A32022:91
The happiness of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to…The happinesse of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to…
The happiness of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to the dead bodies of the saints even while they are in the grave, sleeping in Jesus delivered in a sermon preached at the funeral of ... Lady Anne Waller, at the new church in Westminst[er], Oct. 31, 1661 : together with the testimony then given unto her / by Edm. Calamy ...The happinesse of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to the dead bodies of the saints even while they are in the grave, sleeping in Jesus delivered in a sermon preached at the funeral of ... Lady Anne Waller, at the new church in Westminst[er], Oct. 31, 1661 : together with the testimony then given unto her / by Edm. Calamy ...
London: printed by J.H. for Nathanael Webb, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. They that sleep in Jesus have this benefit by it, That Christ by his burial hath sanctified the grave, and sweetened it, and perfumed it, insomuch, that though in its own nature, it be as loathsome prison, a house of rottenness, and a place of terror; yet to a man dead in Christ, the nature of it is altered, and to him it is as a soft bed, wherein he is laid down quietly to take his rest, and there to remain asleep, free from all cares, fears, and troubles till the Resurrection of the dead. Though the grave in its own nature be a dreadful place, a stinking charnel-house, and a rotten prison to the wicked and ungodly, where they lye waiting for the Great Assizes; yet to the Children of God, Christ hath made it a Magazine and Store-house to keep their bodies safe till the great Resurrection. And he hath also made it a beaten and plain way to heaven. Christ Jesus himself went to heaven thorough the ⟨p. 11⟩grave, and so must we and all the Godly. We must first put off the rags of Mortality, before we can put on the robes of Immortality. To a wicked man, the grave is a thorough-fare to hell, but to a man asleep in Jesus it is a passage to heaven, where Christ is. And if St. Austin was willing to go even thorough hell to Christ in heaven, much more may we be willing to go thorough the grave to him.
2. They that sleep in Iesus have this benefit by it, That Christ by his burial hath sanctified the grave, and sweetned it, and perfumed it, insomuch, that though in its own nature, it be as loathsome prison, a house of rottenness, and a place of terrour; yet to a man dead in Christ, the nature of it is altered, and to him it is as a soft bed, wherein he is laid down quietly to take his rest, and there to remain asleep, free from all cares, fears, and troubles till the Resurrection of the dead. Though the grave in its own nature be a dreadful place, a stinking charnel-house, and a rotten prison to the wicked and ungodly, where they lye waiting for the Great Assizes; yet to the Children of God, Christ hath made it a Magazin and Store-house to keep their bodies safe till the great Resurrection. And he hath also made it a beaten and plain way to heaven. Christ Jesus himself went to heaven thorough the ⟨p. 11⟩grave, and so must we and all the Godly. We must first put off the rags of Mortality, before we can put on the robes of Immortality. To a wicked man, the grave is a thorough-fare to hell, but to a man asleep in Jesus it is a passage to heaven, where Christ is. And if St. Austin was willing to go even thorough hell to Christ in heaven, much more may we be willing to go thorough the grave to him.