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ESSAY
TOWARD THE
[SECT. V.
from
a
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
kept
just
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