N29704:160
Meditations on the glory of the heavenly world. I. On the happiness of the…
Meditations on the glory of the heavenly world. I. On the happiness of the soul of believers, at the instant of their separation from their bodies. II. On the glory of the bodies of God's children, in the resurrection world, when they shall be as the angels of heaven. III. On the glory of both soul and body in the heaven of heavens, after the Day of Judgment, to all eternity. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of quotations]
Boston in N.E. printed: : Sold by Timothy Green in Middle Street., 1711
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
[2.] The Children of the Resurrection cannot dye. So it is said in the Text before us: Neither can they dye any more. It is on this account especially that they are said to be Equal with the Angels, viz. In respect of a blessed Immortality. It is to be affirmed of Angels, not only that they shall not, but that they cannot dye. It is said of the Immortal Souls of men that they cannot be killed; much more may it be said of Angels, they cannot be killed. God who made them is able to Annihilate them, but they cannot dye: they cannot be resolved into pre-existent Principles, because they were not made out of such. In this World there is not a man but what shall dye: What man is he that liveth and shall not see death? But in the Resurrection World there is not one that shall dye. They who were Mortal in this World, become Immortal in that World. There it is that Mortality is swallowed up of Life, 2 Cor. 5.4. So are the Children of the Resurrection, ⟨p. 135⟩as the Angels of heaven. Some may say, but is it not said of the blessed God, That He only has Immortality, 1 Tim. 6.16. Ans. It is most true, that He only has Immortality Originally. He only has Immortality from Himself: but Angels have Immortality by the Gift of God. They are not subject to any decay of Nature as Mortal Creatures are. Notwithstanding they have lived more than five Thousand years, they are as strong and vigorous as ever they were, without any the least decay. So shall it be with the Children of the Resurrection. There they Eat of the Tree of Life, the meaning of which, is, that the Gift of Immortality is conferred on them, Rev. 2.7. But of this further under the next Demonstration of the Proposition before us; Which is,
2. That the Resurrection body will be adorned with very glorious Properties, in respect whereof wonderful will be the Happiness of the Children of God, in the Resurrection World. The Apostle mentions Four Properties of the Resurrection Body, which we shall a little insist on, and enquire into.