324 ESSAY TOWARD THE [SECT. V. froma state of happiness into such a miserable world as this ? Answer 1. Since these souls were designed to be soon restored to their bodies, and the persons were to he raised to a mortal life again in a few days, it is probable they were keptjust in the saine state of immemorial consci- ousness, as the soul is in while the body is in the deep- est sleep ; and so were not immediately sent to heaven or hell, or determined to a state of sensible happiness or misery. Then when the person was raised to life again, there was no remembrance of the intermediate state, but all the consciousness of that day or two vanished, and was forgotten for ever, as it is with us when we sleep soundly without dreaming. Answer 2. If those, who were raised by Christ, or the prophets, or the apostles, were pious persons, they sub- mitted, by the will of God, to a longer continuance in this world, amidst some difficulties and sorrows, which submission would be abundantly recompensed hereafter. If they were not good persons, their renewed life on earth was a reprieve from punishment. So there was no injury done to any of them. As for those, who were raised at the resurrection of Christ, and were seen by many persons in the holy city, there is no doubt but they were raised to immortality, and ascended to heaven when Christ did, as part of his triumphant attendants, and went to dwell with him in the heavenly state,, Objection X. If the martyrs and confessors were to be partakers. of the first resurrection, in Rev xx. 4, 5. would not this be a punishment, instead of a blessing, to be called from the immediate presence of God, and Christ, and angels, to'be reunited to bodies on earth, and dwell here again with men ?' 'Therefore, it seems more probable, that the souls of these holy martyrs, had no such separate existence or enjoyment of happi- ness. Answer. :Perhaps neither that text, nor any other in the bible, foretel the resurrection of any number of per- sons to an animal earthly life again in this 'world : per- haps that prophecy means no more, than that the cause of Christ and religion, for which men were martyred and
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