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,…

4. The Expression of sleeping in Jesus is to be understood peculiarly of the death of true Believers that shall be awaked to live with him in Eternal Glory, 1 Thes. 4.15. Impenitent Persons go night after night to their Beds, and sleep in their Sin, and at last die in their Sin. But it is peculiar to sanctified Persons to die in the Lord, and sleep in Jesus.

Carnal unbelieving Men might laugh this Doctrine to Scorn, as they did Jesus that taught it, and say, We know that they are dead. And death is death whatsoever name you call it by; and what Comfort can we have from Words and Names against such a real Evil as death is. Luke 8.49. Thy daughter is dead, trouble not the Master. 52. And all wept and bewailed her, but he said weep not, she is not dead but sleepeth. 53. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. But since the most Wise and Ever-living God hath called death so often by such a Name, there is some supporting Comfort in it against the fears of our o•n, and excessive sorrow for the death of ot•ers. Let's search and try.

1. Our Dead are sleeping, therefore they are at rest from all Troubles from men. Those that would not suffer them to rest in Life, cannot hinder their rest in Death: They that would not let them rest in their Beds in their Houses upon Earth, will let them rest in the Bed of the Grave, the house appointed for all the living, in the Bowels of the Earth; or if they should dig up their dry Bones, yet they cannot hereby disturb their rest, for they are not sensible of any more trouble. To go to Bed and sleep, and to go to Bed and take our rest, are words importing the same thing.