WEE are here met at this time to perform the laſt office of love for a worthy, reverend, and godly Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, Dr. Samuel Bolton Maſter of Chriſts Colledge in Cambridge; and this Text that I have choſen, will afford us many ſutable and ſeaſonable conſiderations for ſuch a meeting: for here you have, firſt, the condition that the bodies of men (even the beſt of men, the Saints of God) are in, in this life, they are vile bodies, the Greek is very emphaticall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , corpus vilitatis, that is, bodies of vileneſſe, or a vile body, the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ſignifies abjectam conditionem, a vile and abject condition, ſuch as is the condition of ſlaves or bondmen.

2. Here we have the condition that the bodies of the Saints ſhall be in at the glorious reſurrection of the Juſt, then their vile bodies ſhall be made like to the glorious body of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the body of vileneſſe ſhall then be the body of glory.

3. We have h •• e the perſons that ſhall be thus changed at the glorious reſurrection, and they are ſuch who have their converſations in heaven; Who ſhall change our, not every vile body, but our vile body, whoſe converſations are in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious body.

4. We have the perſon that ſhall do all this, and that perſon is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

5. The time when this ſhall be done, and that is at the great day of Judgement, from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who at that day when he comes to judge the world, ſhall change our vile bodies.

6. We have the means by which all this ſhall be accompliſhed, and that is, according to the working whereby he is able even to ſubdue all things unto himſelf, and therefore able to make this glorious transfiguration and transformation of our bodies.

You may perceive by what I have ſaid, that this Text is a Cabinet of many precious truths: here you have the Doctrine of the bodies fragility and vileneſſe; and the Doctrine of the bodies immortality and glorification at the reſurrection of the juſt. You have the Doctrine of the eternall day of judgement; you have the doctrine of the main deſign and end why Jeſus Chriſt will come to Judgement, one chief reaſon of it is, that he may change our vile bodies, and faſhion them like unto his glorious body.

My purpoſe is to pick out two of theſe jewels to ſpeak to at this time.

Firſt, I ſhall ſpeak of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , of the body of vileneſſe, or, the vile body: and then of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , of the body of glory.

1. That the bodies of the Saints as long as they are in this life, they are vile bodies.

2. That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt at the day of jugement ſhall raiſe up theſe vile bodies and make them formable to his glorious body.

1. That the bodies of the Saints in this life, they are bodies of vileneſſe: the holy Apoſtle foreſaw how prone men and women would be to be proud of the bodies and pamper their bodies, and ſpend their time and care about their bodies, even to the neglect of their precious ſouls, and therefore he is pleaſed to call our bodies vile bodies: and in 1 Cor. 25. 43. there he cals them bodies of diſhonour, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , bodies of diſhonour, or bodies of vileneſſe.

Object. Object. But you will ſay, In what reſpect may the body of a Saint be called a vile body?

Anſw. Anſw. The bodies of the Saints may be ſaid to be vile in regard of his primitive creation, before it was defiled with ſin; for the body of man was made of the duſt of the earth, ex pulvere terrae, not made of excellent materials, as ſilver and gold; nor of Celeſtial materials, as Sun, Moon and Stars, but of periſhing and contemptible materials, the body was made of duſt, of clay and muddy duſt, ex luto.

2. And more eſpecially ſince the fall of Adam, our bodies are called vile bodies, becauſe ſubject to vile diſeaſes; there is no diſeaſe ſo vile, but the body of a Saint is ſubject to it: take the example of Job, a man eminent in godlineſſe, yet his body full of ſores and boyles, from the crown of the head to the ſole of the foot; and he ſaies of himſelf in Job 7. 5. My fleſh is clothed with wormes, and clods of duſt, my skin is broken and become loathſome.

3. They may be ſaid to be vile becauſe ſubject to vile abominations, to vile wickedneſſes and impieties; for ſince the fall, our bodies are become the inſtruments of iniquity unto iniquity, unto drunkenneſſe and adultery, to murders, and theeveries, and idolatries, &c.

4. In the beſt of the Saints, their bodies are impediments to their nobler ſouls, and therefore the body is called vincula animi, the bonds and fetters of the ſoul, that hinders the ſoul from, and in heavenly operations.

5. The body may be ſaid to be vile in reference to its finall corruption and diſſolution; for when the ſoul is ſeparated from the body, then you will all ſay that the body is a vile putrified rotten ſtinking carkaſſe, turning to duſt, and eaten up of worms, that ſaies to corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worms, Thou art my mother and my ſiſter.

6. The body may be ſaid to be vile in compariſon of the precious ſoul; for the body▪ as one ſaies, is but the worſt half of the ſoul; it is half, but it is the worſt half; the body is but the cark • ſſe the ſhell, the box of the ſoul, Intus est quod homo eſt, it is the ſoul of a man that is the man of man; the ſoul is like an Angell dwelling in the body, as in a houſe of clay. The ſoul is not made of the duſt, as the body is, but the ſoul is made of the breath of God, ex ore Dei, (as one ſaies) not made of the eſſence of God, but of the breath of God; and therefore in that reſpect, in compariſon of the ſoul, the body may be ſaid to be a vile body.

7. And laſtly, the body may be ſaid to be vile in this life, in compariſon of what it ſhall be at the glorious reſurrection, for then it ſhall be a moſt glorious body conformable unto the glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt.

Now for the application of this, Ʋſe. let me beſeech you ſirs, that you would often and often meditate upon this appellation and epithet, that is here given unto our bodies, they are called vile bodies, vile when ſeparated from the ſoul, vile when united to to the ſoul, vile before the fall of man, but eſpecially vile ſince the fall of man; ſubject to vile diſeaſes and abominations: and one thing more which I forgot before, and that is, they are vile becauſe ſubject to be abuſed by wicked perſecutors, and by malicious tyrants, for though a tyrant cannot hurt the ſoul of a Saint, yet he may torment the body; and therefore in Heb. 11. it is ſaid of the holy Saints; that they underwent cruell mockings and ſcourgings, and bonds and impriſonment, and wandred up and down in ſheeps skins and goats skins, being deſtitute, afflicted and tormented: all which is underſtood of their bodies, and therefore vile bodies becauſe ſubject to be abuſed, and ſubject to all manner of wickedneſſes; but eſpecially vile in compariſon of the precious ſoul, and in reſpect of what their bodies ſhall be hereafter. Now let this meditation teach us theſe Leſſons.

1.Leſſon 1. Let this epithet teach you a leſſon of humility; the bodies you carry about you are vile bodies, let us not then be proud of them: Beza tranſlates the words, corpus humilitatis, a body of humility: on purpoſe it was that God made the body of the loweſt elements, that we might not be lifted up with pride of our bodies, but have a mean and low eſteem of them; and hence it is that the body in Scripture is compared to things that are very mean and contemptible, as to the graſſe of the field, to hay, and dry ſtubble, as in Job 13. 2. to a leaf driven to and fro with the winde: to a rotten thing, and to a garment that is moth-eaten, in the 28 verſe of this chapter, it is compared to ſuch mean things, that we might learn to have a mean eſteem of our bodies. Why art thou proud oh duſt and aſhes? what is thy handſome body, but gilded rottenneſse? what are all your riches and honours but heaps of dung and duſt? and God will ſhortly lay your honour in the duſt. Every bird makes her neſt of that thou are made of; every beaſt treads that under feet that thou art made of; every creeping thing diſpoſeth of that thou art made of; every blaſt of winde ſcatters that which thou art made of; and why then art thou proud oh duſt and aſhes? what is man but rottenneſſe and corruption, but worms meat?

I remember what I have once read in a manuſcript concerning a ſtone that was preſented to Alexander the Great, the nature of it was this, that being put into one part of the ballance, it weighed down what ever was put in the other part of it; but if a little duſt were caſt upon the ſtone, then every thing weighed down the ſtone; and he that brought the ſtone being demanded what he meant by it, he anſwered. Oh Alexander thou art this ſtone, thou whileſt thou liveſt, doeſt weigh down all that are againſt thee, and treadeſt down all before thee; but when thou comeſt to die, and there is a little duſt thrown upon thee, then every man will outweigh you, and then you will be leſſe then any man in the world.

Remember you are but duſt, duſt you are, and to duſt you muſt return, Oh therefore caſt duſt upon your beauty, caſt duſt upon your riches, caſt duſt upon your bodies, and be not proud of your vile bodies. This is one Leſſon of humility.

2.Leſſon 2. Here is from this Epithet, a Leſſon of mortification, this vile body of ours is ſubject to be abuſed by the Devill to vile abominations; and therefore now let us go to Jeſus Chriſt to get power to mortifie and crucifie this body of fleſh, this body of ſin that is in us; for we have a body of ſin, and that is it which makes this body of ours to be ſo vile, therefore I ſay let us bury our ſelves in the grave of Chriſt, that ſo we may draw mortifying graces from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that may tend to the ſubduing of our corruptions, and the luſts of our fleſh. Excellent is that expreſſion of the Apoſtle in 1 Cor. 9. 27. ſaies he, I keep under my body and bring it into ſubjection, leſt that by any means when I have preached to others I my ſelf ſhould be a caſt-away. Upon which words, S. Auguſtine hath this ſaying, if the great Ram of the flock (ſaies he) hath need to beat down his body to bring it into ſubjection, how much more ſhould we tender lambs uſe all means for the keeping of them under? the body is called (Jumentum animi) the beaſt of the ſoul, now when this beaſt begins to kick againſt the ſoul, we muſt labour to ſubdue it by fasting and prayer.

3.Leſſon 3. Let this epithet teach us a Leſſon of heavenly courage and fortitude, let us not fear what man can do unto us. Let us not fear what the worſt of men can do, for they can but kill this vile body; and therefore ſaies Chriſt, Fear not him that can but kill the body, and after that can do no more, they cannot reach the ſoul of a Saint, they can but hurt the body, and that is a vile body too, ſubject to a thouſand diſeaſes and abominations, and therfore why ſhould we fearwhat vile man can do againſt us, ſeeing they can only hurt this vile body, and when they have done all they can, this body in ſpite of them will riſe again, and this vile body will become a moſt glorious body? Oh let us not make ſhipwrack of a good conſcience, to ſave this vile body, Oh let us not deſtroy our ſouls to ſave this vile carkaſe in a good cauſe.

4.Leſſon 4. In the next place from this Epithet of vile body, let us learn this Leſſon, not to ſet the ſervant on horſe back, and let the Maſter go a foot; let us not prefer the handmaid before the Miſtreſſe, let us not prefer the box before the jewell, this vile body before our precious and immortall ſouls. The body is made of duſt, and who ever advanced duſt? we uſe to ſweep that away off from our cloathes, and out of our houſes; oh therefore let us not advance our bodies that are but duſt; the body without the ſoul is but a lump of clay, a rotten carkaſſe, doe not then preferre it before thy precious ſoul.

It is a ſad thing to conſider how moſt people, even thoſe that beleeve the Doctrine of the ſouls immortality, do ſpend the beſt of their time, and cares and affections upon theſe vile bodies, and in the mean time neglect to provide for their eternall ſouls. Give me leave to illuſtrate this by a ſimilitude, Suppoſe a man ſhould invite a Noble man to his houſe, and only provide provender for the noble mans horſes, without any proviſion at all for himſelf, only ſuch as his horſes feed on, would not this be a courſe entertainment? and yet this is the diſpoſition of moſt people in the world; the ſoul is this Nobleman, which dwels in this body of clay, as in a poor cottage, and we pamper our bodies, and provide provender for them, but take no care at all of our noble ſouls, we neglect them, our ſouls are never the richer for all our worldly wealth, nor are our ſouls the finer for all our golden clothes. I have read a prayer that I have oftentimes wondred at, and that is the prayer of S. John concerning Gaius, in 3 Joh. 2. he does there pray, that his body might proſper and be in health, even as his ſoul proſpered; if we ſhould make ſuch prayers for many of our people, we ſhould rather curſe them then pray for them, for if they had no better bodies then they have ſouls, they would have very leanbodies. You ſhould labour ſo to live that this prayer might be fit for you, that we might pray that God would proſper your bodies even as your ſoul proſpereth; let your chief part take up your chiefeſt care.

Once more in the fifth place,Leſſon 5. Let us from this Epithet learn a leſſon of thankfulneſſe; ſeeing our bodies are bodies of vileneſſe, then if God hath formed you into a more handſom or healthful body then other men, if God hath made any of us ex meliore luto, of better earth, if God hath made us golden veſſels in regard of our outward condition, if God hath raiſed any of us from the duſt, and ſet us in high places, eſpecially if God hath made us elect veſſels, veſſels of mercy in regard of our eternall condition, as I doubt not but there are many ſuch here: Oh give God a great deal of glory, and give God all the glory. If God hath made thy vile body an inſtrument of righteouſneſſe unto holineſſe, if God hath ſanctified it and made it a temple fit for the Holy Ghoſt to dwell in, then let me ſpeak to you in the language of the Holy Ghoſt;1 Cor. 6. 15, 19. & 3. 17. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Chriſt? will you take the members of Chriſt, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid▪ Know you not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you? and, if any man defile the Temple of God, him will God deſtroy. Will you abuſe that body that is the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, to ſin and iniquity? God forbid.

But I muſt paſſe from this point and come to the ſecond, which was, that our worthy and dear brother was very much refreſhed withall, and did often repeat in my hearing, and upon that account I made choice of this Text at this time. The ſecond obſervation then is this.

That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come down from heaven at the great day of Judgement,Doct. 2. and ſhall raiſe thoſe vile bodies of ours, and ſhall make them like unto his glorious body.

This Doctrine is an Alablaſter box full of precious conſolation, it was a great comfort and ſupport to our dear brother, when he was going out of the world; and oh that it might be a precious Cordiall to every one of us when we come to lie upon our death-beds!

I ſhall here by way of illuſtration, propound three ſhort queſtions, and then anſwer them.

Queſt. Queſt. 1. 1. What is that change that Chriſt ſhall make in our vile bodies at the glorious reſurrection?

Anſw. Anſw. God will not make a ſubſtantiall change of our bodies, but only of the quality of them; the ſame bodies that are now vile, ſhall then be glorious; that look as a piece of wool when it is dyed into a ſcarlet dye, yet it is the ſame wool for ſubſtance, though it be made more glorious; ſo likewiſe ſhall our bodies be at the reſurrection, they ſhall be the ſame bodies, only made more glorious; Mat. 22. They ſhall be bodies of glorification; we ſhall be made equall to the Angels, not in regard of eſſence, but in regard of qualities.

Chryſoſtome hath a fine ſimile to this purpoſe, (ſaies he) as a Goldſmith takes a little gold, and puts it into a refining pot, and melts it, and then out of that gold formes a golden veſſell fit to be ſet before Kings: ſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will melt the bodies of his Saints by death, and then out of their dead aſhes will form a veſſell of gold, a glorious body fit to live before God, and ſing Halelujahs in heaven to all eternity.

Queſt. Quest. 2. What kinde of transfiguration or tranſformation, ſhall our bodies have at that day? What is this metamorphoſis, this change? wherein doth it conſiſt?

Anſw.Anſw. It is impoſſible to ſet out thoſe glorious excellencies that God will beſtow upon our bodies at that great and glorious reſurrection. Augustine hath this expreſſion, ſaies he, How great the glory of our ſpirituall bodies ſhall be at that day, becauſe we have no experience of it, I am afraid it will be raſhneſſe for any man to ſpeak peremptorily about it.

If I had time, there are many places of Scripture I would crave leave to open to you concerning this, we ſhall at that day be made equall to the Angels: it is ſowen a corruptible body, but raiſed an incorruptible body: it is ſowen in diſhonour, it is raiſed in glory: it is ſowen in weakneſſe, it is raiſed in power: it is ſowen a naturall body, it is raiſed a ſpirituall body, &c. And many other places; but I ſhall confine my ſelf to the expreſſion here in the Text, Theſe vile bodies of ours ſhall be made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , conformable to the glorious body of Chriſt; and this is enough to ſet out the excellency of them; for the body of Chriſt now in heaven certainly is unexpreſſibly glorious, you have a ſpecification of this in his transfiguration, the face of Chriſt did ſhine as the Sun, in ſo much that Peter was ſwallowed up with the brightneſſe of that glory; and yet that was but a glimpſe of his glory now in heaven, Rev. 2. 2. There ſhall be no need of the Sun there, for the Lamb ſhall be the light of Heaven.

There are many Divines of opinion, that the brightneſſe that Paul ſaw when he was ſtruck dead off his horſe, was the brightneſſe of the body of Jeſus Chriſt; ſurely great is the glory of that body, now the bodies of the Saints ſhall be changed into the likeneſſe of the glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt.

Queſt. Queſt. 3. But how ſhall this be done?

Anſw. Anſw. My brethren, with man this is impoſſible: but with God nothing is impoſſible: my Text tels you how this ſhall be done, even according to the mighty working whereby he is able to ſubdue all things to himſelf. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt he is almighty, and therefore he is able to do it; and let me tell you this, our dear Brother did thrice repeat theſe words, according to his mighty power, his mighty power, even his mighty power, he is able to change this vile body of mine, and make it like unto his glorious body.

Object. Object. But ſhall all bodies be made thus glorious?

Anſw. Anſw. No, the bodies of the wicked ſhall riſe at the laſt day, but it ſhall be to their everlaſting ſhame and ruine and confuſion; the bodies of the wicked ſhall be immortall, but they ſhall be immortall fuell to immortall flames; the bodies of the wicked ſhall come out of the grave, as the Baker did out of priſon in Egypt, to be executed; they ſhall go out of priſon to the place of execution; out of the grave as out of priſon to be hung in chains for ever and ever; the wicked ſhall riſe, but their bodies in ſtead of being glorious ſhall be loathſome and abominable.

Object. Object. But what is the Character of thoſe men and women whoſe bodies ſhall be made thus glorious at that day?

Anſw.Anſw. There is one Character of them in the Text, if thou art one that haſt thy converſation in heaven, then thy body ſhall be glorious. For our converſation is in heaven from whence alſo we look for a Saviour the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall change our vile bodies, and make them like to his glorious body, &c.

If thou beeſt a man that mindeſt earthly things, if thou art an Epicure and voluptuous, and given over to fulfill the deſires of the fleſh and of the minde, thy body ſhall riſe, but it ſhall riſe to the reſurrection of everlaſting condemnation. But you that are heavenly minded, that have your diſpoſitions and converſations in heaven; then when Chriſt comes from heaven, he ſhall make your bodies glorious.

2.Anſ. 2. You that are Members of Christs myſticall Body, Chriſt hath a Naturall body, and a Myſticall body, all the godly that are true beleevers and really united to Chriſt, they are all Members of his Myſticall Body; now if thou beeſt a Member of Chriſts Myſticall Body, thou ſhalt be made as glorious as Chriſts Naturall body. Miſtake me not, I ſpeak not of the quality, but likeneſſe, he will make his Myſticall body as glorious as his Naturall body, therefore it is ſaid in 2 Theſſ. 1. 10. that at the day of Judgement, he ſhall be glorified in his Saints, that is, glorified in the glory that his Saints ſhall have at that day; here Chriſt is glorified by his Saints, but there he ſhall be glorified in his Saints, in the glory that the Members of his Myſticall body ſhall then have, Chriſt ſhall have a double glory in heaven, a perſonall glory; and a refl • xive glory, the glory of the Members of Chriſt, ſhall be the glory of Chriſt at that day, all you that are true and reall Members of Chriſts Myſticall body; your vile body at the great day of Chriſt appearing, ſhall be made like unto his glorious body.

3.Anſw. 3. All you that have gracious ſouls now, you ſhall have glorified bodies hereafter. It was a rare ſaying that of Bernard, and worthy to be written in letters of gold (ſaies he) Chriſt hath a double coming, he comes now by his Miniſters to make thy ſoul glorious, and at the day of Judgement he will come in his perſon to make thy body glorious. This is the great miſtake of the world, they ſpend that time in pampering their bodies, which they ſhould imploy in providing for their ſouls. This preſent time is not the time for thy body, this is the time for thy ſoul wherein thou ſhouldſt labour to get that adorned with grace and holineſſe, and then Chriſt will come on purpoſe from heaven to make thy body glorious hereafter. Do not therefore miſtake your time, ſtudy to get good and gracious ſouls here, and you ſhall be ſure to have glorious bodies hereafter: and you that defile and pollute your ſouls, and ſtarve them by living in ſin and iniquity, you that have vile ſouls here, ſhall be ſure to have miſerable and wretched bodies hereafter.

There are many rare Uſes that may be made of this point, Ʋſe. give me leave to name one of them to you, and that ſhall be to all you that have gracious ſouls, I hope I ſpeak to many ſuch this night, whoſe ſoules are adorned with the robes of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, to all you that minde heavenly things, who have your converſations in heaven; to all you that are members of Chriſts Myſticall body; conſider I beſeech you what a glorious condition your vile bodies ſhall be in at the great day of Chriſts appearing, conſider it, and that in theſe two particulars.

1. Let this conſideration comfort us againſt the fear of death, and let me ſay to you as God ſaid to Jacob in Gen 44. Fear not to go down into Egypt (ſaies God) for certainly I will bring thee out again. So ſay I to you that are the Saints of God, fear not to go down to the houſe of rottenneſſe, fear not to lay down your heads in the grave, for God will certainly bring you out again, and you ſhall come out a glorious body; fear not to have this houſe, this tabernacle of thy body pulled down, for God ſhall raiſe it up again, and make of it a glorious ſtructure.

2. Let this comfort us againſt the death of our godly friends; when a childe of God dies, nothing dies in him totally and finally but ſin, his ſoul doth not die at all, and his body ſhall be raiſed again a glorious body, it is ſowen in corruption, it is raiſed in incorruption; it is ſowen in diſhonour, it is raiſed in glory; it is ſowen in weakneſſe, it is raiſed in power; it is ſowen a naturall body, it is raiſed a ſpirituall body.

This body of ours in the grave is a member of Chriſt, and united to Chriſt, even in the grave; and this duſt of thine is precious, and therefore we are ſaid to die in Chriſt.

There is a Text that did very much refreſh this our Brother (upon his death-bed) which I never took ſuch ſpecial notice of before, and that is in Job 21. 33. ſaies Job there, the clods of the valley ſhall be ſweet unto me; they made their graves in the valleys, and ſaies Job, the mould and clods that fils the grave ſhall be ſweet unto me: the earth ſhall be ſweet to the Saints.

And then again let this comfort any of Chriſt Myſticall body, any of Gods children that have deformed bodies, or diſeaſed bodies; you that are troubled with the Stone, Gout, Diſſineſſe in the head, that makes you unſerviceable to God in your places, and unable to doe what good you would; here is comfort for you at the glorious reſurrection, our vile bodies ſhall be changed, and all our diſeaſes ſhall be cured, our Stone, and Gout, and Head-aches, and infirmities ſhall be cured.

And then again, let this comfort us and encourage us to be willing, if God cals us to it, to loſe our ears for Chriſts ſake, to loſe our hands for Chriſts ſake, and to loſe this vile body if God call us to ſuffer for him: let us be willing to loſe a member for Chriſts ſake, for you ſhall have all reſtored to you again at the reſurrection; therefore the day of judgement is called the day of reſtitution of all things, wherein God will repair all our breaches: as in that ſtory in the book of Martyrs of the ſeven Children that were put to death; and one of them, his tongue going to be cut out, comforted his mother in telling her, he ſhould have a better tongue at the reſurrection.

From the conſideration of this, let us be exhorted, and oh that I could ſpeak ſo that my words might be effectuall, and operative upon all your hearts, let me humbly beſeech you to glorifie God in your bodies. Oh you that are the Saints of God, whoſe bodies by grace are become the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, let me beſeech you by the mercies of that God, that hath ſanctified your bodies, and made them inſtruments of his ſervice, that you would yeeld up your bodies, and preſent them a living ſacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, Rom. 12. 1. which is your reaſonable ſervice: make your bodies more and more the inſtruments of righteouſneſſe unto righteouſneſſe.

And let us that are Miniſters think of this, let us not think it much to wear out our bodies in Gods ſervice, at the day of Judgement we ſhall then have glorious bodies. Let us not think we can do God too much ſervice with our bodies, eſpecially when we conſider how glorious our bodies ſhall be at the reſurrection, even conformable to the glo • ious body of Jeſus Chriſt.

Here is another Uſe I ſhould make of this, Ʋſe 2. which I ſhall but name to you, and that is a divine project how to make your bodies glorious: If there were ſuch a Phyſician amongſt you that could cure all your deformities and diſeaſes, and make your bodies immortall, how would you prize him? Beloved, I have this day told you of ſuch a Phyſician, and that is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ſhall one day come from heaven, and make our vile bodies like to his glorious body. Hearken to me, thou proud duſt and aſhes, thou that ſpendeſt all thy time in decking and adorning thy body with ſinfull deckings, conſider thy madneſſe, that whileſt thou takeſt more care for thy vile body then for thy precious ſoul, thou doeſt ruine and deſtroy both. Do but hearken to me, and I will ſhew you a way how to get glorious bodies and glorious ſouls too; labour to get gracious ſouls here, and you ſhall be ſure to have glorious bodies and ſouls hereafter; labour to have your converſations in heaven here, and then at the great day of Judgement, Jeſus Chriſt will let out ſome of his glory to make you glorious, he ſhall change our vile bodies, and faſhion them like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby, he is able to ſubdue all things to himſelf.

But I muſt forbear and leave things imperfect, becauſe there is another text that I muſt ſpeak a little to.

It hath pleaſed God now of late to take away many worthy and godly and learned Miniſters from amongſt us. And certainly my brethren this is a great Judgement, and ſo much the greater, becauſe people are ſo little ſenſible of it. And it is not only a great Judgement it ſelf, but alſo a preſage of a greater.

The Jewes had a ſaying, That it was an ill ſign to the world, when the Luminaries of heaven were eclipſed. God hath lately eclipſed many Luminaries, and put out many glorious lights. I need not put you of this city in minde of Dr. Gouge, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Gatiker, Mr. Strong. I need not put thoſe of the Univerſity in minde of Dr. Hill, and now this reverend and worthy Miniſter Dr. Samuel Bolton Maſter of Chriſts Colledge in Cambridge. If I ſhould enter into his commendations, I might juſtly ſay that which another ſaid in the like caſe, That there is more fear, leſt we ſhould ſay leſſe, then he deſerved; then that we ſhould praiſe him above his deſerts. He was a burning and a ſhining light in this our Iſrael; he was an Interpreter one of a thouſand, a man of excellent miniſterial abilities, a workman that needed not to be aſhamed, dividing aright the word of truth; he was one that did not only preach well, but live well; he was one whoſe life was an excellent commentary upon his Sermons. As Nazianzen ſaid of John the Baptiſt, who is called the voyce of the cryer, ſaies he, John the Baptiſt was (tota vox,) all voice in his prudence, all voice in his habit, all voice in his diet, all voice in his dwelling, all voice in his converſation: ſo was our dear Brother all voice; he was a voice in his life, as well as in his Doctrine: and let me tell you, that the life of a Miniſter preacheth as much as his Doctrine; it was a ſaying that Ruffinus hath of Gregory Nazianzen, which I may apply to this our Brother, he not condemning himſelf by living contrary to what he preached, but he did do thoſe things himſelf that he taught to others: He had not only dona ſanata, but dona ſalutifera, not only gifts for the good of others, but grace for the good of his own ſoul. Many Miniſters have rare gifts and parts, but they are like a Pearl in a Toads head, becauſe their Lives give a lye to their Doctrines; but this our Brother was one that not only had gifts for the good of others, but grace for the good of his own ſoul, and that is his greateſt commendation, he was an humble Saint. There are 4. things, ſaies Luther, that make a Miniſter, prayer, reading, meditation, and temptation; our Chriſtian Brother was not only a man of reading, prayer, and meditation, but a man aſſaulted with many temptations, more I beleeve then many hundreds of Miniſters are; he was much aſſaulted with temptations, and therefore the better able to comfort thoſe that were tempted, with thoſe comforts where withall he was comforted. And let me take the boldneſſe to tell you, that he hath left a writing behinde him, wherein he hath recorded all the outgoings of God toward him, and all the experiences of Gods ſhining with the light of his countenance upon him, and alſo of his withdrawings and hiding his face from him; both thoſe times when God was at a diſtance from him, and when he approached nearer to him. He was ſo zealous in his Miniſteriall function, that though he was head of a Colledge in Cambridge, yet notwithſtanding for many years together, he preached freely without any ſalary, at the publique Church in that City. And this puts me in minde of what was ſaid in a Sermon in print of that reverend and godly man Doctor Hill, that he preached the Goſpell without any charges to them that heard him: and ſo did this our Brother for many years; and for three or four years he was Lecturer in this place, where he preached to the great ſatisfaction of the godly, both here and in many other places of the City, that duly waited upon his Miniſtry. And though he be now dead, yet he ſtill ſpeaks, not only by the holineſſe of his life and graciouſneſſe of his Doctrine, but alſo by the many books that he hath left in print behind him, in which books you may ſee a fair character of his piety and Miniſteriall abilities. He was very orthodox and ſound in Judgement, no ſpirituall leproſie in his head, witneſſe thoſe two Books of his, The Arraignment of Errors, and A Vindication of the right of the Law, and of the Liberties of Grace. He was a man of a publique ſpirit, witneſſe that Book of his, A Work in ſeaſon to a ſinking Kingdome. He was very carefull in his Sacramentall admiſſion, when he had a place wherein to exerciſe his Miniſtry; he was very exact in that particular, witneſſe that Book of his called The Wedding Garment.

For the time of ſickneſſe it was long, tedious, and conſtant; and yet notwithſtanding it pleaſed God to meaſure out to him a great deal of patience and conſolation; and it is obſervable, and may be for the comfort and encouragement of thoſe Miniſters or people that meet with a great many croſſes, and troubles, and temptations in their life times, they do commonly receive the greateſt comforts at their death.

It pleaſed God to come in to this our godly Brother with a great deal of comfort, in ſo much, that before he dyed, he ſaid, his heart was as full of comfort as it could hold, and ſaies he, though the providences of God have been very dark towards me, yet I thank God I have light within me. When I was laſt with him, he was wonderfull deſirous to be diſſolved and to be with Chriſt; and I heard him ſay, Oh this vile carkaſſe of mine, when will it give way that my ſoul may get out, and goe to my God? Oh this vile carkaſſe, when will thou be conſumed, that I may goe to my God? And when he did ſee any ſymptomes of death, any thing that did threaten death, which he called the the little creviſes at which his ſoul did peep out, it was the joy of his heart.

It was his deſire to be buryed without any Funerall pomp, which puts me in minde of good Pell, when he was a dying, the Scholars of the Univerſity came to him and asked him whether he would be buried in his Scholaſtick habit or no, ſaies he, No, I deſire to die as an humble Chriſtian, not as a Doctor, as a humble Saint, not as a learned man; and I truſt I ſhall appear at the great day, not clad with my Doctors Robes, but with the Robes of Chriſts righteouſneſſe. And this was the deſire and the hope of our dear brother, and this Text that I have preached on, he did with a great deal of earneſtneſſe of ſpirit rejoice in, when he conſidered of that day when this vile body of his, ſubject to ſo many diſeaſes, ſhould be made like to the glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt; in whoſe bleſſed Armes we leave this our dear Brother, beſeeching God that he would make up this great loſſe of him, to the Church of God in generall, and to the Univerſity of Cambridge in particular.