Eccles 12.7 The soul of the rich man was tormented and the soul of Lazarus comforted Luk. 16. Our Lord said to the convert Thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise and therefore his soul went straight to heaven Rev. 14 13. Blessed are the dead who dye in the Lord from hence forth that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them This place as it overturns that invention of purgatory for it is said from henceforth that is after their death they rest from their labours and so go not to that labour in the fire of purgatory So it discovereth and confuteth that dotage of some in the former and present times concerning the sleeping of the soul Neither can the place be understood only of a meer privation of trouble or pain such as dead bodies may have but it is a rest from labour with comfort reflecting to the soul from point of pain 1. It is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comforting rest as the same word is used by our Lord Math. 11.28 2. The place speaks of this rest as a special benefit bestowed on them that dye in the Lord and therefore it is not as some have thought a rest from all pain or joy which they affirmed to be common for a time both to the souls of good and evil men 3. And withall it is said their Works follow them to tell us no sooner the evening of this their life is ended but immediately they get their reward of glory in beholding the face of their Father which is in heaven But this manner of speech is used to express the death and rising of the body for in the Scripture phrase the death of the body is compared unto a sleep Ioh 11.11 Our friend Lazarus is asleep saith our Lord but I go to awake him of Iairus daughter our Lord said the maid sleepeth Math. 9.24 1 Thes 4.15 We which are alive shall not prevent them that are asleep The death of the body is fitly compared to a sleep Death fitly compared to a sleep for those reasons following 1. In time of sleep the senses are bound up there is no exercise of them so after death the body cannot act nor exercise any natural operation 2. As some go sooner to bed for sleep and others later so some dye in their younger others in an older age 3. As in sleeping some lye longer in bed others but a short time so the bodies of the Patriarchs are a longer time in their graves then the bodies of those who dye in the later times 4. As after sleeping there is an awaking so after death there will be a raising of the body 5. As some after sleep are refreshed and rise up cheerful others awake sick and heavy so in that morning of eternity the day of resurrection the Godly at their awaking from death will be refreshed and made glad with the sight of Gods face but the wicked will be awaked and rise with an heavy and doleful heart at the sight of Gods angry countenance then shall they curse the day of their birth and wish they had perished with the beast what Iob said once in a fit wishing for his dissolution they shall say in an eternal impatience longing for an Annihilation but shall not obtain it Iob 3.20 Wherefore is light given unto him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more then for hid treasures Our compleat happiness is delayed until the time our bodies be awaked and raised out of the grave Doctrine Compleat happiness shall be after our resurrection for it is said here I shall be satisfied when I awake Our satisfaction will not be till then The children are first awaked and raised up in the morning before they be set down at Table so our bodies must be first raised before we can be set down at their common Table and Communion of glory with Abraham Isaac and Iacob for our happiness cannot be consummate until the person be glorified both in soul and body that our compleat happiness is delayed till that time is evident from Scripture Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life 1. Cor. 15.54 When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption then death is swallowed up in victory so that the compleat happiness both in soul and body will not be until we get victory over death and the grave by the resurrection of the body Thus the Lord delayeth it in his wisdom for these reasons 1. To shew his truth and faithfulness Reasons 1 by inflicting death according to the Word of threatning Gen. 3.19 Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return And therefore to fulfil the Word of truth there must be a dissolution and returning of the body unto dust before there can be a resurrection 2. To confirm our faith of the resurrection when we hear the bodies of the Patriarchs do rest yet in their graves and are not raised up we are assured God will raise them and our selves with them If God had raised their bodies already Many would have doubted of any other resurrection yea when we see at any time the graves opened of those who dyed in the Lord their very bones and dust preach unto us and this a pious Necromancie the Doctrine of the resurrection that the bodies shall awake and rise unto life 3. The Lord delayeth it to shew his great power in quickening and raising the bodies that have been dead long ago for all things are alike possible to our God of infinite power he can raise them who are dead thousands of years since with no less facility then those who are lately dead with the same omnipotent facility he raised Lazarus stinking in the Grave and Jairus daughter but a few hours after her death his infinite power admits not a more and a less Gates of Brass and
far better to suffer affliction in a weak and sickly body then to act sin in a strong and healthful body It is much better to have the strength of grace made manifest in thy weak body then to have a weak and unruly spirit in a strong body It is much better to be under a sickly and suffering condition then to be like those yong widows rambling up and down in their licentious health such are not only soul-sick but dead while they live in that base element of noysome lusts 1 Tim. 5.6 but the children of God living to him in their sickness have healthful souls in sick bodyes they have freedom of spirit under bodily restraint It serveth for a ground of comfort and encouragement to the children of God against the fear of death Vse 3 Comforts against the fear of death and for the better establishing of our hearts I propound these consideraons 1 Consider Death is a naked and spoyled enemy Our Lord hath taken the sting from it so that it cannot harm thee It is true the dear children of God have their own fits of natural fear when they look to deaths pale and gastly face but when in their second and better thoughts they consider death hath no power nor weapon wherewith to hurt them this doth raise and comfort their drooping spirits and upon this account I may say to the child of God as the two faithful spies said to the Children of Israel affrighted with apprehensions of strong and mighty enemies in the way unto their promised rest Num. 14.9 Their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not 2. Consider Thy Lord and Captain of salvation is with thee at thy death and will lead thee through that dark trance This was Davids comfort Psal 23 4. I will not fear although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death because the Lord is with me This valley is like that of Achor to the child of God a door of hope Hos 2.15 As the children of Israel were much encouraged and comforted by the first tasts of plenty in Achor at their entrance into the promised land so the children of God at their entring into the valley of death and border of eternity receive of the first fruits of eternal life peace in their consciences and joy of the holy Ghost in their hearts by faith and hope they see some light before them at the further end of this dark valley like a light on the shoar towards which their will doth steer the course of their affections Psal 48.14 He will be our guide even unto death Think not thy God who hath been thy guide through the wilderness will leave thee when thou comest to Jordan and to the border Thou art both unthankful and unbelieving to entertain such unkind thoughts of thy kinde God upon whom thou hast been cast from the womb make better use of tried love then to distrust him in the end of the day who hath been with thee since the morning of thy life but rather learn as David to make good use of former kindness first to praise him Psal 71.6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb my praise shall be continually of thee Next to hope and confide in him vers 14.16 I will hope continually I will go in the strength of the Lord God And last to pray to him for continuing his loving kindness ver 17 18. O God thou hast taught me from my youth Now also when I am old and gray-headed O God forsake me not 3. Consider thy union with Christ This is a main ground of comfort at death he is the saviour of his body all his members will be brought where himself their head is he will be compleat in his body he will not want the weakest or poorest believer that did on earth cleave to him with purpose of heart 4. Consider he prayed for thee that thou mightest be where he is Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me and he prayed also that the father would keep them in his name and power by the way until they came unto the end of their faith the salvation of their souls Thou who in thy sick bed prayest for the same thing our Lord sought in prayer for thee and before thee thou mayst be assured to be heard when thy prayer is founded on his merit and on the efficacy and example of his prayer 5. Consider the godly man is a great gainer by death It is best to be with Christ Phil. 3.23 The man who liveth to Christ and dieth in Christ doth not loose the good things of this world but exchangeth them for far better A man returning from a strange and poor countrey to his own home and in place of base mettal which he leaves behind him receiving a bill of exchange to be answered in gold and ten thousand for one that man looseth nothing by leaving that poor countrey and base coyn but gaineth much so the believer at death upon the account of Gods true and faithful promise made to him in place of empty and perishing riches receiveth in heaven solid and durable riches in place of honour worldly that is like the inconstant wind he gets his adoption manifested to him when he is put in possession of eternal glory when he is made a sure pillar in that new Jerusalem whereupon holiness and glory is engraven with indeleble characters The new Jerusalem is wholly founded upon Jasper stones Rev. 21.19 All such precious things so much esteemed in this world are far below our contentment and happiness in heaven as the foundation of a house is far below the plenishing and precious furniture of it God himself infinite in greatness goodness beauty and all perfection will replenish our house there with his own presence wherein is fulness of joy and pleasures for ever Psal 16.11 Compare I pray you our happy being with Christ after death and our being in the miseries of this life Then canst thou not but assent to that of Paul It is best to be dissolved and to be with Christ at the best here we are but Pilgrims and is it not best for a Pilgrim to be at home in his fathers house we may and should as Pilgrims resolve for hard and unkindly entertainment in this strange world yea entertain a pilgrim never so well yet his heart is homeward so though the child of God were every way in a prosperous condition here on earth yet his heavenly mind is far above those empty husks his heart is in heaven here not only are we in a course of pilgrimage being absent in the body from the Lord but also in a daily warfare not only against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against Satan the world our own rebellious corruption by which as a domestick traitor Satan and the world do deceive assail and overcome us now and then
most certain in both respects 1. 1. It is foretold It is foretold and revealed by the holy Spirit in the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first Gospel preached by God himself in Paradise Gen. 3.15 the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the Serpent that is destroy all his works when the head is bruised and crushed forthwith all the operations and actings proceeding from it are crushed and destroyed So the power and dominion of death over the body in the grave one of his works brought upon us by his tempting and our own virtual consent in our first Parents is destroyed in the seed of the woman as was foretold in that first and fundamental Gospel-Promise Exod. 3.6 I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which place our Lord cites against the Sadduces to prove the certainty of the resurrection Math. 22.32 Because God is the God of the whole man and man is not whole without the body Iob 19.25 I know 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 my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another Iob is confident of his resurrection in the same individual body Psal 17.15 I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness which place sound Interpreters both antient and modern do expound of the awakening of the body from the sleep of death in the day of resurrection To this purpose speak also the holy Prophets Isa 25.8 He will swallow death into victory And this is by delivering our bodies from the captivity of the grave wherein death and corruption for a time had power over them Isa 66.14 Your bones shall flourish like an herb at the day of resurrection the bodies that were hid in the graves and secret receptacles of the earth like a herb hid under the ground in time of Winter The Son of righteousness at his return will revive them and make them spring forth in fresh and lively colours by the effectual influence of his mighty power Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleep in the dust shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt It is certain also from the divine Oracles of the New Testament Math. 12.41 The Ninevites shall rise in Iudgement Ioh. 11.24 I am the resurrection and the life saith our Lord Act. 24.25 Paul preacheth before Foelix of the Iudgement to come and if there will be a Judgement certainly the resurrection of the body must precede that the persons to be judged may give appearance before the Judgement Seat And Paul preaching to the same purpose Act. 26.9 saith Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God shall raise the dead As the resurrection of the body is infallibly certain 2. It is appointed by God in respect it is revealed and foretold in holy Scriptures so it is immutably certain in respect it is so appointed by God in his eternal counsel and decree which cannot be altered Act. 10 42. God hath commanded us to preach that Jesus Christ is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead If God ordained him to be Judge then certainly he ordained that there should be a resurrection that men might be brought before this Judge for without a resurrection there could be no persons to be Judged Rom. 14 10. We shall stand before the Iudgement seat of Christ There cannot be a standing till first there be a raising from the dead Act. 17.31 He hath appointed a day wherein he will Iudge the world in righteousness The Apostle proveth the certainty of the resurrection from the certainty of a day of Judgement set and appointed of God Iob 6.40 This is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day In which words our Lord sheweth us that eternal life is appointed and ordained of God for all that believe on him and that the resurrection of the body is a means also appointed of God for executing the Decree of their compleat glory That the resurrection of the body is possible and probable 3. It is possible and probable the Apostle Paul proveth at large 1 Cor. 15. from Gods power seen in things natural and obvious to sense as in raising out of the grain of corn sown and dying under the clod a fair stalk of corn with many grains The day saith Tertullian is buried in the night and yet riseth in the morning we see also in vegetables the herb that is withered in the Winter doth in the Spring time revert and flourish again the Lillie puts on again those pleasant colours in the Spring time that were laid aside in the Winter Do we not see that Alchymists out of divers herbs cast into one common Limbick do extract those simple principles of which at first they were composed And what is our sleeping in the night time but a shadow and resemblance of death then are our senses bound up from exercise and our awaking in the morning is a rising to the use and exercise of our senses such like arguments prove only the possibility of a resurrection for with God nothing is impossible and all things are alike possible to him who is of infinite power but the certainty of it is proved only from holy Scriptures for God is able to do many things which he will not as to raise up children to Abraham of stones This possibility of the resurrection is well inferred from his infinite power but the certainty of it is concluded from his will and purpose revealed in holy Scriptures which are infallibly true This Doctrine serveth for admonition to all Vse 1 Be thankful for the revelation of this Mysterie who live within the verge of the Church of Christ to be thankful to God who of his good pleasure hath revealed to us this great mysterie hid from the wise men and great Philosophers in former ages who in their conjectures about the estate of the dead became vain in their own imaginations It is true they had some glimpses of the immortality of the soul Plato in his Dialogue entituled Phaedo saith by deaths coming to a man that which is in him immortal departeth freed from corruption and giveth way to death Cicero in his Tusculan questions lib. 1. saith it was a maxim inbred in the Antients that man at death is not so taken away that by it he is altogether destroyed and annihilated The Poet Lucan lib. 1. rendreth the reason why the old Gauls were so hardie in all their encounters at â—â—ght because their Pagan Priests called Druides did teach them that their souls immediately after death would be in a happy condition but concerning the resurrection of
As in thy mourning thou makest conscience of natural affection to thy dear friend so at the same time make conscience also of thy supernatural affection and submission to the will of thy heavenly Father this consideration will regulate thy sorrow 2. Consider It is best for thy dear Christian friend to be with Christ and thou hast great cause to bless God that thou knowest where he is he is now at his rest from all his labours Rev. 14.13 A loving wife parting from her husband on the shore when he is going to another Country though her heart be sad at parting yet doth she rejoyce to hear of his safe and happy arrival at his wished Port bless God and rejoyce in this thou knowest from the good Word of God thy friend is come safe to his Port where the salvation of God will be a perpetual Bulwark against all troubles and storms 3. Consider The Lord our God keepeth the very dust and rude materials of their bodies Rizpah watched over the bodies of the Sons of Saul and guarded them against the ravenous fouls of the ayr 2 Sam. 21. And shall not the Lord who is love it self preserve the bodies of his own dear children against that day the Lord had a care of the Prophets dead body 1 King 13.24 when a ruinous house is taken down by the owner he carefully layeth aside the stones and timber and keepeth them till afterward out of them he raiseth it up in a new frame So the Lord doth keep the materials of the body until he raise it up in a new frame of beauty 4. Consider as the body of thy deceased friend is carefully kept so will it be powerfully raised and we shall all meet together in that assembly of the first born Peter James and Iohn met with Moses and Elias at the transfiguration of our Lord which was a prelude of his second coming in visible glory so in that day thou shalt see and know thy dear friends but all in Christ That superlative relation of being glorified fellow Members of his Mystical body will swallow up all relations according to the flesh As a woman marrying one that is her neer kinsman though she know such a relation yet her love to him as her husband surpasseth far her former respects she carried to him only as her kinsman The second point considerable 2 Point The universality is the universality of the resurrection All that are in the Graves The word rendred graves signifieth monuments or remembrances because graves are memorials of the dead and should be of good use for the living to be Monitors and remembrancers of their mortalitie by Graves we understand not only the lower places of the earth wherein the bodies have been interred for the bodies of many will be raised that were never buried but by graves we understand the receptacles of the dead such as the Ayr Water and Earth they must and will render up their dead Revel 20.13 As for the bodies of those who will be living upon the earth at our Lords second coming though their bodies will not be in graves and therefore cannot be said properly to be raised out of their graves yet they will be changed from an estate of corruption unto incorruption There will be a raising and elevating of the condition of their body from mortality unto immortality This change will be in the twinkling of an eye 1 Cor. 15.51 as some falling asleep do sleep for a long time whereas others no sooner have their eyes shut but incontinent they awake so the change of such as are living at our Lords coming will be in a very short and insensible time As Adam in an instant after he had sinned became mortal so all who are sound living at Christs second coming in an instant will become immortal and incorruptible in the body There will be an universal resurrection of all the dead Doctrine 2 Cor. 5.10 There shall be an universal resurrection of the dead We must all appear before the Iudgement seat of Christ Therefore all must be raised that all may appear Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God as in a seed-plot though the seeds be mixed there together in one place yet the Sun in Spring time maketh several herbs to rise from thence distinct one from another in stalk flower and fruits So though many dead bodies be sown in one common burial place as a seminary of the resurrection yet the Lord will raise from thence the several bodies every one distinct from another in number and individual qualities No new Creation The same individual bodies that died will be raised for it is said All in the graves at that time there will not be any Creation of a new body 1. Because it is called a resurrection and a resurrection is the rising of the same thing that had fallen 2. Death is called a sleep and burial places are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sleeping places Such are raised which sometime slept but bodies created anew on that day cannot be said to have slept 3. The Sea is said to render up the dead Revel 20.13 but if the bodies were anew created there would be no rendering of the old 4. It is spoken in an Emphatick and Demonstrative manner 1 Cor. 15.53 This corruptible this mortal and therefore it must be the same body that sometime was subject to death and corruption Obj. Objection Will the ungodly be raised by vertue of Christs resurrection Answ No Answer because believers that are Members of his Mystical body are only said to rise with him Eph 2.6 and they are called the Children of the resurrection Luc. 20.36 but he will raise the wicked by force as their Judge by vertue of that â—enâ—ence Gen. 2.17 what day thou eatest of the forbidden fruit thou sh lt certainly dye and that the sentence of the second death may be executed on them they must be raised So that their resurrection is a curse and not a blessing to them But the Godly will be raised by Christ as their head drawing all his Members unto himself by a full redemption from all their enemies that he may be compleat in his body and they may be compleat in their head in whom and with whom both the soul and the body is fully glorified This Doctrine serveth for a seasonable wakening and warning unto secure sinners Vse 1 An awakening to secure sinners who dishonor God here in the condition of their mortality by many vile sins committed in and by the body Remember thou wilt be raised in the self same body and brought before him who is Judge of quick and dead It will be with thee that livest and dyest in thy impenitency as it was with the Baker in the prison Gen. 40. he was much disquieted in the morning with the remembrance of his sad dream in the night time his trouble was great in the night time greater in the morning when by
Joseph it was expounded of his shameful death but greatest when his dream was fulfilled and himself led from the prison to the place of a painful and shameful death so wicked and profane men are greatly disquieted when thoughts of a resurrection and Judgement are sometime born in upon them against their will then are they as with a violent gripe and stitch suddenly surprised and suppressed but all this disquietness and anguish of Spirit is like a dream in comparison of that horror will overtake them in that day of resurrection Then will their own consciences suggest unto them what shall be their doom They will be self-condemned before ever the Judge pronounce his Sentence I require the senseless sinner to consider in time if after thy yester-nights drunkenness or other wickedness thy conscience hath smitten thee soundly sometime after thy first sleep in such a manner that thou couldst get no rest for the lashings of it which were as pricks in thy eyes and thorns in thy sides how thinkest thou thy conscience will torment thee in that day wherein there will be no rest no not for a moment from extream and endless pains then shall all thy sins be set before thee in the light of thy countenance If Judas was so tormented with the sense of one horrid sin to wit his treachery in betraying the Innocent what will thy torment and desperate horrour be when all thy sins will be set before thee as a shameful fang in the eye of a condemned thief The black sight of thy sins and of Judgement will be the first thing thou shalt see after thou art raised in the body Therefore while it is called to day harden not your hearts but obey that Act. 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord for though sins be forgiven only in this life wherein there is place for repentance and for reconciliation with God And though sentence of absolution is now quietl pronounced in the conscience of the true penitent and believer yet at the day of resurrection the sentence of Absolution and Justification will be solemnly pronounced in that great Court of Jesus Christ wherein it will be made known to Angels and men when he will say to them on the right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Math. 25.24 And contrarily men self-condemned in this world and dying in their impenitency shall then be condemned before Angels and men It serveth for a ground of sol d comfort to the Godly Vse 2 who honour God in the body Solid comfort to the Godly fall thy body where it will at home or abroad by a natural or violent death yet it shall be raised again Some of the dear children of God have been devoured by wild beasts others in the fire consumed into ashes and their ashes scattered into the Ayr yet these bodies will be raised as many report of the Phoenix out of their ashes some have been drowned in the waters and others smothered under the earth yet the Lord in that day will gather all his Iewels as men do their Gold out of the ruines of a burnt house Revel 20.13 the Sea gave up the dead that were in it and hell and death gave up their dead by hell is meant the receptacles within the lower parts of the earth as Jaylours are countable to the Judge for the prisoners delivered into their keeping and must present them to the Judge at his command So all the prison houses of the bodies of the Saints will be opened and all the Jaylours must make open doors in that great day of our Lords glorious procession that the prisoners of hope may come forth and be made partakers of that full redemption from the grave and corruption Ob. But what say ye of those Anthropophagiâ—men eaters Objection doth not their flesh and blood consist of the bodies of men devoured by them and if the substance eaten up by them shall be restored to the first owner then they themselves will have no proper substance of a body to be raised Answ 1. Answer These Canibals will cast out the dead bodies devoured by them at the command of the Lords mighty power as the fish did cast out Ionah 2. All the parts of the body were not devoured as the bones and some other parts The Lord out of those remainders both can and will raise up the body whole and intire 3. Whatsoever the devourer wanteth by restoring the parts devoured to the first owner God in his wisdom and power both can and will supply the same It is enough for us to believe as it is revealed that the Lord will raise up the same individual body we believe the matter but as for the particular manner we leave that to the power and wisdom of God who can do above all that we can think Eph. 3.20 and in the hope of our glorious resurrection we give to God Father Son and Holy-Ghost all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen The third point considerable 3. Point The powerful means of our resurrection is the powerful means of our resurrection they shall hear his voice and shall come forth of this speaketh the Apostle 1 Thes 4.16 The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God By that voice and trump we understand some sensible manifestation of his power and glory at his second coming as the Audible voice doth express the conception of our minde and as the sound of a Trump is an ordinary sign of state and power so this visible appearing in glory and the great work of raising the dead will be a manifest expression of the glorious power of the Son of God in this sense the Word of God is taken Heb. 1.3 He upholdeth all things by the word of his power that is by his powerful providence conserving the being of his creatures This active providence is as it were the word and expression of his infinite power whereby he doth in heaven and earth what he will Thus it is said Ionah 2.10 The Lord spake unto the Fish and it vomited out Ionah This speaking was Gods doing and working by his mighty power in such a language will the Almighty Lord speak to all the graves of the dead and in an instant at the word of his power they will cast out their dead Thus he is said by his word to have created the world the work of Creation was the expression of his eternal purpose so to do and of his omnipotent facility in doing as a word is easily spoken and doth express the thought of our mind It is called his mighty power or efficacy of power as it is in the original according to which he will raise the dead Philip. 3.21 he rent the vale of the Temple he shattered the
will have an accessory joy reflecting from the soul as light within a glass is transparent so the inward glory of the soul will be legible in the large Characters of an ever cheerful countenance in the body As the joy of the glorified Saints will be in full measure and extent 2. Permanent so it will be permanent and perpetual Ps 16.11 At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Joh. 16.22 Your joy said our Lord to his Disciples no man taketh from you Though a sound believer hath matter of joy in his God even amidst his greatest troubles yet many times there are here sad interruptions of his joy in respect of the exercise of it in this vail of tears our condition is mixed at one time a shour of tears and prayers at another time a Sun-shine of joy and praises at one time we are ravished as it were to the third heavens with the sense of Gods love at another time we are cast down into the depth of sorrows when the Messenger of Sathan even some violent tentation doth buffet us at one time we are full both of matter and affection to praise our God that we may say with Elihu Iob. 32.18 The Spirit within constraineth me I am full of matter at another time our heart and spirit is like a bottle in the smoak all our former joy is spent and dryed up Psa 102. Our joy here is like the husband-mans joy in harvest he must be put again to the troubles and the pains of seed time so after our joy here we are put again to sow in tears Iacob had much joy at the return of his sons with corn from Egypt but it endured not for soon after he had great sorrow the corn was spent and he must part with his beloved Benjamin but in heaven our joy will be everlasting a full joy without mixture of sorrow a continual harvest a joy ever in perfection as the fruits are in time of harvest we shall never sow again in tears a perpetual joy but without wearying or loathing because there will be infinite and recent variety of sweetness in God to delight and rejoyce our hearts for ever Object But will there not be degrees of glory in heaven It is probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven 1. and if there be degrees how will all be satisfied can he that hath less be as well satisfied as he that gets a greater measure of glory Answ 1. It is most probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven Dan. 12.3 some shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and others as the stars for ever and ever 1 Cor. 15.41 there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon and another glory of the Stars so also is the resurrection of the dead There are also divers degrees of torments in hell according to the divers degrees of sin and guiltiness in this life so according to the divers degrees of grace in this life it is probable there will be divers degrees of glory in heaven The servant who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not will be beaten with more stripes then he that is ignorant of it though he do it not Luke 12.47 It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgement then for those Cities which did contemn and reject the offer of the Gospel Mat. 10.15 2. Though there will be degrees of glory in heaven Yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied with that one essential and substantial glory communicate to all in the vision and fruition of the one infinite and al-sufficient God As vessels of divers measures are all filled in the same Ocean though all of them be not of equal capacity The greater degree of glory communicate to some will not be for the excellency and differences of their graces here but according to the divers degrees of grace freely bestowed on them in this life by the spirit of Jesus As they were merited onely by him who is the sole procurer of our grace and glory so in heaven the degrees of glory are a crowning not of our merits but of his own gifts for the giving of a former gift doth oblige the receiver to thankfulness but not the giver to bestow another gift so grace given freely of God obligeth us to thankfulness but doth not oblige God to give unto us glory more or less Because grace and glory in all their degrees are of his free love Rom. 5.17 for if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Iesus Christ This doctrine affords a ground of sharp reproof against all profane and earthly-minded men Vse 1 They are fools who for perishing pleasures part with everlasting joyes who with profane Esau do sell their part of this full refreshment and satisfaction for the deceitful and perishing pleasures of sin To such in our time I say as Isaiah did to those in his time Isa 55.2 wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not Therefore to the end thy heart may be rectified I offer these considerations 1. Consider that worldly pleasures are 1. unsatisfactory Consider in time the pleasures of this present world cannot satisfie thy vast appetite Riches do not satisfie the covetous man he desireth more what he yet wanteth then he delighteth in what he hath already The Heathen Moralist spake truth to this purpose when he said the covetous man wanteth as much what he hath as what he hath not as he possesseth not what he wanteth so he hath no heart to make use of what he possesseth honour doth not satisfie the ambitious man what he hath of it already is but a step to raise up his vain spirit to the desire of more and where are vehement desires of more preferment there cannot be satisfaction Neither do sensual pleasures satisfie the incontinent or intemperate man his sinful desires are not satiated thereby the more he sinneth his corruption is the more set on fire of Hell more sin is but more fewel to the fire of concupiscence Therefore as Isaiah exhorts in the same place hearken diligently unto the word of the Lord and eat that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness obey that exhortation of the Apostle Col. 3.2 set your affections on things above and not on things on earth covet the best things be thou truly generous and heavenly-minded set thy heart on these durable riches on that immortal crown of glory and on these pleasures that fade not away those pleasures in the vision and fruition of God will satisfie thy soul for ever they will fill up the measure of all thy desires thou wilt have more set before thee in an infinite God then thy finite
good tidings from heaven and of joy to thee then all thy evil dayes will be over wherein thou hadst thy trembling fits and feavers of conscience but that will be thy good day without succession of an evil day then shalt thou have perpetual peace in thy soul and confirmed health in thy body for if thou be espoused here to Iesus Christ in holiness and righteousness thou shalt not be afraid at his glorious coming the glory of thy Lord and Husband will reflect upon thee and his spouse shall rejoyce at his coming The wise Virgins rejoyced at the voice and coming of the bridegroom in that day thou shalt rejoyce as Iacob did in hearing and seeing his Ioseph in the day of his great honor power in Egypt Our Lord with his white cloud at his coming will scatter and abolish all thy clouds of afflictions Though now it may be thou hast much weakness in the body yet in that day thy Lord will come with power to give unto thee a strong body It may be for a season thou sufferest much disgrace and trouble in the body for keeping a good conscience in an evil time yet be of good comfort thy righteous Lord will come in great glory and shall give unto thee a new name even glory and honour that none can take from thee Therefore in the sense of thy true conjugal affection unto him wrought in thy heart by his spirit and in the lively hope of the full manifestation of his love in that joyful day when there will be a perpetual cohabitation in glory let thy soul be looking and longing for his second appearing and as thou hearest him saying Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me So let thy soul as an eccho answer with the spouse Even so Lord Iesus come 4. Point The fourth point considerable in the words Point 4 is the different ends of this universal resurrection They that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation both the godly and the wicked will come forth from their graves but as they differed in their life and death so shall they differ in the end of their resurrection The godly will come forth as the Butler out of Prison Gen. 40. to stand and live for ever in the favour of God but the ungodly as the Baker to be made spectacles of the Iustice and wrath of God for ever It is true the bodies of the wicked will be raised immortal and incorruptible to the end they may be everlasting subjects of everlasting pain as the body of a Malefactor is held up at a Pillory when he is scourged that by the extention of his body he may be rendred the more capable of the scourge and pains The resurrection of the bodies of Believers who live to the Lord and die in the Lord will be unto an happy condition Doct. Believers shall arise to happiness and freedom from all trouble pain and all the consequents of sin for the Resurrection of Life is opposed unto the Resurrection of Damnation as the ungodly in their bodies will be fastned like condemned slaves to eternal torments they will be ever dying and pining a way in torments but never dead so the godly will live in the body a life of happiness being absolved and freed from all pain and enjoying all satisfaction in the presence of an al-sufficient God Phil. 3.21 he will change our vile bodies and he will make them like unto his own glorious body Our bodies in this life are but weak and frail a little thing will distemper them even one nights unrest Our bodies in this vale of misery are but vilis saccus servorum The greatest amongst the children of men carry about with them such excrements as should be Monitors of frailty and documents of humility and that which maketh our bodies most vile is this that they are cages of unclean birds of many unruly lusts though they reign not in the godly yet they dwell in them as Hagar with Sarah and do molest them But at the resurrection there will be a change of our Bodies Our Lord will make them like unto his glorious body and it is said Mat. 17. at his transfiguration which was a prelude of the glorifying of his body his face did shine as the Sun As the Tabernacle under the Law was made according to the pattern shewn in the Mount so our earthly Tabernacles will be renewed according to that pattern shewn in the Mount where our Lord was transsigured great will be the brightness of their bodies in that day of resurrection there will be a most glorious sight when the bodies of the Saints will rise up together as so many Suns above the horizon of the grave and time that will be a lightsome and a glorious day This surpassing glory of their bodies is described more particularly 1 Cor. 15.42 in divers respects 1. Wherein the glory of the body consists In respect of endurance it is sown in corruption but raised in incorruption Our life here is in a continual flux as one part of running water thrusteth forward the other parts so some parts of our body decay daily the radical moystness is wasted by the natural hear and must be repaired by meat drink sleep and other helps as so many props to support our weak and ruinous Tabernacle of clay as a lamp that consumes the oyl must have a new supply But at the resurrection our bodies will be incorruptible their condition will be fixed without any decay in part or in whole Then the vital and animal spirits of the body will be as pure Wine without any mixture of dreg There will be no superfluous or excrementitious humor in the body it will be as the gold purified seven times in the furnace all dross and corruption will be fully purged out and the body will be made an everlasting vessel of honour There will be no alteration in the body nor declining to old age but the glorified Saints shall be like the Cedars in Lebanon Psal 9.14 they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 2. In respect of the stature and beauty of the body it is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory there will be great glory in the bodies of the godly excellent comeliness in stature and a beautifull and equal proportion of all the members The Saints who had any deformity or defect of members in this life shall have none then Act. 3.19 It is called the day of restoring all things what ever their body wanteth now for comeliness shall then be restored and supplyed Our Lord restored Malchus his ear and by the same power he will restore the defect of any member as there will be comeliness in a just symmetry and proportion of the members so a surpassing comeliness in the colour and brightness of the body do we not see in our