Question 37

How manifold are the benefits of Believers at their Death?

Twofold, 1. In respect of their Souls. 2. In respect of their Bodies.

What benefits have Believers in respect of their Souls at Death?

They are made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into Glory.^a

Are not Believers perfect in this life?

No.^b

Do not the Souls of Believers sleep in the Grave with their Bodies, or stay in Purgatory?

No. Ibid..^c

What do Papists mean by Purgatory?

They mean a state of Temporary punishments after this life, from which men may be released and translated into Heaven, by the Prayers of the living and the Sacrifice of the Mass.

What benefits have Believers in respect of their Bodies at Death?

1. Their Bodies are still united to Christ. For, though Death doth for a while separate their Souls from their Bodies, yet it cannot separate Christ from either; but as when Christ died, his Hypostatical or Personal union still remained, his Divine Nature being united both to his Soul in Heaven, and to his Body in the Tomb on Earth: So when Believers die, their mystical union unto Christ still remaineth, and Christ is united both to their Souls with him in Glory, and to their Bodies, which are his Members, even when they are rotting in the Grave.^d 2. They rest in their Graves, as in their Beds, till the Resurrection.^e

What is the Resurrection here spoken of?

The last and general Resurrection of all the dead that have lived in all Ages from the beginning of the Creation; which will be first of the righteous, and then of the wicked at the last day.^f

How do you prove that there shall be such a general Resurrection?

It may be undeniably proved from the Scriptures and the power of God. If God be of infinite power, and therefore can raise the dead, and infinitely true, and in the Scriptures hath revealed that he will raise all the dead, then there shall be a general Resurrection; but God is infinite in power, and in the Scriptures hath revealed that he will raise all the dead, therefore there shall be a general Resurrection. The ground of the Sadduces errour, who denied the Resurrection, was their ignorance of these two great foundations of this Doctrine, namely, the Scriptures and the power of God.^g

Shall the Dead the raised with the same body, which they had when aliu before?

Yes.^h

How do you prove that the Dead shal be raised with the same Body?

Because otherwise it could in no proper sense be called a Resurrection, but a new Creation. 2. Because ’tis fit the same Body that was an instrument of righteousness, or sin should share in the like Reward or Punishment.

Will not the Bodies, when they are raised, differ from what they are now?

They will not differ from what they are now in regard of their substance and essence; But they will exceedingly differ in regard of their qualities.