A32062:52
A sermon preached
A sermon preached by Mr. Edmund Calamy at Aldermanbury, London, Aug. 24, 1651 being a funeral sermon for Mr. Love on the Sabbath-day following after he was executed ... also four excellent doctrines and proposition to the Presbyterians and others to be by them practiced and meditated upon both morning and evening.
London: printed for G. Horton, 1651
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.
1. If you would sleep an happy sleep at death, then you must labour to sleep in Jesus Christ. It is said, 1 Cor. 15. 18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ. And 1 Thes. 4. 14. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him. What is it to sleep in Jesus? To sleep in Jesus is to die in the faith of Jesus Christ.
1. If you would sleep an happy sleep at death, then you must labour to sleep in Jesus Christ. It is said, 1 Cor. 15. 18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ. And 1 Thes. 4. 14. If we believe that Iesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Iesus, will God bring with him. What is it to sleep in Jesus? To sleep in Jesus is to die in the faith of Jesus Christ.
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