Of Rest in the Grave
Q. 7. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. That the apparition of departed saints ordinarily are but fables:
They wander not; Rev. 3:12. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.
Q. 8. What is the second inference?
A. That Purgatory is a groundless fable, and invention of men; and the scriptures alleged to countenance it, grossly abused; 1 Pet. 3:19.
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.
Q. 9. What is the third inference?
A. That heaven must needs be a marvellous surprise to believers, how long soever they have conversed with it here.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inference; A. The consideration of this should provoke saints to work hard to finish all they have to do on earth; Eccles. 9:10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Q. 11. What is the fifth inference?
A. That there is no reason to grieve excessively for departed saints; 1 Thess. 4:14. Even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.
Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. That Christless ones are immediately in hell; Luke 16:22, 23. The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.
Of Rest in the Grave
Quest. 1. WHY must believers come to the grave?
A. Because where sin has been, death by the law must follow; Rom.
5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Rom. 8:10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life, because of righteousness.
Q. 2. What is the first privilege of their bodies there?
A. It is the privilege of their bodies to be there in union with Christ; 1 Thess. 4:14. Them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.
Q. 3. What is their second privilege?
A. Their graves are places of rest; not prisons, but beds of rest; Isa.
57:2. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
Q. 4. What is the first evil they rest from?
A. All the toils, and troubles, and afflictions, of this life; Rev. 14:13.
They may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Q. 5. What is the second evil they rest from?
A. They rest from all persecutions from men; Job 3:17. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
Q. 6. What is the third evil they rest from?
A. They rest from sin, never to feel temptation or inclination to sin; Heb. 12:23. And to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Q. 7. How long shall the bodies rest in the grave?
A. Not for ever, but till the day of the resurrection; Job 19:26. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I