IT is much our Duty and Wisdom to know our selves ; our Misery by Sin , our Recovery by a Mediator ; what we are , and what we shall be ; 't is a meditation that will greatly influence our Humility , Patience , Repentance , Faith and Obedience . He that knows himself will seek after the knowledge of Christ ; he that knows the shortness of Life , will seek after an Eternal Life ; he that knows the Troubles of this Life , will seek an Everlasting Rest . Job had learnt this Lesson , as it appears by the scope and substance of this Chapter , which declares the frailty and fadingness of Man . Our deceased 〈◇〉 hath ordered this Text to be the subject matter of his 〈◇〉 Sermon , for your instruction . The Text speaks of Man under a two-fold notion .

1. What we are ; as Mortals going to the Grave .

2. What we shall be ; in the Negative , in the Affirmative . We shall not rise to such a state of Life as now it is . We shall rise when the Heavens shall be no more There are Three General Parts .

I. The Comparative Illustration of Man's Mortality : This in Three things .

1. The Subject , who must lye down . The life of Man is a constant motion to his Death . As the Rivers in those hot Eastern Countries run with a hasty stream into a certain decay and cessation in the Summer , so our life falls into the Grave , and ends in the sleep of Death . We take two or three walks upon the stage of this World , and then pass to the next ; we open our eyes , and soon shut them ; we rise out of our nothing state , and soon return to the Bed-Chamber God hath provided : Our Life hath a constant tendency this way ; like the Candle , always burning to the Socket ; like the Hour-Glass , always running ; Infancy , Youth , Manhood , Old-Age , then the Grave . Our busie Life is always moving to the sleep of Death . 't is not contingent , but certain ; our supernatural course is arbitrary , 't is matter of choice ; our dying is necessary , we must lye down ; God's Decree makes it so . Dust thou art , and unto dust thou shalt return . If Adam had not sinn'd , neither he nor his had dyed ; but now the Law of Heaven makes it unavoidable ; 't is indefinitely spoken of all , High , Low , Rich , Poor , Great Men , Good Men , the Child , the Strong Man . The Angels have no sleeping time in Heaven , the Devils have no sleeping time in Hell , but Man hath a resting and sleeping time . 't is true , Enoch and Elias did not go to Heaven in the common Road of Mortality , they did not shut their eyes , but went immediately to the Vision of Heaven ; they had a particular dispensation not to lye down in the dust .

2. The Season . How long we lye in this Bed of silence and darkness . Till the ending of time , till the dissolution of all things , till the Heavens shall be no more : God , that orders the time of life , orders our sleeping time . As there is an appointed time for Man upon Earth , so there is for Man in the Grave . As we have one common Father , one common specifical Nature , one common Bed-Chamber , the house appointed for all the living , Job 30. 23. so we have one common sleeping time , till the Heavens shall be no more . We do not all go to Bed at the same time , but shall all rise at the same time , except that the dead in Christ , or for Christ , have an antecedent priority , 1 Thess. 4. 16. Union to Christ , and zeal for his Truth and Cause makes the difference . Let the Heavens make a noise with Thunder , let the Sea roar and soam , let the Earth be removed , and the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea ; let Kingdoms rowl from one side to another , let Men be unquiet as the waves of the Sea , let Devils be outragious in their airy and watry Element , in their walk about the Earth , there we lye and sleep till God's appointed time .

3. The Similitude . This hath a twofold reference . To the Body . To the best sort of Men .

First , To the Body . The Soul doth not lye down to sleep , but goes immediately to God that gave it . It is the Body that , now free from all its toil and travel , lies down to sleep . The Bed is the ordinary place of rest to them that are weary : Man goeth forth to his labour till the Evening . The Night and the Bed are domatrices malorum ; and yet sometimes the Bed proves a very uneasie place . Job had wearisome Nights ; he says in one place , My bed shall comfort me , and my couch shall ease me ; but was scared with Visions and Dreams , Job 7. 13. But this Metaphorical Bed hath no such thorny vexations ; The righteous shall rest in their beds , Isa . 57. 2. There the wicked cease from troubling , and the weary are at rest , Job 3. 17.

Secondly , It hath reference to the best sort of Men . Death and the Resurrection are not such easie and familiar things to Men that lye in wickedness : To such Men Death is not a pleasant sleep , but a formidable Enemy ; the Grave is not a Bed of Ease , but a Bed of Thorns ; not a Bed-chamber , but a Prison , a Pit of destruction : So the Resurrection is not comfortable , but terrible ; the Curse and Wrath of God make them so . 't is said of Lazarus , he sleepeth , and of Stephen the Martyr , he fell a sleep . Luke 16. 22. 't is said of the rich Man , he dyed , and was buried . 't is said of Judas , he went to his place , Acts 1. 25. 't is said of another , this night shall thy soul be required , Luk . 12. 20. These are driven away as Chaff , hurried as Prisoners to their confinement : Grace and Godliness make a vast difference between the good and bad . The Faithful dye , and fear it not ; look beyond the pains of Sickness , the darkness and horrour of the Grave ; call it a gathering to their Fathers , a going home , a sowing , a sleeping , a departing . Our Saviour calls his death , which had far more bitterness than ordinary , a going to his Father . The Faithful are raised out of their Graves , not by the hand of Justice , but by the hand of Mercy ; not by virtue of the Threatning , but the Promise ; not to be Condemned and Executed , but to be exalted , and translated to a state of Glory ; therefore calld Children of the Resurrection , Luk . 20. 36.

II . The Negative Assertion : Shall not arise , shall not awake , shall not be raised out of their sleep . Job doth not deny a future Resurrection , but only our return to the state of this animal Life ; he gives the sense of this Text in another place , Job 7. 10. He shall return no more to his house , neither shall his place know him any more : As St. Paul said to the Ephesians , Ye shall never see my face more ; so the dying person bids an everlasting farewel to this visible World ; for when he returns at the last day , he shall not find the World in the same state he left it . Adam shall never see his Eden , where he did eat of the forbidden Tree ; Noah his Mount Ararat , where the swelling Waters deliver'd up his floating Ark ; Shem , Ham , and Japhet shall not see the several quarters of the World wherein they were placed ; Abraham shall not see his Chaldea ; Job his Arabia ; Moses his Egypt ; Caleb his Hebron ; Joshua his Mount Ephraim ; the several Tribes of Israel shall never return to their distinct Possessions . This Negative Assertion may be further considered in these Four particulars .

1. They shall not return to their personal capacity ; to live under the Laws of Providence , as now they do : The Soul shall return to the Body , and the Body shall return to the same composition at the general Resurrection , when the Redeemer shall give out a word of command ; but they shall not return to the Laws and Methods of this present Life , to the use of Meat , Drink , Sleep , Cloaths , and Marriage . Now we labour for perishing Meat : God puts his staff into our hands to support us , God gives Sleep to refresh us , Cloaths to beautifie and defend us , ordains Marriage to propagate the Race of Mankind ; but these are laid aside , as things of no use in the other World .

2. They shall not return to their civil capacity , as Rich , Wealthy , Great , and Honourable . Now Men promise themselves much Happiness from the World , and things of it ; from these Dunghill-Deities ; embrace them in their arms , and say in their hearts , these are thy gods : But Nabal shall not find his Possessions , his Flocks , nor Naboth his Vineyard , nor the rich Man his Barns , nor Judas his Bags , for which he sold his Redeemer , in that other state ; these things will not be found among the rubbish of the dissolved World ; these things will be of no consideration or use there ; the name of Rich and Poor shall cease for ever .

3. They shall not rise , nor awake , nor return to a Relative capacity . This relation is Three-fold . Domestical , Political , and Spiritual . There is a Domestical Relation : Superiours have a charge of Children and Servants in the Family ; the one requir'd to rule , the other to obey . The Paternal Government was chief before the World was gather'd into larger Societies . There is a Political Government of Kingdoms and Nations ; This is a Divine Ordinance : Authority , and governing Power was given to Pilate . There is another Relation which concerns the Souls of Men , limited to the Church of Believers , gather'd out of the World , to be a holy Nation ; Obey them that have the rule over you , that watch for your souls , Heb . 13. 17. These are all a temporary dispensation for the present life : When the Body shall return , and be raised from the Grave , there shall be no such thing as Husband and Wife , Parent and Child , Master and Servant , Magistrate and Subject , Rulers and Governours of Souls : These Cords once boken by the boisterous hands of Death , shall never more be fastened together .

4. They shall not awake or stand up in a Spiritual Capacity or Stewardship . The Sacred Scripture is now put into our hands , given by Divine Inspiration , confirm'd by Miracles and the Blood of Martyrs , containing the great Mysteries of Godliness , the whole method of Redemption ; now we have the use of this Book to guide us . The Lord's Day is another part of our Trust , the seventh part of Time , the first day of the Week , consecrated to a Holy use by the Resurrection of Christ , by the practice of Christ and his Apostles ; this is limited to our present use . Sermons are another part of our Trust , given to help our weakness , in a way of Interpretation , Remembrance , and Perswasion . Prayer is another help of our Salvation : We have the liberty of Prayer , Praying Abilities , answers of Prayer . Saeraments are another helpful means , the Signs and Seals of God's Covenant ; all these are proper to the present state of this Life ; when we are once gone into the other World , we never return to the means of Grace ; the Spirit of God strives no more ; the Son of God withdraws his Mediatory Administrations .

III . A necessary Supposition . Man shall not rise till the Heavens be no more . It hath the sense of a positive Conclusion : At such a period of time there shall be a glorious Resurrection . Two things considerable .

First , The Time . Secondly , The Truth .

First , The Time limited : As God hath appointed our living time , so he appoints our sleeping time : As our Saviour was three days in the Grave , so we have a certain space of time to be under the power of death : As the World had six days for its Creation , so it hath a certain number of years for its standing . Of this the Prophet speaks , Isa . 51. 6. The heavens shall vanish away like smoke , and the earth shall wax old like a garment : Of this St. John speaks , Rev. 21. 1. The first heaven and the first earth passed away , and there was no more sea : Of this St. Peter speaks , 2 Pet . 3. 10. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night , in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise , and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ; the earth also , and the works that are therein , shall be burnt up . The visible Heavens , Sun , Moon , and Stars shall be dissolved ; the three Regions of the Air shall be dissolved ; the lower parts of the World , the Earth and Sea , shall be dissolved ; he that set up the building , pulls it down . Some think the World will only be changed in its condition ; others , that the dissolution will be a total annihilation . It is not my work to determine this controversie ; only this is certain , the Worlds dissolution begins our Resurrection ; it begins from thence , we lye down , and sleep till then .

Until , sometimes notes an eternal duration , Mat . 5. 26. Thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing , that is , never . Sometimes it notes a certain period of time , Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah , till Shiloh come . When the Heavens shall be no more , then we awake and rise ; when time shall be no more , when the Sun shall cease to rule by day , and the Moon by night , the Birds shall cease to fly in the Air , the Ships to pass on the Sea , the Earth shall be no longer a dwelling-place , but a desolation . God doth but stay till he hath done his work ; that is , to gather in the full number of his Elect ; to reveal and destroy the Antichristian Apostacy ; to bring in the fulness of the Jews and Gentils ; then comes the abolition or alteration of this visible World , the Starry and Airy Heavens as the principal parts thereof ; then Man shall awake , rise out of his Metaphorical sleep to another Life and State .

Secondly , The Truth supposed : The Resurrection of the dead . Job is very clear in this fundamental Doctrine , Job 19. 25 , 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth , that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth : And though after my skin , worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall I see God . Job , as 't is thought , was the fifth from Abraham on Esau's side , an ancient Patriarch ; yet had the knowledge of Christ , the Redeemer of his and our Resurrection . He saw these 3 things .

1. The Author of our Resurrection : That he shall stand on the Earth in a posture of Ministration , to direct , order , and dispatch that great work . St. Paul is more explicite and plain in this notion , as living in a time of greater Light , 1 Thes . 4. 16. The Lord shall descend from Heaven with a shout , with the voice of the Archangel , and with the trump of God , and the dead in Christ shall rise first . As Kings come in solemn procession to their Courts of Justice , with Heraulds and Trumpeters going before them : But Job was not ignorant of this great Truth .

2. He saw the universality of the Subject . The Text speaks of all Mankind ; S. John is more express in this point , Rev. 20. 12. I saw the dead , small and great stand before God : and v. 13. The sea and grave gave up their dead . The whole Race of Mankind shall rise and appear ; the Sea and the Grave , Heaven and Hell , shall give up their Inhabitants to this great Convention ; all Ranks and Degrees shall make their appearance , bow and bend before this great Judge : But Job , though he liv'd in darker times , had a comfortable knowledge of this Truth .

3. He saw the glory of the Resurrection . Did the Prophets and Apostles see the Heavens and the Earth vanish away like smoke , wax old as a Garment ? so did Job : Did they see the Heavens pass away with a noise , the Elements melt with servent heat ? so did Job : Did they see this vile Body putting on the garments of Glory and Immortality ? so did Job ; he saw the Flesh advanced to the vision and fruition of God : My Redeemer will return , and stand on the Earth , the power of Death and the Grave shall be destroyed , the Church and people of God shall obtain a perfect Redemption . Now I have tears to drink , then I shall have Wine ; now I am buffeted of Satan , then I shall see him dragg'd in Chains to his Prison ; now I am pained with an ulcerous Body , then I shall be honoured with a glorious Body ; now I am reproached , and then I shall be cleared and justified , my Integrity shall shine forth as the brightness of the Sun : Doubtless he saw the manifestation of the Sons of God , the glory and perfection of the Body and Soul , the gathering together of that blessed Company , their solemn Marriage to Christ , and their compleat Happiness in Heaven .

Application in Three things : This great Truth calls for your Meditation , your Preparation , the Moderation of your Affections .

First , Consider and observe the great and glorious Works of God : Man an excellent Creature , must dye , Beauty must put on ghastliness and paleness ; Power lie prostrate at the foot of a prevailing Enemy ; Man a lofty , glorious Creature in his erected Countenance , must fall and lye under the power of Death and the Grave ; that the whole visible World shall be made a woful desolation ; that the Son of God shall appear in his Glory to redeem us from this Captivity and Bondage ; to lay the top-stone of our Redemption ; to raise them to an eternal Life , whom the gentle hand of a loving Father hath laid to sleep in the Grave . Consider these Three things .

1. Consider your Working time . Before we lye down to sleep we must do the work of our Heavenly Calling : In this we have our Saviour's example , Job . 9. 4. I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day : that is , To destroy the works of the Devil , to destroy his Kingdom , togather a Church out of the World , to pay the price of Redemption , to glorifie his Heavenly Father . We have our work appointed of God : Repentance toward God , and Faith in our Lord Jesus ; to get out of Sodom , to get into Sion , to get out of the first into the second Adam .

1. Our time is precious ; 't is valuable for the use that 's made of it , and the good that depends upon it ; Now is the accepted time , now is the day of salvation ; 't is more worth than the whole material World , if it were turned into purest Gold .

2. Our time is short : God is said to Inhabit Eternity , Isa . 57. 15. He is the commander of all time ; his days are not as the days of a Man , Job 10. 5. he hath time enough to do his work , knows no night , no lying down ; we must hasten our work , that it may be dispatch'd before we lye down to sleep .

2. Consider your Sleeping time , the fixed term and limitation of it : Man lies down , and rises not ; the negligent and sloathful would be glad to hear of a possible return . Oh that I might return to that Natural , Civil , Relative , and Spiritual capacity ; hear , read , pray , as before : No , you must never return to this state of life , Luk . 16. 26. Between us and you there is a great Gulf fixed ; no Man shall be able to force his way through the unpassable Gulf of God's eternal and unchangeable Decree . Let the Faithful consider they shall never return to the hardships and severities of Religion , the temptations and sufferings of this life ; when they lye down they shall not rise till they rise to Judgment

3. Consider your Rising time , supposed in the Text , not for work and service , but for Judgment . Now the Heavens and this habitable World are doing their work ; the Heavens in giving out their light and influence , the Sea in its restless fluctuations , the Earth in its fruitful productions ; all other Creatures are at work to accommodate the life of Man ; they do it with groaning , Rom. 8. 22. they groan and grieve to serve their Creator's Enemies , this they do till the time of restitution comes ; when they lye down to rest , then we must rise to receive our doom : Consider the Lord's glorious appearance , the sound of the last Trumpet , the gathering of all Mankind from the Sea and the Grave , from Heaven and Hell , the judiciary proceedings of that day ; such Considerations would greatly advantage the work of Mortification and Godliness . God says , O that they were wise , and would consider their latter end : God would have us look backward , to see what we have done ; and forward , to see what we shall do in the latter end ; as the Pilot sits at the hinder part of the Ship , with the Helm in his hand , so should we dwell upon the hinder part of our lives , and consider what is before us ; therefore our deceased Friend hath chosen this Text for his Funeral Sermon , as a provident recommendation of this Duty to them that survive .

2. That you prepare for this Change , for your lying down , and rising to Judgment , in Four things .

1. In your Regeneration . Get a stock of habitual and relative Grace ; that Grace whereby the guilt of sin is removed , the dominion mortified , the Heart is quickned and fitted for a life of Holiness and Communion with God , Mat . 6. 20. Lay up for your selves treasure in Heaven , the blessings of another life , the comforts of Godliness , the graces that accompany Salvation ; be diligent to hear , read , pray , &c. prudent in ordering your spiritual affairs ; then you shall go to the Grave as the Bird goes to her Nest at night , as the weary Traveller goes to his Bed-chamber , there to refresh himself after all his toil and labour .

2. Prepare in your reconciliation and peace with God , 2 Pet . 3. 14. Seeing that ye look for such things , be diligent , that ye may be found of him in peace , without spot , and blameless . If there be such a lying down , such a rising up , such a dissolution of all things , abstain from sin , from all that may dirty and defile the Conscience ; sin makes Men afraid to appear before God ; when the Grave shall deliver them up to the Judgment seat , Adam hides himself , David cries out , O spare a little ; or if thou hast sinn'd , wash the face of thy Soul with the water of penitential tears , or rather with the blood of Christ applyed by Faith , that his righteousness may be yours , not subjectively in possession , but in the use of it for your justification .

3. Prepare in your mortification of corrupt Affections : Moderate and mortifie your Affections to all Earthly things that sweeten this present life ; do not make any Creature your Idol , your hope , your Heaven , your Treasure , then you 'l be willing to lye down in the Grave , and leave those Comforts you did not immoderately love : The Reason why Job was so willing to die , he waited for it with a vehement desire , let me lye down , and go to Bed , because his Heart was weaned from the World , Job 31. 24. He did not make gold his hope , or say to the fine gold , thou art my confidence : He did not rejoyce because his wealth was great , nor please himself in an earthly abundance .

4. Prepare by the sense and apprehension of a well spent life , a life of integrity and faithfulness to God and Man ; thus labour to get an assurance of God's love in Christ . Though our good works will not give us a title to Heaven ; that 's done by the Righteousness of Christ ; yet they will give us an assurance of our title to Heaven : This was David's deathbed Cordial , 2 Sam . 23. 5. Thou hast made with me an everlasting Covenant . He was in Covenant with God by a Cordial dedication of himself to him . So Hezekiah , Lord remember how I have walked before thee in truth . This carried Moses so chearfully up the Hill , to his Death and unknown Grave . Job waits for his change , because sensible of his Integrity . St. Paul desires to depart , because he had fought a good fight , &c. He that hath a true Faith , dies in safety ; he that hath an assuring , evidential Faith , dies with comfort and peace .

3. Moderate your sorrow for the death of Godly Friends . 't is St. Paul's advice , 1 Thes . 4. 13. I would not have you ignorant concerning them that are asleep , that ye sorrow not as others that have no hope : This I mention with reference to the occasion . It hath pleased God to take to himself the Soul of our deceased Friend , in the strength and fulness of his Age , when his publick and private station had great need of his help and service , to the great grief and sorrow of all that knew him , that have any love to that which is Excellent and Praise-worthy . I know it will be expected , and that with reason too , that I should give you his just Praise , Character , and Commendation ; that I should set before you the Picture of his real worth and usefulness , of his personal Gifts and Graces : It would be a check , a severe reproof to this loose , carnal , selfish , ungodly Age ; it would encourage the Integrity and Goodness of those that are going to Heaven ; but his self-denying Modesty hath order'd that nothing should be said of him as a Panegyrick or Encomium at his Funeral ; they are the express words of his Will ; he hath forbidden the publication of his Praise ; let this excuse my silence , and satisfie your expectation . There is a great veneration due to the will of those that are gone into the other World ; their words should be like the Laws of the Medes and Persians , to over-rule all that may be said or done to the contrary ; we would expect the like regard our selves , when we lye in the dust , from them that survive . But I shall offer these two things .

1. Let his known Goodness , Wisdom , Meekness , Justice , Integrity , Piety , Charity , Humility , and universal Usefulness , be an Example , Pattern , and provocation to you that live after him ; for himself did practically publish his own Praise , though he did not allow the Preacher to do it in the Pulpit . As Solomon says of the virtuous Woman , so his own works will praise him in the gates . Here 's a Pattern for the Husband , for the Parent , for the Family Governour , for the Merchant , for the Magistrate ; nay , for the whole City , in the choice of Magistrates : Let but London chuse such Magistrates , they will be found faithful and serviceable to God and their Generation .

2. Let this check your immoderate sorrow , that it may not exceed upon this sad occasion : 't is not a needless admonition ; there being such a mournful Object presented to us , it will not be easie to keep the Passion of sorrow within its due Banks : Mourn we may , Joseph did it for his Father Jacob ; Jesus for his Friend Lazarus ; Immoderation is the danger .

1. 't is a sign of a distemper'd mind ; 't is a sign of too much love to that earthly Comfort , which you cannot part withal without an excessive sorrow ; what is it but an Idolatrous love ? 't is a sign vou have not yet learnt the Lesson of Submission to the Divine Providence , your Will is not yet fully subdued to the Will of God . 't is a sign of Ignorance : You do not know nor consider the fadingness of temporal Blessings ; that Friends and dearest Relations are but Travellers , that come to lodge with us over Night , to be gone the next Morning ▪

2. This Passion , when immoderate , works a great deal of mischief ; 't is hurtful to the Body , it darkens the Countenance , dries up the Marrow , wastes the Spirits , eats up the Heart , shortens the Life ; 't is a blemish to Religion in the eye of the World , they are scandalized to see the Servants of God give way to this uncomfortable Passion ; it hinders Duty ; it imbitters all our Comforts ; turns them into the waters of Marah . Now to check your immoderate sorrow , that it may not exceed upon this occasion ; Consider ,

1. 't is the common condition of all to lye down in the state of Death . High and Low , Rich and Poor , Young and Old , Good and Bad , all come under the sentence and stroke of Death . How many Crowns and Scepters lye piled up by the Grave's side , as Spoils of Death , that prevailing Enemy . The Great Ones of the World must bow and bend before this Great and Mighty Prince . Complain not that you have lost a dear Relation ; all your Neighbours will say , they have the same measure from the hand of God : You may as well complain of the Summer's heat , and Winter's cold , as complain of that which is common to the whole Race of Mankind .

2. The Covenant of Grace is everlasting : Union to Christ is not dissolved by the stroke of Death : Dying is a Covenant Blessing ; 't is a Sleep , a Seed time , a Passage , an Uncloathing , a going to Bed , a gathering to our Fathers , a resting from our Labour . Why do you immoderately grieve and mourn that your dear Relation hath his Pains eased , Burdens removed , Tears wiped from his Eyes .

3. God hath not taken all away , but left enough behind to fill your Hearts with joy and gladness , and your Mouths with praise , Ps. 68. 19. Who daily loadeth us with his benefits : Mercies for the Body , for the Soul ; Personal , Family , National mercies ; means of Grace , Grace by the means ; justifying , sanctifying Grace ; the image of God , a new Nature , a Spiritual Life , the Adoption of Sons , the Inheritance of Saints ; is not this enough to quiet and content the mournful Soul ? Your loss is but a Penny out of the rich Man's store , a drop out of the Ocean ; you may say yet with Job , Blessed be God , I have a great many blessings yet untaken away .

4. God hath not taken any thing but what is his own . We have not any thing but what is deposited with us as a Trust ; not any thing that we can challenge as ours by an absolute , independent Propriety ; not any thing that is not a Stewardship to be accounted for ; not any thing but what we enjoy at the pleasure of that great and mighty Lord that owns and governs all . Why are you troubled that God hath call'd for his own ? May not he that owns the House pull it down ? He that owns the Garden , gather what Flowers he pleases ?

5. 't is but a parting to meet again . 't is true , Man lieth down , and riseth not , they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep ; that is , to see the light of the Sun , to converse with Mortals , to converse with Relations , to come under the Laws of Providence , to live under the means of Grace ; There is no such rising : But we expect , and are sure of a glorious Resurrection to another Life in God's appointed time : We have great assurance of it , Joh . 14. 3. I shall come again , and receive you to my self . Not send an Angel to do it , but will come himself . So 1 Thes . 4. 16. The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with ● shout . Vers . 14. Them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him to a communion , a participation of Glory with himself : His Resurrection being the first Fruits of ours , gives a full assurance of it .

Your dear Relation is uncloathed , gone to sleep , lies down in the Grave ; 't is but the interposition of a little time keeps you asunder ; when a few days are past , you shall meet again ; Husband and Wife , Parents and Children , Friends , Relations , and Acquaintance ; and this meeting shall then be advanced to the highest pitch of Joy and Love , without intermission , without end , ever with one another , and ever with the Lord .