Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

Object. 2. * 1.1 If a new Creation of compleat Bodies of the same Dust, and Elements, should be conceived, or admitted, it is incredible that God should create any corrupt, sinful, or polluted Bodies thereof, for perpetual Torments, seeing his Works are pure; and as incredible that he should make a pure Body to be invested with the former evil habit of Sin and Corruption, for perpetual Torment in Hell-fire. And to be sure, the first Elements, or Dust of dissol∣ved Bodies, is as pure as at the first.

Answ. 1. To concess a little. The word Creation, as used in the Scriptures, does not always signifie the making of another Substance, but often intend only a renewing of the same thing. Ephes. 2. 10. We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature. Psal. 51. Create in me a clean Heart. Here the Creature is still the same Man, and the Heart the same Flesh, but freed from those gross Impurities which sometimes had dominion over them, and endowed with vertuous principles and qualifications of Holi∣ness and Righteousness. Let the word Creation be taken after this man∣ner in our present Question, and it will not at all prejudice our Doctrine of the Resurrection. Nor will it be any incredible thing that God should thus create, or restore the same Substance, devoid of Mortality and all Imperfections which once oppressed it, and confer perfections upon it of Immortality, and eternal Life and Glory.

2. God never did create any corrupt, or sinful Bodies, as such; nei∣ther do we read that the Bodies of the Wicked shall be invested by God, (or otherwise) with the former evil habit of Sin, but rather lie under perpetual Conviction. Luke 16. 27, 28. I pray thee, Father Abraham, send Lazarus, &c. For I have five Brethren, that he may testifie unto them, lest they come into this place of Torment. The Wicked therefore shall be raised, and made capable to suffer for the Sins they committed against God, in the day of Grace, Jude Epist. ver. 15. &c.

3. It is very wicked to say, that the Bodies of Wicked Men being

turned to Dust are as pure from Sin, as the Elements were at the first, (which is the sense of this Quaker). And might not any Man as groundlesly say, That the Body of a wicked Whoremonger is as pure from Sin within one day after it is dead, as within a thousand Days? Does length of Time, or the dissolving a Body of Flesh into Dust, take away its Sin? This conceit is incredible, and not yet demonstrated by the Quaker.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Whitehead.