Death the Sweetest Sleep, Sermon

Death the Sweetest Sleep · Sermon

p. 1JOH. 11.11.

Our Friend Lazarus ſleepeth.

THeſe Words are an Affirmativ Propoſition, delivered by our bleſſed Saviour, wherein we note

1. The SUBJECT of it, or the Perſon ſpoken of, who is here deſcribed, by his Name, (a)(a)in Heb. Eleazar.LAZARUS, with his Relation, a FRIEND, OUR Friend.

2. The PREDICATE. Sleepeth. Our Friend Lazarus ſleepeth.

Firſt, As for the Subject. Lazarus, OUR Friend. Not My Friend, but Ours. q. d. Behold, my dear Diſciples, I, who am your Liege Lord, and King, do yet ſtoop ſo far, as To own you not only for my Servants, and Subjects, but for my FRIENDS, and faithful Lazarus, tho' now dead, to be my Friend; I am indeed your Friend, and ye are my Friends, and ſo was Lazarus, p. 2whilſt Living, my Friend, and your Friend. Our Friend Lazarus. From hence I infer

I. That there is A Mutual Friendſhip, a dear and intimate Lov betwixt the Lord Jeſus and tru Believers. 'Twas ſo betwixt Chriſt and Lazarus. CHRIST was certainly a Friend to Lazarus. Both his Siſters atteſt it. Lord, he whom thou loveſt, is ſick, ver. 3. The Evangeliſt averrs it, Jeſus loved Lazarus, v. 5. and the Jews, from his melting Tears, and yerning Bowels, conclude it, ver. 36. Behold, how he lov'd him. And that LAZARUS lov'd Jeſus, abundantly appears from his friendly Converſe, and Communion with him, his friendly treats and entertainments of him. Chriſt did often eat of his bread, and drank of his Cup. That BETHANY, which, by Lazarus's Death, may juſtly now be ſtil'd an houſ of Sorrow, was, in Lazarus Life-Time, to Chriſt a real BETHLEHEM, an houſe of bread. And ſo it was, and is betwixt the Lord, and all Tru Believers. ABRAHAM is ſtiled the Friend of God by Jehoſhaphat; 2 Chron. 20.7. and Jam. 2.23. becaus of his firm Covenanting, p. 3and frequent Communion with him: and GOD owns him as his Friend. Iſa. 41.8. The like doth Chriſt our Lord. Henceforth I call you not ſervants, but friends. Joh. 15.14, 15. This friendſhip is(b)(b)Jer. 31.33. & 32.38, 39. Zec. 13.9. Hoſ. 2.23.Jer 31:33Jer 32:38Jer 32:39Hos 2:23 Mutual I lov them, that lov me. Prov. 8.17. My Beloved is mine, and I am His. Can. 2.16.

From hence Learn.

1. The heigth, Ela, Zenith of a Tru Believer, a clod of duſt, and ſin, his Exaltation, that, as the Son of God is not aſhamed to call him Brother, ſo both Father and Son are pleas'd to own and embrace him, as a Friend.

2. The infinit ſtoop, and condeſcenſion of the Lord Jeſus, who, tho' he thought it no robbery, but rather claims it as his juſt Prerogative, to be equal with God, judges it no diſparagement, to match himſelf with weak, and wretched men. Our Friend Lazarus. Friendſhip beſpeaks a kind of (a) Parity. (c)(c)Amicitia est inter pares.There may be lov, where there is the greateſt inequality. Lov deſcends. But Friendſhip either finds, or makes an Equal.

II. That All thoſe, that are Tru Friends to Chriſt, are mutually loving Friends each to other. p. 4Not my Friend, but OUR Friend, ſaith the Text. Not a Friend to me only, who am the head, but To you alſo, and all, that are like you, living Members of the Myſtical body. The holy Epheſians, that had tru Faith in Chriſt, had a ſincere lov to All the Saints. Eph. 1.15. So had the Coloſſians, Col. 1.4. The Beloved Diſcipl aſſures us, that 'tis impoſſible to lov the Father,1 Joh. 4.20, 21.1 John 4:201 John 4:21 or his Eternal Son, if we lov not his adopted Children. The Mutual lov of Saints is the very badg, Joh. 13.35.John 13:35livery, foreign. Diſtinctiv Character of a Tru Diſcipl. By this ſhall all men Know, that ye ar my Diſcipls indeed, if ye lov one another. Ecce, ut Chriſtiani ſe mutuo diligant, was the bleſſed Elogy, the convinced Heathens gav the Warm Chriſtians of Old, who, were they now aliv, would ſee too much reaſon to decry, yea condemn the frozen hearts, and yet diſtemperd heats of the ſhallow Profeſſors of this divided Age.

We hav diſpatcht the Subject; proceed we to

Secondly, The PREDICATE of our Saviours Aſſertion-,foreign: dormit. i. e. mortuus est. SLEEPETH; i. e. is dead. The Apoſtl makes uſe of that, p. 5which we call an Euphemiſmus. By a ſoft expreſſion hinting that, which is of a more harſh ſignification. So, to depart hence, is To Die. The Syriack Verſion renders it foreign, jacet, cubat, decumbit, is Laid down to ſleep; to reſt himſelf on a bed of Earth, on a pillow of Duſt. So the word is uſed,2 Sam. 7.12. & Iſa. 14.8.2 Sam 7:12Isa 14:8 and interpreted by the Septuagint.

But our Lords own Mouth is his Beſt Commentary, What he Here calls Sleep, ver. 13.14. he moſt expreſly, foreign i. e. moſt plainly, without a Metaphor, calls Death, foreign, is dead.

From hence we gather This Note, That

Obſ. A Tru Believers Death is a Sleep. A ſweet, a Bleſſed Sleep. Not a Natural ſleep, ſuch as that Mat. 28.13. is. Luk. 22.45. Act. 12.6. of this the Diſcipls miſunderſtood the words of Chriſt, ver. 12, 13. of this Chapter. But a Metaphorical ſleep. Our ſleep here is but a ſhorter Death, and our Temporal Death but as a longer ſleep. None can Know the Eſtate of Life or Death, ſo well as our Bleſſed Saviour, who is Lord of Both. It is enough, that he tells us, that Death is no other than Sleep.

p. 6Queſt. But, What is That, that is ſaid to ſleep in Death?

Sol. 1. Negatively. 'Not the Soul, after its departure from the Body, No: The Bodies of men indeed,Gen. 3.19. Almondo a Via. My body dies, my ſpirit livs. The day of death to the body, is the birth of Eternity to the Soul.Gen 3:19 after Death, return to the dust and ſee corruption, Act. 13.36. But their Souls having an immortal ſubſiſtence, and vivacity, neither die, nor ſleep, but immediatly return to God that gave them, Eccl. 12.7. The Souls of Believers ar, at their Death, made perfect in holineſs, the ſpirits of juſt men ar then made perfect, Heb. 12.23. and do immediatly paſs into glory. So our Bleſſed Saviour aſſures the penitent Thief, that that very day, he, i. e. his Soul ſhould be with him in Paradiſe, Luk. 23.43. and Paul Knows, that as ſoon as ever his Soul departs out of his body, it will be with Chriſt, Phil. 1.23. and that, when this our earthly houſe of this Tabernacle is diſſolved, the Soul hath a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens. 2 Cor. 5.1.6.8. That, as ſoon as we ar abſent from the Body, we ar preſent with the Lord. Not the Soul then, but

p. 72. Poſitivly. The(a)(a)Mat. 27.52Matt 27:52 Body, that, and that only is ſaid to ſleep. This Metaphor of ſleep applied to Death is taken from the Body only. Now the great Reſemblance between a Believers(b)(b)foreign. Plat. Death, and Sleep appears in four Things.

1. From thoſe many Synonymical Texts, that do all with one Mouth Eccho to this Truth. David ſlept with his Fathers, 1 Kin. 2.10. Solomon; 1 Kin. 11.43. Aſa, Jehoſhaphat, Hezekiah. 'Tis Pauls uſual Idiom, to call death, ſleep; 1 Cor. 7.39. and 11.30.— and 15.6.18.20.51.— a ſleep in Jeſus, 1 Theſ. 4.13, 14, 15.— Since the Fathers fell aſleep, 2 Pet. 3.4, the ſleep of death, Pſal. 13.3. Thus the Protomartyr Stephen his Death is expreſt; foreign,Act. 7.60.Acts 7:60 He fell aſleep.

2. From thoſe Terms, that are given to the Saints Graves. They are call'd their Beds. They ſhall rest in their Beds. Iſa. 57.1, 2.Isa 57:1Isa 57:2When a Believers Work is done, all he hath to do, is to go to Bed, and take his reſt on his Bed, not of down, but duſt. Hence the places of the Saints Burial, both in Greek, Latin, French, foreign, Dormitoria, p. 8Cemitieres, i. e. ſleeping places. As in Dutch, Gods-acre, becaus bodies ar only ſown there, to be rais'd again, which the Heb. expreſs with a greater Faith, by calling the Grave Beth-chaim, the houſe of the Living.

3. From that which is Contrary to Death, viz. Reſurrection. It is call'd An Awaking. When I awake with thy Likeneſs.Pſal. 17.15.Ps 17:15 Many, that ſleep in the Duſt, ſhall Awake; Dan. 12.2. To allude only to that Iſa. 26, 19, 20. Awake, and ſing ye, that dwell in the Duſt.

4. From that notable Parallel, that moſt clearly runs betwixt Sleep, and Death, which, ſay judicious Divines, appears principally in two things, Reſt, and Reſurrection.

1. Reſt. Sleep argues Reſt, at leaſt it tends to it, and diſpoſes for it. They ſhall reſt in their (a)(a)Ut ſomnus mortis, ſic lectus imago ſepulchri.Beds, Iſa. 57.2. Sleep on now, and take your Reſt, Mat. 26.45. When A Believer dies, he goes to his Reſt, to a ſweet repoſe in his Bed of Earth, Warm'd and Perfum'd for him by the precious Body of his Lord, and Saviour. A fivefold Reſt, from Labour, Troubl, Paſſions, Sins, Temptations.

p. 91. From Labour. This Life is the day of the Saints Labour, and Working, his Death is the Night of his Reſting. The Sun ariſeth, and Man goeth forth To his Labour till the Evening. Pſ. 104.23. When the Sun of A Believers Life ariſeth, he goes forth to his Labour till the Evening of Death. Till Evening, but no longer, for then he ſhall reſt from his Labours. Rev. 14.13. A Chriſtian here is like quick-ſilver, Vidus Breſſius. If Gods Spirit ſay Tru, I ſhall ſtrait reſt from my Labours: my Soul is even taking VVing to fly to her reſting place.which hath in its ſelf a principl of motion, but not of reſt, is never quiet. His Life is a continued motion, his Death a continued Reſt? Here as a Ball upon the Racket, as a Ship on the Waves, a Strong man in his Race, Death brings him To his Goal, to his Port of Reſt. This life is but nois, and tumult, Death is ſilence.

2. Troubls, ſufferings, oppreſſions, and theſe either publique or private.

I. Publique. The Lord foreſees a ſtorm of Blood, and Wrath to com, in mercy, he houſeth A Believer, before the Storm falls. As the Egyptians hous'd their Cattle and Servants, before that dreadful thunder, Exod. 9.20. Iſa. 57.1.Exod 9:20Isa 57:1and hail came. Merciful men are taken away p. 10from the Evil to com. This the Lord is pleas'd To promiſe, as A gracious Anſwer, and Return, To Joſiahs, praiers, tears, Humiliation, reformation; viz. that he ſhould be gathered to his Grave in peace, and that his eies ſhould not ſee all the evil which God would bring upon Jeruſalem. 2 Chron. 34.27, 28.

II. Private and Perſonal. Man is born to Troubl, as the ſparks fly upward. They, that will liv Godly, must ſuffer perſecution. Affliction is the Lot of Gods Iſrael. This World ever was, and ever will be An Egypt to the Saints, and here they muſt expect to find moſt cruel Task-maſters. This Life is ſo full of Trouble, that 'twas the Obſervation of Jerom, an Antient Father, and the Reſolution of the 3d. Chriſtus non ploravit Lazarum mortuum, ſed ad hujus vitae arumnas ploravit reſuſcitandum.Toletan Council concerning Chriſts weeping over Lazarus. Joh. 11.35. That it was not ſo much becaus he was dead, as becaus he was to be raiſed up again, to feel the burthens, and afflictions of this Life. Gods Jonahs find this Life to be a ſtormy paſſage, A tempeſtuous Sea-Voiage, wherein they meet with many Whales, many Leviathans, Death ſets them ſafe on ſhore, puts them into ſafe harbour: p. 11whilſt here, the Archers ſorely griev Gods Saints, ſhoot at them, hate them, draw out their Swords after them, ſtrong Bulls of Baſhan beſet them round; the Plowers plow upon their backs, they make long their furrows, But there the weary is at reſt, Job 3.17. There the wicked ceaſe from troubling. No need now to fear A Gardners Priſon, Bonners Stocks, or Cole-houſe, nor a flaming Smithfield. Lucius to Urbicius, I thank you with all my heart, that by death will free me from wicked Governours.Here Gods Peter's no more dread the Croſs, nor Paul's the Ax, nor James's the Sword, nor Gods Elijah's a curſed-painted Jezabels bloody threats. In A Word, the whol Army of Gods Noble Martyrs, are here paſt all fear of halters,Cyprian, God be bleſſed for this Goal delivery. racks, wheels, ſtakes, gibbets, the moſt exquiſite Torments, that either PAPISTS, or DIVELS can invent, or are ready to inflict.

3. From Paſſions, and inward perturbations, griefs, Anxietys. Here in this Life,Babylas. Now will God wipe away all Tears. the Believers pulſe beats ſlow, and faint, his heart pants, his eies moiſten'd, and his cheeks blubber'd with tears; you may read the Anguiſh of his Soul in his Countenance. But in Death every tear dried up in the eye, wiped off the p. 12cheek, All ſorrow, and ſighing flown away, Rev. 21.4. The Saints Baca is turned into A Berachah, ſighing into ſinging, miſery into mercy.

4.Pic. Mirand. Death is welcom, not ſo much as an end of Troubl, as of ſin. From ſins, iniquities, corruptions. Whilſt here, the poor ſin-peſter'd Saint cries out of the Law in his Members, warring againſt the Law of his mind, againſt the body of ſin and death. You may hear his out-cry as of a perſon on a Rack. Rom. 7.23, 24—But now he, that is dead, is freed from ſin, Ro. 6.7. 1 Pet. 4.1. Not the leaſt ſpot or wrinkle left in his Soul. Eph. 5.27. Not one Agag ſpared alive. Every Egyptian not ſprawling, but ſtark-dead upon the ſhore. The end of a Saints Living is the Non ultra of a Saints ſinning. With this, that good Martyr held up his head, when he encouraged his fellow with telling him, that my Lord of London, (he meant that BLOODY Butcher Bonner) was ſending of them there, where they ſhould ſin no more.

5. From Temptations, aſſaults, trialls, combates, Satans winnowing, &c. Not an Adam, no not in the Paradice of the Church, but hath an Eve in his boſom. Chaſt Joſeph attaqu'd p. 13by a Potiphars-Wife. A Meſſenger now and then from the loweſt pit to buffet us. 2 Cor. 12.7.2 Cor 12:7A damp ariſing from Satans deepeſt Mine, to choak us. Anakims To Wound, Daughters of Heth to Troubl, Daughters of Midian to Allure us. Snares, Ginns, Traps, Limetwiggs. 1 Pet. 5.8.1 Pet 5:8Satan going about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour. This world is the poor Saints Gymnaſium, Arena, Wreſtling, place. And Tho' It be the Saints Honour at length to Conquer, yet It is, and cannot but be the Saints Troubl, thorn, pain, ſo long to Conflict. But now Death puts the Saints into ſo peaceabl an Eſtate, as that he is not only without foil, but fighting. Not only the Accuſer, but the Tempter of the Brethren is caſt out, Rev. 12.10. Thus we ſee The Paralel betwixt ſleep, and death with Reſpect to Reſt. Let us ſee next, how they ſuite in

2. Reſurrection, or Awaking. Natural Sleep is not perpetual. We ſleep, and awake again. Believers, tho' they ſleep, they ſhall ariſe again, as men, awaken'd out of ſleep. This is expreſſed in the Words immediately following our Text. Our Friend p. 14Lazarus ſleepeth, but I go to awaken him out of ſleep. i. e. to rais him from the dead. The Apoſtle Paul is much upon this Metaphor; ſee 1 Cor. 15.18, 20, 51, 52. Thy dead men ſhall live, together with my dead body ſhall they ariſe. Job 19.26, 27. Although after my skin, worms deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God, &c.

Death may, yea, ſhall prevail over the whol outward Man. Death ſpends both skin and reins; ſwallows up both fleſh and bones, And yet for all this, this Total Conſumption of the Body of Man, is no impediment, no barr in the way of Faith, to ſtop us from a firm Belief of our Reſurrection. As Death ſhall triumph over Jobs Body, ſo Jobs Faith triumphs over Death. He, that believes in Chriſt, yea, tho he were dead, tho' totally corcupted, and conſumed, yet ſhall he live again. John 11.25.

I have done with the proof of our Point, the Improvement follows.

Uſe 1. Of INFORMATION. Is Natural Death a ſleep, and no more, hence 'tis eaſy To inferr not only the Truth p. 15of that great Articl of our Faith, the Reſurrection of the Body, but the facility and eaſineſs of Accompliſhing it.— After Natural ſleep men uſe to awake again. So, after Death, the Bodies of men ſhall be awaked: i. e. rais'd up out of their Graves to life, at the laſt day. And 'Tis moſt juſt, that thoſe Bodies, which hav been the Souls Copartners in doing good, or evil, ſhould therefore participate in the reward, and puniſhment: which cannot be done without a Reſurrection. But the white I aim at here, is the facility of the Accompliſhing it. How eaſily is a living man awaked out of a ſhallow ſlumber, or deep ſleep. Much more eaſy with God by his Almighty power, and voice To revive, and rais the dead at the laſt day. 1 Theſ. 4.15, 16, 17.

Uſe 2. Of TERROUR to, and mourning over unregenerate, unbelieving, impenitent ones, living, and dying in their ſins, and luſts. Poor wretched Creatures. 'Tis Tru, you muſt dy certainly, and you may dy ſpeedily: but Know, that your Death is p. 16but A ſleep. You muſt wake again, and when you wake, you will awake deadſick.Thoſe Bodys of yours muſt hereafter be awaked and rais'd out of your Graves at the laſt day; and united again To the Soul, that both Souls and Bodies may be caſt together into Hell Torments for ever. Joh. 5.27, 28. Mat. 25.33. Oh how well were it for ſuch, if their Souls, and Bodies might utterly periſh, and be aboliſhed, by Death, as the Bodies and Souls of Brute Beaſts. How happy is A dead Lion abov An ever-living-or-rather-an ever-dying damned-unbelieving Caitif.

Uſe 3. OF SUPPORT, AND CONSOLATION TO SOUND Believers: Precious Souls!

1. You complain of ſad and unpleaſant lives, of dark and gloomy daies, of black and reſtleſs nights. Cheer up ye beloved of the Lord, and know, that the time is ſhortly coming, when ye ſhall lie down quietly in your Beds, and not have one waking moment, or diſtracting dream. When once you are gone down to this bed, the grave, when the Curtains of darkneſs ar drawn about you, you ſhall never open your p. 17eies any more till the Morning of Eternity dawns, and breaks forth in luſtre on you. Behold to your Everlaſting comfort, That, which is To others foreign. A King of Terrors, to you is the King, or chief of Comforts. what is DEATH to others, is but A SLEEP, a ſweet ſleep to you. You may ſafely play on the Hole of this Aſp, on the Den of this Cockatrice, nay handl this Aſp it ſelf. This Death that was once A Serpent is now none, or if it be, 'Tis a Serpent without A Sting. T' hath left its ſting in the ſide of Chriſt. 1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57. What that fooliſh Agag cracks out falſly, you may, in holy Triumph, cry out, Truly, ſurely The bitterneſs of Death is paſt, 1 Sam. 15.32. See how Death it ſelf is even embalm'd, and clothd in ſuch ſoft, and ſilken Language, that It carries even A ſweetneſs, and beauty in it. 'Tis A ſleep, no more than A ſleep.

2. Sleep, tho' it chains up the ſenſes for a Time, yet it diſſolvs not the union between the Soul, and the Body. So, neither doth Death, the Spiritual, myſtical union betwixt Chriſt and Tru Believers; nor indeed betwixt p. 18Believers themſelves.

I. Not between God in Chriſt, and Tru Believers, Tho' Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob be dead To others, They are not ſo to God, Mat. 22.32. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. The Relation of God to Abraham, and of Abraham to God, was as ſtrong, when dead, as living. The Sleep of the Wife breaks not the Marriage Knot between her, and her Bridegroom. The union betwixt Chriſt and Believers outlives Death. Tho' Death triumphs over the Natural union between the Body and the Soul, yet not over the myſtical union between the Soul and Chriſt. Let them liv, they liv in, and to Chriſt: Let them dye, they die to, and ſleep in Chriſt. 1 Theſs. 4.14. Living, and Dying, they are the Lords. Ro. 14.8.

II. Nor yet between Believers themſelvs. As Faith is the Evidence of things not ſeen,Heb. 11.1.Heb 11:1 that are future, So It is a clear Reflection on things, that are paſt. By Faiths ey we may eaſily look on the pale face of the firſt Martyr,Heb. 11.4.Heb 11:4 and with Faiths ear, Tho' he be dead, yet hear him ſpeaking. Is a Godly p. 19Sarah dead, 'Tis poſſible for her ſurviving ſpiritual Daughters to converſ with her, as tho' aliv, mark her outward dreſs, her inward ornaments, how ſhe Truſted in God, and obeyed her Husband. 1 Pet. 3.1. to 7. There is not A Saint of God that dies, but leaves A glaſs behind him, in which, when ere you pleas to be Truly ſerious, you may behold their face, and converſation. The ſucceding Jews did ſo nearly converſ with Jacob, that was dead 2000 years before, that they thought themſelvs to be preſent with him, and his God at Bethel. Hos. 12.3, 4. By his ſtrength he had power with God, yea he had power over the Angel, and prevailed. He found him in Bethel, and there he ſpake with us. The Holy Exampls of the dead, what ar they, but the Spiritual,Heb. 12.23.Heb 12:23 lively monuments of the Spirits of juſt men made perfect, now living.

3. Sleep is A refreſhing, reviving Enjoyment. A man lies down in weakneſs, ſleeps, and riſes up in Strength. Like A Giant, refreſht with Wine; mounts up like an Eagl, runs and is not weary, walks, and faints not: 'Tis Reported of Antaeus, A Giant of Italy, p. 20that as oft as he was weary, he would but touch the Earth, and immediately he rebounds, and riſes with renewed ſtrength. The Death of a Believer, is like the Death of a grain of Corn. It dies, only to ſpring up in more luſtr, beauty, fruitfulneſs. Joh. 12.24. if It dy, it bringeth forth much fruit. As by ſleep A Believers Body is refreſht, ſo by Death his Body is refin'd. 1 Cor. 15.42, 43. It is ſown in corruption, It is raiſed in incorruption. It is ſown in diſhonour, it is raiſed in glory. It is ſown in weakneſs, It is raiſed in power.

Uſe. 4. OF EXHORTATION TO TRU BELIEVERS in General, Is your Death no more than a ſleep?

1. Away then with all inordinate, immoderate, ſlaviſh, ſinful (a)(a)Heb. 2.15.Heb 2:15fear of Death. 'Tis Tru,Job 18.14.Job 18:14 Death to Nature is the King of fears, and it hath its poiſonous ſting, with which it will wound the wicked, whom it uſhers into Hell. But now To prop you up againſt this ſinking fear of Death. Know, 'Tis no worſ to you, than FALLING ASLEEP. Even Gods own peopl ar too too much like p. 21fooliſh Children, afraid to put off their cloaths, and go to bed in A dark Chamber. All this while, we utterly miſtake the caſe of our diſſolution. We take it for An Enemy, it provs a Friend: There is no littl pleaſure in that, wherein we ſuppoſe the greateſt horrour. Who is afraid, after the weary toiles of the day, to take his reſt by night? Or what is more refreſhing to the ſpent Traveller, then a ſweet ſleep. It is our infidelity, and unpreparedneſs, that makes Death any other than advantage! I grant indeed, A bloody Cain, A fooliſh Nabal, an Apoſtat Saul, An intemperate Felix, and that Ranting company mentioned, Rev. 6.15, 16. may juſtly fear Death. The Conſcience of Unregenerate men brings in A black Bill of Inditement againſt them, and convinces them of Rebellion againſt their Lord and Soverain: and then no wonder, if, as arraigned and condemned Malefactors, they live in continued fear of the Ax, or Gibbet. 'Tis no wonder, If their evil Conſcience be To them like the hand-writing on the Wall to A Carouſing Belſhazzar, Dan. 5.5, 6. and makes their countenance to change, to cauſ p. 22the joints of their loins to be looſed, and their Knees to ſmite one againſt another. But Believers, Through infinite Mercy, That's not your caſe. Death to YOU is not A ſummons To Eternal Death, but A gentl Lullaby, and ſofter Huſh To A Sweet ſſeep, and that in order to A Reſurrection, An Awaking to An Eternal Life.

2. Adore, bleſs, lov the Lord Jeſus for his infinite lov, and mercy To you, and All other ſound Believers: in that, by his Painful, ſhameful, Accurſed Death, he hath pluckt out the ſting of Death: and alter'd both its Name, and Nature. That, which once was death, is now but A SLEEP. A Cooling, A refreſhing ſhadow of Death, and no more. Heb. 2.14, 15. 1 Cor. 15.55, 56.

3. Carry it ſo, while you liv, that your Death may be A ſleep, A ſweet ſleep, when you die. Eccl. 5.11. The ſleep of A Labouring man is ſweet. The ſleep of A diligent Servant, of A Laborious Husbandman, of A painful Tradesman, O how ſweet is it? Oh then my dearly Beloved, whileſt you are yet awake in the World, ply your oar, follow p. 23the plow, work, and work hard for your God, be ſtedfaſt, unmovabl, alwaies abounding in the Work of the Lord, for as much,1 Cor. 15. laſt.1 Cor 15 as ye know, that, as your labour ſhall not be in vain, ſo your ſleep ſhall be ſweet in the Lord. The Lord will giv you ſleep, as his beloved, Pſal. 127.2. Pro. 3.24. Pſal. 3.5. and 4.8.

To make this ſleep ſweet indeed, I would offer theſe 2 things.

I. Carefully avoid Thoſe things, that diſturb ſleep. I do but allude. Reflect we back on Eccl. 5.12. The ſleep of the Labouring man is ſweet, But the abundance of the Rich will not ſuffer him to ſleep. Take heed, that the abundance of your Wealth, with the many cares, buſineſſes, and fears, troubles, which are conſequent thereupon Gen. 41.19. Pro. 3.10. Luk. 12.16, 17. —12. the fatneſs of diet, gluttony, and exceſs of delicious fare, cauſe not ſuch Diſtempers, as may hinder your ſleep on your Beds, or diſturb it in your Graves. I queſtion much, whither Dives his every day ſumptuous fare, did not riſe in his ſtomach, after he was dead. Luk. 16.19. Abraham p. 24ſeems to throw it in his Diſh: v. 25. Take heed therefore to your ſelves, as you would hope to ſleep undiſturbed then, that your hearts be not over-charged with ſurfeiting, and drunkenneſs, and the cares of this life Now. Luk. 21.34.

II. Sincerely follow the Bleſſed David home, To his Sleeping Room, Tread in his ſteps, imitate his Nobl Exampl. Read the lovly Epitaph, which the Holy Paul hath as it were written on his Tomb. Act. 13.36. David ſerv'd his Generation by the Will of God, and then fell Aſleep. He ſerv'd his GENERATION, before he fell A ſleep. Remember, Remember, Dear Brethren, and forget not, David thought it not Enough To ſerv his Generation, when he actually fell aſleep, by letting fall ſom few ears, or gleanings then: No, No. David ſerved his Generation, diſpatcht the greateſt part of his Work, and then ſweetly laid him down To Reſt. O that High, that Honourable, that Heavenly, that God-like frame of Spirit of living in, and dying for the ſervice of our Generation. This, if any thing in the World makes Saints to be like David, Men after p. 25Gods own Heart. How precious is the memory of that Bleſſed DORCAS? How doth ſhe ſhine as the Moon among the Stars, ſhe, that was ſo full of good works, and alms-deeds which ſhe did! ſhe, that left ſo many Coats and Garments for the poor, which ſhe made, whiles ſhe was yet living. Act. 9.36, 39. Oh 'Tis Wiſdom, as well as Charity, To make your OWN Hands, your Executors, and your OWN Eyes, your Overſeers. Do good, All good, I had Almoſt ſaid, Do All your good, whilſt you liv. I own it, Brethren, I own it for A great, and ſerious Truth. If any man provides not for his own, eſpecially for thoſe of his own Houſe or Kindred, he hath denied the faith, and is worſ than an infidel. Charity, Regular charity, muſt, and ought to begin at Home. But it muſt not ſtop, and center There. That Stomach, that greedily takes in food, meerly to ſatiate, and glutt its own appetite, and not to tranſmit the digeſted food to the needy Parts, would quickly prove not ſo much A MEMBER, as A MONSTER. 'Tis Tru, You Ar Husbands. As ſuch, next to God, your deareſt Wives muſt hav your p. 26Hearts. You ar Parents. Next to Wives, your Hopeful, obedient Children muſt hav your Bowels. You ar Brethren, and Siſters, and have neer, and it may be poor Relations. Theſe do All put in for A Chriſtian ſhare. But then know, My Brethren, you hav OTHER Relations, which ar as near, and dear To God, to Chriſt, To the Spirit, as Wives, Children, Kindred ar, or can be to you! Read, and read again. Mat. 12.50. And look, what e're you do to, and for theſe, is filed up, and regiſtred, and ſhall be brought forth and proclaim'd at the Great day of Account. Mat. 25. from 35, to 41.

'Tis your GENERATION-Work. I am now preſſing you to diſpatch before you fall Aſleep. You profeſs your Selvs not Nominal, but Real Sons of the Tru-Church, your Spiritual Mother, if ſo, let me Beſpeak you in the words of our Lord To his Belov'd Diſcipl, Joh. 19.27. Behold your Mother. Behold I ſay, and ſee, whether there be any ſorrow like unto her ſorrow, which is don unto her, wherewith the Lord, your diſpleaſed Father, hath for your ſakes, and ſins, juſtly afflicted her p. 27in the day of his fierce Anger: Lam. 1.12. Fix your ey upon her, and let your ey affect your Heart, and do, as your Everlaſting Father did, when he was juſt preparing himſelf to his laſt ſleep. He beheld Jeruſalem, and wept over it. Luk. 9.41. Methinks I do, and ſurely you cannot but hear the Doleful Groans of the ſinking, dying Church, piercing not our ears only, but hearts, in holy Jobs Soul-ſtabbing Dialect, Hav pity upon me, hav pity upon me, O ye my Sons, Daughters, Friends, for the hand of God, the paw of Satan, the fangs of Antichriſt hav touched, wounded, ſtab'd me. Job 19.21. As SUBJECTS, your Generation Work is To Giv To Ceſar the things that are Ceſars, and as Godly Subjects, To GOD the things that are Gods. As CITIZENS. Luk. 20.25.Luke 20:25O pray for the Peace of this our Engliſh Jeruſalem, poor LONDON. They ſhall proſper, that lov Her. Endeavour to your utmoſt, that Truth, and peace, and piety may be within her Walls, and your Houſes, and Proſperity within your Palaces. Pſal. 122.6, &c.

As WEALTHY CITIZENS, 1 Tim. 6.18. Rich in good works, ready to diſtribute.1 Tim 6:18O be wiſe p. 28Merchants, and think not much To Exchange your Briſtol-ſtones for Tru Diamonds. Make you friends of the Unrighteous Mammon. Luk. 6.19. Do you ſee any poor deſolate Widows, be you Husbands To them; any periſhing Orphans, be you Fathers to them; any lean, meager, honeſt, induſtrious, poor Houskeepers, do not ſuffer them to ſtarv for want of Bread, or Work. This, this is your GENERATION-Work, To the ſpeedy and faithful diſpatch whereof, what mighty Encouragement Hath the Father of All your Mercies given you in that grand Text. Pſal. 41.1, 2, 3. I could wiſh it ingraven with the point of a Diamond on every wealthy Citizens door or glaſs, or heart in London. He, that hath promiſed To ſtrengthen thee on thy bed of Languiſhing, yea, To make all thy bed in thy ſickneſs, will certainly not fail after Death, To Turn thy bed of Duſt into A Bed of Down.

3. Is A Believers death A ſleep? This ſhould teach us immediately to prepare for Death. To be alwaies ready. Sleep creeps, ſteals upon us in a moment. Be praierful. Be p. 29watchful. 'Tis our Saviours great advice. Luk. 21.34, 35, 36. Your ſleeping by day is very like to prevent your ſweet ſleeping by night. Keep up in your Spirits a preſent PREPARED poſture for natures diſſolution. See, that you have not your Oil to buy, when 'tis To burn. Remember the 5 fooliſh Virgins. Let your Lamps be both Lighted, and Trim'd, and burning. Your Lord coms in an hour, that you look not for. Mat. 24.44. and 25.16. Paul was ready, i. e. prepared to be offer'd up. 2 Tim. 4.6. Job is ready, and prepared. All the daies of his appointed time waiting, till his change com. Job. 14.14. Set your houſes, and hearts in order. Iſa. 38.1. Never reſt, till you have gotten a Well-grounded aſſurance of your real intereſt in Chriſt, and of your undoubted title to Heaven through him. Fight the good fight. Keep the Faith. Be indeed dead, mortified, crucified To the World, and all in it. Then may you with Paul, in an Holy Triumph, ſet your Foot on the Head of This ſtingleſs Serpent, 1 Cor. 15.55. 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. and breath forth your Soul into your Gods Boſom, in the Swan-like Song of good p. 30old Simeon. Domine, nunc dimittas. Lord, now Letteſt thou thy Servant depart in peace, and ſleep and reſt in peace. Luk. 2.19, 20.

2. Particularly To the DISCONSOLATE RELICT, and near Relations of our Worthy Friend Deceaſed. 'Tis Tru, It is, and can not but be A day of darkneſs, of clouds, and thick darkneſs To you, and us. It hath pleaſed the Allwiſe God, To take from you The guide of your youth, the deſire of your eies, the delight of your Soul, and from us, and our Society, A very conſiderabl Pillar. For this we do, and cannot but truly mourn. But yet, both you, and we muſt remember, that we mourn as becomes Believers, not as thoſe, that hav no hope, but according To the Apoſtles Advice, 1 Theſs. 4.13, 14.

Something I ſuppoſe you expect concerning our dear Friend departed, I confeſs, I hav not the art of embalming the dead, And, whileſt I utter any thing of them, would not willingly giv the leaſt occaſion To Any To cry out asſomtimes they did of that great Lawyer, Now, Now, He pleads, not for the Caus, but his Fee. However, had I not been ſo happily prevented by p. 31that fair, full, proportionat character, which that Reverend, and Faithful Miniſter of Chriſt gave of him to that ſolemn Aſſembly, that waited on his Herſe To his Grave, 'Tis more than probabl, that I ſhould hav ventur'd at ſom daſhes at leaſt with my Ruder Pencil, which now to do, after ſuch an Apelles, would bee, not ſo much To add a gloſs and luſtre, as a Blot, and ſoil To ſo well drawn a Picture. And yet for All this, I ſhould not be able To ſtem the Tide of my Affections, did I not greatly fear, that ſhould I giv them the leaſt rein, they would ſoon tranſport me into ſom Exceſſes concerning my dear, faithful, and Friendly Gaius. (For ſuch He was to me and mine, from the firſt hour we ſaw his face, which is now near 23 years) which A Malevolent Capricio would not ſtick To cenſure for Paint, and Flattery. However before I Take my leav of his Aſhes, Giv me leav To Tell the World, that he liv'd, and died, with a perfect Antipathy againſt Popiſh Principls, and Practiſes: dreaded the Return of Popery as much, if not more, than Death: bewailed and abhorred the Debaucheries of the Times and place wherin he lived. A cordial well-wiſher to the beſt of Men and Intereſts. What A ſober Citizen he was, and How Tru An Engliſhman, let the Common Council ſpeak, amongſt whom he ſate for many years, and his Vote was alwaies for p. 32Truth, and peace, and ſoberneſs both in City, and Kingdom. As for his charity, The backs, and Bellies of the poor Orphans of Chriſts Hoſpital may be inſtead of Tongues. to declare it. As for his juſtice, in Commerce and Trade, (that ſparkling Diamond in the Ring of Chriſtian Profeſſion) The whol Circl of his Acquaintance, To my utmoſt Obſervation, giv him this Atteſt, That his Word to Him, was as Obligatory, as His Bond: and what he ſpake with his Mouth, he would faithfully fulfil with his Hand. A falſe Tongue, and Ballance were both an abomination to Him. He had learnt that from the God of Truth, and Righteouſneſs. He durſt not go beyond, or defraud his Brother in any matter, as well Knowing, That his juſt All-ſeeing God would avenge that.

A Word to his Mournful ſurviving-half, and I ſhall diſmiſs both the Text, and this Aſſembly. Your neareſt, deareſt Boſom Friend is now gon to ſleep, to ſleep in Jeſus. It cannot be long, you know not how ſoon, you may from Heaven be called to mingl Aſhes with him. Whatever you clearly ſaw, and dearly lov'd, as Truly good in him, take it for your Copy. Never forget that good God, that gav you ſo large an Intereſt in his Heart, and Hand. Your God by Him has fill'd your Hand with power, O may the ſame God fill your Heart with grace, moſt faithfully to improve your All for him, who hav ſo graciouſly received your All from Him. Fix, and keep your ey ſteady on Luk. 12.48.

FINIS.

End of the text · Thomas Lye, Death the Sweetest Sleep (1681)