Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Refurrection of the Dead. T HE Bodies of Men after Death return to Duft and fee Corruption; but their Souls which neither die nor fleep) having an immortal Subfiftence, immediately return to God who gave them. The Souls of the Righteous, being then made perfect in Holinefs, are received into the highest Heavens, where they behold the Face of God in Light and Glory, waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies: And the Souls of the Wicked are caft into Hell, where they remain in Torments and utter Darkness, reserved to the Judgment of he faid unto him, Man, who made born which are written in heaven, me a judge, or a divider over you? and to God the judge of all, and to John 18. 36. Jefus anfwered, my the spirits of juft men made perfect. kingdom is not of this world: if my 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know, that if our kingdom were of this world, then earthly houfe of this tabernacle were would my fervants fight, that I diffolved,we have a building of God, fhould not be delivered to the Jews; an house not made with hands eterbut now is my kingdom not from nal in the heavens. v. 6. Therefore hence. we are always confident, knowing I. Gen.3.19. In the fweat of thy that whilft we are at home in the boface shalt thou eat bread, till thou dy, we are absent from the Lord. return unto the ground; for out of v. 8. We are confident, 1 say, and it waft thou taken: for duft thou art, willing rather to be abfent from the and unto duft thou shalt return. Acts body, and to be prefent with the 13. 36. For David after he had fer- Lord, Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a ved his own generation by the will trait betwixt two, having a defire to of God, fell on fleep, and was laid depart, and to be with Chrift; which unto his fathers, and faw corruption. is far better. With Acts 3.21. Whom b Luke 23.43. And Jefus faid un- the heaven muft receive, until the to him, Verily I fay unto thee, To times of reftitution of all things, day fhalt thou be with me in para- which God hath spoken by the dife. Ecclef. 12. 7. Then fhall the mouth of all his holy prophets,fince duft return to the earth as it was: and the world began. And Eph.4.10. He the spirit shall return unto God who that defcended, is the fame also that gave it. afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. Heb. 12. 23. To the general affembly and church of the firft a Luks of the Great Day Befides these Two Places for Souls feparated from their Bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none. II. At the Last Day fuch as are found alive fhall not die but be changed: And all the Dead fhall be raised up with the self fame Bodies, and none other, although with different Qualities, which fhall be united again to their Souls for ever f III. The Bodies of the Unjuft fhall by the Power of Christ be raised to Difhonour; the Bodies of the Juft by his Spirit unto Honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious Body & a Luke 16.23. And in hell he lift up his eyes,being in torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom .7.24. And he cried,and faid, Father Abraham,have mercy on me, and fend Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Acts 1.25.That he may take part of this miniftry and apoftleship, from which Judas by tranf greffion fell, that he might go to his own place. Jude 6. And the angels which kept not their firft eftate, but left their own habitation, he hath referved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. v. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner giving themfelves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are fet forth for an example, fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 1 Pet. 3.19. By which alfo he went and preached unto the fpirits in prifon, e II. The. 4.17. Then we which are alive and remain, fhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and fo CHAP. fhall we ever be with the Lord 1 Cor. 15.51. Behold, Ifhew you a mystery; we shall not all fleep, but we shall ail be changed, v. 52. In a mome.at, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet fhall found, and the dead fhall be raised incorruptible, and we fhall be changed. Job 19.26. And though after my skin, worms deftroy this body, yet in my flesh fhall I fee God: v. 27. Whom I fhall fee for my felf, and mine eyes fhall behold, and not another; though my reins be confumed within me. 1.Cor. 15. 42. So alfo is the refurrection of the dead. It is fown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: v. 43. It is fown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is fown in weakness, it is raised in power: v. 44. It is fown a natural body, it is raised a fpiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. III.8 Acts 24. 15. And have hope towards God,which they themselves alfo allow, that there fhall be a refurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. John s. 28. Marvel not 1 CHAP. XXXIII. Of the Laft Judgment. OD hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World in Righteoufnefs by Jefus Chrift, to whom all Power and Judgment is given of the Father. In which Day,not only the apoftate Angels fhall be judged, but likewife all Perfons that haye lived upon Earth,fhall appear before the Tribunal of Chrift, to give an Account of their Thoughts, Words,and Deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the Body, whether Good or Evil". II. The Fude 6. [See letter & chapter foregoing. ] 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God fpared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be referved unto judgment. not at this: for the hour is coming, 1. Acts 17.31. Because he hath b John's. 22. For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: v, 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgment alfo, becaufe he is the Son of man. 1 Cor. 6. 3. Know ye not that we fhall judge angels, how much more things that pertain to this life?" d 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Eccl. 12. 14. For God fhall bring every work into judgment, with every fecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God fhall judge the fecrets of men by Jefus Chrift, according to my gofpel. Rom. 14. 1o. But why doft thou judge thy brother? or why doft thou fet at nought thy brother? we fhall all ftand before the judgment seat of Christ. v. 12. So then every one of us fhall give account of himfelf to God. Mat. 12.36. But I fay unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they fhall give ac count thereof in the day of judgment. v. 37. For by thy words thou II The End of God's appointing this Day, is for the Manifeftation of the Glory of his Mercy, in the eternal Salvation of the Elect; and of his Juftice, in the Damnation of the Reprobate, who are wicked and difobedient. Forthen fhall the Righteous go into everlasting Life, and receive that Fulness of Joy and Refreshing, which fhall come from the Prefence of the Lord: But the Wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jefus Chrift, fhall be caft into eternal Torments, and be punifhed with everlafting Destruction from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power. 1. III. As Chrift would have us to be certainly per fwaded that there fhall be a Day of Judgment, both to deter all Men from Sin, and for the greater Confolation of the Godly in their Adverfity: Sowill he thou shalt be juftified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. II. Mat. 25.31. to the end] Rom. 2. s. But after thy hardness and im penitent heart,treasureft up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; v. 6. who will render to every man according to his deeds. Rom. 9. 22. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath,and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to destruction: v. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory, on the veffels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? Mat.25.21.His lord faid unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful fervant; thou haft been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your fins may be have blotted out, when the times of refrefhing fhall come from the prefence of the Lord. 2 Theff. 1, 7, 8, 9, 19. [See in the bible.]a III. f 2 Pet.3.11. Seeing then that all these things fhall be diffolved, what manner of perfons ought yeto be in all holy converfation and godliness. v. 14. Wherefore, beloved, feeing that ye look for fuch things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without fpot and blemish. 2 Cor. 5.10, [See letter d.] v. II. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we perfwade men; but we are made manifeft unto God, and I trust alfo, are made manifeft in your confciences. 2 Theff. 1. s. Which is a manifeft token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye alfo fuffer: v.6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompenfe tribulation to them have that Day unknown to Men, that they may fhake off all carnal Security, and, be always watchful, because they know not at what Hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to fay, Come, Lord Jefus, Come quickly. Amen 8. we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. ing, or in the morning) 2.36. Left coming fuddenly, he find you fleeping. v. 37. And what I fay unto you, I say unto all, Watch. Luke 12. 35. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; v. 36. And ye your felves like unto men that wait them that trouble you; v.7. And to gais 2.11.6. * નું વાતા FIN from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Rev. 22: 20. He which testifieth these things, faith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even fo,come Lord Jefus. THE |