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 be complete ••out 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 death, and that say with dying Stephen, Lord Jesus receive my spirit: But if ever you would have Christ to receive your souls when you die, you must be sure to receive him into your souls whilst you live, if ever you would have him to receive you into heaven, you must receive him into your hearts. No man makes a will, but he saith, Imprimis, I bequeath my soul unto Jesus Christ my Redeemer ⟨image 5⟩But how dost thou know that Jesus Christ will accept of this Legacy? If thy soul hath not Christs Image upon it, if it be not regenerated and renewed, Jesus Christ will never own it▪ Thou mayest bequeath it unto Christ, but the Devil will claim it, if thy soul hath the Devils Image upon it, if it be a swinish, polluted, unbelieving, unregenerate sou•, thou mayest bestow it upon God, but the Devil will recover it out of Gods hands: pardon this expression, it is not mine, but St. Austins. Beloved, if ever you would reign with Christ when you die, he must reign in you whilst you live: and if ever you would sleep an happy sleep, you must live in Jesus that you may sleep in Jesus.
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 mistical, and Christ as an head will raise it up, and cannot be compleat ••out it. Now then, if ever you would sleep an happy sleep, labor 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 soules at death, and that say with dying Stephen, Lord Iesus receive my spirit: But if ever you would have Christ to receive your souls when you die, you must be sure to receive him into your souls whilst you live, if ever you would have him to receive you into heaven, you must receive him into your hearts. No man makes a will, but he saith, Imprimis, I bequeath my soule unto Jesus Christ my Redeemer ⟨image 5⟩But how dost thou know that Jesus Christ will accept of this Legacy? If thy soul hath not Christs Image upon it, if it be not regenerated and renewed, Jesus Christ will never own it▪ Thou maist bequeath it unto Christ, but the Devil will claim it, if thy soul hath the Devills Image upon it, if it be a swinish, polluted, unbelieving, unregenerate sou•, thou maist bestow it upon God, but the Devil will recover it out of Gods hands: pardon this expression, it is not mine, but St. Austins. Beloved, if ever you would raign with Christ when you die, he must reign in you whilst you live: and if ever you would sleep an happy sleep, you must live in Jesus that you may sleep in Jesus.