10.

And to some of the Philosophers he appeared to be a Ch.xvii. 18. Setter-forth of strange Gods, because he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection. The same Apostle 2 Cor. v. assures the Corinthians, that we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ, that every one may receive the Things donc in the Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. He Ch. iii. 21. tells the Philippians, that the Lord Jesus Christ shall change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body. He describes the Man1 Thess. iv. ner of the Resurrection to the Thessalonians, that the Dead in Christ shall rise first; and with the 1 Cor. xv. Corinthians, he argues from the Certainty of Christ's Resurrection to the Necessity of ours. These Texts sufficiently prove that the Resurrection of the Body was delivered as a necessary Article of Faith from the Beginning of Christianity, and that it is still the Expectation of the Faithful; for if the Dead rise not, Christians are of all Men most miserable.

16.

Mark v.

42.

Luke vii. 15. John xi. 44.

Acts xxiv. 15.

Q. What Instances in the New Testament exemplify this Truth?

A. The three Instances under the Law are equalled by three recorded in the Gospel. Our Saviour restored to Life the Ruler of the Synagogue's Daughter; he had Compassion on the Widow of Nain, and raised up her only Son that was dead; and after that his Friend Lazarus had been dead and buried four Days, he restored him to Life again in the Presence of many of the Jews, who thereupon believed on him. But all these Instances were exceeded in our Saviour's own Resurrection, which so infinitely manifested his Power and Glory.

Q. Who shall rise at the last Day?

A. The Resurrection will be universal; all Mankind that have laid down their Bodies, and committed them to the Grave, shall receive them again; there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead; as St. Paul says, both of the Just and Unjust. This is evident from the whole Series of the Gospel, from the famous Description of the last Judgment given by our

Saviour, and from those Texts of Scripture that prove a Resurrection before mentioned.

Q. What are those advantageous Qualities that the Bodies of good Christians shall be invested withal at the Resurrection?

A. Our Bodies, now liable to Pains, Diseases, and Death, shall die no more, but shall be equal unto Luke xx. the Angels; like them they shall become immortal36. in their Duration, and consequently freed from all those troublesome Accidents to which they are now exposed: For the Reward being eternal, the Subject of it must be eternal too. It is sown in Corruption, it is raised in Incorruption,

Phil. iii.

1 Cor. xv.

Our Bodies, now vile and corruptible, subject to Filth and Deformity, shall be raised glorious, splendid, and bright; they shall shine like the Sun, and Mat. xiii. shall be fashioned like to the glorious Body of our 43. blessed Saviour. Which is credible from the Relation 21. so often mentioned in Scripture between Christ and all true Christians, he being the Head, and they the Members: and from the mighty Power he will exert for the effecting of this Change, it being according to the working of that mighty Power Phil. iii. whereby he is able to subdue all Things to himself. 21. It is sown in Dishonour, it is raised in Glory. 43. Our Bodies, now subject to Weariness by Labour, to Impotency by Wasting and Diseases, to Decays by Age, shall be raised nimble, strong, and active; they shall be able to follow the Lamb whither-Rev. xiv. 4. soever he goeth; they shall be endowed with such Strength and Vigour, as shall support them for ever in the same State, without any Change or Decay. It is sown in Weakness, it is raised in Power. Our Bodies, now acted only by animal and vital Spirits, shall then be possessed and acted by the Holy Spirit; and being now chiefly fitted for the Operations of Flesh and Blood, and affected with the natural Sensations of Pleasure and Pain, shall be then so refined, as to become proper Instruments for the Operations of our Minds, to which they

Mat. xxv. 41.

shall be no longer a Clog and Impediment as they
are in this Life, but shall serve them and depend
upon them.
It is sown a natural Body; but it is
raised a spiritual Body.

Q. What Kind of Bodies shall the Wicked have at the Resurrection?

A. Their Bodies shall be immortal, that they may be fitted for that eternal Punishment they have drawn upon themselves, wherein they will always suffer without_consuming; Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting Fire?

Q. What Influence ought the Belief of the Resurrection of the Body to have upon us?

A. It should make us reverence ourselves, and not pollute our Bodies, these Temples of the Holy Ghost, with sensual and brutish Lusts, but by Purity and Sobriety to prepare them for that Honour and Happiness they are designed for. It should support us under those Miseries and Infirmities our Bodies are subject to in this Life; since, when we take them up again, they shall be no more liable to Pains, or Diseases, or to Dissolution; for Death will be swallowed up in Victory. It should mortify in us. all sensual Satisfactions, that our Bodies may become obedient and tractable to the Motions of God's Holy Spirit. It should comfort us upon the Death of our Friends and Relations, who are not perished, but fallen asleep, and shall awake again in greater Perfection and Glory. It should arm us against the Fear of our own Death, since we are assured, that, after our Bodies are crumbled into Dust, and become the Food of Worms, they shall be quickened at the general Resurrection, and be changed and made glorified Bodies. Above all, it should make us exercise ourselves to keep our Consciences void of Offence both to God and Man, that we may not forfeit that blessed Immortality of our whole Man, Body, and Soul, which our blessed Saviour hath promised to all those that persevere in his Service to the End of their Days.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

Effects of

Resurrec

tion.

ALMIGHTY God, who through thy only begot- For the ten Son Jesus Christ, hast overcome Death, and blessed opened unto us the Gate of everlasting Life; I Christ's humbly beseech thee, that as, by thy special Grace in preventing me, thou dost put into my Mind good Desires, so by thy continual Help I may bring the same to good Effect, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, World without End. Amen.

II.

I BELIEVE, O victorious Jesu, that by the Virtue Bp. Kenn. of thy Resurrection all the Dead shall rise, bad as Profession well as good: all Glory be to thee, by whom Faith in Death is swallowed up in Victory.

I believe, O Almighty Jesu, that by thy Power all shall rise with the same Bodies they had on Earth; that thou wilt re-collect their scattered Dust into the same Form again; that our Souls shall be re-united to our Bodies; that we shall be judged both in Body and Soul for the Sins committed by both; that the Bodies of the Wicked shall be fitted for Torment, and the Bodies of the Saints changed in Quality, and made glorified Bodies, immortal and incorruptible, fitted for Heaven, and eternally to love and enjoy thee, for which glorious Vouchsafemeut I will always praise and love thee. Amen.

III.

of our

the Resur

rection.

Resurrec

ALMIGHTY God, whose Works are great and For a marvellous, whose Ways are just and true; thou blessed art infinite in Power, and therefore Nothing is tion to impossible to thee; thou art abundant in Goodness eternal and Truth, and therefore whatever thou hast promised shall come to pass. Fit and prepare me,

N

Life.

O Lord, by the Assistance of thy Grace, for that blessed Immortality of Body and Soul, which thou hast made the Portion of all those that love and fear thee. Let me never defile my Body by sensual and brutish Lusts, since thou hast designed to make it immortal and incorruptible. Let me never sink under the Burthen of my present Infirmities and Miseries; since thou hast graciously promised to reward my Patience and Submission with a glorious Body, no more liable to Pains, or Diseases, or Dissolution. Let me not immoderately grieve for those Friends and Relations that sleep in the Lord, because they shall awake at the last Day in greater Perfection and Glory. Let not the Thoughts of Death be any longer uneasy to me, for that it reduceth my Body to Dust; I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand upon the Earth at the last Day; and though after my Skin, Worms destroy my Body, yet in my Flesh shall I see God. Oh, let these great and precious Promises so influeuce my Life and Conversation, that I may escape the Corruption that is in this World through Lust, and by purifying myself as thou art pure, may partake of the divine Nature in thy heavenly Kingdom, through the Merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

CHAP. XVIII.

ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST.

APRIL 25.

Q. WHAT Festival doth the Church celebrate this Day?

A. That of the Evangelist St. Mark.

Q. What mean you by an Evangelist?

A. The Name was at first given to all those that preached the Gospel. But afterwards it came to be confined to those Four that writ the History of the Life and Preaching of our Saviour Jesus Christ;