But why may not Christians mourn, and continue in heaviness? because it is no new thing, for a man to die: because he goeth the way of all flesh. Again, they that depart this life, are not dead, they are not gone for ever, as the heathen imagined. They are laid down to take rest quietly for a time. The death of a godly man is nothing else, but a sleep. So saith our saviour of Lazarus, Our friend 1Lazarus sleepeth: howbeit Jesus spake of his death. So it is said of Steven. And they stoned 2Steven, who called on God, and said, Lord Jesus receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge, and when he had thus spoken, he slept. Whosoever dieth in the peace of conscience, he may say, I will lie down and take my rest. Thus doeth the man of God repose himself. For Christ is unto him both in life, and in death advantage. He saith with the Apostle, Whether we 3live, we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lords. He goeth into ⟨p. 163⟩his grave, as into a bed: he forsaketh this life, as if he lay down to sleep: he shall shake off his sleep, rouse himself, and rise again. As we wake out of sleep, we know not how: so shall we rise again, though we know not how. As we are much refreshed, and our bodies strengthened by sleep: so shall we rise again in much more strength, and our corruption shall put on incorruption, and our mortality, immortality. So often then as we go to our beds, let us think of our resurrection from death. Who is sorry to go into his bed? what father lamenteth to see his child lie quietly, and take his rest? why then should he so mourn for his death? wherein GOD dealeth mercifully with him, and doth translate him to the glory of the sons of God, where is no death, nor fear: but we shall be made like to the Angels of God.
But why may not Christians mourne, and continue in heauinesse? because it is no newe thing, for a man to die: because he goeth the waie of al flesh. Againe, they that departe this life, are not dead, they are not gone for euer, as the heathen imagined. They are laid down to take rest quietly for a time. The deth of a godlie man is nothing else, but a sléepe. So saith our sauiour of Lazarus, Our friend 1Lazarus sleepeth: howbeit Iesus spake of his death. So it is saide of Steuen. And they stoned 2Steuen, who called on God, and saide, Lord Iesus receiue my spirite. And hee kneeled downe, and cried with a loud voice, Lord laie not this sinne to their charge, and when he had thus spoken, he slept. Whosoeuer dieth in the peace of conscience, he may saie, I will lie downe and take my rest. Thus doeth the man of God repose himselfe. For Christ is vnto him both in life, and in death aduantage. He saith with the Apostle, Whether we 3liue, wee liue vnto the Lord, or whether wee die, we die vnto the Lord: whether wee liue therefore or die, we are the Lords. He goeth into ⟨p. 163⟩his graue, as into a bed: he forsaketh this life, as if he lay downe to sléepe: he shall shake off his sléepe, rouse himselfe, and rise againe. As we wake out of sléepe, we know not howe: so shall we rise againe, though we knowe not how. As we are much refreshed, and our bodies strengthened by sléepe: so shal we rise againe in much more strength, and our corruption shal put on incorruption, and our mortalitie, immortalitie. So often then as we goe to our beddes, lette vs thinke of our resurrection from death. Who is sorie to goe into his bedde? what father lamenteth to sée his childe lie quietly, and take his reste? why then shoulde he so mourne for his death? wherein GOD dealeth mercifully with him, and doth translate him to the glorie of the sonnes of God, where is no death, nor feare: but we shal be made like to the Angels of God.
- 1John 11.Iohn 11.
- 2Act. 7.
- 3Rom. 14.
