When the seed appears above ground again, it appears much more fresh and orient than when it was cast into the earth. God clothes it with such beauty, that it is not like ⟨p. 103⟩to what it was before. Thus rise the bodies of Saints, marvellously improved, beautified and perfected with spiritual qualities and rich endowments; in respect whereof they are called spiritual bodies, I Cor. 15. 43. not properly, but analogically spiritual; for look as spirits subsist without food, raiment, sleep, know no lassitude, weariness or pain; so our bodies after the resurrection shall be above these necessities and distempers; for we shall be as the Angels of God, Mat. 22. 30. Yea, our vile bodies shall be changed, and made like unto Christs glorious body; which is the highest pitch, and ascent of glory and honour, that an humane body is capable of, Phil. 3. 21. Indeed the glory of the soul shall be the greatest glory; that's the orient invaluable gem; but God will bestow a distinct glory upon the body, and richly enamel the very case in which that precious jewel shall be kept. In that glorious morning of the resurrection, the Saints shall put on their new fresh suits of flesh, richly laid and trimmed with glory. Those bodies which in the grave were but dust and rottenness, when it delivers them back again, shall be shining and excellent pieces, absolutely and everlastingly freed. (1) From all natural infirmities and distempers; death is their good Physician, which at once freed them of all diseases. 'Tis a great Affliction now to many of the Lord's people, to be clogged with so many bodily infirmities which render them very unserviceable to God. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. A crazy body retorts and shoots back its distempers upon the soul with which it is so closely conjoined; but though now the soul (as Theophrastus speaks) pays a dear rent for the Tabernacle in which it dwells, yet when death dissolves that Tabernacle, all the diseases and pains under which it groaned shall be buried in the rubbish of its mortality; and when they come to be re-united again, God will bestow rich gifts and dowries, even upon the body, in the day of its re-espousals to the soul. (2) It shall be freed from all deformities, there are no breaches, flaws, monstrosities in glorified bodies; but of them it may much rather be said, what was once said of Absalom, 2 Sam. 14. 25.
When the seed appears above ground again, it appears much more fresh and orient than when it was cast into the earth. God cloaths it with such beauty, that it is not like ⟨p. 103⟩to what it was before. Thus rise the bodies of Saints, marvellously improved, beautified and perfected with spiritual qualities and rich endowments; in respect whereof they are called spiritual bodies, I Cor. 15. 43. not properly, but analogically spiritual; for look as spirits subsist without food, ra•ment, sleep, know no lassitude, weariness or pain; so our bodies after the resurrection shall be above these necessities and distempers; for we shall be as the Angels of God, Mat. 22. 30. Yea, our vile bodies shall be changed, and made like unto Christs glorious body; which is the highest pitch, and ascent of glory and honour, that an humane body is capable of, Phil. 3. 21. Indeed the glory of the soul shall be the greatest glory; that's the orient invaluable jem; but God will bestow a distinct glory upon the body, and richly enammel the very case in which that precious jewel shall be kept. In that glorious morning of the resurrection, the Saints shall put on their new fresh suits of flesh, richly laid and trimmed with glory. Those bodies which in the grave were but dust and rottenness, when it delivers them back again, shall be shining and excellent pieces, absolutely and everlastingly freed. (1) From all natural infirmities and distempers; death is their good Physician, which at once freed them of all diseases. 'Tis a great Affliction now to many of the Lord's people, to be clog'd with so many bodily infirmities which render them very unserviceable to God. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. A crazy body retorts and shoots back its distempers upon the soul with which it is so closely conjoyned; but though now the soul (as Theophrastus speaks) payes a dear rent for the Tabernacle in which it dwells, yet when death dissolves that Tabernacle, all the diseases and pains under which it groaned shall be buried in the rubbish of its mortality; and when they come to be re-united again, God will bestow rich gifts and dowries, even upon the body, in the day of its re-espousals to the soul. (2) It shall be freed from all deformities, there are no breaches, flaws, monstrosities in glorified bodies; but of them it may much rather be said, what was once said of Absalom, 2 Sam. 14. 25.
