Obj. 1. The first is out of 1 Cor. xv. 44, where it is said, ' that it is sown a natural body, but is raised a spiritual body,' so it is not the same body that riseth again. To this I answer,
Atis. That it is not spiritual in regard of substance, but in regard of tho estate and condition which they shall be in ; for a natural life is upheld by the use of meat, and drink, and sleep, physic, and rest, but then our bodies shall bo upheld by the power of God, without the use of these means. Now our bodies are heavy, but then our souls shall be full of agility and nimbleness to move upwards or downwards at pleasure swiftly, so that it is a spiritual body, not in regard of substance, but in regard of quality and operation.
Obj. 2. Secondly, Say some, if the same bodies shall rise again, then they rise with a number of needless parts ; for what shall a man need teeth, seeing they shall eat no meat ? What shall they need a stomach, seeing there shall be no concoction or digestion ? and what, shall a man need bowels, seeing there shall be no redundance to fill them ?
Aus. Augustine shall answer for me : saith he, ' Concerning the teeth, they shall be needful and useful then, for we have a double use of them : they serve to eat with, and they are to further our speech, and therefore, though we shall have no need of teeth in regard of eating, yet we shall have need of them to speak with, for in heaven we shall praise God, and sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. And as for the other parts of the body, they are, saith he, for sight and comeliness ; for though there be no need of the stomach to concoct, nor of the bowels because there is no redundance, yet these shall be as ornaments to the body, to adorn and beautify it. For as there be some things not needful now save for orna- ment, as a man's beard and his breasts, which have no other use save this, even so, though we shall not need a stomach to concoct, nor bowels for redundance then, yet shall they be for an ornament to man '(^).
Obj. 3. Thirdly, It is objected, the same bodies do not rise, because they be hea\'y and ponderous ; for how, say some, should heavy and weighty bodies stay above the clouds in the pure heaven, which is purer and thinner than the air ? To this I answer,
Ans. (1.) That if a man may fill a great vessel of lead, and make it swim above the water, by drawing the air into it, why then may not God draw his Spirit into us, and fill us so with it, as to make our heavy bodies abide above the clouds, as well as a man to make a vessel of lead swim above water ?
Ans. (2.) Again I answer, that everything abides in his own proper place at God's appointment. As, for example, the clouds are heavy and wet, and therefore would fall down to the ground, but that God hath appointed
THE GENEBAIi RESURRECTION.
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the air to be the proper place of them, where therefore they abide ; so like- wise the water would be above the land, but that God hath limited the proud waves to a confinement, where it must rest and advance no further. So, it being God's appointment which makes anything to remain where it doth, though contrary to the nature thereof; therefore, because heaven is the proper place of a glorified body, and earth of a mortal body, the same bodies shall remain here until the day of judgment, after which, being made glorified bodies, they shall remain for ever in heaven, the proper place of theii* assignment. The uses are,
1. First, That seeing we shall rise with the same bodies, therefore we must be careful to keep them well, that they be pure and unspotted, without sin. It is Paul's conclusion, 1 Cor. vi. 18, ' Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth is without the body : but he who committeth fornication sinneth against the body.' So, because our bodies shall rise again, let us fly every sin and corruption, and keep our bodies unspotted, that so they may be presented before Christ holy and pure at that day. For what a shame will it be to stand before God in judgment, when we have wronged and grieved God by our sins ; when our heavenly judge shall say unto us, Are not these the eyes wherewith you have let in lust and looked after vanity ? are not these the tongues that ye have told so many lies with ? are not these the mouths wherewith you have sworn and blasphemed my name ? are not these the hands you have wrought wickedness with ? are not these the feet which have carried you to sin, vanity, and disorder ? And then how shall we be able to answer the Lord ! Therefore let us be careful to live well, and keep our bodies unspotted, that we may have comfort at that day. We read, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 8, when Jehoiachim was dead, there was found the characters, marks, and prints of his sorcery ; howsoever during his life he, being a king, bore it out, and kept it close ; yet, being dead, there remained the prints of his abominations found on his body. So, howsoever sinners may hide and conceal their sins here, and deceive the world, yet when they be dead there shall be found the marks and prints of the foul sins that they have committed ; therefore keep we our bodies pure and unspotted against that day.