made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. All good and bad by his Power for he hath the Keys of Hell and Death Apoc. 1. 18. He hath Power as God and Commission from God as man to raise the Dead This he doth by vertue of his Office all Judgement being committed to him as the son of man Therefore Raising the Dead and Judging them being raised are put together John 5. 21 22 27. He shall at the last day by his voice awaken all that are a sleep in the dust They that are in the grave shall hear his voice John 5. 28. As the natural Voice raiseth him that sleepeth so the Voice of Christ raiseth the Dead it is likely that shall be a real and articulate voice namely such a one as shall sound out some such sentence as this Arise ye dead and come to Judgement But in an especial manner Christ is the cause of the Saints resurrection as he is their Head First He is an effective principle of rising to all his Members therefore called the Beginning the First-born of the Dead Col. 1. 18. The first Fruits of them that slept 1 Cor. 15. 20. and a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. The power by which we are raised is with Christ per modum redundantiae it abounds in him even to overflowing there is not only a sufficiency of power for his own rising but a redundancy for ours also All things tending to our salvation are in his hands he is entrusted with power for our good as in other things so in this the raising of our bodies He hath not life for his own person alone but treasures of life for every member as he hath life in himself so it is communicated to all his members We have it from him by way of Influence Christ God-man raiseth us the power not humane but divine the same by which his own body was raised yet his Humanity concurring thus far the Deity not raising us without the Will and consent of the humanity Yea as man he desires purposeth promiseth the raising of our bodies Secondly He is the meritorious cause he hath purchased life for his and redeemed them from death by a price taken away sin the cause of death satisfied divine Justice and so procured full and compleat Redemption for them He was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification Rom. 4. 25. and if we be justified then we shall also be glorified 3. He is the exemplary cause we shall be conformed to him in this also He was raised as a pattern and example to all his Members holding forth the manner of their resurrection in his Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. the Resurrection that he shewed in himself he hath promised to us The Final cause or end of the Resurrection the glory of God in the patefaction of his God-head Truth Mercy Justice Power Wisdom and Providence that the whole man may be judged before the Tribunal of God and all men receive according to their works 2 Cor. 5. 10. that as soul and body have served God or sinned together so they may be rewarded or punished together that the Saints with Christ their Head may both in soul and body be for ever blessed in heaven and the wicked with Satan their head be eternally tormented in hell Although all rise yet is there a different end and issue of their resurrection to some it is a resurrection to life and glory who are therefore called the children of the resurrection Luke 20. 36. to others a resurrection to death shame and condemnation Dan. 12. 2 3. John 5. 28 29. therefore were the Saints buried together and strangers apart because they expected a better resurrection But when shall these things be In the end of the world Mat. 13. 39 40. at the last day John 6. 39 40 44 54. When Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom to the Father and put down all rule authority and power 1 Cor. 15. 23 24. Now that we may leave no way unattempted which may conduce to the clearing of this truth silencing of contradictors and satisfying of the scrupulous we shall in the next place examine and make answer to what is usually pleaded against it and I trust you will in conclusion plainly perceive the most ponderous Arguments and Doubts being laid in the ballance will be found wanting and of no weight at all but lighter then vanity All that can be urged is against to the possibility of the thing in respect of the power of that cause which must effect it or probability and infallibility thereof in respect of his Will In short it is conceived difficult to be done and in some mens fancies never promised It is supposed contrary to sense or reason because of the Objection dissipation of our bodies which are resolved into Elements and are so mingled with them and other bodies that it seems a thing impossible they should be drawn out and severed from them To this we reply The things which are impossible with Solution men are possible with God Luke 18. 27. Is any thing too hard for the Lord Gen. 18. 14. The question should thus be resolved there is not any thing too hard for the Lord that is which doth not in it self imply a contradiction or in him denote imperfection we must not judge of the power of God by what we see in the creature nor limit it to what we find in our selves Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection Job 11. 7. This then being presupposed we make not Nature but the God of Nature the worker of this great miracle why should it seem either strange or impossible Sense and Reason is but a crooked line to measure his power and too short to sound his Almightiness though it may seem above yet it is not contrary to Reason the most can be said it exceeds the reach of meer sense it can with no sense be affirmed repugnant to it For God is able to raise the dead Heb. 11. 19. It denotes not imperfection in him to do it nor doth it in it self involve any repugnancy why it cannot be done God is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham Mat. 3. 8. and why not the same body out of the dust and animate it by the same soul by which it was formerly enlivened Again where the same numerical principles Matter and Form of the thing or Person corrupted remain and the same Agent who did first put them together continues in the same power state and condition what can hinder why they cannot be united and restored again to the same state wherein they were before separation The Agent remains God changeth not and his Arm is not shortned And that the Form the soul remains is clear from Matth. 10. 28. and Jude 7. As for the Matter that remains also The first Matter is held
duty or exercise of her faculties but by accident as they are sinful and subjected thereby to weakness and infirmities all which shall be done away in the world to come Our bodies are Elementary wherein Earth and Water Object are predominant and that makes them heavy for which cause they are placed where weighty and heavy things are to be seated and this heaviness of the body must needs be an hindrance to the souls motion and action Besides Heaven is no place for such bodies there is neither lightness nor heaviness gravity nor levity then what shall our bodies do in Heaven or how shall they there long continue Let not Impotent man limit the Omnipotent God who Sol. made our bodies we now possess thus qualified for our continuance in this world can and will make them suitable to the state and condition of that to come he that made the Iron to swim and ballanceth the waters in the Clouds who to prevent vacuity causeth waters to mount upward and Iron by the influence of the Load-stone to hang in the Ayr who gave ability to the body of Christ after his Resurrection to ascend into the Heavens can as well change the temper of our bodies and make them fit for any place or motion and to continue above the Elementary Region From the proof and explication of this Mystery we proproceed Vse 1. to a brief Application What hath been said serves first for refutation of those that deny or corrupt the Doctrine Refutation of the Resurrection of the body The Philosophers misled by vain Philosophy were for the most part ignorant of and Adversaries to it a Et ut carnis Resurrectio negetur de una omnium Philo sophorum Schola sumitur Tertul. Praescrip advers Heret So were the Sadduces b Mat. 22. 23. Acts 23. 8. the first after Christ among the Christians that denyed it was Simon Magus c Epiph. h. 21. some there were among the Corinthians unsound herein d 1 Cor. 15. as also Hymeneus and Philetus e 2 Tim. 2. 18. Basilides Saturninus and many more are for this by Epiphanius Augustine and other Fathers condemned for Hereticks many more might be named were it necessary I shall adde only one pair more of this viperous brood Coppin and Quintin whom in latter times about the year 1525. the Devil stirred up in Brabant and Holland to oppugne this and other precious truths of God the latter having abjured his Heresie was for this and other notorious crimes executed at Tourney in Gallick Flanders f Gualter Chronog And if the same body rise then not an aerial and aetherial as the Originists held nor as Eutichius Patriarch of Constantinople supposed shall our bodies be impalpable Greg. l. 14. c. 29. in Job and more subtile then the Wind and Ayr neither can the soul pass out of one body into another in death for either it must inform moe bodies then one or some bodies must be joyned to other souls in the Resurrection We forbear to mention any more Heresies or Hereticks in this point the Church hath been continually pestered with them in all ages so that it is no wonder the grand Impostor hath in our times withdrawn so many from the simplicity of the Gospel This should be as a Bridle to restrain from sin and a Vse 2. Exhortation spur to holiness and vertue Herein saith Paul do I exercise Acts 24. 15. my self to have alwayes a conscienco void of offence toward God and toward men then shall be a Resurrection that men may be judged and receive according to their deeds what a madness thenis it for men to spend their days in vanity as if no account were to be given The Saints shall rise to glory they shall be as the Angels then what manner of men ought they to be who expect such a Priviledge as to be the children of the Resurrection And this should be an encouragement to suffer chearfully for Christ sith we shall have our reward in the Resurrection of the just this was the Martyrs comfort and confidence in their sufferings that they should obtain a better Resurrection g Heb. 11. 35. In the mean time we should with Job earnestly long and patiently wait for this glorious change h Job 14. 14. with Paul strive to attain unto the Resurrection of the dead i Phil. 3. 11. that is that state of perfection which doth accompany the Resurrection we should groan to be clothed upon with our house from Heaven k 2 Cor. 5. 4. waiting for the Adoption the Redemption of our body l Rom. 8. 25. This also is a Fountain of Consolation to the Saints 1. In respect of death we need not fear to dy because we hope to live again and in a far better condition when we have put off our ordinary raggs we shall be clothed with royal Robes when our houses of Clay are pulled down we shall have a building raised of hewen stone we leave a prison to possess a Palace our vile bodies shall be made glorious In the grave we rest in our Chambers and our dust is living to the Lord And concerning them that are asleep let us nor sorrow as them which have no hope m 〈◊〉 Thes 4. If ye love me saith Christ ye will rejoyce because I go to my Father n Ioh. 14. 28. We should rejoyce when our friends dy for they go to our Father 2. In respect of sin which cleaves so fast unto and so easily besets us here that we have cause to cry out with Paul O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death In the resurrection we shall be perfect as the Angels 3. In respect of those manifold wants necessities and afflictions we are subject to in this life in the resurrection all evils shall be removed and all good things enjoyed we shall be as the Angels of God Jobs comfort was That in his Job 19. 26. flesh he should see God David's and Christs upon a like ground Thou wilt shew me the path of life the same was Psal 16. 11. the Martyrs consolation Peter speaks of times of refreshing Heb. 11. 35. which are a Christians hope and therefore we should not Acts 3. 19. faint in affliction nor be discouraged with difficulties which molest us in our Christian race we shall have a time of refreshing at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ to whom be glory and honour for ever and ever Amen A Conference between John Osborn Minister of the Gospel and Richard Coppin concerning the resurrection of the body Osb JOb 19. 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my slesh shall I see God 27. Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though
to change their vile body c. This was not yet done besides it is affirmed of the body which is not the proper subject of such a Resurrection from ignorance as they pretend And our vile body shall be fashioned like unto Christs body but that as we shall hereafter prove was raised properly from a natural death to a natural life This is laid down as a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6. 3. which cannot with any shew of Reason be interpreted of any other then a corporall Resurrection having spoken of the Resurrection of the Soul from a state of sin and ignorance v. 1. where he mentions Repentance from dead works and faith towards God It cannot be imagined that in so short and pithy an account as this is he should repeat the same again in other words and this will be yet more clear if we compare this passage with the fact and Faith of the Martyrs women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured not accepting deliverance r Heb. 11. 35. this was done through Faith v. 33. Therefore by such to whom God was manifest they were tortured and killed for they accepted not deliverance What inducement They expected a better Resurrection What in this life No for they had no deliverance if after death what Resurrection could it be but of the body Besides 't is said A better Resurrection in reference to their best condition in this life And this is shewed unto John in Vision I saw faith he the dead small and great and the Sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and the grave as in the Marginal reading delivered up the dead which were in them s Apoâ—â— 20. 12 13. This cannot be understood of any other then a bodily Resurrection For first it is general Of all both small and great Now all sorts do not rise Spiritually some dy in their sins Secondly after they arise they stand before God and are brought to judgement But those who arise Spiritually do not stand before God to be judged as some of these here are to be cast into the Lake of fire v. 15. Thirdly the dead here are said to be in the Sea and in the Grave and by them delivered up Fourthly some of them are said not to be written in the Book of Life therefore it cannot be a Spiritual Resurrection for all those who are so risen are written in the Book of Life Chap. 3. 4 5. And those who are unclean and work abomination or make a lie who attain not to the Spiritual Resurrection are of that number which are not written in the Lambs Book of Life Chap. 21. 2 7. Isaiah 25. 8. Hos 13. 14. With many other places might be produced to evidence this Truth but these may suffice for Positive testimonies we shall now repair to Reason 1. The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents Arg. 1. head t Gen. 3. 15. Which is thus interpreted by John 1 Epist Chap. 3. v. 8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Divel u 1 Ioh. 3. 8. And this is one of his works for he is described as having the power of Death So that either death must be destroyed Heb 2. 14. and consequently the dead rise or Christ must fail of his end in being manifested in the world 2. God is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Arg. 2. of all the Faithful a God in Covenant with them there Exod. 3. 6. fore their dead bodies shall rise this our Saviour urged against the Sadduces in Vindication of the Resurrection oppugned and denyed by them But as touching the Resurrection of the dead have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is Mat. 22. 31 32 not the God of the dead but of the living With this answer the people were possessed with astonishment and the Sadduces put to silence v. 33 34. Whereas the Lord cals himself their God many years after they were dead and rotten in their graves it imports they must be alive to God they all live to him But that you may clearly see the force of this Argument and wherein its strength lies we must conceive when God cals himself the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob he means a God in Covenant with them to give out his All-sufficiency for their good Gen. 17. 1. to be their Shield and exceeding great reward removing all cause of fear Gen. 15. 1. particularly iniquity Acts 3. 25 26. the Fountain whence all evils flow and supplying them with all good out of his infinite fulness for this Covenant brings a blessing with it Acts 3. 25. which Covenant is an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17. 7. and made with him not in respect of the Soul onely but the body also for else it were not a perfect Covenant These things premised I thus infer 1. That therefore by reason of this Covenant he will never leave them or forsake them but should not the bodies of Abraham Isaac and Jacob rise God should in that respect leave and forsake them and not be All-sufficient to them or their God in respect of their bodies the very dust of the bodies of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is in Covenant with him and therefore shall in time be raised up again 2. Forasmuch as sin the cause of death is taken away therefore death the wages of sin shall de done away 3. If the bodies of Abraham Isaac and Jacob shall not live they are not perfectly blessed in Covenant with God because their bodies one part of them are not And what hath been said of Abraham is applyable unto all the Saints God is their God and therefore their dead bodies live to him are in Covenant with him have sin the occasion of death done away and so shall be raised again to be made perfectly happy with him 3. A third Reason we draw from Mat. 22. 30. In the Arg. 3. Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven Which is thus rendred by Mark. 12. 25. When they shall rise from the dead they shall neither marry nor are given in marriage To the same purpose Luke 20. 35. In this life in the Resurrection from sin and ignorance men marry and others are given in marriage Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge x Heb. 13. 4. And again Nevertheless to avoid Fornication let every man have his own wife Besides here we are not as the Angels of God therefore Arg. 4. we expect another Resurrection Moreover such a Resurrection is here affirmed and Arg. 5. proved by Christ which the Sadduces denyed but that was of the body after death when the seven Brethren one after
all to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Acts 1. 11. Jude 15. He is gone from the Sepulcher but the Linnen clothes and Napkin are left behind John 20. 5 7. this and the rolling away of the stone Luke 24. 2. to me are a sufficient proof of his bodily resurrection Next if we consider his Ascension into heaven we cannot be unsatisfied in his rising from the earth This is reported Acts 1. when he had continued forty days on earth among his Disciples he commanded them being assembled together at Bethany whither he had led them to to wait for the promise of the Father which was Baptism with the holy Ghost which he then gave them assurance they should receive and having told them they should be witnesses to him in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and unto the utmost part of the earth When he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight vers 9. and while they locked stedfastly towards heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel vers 10. which also said Ye men of Galitee Why stand ye gazing up into heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven vers 11. What more plain then this He went up bodily and there continues For the Heavens must receive him until the times of the restitution of all things Acts 3. 21. We might also clear this point from the efficacy of his Resurrection in those that believe the dispensation of extraordinary gifts to the Church the descent of the holy Ghost Signes and Miracles wrought by those that preached in his Name All which sufficiently confirm and seal our Faith in his bodily Resurrection I shall add only one Argument more and then touch upon some absurdities inferred by the Apostle from the denyal of this point Whatsoever manner of Resurrection these Dreamers fancy the Jews that slew him took it to be a bodily one the quickning of his dead body for the chief Priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate saying Sir We remember that that Deceiver said whil ehe was yet alive after three days I will rise again Command therefore that the Sepulcher be made sure until the third day lest his Disciples come by night and steal him away and say unto the people He is risen from the Dead so the last Error shall be worse then the first Pilate said ye have a Watch Go your way make it as sure as you can So they went and made the Sepulcher sure sealing the stone and setting a c Mat. 27. 62 63 64 65 66. Watch. If it were a spiritual Resurrection foretold why did they fear and use means to prevent the stealing of his body in that they make this sure by guarding stopping and sealing the Sepulcher It is evident they understood it of the resurrection of his body and his Disciples meant no other why else should they fear they would steal his body and then give out he was risen and why else did they after his resurrection assemble with the Elders take counsel give large money to the Souldiers saying Say ye his Disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept Mat. 28. 12 13 which they did accordingly v. 15. Doubtless such a resurrection it was as they denyed but this was bodily This the Apostles preached and this the Christians believed From the denyal whereof among other there arise these absurdities as Paul affirms Then is our preaching vain 1 Cor. 15. 14 and your faith is also vain v. 14. we are found false witnesses of God v. 15. Ye are yet in your sins v. 17. Then are they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished v. 18. All which are inconsistent with the Christian faith therefore Christ is bodily and properly risen from the dead So much hath bin said in proof of Christ's resurrection I should be astonished at the unbelief of any but that I am taught faith is the gift of God d Eph. 2. 8. and the same power required to beget faith as raised Christ from the dead e Eph. 1. and that the Disciples themselves though it were foretold by Christ before his death were not for a time so clear and stedfast but dark and staggering in this point Luke 24. 21. We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel and beside all this to day is the third day since these things were done Some of them though they had heard from Mary that he was alive and had been seen of her believed not Mark 16. 11. for as yet they knew not the Scripture that he must rise again from the dead John 20. 9. but their words seemed unto them as idle tales and they believed them not Luke 24. 11. Yea two of them travelling to Emmaus though certain women of their company had declared unto them that they had been at the Sepulcher found not his body there 's but had seen a Vision of Angels which said that he was alive and though two of them which had been with them went the Sepulcher and found it even so as the women had said only they saw him not notwithstanding all this they believed not For which cause Christ appears unto them reproves them sharply O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken Luke 24. 25. these went and told it to the residue neither believed they them Mark 16. 12 13. Therefore Christ afterward appearing to them as they sate at meat upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen Mark 16. 14. At this appearing they were terrified and affrighted supposing that they had seen a spirit Luke 24. 37. And Thomas though it had been declared unto him by the rest of the Apostles resolved with himself without seeing and feeling the print of the nails and thrusting his hand into his side not to believe John 20. 25. No wonder then if when we preach the Resurrection of Christ and of the dead by him some wonder others doubt some oppose others laugh as if they had heard strange incredible ridiculous things to day But how strange soever it is to the natural man it hath been an Article of Faith in all Ages since Christ as might be proved by Fathers and other Champions of the Christian Faith Councels Creeds Histories from Christ to our times But we suppose it sufficiently made out by what hath been spoken and written as it were with a sun-beam in the Scriptures that he who runs may read it We have been the more liberal in allowance of our time and pains upon this Theam because this is the first and chief foundation-stone upon
they may see him whom they have pierced and behold their Judge and the deaf that they may hear him to their terrour And whereas there are some things pertaining to the nature of man in respect of his present state and according to the common and ordinary course of Nature as humours seed milk c. We suppose that both shall have those things that are recessary in the number of which we do not comprehend superfluous or excrementitious humours or those which are of Nature intended for generation as seed or nutrition of another as milk of which there shall be no use of those things which humane nature cannot here want as blood I conceive this shall be restored also yet to some this seems rather agreeing to a natural than a Spiritual body And although some members are of no use in the Resurrection yet for as much as of the Organical members there is a double relation the first of matter to the form so their end is the perfecting and adorning the body or of an Organ to an active Principle so the end is operation though there be no need of some members as to operation yet in respect of ornament and perfection of the body they are not in vain or superfluous but necessary in the Resurrection so that though there be no use yet there shall be distinction of the Sex As to the quantity and stature of the body some conceive all shall arise at the same stature to which they should have come and beyond which they should not have gone if Nature had not erred but this we shall not assert or undertake to determine The bodyes of the unjust shall be made immortal and incorruptible but passible they shall receive their bodies not for Ornament but torment for they must be tormented and suffer the wrath of the Almighty for ever and ever therefore it is necessary they should dy no more but remain for ever without natural helps that they may be punished without intermission The Saints shall be raised to a perfect and glorious estate they shall be like Christs glorious body Phil. 3. 21. and like the Angels of God Mat. 22. 30. 1. In Immortality Neither shall they dy any more Luke 20. 36. This mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15. 5◠And we groan that mortality might be swallowed up of life 2 Cor. 5. 4. And death is said to be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. So that there shall be no more death Apoc. 21. 4. Death it self being cast into the lake of fire Apoc. 20. 14. Others raised before Christ and some after by the Apostles dyed again but to these shall be no dying for such was Christs life Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him Rom. 6. 9. Our life shall be parallel to eternity the body before the Fall was immortal therefore did God place in Paradise the Tree of Life as a Sacrament of that immortality he should have enjoyed in his innocent state The long life of Adam and the Fathers was the Reliques of that immortality man had before the Fall And this is the state of the holy Angels their days are the days of Eternity God is immortal by Nature thus he only hath immortality 1 Tim. 6. 16. The Angels and souls of men by Creation Adam's body by condition if he brake not Covenant with his Maker ours hereafter by special grace in the Resurrection for the cause removed the effect must cease sin is taken away therefore death also in due time must be removed the Guilt of sin is taken away in Justification the Reign of it in Conversion the Acting of it in Death the last Effect in the Resurrection Adam before the Fall was Potentially mortal as the effect proves he should have been immortal if he had kept the conditions of the Covenant those that are raised shall be so confirmed that they cannot dy for they shall not be in a capacity of sinning which brings death they have not this immortality upon such termes as Adam had 2. In Incorruptibility and Impassibility they shall not suffer any thing that can hurt afflict or impair them It is 1 Cor. 11. 43. 52. 53. 〈◊〉 sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption The dead shall be raised incorruptible this corruptible must put on incorruption Now our bodies by hunger thirst diseases labcur grief c. are wasted every day and at last wholly corrupted in our dissolution but after the Resurrection they shall continue in the same state The Manna which by man could not be kept one day without putrifaction by the Divine power was preserved in the golden Pot for many ages Aegyptians by embalming bodies kept them from corruption many hundred years and why may not an immortal body be kept from corruption by an Omnipotent God And thus also shall the Saints be as the Angels 3. In Power It is sown in weakness it is raised in 1 Cor. 15. 43. Power Here it is weak and sickly then it shall be strong vigorous and healthy the strength of Sampson and other mighty men in a fallen state shew what Adams was by Creation and what 〈◊〉 shall be in the Resurrection for this is a restauration of what we lost and of further perfection The powerfulness of the body in the Resurrection comprehends 1. Activeness in the execution of all those actions which are suitable to it our bodies now are impotent and so indisposed to perform all those actions that belong to them and unserviceable to the soul yet when this great change shall come they shall be made able to act perfectly they shall be observant of and subservient to the souls desires and whereas now their gravity doth hinder their motion upward they shall then like Eagles mount up into the Ayr and convey themselves whither they please for they shall be filled with the Spirit An Egg cannot mount upward while it is without life but when it is quickened and filled with spirits it moveth and mounteth on high A Bird is an heavy body yet by her wings she can raise her self from the earth and fly swiftly in the Ayr. Iron may be so formed by Art that it shall not sink but swim upon the water and why should this motion of our bodies after the Resurrection be thought incredible Christs body could move upward for it ascended into Heaven and ours shall be like it when he comes we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the Ayr. 1 Thes 4. 17. 2. Nimbleness Strength puts Agility into bodies makes them more quick in motion Asahel was swift as a 2 Sam. 2. Roe Our bodies must be more perfect being conformed to Christ who was so quick in motion that he vanished out of sight when he had shewed himself to his Disciples Luke 24. 31. 3. Unweariedness now we are soon tyred with action by reason of weakness but then we shall be so strong and lively
that we shall be unwearied in all our actions and motions 4. In Glory It is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory Which glory stands in the integrity beauty and 1 Cor. 15. 43. splendor of all members they shall be raised perfect having no deformity through defect of convenient members or congruous quantity or through accession of some member or part inconvenient or disproportioned in scituation or uncomliness in any kind whatsoever the body which is now foul filthy without beauty or splendor shall be made lightsome clear and shining clothed with heavenly glory and Divine light When Christ was transfigured on mount Tabor his Face did shine as the Sun and his raiment was white as the light Mat. 17. 2. It may well be supposed it hath no less but rather greater beauty now since hi is entred into his glory for some reasons this glory might be vailed before his Ascension but the Apostle is plain for his glorious state now and ours in conformity thereto Who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. and we shall be like him 1 Joh. 3. 2. The glory of his transfiguration was a fore runner not of his own only but of our glory also in heaven the same it was for Essence with what he had afterward though different in circumstance and degrees that onely for a season but this for ever that transient this permanent Psal 45. Christ in the flesh was fairer then the sons of men in his low estate white and ruddy the chief of ten thousand Cant. 5. And is he not beautiful being highly exalted at the right hand of God This beauty is made up of the integrity of his body in respect of the number order and perfection of his members and proportion in colour and exceeding brightness and heavenly splendor and such shall be our glory and beauty of our bodies in the world to come now we have blemishes but then we shall have none yea not onely our imperfections shall be done away but a new beauty conferred on us In all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absolom for his beauty From the soal of his foot even to the Crown of his head there was no blemish in him 2 Sam. 14. 25. Of the Nazarites 't is said they were purer then Snow they were whiter then Milk they were more ruddy in body then Rubies Lam. 4. 7. Moses face shone so that he put on a Vail when he spake to the people and of Stephen 't is said they that sate in the Councel looking stedfastly on him saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel Acts 6. 25. All that glory I conceive no glory in comparison of this at the Resurrection When they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12. 2. And the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdome of the Father Mat. 13. 43. We shall all have the same glory for Essence but not 〈◊〉 degrees but as there is one glory of the Sun another glory of the Moon and another glory of the Stars and one Star differeth from another Star in glory so also is the Resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. All Stars are not of one magnitude nor all Saints the same in glory all shall be fair pure clear beautiful and delightful to behold having all members of a comly proportion and amiable colour and shining in glory no deformity by defect redundancy or disproportion in any part in respect of matter or colour 5. Spirituality It is sown a natural body it is raised a Spiritual body 1 Cor 15. 44. not for substance but qualities conditions and gifts of the Spirit being by the Divine power sustained and acted immediately 1. Whereas now it is supported by natural helps Food Physick Fire Clothing c. then God shall be all these to the body They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat Rev. 7. 16. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them to living Fountains of water v. 17. Moses Elijah and Christ were preserved forty days without food on earth why should not our bodies be preserved thus without means for ever in heaven 2. It shall be under the guidance conduct and command of the Spirit immediately in all its motions and actions here the soul immediately caries and commands the body but there the Spirit of God both soul and body where it listeth and acts as it pleaseth without difficulty or weariness they shall wholly give up themselves to the command of the Spirit We now proceed to the efficient cause of this great work and that can be no other then God It 's a miraculous work and a new Creation and so above the power of Nature to effect and proper to God who is the Author of Nature The ancient Rabbins said There be three 〈◊〉 Menass Ben Israel de resur 〈◊〉 2. c. 1. Keys in the hand of the blossed God which are not committed to any Legate the Womb the Rain and the Resurrection of the Dead that is He maketh the barren to Bear causeth the Rain and raiseth the Dead This is that Dew in Isa 26. 19. Thy Dew is as the dew of Herbs or as the dew of light the morning dow which refresheth recreates grass and the herbs and causeth them to flourish thy Dew the Divine Power by which thy dead shall be quickned and revived is as the Dew that falleth on the Herbs it shall so raise them as the Herbs that are decayed and withered are raised up by the morning Dew and comfortable heat and influence of the Sun God who quickneth the Dead as Rom. 4. 17. Who quickneth all things 1 Tim. 6. 13. Which raiseth the Dead 〈◊〉 Cor. 1. 9. it is an Act common to all the three Persons Father Son and Spirit The Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them John 5. 21. and the Spirit Rom. 8. 11. The Son John 5. 21. Even so the Son quickneth whom he will Therefore Christ promiseth it I will raise him up at the last day John 6. 40. 44 54. and John 11. 25. I am the Resurrection and the Life How is that Not Formally but Causally I am the Cause of the Resurrection and Life that any man hath None rise or live but by me This from Christ's mouth the Apostles preached and believed knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus 2 Cor. 4. 14. Thus in Jerusalem they taught the People and preached through Jesus the Resurrection of the Dead And also at Athens Paul preached Jesus and the Resurrection Chap. 17. 18. And thus doth he answer the first Adam As in Adam all dy so in Christ shall all be