A32022:96
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.
Object. What benefit doth the body in the grave gain by his souls being in heaven?
Answ. I gains this double benefit:
1. If his Soul be in heaven, it is certain the Body will come thither at last: For it is but as the shadow to the substance, and if the substance be in heaven, the shadow will undoubtedly follow.
2. Though the Soul be in heaven, yet it can never be perfectly and completely happy till it be reunited to the Body. For God made the soul to be the form of the body, and to dwell for ever in it: And if it had not been for Adams transgression, the body and soul should never have been separated. This separation is the fruit of sin, and therefore the soul in heaven hath appetitum unionis, a desire to have this breach made up, and to be united again to his body, because he shall have a more perfect and complete being with it than without it. The Scripture tells us, That it waits for the redemption of his body, 1and that it prayeth that God would accomplish the number of his Elect, that so they may again be joined to their bodies, and have Coronam perfectam & publicam, a public and perfect Crown of glory. The souls in heaven (saith Bernard) pray for their bodies in the grave; They are not like the chief Butler, who forgot Joseph when he was restored to his former dignity. They remember they have bodies still in the grave, which were companions with them in the service of God, in Prayer, and Fasting, and suffering afflictions for Christ. And they know, that by reunion with them their happiness will be much increased; and therefore they cannot cease praing for them, and Christ will in due time come in glory to raise them up unto everlasting life.