OhJ. 1. But some say, as the Virgin Mary to the angel, " How can this be ?" so, how can it be, that the body which is consumed to ashes should rise again ?
Ans. It doth not oppose reason, but tran- scend it; there are some resemblances of the resurrection in nature. The corn, which is sown in the ground, dies before it springs up, I Cor. xy. 36., " That which thou sow- est is not quickened, except it die." In winter the fruits of the earth die, in spring there is a resurrection of them : Noah's olive tree springing after the flood was a lively emblem of the resurrection. After the passion of our Lord, '• many bodies of the saints which slept in the grave arose," Mat. xxvii. 52. God can more easily raise the body out of the grave, than we can a- wake a man out of sleep.
0/)j. 2. But when the dust of many are mingled together ; how is it possible that a separation should be made and the same numerical body arise.
Ans. If we belicA^e God can create, then he can distinguish the dust of one body from another ; do not we see the chymist can, out of several metals mingled together, as gold, silver, alchymy, extract the one from the other, — the silver from the gold, — the alchymy from silver, — and can reduce every metal to its own kind ? And shall we not much more believe, that when our bo- dies are mingled and confounded with other substances, the wise God is able to make an extraction, and re-invest every soul with its own body ?
Quest. 3. Shall none but the bodies of t/ie righteous he raised ?
Ans. Yes, all that are in the gi-aves shall hear Christ's voice, and shall come forth. Acts xxiv. 15. There shall be a resurrec- tion of the dead both of the just and unjust : Rev. XX. 12., "I saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God." But though all sliall be raised out of their graves, yet all shall not be raised alike.
1. The bodies of the wicked shall be raised with ignominy : those bodies which on the earth did tempt and allure others with their beauty, shall be at the resurrec-
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tion loatlisome to heliold ; tlu-y shuU bo ghastly s]>ectHcIcs, us the pliraso is, Ish. Ixvi. 24., " Tlioy shall be an abhorring- unto all flesh." But the bodies of the saints shall be raised with honour, 1 Cor. xv. 43., " It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory." The saints' bodies then shall shine as spark- ling diamonds. Mat. xiii. 43., '• Then shall the rig;httous shine forth as the sun."
2. Tlie bodies of the saints shall arise out of tlicir graves with triumph; the bodies of the wicked shall come out of the grave with trembling, as being to receive their fatal doom, but the godly, when they a- wake out of the dust shall sing for joy, Isa. xxvi. 19., *' Awake and sing, ye that dwell in tlic dust." When the archangel's trum- pet sounds, then the saints shall sing; the bodies of believers shall come out of the grave to be made happy, as tlie chief butler came out of the prison, and was restored to all his dignity at the court; but the bo- dies of the wicked shall come out of the grave, .is the chief baker out of prison, to be executed, (icn. xl. 22.
Use \t. Believe this doctrine of the re- surrection ; and that the same bodv that dies shall rise again, and with the soul be crown- ed. Without the belief of this, iota corruit religio, ' all religion falls to the ground,' 1 Cor. XV. 14., If the dead rise not, then Christ is not risen, and then our faith is vain.
f/se 2r/. Comfort. The body shall rise again ? this was Job's comfort, Job xix. 26., " Though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." The body is sensible of joy as well as the soul ; and in- deed we shall not be in all our glory, till our bodies are re-united to our souls. O consider what joy there will be at the re- uniting of the body and the soul at the re- surrection I Look what sweet embraces of joy were between old Jacob and Joseph, when they first saw one another, Gen. xlvi. 29., such, and infinitely more, will there be, when the body and soul of a saint shall meet together at the resurrection ! How will the body and soul greet one another ! What a welcome will the soul give to the body ! O blessed body ! when I prayed, tliou didst attend my ])rayers with hands lifted up, and knees bowed down ; thou |
wert willing to suffer with me, and now thou slmlt reign with me ; thou wert sown in dislifuiour, but now art raised in glory. O my dear body ! I will enter into thee a- gain. and be eternally married to thee.