Saint Stephens Last Will and Testament, Sermon
SAINT STEVENS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.
ACT. 7. VER. 59.
Lord Jeſus, receive my Spirit.
THIS Text may not unfitlySumme of the Text. be tearmed Saint STEVENS last Will and Testament, made by him at the Stake, being at point of death, for the Faith of Chriſt, whom he therein bequeatheth and commendeth his Soule unto. And it is conceived in forme of an humble Petition and ſupplication preferred unto Christ▪ entreating him, that he would be pleaſed to receive and accept of that, that he did therein bequeath to him, and entruſt him with.
In it, obſerve we may theſe particulars:Parts 4.
1. The Legator, or the partie bequeathing; bleſſed1. Steven, now ſuffering for Chriſts cauſe.
2. The Legacie, his Soule; my Spirit.2.
3. The Legatee, or the partie to whom it is bequeathed,3. Chriſt; Lord Ieſus.
4. A requeſt to him, for the acceptance of it; receive 4.my Spirit.
Lord Ieſus, receive my Spirit.
Now hence, in the firſt place, in that S. Steven here thus aforeign.invocateth Christ (for ſo the words fore-going preciſely tearme it) we might well againſt the Arians obſerve the Deitie of Christ. A point, whereof veryPoint 1. pregnant and plentifull proofes might be produced and preſſed out of Gods Word.
1. From the Titles given unto him. He is calledReaſon 1. God. bIohn 1. 1.The Word was God. Elohim. cPſal. 45. 6.Thy Throne, O Elohim, is for ever and ever: dHebr. 1. 8.by the Apostle expounded of him, Adonai. ePſal. 110. 1.The Lord ſaid to Adonai, my Lord: expounded likewiſe of him, as fMatth. 22. 14.by himſelfe, ſo gHebr. 1. 1….by the Apoſtle alſo. Iehovah, (the hDeut. 6. 4. Iohn 17. 3.peculiar name of the onelyonly true God) and that more then once; i…r. 23. 6. & 33. 16.Iehovah Tſidkenu; Iehovah our Righteouſneſſe. He is called kforeign 1 Iohn 5. 20.the true God, or very God; lforeign. Tit. 2. 13.the great God; mforeign ▪ Eſai. 9. 6.the mightie God; nforeign. Rom. 9. 5.God above all, to be bleſsed for ever.
2. From the Workes aſcribed unto him: TheReaſon 2. Worke of Creation; oIohn 1. 3. Col. 1. 16.By him all things were made: the Worke of Supportation; pHebr. 1. 3. Col. 1. 17.By him all things are upheld: the Worke of Sanctification; q1 Cor. 6. 11.Ye are ſanctified in the Name (that is, by the Power) of the Lord Ieſus: the Worke Of Salvation; r1 Theſſ. 1. 10.Who ſaveth us from the wrath to come.
3. From the Truſt repoſed in him: as by Steven Reaſon 3.in this place, ſo ſEph. 1. 1…, 13. 2 Tim. 1. 12.by other of the faithfull elſewhere, exhorted and encouraged by himſelfe alſo ſo to doe. tIohn 14. 1.Ye truſt in God (ſaith he) truſt ye alſo in me. And whereas they are uIerem. 17. 6, 7.denounced all accurſed, that truſt in any but God, they are pronounced xPſal. 2. 12.all bleſsed that truſt in him.
4. From the Honour exhibited unto him. Firſt, ofReaſon 4. Adoration; and that not from the meaneſt onelyonly, but from the moſt eminent creatures; not ſome, but all of them: yPſal. 97. 7.Worſhip him, all ye Gods, that is, zHeb. 1. 6. & ſic etiam LXX. foreign.all ye Angels of God; ſo explained, where it is alſo by the Apoſtle applyed unto him. Secondly, of Invocation: it being in Scripture made more then once the deſcription of a Christian, *Act. 9. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 2▪one that calleth upon the Name of Christ: and practiſed by bleſſed St…ven, as we ſee, in this place.
Which, as it overthroweth that peſtilent Doctrine Vſe 1.of Arius, who denyed the Deitie of Christ: ſo it may ſerve to confirme us in the Faith of Christ, and in dependance upon Christ, with full aſſurance of undoubted ſafetie unto all thoſe that ſhall ſo doe. For if Christ be God (as undoubtedly he is) and he be with us, as aMatth. 28, 20.he hath promiſed to be for ever with all thoſe that be his; then may we well ſay with the Apostle, bRom. 8. 31.If God be with us, who can be against us? cN…mo nos laeſevit, niſi D…ū prius vicerit. Auguſt. de …rb. Apoſt. 16. & inde B…da in Rom. 8.They must overcome God himſelfe, that prevaile againſt us, ſaith Auguſtine: and with the Pſalmist, dPſal. 23. 4.Though I walke through the vale of the ſhadow of death, I will not feare, as long as thou art with me: for, eVbi enim aut …ecum ma…e, aut ſine t… … poterit eſſe? Bern. in Advent. 1.Where can any be, either well without him, or but well with him? ſaith Bernard. And upon this very ground doth our Saviour give aſſurance to all his, that they ſhall never any of them miſcarry, maugre the might and malice of all their adverſaries whatſoever. fIoh. 10. 27. 30.My Sheepe heare my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them life eternall, and they ſhall never periſh, nor ſhall any be able to pluck them out of my hand: my Father, that gave me them, is greater then all; nor is any able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand: I and my Father are one.
Secondly, in that Steven here calleth his Soule, his…nt 2. Spirit; we might hence obſerve the dignitie, eminencie, and excellencie of the Soule above the Body: in that, gforeign. Galen. pro…eptic. …. 7. Noſtra omnis vis in animo & corpore ſita eſt: alterum nobis cum D…s, alterum cum belluis commune eſt. S…uſ…. Ca…ili….whereas the Body is but Fleſh, common to us with the Beaſts, and hGeneſ. 2. 7, 19.made of the ſame matter and mould that they were; the Soule, it is a Spirit, common to us with the Angels, who are alſo tearmed iHebr. 1. 14.Spirits. Yea, kQuid …l…ud voces ani…, quam Deum quendam in humano corpor… hospitem? Senec. epiſt▪ 31. Divin… particulam a…ae, Horat. ſerm. l. 2. S…. 2.by it we come as neere to the very eſſence of God, as the creature is able to approach the Creatur. Since that, as lIohn 4. 24.God is ſaid to be a Spirit, ſo the Soule is likewiſe tearmed a Spirit; as by Steven here, ſo by mEccleſ. 12. 7.Solomon, and nPſal. 32. 2. & …42. 3. … Cor. 2. 11▪ Hebr. 12. …3.others, elſewhere.
That which ſhould teach us, to eſteeme higher ofVſe 1. our Soules, to make more account of them, oforeign. Galen. ibid.to have more regard to them, then the moſt commonly have. For, pMeritò poſ…it ſtudia majora pars melior, Eucher. ep. ad Valer. foreign, Plut. de tranquill. Itaque, foreign, Chryſoſttem. 8. …a…. …7. foreign, Democrit. apud Stob. c. ….The better part justly challengeth the greater care, ſaith Eucherius. And this ſhould we be the more carefull of; ſince that (as we ſee in S. Stevens example here) the Soule may ſubſiſt and doe well without the Body, whereas qOmne enim dignius trabit minus dignum, Reg. Iur.the Body cannot ſubſiſt or doe well without the Soule.
As alſo it may juſtly reproove the fooliſh, ſottiſh,Vſe 2. and rforeign, Plato in Clitoph. & apud Stob. c. 4.prepoſterous practiſe of thoſe, whoſe ſEccleſ. 6. 7. foreign. Euſeb. apud Stob. c. 53.whole care is for Back and Belly, (as we ſay) for the Body, tforeign. Plato Polit. l. 3. Cultus magna cura tibi, magna virtutis i…curia. Cato Cenſor. apud Ammian. l. 16. foreign Chryſoſt in Matth. Orat. 49.with a totall diſregard and neglect of their poore forlorne Soule: many even of thoſe that profeſſe themſelves Christians, ſo living, uforeign. de Athletis Galen. protrep…. c. 9 & de aliis ibid. c. 2. foreign. ut qui nec animam habere ſe ſen…a…. de Dicaearcbo, Cicer. Tuſc. l 1.as if they knew not that they have a Soule; the moſt, as not knowing, or at leaſt, xTal… iſt… ſtupor me…s,—Ipſe quis ſit, utrum ſit, an non ſit, hoc quoque n…ſcit, Ca…ull. Epigr. 17.not conſidering, what a precious piece the Soule is.
Thirdly, in that S. Steven here freely rendreth upP… his ſoule unto Chriſt; it may informe and minde us, what the dutie of every Chriſtian man is; to wit, willingly to give up his ſoule to Chriſt, when he calleth for it. Since that, as the Heathen man well ſaith, aB…nè mori … lib…nter mori, Scnec. epiſt. 61.It is one part of well dying, to be willing to dye; and to render up our ſoules readily, when they are called for away from us.
Yea, to be readie and willing, with bleſſed Stephen here, not b1 Pet. 4. 19.to give up our ſoules onelyonly in an ordinarie way, but cAct. 21. 13.to lay downe our lives, as he did here, for Chriſts cauſe, if God ſhall pleaſe at any time to call us thereunto.
And thus in ſome ſort, as Bernard alſo well obſerveth, every Chriſtian man or woman, eve… member of Chriſt, may be, yea, muſt be, a Martyr. For, dBern. de temp. ſerm. 23. & Greg. in Evang. hom. 35.ſpeaking of thoſe words of our Saviour to the two Brothers, Iames and Iohn; eMatth. 20. 23.You ſhall drinke of the Cup that I drinke of: (the fMatth. 26. 39, 42. John 18. 11.Cup of Martyrdome he meant) How was this fulfilled, ſaith he, gCum corpore… paſſione non ſit Dominum ſ…cutus, Bern. ibid.when as S. John never ſuffered death for Christ, but died (as hEuſeb. hiſt. Eccleſ. l. 3. c. 25.the ſtories of him tell us) a naturall death? And hereunto he maketh anſwer, that there are two ſorts of Martyrs: there are iMartyres opere, & Martyres …ol…ate; act… & aſſectu.Martyrs in worke, and Martyrs in will; Martyrs in action, and Martyrs in affection; Martyrs in diſpatch, and Martyrs in diſpoſition; Martyrs in execution, and Martyrs in reſolution. kAct. 12. 2.Iames was one of the former, lNon per Martyrium vitam ſinivi…, & Martyr tamen e…itit; ſed mente, non ca…e, Greg. ſpiritu non corpore▪ B…rn.Iohn of the latter. In the former reſpect the Apoſtle Paul was but m2 Tim. 4. 6.once a Martyr, in the latter reſpect, he was oft, yea, n1 Cor. 15. 31.every day a Martyr: o2 Cor. 4. …1.I dye (ſaith he) every day; to wit, pforeign Ch…ſ. in Pſal. 95. & ad. …ud. l. 5.in regard of diſpoſition, propenſ…tie, qforeign, …ſidor. Fel. l. 3. …p. 399.purpoſe, readineſse, and reſolution ſo to doe; rforeign.expectation of it, and ſforeign, idem ibid.preparation ſor it.
And the ſame doth our Saviour himſelfe require of all thoſe that be his: tLuk. 16. 26.If a man (ſaith he) will follow me, he muſt hate his owne ſoule; (uforeign, anima, pro vitâ, ut Matth. 6. 25. his owne life, he meaneth; that is, be as willing to leave it, and part with it, if occaſion be, for my cauſe, as if he were wearie of it, and out of love with it) or he cannot be my diſciple. And againe, xLuk. 9▪ 23.If any man will come after me, he muſt renounce himſelfe, and take up his croſſe every day: not, take it up, and not dye upon it; (That is the manner and guiſe of hypocrites, ſaith yFerre crucem & non mori, bypocri…rum eſt, Bern. de temp. 56.Bernard) but be content and readie every day to be crucified; to dye dayly for Chriſt, as the Apoſtle did, in will, in diſpoſition, in heart and affection, in readineſſe and reſolution at leaſt.
But the maine Point that I ſhall pitch upon, and deſire to inſiſt moſt upon at preſent, is this; to wit, that,
It is the uſuall practiſe of Gods people, in times of danger Point 4.or diſtreſſe, and eſpecially at point of death, to commit and commend their ſoules unto God, and unto Christ.
So David, in time of diſtreſse and danger; aPſal. 31. 5.Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my ſpirit: So our Saviour, on the Croſſe, at point of death, uſing alſo the ſame words; bLuk. 23. 46.Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit: So bleſſed Steven here, drawing now his laſt breath; Lord Ieſus, receive my ſpirit. So S. Peter exhorteth all good Chriſtians to doe: c1 Pet. 4. ….Let them in well-doing commit their ſoules unto God. And ſo S. Paul profeſſeth that he had done: d2 Tim. 1. 12.I know whom I have trusted (to wit, with my Soule) and to whom I have committed it.
And it is, as a point of great equitie, ſo a point alſo of good policie, for Gods people ſo to doe.
Reaſons hereof, the very places before produced afford not a few.
For firſt, he is their Father. It is our Saviours ground:Reaſon 1. eLuk. 23. 46.Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit, and, fIohn 12. 27.Father, ſave me from this houre. And indeed, whom ſhould children in diſtreſse and danger reſort and ſeeke to, for ſuccour, reliefe, ſupport, and protection, but to their Parents? Or whom ſhould Gods children commend their ſpirits unto in the like caſes, but to him, that is Pater Spirituum, the gPater ſpirituū. Hebr. 12. 9.Father of their ſpirits, their ſpirituall Father?
Secondly, he is their Creator. That is one of S. Peters Reaſon 2.grounds: h1 Pet. 4. 19.Let them commit their ſoules, ſaith he, to God the Creator: It is iGeneſ. 2. 7he that gave the ſoule at firſt; kforeign, An…onin. l. 12. §. 26 Sedib… aethe…iis ſpiritus ille venit, Ovid. art. l. 3.from him they have it. And to whom then ſhould it be returned againe, but to him, from whom it came? lEccleſ. 12. 7. foreign, Epicharmus apud P…t. ad ApollThe Spirit, ſaith Salomon, returneth to God that gave it.
Thirdly, he is their Redeemer. mPſalm. 31. 5.Thou hast redeemed it, ſaith David. He hath redeemed it; he hath payd deere for it, and hath therefore beſt right to it. n1 Cor. 6. 20.Ye are bought with a price, ſaith the Apoſtle, and ye are not your owne; oAct. 20. 28.Christ hath bought it pApoc. 5. 9.with his bloud. AndReaſon 3. whom is the Soule fitteſt to be recommended unto, but to him who hath moſt intereſt in it, having q… …. 1. 18, 19.payd ſuch a price for it?
Fourthly, he is their Saviour. So rMatth. 1. 21.importeth the Name Ieſus, that S. Steven here uſeth: It is his Office, Reaſon 4.his undertaking, ſMatth. 18. 11.to ſave. And whom then may the Soule better for ſafetie betake it ſelfe to, then to him, that hath undertaken to ſave it? The rather, ſince that no ſafetie can be had for it by any other. For tAct. 4. 12.there is no ſalvation by any Name, but by this alone.
Fifthly, he is able to keepe and to ſave whatſoeverReaſon 5. in this kind he ſhall be entruſted with. u2 Tim. 1. 12.I know, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, whom I have trusted; and that he is able to keepe that that I have committed unto him: his Soule, he meaneth, which he had truſted him with. It is ſaid of our Saviour, that xHebr. 5. 7.he ſought unto him, that was able to ſave him. And well and wiſely doe the Saints and ſervants of God, in commending their ſoules to him, that is yEſai. 63. 1.able to ſave; yea, zEſai. 43. 11.alone able to ſave, both themſelves and their ſoules.
Sixthly, he is as able, ſo willing; as powerfull, ſoReaſon 6. faithfull: That is another of Saint Peters grounds; a1 Pet. 4. 19.He is a faithfull Creator: (bNon creat, & creata non curat. August. de verb. Dom. 10. Not one that createth, and careth not for what he hath created, ſaith Auguſtine) And as a faithfull Creator, ſo a faithfull Redeemer; (cPſal. 31. 5. Thou hast redeemed it, ſaith David, O Lord God of Truth) one that dPſal. 9. 10.never failed any of thoſe, that repoſed trust in him. ePſal. 34. 22.The Lord (ſaith the Pſalmist) redeemeth the ſoules of his ſervants; and none that trust in him, ſhall periſh.
Seventhly, it is their onelyonly ſafetie ſo to doe. For,Reaſon 7. as Bernard obſerveth, ſpeaking of thoſe words; f1 Sam. 16. 14.The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evill ſpirit moleſted him; gQuem Dominus deſerit, Diab…lꝰ ſuſcipit. Bern. de ord. vit.Whom God leaveth, the Devill taketh: ſo here, hQuem Dominus … recipit, diabolus a…ripit.Whom the Lord receiveth not, thoſe Satan ſurprizeth, to their endleſſe woe, to their eternall undoing.
Laſtly, it is not in vaine, or without good ground,Reaſon 8. that they ſo doe, but with aſſured hope of good ſucceſſe; they have good aſſurance of faith, that they ſhall ſpeed in this their ſuit. iPſal. 49. 15.The Lord, ſaith David, will ſave me from the hand (kA man…, i. à poteſtate, ut Pſal. 22. 20. that is, the power) of Hell; for he will receive my ſoule. And, lPſal. 37. 40.The Lord will ſuccour them, and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked; (from that wicked one, eſpecially) he will ſave them, *Salvabit c…s. Quare? qu…b…s meritis? A…di quod▪ …. quia … it in co d…lcis ca …ſa, a…amc… … ▪ …imirum hoc …otū eſt hominis meritum, ſi totam ſp… ſuam ſonat in …o, qui …ot… homin…m ſalv… …. Bern. in Pſ. Qui habitat. conc. 9. & 15.becauſe they put their truſt in him.
By all which layd together, it may evidently appeare, that the people of God doe as well wiſely and ſafely, as juſtly and equally, in the committing and commending of their ſoules unto God.
Now this may firſt ſerve to controule and condemne the vaine, fond, and inconſiderate courſe of thoſe of the Romiſh Synagogue; who, in ſuch caſes of danger and diſtreſſe, or when they lye a dying, are wont, paſſing by God and Christ, (whom the bleſſed Saints and ſervants of God, as you have heard, uſe to ſeekeVſe 1. unto) to commend their ſoules to the creatures, to the Virgin Mary, to this Saint, and that Saint; as if they either were better able to ſave them then Christ, or had better intereſt in them then he. But thus mIerem. 2. 13.they forſake the fountaine of living waters, and betake themſelves to broken Ciſternes, that cannot affoord any; while they ſeeke for ſafetie to thoſe, who nLuk. 1. 42. Phil. …. …0.themſelves needed a Saviour, being oPſal. 22. 29.not able to ſave themſelves: and of whom we may well ſay, as thoſe ſometime of Saul, p1 Sam. 10. 27.How ſhall this man ſave us? How ſhould ſuch perſons be able to ſave others, as had not might enough to ſave themſelves?
Secondly, this may give encouragement and heartiegraceVſe 2. to Gods people, againſt feare of danger and diſtreſse, yea, even of death it ſelfe; ſince that they have a Christ, a God, an Almightie Saviour, a moſt powerfull Protector, whom they may commit and commend their ſoules unto, in ſuch caſe, and upon ſuch occaſions. Indeed, qProv. 18. 11.the rich mans wealth is a ſtrong tower in his conceit, ſaith Solomon. But, alas, this his imaginarie Fort faileth then, when he hath moſt need of it, when it ſhould ſtand him moſt in ſtead. For, rProv. 11. 4. Ezck. 7. 19.Riches availe not in the day of wrath; and much leſſe, at the houre of death. No, then it utterly faileth them, and their hopes fall to ground with it. For, howſoever the wicked (and ſo the worldly) man may ſEccleſ. 9. 4. foreign. Theocr. Batt…. Dum ſpirat, ſperat.nouriſh hopes, and feed himſelfe therewith, while he liveth; yet tPro. 11. 7. foreign. Ibid. Cum expirat, ex…es ſit.when he dieth, his hopes periſh, and die together, with him; being uPſal. 17. 14.founded wholly upon worldly things; that then, at leaſt, if not before, faile. But what finde we in the ſame place, and in the very next words? xProv. 18. 10.The Name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower indeed; the Righteous have recourſe to it, and are ſaved: and the Righteous man therefore yProv. 14. 32. Etiam cum expirat, ſperat.hath hope even in death, becauſe he hath zforeign. Socrates apud Platon. apol…g Iamblych. de Pyth…g. l. 2. Epictet. diſſert. l 3. c. 26. Theodor…t. therap. l. 6 … ra compe…ſſimo ha…eatur, quod dicturus ſum. Nec cuiquam bono quicquam mali eveni…e poteſt, nec vi… nec …ortuo: nec unquam res ejus à Deo immortali neg…gentur. Cicer. Tuſc. l. 1.one even in death to entruſt with his ſoule, and to undertake the charge of it; who is able, not aPſal. 3…. 1…to ſave it onelyonly from death, but bPſal. 19 15to ſave it in death; cPſal. 68. 20.to give iſſues even in death againſt death; to make dIohn 11. 26. foreign Chryſoſt. in Pſal. 48.death no death, but e2 Cor. 5 4. foreign Antiphan.a remedie againſt death; and fPer mortem ad vitam reditus eſt. Ambr de bon. Mort. foreign Plut. de vit. Epicur. Dies mortis, aeterni na…alis eſt. Senec. epiſt. 102.an entrance into life.
Thirdly, it may ſerve to approve and juſtiſie that receivedVſe 3. courſe of Chriſtian people, in making of their Wills, of bequeathing of their ſoules to God, and to Chriſt; it being warranted, as you ſee, both by the approved practice of the faithfull, recorded in Scripture, and by ſundry incitements and encouragements therein given thereunto.
But, becauſe with many, yea, the moſt part, this is done gUſu …, quam … quo mod… Bern. uſu magi…, quam ſenſu.rather of forme and faſhion, then of faith; and that many that ſo doe, yet miſcarry for all that, and are never a whit the neerer for the attaining of their deſire in this kind, if they doe at leaſt deſire what they would ſeeme to doe, in it: the laſt Vſe ſhallVſe 4. be for Caution unto every one of us, to admoniſh us, ſo to carry things while we live, that we may doe ſo with aſſured hope of good ſucceſſe, when we die.
And here I inſtantly and earneſtly (for it is a matter of no ſmall moment, but as much as your ſoule is worth) beſeech every one of you, for Gods ſake, for Christs ſake, for your owne ſoules ſake, ſeriouſly to conſider before-hand with your ſelves, what it is that you intend to doe in this kind, and how likely you are to ſpeed in what you ſhall doe. When therefore thou goeſt about the making of thy Will, either in time of health, (and that is indeed the moſt ſeaſonable time for it) or on thy ſick-bed, if thou haſt not done it before; what will be the firſt thing that thou intendeſt to diſpoſe of? I ſuppoſe, it will be thy ſoule; which is thy rforeign. Eurip. Alceſt. & Greg. Naz. invect. 1.preciouſeſt jewell, whether thou eſteeme it ſo, or no. And whom intendeſt thou to bequeath it unto? I preſume, unto God thy Maker, unto Christ thy Saviour, whom thou profeſſeſt to count thy deareſt friend.
Yea, but here two Queſtions may be mooved, andDoubts 2. a two-fold Doubt made:
The one, Whether thou haſt power to diſpoſe of1. it, or no?
The other, Whether he will be willing to accept2. of it, or no?
Firſt, I ſay, Whether it be in thy power to diſpoſe of it?Doubt 1. And for the clearing of this, give me leave to demand one or two things of thee.
Firſt, art thou a Free-man? For they are receivedDemand 1. Rules in the Civill Law: ſServus non poteſt condere Teſtamentum.A ſlave, or a vaſsall, can make no Will; for tServus eſt in peculio & cōmercio Domini ſui, ex Exod. 21. 21.ſuch an one is not his owne, but his Lords; and, uServus qui… quid acquirit, domino acquirit.Whatſoever he acquireth, it accrueth to his Lord: nor can he therefore diſpoſe of ought, becauſe xServus nihil habet proprium.he hath nought. For, how can he have ought as his owne, who himſelfe is not his owne, but anothers? If therefore thou beeſt not a Freeman, but y2 Pet. 2. 19.a ſlave to ſinne, zEph. 2. 2.a vaſſall to Satan, what power canſt thou have to diſpoſe of thy ſoule, or to bequeath it unto Christ?
Yea, but how may I know, whether I be ſo, orQueſtion. no?
The Apoſtle telleth thee: aRom. 6. 16.Doe you not know, ſaith he,Anſwer. that whomſoever you obey, his ſervants you are, whom you doe obey? Our Saviour telleth thee, who is bIohn 14. 6.Truth it ſelfe, and he bindeth it, for the more certaintie, with a double Amen, and biddeth thee take it upon his word: cIohn …. 34.Verily, verily, I ſay unto you; dforeign ſicut 1 Ioan. 3. 9. foreign. &, Artem puder… proloqui, quam …actit…s.Whoſoever practiſeth ſinne, is a ſervant, or a ſlave to ſinne. As long therefore as thou continueſt in the practice of ſinne, ſo long art thou no Free-man, but a ſlave and vaſſall unto ſinne, and haſt no power to diſpoſe of ought.
Wouldeſt thou then be free, and have power to diſpoſe of thy ſoule, when thou art making of thy will? Take heed how thou eRom. 6. 2.livest in any knowne ſinne: for in ſo doing, thou ſhalt f2 Pet. 2. 19.enthrall thy ſelfe unto it, thou ſhalt make thy ſelfe a ſlave and a vaſsall to it, and to Satan by it; and ſo being, thou ſhalt have no more power to diſpoſe of thy ſoule, then any ſlave or vaſsall hath to diſpoſe of himſelfe.
Secondly, haſt thou not made ſale of thy ſoule alreadie?Demand 2. For can a man by will demiſe, deviſe, or diſpoſe of that, that he hath mortgaged, yea, that he hath made ſale of before? *Nemo relinquit, quod non babet. Baldus. Nemo poteſt legare, quod ſuum jam non eſt. Cod. de legat. l. 6. tit. 37. l. 15.No, undoubtedly. No more haſt thou power to diſpoſe of thy ſoule, if thou have ſold it to ſinne, if thou haſt made it over to Satan before.
Thou wilt ſay to me, it may be, How may that be Queſtion.done? Or how ſhould that be? Of witches it is true, that have dealings with the Devil, it is a common ſaying, that they ſell their ſoules to the Devil: but for my part, I never had any dealing with him, nor intend by Gods grace and helpe ever to have.
Yea, but many others as well as Witches, ſell Anſwer.their ſoules to the Devill; and thoſe, ſuch as never had any ſuch dealing with him, as they have. It is ſaid of Ahab, among others, that g1 King. 21. 25.he ſold himſelfe to ſinne. Conceive it thus. They have a Proverb in Spaine of a Woman, as Ludovicus Vives telleth us; hMunere dato, mulier ſe donat; accepto, ſe vendil, Ludov. Vives inſtruct. mulier. Chriſt. l. 1. c. 1….If ſhe give a gift, ſhe giveth her ſelfe; if ſhe take a gift, ſhe ſelleth her ſelfe. Wee may thus apply it to our preſent purpoſe: i2 Cor. 8. 5.If a man give ought to God, he must give himſelfe with it; (for kGeneſ. 4. 4. foreign, Baſil. Sel. orat. 3. In omnipotentis Dei judicio, non quid datur, ſed à quo datur, aſpicitur. non offerens … muneribus, ſed munera ab oſſerente placuerunt. Greg. in regiſtr. l. 7. epiſt. 126. Omne quod Deo datur, ex dantis mente penlatar. ex dantis enim corde id quod datur accipitur, itaque non Abel ex muneribus, ſed ex Abile munera oblata placuerunt. prius nam que legitur dominus ad eum respexiſſe qui dabat, quam ad illa quae dabat. Idem Moral. l. 22. c. 12.God regardeth the giver, not the gift) if he receive ought from Satan, he ſelleth himſelfe for it. For example: When lMatth. 4. 9.the Devill tendred to our Saviour the whole World, and the glory of it, if he would fall downe and worſhip him; had our Saviour condeſcended to that his motion, and accepted of that his offer, he had ſold himſelfe to him for it. In like manner, when matter of pleaſure is tendred to thee, that may be compaſſed by ſome ſinfull or uncleane act, matter of profit and gaine, that may be attained by ſome indirect courſe, mA diabolo datur, quod …raud…bas acqu…ritur.by deceit, lying, perjurie, oppreſſion, extortion, and the like: that pleaſure, that profit, if upon ſuch tearmes thou ad… and accept of it, thou receiveſt from Satan, thou ſellest thy ſoule away for it.
And here, I beſeech you, nPro anim… veſtrâ legatione apud vos ſungimur. Eucher. ad Valer.let me plead to you, and oOrator ad vos venio: ſmite exorator ut ſum. Terent. Hecyr.prevaile with you, in the behalfe of your ſoules; making that ſuit, in effect, to you for your ſoules, that David did ſometime to Saul (though in another kind) for his ſoule: p1 Sam. 24. 24.As thy ſoule, faith he, hath beene precious in my ſight, ſo let my ſoule be precious in thy ſight. So ſay I to you: As your ſoules have beene precious in Gods ſight, in Chriſts ſight; in Gods ſight, that qIohn 3. 16. Rom 10. 32.ſent his Sonne to ſave them; in Chriſts ſight, that rAct 20. 28. 1 Pet. …. 19, 20. Quam cha…aſ… Chriſto animatua, pro quâ poſuit animam ſuam? Iohn 10. 15.ſhed his bloud to redeeme them: ſo let them be precious in your owne eyes. Be not ſo unthankfull to God, ſo ungratefull to Chriſt, ſo injurious to thy ſelfe, as ſCave, ne ſorte dumacquiris pecuniam, perdas animam: nemo enim habet injuſtum luerum ſiae juſto damno, Auguſt. de temp. 215.to barter away thy ſoule for ſuch toyes and trifles, eyther of momentanie pleaſure, or of tranſitorie pelfe, as the Fleſh, or the World, Satans Brokers, and he by them, ſhall tender unto thee, to deceive thee, and bereave thee of tVſUs que adeo charu… eſt hic mundus hominibus, ut vi…uerint ipſi ſibi? Idem epiſt. 162. Eſto tu charior tibi quam tua, id quod es, quam id quod habes. Eucher. ad Valer.ſo precious a piece. Conſider ſeriouſly with thy ſelfe now before-hand, what a diſ-heartening it will be to thee, when thou ſhalt lye on thy death-bed, to remember how oft thou haſt, at ſuch and ſuch times, upon ſuch and ſuch occaſions, made ſale to Satan of thy ſoule, which thou ſhalt deſire then to diſpoſe of otherwiſe. And when any ſuch offer therefore ſhall be made unto thee, call to mind againe what now is told thee, and ſay to thy ſelfe; Oh, with what heart or hope may I hereafter be…eath my ſoule unto God, if I ſell it now away to Satan? …nd, as thou wouldeſt be free, to diſpoſe of thy ſoule, when thou dieſt, take heed of bartering it away, while thou liveſt. Imitate thy Saviour; refuſe the whole World offred thee, in way of exchange for it: it is a more precious piece then the whole World beſides, and uforeign. Plato apud Plut. de util. ex immic. & adv. Colo….all the wealth of it to boot: More precious at leaſt ought it to be unto thee, becauſe xNon poteſt ulla compendri cauſa cōſiſtere, …i co…ſtetanima intervenire dispendium? ubi ſalutis damnum, illic utique jam lu…rum nullum eſt. quo enim lu…rum capiatur, niſi capiendi ſede…inconcuſſa ſervetur? Eucher. ad Valer. Quid tibi proderit, ſi omnem mundum, aut ipſe babeas, …ut tuis relinquas, ſi ſalutis at que animae detriment… patiaris. damno enim ammae totū penitus ſecū auſerunt: nec quicquā homo omnino habere poterit, qui ſeipſum damno animae percuntis ami…. Salv. de avarit. l. 3. Si enim puer infans, cum ſt Dominus omnium quae jur… ſunt ejus, nihil poſſidet mente ſopita, quonam tandem modo quiſquam quicquam mente poſſidebit amiſſâ▪ Aug. de Trin▪ l. 14. c. 24.the whole World, if thou hadſt it, cannot availe thee, without it; yPſal. 49. 7, 8. 1 Pet. 1. 18.nor will be accepted in exchange for the redeeming of it, once loſt, and the regaining of it againe. For, zMatth. 16. 26.What ſhall it avail… a man, ſaith our Saviour, to win the whole world, if he loſe his owne ſoule? or what ſhall he give in exchange for his ſoule?
And ſo much for the firſt Queſtion to be conſidered of, Whether thou haſt power, or no, to diſpoſe of thy ſoule?
The ſecond Question, that may be mooved, andDoubt 2. Doubt, that may be made, is, Whether God will be wiling to accept of it, or no. For aLegato renunciari poteſt, A Legatariis & fideicommiſſariis Legatum relinqui poteſt.a Legacie, though bequeathed and given never ſo ſolemnly, yet may be refuſed: bLegatum accipere nemo no…em cogitur.None are bound to accept of Legacies, unleſſe themſelves will; and ſuch as are matters of meere charge, we ſee many times refuſed. It is a queſtion therefore not unworthy the diſcuſſing, to examine, whether God will be willing to accept of it, or no. For many commend their ſoules to him, and yet he accepteth not of them; many bequeath them to God, and yet the Devil ſurprizeth them, and carrieth them away with him to Hell, for all that. And it is a point not unworthy our due and ſerious conſideration, to underſtand, and be well and truly informed, what courſe we may take, to be aſſured of this, that God will be willing to receive and accept of our ſoules, when they ſhall be in ſuch manner commended unto him: the rather, for that our eternall ſafetie and welfare dependeth mainely, yea, wholly hereupon.
Wouldeſt thou know then, how this ſo weightieQueſtion. a worke may be effected?
Take it briefely in theſe few Directions.Anſwer.
Firſt, addict thy ſelfe to the ſervice of God, while thouDirection 1. liveſt, if thou wouldeſt have God to take charge of thy ſoule, when thou dieſt. For, cPſal. 34. 22.The Lord, ſaith David, redeemeth the ſoules of his ſervants: and, dPſal. 86. 2.Lord, ſave thy ſervant, that putteth his trust in thee. Thou muſt be, with David, a ſervant of God, while thou livest, if thou deſireſt that God ſhould take thy ſoule into his cuſtodie, when thou dieſt. Otherwiſe, if neglecting and rejecting the ſervice of God now, thou ſhalt abandon thy ſelfe to the ſervice of ſinne and Satan, to thy worldly courſes, to thy fleſhly luſts; it ſhall be a juſt thing with God, when thou commeſt on thy death-bed, to commend thy ſoule unto him for ſafegard, in that dreadfull and eHeram illam decretoriam prospice, Sene…. epiſt. 102. quâ ſcil. de …tern… ſalute decernitur.decretorie houre, to turne thee over to them, whom thou haſt ſerved and followed in thy life; as fIudg. 10. 14. Ierem. 2. 28.he doth the idolatrous Iewes in Scripture.
Secondly, reconcile thy ſelfe to him, while thou liveſt, ifDirection 2. thou deſireſt to commend thy ſoule to him, when thou diest. For what hope can a man have, if he ſhall commend his children, his charge, on his death-bed, to one, whom he hath beene at enmitie with all his life long, that he will be content to accept of ſuch a Legacie as that? As Eliphaz therefore adviſeth thee, gIob 22. 22.Acquaint thy ſelfe with God, and make thy peace with him; make a friend of him now, that thou mayeſt find a friend of him then. But that thou canſt not, unleſſe thou commeſt out of thy ſinnes: for, hPeccatores & Dei hoſtes, voces convertibiles. Pſol. 37. 20. Rom. 6. 8, 10.ſinners and Gods enemies are, in effect, one and the ſame. Thou muſt therefore break off thy league with ſinne and Satan, ere thou canſt enter into league of amitie with God; iNiſi diſcordav…i… cū Diabolo, pacem non habebis cum Deo, Auguſt. nom. quest. N. Teſt. 92. Bellum ad Diabolli, pacem patrat ad Deum, Orig. in Rom. 5.thou muſt fall out with them, ere thou canſt fall in with him.
Thirdly, receive his Word now, if thou wouldeſt have him to receive thy ſoule then. That is Eliphaz his adviceDirection 3. alſo. kIob 22. 22.Receive, I pray thee, the Law of his mouth; and lay up his words in thine heart: not in thine head onelyonly, but in thine l1 ſal. 37. 31. & 40. 8. V… figam orationem tuam in auribus meis? Fige in corde tuo legem meam, Aug in Pſal. 85.heart. Heare him now, that he may heare thee then. As Iotham to the Sichemites; mIudg. 9. 7.Hearken to me, that God may hearken unto you; ſo ſay I to you, that now heare me: nQui audiri vult à Deo, prius audiat Deum, Aug. hom. 28. foreign, debilies apud Homer, I…ad. ….Hearken ye, not to me, but to God, that God may hearken unto you: oNe avertas aurem …uam … mondatis Domini, ne avertat & ipe ſuam à pr…cibus tuis, Lern. de temp. 29. Quare i… non percipts auribus tuis…ver. ba ejus, … quo vis percipi lachrymatuas? Auguſt. de temp. 245.Hearken to God, now calling upon you, for obedience, for repentance, for reformation and amendment of life, for charitable and conſcionable dealing, for juſt and upright cariage, for circumſpect and *foreign, Eph. 5. 15.accurate walking before him; if you would have God hereafter to hearken unto you, calling upon him, and crying unto him, for the ſafegarding of your ſoules. Otherwiſe, if you will imitate pPſal. 58. 4, 5. Vide Auguſt. Inn. alios ibi.the deafe Adder, that ſtoppeth his care againſt the Charmer, that he may not heare the charme; heare what Solomon telleth you before-hand, and you will one day find too true, to your woe: qProv. 28. 9. Ejus enim Deus precem i… tribulatione cōtemnit, qui legem ipſius in tranquill ta…e contempſit, Greg. Moral. l. 5. c. 30.He that turneth his eare from hearing Gods Law, and God ſpeaking to him in it, his very prayer ſhall be abominable: Yea, what God himſelfe fore-telleth thee; and as he fore-telleth thee, thou mayeſt be ſure it will be with thee: rProv. 1. 24. 28.Becauſe I called, and you refuſed; I ſtretched out my hand, and you did not regard it; you ſet at nought all my counſell, and would none of my reproofe: therefore will I alſo laugh at you, in your calamitie; and mock you, when your feare ſurprizeth you; when terror ſhall ſeize upon you, as a violent ſtorme, and destruction as a whirlemind: Then ſhall you call upon me, but I will not heare you; ſEſay 1. 15.crie you never ſo long, and never ſo loud. And ſurely, as Salvian well ſaith; tQuid juſtius? quid aequius? non reſpeximus, non reſpicimur; non audivimus, non audimur, Salv. de provid. l. 3.What can be more juſt? what can be more equall? We regard not God, and God regardeth not us; we refuſe to heare him, and he refuſeth to heare us: if uZach. 7. 11. 13.becauſe we ſtop our eares against Gods voice now, God ſtop his eares likewiſe againſt our ſuites then.
Laſtly, cleanſe thy ſoule: and having ſo done, be carefullDirection 4. to keepe it cleane, that it may be a fit gift to bequeath unto God: a2 Cor. 6. 12.Come forth, ſaith God, from among them, and ſeparate your ſelves, and touch no uncleane thing; and I will receive you.
How is that done? may ſome ſay.Queſtion.
Reade but a Verſe or two further, and there thouAnſwer. ſhalt find it: b2 Cor. 7. 1.Let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe both of fleſh and ſpirit, and finiſh our ſanctification in the feare of God: For, c1 Iohn 3. 3.Every one, ſaith Saint Iohn, that hath this hope, doth purifie himſelfe, as he is pure.
And, I beſeech you, conſider this ſeriouſly with your ſelves. Is there any man ſo vile, and void of ſhame, as that he dare preſume ſolemnly to bequeath dMalach. 1. 8.to ſome honourable perſon, ſome greaſie diſh-clout, or ſome durtie ſhoo-clout, or ſome filthie, menſtruous, materie ragge? or ſo ſottiſh, and void of common ſenſe, as to imagine once, that ſuch a perſon as he is would accept of ſuch a gift? yet ePeccante nil eſt tetrius, Nil tam leproſum aut putridum: Cruda est cicatri… criminum; Olctque ut antrum Tartari, Prudent. de Coron. 2.is not any ſuch thing ſo vile and abominable in mans eye, but a ſinful ſoule is much more vile and fPſal. 11. 5. Eſay …4. 6.abominable in Gods ſight. And gIndignum eſt dare Deo, quod homo quilibet dedignetur. Hieron. in Mal. 1.dare any then preſume to tender ſuch a preſent unto God? or can he conceive the leaſt hope, that God ſhould accept of it? What ſhould God doe with a foule, a filthie, a prophane, an impure a ſottiſh, a beaſtly, a brutiſh, a ſwiniſh ſoule? Is ſuc… a ſoule fit to be and abide with God in heaven, where i… h2 Pet. 3. 13.nothing but holineſse, where iApoc. 21. 27.no uncleane thing ca… enter?
Doeſt thou intend then to bequeath thy ſoule unt… God? k2 Tim. 2. 21, 22.purge it and cleanſe it, that it may be a fit gif… for him, who is l1 Sam. 2. 2.holineſſe it ſelfe; and having ſo done mIam. 1. 27.be carefull to keepe it ſo. Hadſt thou ſome one choiſe jewel, that thou purpoſedſt at thy deceaſe, to leave to ſome ſpeciall friend of thine, how chari… wouldeſt thou be of it? how carefull to keepe it faire and cleane, when thou ſhouldeſt at ſome time, as occaſion is, weare it and make uſe of it? And, if it ſhould, againſt thy will, and beſide thy purpoſe, upon ſuch occaſion, by ſome occurrent or over-ſight, take any ſoile, how diligent to wipe it, or burniſh it, to get the ſoile off it, and to reduce it to its former lustre againe? Have the like care for thy Soule, that precious Piece, that thou purpoſeſt at thy deceaſe to commend to thy God, to thy Christ; nIam. 4. 8. Ierem. 4. 14.make it cleane, and o1 Tim. 5. 22. 1 Iohn 5. 18.keepe it cleane. And becauſe that, by dayly occaſions, while p2 Cor. 10. 3.thou liveſt here in the fleſh, and qIoh. 17. 11, 15.converſeſt in this rGalat. 1. 4. 1 Iohn 5. 19.wicked world, ſNemo non aliquod nobis vititim, aut commendat, aut imprimit, aut neſcientibu… allinit, Sen. epiſt. 7. affricant nobis rubiginem ſuam. Ibid. virus ſuum in vicinos transferunt. Idem de irâ, l. 3. c. 8.it will be gathering of ſoile, be thou never ſo carefull; be ever and anon waſhing it with the teares of renewed repentance; be ever and anon ſcouring it, and fetching off the ſoile that it ſo gathereth, by ſerious contrition and heartie remorſe; that, when the time ſhall come, which tEccleſ. 9. 12.thou knoweſt not how ſoone or ſodainely may come, it may be u1 Theſſ 5. 23. 2 Pet. 3. 14.preſented pure and ſpotleſse to him, whom thou intendeſt it now unto.
To cloſe up all in few words. Wouldſt thou reſigneConcluſion, with Recapitulation. and give up thy ſoule unto God, at thy going out of the world, with good aſſurance of gracious acceptance with him? Then be thou now carefull, while thou liveſt here in the world, to addict thy ſelfe to the ſervice of God, to reconcile thy ſelfe unto him by unfained repentance, to yeeld conſtant obedience to his knowne word and will in all things, to cleanſe thy ſoule from all ſinfull filth; and having ſo done, to keepe it in an holy and pure plight. Thus if thou ſhalt doe, aſſured thou mayeſt be, that thou ſhalt not be ſo forward to recommend thy ſoule to God, when thou dieſt, but *foreign, Plato Polit. l. 10.God will be as readie and forward to receive it, and accept of it, when it ſhall be by thee ſo recommended unto him. Yea, ſuppoſe thou ſhouldeſt be taken ſo ſodainely, that thou ſhouldeſt not have time and ſpace in ſolemne ſort to commend thy ſoule to God, yet ſhalt thou find him as readie and forward to accept it, and to take charge of it, as thou wouldeſt have beene to requeſt ſo much of him, hadſt thou had time, and abilitie, and opportunitie ſo to doe.
And thus much for my Text; though not for the Time.