A36322:208
The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extremes, defect,…The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extreams, defect,…
The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extremes, defect, excess of sorrow for his dead to which is added, The mourners soliloquy / by Thomas Doolittle ...The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extreams, defect, excess of sorrow for his dead to which is added, The mourners soliloquy / by Thomas Doolittle ...
London: printed by J.A. for Tho. Cockeril, 1693
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.
Concerning this representation of death by sleeping, four things may be premised as to this manner of Scripture expression.
1. Tho Beasts do die, yet their death in Scripture (that I know of) is never called a Sleep; for they die to live no more. Death puts an end to their Life without a Resurrection to it any more. They are only in this World, and not to have Life in that World that Men are hastening too. They are not capable here of Moral Government, of Sin or Grace, and so shall not be raised to undergo Eternal Punishments, or to receive Eternal Rewards hereafter. Tho they do sleep while they live, yet their death is not a sleep, because they shall die, but never wake.
2. The death of ungodly Men is sometimes in Scripture called a sleep, tho more seldom. The worst as well as the best, all Mankind in general, shall be raised at the last day. As death is common to all, so shall the Resurrection of the dead also be: Tho as there is a difference in their death, so shall there also be in their Resurrection; but because they shall awake, therefore to them death also is a sleep. Tho they had better to sleep on, than to awake and rise to be tormented. Dan. 12.2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake, some to everlasting Life, and some to Shame and Everlasting Contempt; Expressed by Christ in these words, John 5.28. All that are in their Graves shall hear his voice. 29. And shall come forth, they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life, and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation.
2. The death of ungodly Men is sometimes in Scripture called a sleep, tho more seldom. The worst as well as the best, all Mankind in general, shall be raised at the last day. As death is common to all, so shall the Resurrection of the dead also be: Tho as there is a difference in their death, so shall there also be in their Resurrection; but because they shall awake, therefore to them death also is a sleep. Tho they had better to sleep on, than to awake and rise to be tormented.