1 The besieging of the city of Jerusalem is signified. 9 The long continuance of the captivity of Israel. 16 An hunger is prophesied to come.

Thou also son of man, take thee a brick, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem,

And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it, set the camp also against it, and lay engines of war against it round about.

Moreover, take an [a]iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city, and direct thy face toward it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it: this shall be a sign unto the house of Israel.

Sleep thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the [b]house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days, that thou shalt sleep upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity.

For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity according to the number of the days, even three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

And when thou hast accomplished them, sleep again upon thy [c]right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee a day for a year, even a day for a year.

Therefore thou shalt direct thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine [d]arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

And behold, I will lay [e]bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

Thou shalt take also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, [f]and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof according to the number of the days, that thou shalt sleep upon thy side: even [g]three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.

10 And the meat, whereof thou shalt eat shall be by weight, even [h]twenty shekels a day: and from time to time shalt thou eat thereof.

11 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, even the sixth part of [i]an Hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.

12 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it [j]in the dung that cometh out of man in their sight.

13 And the Lord said, So shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will cast them.

14 Then said I, Ah, Lord God, behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up, even unto this hour, I have not eaten of a thing dead or torn in pieces, neither came there any [k]unclean flesh in my mouth.

15 Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee bullocks [l]dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.

16 Moreover, he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break [m]the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care, and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment.

17 Because that bread and water shall fail, they shall be astonied one with another, and shall consume away for their iniquity.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 4:3 Which signified the stubbornness and hardness of their heart.
  2. Ezekiel 4:4 Hereby he represented the idolatry and sin of the ten tribes (for Samaria was on his left hand from Babylon) and how they had remained therein three hundred and ninety years.
  3. Ezekiel 4:6 Which declared Judah, who had now from the time of Josiah slept in their sins forty years.
  4. Ezekiel 4:7 In token of a speedy vengeance.
  5. Ezekiel 4:8 The people should so straightly be besieged, that they should not be able, to turn them.
  6. Ezekiel 4:9 Meaning, that the famine should be so great, that they should be glad to eat whatsoever they could get.
  7. Ezekiel 4:9 Which were fourteen months that the city was besieged, and this was as many days as Israel sinned years.
  8. Ezekiel 4:10 Which make a pound.
  9. Ezekiel 4:11 Read Exod. 29:40.
  10. Ezekiel 4:12 Signifying hereby the great scarcity of fuel and matter to burn.
  11. Ezekiel 4:14 Much less such vile corruption.
  12. Ezekiel 4:15 To be as fire to bake thy bread with.
  13. Ezekiel 4:16 That is, the force and strength wherewith it should nourish, Isa. 3:1; Ezek. 5:17 and 14:13.

The sign of the hairs, whereby is signified the destruction of the people.

And thou son of man, take thee a sharp knife, or take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it [a]to pass upon thine head, and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.

Thou shalt burn with fire the third part in the midst of the [b]city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled, and thou shalt take the other third part, and smite about it with a knife, and the last third part thou shalt scatter in the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.

Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy [c]lap.

Then take of them again and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire: [d]for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

Thus saith the Lord God, This is Jerusalem, I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries, that are round about her.

And she hath changed my [e]judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries, that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments, and my statutes, and they have not walked in them.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Because your [f]multitude is greater than the nations that are round about you, and ye have not walked in my statutes, neither have ye kept my judgments: no, ye have not done according to the judgments of the nations, that are round about you.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I, even I come against thee, and will execute judgment in the midst of thee, even in the sight of the nations.

And I will do in thee that I never did before, neither will do anymore the like, because of all thine abominations.

10 For in the midst of thee, the fathers (A)shall eat their sons, and the sons shall eat their fathers, and I will execute judgment in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.

11 Wherefore as I live, saith the Lord God, Surely, because thou hast defiled my Sanctuary with all thy filthiness, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also destroy thee, neither shall mine eye spare thee, neither will I have any pity.

12 The third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and another third part shall fall by the sword round about thee: and I will scatter the last third part into all winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my wrath to cease in them, and I will be [g]comforted: and they shall know, that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my wrath in them.

14 Moreover, I will make thee waste, and abhorred among the nations that are round about thee, and in the sight of all that pass by.

15 So thou shalt be a reproach and shame, a chastisement and an astonishment unto the nations, that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in wrath, and in sharp rebukes: I the Lord have spoken it.

16 When I shall send upon them the [h]evil [i]arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread.

17 (B)So I will send upon you famine, and evil beasts, and they shall spoil thee: and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee: and I will bring the sword upon thee: I the Lord have spoken it.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 5:1 To shave thine head and thy beard.
  2. Ezekiel 5:2 To wit, of that city which he had portrayed upon the brick, Ezek. 4:1. By the fire and pestilence he meaneth the famine, wherewith one part perished during the siege of Nebuchadnezzar. By the sword, those that were slain whom Zedekiah fled, and those that were carried away captive. And by the scattering into the wind, those that fled into Egypt, and into other parts after the city was taken.
  3. Ezekiel 5:3 Meaning, that a very few should be left, which the Lord should preserve among all these storms, but not without troubles and trial.
  4. Ezekiel 5:4 Out of that fire which thou kindlest shall a fire come, which shall signify the destruction of Israel.
  5. Ezekiel 5:6 My word and law into idolatry and superstitions.
  6. Ezekiel 5:7 Because your idols are in greater number, and your superstitions more than among the professed idolaters, read Isa. 65:11, or he condemneth their ingratitude in respect of his benefits.
  7. Ezekiel 5:13 That is, I will not be pacified, till I be revenged, Isa. 1:24.
  8. Ezekiel 5:16 Or, dangerous.
  9. Ezekiel 5:16 Which were the grasshoppers, mildew, and whatsoever were occasions of famine.

He showeth that Jerusalem shall be destroyed for their idolatry. 8 He prophesieth the repentance of the remnant of the people, and their deliverance.

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, Set thy face towards the (A)mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: thus saith the Lord God to the [a]mountains and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys, Behold, I, even I will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places:

And your altars shall be desolate, and your images of the [b]Sun shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before their [c]idols, and I will (B)scatter your bones round about your altars.

In all your dwelling places the cities shall be desolate, and the high places shall be laid waste, so that your altars shall be made waste and desolate, and your idols shall be broken and cease, and your images of the Sun shall be cut in pieces, and your works shall be abolished.

And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Yet will I leave a remnant, [d]that you may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when you shall be scattered through the countries.

And they that escape of you, shall remember me among the nations, where they shall be in captivity, because I am grieved for their whorish hearts, which have departed from me, and for their eyes, which have gone a whoring after their idols, and they [e]shall be displeased in themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10 And they shall know that I am the Lord, and that I have not said in vain, that I would do this evil unto them.

11 Thus saith the Lord God, [f]Smite with thine hand, and stretch forth with thy foot, and say, Alas, for all the wicked abominations of the house of Israel: for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

12 He that is far off, shall die of the pestilence, and he that is near, shall fall by the sword, and he that remaineth and is besieged, shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my wrath upon them.

13 Then [g]ye shall know, that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, which is the place where they did offer sweet savor to all their idols.

14 So will I (C) stretch mine hand upon them, and make the land waste and desolate [h]from the wilderness unto Diblath in all their habitations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 6:3 He speaketh to all the places where the Israelites accustomed to commit their idolatries, threatening them destruction.
  2. Ezekiel 6:4 Read 2 Kings 23:11.
  3. Ezekiel 6:5 In contempt of their power and force, which shall neither be able to deliver you nor themselves.
  4. Ezekiel 6:8 He showeth that in all dangers God will preserve a few, which shall be as the seed of his Church and call upon his Name.
  5. Ezekiel 6:9 They shall be ashamed to see that their hope in idols was but vain, and so shall repent.
  6. Ezekiel 6:11 By these signs he would that the Prophet should signify the great destruction to come.
  7. Ezekiel 6:13 That is, all nations when you shall see my judgments.
  8. Ezekiel 6:14 Some read, more desolate than the wilderness of Diblath, which was in Syria, and bordered upon Israel, or from the wilderness, which was South unto Diblath, which was North: meaning, the whole country.

15 1 The Gospel that Paul preached. 3 The death and resurrection of Christ. 8 Paul saw Christ. 9 He had persecuted that Church, whereof afterward he was made a minister. 12 Christ first rose again, and we all shall rise by him. 26 The last enemy, death. 29 To be baptized for dead. 32 At Ephesus Paul fought with beasts. 35 How the dead are raised. 45 The first Adam. The last Adam, 47 The first and second man. 51 We shall all be changed, we shall not all sleep. 55 Death’s sting. 57 Victory. 58 Constancy and steadfastness.

Moreover (A)[a]brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which ye have also received, and wherein ye [b]continue,

And whereby ye are saved, if ye keep in memory, after what manner I preached it unto you, [c]except ye have believed in vain.

For first of all, I delivered unto you that which I received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the (B)Scriptures,

And that he was buried, and that he arose the third day, according to the (C)Scriptures,

(D)And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the [d]twelve.

After that, he was seen of more than five hundred brethren at [e]once: whereof many remain unto this present, and some also are asleep.

After that, he was seen of James: then of all the Apostles.

(E)[f]And last of all he was seen also of me, as of one born out of due time.

(F)For I am the least of the Apostles, which am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.

10 (G)But by the grace of God I am that I am: and his grace which is in me, was not in vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me.

11 Wherefore, whether it were I, or they, so we preach, and so have ye believed.

12 [g]Now if it be preached, that Christ is risen from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 [h]For if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 [i]And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 And we are found also false witnesses of God: for we have testified of God, that he hath raised up Christ: whom he hath not raised up, if so be the dead be not raised.

16 [j]For if the dead be not raised, then is Christ not raised.

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: [k]ye are [l]yet in your sins.

18 [m]And so they which are asleep in Christ, are perished.

19 [n]If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.

20 [o]But now is Christ risen from the dead, [p]and was made the (H)[q]firstfruits of them that slept.

21 [r]For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be [s]made alive.

23 [t]But every man in his (I)own order: the firstfruits is Christ, afterward, they that are of Christ, at his coming shall rise again.

24 [u]Then shall be the [v]end, when he hath delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he hath put down [w]all rule, and all authority and power.

25 For he must reign (J)till he hath put all his enemies [x]under his feet.

26 The [y]last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death.

27 (K)For he hath put down all things under his feet. (And when he saith that all things are subdued to him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put down all things under him.)

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, [z]then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him, that did subdue all things under him, that [aa]God may be all in all.

29 [ab]Else what shall they do which are baptized [ac]for dead? if the dead rise not at all, why are they then baptized for dead?

30 [ad]Why are we also in jeopardy every hour?

31 By your [ae]rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32 [af]If I have fought with beasts at Ephesus [ag]after the manner of men, what advantageth it me, if the dead be not raised up? (L)[ah]let us [ai]eat and drink: for tomorrow we shall die.

33 [aj]Be not deceived: evil speakings corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to live righteously, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame.

35 [ak]But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body come they forth?

36 [al]O fool, that which thou sowest, is not quickened, except it die.

37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare corn as it falleth, of wheat, or of some other.

38 [am]But God giveth it a body at his pleasure, even to every seed his own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of fishes, and another of birds:

40 There are also heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

41 There is another glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 [an]So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is [ao]sown in corruption, and is raised in incorruption.

43 It is sown in [ap]dishonor, and is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, and is raised in [aq]power.

44 [ar]It is sown a natural body, and is raised a spiritual body: there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 [as]As it is also written, The [at]first man (M)Adam was made a living soul: and the last Adam was made a [au]quickening spirit.

46 [av]Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual: but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, [aw]earthly: the second man is the Lord from [ax]heaven.

48 [ay]As is the earthly, such are they that are earthly: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have born the [az]image of the earthly, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly.

50 [ba]This say I, brethren, that [bb]flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 [bc]Behold, I show you a [bd]secret thing, We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In [be]a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last (N)trumpet: for the trumpet shall blow, and the dead shall be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption: and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible hath put on incorruption, and this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying, that is written, (O)Death is swallowed up into victory.

55 O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the Law.

57 (P)But thanks be unto God, which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 [bf]Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, abundant always in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the [bg]Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:1 The sixth treatise of this Epistle, concerning the resurrection: and he useth a transition, or passing over from one matter to another, showing first that he bringeth no new thing, to the end that the Corinthians might understand that they had begun to swerve from the right course: and next that he goeth not about to entreat of a trifling matter, but of another chief point of the Gospel, which if it be taken away, their faith must needs come to nought. And so at the length he beginneth this treatise at Christ’s resurrection, which is the ground and foundation of ours, and confirmeth it first by the testimony of the Scriptures, and by the witness of the Apostles, and of more than five hundred brethren, and last of all his own.
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:1 In the profession whereof you continue yet.
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:2 Which is very absurd, and cannot be, but that they believe, must reap the fruit of faith.
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:5 Of those twelve picked and chosen Apostles, which were commonly called twelve, though Judas was put out of the number.
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:6 Not fewer all times, but together and at one instant.
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:8 He maintaineth by the way, the authority of his Apostleship, which was requisite to be in good credit among the Corinthians, that this Epistle might be of force and weight amongst them. In the mean season he compareth himself to such sort after a certain divine art with certain others, that he maketh himself inferior to them all.
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:12 The first argument to prove that there is a resurrection from the dead: Christ is risen again, therefore the dead shall rise again.
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:13 The second by an absurdity, If there is no resurrection of the dead, then is not Christ risen again.
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:14 The proof of that absurdity by other absurdities: If Christ be not risen again, the preaching of the Gospel is in vain, and the credit that you gave unto it is vain, and we are liars.
  10. 1 Corinthians 15:16 He repeateth the same argument taken of an absurdity, purposing to show how faith is in vain if the resurrection of Christ be taken away.
  11. 1 Corinthians 15:17 First, seeing death is the punishment of sin, in vain should we believe that our sins were forgiven us, if they remain: but they do remain, if Christ rose not from death.
  12. 1 Corinthians 15:17 They are yet in their sins, which are not sanctified, nor have obtained remission of their sins.
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:18 Secondly, unless that this be certain that Christ rose again, all they which died in Christ, are perished. So then what profit cometh of faith?
  14. 1 Corinthians 15:19 The third argument, which is also taken from an absurdity: for unless there be another life, wherein such as trust and believe in Christ shall be blessed, they were the most miserable of all creatures, because in this life they are the most miserable.
  15. 1 Corinthians 15:20 A conclusion of the former argument: Therefore Christ is risen again.
  16. 1 Corinthians 15:20 He putteth the last conclusion for the first proposition of the argument that followeth. Christ is risen again, Therefore shall we the faithful (for of them he speaketh) rise again: Then followeth the first reason of this consequent: for Christ is set forth unto us, to be considered of, not as a private man apart and by himself, but as the firstfruits: And he taketh that which was known, to all men, to wit, that the whole heap is sanctified in the firstfruits.
  17. 1 Corinthians 15:20 He alludeth to the firstfruits of corn, the offering whereof sanctified the rest of the fruits.
  18. 1 Corinthians 15:21 Another confirmation of the same consequent: for Christ is to be considered as opposite to Adam, that as from one man Adam, sin came over all, so from one man Christ, life cometh unto all: that is to say, that all the faithful, as they die, because by nature they were born of Adam, so because in Christ they are made the children of God by grace, they are quickened and restored to life by him.
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Shall rise by the virtue of Christ.
  20. 1 Corinthians 15:23 He doeth two things together: for he showeth that the resurrection is in such sort common to Christ with all his members, that notwithstanding he far passeth them, both in time (for he was the first that rose again from the dead) and also in honor, because that from him and in him is all our life and glory. Then by this occasion he passeth in the next argument.
  21. 1 Corinthians 15:24 The fourth argument, wherewith also he confirmeth the others, hath a most sure ground, to wit, because that God must reign. And this is the manner of his reign, that the Father will be showed to be King in his Son who was made man, to whom all things are made subject (the promiser only except) to the end that the Father may afterward triumph in his Son the conqueror. And he maketh two parts of this reign and dominion of the Son, wherein the Father’s glory consisteth: to wit, the overcoming of his enemies (whereof some must be deprived of all power, as Satan and all the wicked, be they never so proud and mighty, and others must be utterly abolished as death) and a plain and full delivery of the godly from all enemies, that by this means God may fully set forth the body of the Church, cleaving fast to their head Christ, his kingdom and glory as a king in his subjects. Moreover he putteth the first degree of this kingdom in the resurrection of the Son, who is the head: and the perfection, in the full conjunction of the members with the head, which shall be in the latter day. Now all these tend to this purpose, to show that unless the dead do rise again, neither the Father can be King above all, neither Christ be Lord of all: for neither should the power of Satan and death be overcome, nor the glory of God be full in his Son, nor his Son in his members.
  22. 1 Corinthians 15:24 The shutting up and finishing of all things.
  23. 1 Corinthians 15:24 All his enemies which shall be spoiled of all the power they have.
  24. 1 Corinthians 15:25 Christ is considered here, as he appeared in the form of a servant, in which respect he ruleth the Church as head, and that because this power was given him of his Father.
  25. 1 Corinthians 15:26 The shutting up of the argument, which is taken from the whole to the part: for if all his enemies shall be put under his feet, then must it needs be that death also shall be subdued under him.
  26. 1 Corinthians 15:28 Not because the Son was not subject to his Father before, but because his body, that is to say, the Church which is here in distress, and not yet wholly partaker of his glory, is not yet fully perfect, and also because the bodies of the saints which be in the graves shall not be glorified until the resurrection: but Christ as he is God, hath us subject to him as his Father hath, but as he is Priest, he is subject to his father together with us. Augustine, book 1, chap. 8, of the Trinity.
  27. 1 Corinthians 15:28 By this high kind of speech, is set forth an incomprehensible glory which floweth from God, and shall fill all of us, as we are joined together with our head, but yet so, that our head shall always reserve his preeminence.
  28. 1 Corinthians 15:29 The fifth argument taken of the end of Baptism, to wit, because that they which are baptized, are baptized for dead, that is to say, that they may have a remedy against death because that Baptism is a token of regeneration.
  29. 1 Corinthians 15:29 They that are baptized, to this end and purpose, that death may be put out in them, or to rise again from the dead, whereof baptism is a seal.
  30. 1 Corinthians 15:30 The sixth argument: Unless there be a resurrection of the dead, why should the Apostles so daily cast themselves into danger of so many deaths?
  31. 1 Corinthians 15:31 As though he said, I die daily, as all the miseries I suffer can well witness, which I may truly boast of, that I have suffered amongst you.
  32. 1 Corinthians 15:32 The taking away of an objection: but thou Paul, didst ambitiously, as commonly men are wont to do, when thou didst fight with beasts at Ephesus: That is very like, saith Paul, for what could that advantage me, were it not for the glory of eternal life which I hope for?
  33. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Not upon any godly motion, nor casting mine eyes upon God, but carried away with vain glory, or a certain headiness.
  34. 1 Corinthians 15:32 The seventh argument which dependeth upon the last: if there be no resurrection of the dead, why do we give ourselves to anything else, save to eating and drinking?
  35. 1 Corinthians 15:32 These are speeches that Epicureans use.
  36. 1 Corinthians 15:33 The conclusion with a sharp exhortation, that they take heed of the naughty company of certain: from whence he showeth that this mischief sprang: warning them to be wise with sobriety unto righteousness.
  37. 1 Corinthians 15:35 Now that he hath proved the resurrection, he discovereth their doltishness, in that they scoffingly demanded, how it could be that the dead should rise again, and if they did rise again, they asked mockingly, what manner of bodies they should have. Therefore he sendeth these fellows which seemed to themselves to be marvelous wise and witty, to be instructed of poor rude husbandmen.
  38. 1 Corinthians 15:36 Thou mightest have learned either of these, saith Paul, by daily experience: for seeds are sown, and rot, and yet notwithstanding so far it is off, that they perish, that contrarywise they grow up far more beautiful: and whereas they are sown naked and dry, they spring up green from death by the virtue of God: and doth it seem incredible to thee that our bodies should rise from corruption, and that endued with a far more excellent quality?
  39. 1 Corinthians 15:38 We see a diversity both in one and the selfsame thing which hath now one form and then another, and yet keepeth its own kind, as it is evident in a grain which is sown bare, but springeth up far after another sort: and also in divers kinds of one selfsame sort, as amongst beasts: and also among things of divers sorts, as the heavenly bodies and the earthly bodies: which also differ very much one from another. Therefore there is no cause why we should reject either the resurrection of the bodies, or changing of them into a better state, as a thing impossible, or strange.
  40. 1 Corinthians 15:42 He maketh three manner of qualities of the bodies being raised: Incorruption, to wit, because they shall be sound, and altogether of a nature that cannot be corrupt: Glory, because they shall be adorned with beauty and honor: Power, because they shall continue everlasting without meat, drink, and all other helps, without which this frail life cannot keep itself from corruption.
  41. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Is buried, and man is hid as seed in the ground.
  42. 1 Corinthians 15:43 Void of honor, void of glory, and beauty.
  43. 1 Corinthians 15:43 Freed from the former weakness, whereas it is subject to such alteration and change, that it cannot maintain itself without meat and drink, and such otherlike helps.
  44. 1 Corinthians 15:44 He showeth perfectly in one word, this change of the quality of the body by the resurrection, when he saith, that of a natural body, it shall become a spiritual body, which two qualities being clean different, the one from the other, he straightway expoundeth and setteth forth diligently.
  45. 1 Corinthians 15:45 That is called a natural body, which is quickened and maintained by a living soul only, such as Adam was, of whom all we are born naturally: and that is said to be a spiritual, which together with the soul is quickened with a far more excellent virtue: to wit, with the Spirit of God, which descendeth from Christ the second Adam unto us.
  46. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Adam is called the first man, because he is the root as it were from which we spring: and Christ is the latter man: because he is the beginning of all them that are spiritual, and in him we are all comprehended.
  47. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Christ is called a Spirit, by reason of that most excellent nature, that is to say, God who dwelleth in him bodily, as Adam is called a living soul, by reason of the soul which is the best part in him.
  48. 1 Corinthians 15:46 Secondly he willeth the order of this double state or quality to be observed, that the natural was first, Adam being created of the clay of the earth: and the spiritual followed and came upon it, to wit, when the Lord being sent from heaven, endued our flesh which was prepared and made fit for him, with the fulness of the Godhead.
  49. 1 Corinthians 15:47 Wallowing in dirt, and wholly given to an earthly nature.
  50. 1 Corinthians 15:47 The Lord is said to come down from heaven by that kind of speech, whereby that which is proper to one is touched of another.
  51. 1 Corinthians 15:48 He applieth both the earthly naturalness of Adam (if I may so say) to our bodies, so long as they are naturally conversant on earth, to wit, in this life, and in the grave: and also the spirituality of Christ to the same our bodies, after that they are risen again: and he saith, that that goeth before and this shall follow.
  52. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Not a vain and false image, but such an one as had the truth with it indeed.
  53. 1 Corinthians 15:50 The conclusion: We cannot be partakers of the glory of God, unless we put off all that gross and filthy nature of our bodies subject to corruption, that the same body may be adorned with incorruptible glory.
  54. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Flesh and blood are taken here for a living body, which cannot attain to incorruption, unless it put off corruption.
  55. 1 Corinthians 15:51 He goeth further, declaring that it shall come to pass that they which shall be found alive in the latterday, shall not descend into that corruption of the grave, but shall be renewed with a sudden change, which change is very requisite: and that the certain enjoying of the benefit and victory of Christ, is deferred unto that latter time.
  56. 1 Corinthians 15:51 A thing that hath been hid, and never known hitherto, and therefore worthy that you give good care unto it.
  57. 1 Corinthians 15:52 He showeth us that the time shall be very short.
  58. 1 Corinthians 15:58 An exhortation taken from the profit that ensueth, that seeing they understand that the glory of the other life is laid up for faithful workmen, they continue and stand fast in the truth of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead.
  59. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Through the Lord’s help and goodness working in us.

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