St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

Against the Infidels calumnies, cast out in scorne of the Christians beleefe of the resurrection. CHAP. 12.

BVt in their scrupulous inquiries, touching this point, they come against vs

with such scoffes as these: Whether shall the Ab-ortiue births haue any part in the resurrection? And seeing the LORD saith, there shall no•…•… one haire of your headperish, whether shall all men bee of one stature and bignesse or no? If they bee, how shall the Ab-ortiues (if they rise againe) haue that at the resurrection which they wanted at the first? Or if they doe not rise againe because they were neuer borne, but cast out, wee may make the same doubt of infants, where shall they haue that bignesse of body which they wanted when they died? for they you know are capable of regeneration, and therefore must haue their part in the resurrection. And then these Pagans aske vs, of what height and quantity shall mens bodies be then? If they bee as tall as euer was any man then both lit∣tle and many great ones shall want that which they wanted here on earth, and whence shall they haue it? But if it bee true that Saint Paul saith, th•…•…t wee shall meete vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of CHRIST, and againe if that * 1.1 place, Hee predestinated [them] to bee made like to the Image of his Sonne, imply * 1.2 that all the members of Christs Kingdome shalbe like him in shape and stature, then must many men (say they) forgoe part of the stature which they had vpon earth. And then where is that great protection of euery haire, if there bee such a diminution made of the stature and body. Besides, wee make a question (say they) whether man shall arise withall the haire that euer the Barber cut from his head. If hee doe, who will not loath such an ougly sight? for so likewise must it follow that hee haue on all the parings of his nayles. And where is then that comelinesse, which ought in that immortality to bee so farre exceeding that of this world, while man is in corruption? But if hee doe not rise with all his haire, then it is lost, and where is your scriptures then? Thus they proceed vnto fatnesse and leannesse. If all bee a like (say they) then one shall bee fatte and an∣other leane. So that some must loose flesh, and some must gaine: some must haue what they wanted and some must leaue what they had. Besides, as touching the putrefaction, and dissolution of mens bodies, part going into dust, part into ayre, part into fire, part into the guttes of beasts and birds; part are drowned and dis∣solued into water, these accidents trouble them much, and make them thinke that such bodies, can neuer gather to flesh againe. Then passe they to defor∣mities, as monstrous births, misse-shapen members, scarres and such like; inqui∣ring with scoffes what formes these shall haue in the resurrection. For if wee say they shall bee all taken away, then they come vpon vs with our doctrine that CHRIST arose with his woundes vpon him still. But their most difficult question of all, is, whose flesh shall that mans bee in the resurrection, which is eaten by another man through compulsion of hunger? for it is turned into his flesh that eateth it, and filleth the parts that famine had made hollow, and leane.

Whether therefore, shall hee haue it againe that ought it at first, or hee that eate it and so ought it afterwards? These doubts are put vnto our resolu∣tions by the scorners of our faith in the resurrection, and they themselues doe either estate mens soules for euer in a state neuer certaine, but now wretched, and now blessed (as Plato doth) or else with Porphyry they affirme that these re∣uolutions doe tosse the soule along time, but notwithstanding haue a finall end at last, leauing the spirit at rest, but beeing vtterly separated from the body for euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eph. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.2

  Rom. 8