A Golden Chain

But let us see what reasons may be alleged to the contrary. First it is alleged that the resurrection of bodies resolved to dust and ashes, is against common sense and reason. Ans. It is above reason but not against reason. For if impotent and miserable men, as experience showeth, can by art even of ashes make the most curious workmanship of glass, why may we not in reason think, that the omnipotent and everliving God is able to raise mens bodies out of the dust. Secondly it is said, that mens bodies being dead are turned into dust, and so are mingled with the bodies of beasts and other creatures, and one mans body with another, and that by reason of this confusion, men can not possibly rise with their own bodies. Ans. Howsoever this is impossible with men; yet it is possible with God. For he that in the beginning was able to create all things of nothing, is much more able to make every mans body at the resurrection of his own matter, and to distinguish the dust of mens bodies from the dust of beasts, and the dust of one mans body from another. The goldsmith by his art can sunder divers metals one from another: & some men out of one metal can draw another, why then should we think it unpossible for the almighty God to do the like? It may be further objected thus: A man is eaten by a wolf, the wolf is eaten by a Lyon, the Lyon by the fowls of the air, & the fowls of the air eaten again by men: again one man is eaten of another, as it is usual among the Cannibals. Now the body of that man which is turned into so many substances, especially into the body of another man, cannot rise again: and if the one doeth the other doeth not. Ans. This reason is but a cavil of mans brain: for we must not think, that whatsoever entereth into the body, and is turned into the substance thereof, must rise again and become a part of the body at the day of judgement; but every man shall then have so much substance of his own as shall make his body to be entire and perfect: though another mans flesh once eaten be no part thereof. Again it is urged, that because flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom of God: therefore the bodies of men shall not rise again. Ans. By flesh and blood, is not meant the bodies of men simply,¹ but the bodies of men as they are in weakness, without glory, subject to corruption.

But let vs see what reasons may bee alleadged to the contrarie. First it is alleadged that the resurrection of bodies resolued to dust and ashes, is against common sense and reason. Ans. It is aboue reason but not against reason. For if impotent and miserable men, as experience sheweth, can by art euen of ashes make the most curious workmanship of glasse, why may wee not in reason think, that the omnipotent and euerliuing God is able to raise mens bodies out of the dust. Secondly it is said, that mens bodies beeing dead are turned into dust, and so are mingled with the bodies of beasts and other creatures, and one mans bodie with another, and that by reason of this confusion, men can not possibly rise with their owne bodies. Ans. Howesoeuer this is impossible with men; yet it is possible with God. For he that in the beginning was able to create all things of nothing, is much more able to make euery mans bodie at the resurrection of his owne matter, and to distinguish the dust of mens bodies from the dust of beasts, and the dust of one mans bodie from another. The goldsmith by his art can sunder diuers mettals one frō another: & some men out of one mettall can drawe another, why then should we thinke it vnpossible for the almightie God to doe the like? It may bee further obiected thus: A man is eaten by a woolfe, the woolfe is eaten by a Lyon, the Lyon by the foules of the aire, & the foules of the aire eaten againe by men: againe one man is eaten of another, as it is vsuall among the Cannibals. Nowe the bodie of that man which is turned into so many substances, especially into the bodie of another man, cannot rise againe: and if the one doeth the other doeth not. Ans. This reason is but a cauill of mans braine: for wee must not thinke, that whatsoeuer entreth into the bodie, and is turned into the substance thereof, must rise againe and become a part of the bodie at the daie of iudgement; but euery man shall then haue so much substance of his owne as shall make his bodie to be entire and perfect: though another mans flesh once eaten bee no part thereof. Againe it is vrged, that because flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdome of God: therefore the bodies of men shall not rise againe. Ans. By flesh and blood, is not meant the bodies of men simply,