Obj. 1. The first is a common one. How is it possible, say they, that a body which hath lain rotting a thousand years in the grave should rise again, so turned into dust ?
Ans. I answer. Though it be above reason, yet it is not against reason ; for we see that the flies that be dead all the winter time, when the summer cometh, with the heat of the sun, they live again ; so the corn rots in the ground, and revives again. Now if with the heat of the sun the one may be done, much more is the power of God able to raise up those who have lain in the grave a thousand years, to live again.
Ohj. 2. Secondly, say they. It is impossible for men to rise again, because their dust is so mingled one with another, and with the dust of other creatures, as in a churchyard, where dust is mingled, one cannot well say This is the dust of my father, or This is the dust of my mother, things being so mixed ; as, take a quantity of milk, and put into the sea, there both remain in substance, but so mingled, as that they cannot be parted one from another; and so, say they, it is with dead men, whose dust is so mingled together, as it is impossible to part them.
Ans. To this I answer, 1. In general, though it be an impossible work for man to do, yet it is not impossible for an Almighty God, unto whom all things are possible, it being an easy matter for him to give to every man his dust again, and sever it one from another, even as a man who hath a handful of divers seeds in his hand can easily distinguish and take one from another, putting each sort by itself again. We see that there be some
320 THE GENERAL RESURRECTION.
men so cunning and skilful, that they can draw out of an herb or flower the four elements, fire, earth, air, and water. Now if so much cunning and skill may be in a man, how much more able is the Creator of men, who is only wise, of an all-seeing eye, to sunder every man's dust, and to bring them together again ?
Obj. 3. Oh but, say they, what say you to this ? When one man eats another, then that man's flesh becomes one with another man's flesh; in which case, if the one rise, the other cannot. To this I answer,
Ans. It is true indeed, one man eating another becomes a part of the other for the time ; but yet he was a perfect man before he ate of the other, and the other a perfect man before he was eaten. Now it is a truth in divinity, that every man shall rise with his own flesh ; but a man shall not rise with everything that was once a part of him. As, for instance, if a man have a tooth beaten out, and another come in the room of it, he shall not rise with both these; so likewise a man hath a piece of flesh stricken ofi" with a sword, and new flesh comes in the room of it, he shall not rise with both, but with so much as shall make him a perfect man. Even so, though one man eats of another man's flesh, he shall not rise with that, but with so much as shall make him a perfect man ; neither shall he who was eaten want anything of his perfection at the resurrection.
Obj. 4. Lastly, They bring one Scripture in show against us, and but one, which is this : ' That flesh and blood,' as the apostle speaks, * cannot enter the kingdom of heaven,' 1 Cor. xv. 50. To which I answer,
Ans. The meaning is figuratively spoken ; that is, flesh, as it is cor- rupted and sinful, clothed with infirmities, and subject to mortality and death, so it shall not enter in. So this is expounded, Heb. ii. 14, ' For- asmuch, then, as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; and deliver them who, through the fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.' Therefore it is meant of flesh and blood in this transitory life, subject to infirmities ; thus it shall not enter into heaven. And thus have we des- patched the cavils of the atheists, against all which this point stands sure and fii-m, that the dead shall rise again.
Use 1. Seeing the dead shall rise again, therefore though we die as others do, and are dissolved into dust, yet to be comforted, in regard Jiat this is tho irorst our sins and the uorld can do unto us, to take from lis a frail natural life, — which, when they have done, it shall be restored unto us again in a far more excellent manner, — this, in all distresses and troubles, must comfort us, as it did Job, xix. 25, 26 : ' I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth ; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.' This also supported David, Ps. xvi. 9 : ' Wherefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices ; and my flesh also resteth in hope : for thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave : neither wilt thou sufier thy Holy One to see corrup- tion.' And so Christ himself says. Mat. xx. 19, unto his disciples : * The Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to scourge and to crucify : but the third day he shall rise again.' Now that which comforted Christ, Job, and David, must also comfort and support us in all crosses and troubles that befall us ; for death, the seeming worst of things, shall prove advantage unto us. It was a comfort unto old Jacob that the Lord said unto him, ' Fear not, go down into Egypt ; behold I