A blow at the serpent; or a gentle answer from Madiston prison to appease wrath advancing it self against truth and peace at Rochester. Together with the work of four daies disputes, in the Cathedral of Rochester, in the Countie of Kent, betweene several ministers, and Richard Coppin, preacher there, to whom very many people frequentlie came to hear, and much rejoyced at the way of truth and peace he preached, at the same whereof the ministers in those parts began to ring in their pulpits, saying, this man blasphemeth, ... Whereupon arose the disputes, at which were some magistrates, some officers, and souldiers, peaceable and well-minded, and very many people from all parts adjacent, before whom the truth was confirm'd and maintained. The whole matter written by the hearers, on both sides. Published for the confirmation and comfort of all such as receive the truth in the love of it. By Richard Coppin, now in Maidston Prison for the witness of Jesus. Twenty five articles since brought against him by the ministers, as blasphemie, and his answers to them, how he was

CHAP. VII. Of Christ, the Resurrection from the first Adam to the second, proved, with the manner how, and the time when, what body it shall arise, and from what death; also how it was signified, by what, and when.

ROsewell.

He that from Scripture doth labour to perswade men that there is no Resurrection of the body to be exspected, and that no body shall be raised at the last day, he is a perverter of Scripture, and a venter of damnable errors, but you are one, ergo.

Coppin.

I denie your minor, therefore prove it.

Rosewell.

I prove it thus, 1 Cor. 15. That as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, so all they which have been, are, and shall be, shall be raised up at the last day, which you denie.

Coppin.

I doe grant the Resurrection of the body, and doe not denie it, though you say I doe.

Rosewell.

You did denie that the words in Job did signifie any

Resurrection of the bodie; and also that in 1 Cor. 15. which I can prove.

Coppin.

Is that Resurrection a mysterie, or no mysterie?

Rosewell.

Yes, a great mysterie, and such a one as I do believe you do not know.

Coppin.

If you do know, pray declare it.

Rosewell.

I am not minded to declare it to you at this time.

Coppin.

Then I will tell you what it is.

Friends and Brethren, I do own a Resurrection according to the Scriptures, and such a Resurrection as you all must partake of before ye can see the Kingdome of God, 1 Cor. 15. There is a Resurrection spoken of by the Apostle, which is the Resurre∣ction of Christ, and of our rising in and with him, from the state of the first Adam, to the state of the second Adam; but there were some then, as well as now, that did think the Apostle had meant carnallie the rising again of the same bodie of flesh and bones, and therefore did ask the question, with what bo∣dies they shall arise, not knowing what the Dead was, nor the life it should be raised to, and how God giveth it a bodie as pleaseth him. Now to prove this Resurrection, Christ saith, I am he which was alive, and was dead, and am alive again, and lives for evermore.

Rosewell.

Do you hear, he saith Christ was alive, and dead.

Coppin.

There is nothing can be said to die, but first it must be alive, nor made to live, but it must first die: Now Christ is he which was alive, was dead, and is alive again; the first that was living, and the last that lives. * 1.1

In John 11. 21. Martha comes to Christ, and saith, Lord, if thou had'st been here, my Brother had not died: Christ said, Thy Brother shall rise againe: I know, said Martha, he shall rise at the Resurrection, on the last day: Jesus said unto her, I am the Re∣surrection, and the Life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and he that lives and believes in me shall never die, Believest thou this? Now she had Faith to believe that he was Christ, the Son of God, but could not believe the truth of her Brothers Resurrection in Christ: therefore did-Christ blame her, saying, Had'st thou but believed, thou should'st have seen the glory of God, John 11. 40.

Now if Christ be the Resurrection, and the Life, then there is nothing in this Resurrection, but what is himself, for he is the dead raised, the raiser of this dead, and the life raised too, as he saith, I am the Resurrection, and the Life. Now take notice that I do not denie any thing of Christ all this while, but do advance him, and also our Resurrection in him, as the Scripture saith, We are raised up together with him, to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and this is the mysterie of the Resurrection, which you say is a great mysterie.

Now saith the Apostle to those carnal enquirers that knew not this mysterie of the Resurrection, but asked with what bodies they should arise, Thou fool, saith the Apostle, that which thou sowest is not quickned, except it die, and thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or some other grain, so it is not, saith be, the same body which thou sowest that is raised, but God giveth it a body as pleaseth him. And why then, say you, that the same bodie shall be raised again?

Now Paul to prove this spiritual Resurrection, tells us, that there is one glorie of the Sun, another glorie of the Moon, and another of the Stars, and one Star differs from another Star in glorie; so also is the Resurrection of the dead, it is sown in cor∣ruption, it is raised in incorruption; 'tis sown in dishonor, it is raised in glorie; it is sown in weaknesse, it is raised in power, and all in us, that I may know him, saith Paul, and the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, if by any means I might at∣tain unto the Resurrection of the dead, for which I presse for∣wards, * 1.2 saith Paul: So that this Resurrection is to be within you, and you are to know it while you live in this bodie, for it is your rising from faith to faith, from glorie to glorie, as from one ad∣ministration of God to another, Behold, saith Paul, I shew you * 1.3 a mysterie, we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed; that is, changed from the state of the first Adam, to the state of the second Adam, and so he tells us, It was sown in Adam, it was raised in Christ, it was sown a natural body, and it is raised a spiri∣tual body, even as you see your change, for the first man Adam is of the earth earthy, a living soul, the second is the Lord from hea∣ven, a quickening spirit, and as is the earthly, so are they that are

earthly, and as is the heavenly, so are they that are heavenly; wherefore examine your selves, and you will now find it so, for you are all of you either in the state of the first Adam, or in the state of the second Adam, and your change is from the first to the second, that as you have born the image of the earthly, so you shall bear the image of the heavenlie, for there is a bodie na∣tural, and a bodie spiritual, all which are proper to us in this life: And thus Paul tells us of the Resurrection in a my∣sterie.

Now take notice that I do not denie any Resurrection in all this, which by any man may be proved, but I do declare to you the mysterie of this spiritual Resurrection, which I know, and which you say is a mysterie: Secondly, consider the death you are to be raised from, and that is the death that all men died in the state of the first Adam, and do still die, by reason of sin, from which death all shall be raised to life in Christ, the second Adam: Now the wages of sin is death, and that death which sin doth bring on man, is the same death that Christ doth raise him from, For you who were dead in sins and trespasses, hath he quick∣ned, * 1.4 and if ye be risen with Christ, seek the things which are a∣bove, where Christ siteth at the right hand of God, which is spoken in the Presentence, and not in the Future, and cannot be meant of the rising of our corporal bodies, after laid in the grave, which I question whether those that talk so much of that, do yet know this spiritual Resurrection, which I hereby declare to you all; and if any one can tell us of another Resurrection of the same body of flesh, blood, and bones again as it was, let him declare that, as I have declared this, for I denie nothing which by any other can be proved, but the Scripture saith, That flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God, neither doth cor∣ruption inherit incorruption; therefore blessed and happy are all they * 1.5 which have their part in this first Resurrection, for of such the se∣cond death hath no power, but they live and raign with Christ.

Thirdly, As there is a bodie to be raised, so there is also a bo∣die to be destroyed, and that is the bodie of sin and death, which is to die, and no more to live, For if Christ be in you, the body is * 1.6 dead, because of sin, but the spirit is life, because of righteousnesse, that is of Christ: And in Rom 6. there is a Resurrection from

sin, to newnesse of life, spoken of by the Apostle, that like as Christ was raised from the dead, by the glorie of the Father, even so should we walk before him in newnesse of life; for if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death, we shall be also in the likenesse of his Resurrection, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the bodie of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Rosewell.

2 Tim. 2. 18. But there were false Prophets among them, as there are false Teachers among you, which say, the Resur∣rection is past already, and so bring in damnable errors to overthrow the saith, and we see there were some in the Apostles daies which did deny a corporal Resurrection.

Coppin.

Do you instance that Scripture as to a corporal Resur∣rection, which speaks nothing of it, you do add to that Scrip∣ture (the word corporal) and you know the punishment of him that addeth thereto, or diminisheth therefrom. Again, I do not say the Resurrection is past already, for it is not yet come to you, nor many more, therefore your Scripture is to no purpose a∣gainst me; for I say, it is to come, as well as alreadie come, and that it shall continue until the Day of Judgment be ended, or till all that shall be, are raised, and set free in this spiritual Resur∣rection, from death, hell, or the grave, in which they lie impri∣soned and buried, by reason of sin; but the Sadduces, who de∣nie the Resurrection, hold there is neither Angel nor Spirit, and that do not I.

Rosewell.

I shall prove the Resurrection of the body, from Job 19. Where Job saith, He shall see God with those eyes at the last day: 1 Cor. 15. Paul saith, If the dead rise not, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain, and you are yet in your sins: And Job saith, Though wormes destroy his bodie, yet in this flesh, in this bodie, shall I see God, which doth clearlie prove a corporal Resurrection, but I shall give him rope till night.

Coppin.

Add not to the Scripture, for there is no such bodily Resurrection spoken of, as you declare, 1 Cor. 15. 12. so on, pray see friends, Paul doth not speak of a corporal Resurrecti∣on, but tells them of the Resurrection of the Dead, and saith,

That if Christ be not risen, then all our Preaching and Believing is in vain, and we are yet in our sins: Clearlie intimating, that the Resurrection of Christ doth assure them of their being raised from sin, to walk with God in newnesse of life, For, saith he, you are sown a natural body, but you are raised a spiritual body; and a spirituall bodie is not flesh and bones, therefore not the same bodie, as you say it is, and would have it to be.

Rosewell.

There shall be eyes, hands, and feet.

Coppin.

That there shall be eyes, hands, and feet, you are yet to prove.

Rosewell.

Job saith, He shall see God with those eyes, and that in this his flesh he shall see God: Againe, the Scripture saith, That they which are alive, and them which are dead, shall be raised, and all of them shall meet the Lord, only this corruptible must put on incorruptible, and this mortall must put on immortalitie: Again, the bodies of Believers are the Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6. and the Temples of Je∣sus Christ, therefore the same bodies shall be raised at the last day.

Coppin.

You also bring Job to prove a Corporal Resurrection, of flesh, blood, and bones, and that this Resurrection, and seeing God with those eyes, was not to be, till after the death of his visible bodie, as you say; but I say here is a mysterie▪ and a spiritual sense to be understood in these words, Job. 19. where he saith, I know my Redeemer liveth, and that at the last day I shall s••e him stand upon the earth; and though after my skin, worms de∣stroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see, for my selfe, and mine eyes shall behold, and not anothers, though my reins be consumed within me. But to understand this, you must know how he is the Redeemer, and when, also what is meant by the last day, and the earth which he shall stand upon, and what eyes shall behold him, &c.

Now his Redeemer was the Lord, and did then live in Job, though he knew it not, & that he should see him at the last day, is a truth, but what this last day was, and the manner how he should see him, that he knew not, till the time came that he saw him in him∣selfe; therefore you shall find that Job was then in darkness, and under much affliction, uttering words without knowledg, for

which he was reproved, first by the Prophet Elihu, secondlie by * 1.7 the Lord, thirdlie he confest it; first the Prophet reproved him, Job 33. Chap. 35. 16. Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vaine, he multiplieth words without knowledg, Job 38. 1. 2. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, who is this that darkeneth counsell by words without knowledg, gird up now thy loynes like a man, for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. And so he goes on to reprove Job of his ignorance of God, and in Chap. 40. 3. Job answers the Lord and saith, bebold I am vile, what shall I answer thee, I will lay my hand upon my mouth, once have I spoken, but I will not answer, yea twice, but I will proceed no further, and in Chap. 42. 3. he acknowledges his error and ignorance of God, and answers the Lord, saying, who is he that hideth counsell without knowledge, therefore have I uttered that I understand not, things too wonderfull for me, which I knew not, but now hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak, I have often heard of thee by the hearing of the care, but now mine eyes seeth thee, wherefore I abhor my selfe in dust and ashes. Thus did Job in his life time see the King, the Lord of Hosts, his Redeemer, standing upon, (and was a conqueror of) that earth, the first Adam which he first lived in the Image of, till the second Adam appeared, as at the last day of the first Adam in him, which he before said should come, and wa•• now come to him, For now doe mine eyes see thee.

Rosewell.

Pray read a little further, and ye shall find that God saith, his freinds had not spoken right of him, as his servant Job had done; and again, this cannot be meant of his seeing his Redeemer, for now ••is 〈…〉〈…〉ynes and reines was not consumed.

Coppin.

'Tis true, Job never spoke the things that was right of the Lord, till he said, Now doe mine eyes see thee; and this his friends could not say, for they had not seen the Lord, as his servand Job had; therefore, though after his skin wormes had destroyed his body, yet in his flesh he did see God.

Th••s skin was the good esteem he had of his own righteous∣nesse, the pride and glory of his own flesh, which he was stripped of, for boasting in it, and so saith Job, He hath stripped me of all * 1.8 my glory, and taken the Crown from off my head; and the body that must be destroyed, was the body of sin and corruption which

was within him, and is in all men for a time, while they live in the corrupt state of the old Adam, and the wormes are the terrors of the troubled minde, which as Troops of Robbers feeds upon the flesh of the earthly man, and Job had many in his flesh, For my flesh, saith he, is cloathed with Wormes, my skin is broken, and become loathsome, the arrows of the Almighty sticks fast * 1.9 in me, his Archers compasse me round about, and he cleaveth my reins in sunder. Here was the destruction of Jobs body in his life time, all his comforts were taken from him, and all those things were fulfilled upon him, and appeared in him, and yet, saith he, after all this I shall see my Redeemer, and so he did, fo•• when through the manifestation of God to him, his soul within him was revived, his knowledge and understanding enlightened, and his reins, with the girdle of saith strengthened, then, saith he, Now do mine eyes see thee, and I am no more my self, but a * 1.10 new man in thee, for now is my change come, therefore cannot be meant of the body after a naturall death, as you say it is.

Robison.

Of all Religions, this is most damnable, to say there is no Resurrection of the body.

Coppin.

I denie not any thing which any man can prove to * 1.11 be true, from Scripture.

Rosewell.

I prove a corporall Resurrection of our bodies, from the example of Christs Resurrection of his Body.

Coppin.

That was a signe to us of our rising with Christ to a newness of life, both toward God and man.

Rosewell.

I denie the Resurrection of Christs body to be a signe.

Coppin.

You say the corporal Resurrection of Christ is no sign, and yet you say againe it doth signifie the Resurrection of our bodies, but the Scripture saith not so, but saith, That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we * 1.12 also should walk in newnesse of life, and so will he change our vile bodies here, and make them like unto his glorious bodie, by subduing * 1.13 all things to himself in us, which is the spiritualty and glory of our bodies.

Captain Smith.

We grant you that.

Coppin.

Then give me leave, Christ being born of the Virgin Mary, Was it also a signe to us, or not?

Robison.

Was it but a signe to us, and no substance.

C••ppin.

I doe not say so, but I say it was a signe which I prove, Isa. 7. 14. Therefore the Lord himselfe shall give you a signe, behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emanuel. Now what did this signifie, but that as the Virgin did bring forth Christ in our nature, flesh, blood, and bones, so should Christ bring forth himselfe in every one of us, in Spirit and truth, Gal. 4. 14. My little Children, saith Paul, of whom I travell in birth againe, untill Christ be formed in you, not as a bodie, flesh, and bones in us, for that were to make many Christs, as for every man one, but he shall be formed in us in Spirit and power.

Rosewell.

I doe not believe, but Christ is here said to be a signe, but what is the thing signified, that King Ahaz should overcome his enemies, and that the Scepter should not depart from Juda, till Shilo come.

Coppin.

That is till Christ come Spirituall in us, or else what benefit is it to us to look back upon the birth and death of Christ as signes, and doe not see the things signified; For a wicked and adulterous generati••n seeketh after a signe, and never looks on the thing signified, which is the birth, death, and Resurrection of Christ in them, which should all be made manifest in our mortall flesh, and so saith Paul, I doe always beare about in the bodie, the dying also of * 1.14 the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our bodie, and now doe I rejoyce in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the measure of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh, for his bodies sake, which is the Church, whereof I Paul am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you to fullfill the word of God, even the mysterie which hath been hid from all ages, and now is made manifest to his Saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mysterie, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Revel. 1. 17: 18
• * 1.2

  Phil. 3. 10: 11.
• * 1.3

  Rom: 1: 16: 17 2 Cor: 3: 18:
• * 1.4

  Ephes: 2: 1: Coll: 3: 1:
• * 1.5

  Revel: 20: 6:
• * 1.6

  Rom: 8: 10:
• * 1.7

  Iob 33.
• * 1.8

  Iob 27: Ch••p: 19: 9:
• * 1.9

  Chap: 7: 5: Chap: 6: 2: 3: 4 Chap: 16: 13:
• * 1.10

  Isa: 11: 5:
• * 1.11

  Christ a sign.
• * 1.12

  Rom. 6. 4.
• * 1.13

  Phil. 3. 2••.
• * 1.14

  2 Cor 4 7. 8: 9. 10. 11. 1 Coll. 24••