CHAP. XXXI. OF THE STATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH, AND OF THE b I. THE bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption, but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them; the souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torment, and utter darkness, reserved for the judgment of the great day: "besides these two places of souls separated from their bodies the Scripture acknowledgeth none. a Gen. 3: 19; Acts, 13: 36. b Luke, 23: 43; Eccl. 12: 7. c Heb. 12: 23; 2 Cor. 5; 1, 6, 8; Phil. 1: 23; Acts, 3 21; Eph. 4:10. d Luke, 16: 23, 24; Acts, 1; 25; Jude, 5, 6; 1 Pet. 3: 19. II At the last day, such as are found alive, shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever f e 1 Thes. 4: 17; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. d Job. 19: 25, 27; 1 Cor. 15: 42, 43, 44. III. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honor, and be made conformable unto his own glorious body. 8 Acts, 24: 15; John, 5: 28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:42; Phil. 3:21 CHAP. XXXII. OF THE LAST JUDGMENT. a I. GOD hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether it be good or evil.d a Acts, 17: 31. b John, 5: 22, 27. c 1 Cor. 6:3; Jude, 5:6; 2 Pet. 2: 4. d2 Cor. 5: 10; Eccl. 12:14; Rom. 12; Matt. 12: 36, 37. 2: 16, and 14: 10, II. The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and glory, with everlasting reward in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eter nal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. e Matt. 25 31 to end; Rom. 2: 5, 6, and 9: 22, 23; Matt. 25: 21; Acts, 3: 19; 2 Thes. 1: 7 to 10. III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. f 2 Pet. 3: 11, 14; 2 Cor. 5: 10, 11; 2 Thes. 1: 5, 6, 7 Luke, 21:27, 28; Rom. 8: 23, 24, 25. g Matt. 24: 36, 42 43, 44; Mark, 13: 35, 36, 37; Luke, 12 35, 36; Rev 22: 20. THE HEADS OF AGREEMENT, ASSENTED TO BY THE UNITED MINISTERS, FORMERLY CALLED PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL: AND ALSO, ARTICLES, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE, UNANIMOUSLY AGREED UPON, AND CONSENTED TO, BY THE ELDERS AND MESSENGERS OF THE CHURCHES IN THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT, IN NEW ENGLAND, ASSEMBLED BY DELEGATION, AT SAYBROOK, SEPT. 9TH, 1708. Phil. 35. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing ye be otherw 'se minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Eph. 4: 3. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. NEW LONDON, CONN., PRINTED, 1710. II. The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and glory, with everlasting reward in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eter nal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. e Matt. 25 31 to end; Rom. 2: 5, 6, and 9: 22, 23; Matt. 25: 21; Acts, 3: 19; 2 Thes. 1: 7 to 10. III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. f 2 Pet. 3: 11, 14; 2 Cor. 5: 10, 11; 2 Thes. 1: 5, 6, 7: Luke, 21:27, 28; Rom. 8: 23, 24, 25. g Matt. 24: 36, 42 43, 44; Mark, 13: 35, 36, 37 ; Luke, 12: 35, 36; Rev 22: 20. |