Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What shall be the conditions and qualities of the bodies that rise againe?

Six especially are reciteda 1.1.

1. Immortalitie, for of mortall, such as they are now, they shal be made immortall.

2. Incorruption, of corruptible they shall become incorrupti∣ble, it is sowne a bodie subiect to corruption, it is raised in vn∣corruption.

3. Spiritualnesse, for of liuing creatures, that is of such as are quickned with an humane soule, and are maintained in this natu∣rall and fraile life with outward succors, as meats, and other means ordained of God, they shall be madeb 1.2 spirituall, not in essence, but in condition or qualitie, & by partaking of the gifts of the spirit. 1. Because they shal be altogether ruled by the holy spirit. 2. Because they haue wholly giuen themselues to the gouernment of the same spirit. 3. Because being vpheld by the power of God they haue no neede of meates, or other helps, because they shall be en∣dewed with an exquisite, fine, and sharp intelligence of the senses, it is sowne a naturall body, it is raised vp a spirituall bodie.

4. Strength: for of being weake, and subiect to sundry calami∣ties, sicknesse and sorrowes, they shall be made firme, strong, not subiect to any perturbation, and able: for it is sowne in weaknes, but shall rise in strength, and the soule shall so perfectly rule ouer the bodie, that heauinesse and weight shall be no hinderance thereto, whereby it shall come to passe, that we shall be rapt with such a nimble motion of our bodies, to meet the lord in the aire. 1. Th. 4.17 5. Perfection: for of being deformed, altogether full of vnclean∣nesse, lame, and filthy to behold, they shall rise very beautifull, comely to behold, very seemely, wanting no limme, not young as children, nor decrepit with yeares, but of a ful age, ripe and strong as also the bodies of Infants that die in their mothers wombe shal by that wonderfull worke of God receiue (as Austin witnesseth) such a body as in time they should haue had,* 1.3 & that of a perfect stature, without vse, but not without difference of Sexesc 1.4, namely such as were the bodies of the first man and woman before the

fall, without any blemish or deformitied 1.5: (for seeing the resurrec∣tion is a certaine new creation, or reformation, it is meete, that it should be conformable to the former, and therefore very good, that is perfect in it kinde) and chiefly such as is the body of Christ, to whō the bodies of the godly shal be made like, but not equale 1.6.

6. Clearnesse, brightnesse, and glory, or excellencie & beautie: for the bodies of the iust shal be cloathed with heauenly glorie, & diuine beauty, as with a robe, although by distinct degrees, as it is said. 1. Cor. 15.40 The glory of the heauenly bodies is one, and the glo∣rie of the earthly bodies is another, &c. and Dan. 12.3. & by the words of Christ. Mat. 13.43. comparing them to the brightnesse of the Sun, & affirming that the Saints shall be like the Angels,* 1.7 Mat. 22.30. it is concluded, that they shall be bright or cleare, yet without preiudice to their substance, & quantity,* 1.8 which is a continuall ac∣cident to a bodily nature.

But the bodies of the vniust shall rise againe immortall, and in∣corruptible indeede, and yet subiect to suffer: because they shall be vexed with vnmeasurable torments and sorrowes, and shall cō∣tinually remaine on liue without food and other helps, that be∣sides their intent, they may suffer due punishment (saith Hierome) in hell, in eternall reproach, and without light holden vnder infer∣nall darknesse, bound hand and foote in weeping and wailing. Yet must we not dispute curiously of the manner and forme of the resurrection, beyond the word of God.

Notes

• a 1.1

  1. Cor. 15 32.43.53
• b 1.2

  Gen. 1.29.40 1 Tim. 4.3
• * 1.3

  Lib 12. Cap. 13. de. ciuit. Dei
• c 1.4

  Math. 22.30
• d 1.5

  Gen. 225 &. 3.7
• e 1.6

  1. Cor. 15.40
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.