bably capable of completer Perception and Action, and confequently of higher Degrees of Reward or Punishment, in that State, than a separate one; or at least will be fo, with fuch a Body, as in the next Life shall be allotted to it and likewife that our Belief of enjoying Happiness, or fuffering Misery, in both Parts of our Frame hereafter, muft naturally incline us to preferve the Purity of both here: abftaining, or cleanfing our→ felves, from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, and perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God'.

The Truth and Reasonableness of the Doctrine being thus eftablished; it ought to be no Objection, that feveral Particulars relating to it exceed our Comprehenfion. How the dead are raifed, it is fufficient that God knows; and by no Means wonderful, that we do not: for we fcarce know, how any one Part of the Course of Nature is carried on. And as to the Inquiry, that follows this in St. Paul, With what Bodies do they come? we are taught, they fhall be fo far the fame Bodies, that every one thall have properly his own, and be truly the fame Perfon he was before: but fo far different, that thofe of good Perfons will be subject to none of the Sufferings, none of the Infirmities, none of the Neceffities of this: Life. For, to ufe the fame Apoftle's Words, What is fown in Corruption, fhall be raised in Incorruption: what is fown in Difhonour, fhall be raised in Glory: what is foun a natural Body, fhall be raised a spiritual Body. But the particular Nature of fpiritual Bodies, or the Distinction that fhall be made in them, between the more eminent in Goodness and their inferiors, as one Star differeth from another Star in Glory; thefe Things we are not qualified, in our prefent State, to understand. And it is fome Degree of Weakness, even to afk Questions about them: but would be much greater, to attempt giving Answers. I fhall therefore only add, that fuch of the good, as are found alive at the coming of the Lord", shall not fleep,

or die, and therefore cannot rife again; but shall be changed into the fame Likeness with those who do: as the Scripture hath plainly taught us. But what the Appearance and Condition of the Bodies of wicked Perfons will be at the Refurrection, it hath not, I think, afforded us the leaft Knowledge, further than is implied in the Description of their Punishment, of which I fhall treat before I conclude: and let us be fo wife, as to dread the Terrors, that are thus concealed from us.

Concerning the general Judgment, which is to come immediately after the Refurrection, I have spoken under the Article of the Creed, which relates to it: and therefore proceed now to the Confequences of that Judgment, by fhewing you,

III. That both the Souls and Bodies of the pious and virtuous will enjoy everlasting Life: that is, in their Cafe, Happiness. For a happy Life being the only one, that is a Bleffing: Life, in Scripture, very commonly fignifies Felicity; and Death, Mifery.

Now that good Perfons will, fooner or later, be recompensed by a good God, is an undoubted Truth. But then as no one is perfectly good, and many have been very bad: there is Room for much Doubt, who hath a Right to apply this Comfort to himself, and who not. But what Reafon might be at a Lofs to determine, the Scripture hath cleared up ;" and entitled all to Pardon and Reward, who truly repent of their Sins; and fincerely, though not without Mixtures of human Frailty, obey God, from a Principle of Faith in Chrift, and in Reliance on the Grace of the Holy Ghoft. Still, after this, Reafon unaffifted can only guefs, of what Nature, of what Degree, of what Duration, this Reward will be. And here once more Reve lation interpofes, and most happily enlightens us,

For

Eye hath not feen, nor Ear heard, neither have entered into the Heart of Man, the Things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by bis Spirit. Not that any exact Account is given us, of

• I Cor. xv. 51.

PI Cor. ii. 9, 10,

the

the Particulars, that shall make up our future Blifs: for in all Probability we are not capable of receiving fuch a One our prefent Faculties are not fitted for it.

But however, in general, our Saviour tells us, we fhall be as the Angels of God in Heaven. Nay, his beloved Difciple St. John tells us, that though it doth not yet appear what we fhall be, this we know, that when God Shall appear, we shall be like him. Now to be like God implies, in few Words, every Thing defirable, that ever fo many Words can exprefs. Further yet, a Voice from Heaven proclaims, in the Revelation, that we shall be free, in that State, from every Thing, that is uneafy: For God fhall wipe away all Tears from our Eyes, and there fhall be no more Death, nor Sorrow, nor Crying, neither fhall there be any more Pain. And Multitudes of Scriptures affure us, that we shall enjoy every Thing, that is delightful: for they use the nobleft and strongest Images, of all that in this World is great and fplendid, and capable of giving the moft exalted and moft refined Satisfactions, to reprefent that Happiness figuratively, which cannot be literally described.

t

Our vile Bodies fhall be fashioned like unto the glorious Body of our bleffed Lord: which, in his temporary Transfiguration here on Earth, fhone as the Sun, and his Raiment was white, as the Light". They fhall be freed from all Tendency to Decay or Disorder; and become unwearied Inftruments for every excellent Purpose, to that better Part, which they used to press down". They fhall doubtlefs alfo have fuch Gratifications allotted to them, as will fuit, though not their present grofs Nature, yet their future fpiritual Condition: and be adorned with all the Dignity and Beauty, that ought naturally to accompany abfolute Innocence, univerfal Love, divine Favour, and heavenly Joy.

Then for our Minds, when once the Spirits of just Men are made perfect, as they shall be, in every Thing

worthy and amiable: what Pleasure muft we take in meeting again the dear Objects of our former Affections, now become infinitely more deferving of them; in converfing with all the great and good Perfons that ever were, concerning the various Scenes of this prefent World, and the bleffed Exchange that we have made of it for a better in learning from them, and that innumerable Company of Angels", which minifter to God's Will, continually new Inftruction, concerning all his Works of Nature, Providence, and Grace! What furprifing Advances must we make by these Means in most pleasing Knowledge: what rapturous Engagements in mutual Friendship! Nor can it be queftioned but fuch Employments too, however beyond our Reach to guefs at them now, will be affigned to each Perfon, as fhall produce him high Honour, and equal Happiness. But above all Happiness will be that of inceffantly feeing and loving God, and feeling that we are beloved by him. Thus fhall we be abundantly fatisfied with the Fatnefs of his Houfe, and made to drink of the River of his Pleafures: for with him is the Fountain of Life", in his Prefence is Fulness of Foy, and at his right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore. Were we to have a Profpect, that our Felicity would end; the more exquifite our Enjoyments were, the more melancholy our Reflections might be. But in the Word of God we find repeated Affurances, that the righteous fhall go into Life eternal; that the Inheritance, referved in Heaven for us, is incorruptible, and fadeth not away. Nay indeed, as there will always be Room for finite Creatures, to advance without End towards him, who is infinite; and as every Improvement in Perfection must be of itself a fresh Delight, and will cer tainly be rewarded by our Maker with fresh Bounties, we have Reason to conclude, that our Happiness, far from ever ending, will be continually increafing to all Eternity.

y Heb. xii. 22. Matth. xxv. 46.

z Pfal. xxxvi. 8, 9.
< 1 Pet, i. 4.

Rom, ii. 7.

a Pfal. xvi. 11,

It

It is true, the greatest, the ableft, the best of us merit no fuch Bleffednefs: far from it. But ftill, what God only wife hath not thought too much to promife, the meaneft and moft ignorant may humbly expect. They are as capable, as others, of Love and Duty to him, Goodwill to their Fellow-creatures, and moral Government of themfelves. Now thefe are the Things which he values; the true Seeds of future Blifs: and whoever cultivates them faithfully, will be fure to reap their Fruit, each in Proportion to his Improvement. And thus every one fhall be happy to the Height of his Capacity: neither defpifing those below him, nor envying thofe above him. But, though we ought to dwell upon this most delightful and useful Subject, in our Thoughts, much more than we do, we must now turn our Eyes from it to a very different View, fet before us.

IV. That the Souls and Bodies of the wicked fhall undergo everlasting Punishment.

This, it must be owned, is not explicitly mentioned in the Creed. And God had rather, that we should be moved to obey him by Love, and Hope of his Favour, than by Fear of his Anger. But both Motives are implied in this Article. For though Life in Scripture more efpecially means Happiness; yet its original Senfe is only Continuance in Being, whether happy or miferable : and as the wicked are raifed, and judged, in order to fuffer what they have deferved, fo they must live afterwards for the fame Purpose.

That Difobedience to God can never end well, is the plaineft Truth in the World: for Nothing is hid from his Knowledge, Nothing can efcape his Power: he is holy as well as good; befides that Goodness itself requires, the incorrigibly bad to be made Examples, for the Sake of deterring others. Yet left, after all, they fhould promise themfelves that he will fpare them, he hath folemnly and repeatedly declared, that he will not. In this World however, many fuch come off, to all

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d Rom, xvi. 27. 1 Tim. i. 17. Jude, verfe 25.
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Ap