2. Secondly, Out of the words we may observe, iliat these vile bodies of ours shall be chaju/ed. This we receive as an article of our faith ; and yet were it believed truly as it ought, it would work a strange alteration in the minds and manners of men^ contrary to that they are now ; and howsoever it is not embraced, yet it remains a grounded truth, that these bodies of ours, sown in corruption, shall rise incorruptible, 1 Cor. i. 15. It was foretold in way of consequence in paradise ; for the head of the sei*pent could not be broken but by conquering death, which is the last enemy. It was figured out unto us in Aaron's dead sear rod that budded, and Jonah's deliverance out of the belly of the fish, where he had been three days and three nights. It was believed of all the fathers, Heb. xii. 1, seq. And for security before the flood Enoch, and after the flood Elias, were taken up in their bodies.
And besides, it is not contrary to reason. I do not say that reason can reach unto it. For Christ he is alive still. The dust whereof we are made, and whither we go is preserved. It is not annihilated. And why cannot Christ raise a body out of the dust, as at the first make it out of dust. "Why should he not be as able to quicken dust now as at the first ? and especially, seeing the soul is reserved in heaven to this end, till the day of his second coming.
Nay, it is not contrary to the course of nature. We see every year sum- mer comes out of winter, day out of night, youth out of infancy, man's age out of youth. And the apostle in the Corinthians, ' Thou fool, the corn is not quickened except it die,' 1 Cor. xv. 36. Nay, we see what strange changes are daily wrought by art ; and shall we think God's almighty power cannot work far more strange effects ?
Use. The use therefore is to instruct us if we believe that Christ shall change these vile bodies, then sure the same bodies shall rise t/tat died ; for change is of qualities, it aholisheth not substances. And therefore Job's confidence herein is remarkable. Job xix. 26, ' Whom I shall see for my- self, and mine eyes shall behold,' speaking of Christ ; so is it, 1 Cor. xv. 53, ' This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality,' and the ancient creeds had, credo resurrectionem carnis hjtjus.
Secondly, It is very unequal that one body should honour or defile itself, and another body should be honoured or damned. It is comfortable there- fore to us that love our bodies and honour them, that they shall rise again and we shall enjoy them for ever.
Thirdly, Christ our surety he raised the same body that icas crucified: and therefore the same bodies here that fulfil the measure of the sufferings of Christ here, shall partake of his fulness in glory.
Use 2. A second use is for comfort. Is this a life of changes ? Let it not daunt us, but know they are all to end in glory, and they all tend to bring us thither. We ever change for the better, and the last change of all is the best of all. And therefore let us endure these changes with a light heart.
Use 3. In the third place, Who is the author of this change in us ? The
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 21. 147
text saith that ' Christ shall change us.' John vi. 39 and 40, ' I will raise them up at the last day,' saith Christ, of those that know him and hfdieve on him. He is furthermore our head. Now we know the body must be conformable to the head. If it be crowned the body is crowned ; and therefore, Rom. viii. 11, the apostle saith, that if the Spirit dwell in us that did dwell in him, the Spirit that raised him up will raise us up also.
Thirdly, Christ is a ichole Saviour. He therefore will raise up our bodies as well [as] our souls ; for he is the Saviour of both, lie hath delivered both from hell ; he will raise up both to heaven.
Fourthly, He is the second Adam. As we did bear the image of the first Adam in corruption, so must we bear the image of the second Adam in glory.
Fifthly, lie is the seed of the ivoman, that must break the serpent's head ; and therefore he must work this change.
Sixthly, Christ changed his oivn budy, being burdened with all our sins ; and therefore, as an exemplary cause, shall much more raise us up. For sin being once overcome, which is the sting of death, what can keep us in the grave ?
Use 1. Let this strengthen ovr faith, in the considei'ation that we have such a strong Saviour, that nothing shall be able to separate us from his love, nor to take us out of his hand.
Use 2. Secondly, Hake it a ground how to direct us how to honour our bodies ; not making them instruments of sin against him, but so to use them, that we may with comfort and joy expect and desu-e his coming to change these vile bodies.