Reason 1. First, look what estate Adam was in in the time of his inno- cency; in the same estate shall the bodies of the saints be at the resurrec- tion. But in the beginning, the body of man was so beautiful, glorious, full of brightness and splendour which came from it, as all the beasts of the field came gazing, and stood looking on him ; therefore the bodies of the saints shall be in the same state at the resurrection.
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2. Secondly, Because all deformities, blackness, and ill-favouredness are punishments and penalties for sin ; but when our sins shall cease, and our corruptions, then the penalty and punishment of them shall cease also. Oh how should this quicken up our care to repent us of our sins, to get faith in Christ, and to walk holily before him, that we may have our por- tion with the saints at last. Men cannot help deformedness, but God can. Both the temples were built, and defaced again, the last not so glorious as the first ; but God will raise up all his, and make them more glorious than ever.
3. Thirdly, The glory of the body shall then consittt in this, that it shall he filled with hriijhtness and splendour. Now our bodies are dark and obscure, but then the bodies of the saints shall be like so many bright stars and shining lamps, when the wicked shall look dark and ugly to behold. We read, Dan. xii. 3, ' That they who be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.' So Mat. xiii. 43, Christ enlargeth the same their shining, where he saith ' that the just shall then shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.' Therefore what glory they shall have is unconceivable of us. We see, when Moses had talked with God forty days, by the reflection of God's glory upon him, his face did so shine, that the children of Israel were not able to behold it ; therefore how much more glorious shall the saints be to behold, when they shall stay, not forty days only with God, but for ever and ever ? If in this case a spark was such, what shall the flame be ? and what shall be the inward glory of the soul ?
Use 1. The use hereof is, that u-e shoidd much and often solace ourselves ivith the meditation hereof, abstracting our minds from this world ; and, as Gen. xiii. 17, when the Lord had made a promise to Abraham of the land of Canaan, he bid him to arise and walk through the land in the length and breadth thereof, so seeing God hath promised us heaven, though we be not in actual possession, as we shall be, yet we should arise often, and walk through this land in the length and breadth thereof ; that Is, meditate and think of the surpassing glory and excellence of the place.
Use 2. Secondly, Let us then he careful to lire well, and spend our time in holiness and righteousness whilst ire live here; for how can we expect that God should honour us then, when we are not careful to honour him with our bodies now ? It is a rule in art, that they who would finish their colours in brightness must lay light grounds ; even so, if thou wouldst have Christ to finish up thy life in glory, never lay the sad grounds and black colours of sin and corruption, but repent of thy sins, purify thy heart by faith in Christ, wash thyself often in the blood of Christ, that so he may present thee pure and unspotted in that day.
4. Fourthly, The hody shall then be immutahle and immortal. Now our bodies are subject to many alterations and changes ; as it is Job xiv. 2, ' Man shooteth forth as a flower, and is cut down : he vanisheth away as a shadow,' &c. Now our bodies are subject to hunger, and thirst, and many diseases, but then they shall be brought to such an estate of pre-eminency as they shall never hunger or thirst any more, nor have any alteration. So Eev. xvi. 7, it is said, ' They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, neither any heat.' So Rev. xxii. 4, he shews God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be any more pain,' so they shall have rest. And as this is clear by the Scripture, so is it also by reason ; for it is a ground in nature that all
880 THE GENERAL KESUREECTION.
things labour to attain to their last perfection, so to rest in it. We see in nature, if the shipman's needle be touched with a loadstone, it turns, and shakes, and never is at rest till it stand against the north pole, when, if it be hindered by anything, it stands trembling as discontented, resting when once it cometh there. 80 is it with the bodies of the saints that are touched with the loadstone, that is, who have touched Christ by faith ; they be not in rest and quiet here, but subject to many sorrows and infirmities of nature, until they be brought to Christ, where they securely rest, and be immutable and unchangeable. Therefore, when we feel these diseases and decays of nature, let us take Peter's counsel, mentioned Acts iii. 19, ' Repent and turn to the Lord, that our sins may be put away, when the time of refreshing shall come out from the presence of the Lord.' It is a world to see what means men use to keep their bodies from putrefaction, to embalm them, keep them in lead with sweet spices, lay them in marble, yet none of these will serve, for all must stoop and yield to the grave and rottenness. But if we live a holy life, and get faith in the Lord Jesus, then at the last day the body shall be brought to such an estate as shall be immortal and immutable.