Then, in ihe fourth place, we shall be m. loerfect strength. Here we con- tract to ourselves weakness by every little thing, as alteration of air, study, and the like ; there the body shall be enabled to every thing. But here we are weak, unfit, and soon weary of any duty, soon tired in prayer, weary in hearing, so as even Moses his arms must be supported, Exod. xvii. 12.
Fifthly, We shall have beauty and comeliness, the most lovely com- plexion and proportion of parts. There shall be no dregs in our body : all shall be spent by death ; far better than after physic, which notwithstand-
PHIIilPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEB. 21. 149
ing brings the body into a quiet repose. All wants shall bo supplied. What is misplaced shall bo reduced into right order. And therefore, what though we lose limbs for Christ's sake, he will not be indebted to us ; none shall go thither maimed.
Obj. But some will say, Christ himself retained wounds after his resur- rection, and therefore much more shall we be imperfect.
Ans. I answer, This was a voluntary dispensation. He suffered them to appear for the faith of Thomas, not of necessity.
SLvthhj, These bodies of ours shall he spiritual, as it is 1 Cor. xv. 53, scq. A natural body is upheld by natural means, as meat, drink, physic, but then shall there be no need of such things. Christ shall be all in all to us. And again, our body shall obey the spirit. Now the body keeps the spirit in slavery, but then shall it readily yield to every motion of the spirit. The nbiquitaries* when they speak of the spirituality of Christ's body, they would have it in all places. But they may as well conclude, because we shall have spiritual bodies, therefore our bodies also shall be in all places like to Christ's body. The ground of the glory of these bodies shall be the beatifical vision, and our union with Christ. If our beholding him here in his ordinances be of such a power as to transform us from glory to glor3% 2 Cor. iii. 18, what a change shall be wrought in us when we shall see him as he is ! And if his first coming had that power to make all things new, 2 Cor. v. 17, much more when he cometh the second time in glory shall he make all things new and glorious.
Vse 1. This therefore, in the first place, should encourage us in all causes of dismay and trouble, rather than we will offend God to;" lose our bodies, knowing that we give them to God, and shall receive them again with ad- vantage.
Use 2. Secondly, Labour we to make our bodies instntments of his Jionour, that honours us ; and let us honour our bodies wherein are the seeds of immortality, and glory in so using them as that they be carried to the grave with honour.
Use 3. Let us also honour the bodies of the deceased saints of God, and the places of their sepulture, as cabinets wherein the precious dust of the holy saints are laid up in keeping.
Use 4. And let us not be like them to ithout faith, that think the bodies are lost for ever that are cast into the grave ; like children seeing the silver cast into the fm-nace, think it utterly cast away, till they see it come out again a pure vessel.
Vse 5. And when we die, let us not trouhle our minds ivith the discomfort- able thoughts of iconns, rottenness, darkness, and the like ; but with the eye of faith let us look beyond these, on the haven whither we are going. This made Job, though covered all over with ulcers, to say with a cheer- ful heart, ' My Redeemer liveth, though after my skin worms consume this flesh,' Job xix. 26.
Use 6. If ive want limbs to our bodies, to comfort ourselves, the resurrec- tion will restore all things.
Use 7. Furthermore, Let us serve here ivith our best endeavours. It is but a while, and it shall not be in vaiu. Is it not better thus to do and partake of this blessed change, than to spare this vile body, and pamper it by sacrificing all, or to employ all our time in the serving and pleasing others ; and to- that end not to care to prostitute ourselves to all manner of
* Those who argue for transubstantiation, or consubstantiation, geucrally main- tain the ubiquity of Christ's body. — G.
160
EXPOSITION OF
filthiness ? "V^Hut shall wc f:;ct by these com-Rcs ? but at the resurrection of the just, when we should lilt up our heads because our redemption draweth uigh, then shall we be overcome with shame, grief, terror, and horror of conscience. But happy are we therefore, if in a good course we can so resign up ourselves, so as to be resolute with Esther, ' If I perish, I perish,' Esther iv. IG ; ' if I Hve, I live to Christ ; if I die, I die to him,' Philip, i. 21. What I have committed to him he will keep. I am assured thereof ; and therefore I will not oflcnd him for any pleasure or profit whatsoever. These resolutions had the patriarchs and God's saints, and these made them die with comfort.