Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	body_n	burn_v	fire_n	4,335	5	6.9372	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88578	A Christians duty and safety in evill times Delivered in severall sermons, upon four texts of scripture, viz. Christ's prayer the saints support, on Iohn 17 15[.] A divine ballance to weigh all doctrines by, on 1 Thes.5. 21[.] A Christians great enquiry, on Acts 16.30, 31[.] A description of true blessedness, on Luke 11. 28[.] By that faithfull messenger of Jesus Christ, Mr Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence-jury, London. Whereunto is annexed The saints rest, or Their happy sleep in death. As it was delivered in a sermon at Aldermanbury, London. Aug. 24. 1651. By Edmund Calalmy. B. D.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.; Calamy, Edumnd, 1600-1666. Saints rest.	1653 (1653)	Wing L3147; Thomason E1434_3-4; ESTC R209589	82,542	242

the resurrection and then they shall put on Stolam immortalitatis the garment of immortality and their bodies shall be made like unto the glorious body of Jesus Christ And know one thing more which is all in all viz. That when the body of a childe of God fals asleep his soul immediatly goes into the arms of Christ and there lives for ever in the embraces of Jesus Christ though the body falls asleep yet the soul is received into Abrahams bosom I beseech you comfort one another with these words Vse 2 Let me beseech the people of God that they would look upon death not as it is presented unto us in Nature's Looking-Glasse but as it is set down in a Scripture-dresse Nature presents death in a very terrible manner and it is true death is very terrible to a man out of Christ but to you that are in Christ the sting of death is taken away death is nothing else but a quiet and placid sleep a putting off of our clothes and a going to bed till we awake in the morning of the resurrection Death to a childe of God is nothing else but a putting off his earthly tabernacle a going from an earthly prison into an heavenly palace a hoising up sail for Heaven the letting of the soul out of prison as a bird out of the cage that it may flee to Heaven a change from a temporary hell to an eternal heaven a going out of Egypt into Canaan and therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.15 It is not mors hominis but mors peccati not the death of the man but the death of his sins It is Sepultura vitiorum It is the pilgrims journeys end the sea-mans haven an absence from the body and a presence with the Lord. Let all Gods people look upon death through Scripture-spectacles and consider it as it is sweetly represented in this Text Remember blessed Stephen stoned to death and yet falling asleep And remember also that excellent saying of Austin That a childe of God should be as willing to die as to put off his cloaths because death is nothing else to him but a sleep and a departure from misery to everlasting happinesse Vse 3 To beseech you all every night when ye go to bed to remember this Text and especially to remember these four things First When you are putting off your cloaths remember that you must shortly put off your bodies And Secondly When you go into your beds remember that it will not bee long before you must go down into your graves And Thirdly When you close your eyes to sleep remember that it will not be long before death must close your eyes And Fourthly When you awake in the morning remember that at the resurrection you must all arise out of the grave and that the just shall arise to everlasting happiness but the wicked to everlasting misery It is a saying of an Heathen man That the whole Life of a man should be nothing else but meditatio Mortis but a meditation of Death And it is the saying of Moses Deut. 32.29 O that men were wise that they understood this that they would consider their later end Beloved it is the greatest part of wisdom every day to remember our later end That man is the only wise man and happy man in Life and Death that is ever mindfull of his Death Quest But before I make an end I must answer one Question v z. Whether the death of the wicked be not in Scripture compared to a sleep as well as the death of the godly Answ I answer That in Scripture wicked men are said to fall asleep when they die 1 Kings 1●● 28. It is said of idolatrous Ieroboam that he slept with his fathers of Baasha and Omri those wicked Kings that they slept with their fathers But then the Question will be In what respect is the death of the wicked compared to a sleep Even as a man which is asleep sometimes hath no benefit rest nor ease thereby when the sick man awakes he is many times more sick then hee was before hee went to sleep Some men are much disquieted in their sleeps by hideous and fearful dreams Nebuchadnezzar when he was asleep had a most scaring dream and when he awoke he was amazed therewith So it is with a wicked man Death to a wicked man is a sleep but it is a terrifying sleep the soul that goes immediatly to hell where it is burned with fire that never shall be quenched and where the worm that never dies is alwayes gnawing upon it The body that indeed lies in the grave asleep but how even as a malefactour that sleeps in prison the night before he is executed but when he awakes he is hurried and dragged to execution so the wicked man fals asleep in death but when he awakes he awakes to everlasting damnation But a childe of God when he sleeps the sleep of death he sleeps in his Fathers house when he awakes he awakes to everlasting happines Vse 4 And this makes way for the fourth and last Use which is a Use of very great consequence And it is to beseech you all that you would labour so to live that when you fall asleep you may sleep an happy sleep There is the sleep that the wicked man sleeps when hee dies and there is the sleep that the godly man sleeps when he dies Now I beseech you labour so to live that when you fall asleep your sleep may be an happy sleep unto you that when you awake in the morning of the resurrection it may bee an happy awakeing unto you Quest But then the great Question will bee How shall I doe this I shall give you five helps for this Answ First If you would sleep an happy sleep at death then you must labour to sleep in lesus Christ It is said 1 Cor. 15.18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ And 1 Thes 4 14. If we beleive that Iesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him What is it to sleep in Jesus To sleep in Jesus is to die in the faith of Jesus Christ 2. To sleep in Jesus is to die with an interest in Jesus Christ to die as a member of Christ united to him as our head For you must know that the dust of a Saint is part of that man who is a member of Jesus Christ and every believer when he sleeps in the dust he sleeps in Jesus Christ that is he lies in the grave and his dust is part of Christ mystical and Christ as an head will raise it up and cannot bee compleat without it Now then if ever you would sleep an happy sleep labour to get a real interest in Christ labour to live in Christ while you live And then when you fall asleep you shall be sure to sleep in Jesus There are many would have Christ to receive their souls at

heare for the manner but also what you heare for the matter so the Evangelist expresseth it Mark 4.24 Take heed what you heare Mark 4.24 The Physician may be authorized to practise and yet may prescribe dangerous potions the Minister may be true as to his Office and yet a false Teacher as to his Doctrine and so to be rejected we must not only look to the messenger but to the message And if any man whatever hee bee preach any other Gospel than this Gal. ●al 2 ● 1.8 let him be accursed These erronious and seducing Doctrines are the Devils tares and the preaching of them is the Devils seed time and if wee would not have these tares to grow in our field wee must not bee present where the Devil soweth them for we must know that a Christian may be poisoned to death as well as starved therefore it is the duty of Christians to take heed what they heare lest they swallow down poison instead of wholsom food soul damning opinions instead of the sincere milk of God's Word 1 Pet. 2.2 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word not the fantasticall Notions and Opinions of vain minded men Will yee look to the food of your bodies and will yee not minde the food of your soules will yee bee carefull that that be bread and bread indeed that yee feed upon for bodily strength and will ye be so carelesse as to feed upon husks and poison for your soules Therefore take heed what ye heare and whom ye heare for sin first entereth in by the eare and the Apostle saith 1 Cor 15.33 1 Cor. 15.33 Evill words corrupt good manners So this is the first Caution when ye are bid to prove all things you have not thereby a liberty given you to hear all sorts of Preachers Secondly when the Apostle saith 2 Caution wee must not bee scepticks in Religion prove all things hee never intended that men should be unstable in Christianity scepticks in Religion wandering stars never fixed in the truths of the Gospel like Seekers for so they may very well be called who settle no where but are alwaies finding out new Truths with their new Lights which usually in the End prove to be nothing but old Errors The Colossians were called upon to seek rooting and establishment in the faith Col. 2.7 Col. 2.7 Thirdly 3 caution wee musi not bring the Scripture to ●u● opinion but our opinion to the Scripture In proveing all Doctrines that you heare be sure you doe not bring the Scripture to your opinion but bring your opinion to the Scripture for the Scripture teacheth nothing but truth and commandeth nothing but goodnesse Many force the Scriptures to speak that which was never intended by the Holy-Ghost that so they may seeme to countenance those erronious opinions which are divulged Quicquid in Scriptura docetur ●eritas quicquid praecipitur bonitas they set the Scriptures as it were upon the wrack to make them confess that which they never intended thus it was with Hereticks of old and this also is their practice in our daies they deal with the Scripture as he did with the Oracle of Delphos to make it speak what he meant But this is the Caution that I would give Doe not bring your sence to the Scripture but labour to carry away the Holy-ghosts sence from the Scripture 4 Caution Be not over consident of your own opinion Fourthly In proving the Doctrins that you hear Lean not too much to your own understanding think not your selves infallible bee not over confident of your own opinion in matters controversial especially if contrary to the judgment of those who are eminent both for guifts and grace Ponder the Scriptures throughly and seek unto God by prayer before ye resolve in matters that are ambiguous Pro. 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feet Having dispatched the Cautions I shall give the Reasons why men must try the Doctrines that they hear First 1 Reason There is a neare resemblance betwixt er tonions and true Teachers Because erronious and corrupt Teachers may carry a very near resemblance to them that preach the truth I have read of two Painters Parrhasius and Zeuxis who contending for the mastery in that Art the one painted Grapes so exactly that the birds came to pick them thinking they had been very Grapes And the other painted a Curtain so exactly that his fellow Painter came to draw it supposing that it had bin a real Curtain There is such a near affinitie betwixt sound Teachers and seducing Teachers that it is no easie matter for a man to discern betwixt them But all is not gold that glisters 2 Cor. 11.13 14. A notable Text you have for this 2 Cor. 11.13 14. For such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himselfe is transformed into an Angel of light False Apostles may transforme themselves so as to be like the Apostles of Christ and Ministers of the Devil factors for hell may transforme themselves so as to be like the Ministers of Jesus Christ Therefore there is good reason that you should try all Doctrines that you hear whether they bee agreable to the Word of God or no. Secondly 2 Reason the Scripture foretels that there shall be many false Teachers Because the Word of God doth foretell that there shall be as many if not more false Teachers under the new Testament then under the old and more in the later daies then were in the former ages of the world this is plain from that Text of Scripture 2 Pet. 2.1 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction They were of old under the Law they shall be with you under the Gospel Although the Pharisees are dead who corrupted the Law yet the same Spirit still lives in men and will doe to the End of the World The Apostle gives this as a reason why we should try such Doctrines as we hear because in the times of the new Testament many false Teachers will appear 1 John 4.1 1 John 4.1 Beleive not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the World Believe not every man that saith he hath the Spirit and that the Spirit doth teach him that Doctrine that he preacheth but try whether it be agreable to the Word of God or no and the reason he gives is because there are many not few false Prophets and those not gone into a corner or bound up in one part of the World indeed in former time the nest of them was enclosed in one part of the World in Germany and especially in Amsterdam But now

searing what would befall him Now God made this a means to cause this man to look after Salvation so that although he thought the escape of the prisoners might occasion the losse of his life yet his care now was what he might doe to save his soule he said Sirs what must I doe to bee saved Hence observe 2 Observation from the occasion of the Iaylors Conversion That God by his providence doth many times so bring it about that affliction shall bee a means to make men look after Salvation Had not this poor man thought that he had lost his prisoners God knowes whether hee had not lost his soul whether ever hee would have enquired after Salvation I have read of a Scotish Divine who being in a great fitt of sicknesse did blesse God for it for saith hee this sicknesse of my body hath been a means to save my soul It is usual with God to make afflictions of one kinde or other instrumental to make men enquire after Salvation 3. The next thing to be considered is the great alteration that this providence made in the Jaylor The poor man before was troubled to think that his prison doors were opened and it is said verse 27. That hee drew his sword and would have killed himselfe But now we finde no more talk of killing of himselfe But all his care was how to save his soul Hence observe 3 Observation from the great alteration that this providenc made in him That when once men come to make a dilligent enquiry after Heaven there will then appear a great alteration in their passions and affections This mans fear and care was not now how to get his prisoners again But his care now was what he should doe that he might no longer be a prisoner to Satan not how to keep other men in bonds but what hee should doe to free himselfe from the Devils bonds Oh the wonderful change that Conversion workes in the soule It doth not only change the conversation but the very passions and affections are changed These Observations are only transient and not directly intended in the Text. Now I shall come to handle both the Enquirie that the Jaylor makes and the Resolve that the Apostle gives First The Jaylors Enquirie Sirs what must I do to be saved This Question The Iaylors Enquirie ariseth both from feare and hope or perplexed Quere doth arise from a two-fold spring or from two kinde of passions or affections in man 1. It doth arise from Feare The man came in trembling and said from Fear Sirs What shall I doe Enquiries when they are vehement have mixtures of feare with them As if hee should have said I may loose my life and my soul too oh but Sirs tell me how I may save my soule and then no matter for my life There was a mixture of fear in this Quere what must I do by reason of the Evil I have done 2 It flowed from the affection of hope from Hope There would never have been Enquitie made if there had not been some hopes of mercy The Question what must I doe argues some measure of hope After impossibillities we make no Enquirie wee make no Enquirie how wee may climbe up to Heaven how we may fly like a bird in the aire because these things are not possible to be done But the things that are attainable are the objects of our Enquirie Now what must I do argues that there was some hopes in this mans breast The Text containes in it these two particulars Two parts in the Text 1. The Quere of a perplexed soule What must I doe to bee saved 2. A full and satisfactory Answer to this Q●aere Beleive on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt bee saved Now before I give you the point of Doctrine 6 Particulars observable from the form of speech he used from the Jaylors Quaere observe these six particulars about the manner and form of the Expresfion 1. He doth not say what evil shall I doe he that had done so much evil already would not add sin to sin But he sayth what good shall I doe 2. He doth not say what good words shall I speak or what good profession shall I make But what good shall I doe It is not good words it is not a good profession which will bring a man to Heaven many cryed Lord Lord that never entred into the Kingdome of Heaven 3. It is not said what may I doe as if it were indifferent whether he might do it or no But he saw there was a necessity of doing somewhat what must I doe 4. It is not said what must another man doe but what must I doe As I cannot live by the food that another man ears so I cannot go to Heaven by the grace which another man acts 5. It is not said what must I know but what must I doe There are many times high flowen speculations in mens minds when there are no gracious dispositions in their hearts But it is not knowing but doeing that will bring a man to Heaven Iohn 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them The Devils know more then all the sons of men they know much good but they doe much evil 6. It is not said what must I doe to get my prisoners again but what must I doe to get to Heaven to save my soul And this indeed is the Enquirie above all Enquirings Thus you have some advertizements from the form of expression here used by the Jaylor Doctrin The Observation is this viz. That above all things in the World this is the most needfull thing for the sons of men to make Enquiry after namely what they must do to be saved In the handling of this proposition I shall first premise some Cautions secondly give you some Reasons and then Apply it The Cautions are three 1 Caution No man is not saved for doing First Though it be the most needfull thing in the World for the sons of men to make Enquirie after this viz. what they must doe to be saved yet take this Caution viz. That though we must Enquire what wee must doe yet wee must not expect to be saved by doing A full expression to this purpose there is in Iob 7.20 I have sinned what shall I doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men The interrogation implies an absolute negation what shall I doe that is I can doe nothing to satisfie thy justice to pacifie thy wrath or procure thy love and favour Lord I have greivously sinned against thee and if thou lookest for reparation and satisfaction at my hands I am no way able to make it Iob speaks like a poor forlorne broken debter to his rich and incensed Creditor aresting him for his debt which he is no way able to satisfy and therefore hee throwes himselfe at his feet and cries out Sir I confesse I owe you much but I have nothing to pay I

am not able to make you the least satisfaction for what I owe you Thus it is with all man kind since the fall of Adam God intrusted Us with a great stock but we have lost all and are become banckrupts deeply indebted we owe a thousand times ten thousand Tallents unto God and of our selves are not able to make the least satisfaction unto his Divine Majesty for all the wrong and dishonour we have done unto him by our sins we may indeed doe something to God as a payment of our duty but we can do nothing as a payment of our debt which we owe unto him Therefore though there must be Enquirie made what must I doe to bee saved yet remember this that no man is saved for doeing 2 Caution no man is saved with out doing Though no man is saved for doeing yet Enquiry must be made what must I doe because no man can bee saved without doeing according to that saying of Saint Austin Though God made thee without thy selfe yet hee will not save thee without thy selfe Indeed my doeing is not the cause of God's saving of me but it is a cause without which God will not save me God saves no man for his doeing yet God will not save any man without his doeing God is not so prodigall of Heaven as to throw it into those mens laps that will take no paines for it Heaven is a Goal and unlesse you run you shall never obtain it Heaven is a Crown of Life but unlesse you be faithfull to death you shall never weare it A third Caution is this 3 Caution Heavenly care doth not exclude lawfull worldly care That Enquiry after Salvation doth not exclude lawfull Enquiry and care after worldly things God did never intend that Heaven should so monopolize and impaile your care and enquiry as that you should look after nothing but Heaven you may have Heaven and the World too You need not doe as Socrates did Socrates who because his Estate did hinder him from studying Philosophy therefore he threw it all into the Sea and said I will destroy thee lest thou shouldest destroy mee You need not cast away your Estate you may make Enquirie after the things of the World and Heaven too alwaies provided that your first and chiefest care bee after Heaven heavenly things and your worldly care subordinate thereunto These are the Cautions Now the Reasons of the point follow First 1 Reason From the Soules excellency we should above all things make Enquirie what wee must doe to be saved because the Soul is the most excellent thing in the World it is clothed in Scripture with this Epethite the precious Soul The Bodie is but the shell the Soul is the Pearl the Bodie is but the case the Soul is the jewell therfore make it thy great work how to save thy Soul because it carries a greater excellencie with it then all the world besides Iulius Caesar was wont to say of Cicero that he was negligent in things belonging to himselfe but diligent in things concerning the Commonwealth So should we be negligent in things concerning our Bodies in comparison of things concerning our Soules Secondly 2 Reason Heavenly care is the leady way to bodily welfare the Enquirie after the Soules safety is the ready way to procure the welfare of the Bodie There is no man is wise for himselfe if he be not wise for his Soul Math. 6.33 But seek yee first the kingdom of God Math. 6.33 and his Righteousnesse and all these things shall be added unto you Make it your great bargain to buy Heaven and God will cast in the world as paper and pack-thred over and above as Riches and Honour were given unto Solomon 1 King 3.12 1 Kings 3.12 Indeed God will not alwaies give the partiticular temporall blessings that you crave or think you stand in need of for he knoweth what wee want better than we our selves but though hee doth not alwaies heare us according to our will Deus non semper audit ad voluntatem vel volupta tem ut esmper exaudiat ad salutem yet he alwaies heares us according to our wants for saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Of the blessings of this life conditionally so far as they conduce to our good but of the life to come absolutely It is a notable passage that we read of Exod. 1.21 And it came to passe Exod. 1.21 because the Midwives feared God that Hee made them houses The Midwives feared God and God took care for them Doe thou take care of thy Soul and God will take care of thy Body Thirdly 3 reason From the devils care to destroy the soul make Enquirie to save thy Soul because there is so much Enquirie made by the Devill to destroy thy Soul 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober and vigilant 1 Pet. 5.8 because your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom hee may devour in the originall it is whom he may drink up at one draft Satan envies our restored condition that we should enjoy that Paradise of Blisse which once he had and out of which he was cast and therefore it is that he is become our irreconcileable Enemie and is continually tempting and disturbing of us out of his infinite hatred of God and goodnesse As the Leopard beareth such a naturall hatred against men that if he see but the picture of a man he will tear it to pecces so the Devill if he sees but the image of God in us by all meanes seeks to destroy us Chrysost Now Chrysostome saith If the Devill doth watch wilt thou sleep if the Devill doth goe about wilt thou sit still if the Devill doth make Enquirie what soules he may devoure and damn why then should not the sonnes of men make it their work to enquire how to save their soules Fourthly 4 Reason If thou Iosest thy soule thou losest all make this Enquirie because if thou losest thy Soul thou hast the greatest losse that is imaginable there is not a losse beyond it To lose the Soul is to bid farewell to God farewell to Christ farewell to a Kingdom and farewell to all society with Saints and Angels for ever and ever O that word ever is the great aggravation of this losse it is a losse not to be repaired Lose thy Soul and thou losest all it is a lasting losse a losse that is irrecoverable It is a good Observation that Chrysostom hath saith hee Chrysost Nature hath so ordered the parts of the body that a man hath two eyes two hands two feet and two eares so that if a man doth lose one eye he can see with the other or lose one leg hee can goe with the other or lose one hand he can work with the other or lose one eare he can heare with the other

asleep while they were stoning of him When he died he prayed and while he prayed he died But what made Stephen die thus quietly Read the 55 verse and you shall see the reason of it Being full of the Holy Ghost he looked stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Iesus standing at the right hand of God Behold saith he I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man slanding at the right hand of God This made him die with such a sweet quiet and calm temper he saw Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to receive his Soul and that made him die with such an extraordinary quietnesse of minde Death in Scripture especially the death of Gods children is often compared to a sleep It is said of David that he slept with his fathers And it is said 1 Thes 4.13 I would not have you ignorant concerning them which are asleep that is concerning them which are dead And 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause many are weakly and sickly among you and many sleep that is many die This expression is a metaphorical expression and will afford us many rare and precious instructions about Death And therfore the grace of God assisting me I desire to spend the rest of the time in the opening of this Metaphor Doctrin The Observation is this viz. That when a child of God dies though his death be never so unnaturall and violent yet it is nothing else but a falling asleep Or The death of a child of God though stoned to death though burnt to ashes though it be never so violent unnaturall is nothing else but a falling asleep When he had said this he fell asleep Somnus est mortis imago Sleep is the image of Death There are many notable resemblances betwixt Sleep and Death some of which I shall speak to at this time 1 Sleep is common to all men there is no man that can live without sleep a man may live long without meat but no man can live long without sleep So it is true of death death is common to all it is appointed for all men once to die and therfore David said he was to go the way of all flesh Statutum est omnibus semel mort Omnibus est calcanda semel lethi via All men must sleep the sleep of death or else be changed which is a metaphoricall death 2 As sleep ariseth from the vapors that ascend from the stomack to the head tie the sences hinder their operations so death came into the world by Adams eating the forbidden Fruit and by the poisonfull vapor of sin that brought death upon him and all his posterity By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 Had Adam never sinned Adam should never have died but in illo die said God in that day thou eatest the forbidden fruit thou shalt die the death Sinne brings omnimodam mortem all kindes of death it brings death temporall death spirituall and death eternall Now because all men are poisoned with the poison of sin therfore all men must sleep the sleep of death it is sin that hath poisoned all mankinde 3 As a man when he goeth to sleep puts off his clothes and goeth naked into bed so it is with us when wee come to die We came naked into the world and we must go naked out of the world As we brought nothing with us into the world so we must carry nothing with us out of the world And therefore Death in Scripture is called nothing else but an uncloathing of our selves 2 Cor. 5.4 Death to a childe of God is nothing else but the putting off of his cloaths The body of man is animae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vestimentum it is the souls cloathing and death is nothing else but the unclothing of the soul it is just like a man going to bed putting off his cloaths St Peter cals it The putting off our earthly tabernacle 2 Pet. 1.14 Our bodies are the souls tabernacle and death is the putting off of this tabernacle Beloved when we come to die we shall be stript naked of three things 1. We shall be stript naked of all our worldly honour riches and greatnesse 2. We shall be stript naked of our bodies And 3. Which is above all we shall be stript naked of our sins And that is the happinesse of a childe of God he shall put off not only his mortal body but the body of sin 4. In the fourth place observe As no man knoweth the time when hee fals asleep a man fals asleep before he is aware So no man can tell the certain time when he must die There is nothing so certain as that wee must die nothing so uncertain as the time when we shall die Death comes suddenly even as sleep comes upon a man before he is aware 5. Observe As children and infants because they do not know the benefit of sleep are very loth to go to sleep many times the mother is fain to whip the child to bed even so it is with most of Gods people because they do not study the benefit of death that death puts an end to all our miseries and sins and opens a door to let us in unto everlasting happinesse and that we shall never see God or Christ before we die I say because Gods people do not study the benefit of death therefore they are like to little children loth to die loth to go to bed And therefore death is called The King of terrors Death is terrible to many of Gods children because they are but infants in grace and because they do not know the benefit of death 6 Observe As when a man is fast asleep he is free from cares and free from troubles Let it thunder as it thundred not long since as you know yet a man that is fast asleep while hee is asleep hee hears it not Let the house bee on fire while the man is asleep he sees it not neither is be troubled at it So it is with the death of Gods children when Gods children sleep the sleep of death they are free from the thunders of this world they are free from all cares from all troubles they goe to their graves as to their beds and rest in quietness and are not sensible of any troubles that are in the world For Abraham knew us not Isa 63.16 So 2 King 22.20 Thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place When a childe of God sleeps the sleep of death hee doth not feel nor is he sensible of any of the calamities or sad providences of God upon the Earth 7. When a man goeth to sleep he goeth to sleep but for a certain time in the morning he awakes out of sleep So it is with the sleep of death

and therefore death is called a sleep because we must all awake in the morning of the resurrection We are in the grave as in our bed and when the trumpet of God and the voice of the Archangel shall sound wee shall all rise out of our grave as out of our beds Death is but a sleep for a certain time 8. Sleep is a great refreshing to those that are weary sick and when the sick man awakes he is more lively chearful then he was before he fell asleep and therefore sleep is called Medicus laborum redintegratio virium recreator corporum The great Physician of the sick body the redintegration of mans spirits the reviver of the weary body And so it is with death when Gods people awake out of the sleep of death they shall bee more active for God then ever they were before when you lie down in the grave you lie down with mortal bodies It is sown a mortal body 1 Cor. 15.42 43. but ●t shall rise up an immortal body it is sown in dishonour but it shall rise up in honour it is sown a natural body but it shall rise up a spiritual body 9. As in the morning when wee arise out of our beds we then put on our clothes So in the morning of the resurrection wee shall put on a glorious body like to the glorious body of Iesus Christ we shall put on Stolam immortalitatis the garment of immortality 10. As no man when he layeth him down to sleep knoweth the direct time when he shall awake So no man can tell when the resurrection shall be They do but cozen you who say that the general resurrection shall bee such or such a year for as no man can know the minute when he shall awake out of his natural sleep no more can any man know when we shall arise from the sleep of death 11. As it is a very easie thing to awake a man out of sleep it is but jogging of him you wil quickly awake him So it is with the sleep of death it is as easie for Jesus Christ to awake us out of the sleep of death as it is for me or you to awake a man out of sleep in bed Nemo nostrûm tam facilè excitat dormientem de lecto quàm Christus jacentem in sepulchro 12 As when a man ariseth in the morning though he hath slept many houres nay suppose he could sleep twenty yeares together yet notwithstanding when hee awaketh these twenty yeares will seem to bee but as one houre unto him So it will be at the day of judgment all those that are in their graves when they awake it will be tanquam somnus unius horae but as the sleep of one houre unto them 13 Lastly and most especially As sleep seizeth only upon the body and outward senses but doth not seize upon the soul the foul of man is many times most busie when the man is asleep and God hath heretofore revealed most glorious things to his children in Dreams when they have been asleep God appeared unto Abraham and many others in Dreams the body sleeps but the soul wakes So it is with the sleep of Death the body that dies but the soul doth not die There are some men that are not afraid to teach you That the soul sleeps as well as the body and that when the body dies and fals asleep the soul likewise continues in a dull Lethargy veternoso somno correptus neither capable of joy nor sorrow untill the resurrection Beloved This is a very uncomfortable and a very false Doctrine They endeavour to prove it from my Text they say That Stephen when he died fell asleep It is true in regard of his body he fell asleep but his soul did not fall a sleep that which was stoned fell asleep which was his body only for when he was stoning he saw Jesus Christ standing ready to receive his soul into Heaven Lord Jesus saith he receive my spirit Stephens soul could not be stoned though his body was stoned So when Jesus Christ was crucified his soul was not crucified I mean when his body was killed his soul was not killed indeed he did endure torments in his soul which made him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me But yet his soul did not die So when Stephen died his soul went to Christ It is true when a childe of God dies the soul goes to sleep How is that The soul goes to sleep in a Scripture sense that is it goes to rest in Abrahams bosom O blessed sleep it goes to rest in the embraces of God it goes into the armes of its Redeemer it goes into the heavenly Paradise it goes to be alwayes present with the Lord. But take heed of that wicked opinion to say that the soul sleeps in an Anabaptistical sense that is That itlies in a strange kinde of Lethargy neither dead nor alive neither capable of joy nor forrow untill the resurrection Though Stephens body fell asleep yet his soul did not fall asleep but immediatly went unto Jesus Christ in heaven Thus I have given the Explication of the words Now give me leave to make some Application of all unto our selves Vse 1 If the death of Gods children bee nothing else but a falling asleep then let this comfort us against the deaths of our godly friends though they die unnatural and violent deaths though they be stoned to death though they be burnt to ashes though they bee sawn asunder c. Here is a message of rich consolation which as a Minister of Christ I hold out unto you this day viz. That the death of a child of God let it bee after what manner soever it will it is nothing else but a falling a sleep he goes to his grave as to his bed and therefore our burying places are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dormitoria our sleeping houses A childe of God when hee dies hee lies down in peace and enters into his rest And as a man when he is asleep is free from all the cares and troubles that he hath in the day time So the people of God when they are fallen asleep they are free from all the miseries crosses losses and afflictions that we are troubled withall There fore give me leave to say to you as Christ did to the women that followed him to the Crosse bewailing and lamenting of him O daughters of Ierusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your children So say I O weep not for those that are dead in the Lord that are fallen asleep in Jesus Christ they are at their rests they do not know the troubles that wee are troubled withall Abraham remembers us not they are not sensible of our miseries and afflictions let us weep for our selves and for the miseries that are coming upon us and let us know that when Gods children die they doe but lie in their beds untill the morning of