CHAPTER 32
Of the State of
Men
after Death,
and of the Resurrection of the Dead.
I. The bodies of men after
death return to dust and see corruption;a
but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal
subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them.b 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;c and
the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in
torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.d
Besides these two places for 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 with Acts 3:21 and Eph. 4:10.
d Luke 16:23,24;
Acts 1:25; Jude ver. 6,7; 1 Pet. 3:19.
II. At the last day, such as
are found alive shall not die, but be changed:e 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 for ever.f
e 1 Thess. 4:17; 1
Cor. 15:51,52.
f Job 19:26,27; 1
Cor. 15:42-44.
III.
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to
dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made
conformable to his own glorious body.g
g Acts 24:15; John
5:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:43; Phil. 3:21.
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