The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extreams, defect, excess of sorrow for his dead to which is added, The mourners soliloquy / by Thomas Doolittle ...

CHAP. XIV. The Resurrection of the Dead great ground of Comfort in our Sorrow for them: As also the Qualities and Endowments of their Bodies, when raised.

THE Third Remedy against Excessive Sorrow for the Dead, is sure knowledge, and firm belief of the Resurrection unto Life: Death is opposed to Life, as being the pri∣vation of it; the Resurrection is opposed to Death, as being a restoration to Life: The one is the cause of our Sorrow, the other is a solid ground of Christian Comfort. It is a Doctrine unknown by the Light of Nature, it is undeniably proved by the Holy Scrip∣ture. The Heathens hearing Paul preach the Resurrection of the Dead, did deride and mock, Act 17.32. for they did judge it a thing incredible, that the dead should be rai∣sed, Act 26.8. This was the reason they sorrowed for their de••d so immoderately, be∣cause they had no hope that they should live

again; and the Resurrection and Christian Hope are conjoyned, the one being the Foun∣dation of the other. Act. 23.6. Of the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am called into question. Act. 24.14. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. If the Resurrection be grant∣ed, hope must be allowed, and the more hope of this, the more mitigation of sorrow for the Dead, because they shall live again.

In this copious Subject, I must omit many things, and content my self with so much as is sufficient for my present design, which may be done in these two things: (1.) That there is sufficient foundation for our Faith, that the Dead shall surely live again. (2.) That their Bodies for which we mourn, because d••ad and bu∣ried, shall not only be the same for substance, but in respect of Qualities, shall far exceed what they were while they lived, or when they dyed: And the Faith of this wi•••• be as much cause of Joy, as their Death was of Sorrow, and more a∣bundant.

In the first of these, three things give me full satisfaction. 1. Taken from God. 2. From Christ. 3. The absurdities that must unavoida∣bly follow the denial of the Resurrection of the Dead.

First in this Article of our Faith (from whence I check my Sorrow for the Dead,

that it may be kept within bounds) three things in God, (so considered by us, tho one in him) remove my Doubts, confirm my Hopes in this Case: 1. The Wisdom. 2. The Power. 3. The Will of God.

1. God being Infinite in Wisdom and Know∣ledge, I am fully satisfied, that he knoweth the number of the dead, and where their Bodies were buried, or consumed, and which are the bones and Skull, and Dust of one, and which of another: for this is knowable in it self, and therefore God knows these, and all other circumstances of the Dead, or else his Knowledge would be limited and finite Knowledge, and not ex∣tended to every thing that may be known, which is contrary to Natural Reason, to Scripture and Religion, and to the Infinite Perfection of the Divine Nature; to deny this Knowledge in God, is to Blaspheme him.

2. God being Infinite in Power, is able to raise all the Dead, all which, and every par∣ticle of all of them being thus known to him; to raise the Dead is an Act of Power, and not of weakness, and is possible, and not a con∣tradiction. Cannot the same Power that made all things out of nothing, cause these dead-out of something to live again? Cannot the same Power that at first formed Mans Bo∣dy of the dust of the ground, and caused it to live, make these Bodies to live again, thô

they be turned into dust? Cannot God do what he hath done? Cannot he do all that is possible to be done? Is not that which hath been done to some, possible to be done to others? Are there not many Examples in the Scripture that this hath been done? Have not many Dead been raised to Life? The Resurrection of the Dead being in the rank of things possible, comes within the reach of Divine Almighty Power, which to deny is to blaspheme, these two being manifest; to compleat the Argument, add,

3. God hath declared his Will and Purpose that the Dead shall live again. We cannot argue from the Power of God, that a thing shall be, because he is able to do it, because he doth not will to do all that he can do; but we might argue from his Will, that what he doth will to do, shall be done, because he hath Power to do whatsoever he will. Men might have a will to do some things, but they have not Power answerable to their Will, and they often would, but never can; but tho' God be not Omnivolent, to will eve∣ry thing he can, yet he is Omnipotent, to do whatsoever he will.

Wherefore our reasoning issueth in this, Whether it be the Will of God that the Dead shall be raised to life? The fundamental Error of the Sadduces denying the Resurrection of the Dead, Christ shews was in their Ignoronce

of these two Principles, the Power and the Will of God, which is revealed in the Scrip∣ture. Mat. 22.29. Jesus answered, and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. The Scriptures do a∣bound in this, fully assuring us that it is his Will, that all the Dead shall be raised, the Wicked to Damnation, the Righteous to Life everlasting: If you doubt, read these Texts, Job 19.25. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth. 26. And thô after my skin, Worms destroy this bo∣dy, yet in my Flesh shall I see God. 27. Whom I shall see for my self, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, thô my reins be consumed within me. Joh. 5.28. The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice. 29. And shall come forth, they that have done good unto the Resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of damnation. Joh. 6.38. For I came down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the Will of him that sent me. What's that? 39. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. These are comfortable words of Christ to us: What a strict Charge is here of the Father given to Christ! My Son, I give you so many men, and charge you with them, that you lose not any one of them, but that you raise every one of them at the last day, and set them

before me in Body and Soul in my heavenly King∣dom. Do you fear, lest among so many millions to be raised, any one of yours should be left in the Grave, and never raised? Would not then such be lost? and is not that contrary to the Charge given to Christ? and contrary to the Fathers Will? Are not you satisfied that Christ hath, and will do his Father's Will in every Point? Hear his words: 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believ∣eth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Are not you yet satisfied with these words of him that is able, and can, and faithful, and will, do what he saith, reaching to every one, without the lo∣sing of any one? The Father that sent me, hath declared his Will that I should, and so I will raise every one of these at the last day. Believe, and sorrow for your Dead with no more degrees of Sorrow than becometh one that doth believe that Christ will raise them up at the last day. John 11.24. Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again, in the Re∣surrection at the last day: 25. Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life, he that believeth in me, thô he were dead, yet shall he live. John 6.44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 54. Whoso eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, hath Eternal

life, and I will raise him up at the last day, 1 Cor. 15. throughout. Rev. 20.12. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God — 13. And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it, and Death and Hell [or the Grave] delivered up the d••ad which were in them. Now the Grave and Death hold your Relations that are under their Power fast, so fast that now there is no help, and you therefore sorrow; but the day will come, when Death and the Grave shall deliver them up, and hold them no longer; here is matter of Hope, there∣fore do not sorrow as those that have no Hope.

Secondly, The indissoluble connexion betwixt the Resurrection of Christ, and Believers that sleep in him, may assuredly satisfie us, that such shall also be raised. Firmly believe the one, and you cannot, or need not doubt of the o∣ther, 1 Cor. 15.12. Now if Christ be preached, that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no Resurrection of the dead. 13. But if there be no Resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 15. — Whom he raised not up, if so be the dead rise not. 16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. 1 Thes. 4.14. For if we believe that Jesus dyed, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.

Thirdly, The gross Absurdities that unavoi∣dably follow the denial of the Deads being

raised, may confirm us that they shall be raised. They are such as these:

1. Then Christ is not risen, 1 Cor. 15.13.

2. If Christ be not risen, and so the Dead shall not be raised, then Ministers preaching, and Peoples believing is all in vain, v. 14.

3. Then the Apostles were Liars, and false, for they affirmed both, 1 Cor. 15.15. and in other Texts.

4. Then those that are Dead in Christ, are perished, v. 18.

5. Then the best men are the most misera∣ble, v. 19.

6. Then a floodgate is opened to all wick∣edness, v. 32.

7. Gods People then are weakened for do∣ing or suffering, v. 58.

8. Then Gods Covenant with his People is broke, Mat. 22.39, &c.

Secondly, Besides the certainty of the Re∣surrection of the Dead, the consideration of the Properties, Qualities and Endowments of their Bodies which shall arise, administers more Comfort to us, and consequently will be a further mitigation of our Sorrow. God hath not only assured us that these dry Bones, con∣sumed Bodies shall live, but also hath foretold us what manner of Bodies they then shall be, far more noble and excellent than when they lived or died.

1. They shall be raised Immortal and Incorruptible Bodies. While they lived with us they were al∣ways mortal, and did admi••ister matter of fe••r unto us, while we of••en said, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thought, What if my Husband should die? or what i•• my Father or Mother should die? These were fretting fears, and caused many distr••cting Cares, or trou∣bled us sitting at our Table, or lying in our Beds, because we knew they were always subject to Death, and li••ble to its stroke, and we kn••w not how soon (tho in Health) they might be taken from us; and so the fe••rs of their dying abated our Comfort in th m while they were living, because we look∣ed upon th••m as dying Comforts, and going from us, whilst they were with us. But when the••, live again, they shall die no more, Death sh••ll have no more dominion over them: Then th••y shall be above the stroke of death and the fears thereof, and it shall be no more a King of Terrors unto them: But as Christ their He••d hath said, Rev. 1.18. I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Amen; so all these his Members shall say, We are they that live, and were dead, and behold we are alive for evermore. Amen. This is truth, so it is. When Death came in by Sin, all mankind became subject unto Death: When Sin was turned out by death, and these Bodies shall be raised, no more pol∣luted with it, they shall be as free from

Death as they shall from Sin; before they did die, they were to die: When they were dead, and shall live again, Death hath done its worst, hath done its all, and hath no more that it can do. Death did conquer them, and laid and kept them Prisoners in the Grave; but when they shall be raised to Life, and redeemed from the Grave, they sh••ll conquer Death, and then this last Enemy shall be destroyed, and in the morning of the Resurrection these revived Bodies, united to their Souls, shall sing that triumphant Song, O Death where is thy sting! O Grave where is thy victory? Death and Grave did swallow us up, but now the Destroyers are destroyed, the Spoilers are spoiled, and both are swallowed up in victory. Thus the Bodies that were sown in corrupti∣on, shall be raised in incorruption, 1 Cor. 15.42.54, 55. then Mortality shall be swal∣lowed up of Life, 2 Cor. 5.4.

2. They shall be raised powerful and impassible Bodies. While they lived here, they were weak and suffering Bodies, enduring hunger and cold, and thirst; crying out of Pains and Sickness, or torments by Chollick, Gout and Stone, and Rheumatisms, shaken by Agues, and scorched by Feavors, and swelling with Dropsie, torn with Coughs, overflowed with Catarrhs, and liable to hundreds of Diseases, insomuch that they died daily, yea died ma∣ny Deaths before they died, and many Sick∣nesses

put them to more and greater pains in time of Life, than Death it self did put some of them to in the point of Death; but when they shall live again, as they shall die no m••re, so they shall suffer no more, nor be sick any more, feel hunger and thirst no more, and so shall grieve, nor groan, weep or sigh, or sob no more for ever; no more aking He••ds, no more pained Bowels, no more Griefs of any sort whatsoever.

Indeed the Bodies of the Wicked shall be raised Immortal, but subject to suffering, they shall feel more pains and torments af∣ter they are raised, than ever they did be∣fore they died, and their Immortality shall be the aggravation of their misery; for die again they would, but cannot; return to their Grave again, where they felt nothing, they would, but must not; because they must live for ever, they must be tormented for ever. Immortality of Bodies at the Resurrection, to the Wicked is a Curse and Plague, to the Godly it is a Blessing and a Favour conferred upon them, for tho' they were sown in weakness, they shall be raised in power, 1 Cor. 15.43.

3. They shall be raised Spiritual Bodies, not turned into Spirits, for then they would not be Bodies; Spirits have not material Eyes, with which Job said he should see his Redeemer at the last day with those he then had, and not with others; if it were not the same Bodies

in substance, it would not be a Resurrection, but a new product on. They shall then be Spiritual Bodies, in this respect, that their manner of Life, shall be like the Life of Spi∣rits, having no need of Meat, or Drink, or Sleep, or any such things whereby our Na∣tural Bodies in this Life are supported and maintained. In which respect Christ asserts that they shall be as the Angels, Mat. 22.30. In the Resurrection they neither marry, nor are gi∣ven in Marriage, but are as the Angels of God in Heaven. This will be a great priviledge of Bodies raised from the dead at the last day, for n•••• we spend a great part of our Life in Sleep, for the refreshing of our Natural Bo∣dies, ar•• in that time we are not, nor can∣not be taken up with Admirations of God, nor Contemplations of Divine things, but af∣ter the Resurrection there shall be no inter∣ruptions nor intermissions in our praising of God, in our Loving of him, and delighting in him. Our Natural Bodies now require time to be fed, in sitting at our Tables: when they are empty, we are pained with hun∣ger, when they are full, we are indisposed for Holy Work, and Heavenly Praises; but a whole Eternity shall be filled with constant Hallelujahs, and Spiritual Rejoycings, when our Bodies shall be raised Spiritual Bodies, and such they shall be, 1 Cor. 15.44. It is sown a natural Body, it is raised a spiritual Body. There

is a Natural Body, and there is a Spiritual Bo∣dy.

4. They shall be raised glorious Bodies. Now our bodies are vile Bodies, Phil. 3.21. How full of ill Humours, and loathsome Corrupti∣on! Why should any be proud of a comely Face, when he might think what he is with∣in? Now they are Cottages of Clay, Taber∣nacles of Earth, a Mass of breathing, walk∣ing Mould. God did mend the Matter, else our Bodies are as vile as the Earth we tread upon; for out of it they were taken, and in∣to it they are returning; but this is wonder∣derful, that Bodies so vile while they live, and more loathsome when dead, and rotting in the Grave, should at last be raised as glori∣ous as so many glittering Stars, Dan. 12.3. Did I say, as glittering Stars? Christ saith as so many shining Suns. Mat. 13.43. Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who can express the difference betwixt a dead Body in the Grave, and the Sun shining in the Heavens? Yet so much shall be the difference between the same Body in the Grave, and raised at the last day. 1 Cor. 15.43. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory.

5. They shall be raised perfect and beautiful Bodi••s. If they were maimed here, they shall be entire then; if blind now, they shall have Sight to see the Lord Redeemer, and the

Glory of the Place above, and of the Com∣pany in that Palace of the King of Glory▪ if they were any way deformed here, any part redundant, any part exorbitant o•• de∣fective, this deformity shall be removed, and Beauty shall be their Cloathing all over: for whatsoever came in by sin, and is the Pu∣nishment and Effects of Sin in such respects upon the Body, when the Cause is removed, such Evils shall ••ot remain.

6. They shall be raised holy and without the least spot or stain of Sin, or inclinati••n to it. Now the Body is defiled with sin, and the parts of it are too often the Instruments of Sin: Eyes beholding Vanity, and Windows to let in wickedness into the Heart and Thoughts; our Tongues too often speak to Gods dishonour; our Feet too often run into the wayes of Sin, our Appetite too often over-rules our Reason, and we have cause to cry out, Who shall deliver us from this Body of Sin and Death? Who shall? God when he delivers our Bodies from Death, and raiseth them out of their Graves, will deliver them from all filthiness of the Flesh, and Christ shall present them pure and spotless, with∣out wrinkle, or any such thing, ••ph. 5.27.

7. If I cannot say all, let me say that which comprehends all, they shall be rais••d like to Christs glorified Body: Say our Souls in Heaven shall be like Christs Soul, and our

Bodies raised and taken thither shall be like Christs glorious Body. If we cannot utter the Excellency of the heavenly Qualities and Endowments of the Bodies of those that sleep in Jesus, when they shall be awaked, say they shall be like to Christs glorious Body: If you cannot conceive it in your Minds, think they shall be like Christs glorious Body; and if you cannot think how great that is, do not mourn that your holy Friends are gone before in their Souls to see that glorious Jesus, whose Glory is so great, that it doth transcend all your thoughts; and spend your time in holy pre∣paring, and earnest Looking for his coming, than in excessive sinful Mourning for their dead Bodies, that shall be made like his at his coming. Phil. 3.20. For our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Sa∣viour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21. Who sball change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body. Lord, how can this be, that such Clods of Earth, and lumps of Clay, when turned into Dust in the Grave, should be made like to the Body of the glori∣ous exalted Jesus? How! according to the work∣ing whereby he is able to subdue all things to him∣self. There must be great ability and power to make this change, a body so vile to be so glo∣rious, this Power must be Almighty Power, even such as can do any thing, as can subdue all things; and this Power so mighty must be

working Power, to make such a Body that all the Power of all the Angels in Heaven is too weak to do.

Now let those that overmuch sorrow for their Dead that sleep in Jesus, consider if they have any cause or reason so to do. You look upon their dead Bodies in the Coffin, before they are nailed up; and your Eye is filled with tears, and your Heart with sorrow. You think of them as they are mouldring and rotting in the grave, and you can scarce bear these thoughts. Have you not another Eye? Can you have no other thoughts? Have not you an Eye of Faith to look beyond the Coffin and the Grave to a joyful glorious Resurrecti∣on? and see what Bodies they shall be when they shall be raised? They are in their Graves, and you can see them no more: but you can say, Tho their Grave is filled up, and I can∣not set mine Eyes upon them, yet methinks I see how there they lie, and how they do con∣sume: and if you had an Eye of Faith, which makes things to come as if they were present, you might say, Methinks I see their Bodies raised; methinks I see how beautiful, how power∣ful, how glorious they be; methinks I see them shining as the Sun; if you did, would not this delight your thoughts, stop your excessive Tears, and remove your immoderate sorrow? but if you are purblind and cannot see afar off, your sorrow will be nearer.