In handling whereof, we are first to consider the order of God's distri- bution, who giveth us first the blessings and the benefits of this life, and then those of eternal Hfe. Now that which is the order of God's distribu- tion, must be the order in our intention.^ We must labour to have com- munion with the saints here in this life, to have our sins pardoned, and then the Lord will raise up our bodies at the last day, and give us life everlasting ; which, if we omit, we can have no hope to rise to everlasting life, but to perpetual shame and contempt. Therefore we must labour to entertain the communion of saints here. It is said. Rev. xx. 6, ' Blessed and holy is he that hath his part in the first resurrection, for on such the second death shall have no power.' Thus he is a blessed man that in this life rises out of his corruptions and sins, for on such a one * the second death hath no power,' otherwise one must be held captive of the second death : for if one make a bargain, and giveth somewhat in hand, having
* ' The General Eesurrection' forms No. 21 of the original edition of ' The Saint's Cordials' of 1629. It was not given in the after editions. Its separate title- page is as follows : — ' The Generall Resvrrection.' In One Sermon. Declaring, The manner, time, and certainty of our Resurrection. In what estate our Bodies shall rise againe. Wherein tho glory and excellency of the Saints shall consist after the Resur- ipction, shewed in sundry particulars. Together with the deplorable estate of the wicked in that day, &c. Prajluceudo pereo. Vprightnes hath boldnes. London, printed in the ycare 1629.' — G.
t See general Index, sub voce, also textual Index. — G.
X That is, = striving, intentness. — G.
THE GENERAL RESURRECTION. 817
received earnest, be looks for the bargain ; even so tbe Lord bath made a bargain with us, to give us heaven and happiness, whereof, if he give us earnest in this life, the communion of saints, and the forgiveness of sins, then we may look to have our bodies raised to life everlasting : otherwise raised unto the second death.
Now in this great point of faith we are to consider divers particulars : the first whereof is,
Point 1. That ice believe, althouf/h we shall be laid into the grave, and dissolved into dust, yet one day ive shall rise ayain by the j^oiver of Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection. This is the proper faith of a Christian only ; for heathens believe that they shall die and turn to dust. The Christian goes further, and believes to rise again ; which is clear and manifest, both
1, By Scripture, and 2. by reason.
1. First we will prove it by Scripture, John v. 28, where Christ having spoken of that great work of raising up dead souls from the grave of sin to the life of grace, by his quickening and powerful word in the ministry ; lest it should seem strange unto them, fetches a comparison from the resurrec- tion of the body to life everlasting. ' Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life ; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of condemnation.' So Dan. xii. 2, ' And many of them who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and perpetual contempt.' So 1 Cor. XV. 19, St Paul says, ' If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable;' and then adds, ver. 21, a strong reason, • For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order,' &c. And Acts xvii. 31, he shews why all men are commanded to repent, everywhere : ' Because,' saith he, * he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained ; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.' In another place he Bays, Acts xxiv. 15, making it the issue of his believing of all things in tho law and 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.' Christ's threatenings to Chorazin and Bethsaida, Mat. xi. 22, shew that there shall be a day of judgment : so he threatens. Mat. xii. 36, ' But I say unto you. That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.' And he proves the resur- rection from an instance of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he being their God, ' who is not a God of the dead, but the living,' Mat. xxii. 82, which also made the prophet Isaiah comfort the people : Isa. xxvi. 19 — in that desperate estate of theirs, wherein they appeared as dead men without hope of recovery — from the similitude of the resurrection, * Thy dead men shall live, together with my body shall they rise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust : for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.' Many other strong proofs there are, both direct and by similitudes,' besides the proof thereof in Christ, Enoch, Elias, and others. But I will pass them over, and end only with that one of St John's vision, Rev. XX. 12, * And I saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God : and the books were opened ; and another book was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the