as David whom Peter tells us is both dead and buried and his Sepulchre remaineth with us to this day Acts 2. 29. 2. There is a People that are reckoned dead in trespasses and sins as those are who never yet were translated from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Such I say who yet never felt the power of the Word and Spirit of God to raise them from that state to walk with him in the Regeneration making a life out of Christ and his present benefits Ephes. 2. 1 2. John 5. 25. 3. There is a death seizeth men often after some measure of light received from God and some profession of the Gospel of Christ. These for the certainty of their damnation are said to be dead dead twise dead and plucked up by the roots Jude 12. 4. There is in Scripture mention made of a death to sin and the lusts of the flesh this death is the beginning of true life and happiness and is a certain fore-runner of a share in Christ and with him in another World Rom. 6. 6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2. 11. 5. Lastly there is also in the Word a relation of eternal death This is the death that those are in and swallowed up of that go out of this World Godless Christless and Graceless dying in sin and so under the curse of the dreadful God who I say because they have missed of the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour in this day of Grace are fallen into the gulf and jaws of eternal death and misery in the fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9. 43 44. Luk 16. 23 24 25 26. Now then seeing there is death or to be dead taken under so many Considerations in the Scripture it is evident that to be dead in Christ the Text is not meant of them all I then must distinguish and inquire which of these deaths it is that here the Apostle did look for a Resurrection from First then it cannot be meant a Resurrection from eternal death for from that there is no Redemption Psal. 49. 38. Secondly Neither is it a Resurrection from that double death for they that are in that are past recovery also Thirdly And so for those that are dead to sin it is non-sence to say there shall or can be a Resurrection from that for that it self is a Resurrection Colos. 2. 12 13. 20. which Resurrection also the Apostle had then passed through And also all the Brethren as he saith You hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins and again if ye then be risen with Christ and again wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who raised him from the dead Col. 3. 1. Lastly The dead therefore in this Scripture must be understood of those that have departed this life that have Body and Soul seperated each from the other and so the Resurrection a Resurrection of the Body out of the Grave as Daniel saith many that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall arise and again the hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth c. Dan. 12. 2. John 5. 28. The Resurrection of the Just then is the rising of the Bodies of the Just and the Resurrection of the unjust the rising of their Bodies at the last Judgement This also is the meaning of that saying of Paul to Agrippa I stand saith he and am Judged for the hope of the promise made unto our Fathers which promise at first began to be fulfilled in the Resurrection of the Body of Christ Acts 13. 32 33. and hat its accomplishment when the dead small and great are raised out of their Graves wherefore though Paul saith in the 13th of the Acts it is already fulfilled yet here he saith he hopes it shall come Which promise saith he our twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and might hope to come as God told Daniel saying go thy Way for thou shalt stand in thy lot at the end of the dayes Dan. 12 13. Christ is already risen and therefore so far the promise is fulfilled but his Saints are yet in their Graves and therefore that part of the fulfilling of it is yet to come as he saith Why should it be an incredible thing with you that God should raise the dead Acts 26. 6 7 8. Again That it is the Resurrection of the dead Bodies of both Saints and sinners that is here inserted it is further evident because the Apostle saith it is the Resurrection that the very Pharises themselves allowed I have hope towards God saith he which themselves also allow then what that hope is he in the next words sheweth namely That there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead c. Now we know that the Pharises did not allow of a Resurrection from a state of Nature to a state of Grace which is the same with the new birth but did confidently allow and teach that they were the Children of Abraham according to the flesh Yea when any of them began to adhere or incline to Christ's Doctrine in some things yet the Doctrine of the new Birth or of being raised from a state of Nature to a state of Grace they would very much stick at though in the mean time they utterly were against the Doctrine of the Sadduces which denyed the Resurrection of the Body John 31. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. John 8. 31 32 33 34 35. Acts 23. 6 7 8. Further the Resurrection here spoken of must needs be the Resurrection of the Body because it is called a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust that is of both Saints and sinners according to the saying of Christ The hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voyce and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the Resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. Again the Resurrection here mentioned is a Resurrection to come not already injoyed either by Saints or sinners there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Now I say the Resurrection here being yet deferred by the just and counted also the Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust It must needs be the same Resurrection that is spoken of by Jobe who saith So man lyeth down and riseth not again till the Heavens be no more they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep Job 14. 12. Having thus in few words opened this Scripture unto you I shall in the next place for the further satisfaction of those that are yet wavering and for the refreshment of those that are strong and stedfast lay down before you several undeniable Scripture demonstrations of the Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust I shall first begin with the Resurrection of the Just. The Just must arise
to be punished 2 Pet. 2. 9. And Jude saith for them is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude 13. The punishment of the ungodly it is reserved till the day of Judgement which will be the time of their Resurrection Observe first The wicked must be punished Secondly The time of their punishment is not now but at the day of Judgement Thirdly This day of Judgement must be the same with the Resurrection of the Dead at the end of this World As therefore the Tares are gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of this World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a Furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 13. 40 41. There shall then be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Fourthly The Soveraignty of the Lord Jesus over all Creatures doth plainly foreshew a Resurrection of the bad as well as of the good Indeed the unjust shall not arise by vertue of any relation they stand in to the Lord Jesus as the Saints shall but yet because all are delivered into his hand and he made Soveraign Lord over them therefore by an Act of his Soveraign Power they that are ungodly shall arise this is Christs own Argument The Father judgeth no man saith he but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son that is Count him and fall before him as their Soveraign Lord even as they honour the Father and he hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of Man And then he adds Marvel not at this for the hower is coming that all that are in their graves shall hear his Voyce and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the Resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 22 23 27 28 29. From hence also Paul argueth saying For this cause he both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living And then adds We must all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Rom. 14. 9. 10. Pray mind these words Jesus Christ by his Death and Resurrection did not onely purchase Grace and Remission of sins for his Elect with their Eternal Glory but did thereby also obtain of the Father to be Lord and Head over all things whether they be things in Heaven or things on Earth or things under the Earth All Power saith he in Heaven and in Earth is given unto me and I have the Keys of Hell and of Death Mat. 28. 18. Rev 1. 18. So that all things I say whether they be visible or invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. This being thus at the Name of Jesus every knee must bow and every Tongue confess that he is Soveraign Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Now that this may be done He hath his Resolutions upon a Judgement-day in which he to shew himself his People his Way and Word in their Glory will have all his Enemies raised out of their Graves and brought before him where he will sit upon them in the Throne of his Gloâ—y and will shew them then who is the onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Mat. 25. 31 32. 1 Tim. 6. 14 15. Beloved He comes with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their wicked speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 14 15. Fifthly The great preparation that God hath made for the Judgement of the wicked doth clearly demonstrate their rising forth out of their Graves First He hath appointed the day of their rising Secondly He hath appointed their Judge to judge them Thirdly He hath Recorded all their acts and doings against that day Fourthly He hath also already appointed the Witnesses to come in against them Fifthly The Instruments of death and misery are already prepared for them For the first he hath appointed the day of their rising which day John calleth the time of the dead that they should be judged Which time Paul saith is a time fixed he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World c. This time and day Christ brings down to an houre saying The hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voyce and shall come forth c. Revel 11. 18. Acts 17. 30 31. Joh. 5. 28 29. Secondly As he hath appointed the day so he hath appointed the Judge He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained of which he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the Dead This Man is Jesus Christ for it is He that is ordained of God to be the Judge of the Quick and the Dead Acts 17. 30 31. Acts 10. 40 41 42. Thirdly All their deeds and works to a word and thought and every one already Recorded and Inrolled in the Books of the Laws of Heaven against that day The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond upon the Tables of their heart And again saith God Write it in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for the time to come even for ever and ever that this is a rebellious House c. Jer. 17. 1. Isa. 30. 8 9. Fourthly God hath prepared his Witnesses against this day James 5. 1. Job 20. 27. Mat. 24. 14. Rom. 2. 14 15. Malac. 3. 5. Fifthly The Instruments of Death and Eternal misery are all already prepared He hath prepared for them the Instruments of Death he hath ordained his Arrows against the face of persecutors Psal. 7. 11 12 13. Psal. 21. 12. Hell is of old prepared he hath made it deep and large the fire the everlasting fire is also now of a long time prepared the heavy weights of Gods Curse are also ready and their damnation now of a long time slumbereth not Isa. 30 33. Mat. 25. 41. Deut. 29. 19 30. 2 Pet. 2 3. But now I say how rediculous a business would all this be if these things should be all prepared of the onely wise God and there should be none to be judged or if he that is ordained Judge should not either through want of power or will Command these Rebels and force them before his Judgement-Seat Glad indeed would the sinners be if these things might be true Glad I say at very heart if they might be in their secret places of darkness and the Grave for ever but it must not be the day of their rising is set
THE Resurrection of the Dead AND Eternall Judgement OR The truth of the Resurrection of the Bodies both of Good and Bad at the last day Asserted and proved by Gods Word Also the manner and order of their coming forth of their Graves as also with what Bodies they do arise Together with a Discourse of the last Judgement and the finall Conclusion of the whole World By John Bunyan a Servant of the Lord's Christ. 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. Behold I shew you a Mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye at the last Trump for the Trump shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed John 5. 28 29. Marvel not at this for the houre is coming in which all that are â—n their Graves shall hear his Voyce and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the Resurrection of damnation London Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Barre Courteous Reader THough this be a small Treatise yet it doth present thee with things of the greatest and most weighty concernment even with a Discourse of Life and Death to Eternity opening and clearing by the Scriptures of God that the time is at hand when there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust even of the Bodies of both from the Graves where they are or shall be at the approach of that day Thou hast also in these few lines the order and manner of the rising of these two sorts of People wherein is shewed thee with what Body they shall then rise as also their states and condition at this day with great clearness For here thou shalt see the truth and manner of the terrible Judgement the opening of the Books the examining of Witnesses with a finall conclusion upon good and bad Which I hope will be profitable to thy Soul that shall read it For if thou art godly then here is that which will through Gods blessing incourage thee to go on in the faith of the truth of the Gospel but if thou art ungodly then here thou mayst meet with conviction yea and that of what will be without fail thy end at the end of the World whether thou continue in thy sins or repent If thou continue in them blackness and darkness and everlasting destruction but if thou repent and believe the Gospel then light and life and joy and comfort and glory and happiness and that to Eternity Wherefore let me here beg these things at thy hand First That thou take heed of that spirit of mockery that saith 2 Pet. 3. 4 5. Where is the promise of his coming Secondly Take heed that thy heart be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon thee unawares Luke 21. 34 35. Thirdly But be diligent in making thy Calling and Election sure that thou in the day of which thou shalt read more in this Book be not found without that glorious Righteousness that will then stand thee instead and present thee before his glorious presence with exceeding joy to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus World without end Amen John Bunyan OF THE Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement But this I confess unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Father believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Acts 24. 14 15. MY Discourse upon this Text will chiefly concern the Resurrection of the Dead wherefore to that I shall immediately apply my self not medling with what else is couched in the words You see here that Paul being upon his Arraignment accused of many things by some that were violent for his blood and being licenced to speak for himself by the then Heathen Magistrate he doth in few words tell them that as touching the Crimes wherewith they charged him he was utterly faultless onely this he confessed that after that way which they call Heresie so he worshipped the God of his Fathers believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and that he had the same hope towards God which they themselves did allow that there should be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Whence note by the way That an hypocritical people will persecute the power of those truths in others which themselves in words profess I have hopes towards God and that such a hope which themselves do allow and yet I am this day and that for this very thing persecuted by them But to come to my purpose there shall be a Resurrection of the dead c. By these words the Apostle sheweth us what was the substance of his Doctrine to wit that there should be a Resurrection of the dead and by these words also what was the great argument with his Soul to carry him through these temptations afflictions reproaches and necessities he met with in this World even the Doctrine of a Resurrection I have hope towards God saith he and there is my mind fixed for there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust The reason why I cannot do what these Jews would have me also why I cannot live as do the Gentiles it is because I have in my Soul the faith of the Resurrection This is the Doctrine I say which maketh me fear to offend and that is as an undergirder to my Soul whereby I am kept from destruction and confusion under all the storms and tempests I here go through In a word this is it that hath more awe upon my Conscience then all the Laws of men with all the penalties they inflict Vers. 17. And herein do I exercise my self to have alwayes a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men Now here seeing this Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead hath that power both to bear up and to awe both to incourage and to keep within compass the Spirit and Body of the People of God It will be requisite and profitable for us to inquire into the true meâ—ning and nature of this word the Resurrection of the dead And for the better compassing of this matter I shall briefly inquire First what this place is meant by the dead Secondly What is meant by the Resurrection Thirdly Why the Apostle doth here speak of the Resurrection of the dead as of a thing yet to come there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust For the first The dead in Scripture go under a five-fold Consideration as 1. Such as die a natural death or as when a man ceaseth to be any more in this World