may be very true though thou dost not understand it or at first resent it Remember how it was with the disciples of our Lord Christ Luk. 18. 31. 34. our Lord told them vers 31. of what he was to suffer and that all things that were written by the prophets concerning the son of man should be fulfilled and that at Jerusalem he should be spitefully dealt withall c. and delivered to the gentiles as they did vers 34. it is said they understood none of those things these sayings were hid from them neither knew they the things that were spoken in like manner our Lord Christ the Apostles and prophets have spoken and declared many things concerning his coming again in power and great glory and that every eye shall see him They have spoken of very many great things that wlll contemporize and take place then and amongst them in particular this mistery shewed by the Apostle Paul of the not aying of the servants of God but being changed whilst alive and put into their former happy estate which was lost in Adam but many of the servants of God and followers of the Lord Christ understand none of those things and the saying is hid from them and they know it not Haply it may be even so in this our day and in particular concerning this mistery this being changed whilest alive in a moment It is likely it may be better resented and understood hereafter and therefore I shall leave it to the giver of light and understanding to give forth as he shall please The day hasteneth the time it draweth nigh he that shall come will come and will not tarry In the mean time the just shall live by faith Farewell P. G. B. The Mystery of Not Dying but being Changed whilest alive Discussed 1 Cor. 15. 51. CHAP. I. Something offered in a brief and general way touching the resurrection of the dead from that in 1 Cor. 15. from the 34. to the end of vers 50 In order to the better taking knowledge of some other matter THe Apostle Paul having mentioned a question that some did or might make vers 35. How are the dead raised up and with what bodyes do they come He in an upbraiding manner answereth in an allusive way to the sowing of grain in the earth vors 36. Thou fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die vers 37. And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body which shall be but bare grain c. a grain sowen becomes a stalk with ears and grain For vers 38. God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him and to every seed of this or that kind of grain his own body his own in nature and kind wheat bringeth forth wheat barly and all kind of grain their like In vers 39. the Apostle alludeth to flesh and mentions the several kindes all not being the same there is one of men another of beasts another of fishes another of birds then in vers 40. He tells also of celestial bodyes and bodies terrestrial And in vers 41. he speaks of the difference that is between the celestial bodyes in glory that there is a difference in degree and in the greatnes of their glory as in the sun and the moon And how one star differs from another in glory and this he doth in an allusive way to the matter in hand In vers 42. He applies that before spoken of to the resurrection saying so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption c. And so according to that allusive way of speaking of sowing mans body is so sown in corruption and raised in incorruption God giveth a body as he pleaseth so as he giveth to the grain A body incorruptible as is set forth in vers 43. it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory It is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body There will be a difference betwixt what they are when sown and what they will be when raised in sundry considerations In the latter part of vers 44. the Apostle doth positively assert that there is a natural body such is the present condition of all the sons of Adam and there is a spiritual body so will be the case and condition of all the just hereafter when they are raised again He speaketh as the holy Scriptures use to do of things that as yet are not as if at present they were There is a spiritual body it will surely be so What he means by spiritual body the matter following in vers 45. doth shew he confirms the differencing so by what is written saying and so it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul a living man Gen. 2. 7. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life man became a living soul The last Adam to wit the Lord Christ the prince of life Acts. 3 15. He was made a quickning spirit being the first-fruits of those that rose from death vers 46. He shews that the natural state is first the spiritual state is afterward vers 47. the first man is of the earth earthly Adam was formed of the dust of the earth the second Adam or man the Lord Christ from heaven Vers. 48. As is the earthy such are they that are earthy as was Adam such are all his posteritie as is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly as is the Lord Christ such will be all the just they shall be like him 1. Joh. 3. 2. Their vile bodyes shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. Vers. 49. The Apostle fully asserts it As we have born and do yet bear the Image of the earthy we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly The Apostle saith we shall not that we do bear it now for our present state is a state of regeneration but our future condition will be a state of glorification which we shall then attain unto when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Vers. 50. The Apostle hath another positive assertion and a resolve in the case this I say brethren that flesh and bloud cannot inherrit the kingdom of God What he means by flesh and bloud that which he sayth further explains neither saith he doth corruption inherit incorruption namely man in his corrupt unchanged estate earthy Adam he cannot inherit that incorrupt estate as to dwell in the new heaven and the new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness or righteous ones only so in Rev. 21. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth c. Man clothed with mortallity and corrupt flesh and bloud cannot come there or have any share or inheritance in that blessed state of which holy Peter speaketh 1. Pet. 1. 4. an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away
of the creation nor the throne of the beast or Antichrist but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him to the fulfilling of Rev. 22. 3. There are some general notions and common sayings amongst persons religious and professing much love to the Lord Christ and desire of the advancement of his glory both here and hereafter and yet they do greatly obstruct and hinder the advance of the knowledge of his coming The first obstruction we mention is a decrying of it as a thing not orthodox but a thing newly started up or revived the Milleniant Tenent which they that are orthodox meddle not with it is much to hear any that professe love to the Lord Jesus to speak so at this time of the day and to fright themselves and others with such a bugbear and thereby to hinder themselves and others from searching or making enquiry into the scriptures concerning the good things to come whenas some have outlived the notions and wayes they counted orthodox and have closed with and adhered unto in notion and practice the things they counted heterodox and it may be they may do so again This fallacie of being orthodox is but an aiery notion a name only the religious tenents and practises setled by power in any nation or countrey are orthodox there where they are so setled and all other dissonant tenents to the establishment are counted heterodox though they be never so right tenents the Papists will so decry the Protestants of all kinds the Protestants do the like and will when they are setled by power decry as heterodox the Papist and every different party amongst all sorts of Christians are apt to baptize their own opinion as orthodox and all dissenters as heterodox and the dissenter will do the like back again so as in effect this bugbear signifieth nothing at all but is as a shaddow Another thing obstructing is a common notion and speaking inconsideratly of the world to come of which the holy scriptures speaks Heb. 2. 5. As that which sball take place when this world sball give place be burned and be no more which by many is quite overlooked and by some counted as heaven above as if nothing was to be here below after the burning and end of this world but heaven and being in heaven Nay in common speaking some tell of going to heaven before this world have an end not taking notice of the world to come at all and very hardly admitting it to be any other thing then heaven above as was said before by which notion and speaking they make void insignificant much of the holy scriptures and the sayings of the Lord Christ the Apostles and prophets therein as concerning things to come And to help in the case they adventure to allegorize and put spiritual meanings on plain prophecyes prophesying thereby themselves instead of believing and receiving the sayings of the prophets though the prophets declared nothing but what God commanded them to speak and declare And in like manner they do by the holy visions of John and others declared and set forth in the holy scriptures whereby the minds of persons are diverted and taken off from searching into the prophecies and looking out after the good things to come and from the believing of them any otherwise then they conceive they will sute with heaven and the state of heaven above So as the coming again of our Lord Christ the coming of his kingdom and his will done on earth as in heaven which himself hath so greatly foretold witnessed to and exhorted his servants to pray for Math. 6. 10. The blessed restoration of all things when he shall be sent again spoken of by Peter Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. The creatures deliverance from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God called the adoption or redemption of the body which they who have the first-fruits of the spirit viz. the hints of the glory thereof upon their spirits and the whole creation by a secret instinct are said to groan travel in pain and wait to be delivered into Rom. 8. 21. 22. 23. The new heaven and new earth and all things made new the true and faithful sayings which our Lord Christ sent and signified by his Angel to his servant John The reading hearing keeping whereof hath the promise of a blessing annexed to it equal with if not beyond any other part of the holy scriptures Rev. 1. 1. 3. with very many things more that might be mentioned will signifie little or nothing but as they are made by some to hold forth some attainer or enjoyment in heaven above Another hindrance of the knowledge and looking out after the great good things to come and which takes the mindes of persons from searching and looking out after them is a narrow notion received and held forth upon little ground but tradition namely that the Lord Christ will come at the day of judgement to judge the quick and the dead according to that short summary in the Creed and in and under this is by some wrapped up all the things spoken of in the scriptures concerning the ends of his coming again without taking any notice of them at all so as if you speak of Christ our Lord coming in glory to take unto him his great power and to set up his kingdom and to reign in the midst of his enemies and to break them in peices as a potters vessel Psal 2. 9. Rev. 2. 26. 27. And his being admired at by and in them that believe when they see his glory 2. Thes. 1. 10. Rom. 8. 17. 18. As the disciples that our Lord told of the sufferings he was to accomplish at Jerusalem Luk. 18. 31. to 34. It is sayd they understood none of those things and those sayings were hid from them so in like manner speak now of the great things that will take place when the Lord Christ shall come again in his glory and they understand none of these things and these things are hid from them and they understand nothing but Christ our Lord his coming to judgement and that they seem to minde as a transcient thing and not a set solemn and formal thing a real judicature and incline to think it will be in heaven rather then here below on earth speaking as if they thought that the Lord Christ will but come to the Clouds and then return again to heaven Thus as the former notion concerning the world to come so these in their notions do make insignificant much of the holy Scriptures as if written in vain unlesse allegorized or making them speak out some spiritual meaning which is put upon them with the which some please and content themselves without further enquiry or looking out after our Lords coming and the good things that shall attend the same otherwise then heaven above as is said before Whereas if the Scriptures be well minded and considered it will
should be swallowed up in victory we shall forbear to speak further to the first part of the mistery namely that we shall not all dye The second part is but we shall all be changed All the just or righteous then alive at the coming of the Lord Christ shall be so changed It medleth not with the unjust we shall be changed the consideration of the change it self and wherein it consists we shall refer to the Apostle his following description of it and shall make some enquiry what other Scriptures speak of it and witness to it first that in Paul 3. 21. who shall change to wit the Lord Christ shall at his coming from heaven make that change our vile body or corrupt and sinfull body that it may fashioned like unto his to wit pure spotless and incorrupt glorious body Col. 3. 4. when Christ shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory be like him and see him as he is as holy John saith 1. Joh. 3. 2. this change is wrought by a mighty hand of power and working whereby he namely the Lord Jesus is able to subdue all things unto himself put them under and subject them even sin and death and the grave and all principality and power he is over them all and he is able to do whatever he pleaseth make this change so as is after declared In the next place minde we that in 1. Thes 4. 15. 17. This we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we that are alive and remain So unto the coming of the Lord implying there will be such living then shall not prevent anticipate or get before them that are asleep to wit in their graves for as in vers 16. they shall be awakened with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and shall arise first These dead in Christ they will rise first that being their order Then comes these changed ones as it is said then shall we which are alive and remain be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire It is premised that they be first changed in a moment before this conjunction and going together to meet the Lord so mounting up like the Eagles with wings Isa 40. 41. these waiters on the Lord Christ shall be so renewed then as to do as is there said this Prophesy seemeth to relate to that very time and to have its fulfilling then We shall then both the raised and changed together meet the Lord so and be for ever with him Blessed and happy souls indeed Further the restoration of all things spoken by all the holy prophets Acts. 3. 21. it doth speak out fully and in a more general way this change and the time of it also man being the principal thing in that blessed restoration The heavens the earth and the Creatures they grone for it Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. they shall all share in this change and shall be answered unto in their groning They shall all be changed as a vesture folded up and they being old shall be changed Psal 102. 26. and the new heaven and the new earth taking place 2 Pet. 3. 13. all things shall be changed and made new as the Angel said unto John Rev. 21. 5. behold I make all things new even as holy Paul said behold I shew you a mistery we shall not a dye but be changed The holy Apostle vers 52. doth very positiuely the second time assert it we shall all be changed as it is fully asserted by him so it is ncessary to be fully believed by us That which yet further we may minde about this change whither as a part of the mistery or as an appendix or a relate to it I shall not essay to determine That we may take notice of is how sudden and transcient it will be in a moment in the twinkling of an eye very-sudden and expeditious will this change be The coming of the son of man and this as an attendant thereof will be like the lightning that is very quick and transcient Math. 24. 27. sudden in the shining from the East to the West over in a moment of time as sudden as a thought and while they begin to think it will be over in a moment in the twinkling of an eye it will be over and done A very great work in a very little time done and brought to pass by a mighty and wonderful workman the Lord Christ that is able to do all things it is beyond our reason and thoughts but not our faith What our Lord Christ sayd to Thomas may here be said in this matter blessed are they that though their reason cannot reach it nor their thoughts comprehend it yet their faith believes it because it is written so in a moment in the twinkling of an eye in the least of time very transient will this changing be And we shall be changed Then lastly as relating to the time when said to be at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised up incorruptible of which in order To the dead raised something hath been said before and at that very juncture of time shall the living be changed This saying of the Apostle at the last trump is considerable Whither it be the last of the seven trumpets it 's very likely or some other this rising and changing we are now treating of seems to contemporize in time with the time of our Lord Christ his coming Mat. 24. 31. when that scripture Rev. 11. 15. the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever will have it 's through fulfilling he then having fully taken to himself his great power and reign for which there will be so great thanks giving as in vers 17. we give thee thanks O Lord God almighty c. because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned CHAP. III. Containing the proposal of some things by way of essay from vers 53. and 54. concerning the Apostles further making out the matter wherein this mystery consists with the manner of the effecting of it THe holy Apostle vers 53. 54. further to shew the matter and contents of the mistery of not dying but being changed he likewise sheweth the way and manner of it saying this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortalitie wherein the matter and likewise the manner is held forth of which we shall dilate a little And first for the matter It is by being freed or rid of corruption defilement and all pollution and by being put into a state of perfect rectitude and uprightness and this beyond the highest degree of mortification that is to be attained unto here And on the other part an attayner of holines purity and clearness from sin an estate beyond the highest attainner of sanctification that the happy estate of
remove in one day Never yet done and though much of it may be done before yet is it not likely to be so fully and throughly to be done till that day of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 21. and the time of the glorious manifestation of the sons of God which the creature grons for Rom. 8. 19. when the Lord Jehovah shall bring forth again his servant the branch this will then be fully performed and then according to his promise we shall have a new heaven and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness 2. Pet. 3. 13. In the which iniquity will not be found In 2. Cor. 5. The like we may finde not only something of the matter before treated of but of the manner we know saith the Apostle that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands c. If our mortal bodies dye and perish we have better provided we shall have such hereafter And therefore as in vers 2. we grone earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven with more pure incorruptible and immortal clothing with glory and honour and immortality and life eternal Rom. 2. 7. the condition then will not be righteousness imputed as now but righteousness in us perfect rectitude in our own persons we shall be like the Lord Christ The attainer then it will be sure beyond that of the attainer in the state of regeneration and that of imputation it is likely will cease The clothing with our house from heaven as it will be very pure so it will be lasting and durable and therefore we groan or desire to be clothed with it to be in that state that condition vers 3. if so be that being so clothed with it we shall not be found naked as Adam and Eve were when they had sinned eating the forbidden fruit they were stripped of that clothing of the Image of God righteousness and holyness in the which they were made Gen. 1. 27. it is said they were naked sin and shame entred together Adam made garments of figtree leaves because of shame and being naked as in like manner his posterity have done and yet do make garments upon that account In vers 4. the holy Apostle speaks further we groan being burdened with our heavy clothing of sin corruption and mortality not for that we would be unclothed namely dye and be dissolved that the Apostle denyeth to be the tendency of the creature or man such as have the first fruits of the spirit to groan for death or dying it being as an instinct in every creature as well as man to preserve life by all means whatever they can attain death is an enemy to life and is as an enemy shunned That 's a rare case and a kindly spirit indeed that is so disposed as to desire to be unclothed so which the Apostle denyes not that we would be unclothed but be clothed upon with a better clothing to be changed for a better and a more durable clothing incorruption immortality and life eternal when and where we shall not be found naked that is the tendency and earnest desire which the servants of God goes out after and the creatures also Vers. 54. of this 1. Cor. 15. the Apostle adds further when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal hath put on immortality as it will at the time of the raising and changing of the servants of God then will be brought to passe accomplished and done fully that which is written Isay 25. 8. death is swallowed up in victorie as mortalitie shall likewise be of life to wit life everlasting compared 2. Cor. 5. 4. then the conquest and victory over death will be brought to passe and the righteous freed from being under his dominion any more for ever for then they can dye no more but be immortal and live for evermore There are very many great things as well as this victory over death that do attend this time very many great and high prophecyes contained in the scriptures relating to that time will then be fulfilled and made good of which something shall be said hereafter yea many of the prophecyes of holy Isaiah little minded or understood in this day will then be brought to passe and made good seem they never so strange It was so at our Lord his first coming as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us as Math. 1. 22. Mat. 2. 17. Math. 4. 14. Luk. 24. 44. with very many the like which I shall forbear to set down That of Luke is the saying of our Lord Christ very full that all things that are written concerning me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled not one jot or tittle of the word of prophecy as to things relating to the Lord Christ and his kingdom but it must all be fulfilled As it was in relation to his first coming so it will be also as to his second coming when he shall come in power and great glory seem the things never so strange or unlikely the power and faithfulness of the Lord Jehovah whose word it is will make them good of which more hereafter But for a close take we knowledge of one place more in holy Isaiah because it is of like tone with what we have treated of concerning clothing and garments and putting on and off Isa 52. 1. Awake awake put on thy strength O Zion put on thy beautiful garments O Jerusalem c. It seems as to the last and full fulfilling of it to look at this blessed state and day we are treating of when the mariage of the lamb is come and the bride the lambs wife is made ready Rev. 19. 7. Likewise that of Isa 60. 1. Arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee All of like tendency and import all prophetical and eyeing a time not yet come and though it may in a great measure have its fulfilling before and more especially when the Jewes are returned to their own land and converted yet no time so likely to have its full fulfilling as then when the Lord Christ shall come again and the dead in him raised and live again and the then living saints changed in a moment corruption and all defilement done away and glory and honour purity and holyness immortality and eternal life put on with beautiful and precious clothing For Zion sball then put on her beautiful garments and shall shine very gloriously indeed being so richly adorned as a bride prepared for the bridegroom the Lord Jesus rich and pure clothing then without spot or wrinckle and that will be found true eminently to the very life thou art all fair my love and there is no spot in thee cant 4. 7. And then also will it
share beyond all earthly things or creatures whatsoever The eyeing and well minding what man was before his sin and fall may give some light in the case in hand Adam and Eve were perfect man and perfect woman so made of God little inferiour to the Angels Heb. 2. 7. man and woman at the first making consisted of flesh and bloud bones and sinewes made up of several parts and members with several senses and faculties of soule and body which the posteritie of Adam have and do enjoy unto this day only they have lost the rectitude and have by transgression been clothed with corruption and mortalitie being deprived of the glory of God his Image holyness and righteousnes wherein at first they were created and into which they shall be restored by being so changed The regeneration in this world it hath a tendency unto this but this changing in a moment will fully effect it and at that day in the world to come it will be so fully and perfectly so as Adam and Eve changed for the worse and yet lived in the body as they were made so those of the servants of God which live and remain at the coming of the Lord shall be changed for the better and restored again to their first happy and perfect condition of body and soul parts and members senses and faculties as Adam then had and his posteritie yet have This mistery of not dying but being changed living in the body it is a great thing in it self and great things not much minded will necessarily follow As namely that this change and restoration are different and distinct things and not one and the same with the resurrection but also that there will be it is very likely a difference in condition and estate betwixt them and that those of the resurrection will be of a higher degree then those so changed The Apostle tells us of a difference in the celestial bodyes and there will be also a difference in degree among the caelestial the sun the moon and the stars are different in glory yea the stars differ in glory so is the resurrection vers 42. And it is very probable there will be difference between the raised and the changed and that they will be different in degrees of Glory The raised will be as the Angels of God as our Lord sayth Math. 22. 30. but the changed like to Adam and Eve will be as the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty as they were in the regeneration and as Adam and Eve were before the fall And these changed so and restored to their first condition without dying and living again as the raised it is likely that as they will be restored to what Adam was and likewise Eve at their first making so they will do the things which they did or might have done and enjoy the things which they did or lawfully might do in their innocent condition before corruption seized on them of which we may treat something afterward the raised being restricted not in a condition so to do And because some take no notice of the mistery of this not dying but being changed alive reckoning it as the same thing with the resurrection without any difference or distinction and seem to ground it on that of our Lord his answer to the question made to him whose wife the woman that had had seven husbands whose wife she should be at the resurrection Seven having had her Math. 22. 28. 29. we shall a little treat of it To the question so made our Lord answereth first saying they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Then further ver 30. he saith in the resurrection not in the changed they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven and so goeth on in a restricted way as to the resurrection but as touching the resurrection so as in Mathew there is nothing that includes the mistery of the change the evangelist Luke hath it more largely Luk. 20. 34. the children of this world marry and are given in Marriage vers 35. but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world to wit the world to come and the resurrection from the dead the saying is restricted to them neither marry nor are given in marriage vers 6. neither can they dye any more having dyed once which I conceive cannot be mean tas including the changed that shall not dye at all for they are equal to the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection he doth not say of the changed and further he saith vers 37. now that the dead are raised which doth not relate to the living that shall not dye at all This answer of our Lord declared by both these evangelists holds forth much but seemeth to have nothing that relateth to those alive at the coming of the Lord who shall not dye but be changed So as the mistery holds it forth clearly to be another thing then the resurrection of which the Apostle having spoken largely saith behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all dye but be changed He holds it forth as another distinct thing though something like it and related to it in speciall in time when they shall both be That in Mathew and likewise in Luke relate to the resurrection and the raised people it wholy speaks of them and so it answereth the question whose wife shall she be first our Lord tells them they erre not understanding the scriptures then further he tells them that in the resurrerection they marry not nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels and so goeth on in that of the resurrection Luke hath marrying and giving in marriage in this world but denyeth it to those in the world to come for then they shall not do so but be as Angels of God he saith neither can they die any more Which the changed never did and having put on immortality can never do He goeth on further concerning the resurrection Luk. 20. 37. see the place and nothing will appear in a probable way that doth conclude the mistery of the changed people as if it were one and the same And that they are two and not one and differ greatly as hath been sayd let that of the Apostle be considered 1. Thes. 4. 15. We that are alive shall not prevent them which are asleep or dead he speaks so as of two distinct people one dead the other alive and that they shall not prevent one another as some time it is found as Jacob prevented Esau but as in vers 17. they shall be caught up together as two different and distinct people though as we said very like I shall end this chapter and the essays therein proposed how largely the holy Apostle having treated of the doctrine of the resurrection and the order of it and yet after all sayd therein sayth behold I shew you a mistery a rare secret