Eighthly and lastly, Look upon death as a going to §2Bed. The Grave is a Bed wherein the body is laid to rest, with its curtains close drawn about it, that it may not be disturbed in its repose: So the Holy Ghost is pleased to phrase it; He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds, every one walking in their uprightness. 1As the souls of the Saints pass to a place of rest and bliss, so their bodies are laid down to▪ rest in the Grave, as in a Bed or Bed-chamber; there to sleep quietly, until the morning of the Resurrection. Death is nothing else, but a Writ of ease to the weary Saints; 'tis a total cessation from all their labour of nature, sin and affliction: Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, that they may rest 2from their labours, &c. Whilst the souls of the Saints do rest in Abraham's bosom, their bodies do sweetly sleep in their beds of dust, as in a safe and consecrated Dormitory. Every sincere Christian may, like the weary ⟨image 41⟩child, call and cry to be laid to bed; knowing that death will send him to his everlasting rest. Now you should always look upon death under Scripture Notions, and this will take off the terror of death; yea, it will make the King of Terrors▪ to be the King of desires; it will make you not only willing to die, but even long to die, and to cry out, O that I had the wings of a dove, to fly away, and be at rest. At death you shall have an eternal Jubilee, and be freed from all incumbrances. Now sin shall be no more, nor trouble shall be no more, nor pain nor ailments shall be no more. Now you shall have your Quietus est, now the wicked shall cease from3 troubling, and now the weary shall be at rest, now all4 tears shall be wiped from your eyes, now death shall be the way to bliss, the Gate of Life, and the Portal to Paradise. It was well said of one, so far as we tremble at death, so far we want love; it's sad when the contract is made between Christ and a Christian, to see a Christian afraid of the making up the Marriage. Lord (saith5 one, I will die that I may enjoy thee; I will not live, but I will die, I desire to die, that I may see Christ; and refuse to live, that I may live with Christ. The broken Rings, Contracts and Espousals, contents not the true Lover, but he longs for the Marriage day. It is no credit to your Heavenly Father, for you to be loth to go home.
Eighthly and lastly, Look upon death as a going to §2Bed. The Grave is a Bed wherein the body is laid to rest, with its curtains close drawn about it, that it may not be disturbed in its repose: So the Holy Ghost is pleased to phrase it; He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds, every one walking in their uprightness. 1As the souls of the Saints pass to a place of rest and bliss, so their bodies are laid down to▪ rest in the Grave, as in a Bed or Bed-chamber; there to sleep quietly, until the morning of the Resurrection. Death is nothing else, but a Writ of ease to the weary Saints; 'tis a total cessation from all their labour of nature, sin and affliction: Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, that they may rest 2from their labours, &c. Whilst the souls of the Saints do rest in Abraham's bosom, their bodies do sweetly sleep in their beds of dust, as in a safe and consecrated Dormitory. Every sincere Christian may, like the weary ⟨image 41⟩child, call and cry to be laid to bed; knowing that death will send him to his everlasting rest. Now you should always look upon death under Scripture Notions, and this will take off the terrour of death; yea, it will make the King of Terrours▪ to be the King of desires; it will make you not only willing to die, but even long to die, and to cry out, O that I had the wings of a dove, to fly away, and be at rest. At death you shall have an eternal Jubilee, and be freed from all incumbrances. Now sin shall be no more, nor trouble shall be no more, nor pain nor ailments shall be no more. Now you shall have your Quietus est, now the wicked shall cease from3 troubling, and now the weary shall be at rest, now all4 tears shall be wiped from your eyes, now death shall be the way to bliss, the Gate of Life, and the Portal to Paradise. It was well said of one, so far as we tremble at death, so far we want love; it's sad when the contract is made between Christ and a Christian, to see a Christian afraid of the making up the Marriage. Lord (saith5 one, I will die that I may enjoy thee; I will not live, but I will die, I desire to die, that I may see Christ; and refuse to live, that I may live with Christ. The broken Rings, Contracts and Espousals, contents not the true Lover, but he longs for the Marriage day. It is no credit to your Heavenly Father, for you to be loth to go home.
- 1Isa. 57. 2.
- 2Rev. 14. 13.
- 3Job. 3. 17.
- 4Rev. 7. 17.
- 5Austin.
