is in this World so are they but when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory Yea at the time of the naturall and bodily death The difference between them is wider and so fixed or firmely made that it can never more be altered The righteous hath hope in his death yea from thenceforth more then ever blessed for they rest from their labours their spirits with the Lord which is far better then to be in the flesh or body as in this its corruptible state yea their dead body sleepes in union with Jesus by reason of which it shall arise and come with him they are now wholly out of the reach of the enimies they have no more that they can doe and their works follow them But on the other hand the wicked is driven away in his wickednesse the hope of the hipocrite shall then perish Then and from thence they are shut up in prison to the judgement of the great day Yea from thence forth for ever shut out driven forth into outer darknesse where shall be weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth Pro. 14 32. Job 8. 13. 27. 8 1 Pet. 3. 19. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Math. 22. 13. Yea from that time between these two there is a great gulfe fixed that he that would passe from the one to the other cannot Luk. 16. 26. But yet this difference is not visible nor otherwise to be seene but by faith Therefore here we walke by faith and not by sight But there shall be a visible and manâ—fest difference made and infinitly great between him that feareth God and him that feareth him not between the sheep and the Goats in that day Mall 3 16. 17. 18. Mat. 25. 31. c. The one shall come forth to the resurrection of life the other to the resuâ—rection of damnation First they that have done good to the resurrection of life 1. In the resurrection they shall come forth in a glorious state of life capable of enjoying and possessing in soule and body reunited that eternall life that is now in Christ with God These bodies that are now vile and mortall shall then put on immortality and be fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious body we waite for the adoption that is the redemption of the the body Phil. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 23. 2. They shall then come forth unto the full enjoyment and possession of that eternall life that is in the face and presence of God in the light of his countenance and glorious fellowship with him for they shall see him as he is and be glorified together with him and so be ever with the Lord in the glorious enjoyment of his joy and glory which eye hath no seen besides thee oh God nor hath it entred into the heart of man to perceive or comprehend how great and glorious things are contained in that hope and promise of eternall life which God hath laid up and reserved in heaven for them They shall then and from thence for ever fully and gloriously possesse all the glorious reward end and fruit of his sufferings and sacrifice for them yea as the fruit of that there shall then be a particular and everlasting remembrance of all their service of him and suffering for his name in their generation yea all the fruits of faith and love that have been brought forth by them shall then be remembred and recompensed at the resurrection of the just Isa 61. 3-6 7. 1 Cor. 15. 58. 2 Cor. 4. 10-17 Luk. 14. 14. Math. 25. 33-40 And none of their former iniquities transgressions or sins shall be retained or remembred against them for ever nor any of the fruit of them any more sustained or tasted by them Psal 130. 8. Isa 25. 8. Revel 7. 14-17 21. 4. 5. Then they shall be compleatly enriched and beautified with the perfection of that knowledge of him Peace and joy in him conformity to him and fellowship with him which now they enjoy through faith but in some first fruits or earnest of the spirit Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests and Kings unto God and shall raigne with Christ on the earth 1000 yeares yea they shall be ever with the Lord partakeing off and possessing his glory Revel 20. 6. and 5. 10. 1 Joh. 3. 1 2. 1 Thess 4. 14-17 Secondly after that first resurrection and yet in that great day of the Lord in the time of that administration of his kingdome on the earth as is shewed before They that have done evil shall come forth to the resurrection of damnation Even of eternall damnation 1. In their resurrection they shall come forth not in such a quallity or state of mortalliy as they were now in from Adam But made alive from that death And so from the power of it and of the grave in such a state or quallity as they can never more cease to be and to retaine a sencible being from that time and for ever in the lake of fire where their worme dyeth not and their fire is not quenched Their raised bodies yea the being of soule and body in that state of the resurrection shall be such as no torments whatsoever no not the everlasting burnings that shall be kindled by the breath of the Lord shall ever put an end to the being of either or cause a separation between them as the first death did though far lesse terrible and grievous then this they being then in that weake and mortall state as from Adam And under the ordinance of that death But now in this state in which they shall come forth in the resurrection there shal be no darkness nor shadow of death in which the workers of iniquiry may hide themselves death and hell or the grave when they are raised out of it shall be cast into the lake of fire with them this is the second death Job 34. 22. Hose 13. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 22. 26. Revel 20. 14. 2. And so they shall come forth to the resurrection of Damnation even to receive by the righteous judgement of him that dyed for them as it shall be fully evidenced according to the Gospell to his glory in their condemnation that dreadfull sentence in the full and eternall execution of it depart from me yee workers of iniquity goe yee cursed into everlasting punishment even into everlasting fire prepared for the devill and his Angells Math. 25. 31. 32 41 46. Mark 3. 29. 9. 43 46. They shall be for ever utterly separated from his face and presence and without any mixture of mercy suffer in soule and body for ever the utmost vengeance and torment that is the proper wages of and belongs to him to repay for their treading under foote the son of God counting an unholy thing the bloud of the covenant wherewith they were sanctified and offering despite unto the spirit of grace
the same faith of the operation of God who hath raised him he saith not us but him from the dead still we are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God who also hath begotten us by and through the resurrection of Christ to a lively hope of an Inheritance incorruptible and that sadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time unto which he that raised up Christ from the dead will also raise us up by Christ at his coming Till then the resurrection of the dead is not in a full or proper sence attained by any but the Head for us all Some there are I know that would not have us understand the Resurrection of the body to be meant in that first resurrection spoken of Revel 20. 5 6. But some spirituall quickening reviving or enlargement given to such Persons in this corruptible time and state of the World And the pretended ground of their cavill against the understanding the resurrection of the body to be there meant is from John's saying that he saw the soules of such and they lived and reigned with Christ The soules says John Not the bodies therefore say they For the clearing of that therefore consider 1 That sometime by the soul is meant the whole Person of the man or men spoken of both soul and body together as Gen. 12. 5. 46. 15 18 22 27. with Deut. 10. 12. Rev. 18. 13. with Ezek. 27. 13. 2 That the soul as well as the body may be said to be dead to us though not in it selfe or unto God All live to him Luk. 20. 38. And so the soul departing out of the body yet retaines a sensible being while the body is in dust But so as under the Altar in a disappearing state as to us having no fellowship or converse with us nor any more any reward oâ— portion of the things done under the Sun nor shall they appear again or be visible and so living to us untill in the body at the resurrection of the body And so in this vision John saw the soules not as chap. 6. 9 under the Altar as still remaining in a disappearing state of death as to us But coming forth and appearing That is soul and body together the whole persons of those spoken off And they lived c. Yea 3 That the resurrection of the Podies of those that sleep in Jusus is there meant by the living again of the soules of such which is there called the first resurrection is clear in that it s spoken of as a work passing upon them after death and not before Some of them had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus before they thus lived again and yet their very persons lived again in that first resurrection as seen in the vision yea the rest of that Company that have part in the first resurrection were dead before they so lived again or immediatly changed with such a change as is answerable to death as appeares by his saying of all the residue that have not part in that first resurrection The rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished Then it seemes these were all of the dead before they thus lived again Likewise 4 Its further evident in that this living again of those is called the first resurrection with relation to and as distinguished from the resurrection or living again of the rest of the dead after the thousand yeares of Christs personall reigne on the Earth shall be finished And as opposed to their not living again till that time be expired And that that Resurrection or living again of the rest of the dead that shall be at the end of that time is the Resurrection of their dead Bodies is clear in that explication that follows The Sea gave up the dead which were in it now it s their dead Bodies that were in the Sea And death the first death and Hell or the grave or disappearing state of death delivered up the dead which were in them By all which it appeares that by the first resurrection is meant that resurrection of all that are his peculiar people at his coming to take the Kingdome and reigne that is spoken of 1 Cor. 15. 23. 1 Thess 4. 14 16. In which their vile Bodies shall be wholly redeemed from death and fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious Body for which all true Believers are here waiters Rom. 8. 23. Phil. 3. 11 21. Yea the resurrection of the dead is here expressed to be such a work as shall be effected by the power of his mighty voyce on all both just and unjust And therefore though the just or those that sleep in Jesus now before his coming and those of them that survive at his appearing shall have their â—â—â—stnesse in it And all the righteous shall have the only blessednesse of it Yet the resurrection simply is not their peculiar priviledge or portion or a work only to be accomplished on them but on all the dead that dye in Adam 2 Such also it is here expressed to be as in which all that are in the Graves shall come forth a work exceeding or going beyond that in which some received their dead to life again Hebr. 11. 35. and that in which some dead Bodies of Saints arose and came forth of their Graves and lived again some time amongst men in this corruptible state of the World as Lazarus Joh. 11. and others Math. 27. 52 53. In which yet there was a glorious manifestation of the great power of God in and by Christ for raising all the dead wholly out of the first death in due time But in these it cannot be said that the persons so raised and brought forth were wholly redeemed from death and from the power of the Grave nor therein brought to the full enjoyment or possession of that eternall life and glory to which they were called by the Gospell and therefore neither is that called the resurrection of them from the dead yea they are still said to be expecting a better resurrection God having provided some better things for us that they without us should not be made perfect Hebr. 11. 35-40 But the resurrection of the dead that which is so called in Scripture and is so in a full and proper sence is such as in which all that are in the Graves which also may signifie generally the disappearing state of death because in that as in the Grave they are hidden from us though not from him that hides them there as Job 14. 13. with Psal 139. 12. even all that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake and shall come forth some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. He will ransome them from the power of the Grave redeem them from death The first death and the Grave that now hides them shall be
because he went to his Father Joh. 14. 12. with Act. 26. 18. Greater works then those visible and sencible demonstrations of his power which they saw made by him on mens bodies amongst which also was his raising Lâzarus though that more singular and as a discovery of his mighty power for raising the dead as it should be more gloriously manifested in due time yet that was not a totall Redemption from death and the power of the grave and therefore might be rockoned among those works that are inferiour to the making alive the spirit for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin if then the quickening and saving operations of his word on the spirits of men now be greater then any of these works forementioned and yet the efficacy of the same voyce spoken of in the text as to come be another and distinct work and greater then that as t is clearly signified to be It s evident from thence it can be no Iesse nor other then that resurrection of the dead bodies of men in which they shall be wholly redeemed from the first death and from the power of the Grave And so the Apostle Paul speaking of the first Resurrection which is more properly then the other called a quickening of the mortall body or raising it unto life mentions it as another distinct and following work And such only as is greater then the making the spirit alive now while yet the body is dead Rom. 8. 10 11. And if Christ be in you the body is dead that is it is yet so because of sin though Christ be in you but the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall body or raise up that also in a state of life and unto life by the same spirit that now dwels in you quickening your spirit Yea our Saviour also otherwhere speakes of the generall resurrection at the last day as another distinct work and greater then any spirituall efficacy of his voyce or word now in drawing men or strengthening and quickening the commers which yet also are there signified to be so great and of such a nature that nothing short of that his raising them up at the last day is greater see Joh. 6. 40 44. The Father hath sent him now in the light and power of his word or doctrine to draw men to him that otherwise could not come And to give eternall life through his name to all comers even in the knowledge and faith of it in him and in some first fruits of spirituall enjoyment and in the hope of the harvest To each of these he addes and I will raise him up at the last day signifying nothing short of that is greater then these and clearly mentioning that as another work and greater then any of these which yet also he saith he will do both unto those that come in his drawings to see and believe on him and to those also that break his bands asunder and will not come to him for life And then shall be fulfilled that which is written all that the Father hath given him shall come to him even those that now will not come in his drawings see verse 37 39. with Isa 45. 23 24. Psal 2. 7 8 9. And so in this place The resurrection of the dead is distinguished from and mentioned as a far greater work then any spirituall efficacy of his word or voyce on Mens spirits now And therein signified to be a mighty and wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce on their dead bodies that sleep in the dust of the Earth even such as in which they shall be wholly redâ—emed from the first death and from the power of the Grave Yea 2 So much is plain and full in the expressions 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them 2 It s said to be such as in which all that are in the Graves shall come forth 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them both some to life and others to damnation now there is no work in Scripture called the resurrection of the dead But that in which the whole man is wholly redeemed ouâ— and brought forth of the first death that came in and passed on all men at first by sin nor can be properly so called no not that quickening of the spirit that is now effected in hearing the voyce of the Son of God by what meanes soever preached though that as we have shewed already in respect of the nature and greatnesse of it is the neerest to this yet that is but such a quickening or making alive of the spirit in part or in a first fruites as may and doth stand together with their body being still dead as the fruit of sin Rom. 8. 10 23. yea of those of whom the Apostle supposes they were risen with Christ yet he affirmes of them that they were still dead and their life hid with Christ in God And when he who is our life shall appear then not before shall they also appear with him in glory Coll. 3. 1-5 And of himselfe the same Apostle plainly affirmes that he had not yet attained the resurrection of the dead but was pressing on to it ayming at it even at the first resurrection in which is such blessednesse yet so as looking for it both after the changing this vile body and at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven when he shall bring with him all that sleep in Jesus and not before see Phill. 3. 11-14 20 21. True it is In that gracious or spirituall work in which the spirit is quickened or made alive for righteousnesse sake now through the beliefe of the truth as it is in Jesus Therein also the Believer is said to be risen with Christ Coll. 3. 1. with ch 2. 12. But that is explicated to be not in or by a like act wrought upon our Persons as was wrought upon his when he was raised from the dead But through faith of the operation of God and so effected in the doctrinall and spirituall baptisme as also they are said in the same baptisme in a like sence to be buried with him He is the Person that was dead and buried and was raised again for us and with reference to that his personall buryall and resurrection the Apostle speakes there as also in Rom. 6. 3 4 8 11. shewing that in the spirituall washing of that doctrine of his death and resurrection we are through faith washed from the errors and polutions of the World into the acknowledgment grace and consolation of that his death and resurrection And so in that Baptisme or washing of the spirit which is in the beliefe of the truth we are taught and strengthened to reckon our selves dead and buried in his death and buriall there dead indeed unto sin and so risen with him through
wholly destroyed so that there shall be no more darknesse or shadow of death in which the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Hose 13. 14. Revel 20. 13 14. Job 34. 22. All that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth now how or in what consideration of them they are in the Grave or dust of the Earth is evident that it is in the flesh or body as distinct from the spirit or soul which departs out of the body at death and returnes to God that gave it to be appointed to its proper place either of prison or liberty till the resurrection of the body At death the dust returnes to the Earth as it was and the spirit returnes to God that gave it Eccles 12. 7. In death there is no difference between a man and a Beast as to outward appearance But there is this great difference to be believed though no man can by sence perceive it or by Philosophy comprehend it That the spirit of a Man goeth upward whereas the spirit of a Beast goeth downward to the Earth Eccles 3. 20 21. Hence 't is said of Rachel that her soul departed when she dyed Gen. 35. 18. So David saw corruption his flesh or body did turn to dust when as notwithstanding his spirit was with other spirits of just men made perfect as far as the spirit without the body is capable Now then the resurrection of the dead is such as in which the flesh or body that sleepes in the dust of the Earth shall be wholly redeemed from death and the Grave from that death to which the Grave is annexed even that death which presently turns them to corruption and dust if they rest in it All that are in the Graves shall come forth even all the dead Bodies of men that sleep in the dust of the Earth And shall never more return to dust again or be hidden in the Grave or any such disappearing state of death which unspeakably addes to the happinesse of those that have done well And to the misery and terror of the other Furthermore That the resurrection shall be of the same bodyes of men that dye in and from Adam even of the same that returnes to dust and corruption in those that sleep or rest in death That the selfe same shall be raised by Christ and made alive from that death though it shall not be raised the same or in the same quality yet that it even the dead the same body that dyes and is dead shall be raised and not another thing or body in the stead of it is evident from the resurrection of Christ which is both as hath been hinted already The foundation of the resurrection of the dead and also the first fruites of the same As saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruites of them that slept whence also he calls him the first born from the dead Coll. 1. 18. Now as the Apostle in another case argues the lump or harvest must needs be such as is the first fruites of the like nature or kind as Rom. 11. 16. If therefore the resurrection of Christ was the raising up from the dead of the same body that dyed in which he bore our sins to the Tree even Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh Then it follows necessarily that the resurrection of the dead by him is the raising up and making alive from that death the same bodies that dye in Adam else his resurrection in the same body in which he dyed could not be the first fruites of theirs But that the resurrection of Christ was of the same body that was hung upon the Tree and dyed is most clear First from his own demonstration of it after his resurrection and before his being taken up In all which he shewed saith the text Act. 1. 3. himselfe to them alive after his passion or suffering by many infallible proofes himselfe alive after his passion himselfe that suffered and dyed the same himselfe alive again after that his passion himselfe the same man the same person the same Jesus of Nazareth And in the same body in which he suffered and dyed and that was laid in the Sepulchre as we may see more fully and particularly in the narrations as Luk. 24. 39 40. Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me have And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet Again vers 46 47. It was necessary that the same Christ that suffered and dyed should rise again the third day And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name Likewise Joh. 20. After they had been at the Sepulchre and found not the body of Jesus there Jesus himselfe appeared to them and after some reasoning with them he shewed them his hands and his feet Then saith the Text were the Disciples glad when they saw the Lord vers 20. Again vers 27 Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithlesse but believing Thomas having said before vers 25. That unlesse he should see in his hands the print of the nayles and put his finger into the print of the nayles namely by which he was nayled to the Cross And thrust his hand into his side namely that was pierced with a Spear Joh. 19. 34. he would not believe For which though he deserved reproofe and went not without it yet our Saviour graciously condiscended to his weaknesse for our further confirmation Secondly this is also most clear from the holy Ghosts Testimony of him after his ascension and being received up into Heaven That it was the same that the Jewes slew and hung on a Tree whom God had raised and exalted with his right hand a Prince and a Saviour And whom the Heaven must receive till the restitution of all things Act. 5. 30 31. 3. 13 21. He even the same that was dead is alive for evermore and hath the keyes of Hell and death Rev. 1. 18. This man continues for ever even the man Christ Jesus And therefore is a powerfull Mediator and high Priest Hebr. 7. 23 24 26. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6 See it very largely and expresly demonstrated Act. 2. 22-36 13. 23 38. That that man Jesus of Nazareth of the seed of David after the flesh who had been approved by God amongst his enemies by miracles and signes as they also knew Him whom they by wicked hands had crucified and slain Him God had raised up having loosed the paines of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it That David being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworne with an oath to him That of the fruit of his loynes according to the flesh he would raise
up Christ to sit on his Throne He seeing this before spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in Hell neither did his flesh see corruption as Davids did David is not yet ascended or raised But Jesus that was made of the seed of David after the flesh in that one body so prepared for him in the womb of the Virgin in which he bore our sins to the Tree He is mightily declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection of him from the dead in that same body according to the Scriptures Rom. 1. 3 4. 2 Tim. 2. 8. 1 Cor. 15. And he being risen from the dead in that body in mans nature is become the first fruites of them that slept or that yet dye in Adam Therefore we conclude that the resurrection in the lump or harvest of it even of the just and unjust shall be so far of the same nature or kind that it shall be of the same bodies that dye in Adam and from him even that which is dead and sleepes in the dust of the earth of them that rest in death yea the same bodies of all the rest not another shall come up in the room but it shall be changed into another quality yea this our conclusion is likewise plainly and abundantly asserted by the Apostle in that 1 Cor. 15. in answer to that question which the Apostle supposes some ignorant and carnall minds would move viz. How are the dead raised up and with what body do they come In answer to that Question he all along abundantly asserts that even the same it the same body that is sown a naturall body and in corruption shall be raised again though in another quality And first in his similitude or comparison of the seed or grain sown in the Earth being quickened after it dyes in the Earth Though the comparison between that and the resurrection will not hold in every thing yet so far as the Apostle uses and applyes it it s of good use for illustration There he tells us that which thou sowest is not quickened except it dye he saith not that the same it he same seed or grain is not quickened but that it is not quickened except it dye so then it is the same seed or grain which is quickened after it dyes Then further he addes that which thou sowest thou sowest not that Body which shall be But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him and to every seed his own body He saith not that which thou sowest shall be no more or that there riseth or cometh forth some other thing or body in the stead of it But that which thou sowest thou sowest it not that which it shall be still it s the same it that shall be in the quickening of it Another body as to the quallity of it It s the same changed he gives to every seed it s own body So likewise he abundantly asserts in the following application of the comparison speaking therein chiefly or more directly of the Resurrection of the just So also is the resurrection of the dead It is sowne in corruption it is raised in incorruption It is sowne in dishonour it is raised in glory It is sowne in weaknesse it is raised in power It is sowne a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body Observe all along its the same it the same body that now is vile and dead and turnes to dust that is raised another body as to quality or in another quallity The same body that is now in its present state of flesh and bloud as corruptible uncapable of inheriting the kingdom even the same shall be changed and fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious body and then inherit with him Whence the resurrection is called the Redemption of the body and not the quickening or raising up some other thing Phill. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 17-23 2 The next thing we propounded as having occasion given us by the text to consider in this Doctrine of the resurrection of the Dead and eternall Judgment is The time of it Some discovery of which is hinted in the former consideration yet here we shall perticularly shew what is expressed and signified in the text concerning it And how that is confirmed in other Scriptures 1 It is expressed to be in an hour or time that is coming yea that so much is to be understood in the expression that it is not now not made or accomplished in or upon any in this present time that is already come appeares by compareing this with vers 25. To which that this relates we have already shewed In that with reference to it this declares a greater and more wonderfull manifestation of the excellency of the son of man and of the mighty power of his voyce then that there spoken off And here its relating to that further appeares in the expression of the time of the coming forth of this as compared with the time of the coming forth of that Consider and compare the severall expressions of the time of the coming forth of the distinct and severall workes There he saith the hour is coming and now is in which the dead shall hear his voyce and they that hear shall live Here he saith Marvell not at this For the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. Now in that he there saith the hour is coming and now is and here saith the hour is coming But leaves out that clause and now is which is there added I say in that he addes it there and leaves it out here he fully signifies so much to be understood that the hour or time for this here spoken of is not now and so his saying here that the hour is coming without the addition of that clause considering what relation it hath to that verse where it is added is as much as if he had said the hour is coming but is not now as the forementioned efficacy of his voyce is but in the time yet wholly to come they erred concerned the truth that said that the resurrection was past already or past to some and so already come or made and accomplished upon any in the time of this life For as it is appointed to men the whole kind once to dye so also after death to come forth to the Judgement 2 Tim. 2. 18. Hebr. 9. 27. 2 It is fully signified in the text still comparing it as before with that 25 verse that the hour or time of the resurrection and eternall Judgment is an hour or time by it selfe distinct from that hour or time spoken of in the 25 verse which was both coming and already begun And therefore no part of that nor can it be till that be finished for he saith not that in this hour or time coming which now was already begun or in any following part of that all that are in the Graves shall
come forth But having mentioned that hour or time coming that then was already begun as a distinct hour or time of it selfe he then mentions this as another and following hour in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. This hour then shall not come untill that be finished that was then already begun Yen 3 That it shall immediatly succeed that is evident also in the expressions In that of the first he saith the hour is coming and now is and then with reference to that saith of the following the hour is coming as who should say The next after this hour or time that now is or is already begun it shall follow it at the heeles Now then for our understanding the time of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternall judgment as expressed and signified to us by our Saviour in this text It s needfull for us to consider 1. What is that hour or time mentioned in the 25 verse as coming and already come or begun 2 What is that hour or time immediatly following or coming next after that mentioned in the 28 verse after which is our enquiry 1 The hour or time mentioned in the 25 verse of which our Saviour saith it was coming and was then already begun it appeares by comparing it with the former verses to be the time of the ministeriall preaching of the voyce or woâ—d of the son of God in mans nature as already come in the flesh which was begun by the Lord himselfe his forerunner John preparing the way to it And confirmed by those that immediately and personally heard and received it from himselfe Hebr. 2. 4. This ministration or dispensation is called the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ Act. 10. 36. His speakeing from Heaven as distinguished from Moses ministration or speaking on earth Hebr. 12. 25. For though this voyce did begin to come forth in our Saviours personall ministration on earth yet it was confirmed and given forth in full by him from Heaven after his ascension in that wonderfull pouring out of the holy Ghost on the first witnesses And by them to all Nations for the obedience of faith And he is spiritually present with it to the end of the World yea that beginning of the coming forth of it in his personal ministration on earth was also his speaking from Heaven He being then in the bosome of the Father so as never man was did more fully and clearly reveale him And so it s here called the voyce of the son of God even of the only begotten son of God that was in the bosome of the Father as Joh. 1. 18. Both as now already begun in his personall ministration and as after more fully to come forth from him when ascended into Heaven in that ministration of the spirit which yet was not so given till he was glorified Joh. 7. 39. This is that called the coming forth of grace and truth by Jesus Christ of the fullnesse of which ministry the Apostles received after his ascension And so called as distinguished from the coming of the law by Moses Joh. 1. 16 17 18. The preaching of the Kingdom as distinguished from the Law and the Prophets Luk. 16. 16. The manifestation of the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Christ as distinguished from the former witnesses of it in the Law and Prophets Rom. 3. 21 22. Christs bringing life and immortallity to light by the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 10. And so the testimony of the Lord verse 8. And here the voyce of the son of God his word preaching or ministry Gods speaking to us by his Son as distinguished from his speaking in sundry manners in former times Hebr. 1. 1 2. Now the time of the continuance of this ministry is expresly shewed to be To the end of the World in this corruptible state of it or the World that now is All power saith our Saviour is given unto me namely in mans nature even in that body in which he bore our sins to the Tree being now raised from the dead and as the great and last Prophet to the Nations Gods light to the Gentiles and his salvation to the ends of the Earth Goe yee therefore Disciple the Nations baptizeing them that is in pouring out this word or Doctrine upon them Publishing his name and repentance and remission of sins in it for all And also in outward sealing or witnessing the truth of that in that ordinance of baptizeing with water in that name And so baptizeing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost as now come forth in him Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes to the end of the World Math. 28. 18 19 20. And so the Apostle saith They had received the grace of Apostleship fully to make known and give forth the preaching of Christ which was kept secret since the World began but was now given by the Father to the man Christ raised from the dead As the last and great Prophet even the same which he began personally to preach on Earth The fullnesse of which he had now given to them as his Ambassadors for obedience of the faith among all Nations for his name Rom. 1. 5. 16. 25 26. 2 Tim. 4. 17. Yea our Saviour further saith That this Gospell of the Kingdome must be preached in all the World for a witnesse unto all Nations And then shall the end come Math. 24. 14. This ministration is to continue till then whence 't is called the dispensation of the fullnesse of times Eph. 1. 10. And those gifts that are so given unto the Church as that they are said to be set in it as distinguished from those that were added to accompany them chiefly in the beginning of that dispensation 1 Cor. 12. 28. with Eph. 4. 11. They are so given and set in it for that work of the ministry and to be exercised therein till we all come in the unity of the faith and acknowledgement of the son of God to a perfect man to the measure of the full age of Christ in his body The Church even till the time when they shall all be brought together in a perfect state in the first resurrection Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Whence also the times and ages or dayes of the World that now is from the beginning of the coming forth of that voyce of the son of God are called the last dayes as distinguished from those former sundry times in which God spake in divers manners Hebr. 1. 1 2. yea the last time or age of the World and the time of the last dispensation or ministration to be given to it 1 Joh. 2. 17 18. with Eph. 1. 10. The hour or time of the voyce of the Son of God or of the preaching of Jesus Christ and by him in the man our Saviour shewes to be the last After he