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CHAPTER IV.

THE ERROR THAT ANY PART OF THE BODY WILL BE DESTROYED.

1. Every portion of the human body will rise again.

2. In introducing this part of the subject it may be remarked that, food was at the period of the creation designed for man, and that the stomach was designed for its reception, agreeably to the words " Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats ;" and this state of adaptation still continues; but the words which follow these refer to the body after sin had "brought death into the world," and are inapplicable to either the food or the stomach previous to the fall. The whole sentence alluded to is this-"Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them."* It has been erroneously gathered from these words that, "the animal appetite for food will be removed, and the organ now adapted to that appetite have no place in the re

1 Cor. vi, 13.

newed frame;" and "a certain change of structure," it is supposed, will take place; but the probable meaning is that, the stomach shall die when death seizes the body: and the context says that "God will raise up us by his own power,"+ implying that the death of the body, comprehending the stomach, had before been included in the expression; and that, when the body is raised, that organ will necessarily form a part.

3. The entire body having been "bought with a price," its redemption being "the precious blood of Christ,"§ it is not likely that any portion of it will be abandoned and consigned to everlasting degradation and contempt. And, as man is now exhorted to "glorify God in his body,”‡ and "whether" he "eat or drink " to do the same, why should he not hereafter, with his restored vigour, be able to do so in a nobler and better manner with this important organ, which by its adaptation with meats, is shown to belong to the original constitution of man, which must necessarily continue for ever? And, let it be noted,

* Watson's "Theological Institutes."

+1 Cor. vi. 14.

1 Cor. vi. 20.

§ 1 Peter i. 19.

1 Cor. x. 31.

that Jesus, after His resurrection, "did eat," as before quoted from the Evangelist Luke. *

4. And would it not argue an imperfection in our creation if we must needs undergo exenteration, excision or mutilation? and would not the beauty of the person by such dialeipsis be greatly damaged? for there certainly will not be a new modification of parts, which would be a new creation.

5. There can be no alteration of figure without spoiling the whole, and detracting from divine wisdom, in which all the manifold works of creation were made.† So perfect is the formation of every living thing, that it has been affirmed that from a bone may be inferred what it was to which the bone belonged. Anatomical principles, therefore, do not allow any change in the structure of man. The stomach, will, consequently, be retained in his restored frame.

6. The body will be raised. It cannot with truth be said to be raised if it be denuded of so large a portion. If it be raised, it must needs be raised in its entirety; and, let me subjoin, nothing less than this will properly exhibit its +Psalm civ. 24.

* Luke xxiv. 43.

As a

identity. Nothing less than the union of every part can constitute THE body. finger or a limb does not constitute the body, so, conversely, the body when raised will not be deficient of any constituent part.

7. How can any person repeat those "sound words ""I believe in the resurrection of the body," with conscious truth, who at the same time, does not believe that the whole body will rise again, but that an entire section of it will be eternally dissevered?

8. If thou hast, in the days of thy strife, left a leg at Waterloo, it shall assuredly be reassociated; or if thou by fire shouldst be reduced to ashes, and then scattered to the four winds of heaven, thou shalt certainly be reconstructed, and stand up in all the full proportions of perfect and primeval configuration and beauty.

9. There never will be a period when all the ungrateful schismatic members of the body will contemptuously say to the stomach, which has rendered them so numerous and essential services, "We have no need of thee."*

* 1 Cor. xii. 14, &c.

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1. Having passed the subterranean road, the body now emerges into the "blaze of day," and enters into light "above the brightness of the sun." To those who are now spiritually "risen with Christ" let the cheering words of the Apostle be addressed-" When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." The body, having been raised from the dead, perfectly restored to health and soundness, and reunited to its "own soul," and the solemnity of the great assize having closed, will be placed in eternal and ineffable glory. That it will not then need any change may be learnt from the following illustrations.

2. The body of our Saviour when He was "transfigured," that is to say, changed in outward appearance of face by the manifestation of divine glory with which He was pervaded, for this cer

* Col. iii. 1, 4.

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