Question 57

THE ARGVMENT.

Of the resurrection of the flesh, and of life euerlasting, and of the fruit of them both.

What comfort doth the resurrectiō of the flesh minister vnto thee?

Not only, that my soul shal straight way after it is departed out of the bodie, be taken vp vnto Christ the head thereof, but that this flesh of mine also, being raised vppe by the power of Christ, shal bee vnited againe to my soule, and shalbe^a made conformable vnto the glorious body of Christ.^b

The vse

Wherefore, seeing wee haue this ground of the resurrection of our flesh, from hence is ministred vnto vs, that comfort which is necessary. 1. To take away al heauines, which we conceiue for the dead, according to Pauls doctrine: I would not haue you ignorant brethren, concerning those that sleepe, that you sorrow not as others that haue no hope: For if we beleeue that Iesus dyed and rose againe, so also shall God bring with him those that are layd a sleepe in Iesus.^c 2. To driue a way all feare of death by the hope of a better life, to which we shall come by the resurrection, in respect of which end, Tertullian doubted not to cal the resurrection of the sleshe, the confidence of Christians. 3. To incourage vs vnto good works, not to deserue any thing, but because life is promised to them that do well. Last of all, that by remembring the resurrection to come, we may be hindred from evill doing, euen because of the punishment then threatned to evill doers.^d