the Lord and will also raise us by his Power As sure as Christ is risen so sure shall all Believers be raised to Life and Glory by the same Power that raised Jesus Christ Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him who raised Christ be in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Then will he indeed shew himself for thy Body when that Body which was at death sown in Corruption shall be raised in Incorruption and which was sown in dishonour shall be raised in Glory Then shall thy Body and Soul which were so loath to part at Death and did part with such sad gaspings and groans meet again in Joy and Glory and be for ever united never to die and part more 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. And all this done in the twinkling of an Eye ver 52. in a moment and all be raised together 2. Thy Body shall be fashioned like the glorious Body of Jesus Christ Phil. 3. last from whence we look for a Saviour who shall change our vile Body Believer look upon that poor dying dust of thy body see it as it will be shortly amongst the Worms of the Earth and then believe that the Lord is so for thy Body as to exercise his Almighty Power in fashioning that Body like the glorious Body of Christ at the Right hand of God 3. Thou must in thy Body come with Christ and attend him coming to Judgment 1 Thess 4.14 Them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him He will bring the Holy Patriarchs and Prophets and Apostles and all the Saints with him Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appear then c. you that were so despised and scorn'd here shall appear in Glory in the open view of the World 4. They shall be solemnly own'd and acknowledg'd of Christ before his Father and the Holy Angels Matth. 10.32 Luk. 12.8 The Lord Jesus himself will in Effect say This is my dear Spouse and Bride these are they that loved me and served me and suffered for me and were never ashamed of me Yonder Tongues have spoken many good words for me and yonder hands have reached out many a kindness to me Lastly They shall with their Bodies sit with Christ to Judge the World 1 Cor. 6.2 3. The World of Ungodly Men and all the wicked Angels and Devils in Hell must stand before the Saints to be judged by them Indeed Jesus Christ is the Chief and Supream Judge but all his Saints shall sit with him in Glory as his Members with all their Bodies like his glorious Body So that they shall then be like him 1 John 3.2 And they shall prove and applaud the just Judgment of Christ though they see Jesus Christ judging their Parents to Hell yet they shall see his Justice so glorious and excellent and their own Glory will be so great that they will be so far above the trouble for the Damnation of the nearest Relation that they will applaud and exalt the Righteous Judgment of Christ therein I tell you Christians the poorest and meanest Saints of God whom you oft see cloathed in Rags who are accounted the Sink and Jakes of the World shall shortly appear in such Majesty and Glory that the highest and proudest Ungodly Monarchs in the World will be ashamed and tormented to look them in the face Lastly Consider what he doth for their Bodies for ever In three particulars 1. He makes their Bodies to be Immortal and Incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.43 Thy Body must last as long as thy Soul or as the Angels in Heaven or as the Body of Christ Here the most healthful are but a Vapour which appear but a while and then vanish away Jam. 4.14 What 's become of all the bodies of the Men in the Ages before us which were once in the Streets Shops Houses and Congregations as you see the Bodies of Men now What 's become of the bodies of your Parents Grandfathers and Grandmothers they are all vanisht away but the other World is a World without Sickness Death or Graves your very Bodies must live for ever 2. They shall live in the Society of Blessed Angels As the Devils are Haters so the Holy Angels are Lovers of Mankind They love the Bodies of Saints and are undoubtedly Instruments of much good to them here and they shall be in the blessed Company of these Spirits for ever See Zech. 3.7 3. They shall with their glorified bodies live in the Everlasting view and sight of the glorious body of Christ and of the glorified bodies of one another John 17.24 Thou shalt see the Body of Christ as the Body of thy Husband Head and Saviour thou shalt see the body of Abraham Isaac and Jacob Paul and Peter and be able to say This is the Body of Paul Peter and John This is the body of Bradford and Philpot c. Your Bodies shall be cloahted without Silks or Sattins fed without Meat and Drink Rich without Silver and Gold and your Bodies and Souls in nearer Communion with God then they would be here though in the most desirable frame you could hear a Paul in the Pulpit every day Reason Why is the Lord Jesus for the Body 1. God the Father hath given our Bodies as well as our Souls to Christ to be made happy by him John 6.39 It 's the body that was given to Christ to be raised up at the last day and not a Finger or Toe shall be lost if the having of it will make it thy happiness 2. Christ is fitted to be a Saviour of the Body as well as the Soul Heb. 10.5 Jesus Christ hath the Body as well as the soul of man which inclines him so love Mens Bodies and his Mystical Body is to be made of the Bodies of his People as well as their Souls who as the Apostle saith are Members of his Body Flesh and of his Bones Eph. 5.30 3. He carries on the whole Work of Salvation with respect to our Bodies He dyed for our bodies rose again for our Bodies that they might rise with him and he intercedes in Heaven for our Bodies and at the day of Judgment will raise up and glorisie our Bodies for he is the Saviour of the whole Man Body as well as Soul VSE 1. Of Information Of three things 1. This informs us what an unspeakable priviledge it is to be a Child of God to have the Lord of all the World for our Bodies as well as for our Souls We would think our selves happy if the Princes and Nobles and great ones of the World were for us if we had their Love and Favour so that they would improve their Power and Interest for our good but this hath not always been the Lot of Gods People but the Lord is for us Infinite Wisdom and Power and Goodness for us for Believers are a part of Christ a Self of Christ and certainly he
TWO Funeral Sermons OF THE Use and Happiness OF HUMANE BODIES Preached on 1 CORINTH vi 13. Now the Body is not for Fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the Body WITH A brief Account of the Life and Death of Mr. G. Lorimer Merchant upon the occasion of whose Death the second Sermon was Preacht By Edward Lawrence M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed by J. R. for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside 1690. TO THE READER Reader THou hast many Discourses of the Souls of Men And here I offer thee one Plain and Short Discourse of Mans Body yet also with respect to the Soul It will cost thee but a very little Time to read it and but a very little Money to buy it If it may be of any use to preserve thee from wasting thy Time at the Door of Eternity and from losing thy Soul in a vain Religion and to save thee from a stinging Death and tormenting Eternity I have my end Febr. 17th 1689 90. Thy Servant for Jesus sake Edward Lawrence THE BODY FOR THE LORD 1 COR. 6.13 Now the Body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the Body IT is ordinary for Nations and Cities Families and Persons to be in a special manner inclined to some particular sins The Cretians were branded for a Lying People Tit. 1.12 The Cretians are always Lyars And the Jews also to whom St. James writes seem by his Epistle to be much addicted to the Sins of the Tongue and this is exemplified in the Corinthians which were much given to Fornication and therefore we read that in Corinth there was a Temple erected for this Sin One reason of the prevalency of this Sin amongst them was an Opinion of the Gentiles which prevailed in Corinth that Fornication was no sin but a thing indifferent Hereupon the Apostle in this Chapter pleads against this Sin the argument he uses against it is That this sin is against the right use of the Body of Man Now saith he The Body is not for Fornication c. The words shew us the true and proper use of Mans Body And this is express't 1. Negatively the Body is not for Fornication 2. Affirmatively But for the Lord And this is amplified by another proposition which shews why the Body is and ought to be for the Lord viz. The Lord is for the Body By the Lord is here meant the Lord Jesus Christ as appears by his being mentioned with God the Father ver 14. and hath both raised up the Lord. The words chiefly teach us Two Doctrines I. The Body of Man is for the Lord Jesus Christ II. The Lord Jesus Christ is for the Body of Man I. The Body of Man is for the Lord Jesus Christ Method 1. What is meant by the Body of Man 2. What is it for the Body of Man to be for the Lord. 3. The reasons of the Doctrine 4. Use By the Body of Man is meant that visible and essential part of Man which is distinct from the Soul and Spirit this is that part of Man which was at first form'd out of the dust of the ground Gen. 2.7 and at death returns to the Earth when the Spirit returns to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 This is visible may be seen and felt and therefore Christ demonstrates his Body by this Luke 24.39 Behold my hands and my feet handle and see for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have 3. This is distinct from the Soul as appears verse the last of this Chapter Glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit viz. In your Body and Soul Now this Body is for the Lord which implies Four things 1. The Body with all the Members of it in particular are for the Lord. The Eyes Ears Tongus Hands Feet are for the Lord. They have all work to do for the Lord Christ And it s a great piece of Skill to understand what is the main use we are to make of our Senses and of the Members and Limbs of our Bodies What is the chief work these are to be employed in they are to be used for the Lord they are to work for the Lord Christ 2. The Life Health Strength and Activity of all these is for the Lord Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord If we have better Health and Strength than others it is that in the use thereof we may do more for the Lord than others 3. All things that are for the use and service of the Body are to be used for the Lord that with them you should serve him What Christ appointed his Disciples to say in a special case concerning the Ass and the Colt Mat. 21.3 The Lord bath need of them is true in ordinary cases The Lord hath need or use for them your Money Cattel Corn Goods and Apparel that with them you should serve him your Meat and Drink Preferments and Estates Houses and Lands are for the good of your Bodies but you must eat and drink to the Lord 1 Cor. 10.31 You must honour the Lord with your substance Prov. 3.9 When you buy or sell or build be able to say I get this Money for the Lord I trade in this Shop for the Lord I build these Houses for the Lord. The Lord Jesus shall have all at his service and for his Glory The Heavens Earth Seas c. must praise the Lord by your Mouths 4. All the time of Bodily Service The time wherein we are in the Body is for the Lord. Ps 148.12 13. Both young Men and Maidens old Men and children let them praise the name of the Lord. A young Boy or Girl hath work to do for the Lord. You should make all your Works and Recreations serviceable to the Lord. There is no time but you may find something to do for God 2. What is it for the Body to be for the Lord Account in seven particulars 1. It is for the Lord chiefly This doth not exclude our Natural much less our Spiritual Self Neither doth it exclude our Families Relations or the Publick the Body is for all these in their places but chiefly for the Lord and for all these things in and to the Lord. The Body is for Food and Raiment for to get Money and Wealth c. in their places but the Body with all these must be for the Lord as the last end You may take all the good God hath put in any Creature for your use and service but you must honour and serve God in the use of it And it s most certain that any Creature is best to you and you have most of the Comfort and sweetness of it when you do honour and serve God with it You will eat and drink with as true gladness of Heart as any Man alive when you eat to the Lord and drink to the Lord and you may get and keep riches with as much diligence
most inward parts of Hearts and Souls waiting for the Adoption viz. the full possession of the Inheritance which by Adoption belongs to us viz. the Redemption of our Bodies We look and wait that our bodies be freed from Sin and Death and made perfectly glorious with Christ let us live as those who look for such things 1. As ever you expect to be like Christ at the Day of Judgment Labour to be like him now 1 John 3.2 3. 2. Labour to be such as Christ may own you and accept you at the day of Judgment 2 Pet. 3.13 14. 2 Cor. 5.9 Do nothing but what you are willing Christ should come in the Clouds and find you doing do nothing but what Christ will accept of and reward you for when you must see him with those Eyes and in your Flesh stand before him The LIFE of Mr. Gilbert Lorimer Late MERCHANT of LONDON MR. Gilbert Lorimer late Merchant of London was accomplished with Learning and Parts He was Master of the Latin Tongue and understood several other Languages He was most inclin'd to study Divinity but by reason of his Bodily weakness and because he could not comply with the terms of Conformity though he much valued all sober good Conformists He applyed himself to Merchandise wherein he was skilful diligent and just and faithful When he was about Thirteen or Fourteen years old it pleased God to turn his Heart to himself he told a Holy and Judicious Person nearly Related to him the Time when and Place where Infinite Grace began that blessed Work wherein something was so signal that made such an abiding Impression upon him as to say with David Psal 119.93 I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickned me It pleased God to exercise him with divers Afflictions especially Bodily Distempers which for four or five years before he died were often accompanied with stinging Pains but in all God had his Heart and Love and he possessed his Soul in Patience This is evident by several Letters which he writ to his Holy Learned and Judicious Brother Mr. William Lorimer Minister of the Gospel part of which I thought sit to Communicate In Feb 23 168â— After his Recovery from a dangerous Sickness he writ to him thus What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits who healeth my Diseases and crowneth me with loving kindness and tender Mercies O that I may no more live to my self but to God my most Gracious and Almighty Deliverer for this I desire your Prayers and to return thanks to God through Jesus Christ on my behalf On June 7. 1687. He wrote to him of the Death of their Dear Mother Some of his Words therein are these O that through the hope of our being also with the Lord we may purifie our selves as he is pure that we may despise whatsoever in this World would take us off from the Love of Christ Blessed Jesus draw our Hearts to thy self in Heaven where thou sittest at the Right Hand of the Father that Death may be the Messenger to open the Prison Doors that we may flee away and be at rest with Christ the beloved of our Souls Amen In September following his former Distemper returned with greater force But when by means of two able Physitians he had some ease he wrote to his Brother aforesaid on Septemb 12. 1687 wherein among many other of the like Nature are these words Lord support and comfort me under my Bodily Pains and grant that I may wholy resign my self to the will of my Heavenly Father I desire your Prayers although I am chastised sorely Yet the Lord will not give me over unto Death not to a Temporal Death so long as the continuance of Life may be for his Glory and my good however I stedfastly trust in the Infinite Mercy of God through the perfect Obedience Sacrifice and Intercession of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that the second Death shall never have power over me On Sept. 24. 1687. He writ to his Brother in Answer to one of his to him wherein he saith I have received your very comfortable and Christian Letter the only fault in it is that it runs in expressions more suitable to those who are in some high degree of Christian perfection than to me a vile sinner I am nothing but Christ is all in all in me and for me adding his pain was much abated for which said he Magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Salvation and Glory be ascribed to the God of Salvation pray rather for a sanctified use of my Afflictions than for deliverance from them and O that the consideration of the shortness of them may keep me from being weary of the chastening of the Lord or fainting when I am rebuked of him In a Letter of Octob. 15. 1687. He gave notice to his Brother of another Relapse into Sickness wherein he saith I desire to bless God for the good of my Soul through the Afflictions of my Body pray that I may improve my Afflictions unto Victory over Sin and increase in all Grace On November 22. 1687. He wrote how ill he was saying with David Day and night thy hand is heavy upon me It is the Lord let him do with me what seemeth him good I am his by right of Creation and therefore at the disposal of his Sovereign Will and I am also his by right of Redemption and Purchase in the Blood of Christ and therefore he will save me if not with a Temporal yet with an Everlasting Salvation in hopes whereof I desire to possess my Soul in Patience His last Letter to his Brother was on July 14. 1688. wherein after he had given him account of his present Distemper he saith Lord help me that I may be more and more fitted for Communion with God here and for the full enjoyment of him for ever of which I am an Expectant through the alone Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ my ever blessed Lord and Saviour About a Moneth before he dyed his Worthy Brother heard him often say as he lay awake in the Night on his Bed Come Lord Jesus Amen Even so come Lord Jesus I was with him about half an hour before he dyed he continued to the last both thesame Man in the use of his Reason and the same Christian in the Exercise of Grace I desire his surviving Relations will never forget his Counsel and Example which they heard and saw This Israelite indeed passed into the World without Sin on Octob. 26. 1688. I was ever tender of what I said on such occasions as this making Conscience of these 2 things I. To give no Person that Character in my Words which they have not in my Heart II. To speak nothing of any one when they are dead which I did not think or speak of them whilst they were alive but I had personal knowledge of him for many years and therefore have given this true Relation Edward Lawrence FINIS
c. He hath settled all things present upon us so far as 't is for our good 1 Cor. 3.22 Things present are yours We have the Word of God for the good of our Bodies in this Life and certainly the poorest Saint who hath a right to the promises of God for things present is better provided for and in less danger of Famine then the greatest carnal person in the World for the Ungodly have Riches for the Body Silver Gold Houses and Lands for the Body but a Godly Man hath the Lord of all the World for the Body 2. His Infinite Care and Providence is exercised to fulfil his promises for the Body Mat. 6.32 Your Heavenly Father knoweth you have need of these things i. e. he knoweth so as to supply our need of these things And for this David tells Psal 37.16 A little that a Righteous Man hath is better than the Riches of many Wicked because saith he The Arms of the Wicked shall be broken but the Lord upholdeth the Righteous The Righteous have the Lord with their little when the Wicked have often much but the Lord is not with them but against them So that this Lord who made the World for the good of Mans body doth exercise his glorious Providence for the bodies of his People 2. The Lord Jesus makes the bodies of his People blessed and glorious for ever and this appears 1. By considering what he doth for their bodies in this Life in order to their Eternal Happiness 2. By considering what he doth for their bodies when dead 3. At the day of Judgment Lastly For ever For the First Observe Three things which the Lord doth in this Life for the Salvation of the bodies of his people 1. He unites their Bodies to himself ver 15. Know you not that your Bodies are the Members of Christ VVhat could he have done more for that poor dust of thine than to make it a blessed part of himself to make it a part of his own Mystical Body so that what is done to the very Bodies of his People is done to himself Mat. 25.35 I was Hungry and Sick and Naked and Imprison'd Lord say they when saw we thee so and so Yes saith he these little ones are a part of me I and they are all one and what you did to them you did to me Oh how should we be affected with the Lords being thus for the body so as to make it a part of himself Come and I will shew you the Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 How or where shall we see that sight Why wherever you see a true Believer you see the Body of the true Bride and Spouse of Jesus Christ 2. He puts a Presence and Glory on the very Bodies of his people Eccles 8.1 A Mans Wisdom maketh his Face to shine The Image of God shines in the very face of a Godly Man We read Revel 7.3 That the Servants of God must be sealed in their Foreheads which some think is an allusion to Slaves who have their Foreheads marked with the Names of their Masters to whom they did belong So there may be read in the very Faces and Countenances and Foreheads of Gods people the Name of Christ to whom they belong for although Grace is Internal yet the Fruits thereof appear in the outward Man And so Revel 22 4. The Name of the Lamb shall be on their Foreheads If that be spoken of Heaven it s in some measure true here and it s most certain that an upright holy Saint carries such a presence with him that it daunts oftentimes the Wicked and the very sight of them puts Gods Children in mind of their Father and Saviour 3. He honours them by fitting their bodies for his Service and using them therein And indeed it is a great Honour to serve so great and good a Master which made Paul so often Glory in that Title The Servant of Jesus Christ Now when a Man is Sanctified and made a new Creature his whole Soul and Body are thereby set for God for his Honour and Service We are said Ephes 2.10 to be Created in Christ Jesus to good works to be made fit for good Works It 's said of a Godly Man 2 Tim. 2.21 He shall be a Vessel of Honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work Thus you see that by the Grace and Life of Christ a Man is fit for any service or suffering which Duty leads him to and hereby the Saints of God may live as a Company of Incarnate Angels in the World II. Consider what Christ doth for the Body when Dead 1. Their blessed Corps are continued in their Union with Christ Death breaks no Union made by Grace and therefore they are said to sleep in Jesus 1 Thess 4.4 And are called the dead in Christ ver 16. Where you think of or look into the Church-yards What a great Mystery it is that so great a part of the Bride and Spouse of Christ should lie amongst those ghastly Skuls and rotten Dust and that there should be more of his Members and a greater part of his Body dead in the Earth than are serving him here in the World 2. He owns their dead Bodies for his They are Christs own 1 Cor. 15.23 Afterward they that are Christs at his coming Observe the Bodies of Believers from the hour of Death till the coming of Christ are Christ's all the while when they are Children of their Earthly Parents no more Husbands and Wives no more yet Christ's still 3. He loves them as his own and as united to him He loves their very rotten Corps as part of himself as part of his own Spouse and Members he knows them all in the Earth he can distinguish between the cursed Corps of Unbelievers that lie in the Graves under the Curses of the Law and who are bound over to suffer Everlasting Fire and the blessed bodies of his Saints who lie in their Graves in a right to Heaven and Salvation When our dearest Relations die we cry with Abraham Bury my dead out of my sight Bury my dead Husband or dead Wife or dead Child out of my sight and they are all to us as dead Men out of mind as it s said Psal 31.12 Yet they are always in the sight and view of Jesus Christ and when they have rotted in the Earth or been swallowed up in the Seas or burnt in the Fire many Hundred years yet these blessed bodies are precious and lovely in the Eyes of Christ Jesus Christ is always looking on the dust of Abraham Isaac and Jacob of David Paul and Peter and all the Saints which are dead with great Love and Delight III. Consider what Christ will do for the Bodies of his people at the day of Judgment In five particulars 1. He will raise up their bodies to Glory and herein he is said to be for the body ver 14. Following the Text God hath both raised up
will improve all for the good and Glory of his whole Self 2. It informs us of the dreadful condition of wicked men what a sad state are they in both as to their Bodies and Souls I am now speaking of the Body thou hast got good Meat and Clothes for the Body good Houses and Lands for thy Body but is the Lord for the Body No this great Lord is against thy Body Infinite Power and Wisdom and Justice will be all set on work to torment thy Body Thou canst not endure an aching Tooth a broken bone a fit of the Stone or Gout The pains of a Travelling Woman Oh little dost thou think what thy Body is to endure for ever Go and dress thy self make thy self fine set out thy self to the best look in the glass see if every hair or pin stand right but remember what that head and face and arms and Limbs must suffer when they burn in Hell Oh Sinners pity your Souls and Bodies and never rest till thou hast got the Lord for thy Body I tell thee thy body hath more need of Christ than of Meat and Drink 3. It informs us what are the greatest and best things for the body you may know this by considering what the Lord doth for the body For certainly Christ his Spouse live best and fare best and are always most happy And if it were best to be Lords and Ladies Nobles and Princes do you think Christ would not make his Members and Spouse such Can any be so foolish as to think that Christ doth more for Turks and Pagans than he doth for himself and for his own Body and therefore we must conclude that the best things are amongst Gods Children to be Holy and Happy to live a life of Godliness and Obedience to God in order to Glory this must needs be the best for this is that which the Lord who is for the Body doth in Infinite Wisdom and Love chuse for and give to his people we must believe that the best and worst things are reserv'd The Wicked for the most part have the Gold and Silver Honours and Pleasures of the World Oh but consider what is reserved for them is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude 13. Gods people are often poor afflicted and persecuted in this World But there is an Inheritance Incorruptable that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for them 2 Pet. 1.4 It s a sweet comfort to think that those things which are best at present are most durable If spiritual things were to last no longer than the Vanities of the World yet for the present they are better than the Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World if we had but a day in Gods Courts its better than a Thousand elsewhere Ps 84. but they are not only incomparably best at present but they are Everlasting VSE 2. Of Comfort to the Godly In three Particulars 1. This secures to us the Providence and Care of God in outword things for the Body The Lord is so for the Body that we may be assured the body shall not want any thing that is good for us in order to our Eternal Happiness Indeed its fit we should leave it to God who hath more Wisdom to know what is good for us and more love to give what is good for us than we have to chuse to do us good in his own way He knows best how to use his own care to exercise his own Providence and to shew his own Love it s enough for us to know that the Lord with the Infinite Wisdom Power and Love of the Godhead is for us so as to be the Cause of our Eternal Happiness but seeing we may believe that this will be the effect and that the cause is sufficient to work it we may well leave it to God to take his own way to make us blessed Observe our Saviour Luk. 13.32 Fear not little Flock c. Christ is there pleading against our inordinate care about the Body and saith he Fear not for it 's your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore shall not want what is good for you in your way thither 2. Comfort against all the Enemies of your Bodies we have more for the Body than can be against it For the Lord is for the Body and if God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8.21 And on this account fear not them that can kill the Body For if the Lord be for the Body fear not all that Wicked Men can do to the Body let them spoil us impoverish us imprison kill us yet they do but fulfil the Counsels of the Lord for the Body For as long as the Lord is for the Body things that are seemingly against the Body are indeed for the body for the Lord rules all and turns it to the Welfare of the Body 3. Comfort against Death If the Lord is for the Body then Death is for the Body too It comes from the Lord as a blessing on the Body to fulfil his good Will and Counsel concerning it and therefore welcome Death the Body cannot be happy in this World This World of Meat and Drink and Money c. Cannot so much as make the body of Man happy the Body must die or at least be changed before it can be happy And therefore take a full view of Death of the Grave of Worms of Rottenness See Job 19.25 26 27. I know that my Redeemer lives c. Believe this that the Lord is for the Body and then say Death take my Body Grave cover my Body Worms eat my Body yet the Lord will be still for the Body and he will raise it up I shall see him and stand before him at the last day and be like him and appear with him in Glory Last use of Exhortation to three Duties 1. Bless the Lord for what he doth for the body It s the Lord that gives you Life Health Liberty and Estates and therefore observe and take notice of the Lord in all your Mercies to the body You which are Tradesmen if a Customer come into the Shop it s the Lord which sends him for thy good and deal with him as coming from the Lord. See your Tables fill'd with the Lord especially if you were ever enabled to do him any bodily service 2. Pray to the Lord for the body there is care and love in the Lord for the body but it must be drawn out by Prayer As there is Milk in the Mothers breast for the child but the child must suck and draw it out of the breasts into his own body so we must by Faith and Prayer suck and draw out Mercies from the Lord both for Soul and Body 3. Live as those who look for the Lord Jesus to shew himself for the body to make the body compleatly blessed and happy Rom. 8.28 We groan within our selves c. Observe We groan within our selves viz. in the
sin is abus'd lies more without the body The Drunkard hurts this body but he abuses Wine and Drink which is without the body but in Whoredom the body is the Instrument of sin and that which is abused by sin But these things are spoken comparatively the words shew what a wrong Whoredom is to a mans body See ver 15. how the Apostle pleads against it as a most loathsom thing to take a part member of Christ and make it a member of an Harlot to joyn any part of Christ to a Harlot This is a sin rots the Name rots the Body by this the flesh and the body are consum'd Prov. 5.11 and brings body and Soul to Hell ver 9 10. of this Chap. Fornicators and Adulterers shall not inherit the Kingdom of God It 's matter of grief and astonishment that this sin should be practiced with such horrid Impudence by a people that profess their bodies to be Members of Christ and in a Land where the Bible is read that tells them Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 And that people will not believe how little a way it is between the defiled Bed and the Fire of Hell 2. Drunkenness to which may be added gluttony These things set the body in a readiness to do any thing for the Devil and Sin but render it unfit for the service of the Lord. A Drunkard in his drink may swear blaspheme and Whore and Murder But can a Man pray when he is drunk hear Sermons or receive Sacraments or have Communion with God in any thing when he is drunk When a Man is drunk he is not fit Company for a Man how then can he at that time be fit for Communion with God Pray therefore that nothing may enter into thy Mouth which may defile thy Soul disease thy Body unfit thee for the service of God or waste the Creatures on thy craving and consuming Lusts 3. Sins of the Eyes A great deal of Sin or Grace is seen in the Looks or Countenances of People There are proud Looks wanton Looks envious Looks and angry Looks but when the Soul and Body is serving the Lord it puts another Face and Countenance on Men. It makes them look with a holy humble chaste loving and chearful countenance Lastly Sins of the Tongue Jam. 3.6 How would it tame our Tongues if we consider'd our Tongues are for the Lord And what a great deal of Honour one wholsome Tongue brings to the Lord and we should not speak a word but it should be some way or other for the Lord. Vse 2. Of Exhortation which refers 1. To others 2. To our selves For the First Is the Body for the Lord Thence infer three Duties to others 1. Put a true value on the very bodies of all Men. Look on them as for the Lord and prize them accordingly 1 Pet. 2.17 Honour all Men Wherever you see the body of a Man Woman or Child be they never so poor or weak or deformed yet consider these bodies were made for the Lord bought for the Lord and may be Members of the Lord and therefore love and esteem the bodies of Men for the Lord's sake 2. Do all the good you can not only to the Souls but to the Bodies of Men This is the great duty of the Sixth Commandment which binds you to your power to endeavour to preserve the Life Health Liberty and Chearfulness of Men Therefore do them good on this reason because their bodies are for the Lord and you may fit them and make them more capable of serving and praising him 3 Lament to see the horrid abuse which most make of their bodies When you see how most use their own bodies can you think they use them for the Lord. What are Men Swearing and Cursing Whoring and Drunk for the Lord are they Lying Cheating and oppressing for the Lord You may see Streets full of Sin Shops full of Sin Houses full of Sin most people eating and drinking talking and working for the Devil the Flesh and the World but very few doing any thing for the Lord. 2. To our selves Frame your Lives according to the belief of this Truth That your bodies are for the Lord. I shall press this with a few Motives and conclude with Directions Mot. 1. Consider the great account you are to give to God for your own Body Rom. 14.12 Every one of us must give an account of himself to God God will question us what we have done with our selves VVhat use we have made of our own Souls and bodies 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive or carry away the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or evil Observe VVhen we appear before Christ at the day of Judgment every one shall carry away his weight Sinners shall carry away their Oaths and Lies c. viz. the Wrath due for them Saints shall carry away a weight of Glory I charge you Christians as you will answer it to the Judge before the door when in that flesh and body you must stand before him when he will call you to account for your Lives Health Ease for your Speech Sight Hearing and for the Members and Limbs of your bodies for your Meat Drink Sleep Estates that you then be able to say I have used this body for the Lord remembering that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.17 If any Man defile the Temple of God meaning his own Soul and Body him will God destroy 2. Consider God accepts and will reward all that with your bodies you do for the Lord Not so much as a good word spoken sincerely for God nor a loving look upon a Child of God nor a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple of Christ shall lose its reward 3. It 's but a little while that your bodies will be fit to do any thing for the Lord. I would have those who have yet Youth and Health and Strength to study the 12. of Ecclesiastes where young Men are required to serve the Lord ver 1. Remember thy Creator and the way the Holy Ghost useth to move them hereunto is this he sets before them an old man with an hoary head dim eyes shaking hands Feeble Limbs with his Teeth rotted away Faltring Speech and bow'd Back such things as these are set out by those Metaphorical Expressions ver 3 4 5 6. and they serve to teach the Young and Healthful that whenever they see an Old Lame Withered Man or Woman sitting in the House or creeping about the Streets They should consider that they should do all the service they can for God now because they will do so little when they are in the condition of such aged Persons 4. Consider if your Bodies are employed for the Lord now it will yield you sweet comfort when you can serve God no longer or at least do him but little service Ps 71.17 18. God will
never forsake an Old Servant or a Sick Servant Lastly When sickness and death comes thou canst have no comfort if thou hast not employed thy Body for the Lord. It will be fad parting with the Body and Soul when thou must leave a cursed Body to the Earth and go with a Damned Soul to Hell and more sad will be their meeting at the Resurrection to Condemnation 7. Directions 1. See that the whole Manbe-Sanctified and made holy 1 Thess 5.23 The very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly Heb. 10.22 Our Bodies washed with pure water i. e. by the powerful Operation of the Spirit which cleanseth the heart from sin as Water washeth the Body from Filth When the Soul is made Holy there will be a Holy Tongue Holy Hands c. all will be Holy 2. Present your bodies to the Lord Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that you present your Bodies a living Sacrifice Holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred present is an allusion to the Sacrifices which were set before God at the Altar as ready to be offered to him so we must set not only our Souls but our Bodies before the Lord as his due Say This Tongue and these Eyes and Hands are for the Lord. Pray him to take them and use them for himself 3. In all places you are in with your bodies consider what Work is to be done for the Lord you can be no where but you may find work for the Lord Prov. 27.8 As a Bird that wandreth from his Nest so is a man that wandreth from his place And this I think is the intent of that Scripture Eccles 11.3 In the place where the Tree falleth or hapneth to be there it shall be for the benefit and advantage of them to whom it falls The Context seems to justifie this sense teaching us that every Man ought to labour to be a blessing in his place 4. Whatever you do for your Bodies do it as for the Lord Take care of your bodies Do not wilfully bring Diseases on your bodies Preserve your bodies for the Owners sake When you are feeding and cloathing your Bodies see that you do it for the Lord Do not eat and drink so as to make you unfit for the Lord to put your bodies out of frame for the Lord. 5. All that you do with your bodies do it to the Lord and for the Lord Observe Rom. 14.6 He that regardeth a day regardeth it to the Lord he that eateth eateth to the Lord. When you are employed in your Callings if your Working Buying and Selling were only to get Money and to have great Estates This were not worth the Care and Thoughts Words and Time of a Man but see that you and yours are for the Lord. So when you are chearful be ruled by these Principles in your Laughing Jesting and Mirth Have no Mirth but what you can bless God for and have no Mirth but what you can part with 2 Cor. 7.30 And they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not 6. Keep a Guard on your Bodies and on all the parts of them Job made a Covenant with his Eyes Chap. 31.1 Feed not your Lusts with wanton Objects Bridle your Tongues Psal 39.1 Keep your whole Bodies in subjection to the Will of God Lastly Give up thy Body to the Lords disposal Submit to the Lord in bodily Sickness Poverty Imprisonment be ready to suffer any thing for the Lord and so leave thy Body to sleep in Jesus when the Lord calls for it THE LORD FOR THE BODY 1 COR. 6.13 And the Lord for the Body Doct. 2. THE Lord Jesus Christ is for the Body of Man I shall give account of the Doctrine under these Heads I. What are we to understand by the Lord Jesus his being for the Body II. What doth Jesus Christ do for the Body of Man III. Why is Jesus Christ for the Body VSE I. By Jesus Christ his being for the Body we are to understand that the Lord Jesus Christ doth set himself to bless the Body of Man so as to make it unspeakably happy and blessed for ever See Jesus Christ in all his Glory and then look upon that poor Worm and dust of thy Body and know that all the fulness of the Godhead and all the fulness of the Manhood is in Jesus Christ for the good of that poor Body See Col. 2.9 10. In him dwells all the Godhead Bodily and you are compleat in him who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers Observe All the fulness of the Godhead dwells in the Humane Nature of Christ that we may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 filled in him and both in Body and Soul compleatly happy and blessed in him There are three things implyed in the Lord Jesus his being for the Body 1. That he is a Saviour of the Body of Man The whole Work of Salvation is for the Body 2. That he hath the Infinite Love and Kindness of a Saviour for the Body of Man Tit. 3.4 After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared Observe these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The words shew that the goodness it self or as I may say the good Nature in the Lord Jesus inclines him to love Man So that its easie and Natural to him to be kind and loving and to have unspeakable love and kindness for Man for every part of Man both of Body and Soul 3. That all the Attributes of the Godhead are working in the Lord Jesus Christ as a Saviour to fulfil his love and good will to the Body of Man See the Infinite Power Wisdom Justice and Faithfulness of the Godhead in Christ He hath infinite Love and good Will for the Body Infinite Wisdom to contrive the Happiness of the Body Infinite Power to execute the Counsels and good Pleasure of his Wisdom and Love for the Body of Man See Phil. 3.20 21. We look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself These words shew that the Almighty Power of Christ whereby he is able to do what he will is working in him to make the Body of Man glorious II. What doth the Lord Jesus do for the Body of Man Answer in two particulars 1. He blesseth the Body with Temporal things 2. He makes the Body of Man glorious and blessed for ever 1. He blesseth the Body with Temporal things Deut. 30.20 He is thy Life and the Length of thy dayes He gives and prolongs our Lives Prov. 8.18 Riches and Honour are with me 1 He hath made many gracious promises for the Body 1 Tim. 4.8 Having premise of this Life that now is Mat. 6.33 All these things shall be added unto you Deut. 28.3 4 5 6. Blessed shalt thou be in the City