Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/d_400.lzh/D_436.TXT

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+36                                 OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.

BOOK VII.

other doctrines of the gospel depend, as well as the
faith, hope, and comfort of the saints, 1 Cot. xv. 13
--19. it should be held fast, abode by, and defended
to the uttermost. The resurrection to be treated of is
not a figurative one; neither civil, like that of the
Jews restoration from captivity, represented by a re-
surrection, Ezek. xxxvii. nor spiritual, as the resur-
rection of the soul from the death of sin to a life of
grace: but the resurrectio.n of the body, in a literal
sense, the quickening 'of mortal bodies; and not a par-
ticular resurrection, or a resurrection of particular per-
sons; of which there are instances both in the Old and
New Testament; but the universal resurrection; the
resurrection of men, both just and unjust; of which,
I. I shall give the proof from t.he sacred writings.
It appears to have been the faith of the saints in all
ages, according to the scripture account of them. It
was the faith of Abraham, the father of the faithful,
Heb. xi. 19. Rein. iv. 17--20. and of Joseph, as ap-
pears by the orders he gave concerning his bones, and
his carefulness about the interment of them, Heb. xi.
2.9,9. and of Moses, in celebrating the divine perfec-
tions in his song, Dent. xxxii. 39. with which words
the mother of the seven brethren, who suffered mar-
tyrdom in the times of the Maccabees, animated them
while suffering {}; and of Hannah, in her song, ex-
pressed in much the same language, and more ex-
plicit, I Sam. ii. 6. This was the faith of Job, which
he expresses, not only in the famous text hereafter to
be considered, chap. xix. 25---27. hut also in chap. xiv.
12, 14, 15. And likewise of David, who not only
speaks of the resurrection of Christ, when personallug
him, Psalm xvi. 10. but in his last words, where he
expresses his strong faith of his complete salvation, of
soul and body, in the everlasting covenant, 2 Sam.
xxv. 1, 5. And also of Isaiah, and other prophets, who
speak of the resurrection of Christ, and his people with
him; which they either expressly make mention of, or
allude unto, when they foretel figurative resurrections,
Isa. xxvi. 19. Hos. vi. 1, '2. Ezek. xxxvii. 11--14. Dan.
xii. 2. This was the faith of those who suffered mar-
tyrdom in the times of the Maccabees, who refused
deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrec-
tion, even the resurrection of the just, Heb. xi. 35. see
2 Maccab. vi. 26. and vii. 11. And this was the faith of
the Jewish fathers and of all the old testament saints,
Acts xxvi. 6, 7, 8. Heb. xi. 13. This was the faith of
Christ and his apostles, as declared in the writings oil
the New Testament; to give the whole compass of
the proof of this would be to transcribe a very consi-
derable part of them. The doctrine of the resurrec-
tion of the dead will admit of proof from scripture
types; as the deliverance of Isaac from death; from
whence Abraham received him in a figure: the bud-
ding and blossoming of Aaron's dry rod, thought by
sonte to be an emblem of it: the reviving of the dry
bones in Ezekiel's vision; but especially Jonah's lying
three {lays and tin'co nights in the whalers belly, and
his deliverance from it. However, if God could save
Isaac when so near death; cause a dry rod to bud,
blossom, and bring forth almonds; make dry bones to

Joseph. de Maccabmis, s. 20.
Vid~ Menassch Ben Israel de Resurrect. !. 1. c. 3, s. 6.

live; and deliver Jonah out of the whale's belly, it
need not be questioned that God can raise the dead.
To which may be added, the several instances of par-
ticular persons raised from the dead; as the widow of
Sarepta's son, by Elijah; the child of tire Shunamite,
by Elisha; and the man cast into Iris sepulchre on the
touch of his bones; those who came out of their graves
at our Lord's resurrection, and who were raised by
him in his lifetime; as the daughter of Jairus, the wi-
dow of Naim's son, and Lazarus; Dorcas by Peter;
and Eutychus by the apostle Paul: an.d if these parti-
cular resurrections are to be credited, as doubtless they
are, then the resurrection of all the dead need not be
thought incredible, But this doctrine may be further
proved,
First, From express passages of scripture. As,.
1. From Gen. iii. 15. which gives the first intimation
of the Messiah and his work, which was to bruise the
serpent's head, to destroy the devil and all his works;
among which, death, the effect of sin, is a principal
one. This Christ has abolished in himself' by raising
himself from the dead; and will abolish it in his mem-
bers, and even in all men, by the resurrection of them
at the last day; when, and not before, all that is meant
in the above passage will be accomplished, I Cor. xv.
21, 54.-    2. From Exod. iii. 6. produced by Christ
himself in proof of this doctrine; As touching the re-
surrection of the dead, says he, have you not read that
which was spoken to you by God; saying, ] am the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
God is not the God of the dead but of the living ? Matt.
xxii. 31, 32. Let it be observed, that it is not said,
I was, Or will be; but, I am the God. of Abraham, &c.
which, as it relates to covenant interest, respects a
covenant in being, and an abiding one, even the cove-
nant of grace; which is concerned, not only with the
souls of men, but their bodies also, their whole per-
sons; wherefore, as the souls of the above patriarchs
now live with God, who is the God of the living only,
in the enjoyment of the promised good; it is necessary
their bodies should be raised from the dead, that, with
their souls, they may enjoy the everlasting glory and
happiness promised in the covenant; or otherwise, it
would not appear to be ordered in all things and sure.
-    3. From Job xix. 25, &c. I know that my Re-
deemer liveth, &c. None of the Jewish writers {}, in-
deed, understood these words of a real, but of a figu-
rative resurrection; and suppose, a deliverance from
his afflicted state, and a restoration of him to his for-
mer health, henour, and happiness, is meant; in which
sense they have been followed by some learned Chris-
tian interpreters {}; at which the Socinians {} have gree-
dily catched: but Job's restoration is not expressed by
such phrases as here used; see chap. xlii. lo, 12. and
against this sense may be observed, that Job was so far
fi'om any faith, hope, and expectation of such a resto-
ration, that he utterly despaired of it; see chap. vi. 11.
and vii. 7, 8. and x. 20. and xvi. 22,. and xvii. 1, 14. 15.
and even he expresses the same in this very chapter,
v 10, 11. Besides something of greater moment seems
to be meant, as the solemn preface showS; 0 that my

Calvin. Mercer, &c.
Enjedinus, p. 51. Volkel. de Refig. ver. 1.3. c. 11. p. 59~ 60o