that the hower of the latter resurrection was then By the dead therefore that should haue liued if they had had faith in Christ and beléeued hée meaneth such who by means of their sinnes are without spiritual life of whom Christ in an other place saith Let the dead burie the dead The like death is named by Saint Paul You hath he quickned that were dead in trespasses and sinnes In his letter to Timothie he speaketh of a liuing dead widow in the former sense She that liueth in pleasure is dead while she liues We were all of vs in this state of death before our iustification by faith First by our original sin and then by our actuall sinnes which we haue committed since of our owne frée will wherefore it is more then néedefull for vs thus to rise from the dead The blessed onely share in this resurrection In the latter resurrection the commons common with vs as Christ sheweth in his wordes of the latter resurrection Marueile not at this for the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice And they shall come foorth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation But this first resurrection as not falling into my purpose I minde not to meddle with In the handling of the resurrection we haue in hand we will first conclude the certaintie thereof against all gaine-saying aduersaries For the point is much pushed at with the point of Sophisticall allegations which without difficultie we will do away well inough This Article hath béene exagitated by many and many wayes oppugned The Philosophers as absurde doe renounce it And there haue beene found too many in the Church who haue denied it The Peripaticians as almost all the sects of Pâ—ilosophers haue behaued themselues most rudely in this businesse The diuinitie that the schoole of Epicures professeth in this point is this There is nothing that remaineth after death Seneca though he be a friend to the principle of the immortalitie of the soule yet he is so grosse as to auouch that all things are determined and ended by death For writing vnto Martia hee sâ—ith Mors omnium est solutio finis vltra quam mala nostra non exeunt Death is the resolution and period of all things which bounds our euils cannot exceede Againe this is another of his proper Aphorismes Non potest eâ—â—e miser qui nullus est He cannot be a wretched man that is no man In these darkenesse lay almost all the rabblement of the Orators Philosophers and Poets of the Gentiles And if we shall ransacke the militant Church we shall find many monstrous minded men in this matter Among the Iewes the Sadduces disclaimed the resurrection whom Christ tooke to taske in the Gospel and daunted those triumphing Hannibals most notablie The Apostles times brought forth Hymenaes and Philetus such companions of the same association Of this schoole was Simon Magus of whom the Heretiques Simoniani were named with whom combined in this nastie opinion the eluish route of Valentinians Carpocratians Cardonians Arcontici Seueriaâ—s Basilidans Hierarchites c. The Manichees likewise come stuffling in among them absolutely gain-saying the resurrection of the bodie but maintaining the resurrection of the soule by the preaching of the truth against whom Augustine disputeth The Heresie of these men we will remoue and doe away by Scriptures before which all such lewd assertions must fall as Dagon before the Arke The whole consent of the olde Testament confâ—â—teth them and the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles confoundeth them and naturall reason agreeth thereunto and is earnest against them This orderly and cursortly we will consider of We proue the resurrection and restitution of the same indiuided bodie in the same substance all infirmitie and deformitie taken away the mightie spirit of God to be repaired at the latter day made like the glorious bodie of his Maiestie Iob hath a peculier proofe hereof in this his simple and open formall profession I am sure that my Redeemer liueth and he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skinne wormes destroy this body yet shal I see God in my flesh whoÌ„ I my selfe shal see mine eies shal behold and none other for me though my reines are consumed within me The same is not obscurely shadowed vnto vs in the drie bones which at the prophecie of Ezechiel at the commandement of God vpon them receiued breath of life had their sinews iunctures and perfect composition Daniel auoucheth as much saying Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting life some to shame and perpetuall contempt The prophet Isai goeth hand in hand with the rest saying Thy dead men shal liue euen with my bodie shall they rise Dauid witnesseth so much in this wise But I will behold thy face in righteousnes when I awake I shall be satissied with thine image The practise and probate hereof in the widows son of Sarepta raised by Elias and in the Sunamites son restored to life by Elisha are also proofs pregnant enough of the generall resurrection to come Christ in many places of the new instrument concludeth as much as when he saith The houre commeth is how when the dead shal heare the voice of the son of God as when against the Saduces hee is peremptorie in this point thus arguing against theÌ„ God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing but God is the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob who are dead from hence is this necessary deduction they must rise againe as when he said to his disciples I liue ye shall liue Also to the further illustration of this doctrine do these places appertaine It shal be easier for them of the land of Sodome and Gomorrah in the day of iudgement then for that City which inference is repeated in yâ— next chap. The son of man shal come in the glory of his father with his Angels then shal he giue to euery maÌ„ according to his deeds he willeth vs to feast yâ— poore yéeldeth this reason Thou shalt be recoÌ„penced at the resurrection of the iust The Apostles with one mouth preach the same doctrine Paul bringeth in clusters of arguments in the case 1 He reasoneth from the confession of the Corinth thus So we preach and so haue ye beleeued Therefore there is a resurrection For otherwise ye had neuer beléeued it but as euident reason did euict it This reason liketh August wel enough and therefore he vseth it concluding that because God hath foretold the resurrection the world doth credite it which séemed impossible to be effected that the resurrection is most sure 2 He disputeth in the next place thus Christ is risen from the dead therefore we shall rise from tâ—e dead The
sufferings as the wounds of his hands féete side and other some say is the signe of the crosse But the certainest sence is to take the signe for the signification for those prodigious aspects lately named and for the worldes combusâ—â—n which is the signe of the sonne of mans apparition by S. Peter directly named Wee will giue the vse of this large discourse and so wée will conclude it 1. First these signes serue as wholesome admoniâ—on to drâ—we vâ— to a godly and holy conuersation It is the Apostle Peters application in the case who after mention made of these â—â—full maner of the worldes destruction commeth in with this addition Seeing all thinges must be desolued what maner of men ought wee to be in holy conuersation and godlines The consequence is good for if all earthly creatures must be refined and renâ—eâ— by the fire Much more should the fire of Gods spirite burne in vs which may consume the drosse of our dead workes like sâ—uble and perfect vs that wee may be wrought as it were in a new â—oulde after the Image of God in righteousnes and holines 2. Secondly wee are taught to gather from hence howe grieuous sinne is which is in the creatures of the worlde thus greiuously punished The leprosie of the Iewes was to all that knew it wonderfull because it not only did infect the whole man but did cleaâ—e to his garments and to the walles of the house But the leprosie of sinne is more to be wondred at that not only polluteth the bodie and soule of man but bleâ—isheth staineth the worldes glorious eye euen the glorious Sunne in the firmament and subiecteth the Moone and starres vnto vanitie Wretched therefore are wée the whom the dregges of sinne are so frozen and conicalled as wée are become senceles in sinne not onely going vp to the anckles but diuing ouer head and eares in the gulfe of sin Wee endure not to looke vpon the blaines and running soreâ— of spitlemen but did we beholde the sores of our sinfull soules as they are in their naturall corâ—uption which rancle the verie heauens manie thousand miles of from them we would haue in all loathsome detestation their most vgly and fipthie abhomination 3. The third and last consideration we take from hence is the louing kindnes of God and his vnwillingnes in punishing a sinner according to that which Isai saith God worketh a strange worke to bring his owne work to passe Dij immortales nec volunt nec possunt obesse The immortal Gods are neither willing norable to hurt saith Seneca It is his propertie alwaies to haue mercie as it is in the Antheme of the Church And iudgement is a strange work vnto him contrarie to his nature which hée executeth to make vs owners of his mercie which is his owne proper action If God tooke anie pleasure in vndoing the world and worldly men he would not come in this mouing manner to vs causing all the creatures of heauen to put on blacke garments But euen as when the maister of the house dieth saith Chrisostome all the houshould is cladde in mourning wéedes so mankind for which all the parts of the world were made to be seruants to them béeing to be done away all creatures follow their funeralles with lamentations in their kindes the orient Sunne Moone staires doe chaunge colour and are in blacke array A Painter is very loath to marre the whole proportion of the picture for some defection and imperfection that is in it so God is very loath to vndoe al his workmanship in vs for some sinnes and transgressions that are in vs. Many Iudges of Assise are so pittifull as albeit they are to venounce the doome of death against prisoners at the barre as they weepe when they deliuer it so God doth with vs béeing sentenced for our vnrepentant sinnes vnto death So he wept when hée â—rowned the first world so he wept for the destruction of Hierusalem and this affection hée sheweth in this habite of heauenlie creatures which they do on at the worlds dissolution There is many a hangman who though he be neuer so butcherly bent will bemoane the estate of his freind especialliâ— his kinsman whose hand or eare he is to cut off Therefore God that loueth vs more then the father can the childe or the husband the wife cannot but be resolued into passions for our condemnation This doctrine you haue often heard but yée do but litle heede it happily because yee doe not beleeue it is so at hand But these signes hitherto spoken of maketh it out of doubt The king doth purpose to remooue from one Court to another and when report goeth of it many doubt of it because the prince many times doth delay the time but when the furniture of the Court is taken downe then euery one knoweth that he remoueth out of hand so it hath béene often preached in your eares that the end of the world is at hand that Christ is comming to iudge it and ye arraigne God of slacknes but the remoual of this the worldes furniture this buâ—â—e dooing which is not in hand flatly sheweth that these thinges are at hand The fift Chapter Of the certaintie of our resurrection THe resurrection of all flesh immediatly with the worlds consummation commeth in place So saith Christ I will raise him vp at the last day The like saith Martha no doubt immitated in the schoole of Christ touching hir brother Lazarus I know that he shal rise again in the resurrection at the last day Wherfore we are to deale with this article in this place There is a double resurrection 1. The one of our bodies 2 The other of our soules Of our soules when we rise from sinne Of our bodies we rise from our sepulchers That of our soules is called the first resurrection The other of our bodies is called the second A double death answereth this double resurrection 1. The first death which is of the vnrepentant soule 2. The second which is euerlasting death the condition of the damned We learne of the Scriptures thus to distinguish of the resurrection For the first and second resurrection The first and second death are mentioned in holy scriptures As by Iohn in the Reuellation Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection For on such the second death hath no power But they shall be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeeres Where Iohn by the first resurrection vnderstandeth the resurrection of the minde from sinne to repentance In the Gospell of Iohn both these resurrections are spoken of together The houre shall come and now is when the dead shall heare the voice of the sonne of God These wordes belong to the first resurrection and that doth the course of them declare in that hée saith The hower shall come and nowe is For no man will say
and reiectâ—â— othersome For albeit of meere gracs hee chooseth whome be will yet against such as are decreed to death hee is neither cruell nor wrongful seeing God oweth them nothing they are so dealt with for their sinnes they not being able to pleade for themselues We haue paid the debts that wee neuer owed Next to this they aâ—e abiudred to Hâ—il fire what heâ—l â—â—e is we 〈◊〉 not curioâ—â—ye to search but wee are rather to be carefull how to auoide it as when a mans house is on fire bee standeth not to enquire from whence that fire came but all his care is to quench it The wicked are â—on pared to drie wood that the fire will soone take holde on as when Christ saide to the woman of Hierusalem that wept for him If they doe these thinges to a greene tree what shall be done to the drye Or vnto Chaâ—â—e which is presently inflamed in these wordes of Iohn He will burne vp the Chasse with vnquenchable fire or to tares which the remie sowed among good wheate in these words of Christ The tares are the Children of the wicked These are to be made vp into Faggots and sheafes to bee â—â—tted to the fire according to that which is in the parable Gather yee first the tares and binde them in sheafes to burne them But how shall they be shocked and bundled vp namelyâ— the Vsurer with his Broker Badger regrater and workemen of such things shal be bound vp together to make an euen fâ—ggot according to the Statute The deceiâ—efull Merchant with his apprentises that make lyâ—â— oathes deceâ—tfulnesse the principall porters to bring in their liuing The whole broode of Lawyers that can set a good dye vpon a bâ—dde cloath and call bad good and good badde that eate vp the people like breade and grinde their noses to the faces betweene the Milstones of oppression Preathers yâ— make merchandize of holy misteries Barter◠〈…〉 of the Bible that with their temporâ—sâ—ng and luke-warme Religion dawbe vp the mudde wall of all abhomination euerie of these companies make seuerall sheaâ—â— seruisable for the 〈◊〉 Ye may runne through all the ranckes and Clasâ—ies of sinne in thâ—â— manner to make vp the wood stacke that must feedâ— this â—re But it is more then admirable which is said of the nature of this 〈◊〉 that it is euerlasting For the â—unishment exâ—eedeth the offence for the offence was but momentame and the iudgement is eternall which seemeth not to be answerable to Gods infinite mercie We answere extraordinarie transgression hath no proportion with ordinarie correction Againe what is the cause that thy domesticall and ordinarie fire goeth out Is it not because thou feedest it not with combustible matter For let it haue alwayes stouer giuen to it and it will alwayes continue In hell the fire is maintained by fewell fit for it For there is euerie mans wicked will and endlesse desire of sinning which can neuer be done away because there is no repentance in hell which is the nutriment and preseruatiue of this fire Therefore so long as the sinne remaineth it is but equitie and iustice that the punishment should continue Sinners are like Card-players who will not giue ouer though the night bee neuer so much spent vnlesse their Candle saile them so did not the light of life faile them and were not their Candle as Iob saieth put out and spent to the Socket they would not cease to sinne Wherfore the punishment is agreeable with their sinfull wishes They wish to sinne for euer therefore they are worthily plagued for euer Therewarde of the righteous is euerlasting therefore the wages of the wicked is euerlasting May not the sonne is sinne against the father and the subiect against his soueraigne as in the rule of reason and iustice the one may be disinherited and the other confined and banished for euer If wee admit these it holdeth by comparison that our heauenly King and father may doe so with his degenerate children and rebellious people But yet it is verie strange that this fire should burne and not consume But the answere hereof is the will of the Creator who hath giuen this condition and qualitie vnto it The beast called the Salamander is not burnt but nourished by the fire and thou maist by anoynting thy selfe with the lard and fat of it walke vpon the fire and not be burned The fish that is dâ—cocted in vineger remaineth whole and will not fall a peeces because the vineger hardnâ—th it and fitteth it for the frying If these smaller matters of no moment are brought to passe by man shall not God giue this â—â—sposition to the damned creature much more to liue and neuer 〈◊〉 in this fire Thus death shall be a restauratiue to the damned and dying they shall neuer die Who doth not now shake and quake at the remembrance of such erquisite iudgement In respect of this fire our ordinarie fire is but as painted fire yet it is so fierce as to gaâ—e the worlde thou wilt not indure thy bodie in it one quarter of an houre how wilt thou therefore wrastle with eternall burnings If wee bee so delicate as lying on our beds wee cannot abide the byting of a Flea or Gnat how shall wee endure the venemous mouthes of so manie Serpents Dragons poisonable and stinging creatures that will come gnawing vpon vs round about There is weeping with a witnesse for the eies shall deliuer out riuers of teares and the chattering of teeth shal be like the clattering of an army of armed men Flaetus ex dolore stridor dentium exfurore Wéeping commeth of the dolor and gnashing of séeth of the furor that we shall there be put vnto There no part of body or soule shall be able to solace or succor one another but all shal be intollerably pained The mind shall muze of nothing but a maze of miseries past her getting out the memorie shall recount nothing but old odious sins the fantasie shall feed of nothing but fâ—aceful visions the eies shal behold nothing but legions of soule flends the eares shall be alwayes grated with the direfull discorde of the hoarse and hideous howlings of hell-hounds the nosthrils shall be filled with sulphurous fumes and fuliginous filthie odours the handes shall holde fast nothing but globes and balles of fire their feete shall goe no further then their chaines will let them Thus hath euerie part of man perfection of miserie The Braines of men haue béene curiously busied in inuenting strange torments for men A Booke hath beene written entituled De torquendis Christianis Of tortering Christians Some haue beene giuen vp to the teeth of wilde Beasts Some haue beene burned vppon a Harth and soft fire Other spitted and rosted vppon Gredyrons Others cast into furious fires into Furnaces and Ouens of hote burning coales Others into vessels of boyling Lead or Oyle Some into bulâ— and engens of burning Brasse some haue béene rowleâ— and rocked vp