§ 4. (2.) Another thing that leads to paradise is, that great work of Jesus Christ, in raising our bodies from the dust, and uniting them again unto the soul. A wonderful effect of infinite power and love! Yea, wonderful indeed, says unbelief, if it be true. What, shall all these scattered bones and dust become a man?—Let me with reverence plead for God, for that power whereby I hope to arise. What beareth the massy body of the earth? What limits the vast ocean of the waters? Whence is that constant ebbing and flowing of the tides? How many times bigger than all the earth is the sun, that glorious body of light? Is it not as easy to raise the dead, as to make heaven, and earth, and all of nothing?—Look not on the dead bones, and dust, and difficulty, but at the promise. Contentedly commit these carcasses to a prison, that shall not long contain them. Let us _lie down in peace_, and take our rest; it will not be an everlasting night, nor endless sleep. If _unclothing_ be the thing thou fearest; it is that thou mayest have better _clothing_.[84] If to be turned out of doors be the thing thou fearest; remember, that when the _earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved_, thou hast _a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens_.[85] Lay down cheerfully this lump of _corruption_; thou shalt undoubtedly receive it again in _incorruption_. Lay down freely this _terrestrial_, this _natural body_; thou shalt receive it again a _celestial_, a _spiritual body_. Though thou lay it down with great _dishonor_; thou shalt receive it in _glory_. Though thou art separated from it through _weakness_; it shall be raised again in mighty _power. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed._[86] _The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then they which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air._[87] Triumph now, O Christian, in these promises; thou shalt shortly triumph in their performance. _This is the day which the Lord will make, we shall rejoice and be glad in it._[88] The grave, that could not keep our Lord, cannot keep us. He arose for us, and by the same power will cause us to arise. _For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him._[89] Let us never look at the grave, but let us see the resurrection beyond it. Yea, let us _be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know our labor is not in vain in the Lord_.[90]