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All and singular persons of man∣kinde, which now are borne, or hereafter shall be borne, shal rise againe at the later day.
NOw verely touching the re∣surrectiō of the flesh (which is not to be raised from death to life againe, as some haue beene, and to die againe, but to bemoū∣ted to eternall life as the flesh of Christ did rise) is a matter be∣yond my reach how to handle it briefly, and to discusse all que∣stions
vsually propounded there∣in. Howbeit, no Christian ought to make doubt of the resurrecti∣on of the flesh of all men, ei∣ther liuing, or to be borne, now dead, or hereafter to die.
Touching Children borne before their time, whether they shall rise againe.
HEereupon first of all their ri∣seth a questiō touching chil∣dren borne before their time, which at this present are borne in their mothers wombe, how∣beit, not in that ripenesse and perfection as that they come to a second birth. For, if wee shall affirme that they are to rise a∣gaine; then, whatsoeuer is said of those which are complete in forme, may be admitted. But, as touching children borne before their naturall time, and those
without forme or fashion, who thinketh not that such doe most quickly perish and dye euen as the seeds which neuer took root being sowen? Howbeit, who dare deny (although none dare on the contrary affirme) that the resurrection will bring to passe that whatsoeuer wanted forme shall be at that time fulfilled? By which meanes there shall not want any perfectiō which might haue growen in time; euen as there shall not be on the contra∣trary any deformities which hap¦pened to any by processe of time: so as Nature should neither bee defrauded of that which fulnesse of time might accomplish in all parts: nor yet bee blemished in that which time had made defe∣ctiue or deformed; but that made perfect which was imperfect, & that amended which was deformed or monstrous.
At what time infants beginne to quicken and haue life in their mothers wombe.
BY this occasion it may be ve∣rie doubtfully questioned and disputed amongst the learned (and yet can I not tell, whether any man can discusse the trueth therin) at what time a man doth quicken in his mothers wombe? and whether he secretly liueth in the same, althogh that life which is in him, doth not appeare by any motions or stirrings of the creature so liuing. For, to denie that infants be deliuered, such as bee cut out by peace meale and cast foorth of their mothers woombe, least their mothers should also perish if they were left dead in their bodies, it seemeth to bee a matter of great impudencie and bould∣nesse. For, at what time soeuer a
man beginneth to liue, after that time also may he in like manner die. And now being dead, I see not in my conceit why he shuld not bee included in the num∣ber of those which rise at the later day.
Touching men which be monsters, how they shall rise in the later day.
FOr neither may it be denied that monsters which are so borne and do liue afterwards (al∣though they dye presently after they are borne) shall rise againe; Nor yet are we to beleeue, that they shall rise againe in that de∣formity they dyed, but rather re∣formed and amended in that na∣turall defect. For, farre be it from vs to beleeue, that the Centaure lately borne in the East parts (of whom both our faithful brethren which sawe him made report,
and Ierome the Priest, memora∣ble for piety, left a record in wri∣ting) God forbid I say we should thinke, that one man; being in shape two, and not rather two (which should haue been, if they had beene twinnes) shall rise a∣gaine in those seuerall deformi∣ties. In like man her, all other humane things (which be called monsters; by reason euerie crea∣ture so borne, haue more or lesse, or bee more deformed in their creation then they should haue beene) shall in the day of their refurrection, bee reduced to the shape of humane nature in per∣fection: in so much as all soules, particularly, shall inioy their proper bodies, no such thinges cleauing vnto them as were co∣herent and borne with them in their natiuitie; but contrariwise euery one particularly being fur∣nished with his proper parts and members, whereby the bodie of man may be complete in all per∣fection.
That it is an easie matter with God to restore vnto vs our flesh againe, howsoeuer it be con∣sumed.
THis earthly matter whereof the flesh of man is created, is not lost with God: but, into what soeuer dust or ashes it is resolued, into whatsoeuer vapors or coasts it is carryed, into whatsoeuer substance of other bodies, or the elements themselues it bee tur∣ned, into the flesh of whatsoeuer beasts or men it is incorporated and changed; It returneth again in a moment of time to the same soule of man which at first brea∣thed life into it, whereby it was made man, increa∣sed, and liued.
In the Resurrection of the dead, the question is, whether the whole substance of the flesh shal be restored: or that euerie par∣ticular part & member therof, shall come together again, as, & where it was at the first: and whether the excrements, shall be in like sort restored.
THat same earthly matter therefore which becommeth a dead carcasse when the soule is gone out of it, shall not so and in such sort bee renewed in the resurrection thereof, as that those things which perish with the bodie and bee turned into these and these shapes and formes of other thinges (al∣though they doe returne to the bodie againe, from whence they fell) should of necessitie turne vnto the same parts and members of the bodie againe where they were placed at
the first. Otherwise, in case that which often powling had cut a∣way, should bee restored to the haires of the head againe, and that also to the nayles of our fin∣gers which often cutting had ta∣ken away; the excessiue and vn∣comely imperfection that wold follow thereof, doth breede an impossibilitie of restitution in all those that enter into the consi∣deration thereof, and therefore beleeue not in the resurrection at al. But euē as in any image made of any soluble matter, if it bee melted, or beaten to powder, or else wrought into one lumpe or masse, if that a workman would make the same again of the sub∣stance and matter thus resolued, Is it materall for the perfection thereof, which part of the sub∣stance thus resolued, should bee vsed againe in the making of a∣ny part or member of the same image, so as the same being made a-newe, doe resume the whole substance of that wherof
it was at the first composed? In like sort, God being the worke∣master of man, after a maruai∣lous and vnspeakeable manner, shall of that whole consistence whereof our flesh was originally made, repaire the same againe, with wonderfull and vnspeake∣able speede. Neither is it mate∣rial to perfection in the new ma∣king thereof, whether the haires that were before, become haires againe, or the nailes returne to be nailes againe: or whatsoeuer thereof did perish, bee changed into flesh, or vsed to bee other parts of the body, so as the chiefe workmaster in that newe worke do foresee that nothing bee made vndecently therein.
Touching the stature, the simili∣tude or dissimilitude of forme which shall bee in the bodies of the godly that shall rise.
NEither doth it followe, that there should bee difference in the stature of euery particular person that riseth againe, be∣cause they differed when they liued: or that they which were spare and leane, should be reui∣ued in the same leanenesse; nor they which were fat, in the same fatnesse. But, if this be a matter of secrecie and counsaile in the creatour, that as touching the forme of euerie man, the pro∣pertie and knowen similitude of euerie one should bee retained, but yet all alike in the participa∣tion of the rest of the bodies fe∣licities: then doth it follow that there shall bee a measure obser∣ued in the ordering of this mat∣ter
in euery one whereof he was made, so as neither any part ther∣of do perish, and be lost; and if there be any thing wanting in a∣ny man, it may bee supplyed by him, who of nothing was able to make al things that he wold. Now then, if in the bodies of them that shall rise at the later day there shall bee a reasonable difference and inequalitie (such as is in voyces, making perfect harmonie) that shall be effected to euery one out of the matter and substance of his own body, making man equall to the com∣panie of Angels, and yet brin∣ging nothing with it that may be vnfitting to the view of those hea¦uenly creatures. For, there shal be nothing there that is vnseemely: but whatsoeuer shall bee hereaf∣ter, shall be comely, because it shall not be at all, if it be not decent.
That the bodies of the Elect, and godly shall rise againe in their bodily substance, but not with their former faults and defor∣mities.
THe bodies therefore of the godly shall rise againe with∣out any fault or deformity of bo∣die, as also without any corrup∣tion, burthen of flesh, or diffi∣cultie. Of which sort their faci∣litie in rising, shall be aunswera∣ble to their felicitie after their resurrection. For which cause they bee called spirituall, albeit no doubt they shall become bo∣dies and not spirits. But, euen as now in this life the bodie is said to bee naturall, being not with∣standing yet a body and not a soule: Euen so at that time the body shal bee spirituall, howbe∣it a body and not a spirit. Yet, as touching that corruption which
in our life time doth oppresse the soule, as also concerning the sinnes wherewith our flesh figh∣teth against the spirit, at that time it shall not become flesh, but a body, because they shal be reputed for celestiall bodies. By reason whereof it is said, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdome of God. And therefore as it were interpreting his owne saying, hee affirmeth, Neither shall corruption enioy incorrupti∣on. That which before hee called flesh & blood, he afterwards cal∣led corruption. And that which formerly he called the kingdome of God, he afterwards called in∣corruption. Now, as touching that which concerneth the sub∣stance, that same also shall bee flesh at that time. For which reason, the body of Iesus Christ after his resurrection, is called flesh. Therupon doth the Apo∣stle say, The body is put into the ground in naturall substance, but it shall shall rise a spirituall bodie;
because of the great agreement and concord which shall be be∣tween the flesh and the spirit; the spirit hauing a vitall power ouer the flesh, which then shall not rebell, and that without the help of any manner of supportation: in so much as nothing pertai∣ning to our owne bodies shal re∣sistive; but, as outwardly we shal finde none, so inwardly we shall haue no enemies of our selues.
Of what sort or forme the bodies of the damned shal be in the re∣surrection.
WHosoeuer verily being of that masse of perdition which the first man made, and are not redeemed by the onely mediatour of God and man, shal generally also rise in the later day, euery man in his own flesh, howbeit to bee punished with the diuell and his Angels. Now,
whether they shall rise againe with the faults and deformities of their former bodies, whosoe∣uer of that number were missha∣pen or deformed in their limmes, to what purpose should wee spend our labour, to informe our selues therein? Neither indeede ought the vncertaine forme or feature of those persons to wea∣rie vs, whose damnation shall bee certaine and euerlasting. Neither let it trouble vs to thinke, how in them the bo∣die shall bee incorruptible, if it bee subject to anguish; or else how it may be corruptible, if it cannot die. For, it is noe true life, but there where it liueth in all felicitie and happinesse: nor no true inccorruption but there where the health is im∣peached with no manner of griefe. Nowe, therefore in that place, where the person that is forlorne and vnhap∣pie, is not suffered to dye (as I maye saye) there Death,
it selfe doth not dye: and where perpetuall paine doth not kill, but doth afflict, corruption it self hath no ende or determination. This in the holy scripture is cal∣led the second death.
Which sort of the damned shall receiue the easiest punishment after the resurrection.
NEither yet the first death whereby the soule is com∣pelled to forsake his body, nor the second death whereby the soule is not suffred to depart out of the body that shall bee puni∣shed, should euer haue happened to man; if no man had sinned. And truely the punishment of such persons, shall be most easie, who, besides the guilt of origi∣nall sinne haue not added more thereunto of themselues: and a∣mongst those additionall sinnes,