Eight Sermons, Sermons · Sermon 7
Soul-Reſignation, Into the hands of God.
Luke 23.46.
Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit.
THeſe are the laſt words of Chriſt on the Croſs the ſeventh ſpeech: and of all others the moſt exemplary for us. Into thy hands, that is, into thy Charge, Care, and Tuition. God hath no hands at all, for he is a Spirit; but by his hands we are to underſtand his Keeping, Charge, and Cuſtody, Numb. 33.1. Its ſaid, The Children of Iſrael went forth out of Aegypt with their armies under the hand of Moſes and Aaron; that is, under the charge of Moſes and Aaron; ſo the Tranſlators doe interpret it. For whereas Chap. 31.49. Its ſaid by the Officers of the army, Thy Servants have taken the ſum of the men that were under our charge; the Margent tells you, That in the Hebrew it is under our hand So Pſal. 91.11, 12. He ſhall give his Angels charge over thee, and they ſhall bear thee up in their hands. By the hands of God therefore, underſtand his keeping and tuition, Father into thy keeping and tuition I do commend my ſpirit; the word is foreign, I will commend; but our Saviour follows the Septuagint, and the Septuagint the Hebrew of the 31 Pſal. whence theſe words are taken. And its ordinary with the Hebrew to put the future for the preſent time. I will or I do commend my ſpirit, that is, my ſoul, my ſelf, but eſpecially my ſoul, The thing commended was his ſoul; The perſon to whom he did commend his ſoul, was his Father; The Time when he commended his ſoul, was at the inſtant of his death, for having ſaid ſo, he gave up the Ghoſt. Now if ye ask why Chriſt did at this time eſpecially commend and reſign himſelf and ſoul up to God, I anſwer for many reaſons.
Firſt, Thereby he teſtified that he had not loſt his confidence in God as a Father, in the former words he had cryed out and ſaid, My God, My God, why haſt thou forſaken me: Men might think: if he had ſo dyed) that he had quite loſt his confidence; but now that he concludes all with this, it ſhews, that God had not forſaken him, and that he had not loſt his confidence in God. Poſſibly a dying Chriſtian may be in an Agony at the beginning of his Sickneſs, yet may ſweetly believe at the laſt. n the former part of his death, Chriſt was in an Agony, but he cloſes up all with full aſſurance of faith. Father into thy hands I commend my ſpirit.
Secondly, Thereby alſo he did commend the ſouls of all thoſe that he dyed for, into the hands of God; for he was now offering up himſelf through the eternal ſpirit unto God for us, as our common perſon, and as in his Prayer, John 17. he did not only pray for himſelf, but for us; So in this act and deed he did commend the ſouls and ſpirits of all thoſe that he dyed for into the hands of God: As he dyed in our room and ſtead, ſo in our room he ſaid, &c. And when ſhould he do this more fitly, then at the laſt of his ſuffering?
Thirdly, Thereby alſo he became an example unto us; that when we come to dye or ſuffer, we ſhould dye with the Scripture in our hearts and mouthes, for this was Scripture, as ye read Pſal 31.5. And that we ſhould ſuffer and dye believing and reſigning up our ſelves and ſouls into the hands of God as a Father. And for this end certainly Chriſt did now ſpeak theſe words, for ſays he, I have power to lay down my life, and to take it up again; and if he had power to take it up again, why did he reſign it into the hands of God, as a Depoſitum to be kept for him? Surely for this reaſon, that in all this matter he might be an example unto us of Soul-reſignation into the hands of God. And ſo the Doctrine is this.
Doctrine.
It is a good thing for us to reſign up our ſouls into the hands of God, and that eſpecially at the time of our death and greateſt ſufferings, what Chriſt did, and did as our example, that is good for us to do: this hath Chriſt done before us; good therefore it is for us to do it, good at all times; eſpecially at ſome times; and moſt eſpecially at the time of our death and ſufferings.
Firſt; It is Gods due, And it is our duty; for what is reſignation of our ſouls or ſelves unto God, but that act of faith, whereby we do put our ſelves under the power, wiſdom, and mercy of God, to be ordered and diſpoſed of according to the good will of God; this is our duty, and it is Gods due. Is it not the duty of an inferiour to reſign up himſelf and his will to the hands and will of his ſuperiour? Doth not the Wife reſign up her will to the will of her Husband? The Servant to the will of his Maſter? The child to the will of his Father? And is not God much more our Superiour? Is not be our Husband, our Lord, our Father, in moſt tranſcendent manner? Surely then, this Soul-reſi…nation is both Gods due, & it is our duty.
Secondly, Yea, and it is a very profitable thing for us to do it, hereby we make a virtue of neceſſity? & where can we lodge our ſouls in ſafer hands? If a man cannot keep a thing himſelf, but muſt betruſt and depoſite it in other hands: Will he not doe it in the ſafeſt hands that he can find? Now three things there are that are required to a ſafe hand: Power, Wiſdom, and Love; If I depoſite a thing in a mans hand to keep, he muſt be able to keep it for me againſt violence, elſe his hand is no ſafe hand. Secondly though he be able and have power to keep it for me, yet if he be prodigal and laviſh, and not wiſe, I ſhall not count his hand a ſafe hand to keep my Depoſitum. But thirdly, tho gh he be never ſo wiſe, yet if he be not my friend, I ſhall not betruſt him with any great matter: But if a man be able, wiſe, and friendly, Then his hand is a ſafe hand to keep my Depoſitum. Now Go… is all this, Almighty, Infinitely wiſe, and our beſt Friend and acquaintance? Wherefore ſays the Ap ſtle, I know whom I have truſted, and I am perſwaded that he is ab…e to keep that which I have committed to him, againſt that day, 2 Tim 1.12. As if ſaid, do ye blame me for ventureing ſo much in the cauſe of the Goſpel? Wh…, I have but depoſited what I laid out for God, and am perſwaded that he will not imbezil my truſt; but will truly and faithfully keep it for me: for he is able, and I have experience …f him: for I know whom I have truſted, he is no ſtranger to me, and I am perſwaded that he will keep it for me unto that day. Gods hand then is the ſafeſt hand.
Thirdly, And if we do n…t commend, commit, and reſign our ſelves and ſouls into his hands we muſt be reſponſable for them our ſelves If a woman have a child put to Nurſe to her, and ſhe go abroad and do not commit the child to ſome ſafe hands, & the child come to any hurt ſhe muſt be reſponſible, for it. If we commit our ſouls int Gods hands, he will be reſponſible for them. Who will keep that which I have committed to him unto that day, ſays Paul; but if we d… not c mmit our ſouls into his hands to keep, and they get any hurt, we muſt be reſponſible for them our ſelves. And are we able to anſwer for our own ſouls? Surely no. Oh what a good thing is it then to reſign and commit our ſouls unto God.
Queſt. What benefit ſhall we get thereby?
Anſ. Much every way. This reſignation of our ſouls and ſelves unto God, is an in-let to man, Mercies, Graces, and Comforts.
Firſt, As for mercies and bleſſings, What greater bleſsing can there be in this world, then to enj y ones ſelf? under God to enjoy ones ſelf, and to be free from all things? Paul counted it a bleſsing to have the comforts of this world, and to be under the power of none, but to ſtand free from all; Now there is no ſuch way in the world to ſtand free from all things, as to reſign up our ſelves, ſouls and wills unto God. Haec eſt vera libertas ſervire Deo, True liberty doth conſiſt in perfect ſubjection to God; Who more free then Chriſt, yet who more ſubject to the will of God then Chriſt? Not my will, but thy will be done: no ſuch way to enjoy ones ſelf, as to give up our ſelves unto God. Doth not the Begger enjoy her ſelf moſt in giving up her ſelf to a Prince for marriage?
Secondly, Yea, what greater bleſsing is there in the world, or in the world to come, then to enjoy God? Now if you do reſign and give up your ſelf unto God, you ſhall enjoy God, for God will give down himſelf unto you. 'Tis obſerved, That God the Father never gave down that great diſpenſation of the Spirit unto Chriſt, till Chriſt had thus reſigned up his ſpirit unto the father. Look what we do give up to God, that God will give down to us in a better edition; yea, he will not only give our ſelves to our ſelves, if we reſign our ſelves unto him; but if you reſign and give up your ſelf unto him, he will give down himſelf unto you, if you reſign up your ſpirit unto him, he will give down his Spirit unto you. Thus this Soul-reſignation is an In-let to this mercy.
Yet thirdly, You will all ſay, It is a great mercy and bleſſing to have your prayers and deſires granted, Then read …hat the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 37.4. Delight thy ſelf alſo in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the deſires of thine heart. Commit thy way to the Lord, truſt alſo in him, and he will bring it to paſs. Doſt thou ſay, I pray and uſe endeavours; yet the thing prayed for, endeavoured after, doth not come to paſs? Why, Then commit thy way to the Lord; reſign up thy way unto God, and he will bring it to paſs. I remember a notable ſtory that Thaulerus h…th, This Thaulerus lived in the beginning of the German Reformation, a little before Luther, whom Luther ſeems to prize above all Authors; Da mihi iſtum inſignem Theologum Thaulerum, ſaid he, Give me that eminent Author Thaulerus Now this Thaulerus tells us of a certain W…man, that as much given to Prayer; and had ſ… great credit in Heaven, that ſhe did but ask and had from the hands of God: Inſomuch, ſaid he, that divers came to her to pray for them according to their neceſſities, who … ſhe promiſed to pray for; yet ſometimes did forget to pray for them: Yet ſays Thaulerus. The things which her friends did deſire were given to them; and coming to her to thank her for her prayers Nay truly, ſaid ſhe, I am aſhamed and bluſh before you: for if you have received the mercy, it is no thanks to me, for I forgot you. And thereupon going unto God in prayer, ſhe begged this of God, That he would pleaſe to tell her the reaſon why the mercies deſired were given, though ſhe did not pray for them? Whereupon ſhe received this anſwer from God, ſays Thaulerus, Hear O my daughter. Audi filia mea, ex quo dio tuam mihi reſignaſti volunta tem, ego v…c ſſim dedi tibi meam. Thau erus.From the day that thou didſt reſign thy will up to me, I did give my will to thee. And the truth is, there is no ſuch way to obtain what …e would, as to reſign up our wills unto God. Thus this Soul or Self-Reſignation is an In-let unto many mercies.
Secondly, As it is an In-let unto many bleſſings; So it is an In-let unto many graces and duties. What grace or duty will ye inſtance in? Will ye inſtance in Prayer?
Firſt, It opens the Sluices of Prayer; and (as one ſpeaks well) though you pray ne're ſo long or loud, yet if you do not reſign up your Soul and Will unto God, your prayer is but non-ſenſe, and a contradiction in re.
Secondly, Or will ye inſtance in Faith? Faith is a truſting unto God. Now the more you betruſt God with your ſelf, the more you truſt to God. And what greater betruſtment, then the Reſignation of ones Soul unto God?
Thirdly, Thereby you ſhall be contented with your condition whatever it be, with the beſt contentment: For there is a twofold contentment. One, that ariſes from the fullneſs of your enjoyment. Another, that ariſes from the apprehenſion of the wiſe carving hand of God. This laſt is beſt, and the moſt refined. Now if you can but truly reſign your ſelf and Will unto God, you will be thus contented.
Fourthly, Thereby alſo you will rejoyce in God, and mourn for ſin at once; Some mourn for ſin, and neglect joy in God; Some joy in God, and neglect grief for ſin. But if I can truly reſign my ſelf unto God, I ſhall grieve for ſin, and rejoyce in God together.
Yea fifthly, Thereby alſo you will be able to anſwer unto your Temptations, eſpecially that great Temptation that lies ſo hard upon ſome. You are now in a good condition; but ſuppoſe it were ſo and ſo with you! What would you do then? Why, if ye have reſigned your ſelf unto God, you'l be able to ſay, I do not know what may befall me; but I am ſure nothing ſhall come amiſs; for I have reſigned my ſelf and my Will unto God. Thus this holy Reſignation is (ye ſee) an In-let to many g aces and duties.
Thirdly, As it is an In-let unto many graces; So it is an In-let alſo unto many comforts; yea indeed, unto all our comforts: For what comfort can a man have in himſelf or condition, till he hath truly reſigned and given up himſelf, and Soul, and Will unto God; but being done, ye may freely go about your buſineſs. If a man have a Suit in Law, and have left his Cauſe in the hand of an able careful friend and Lawyer, he is quiet: Much more may we be quiet, when we have left and lodged our Caſe, and Way, and Soul with God. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts ſhall be eſtabliſhed, Prov. 16.3. Not thy buſineſs and works, but thy thoughts ſhall be then at reſt. Do not all things reſt in their Center? And is not God our Center? The more indifferently that a mans heart is carried out towards changes, the more quiet and ſedate is his ſpirit. Now when a man hath reſigned himſelf up to God, then he will be more indifferent unto all conditions. The private Souldier doth march indifferently, this way or that way, at the command of his Leader; Why? Becauſe he hath reſigned up himſelf to the wiſdom of his Commander. The Sheep is indifferently led into this Paſture, or the other; Why? Becauſe reſigned up to the will of the Shepherd. So if our Souls be truly reſigned up to God, we ſha l be indifferently carried to this or that Paſture: for we are the ſheep of Chriſt. I remember a notable ſpeech that Luther had to Melancthon; Melancthon being much troubled about the affairs of the Churches, and the low eſtate of the ſame, Luther wrote a Letter to him; and in that Letter he hath this expreſſion; Thou art much troubled and afflicted, O Melancthon; et Philip is to be admoniſhed and deſired to leave governing the world: Sed monendus eſt Philippus, ut d…ſinat gubernare mundum.As if he had ſaid, Philip, thou undertakeſt to govern the world, therefore thou art thus dejected; Do but leave the Cauſe to God, and let him govern, and thou wilt be quiet, and not troubled. The only way therefore to be quiet within, is to reſign and give up all unto God This Self or Soul-reſignation is an In-let unto many mercies, an In let unto many graces, an In-let unto many comforts; Surely therefore it is a good and an excellent thing to reſign and give up our ſelves unto God.
Queſt VVell, but then how is this work to be done, that we may truly reſign and give up our ſelves, our ſouls, and our wills unto God?
Anſw. 1. It is not to be done ſleightly and overly, but ſeriouſly and ſolemnly. It is an ordinary thing with men to ſay, The will of the Lord be done. Gods will be done, and the like. But it is one thing for a man to be indifferent in a buſineſs, ſaying, The will of the Lord be done; and another thing for a man to give up himſelf and will effectually unto God. It is one thing for a man to do this in a ſleighty and general way, ſaying, The will of the Lord be done; and another thing, to make a diſtinct and clear Reſignation of his will to the will of God in particular things. Look into Scripture, and ye ſhall find, that wherever this work was done truly, it was done ſolemnly, and ſeriouſly.
Secondly, As this work is not to be done ſleightly and overly; So neither is it to be done forcedly and laſtly, but freely and firſtly. The firſt thing I do, I muſt commit my ſelf, and cauſe, and will unto God. If a City or Town be beſieged, it yields and reſigns at the laſt, becauſe it can hold out no longer: But this Reſignation is a forced work; the Reſignation of our ſelves and wills unto God is not ſuch. VVhen Pharaoh could ſtand out no longer, then he reſigned up the Iſraelites: And ſo when men can hold out no longer, then they ſay, Well, it is the will of God that this thing ſhould be; wherefore now the will of the Lord be done. VVhen they can do no other, Then they reſign up the thing and themſelves unto God. But this true Reſignation is done freely and firſtly, not forcedly, and at laſt.
Thirdly, As it is not to be done laſtly and forcedly, So it is not to be done partially, and by halfs, but fully and totally. I am thine, ſaith David to God, Oh ſave me. Pſ. 119.94. When a man comes to God for mercy, he pleads not for part, but all. He doth not ſay, O ſave my body, and not my ſoul; but Oh ſave me: Nor doth he ſay, Oh ſave my ſoul, and not my body; But I am thine, Oh ſave me. When a man deſires pardon of ſin, he deſires not the pardon of ſome, but of all. When God gives himſelf unto us, he gives himſelf wholly. This Reſignation of our ſelves unto God, is a great Sacrifice, a great Offering, and it muſt be of all, an Holocauſt. God cannot, will not take leſs then all. He that reſigns himſelf unto God, with a reſervation of a part, doth like Ananias and Sapphira; He pretends the whole, and gives but part, and ſo he doth lye… …nto God.
Fourthly, As this Reſignation muſt not be done partially, and by halfs; So it muſt not be done conditionally, but abſolutely. When you have taken a Servant, and you bid him do this or that, it may be he'l ſay to you, It was none of my bargain, I bargained with you for to be yo r Steward, but not to be your Groom in your Stable: Or I bargained with you to be your Clerk, but not to be your Scullian; this or that work which you ſet me about, is not according to my conditions. And ſo when a City beſieged doth reſign, it doth reſign upon Articles; But when a Soul doth truly reſign it ſelf unto God, Then no Articles, no Conditions. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? ſays Paul, Oh any thing, Lord, any thing: I will return to my Fathers houſe, and let him make me his hired ſervant. Do but receive me Lord, and I'le not article with thee; it's a Reſignation without Articles. The Covenant of Grace, whereby God doth give himſelf to us, is abſolute, and not conditional; So is that Covenant, whereby we do reſign and give up our ſelves unto him. Abraham ſubſcribed to a blanck; ſo muſt all the Children of Abraham do.
Fifthly, As this Reſignation is not to be done conditionally; So it is not to be done paſſively, and in a way of ſubmiſſion onelyonly, but actively. It's one thing for a man to ſubmit unto Gods will, and another thing to reſign up himſelf and will to the will of God. A man is properly ſaid to ſubmit, when he quietly yields unto what is done. A man is ſaid to reſign up himſelf and will unto God, when he doth quietly yield over his affections to the thing done as beſt, becauſe God wills it. For example, I meet a Thief on the way, and he takes my Purſe; I ſubmit becauſe I cannot help my ſelf; but I do not reſign up my will to his will: I reſign up my money into his hand, but not my will unto his will, nor my affections and judgment to the thing done; judging that good which is done. But when a man doth truly reſign up himſelf unto God, he reſigns up his thoughts and judgment to the wiſdom of God; It is not a bare ſubmiſſion unto what is done.
Sixthly, As this Reſignation is not to be done paſſively; So it is not to be done deceitfully and feignedly, but in all p…ainneſs and ſincerity. We read of the enemies of the Lord, that they ſhall ſubmit feignedly unto him; ſo Pſal. 18.44. Strangers ſhall ſubmit themſelves to me. The margent hath it, They ſhall yield feigned obedience; But the Hebrew is, They ſhall lye unto me. So Pſal. 66.3. Through the greatneſs of thy power thine enemies ſhall ſubmit themſelves to thee; Margent, Shall yield feigned obedience; Hebrew, Shall lye unto thee. There is a feigned obedience, a feigned yielding, a lying …eſignation and ſubmiſſion unto God. …er. 42. The people of the Jews come to Jeremiah to go unto God for them, and they ſay, ver. 5. The Lord be a true and faithful witneſs between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God ſhall ſend thee to us; whether it be good, or whether it be evil, &c Wherefore Jeremiah did intreat the Lord for them, but they would not do what they ſaid; Whereupon ſaid Jeremiah, ver. 20. Ye diſſembled in your hearts, when ye ſaid, We will do according to all that the Lord our God ſhall ſay. So that there is a lying ſubmiſſion, whereby men in affliction and diſtreſs, do feignedly ſubmit and reſign themſelves up to God. Poſſibly a man may hear, that the onelyonly way to have his will, is to reſign up his will unto God. Now that he may have his will, he will reſign it up unto God: This is but to ſerve himſelf of God. But where this work is truly done, it is done with the greateſt plainneſs of heart, and the moſt ſincerity.
Seventhly, As this work is not to be done feignedly; So it is not to be done ſinfully, but in well-doing. Some ſay, The will of the Lord be done; and they ſay they do reſign and give up themſelves unto God: But if ye look into 1 Pet. 4.19. he will tell you, That this work is to be performed in well-doing. Let him commit his ſoul to God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creatour. And thus ye ſee how this work is to be done rightly.
It is to be done Solemnly, and not ſleightly; Freely and firſtly, not forcedly and laſtly; Wholly and totally, and not partially and by halves; Abſolutely, and not conditionally, upon Articles; Actively, and not in a way of ſubmiſſion onelyonly; With much plainneſs and ſincerity; And in well-doing.
Queſt. Well, but when is this work to be done?
Anſw. It is to be done daily. Once done, and yet ever doing. But there are ſome times wherein this work is to be done eſpecially, but moſt eſpecially at our death.
Firſt, I ſay, this work is to be done daily. Sometimes a man is to reſign up his will unto God, in reference to his Health; Sometimes in reference to his outward Eſtate; …ometimes in reference to his Relations; Sometimes in reference to his ſpiritual Condition. But as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Truſt in the Lord at all times; So I ſay, we are to reſign up ſelves, and Souls, and Will to God at all times.
Yet ſecondly, There are ſome ſpecial times and ſeaſons which do call for this work. I'le name Five.
Firſt, When a man doth convert and turn unto God, Then he is in a ſpecial manner to reſign and give up himſelf unto God. What wilt thou have me do? ſaid Paul at his firſt Converſion. The Prieſts that offered Sacrifices unto God, were firſt offered themſelves. After Converſion we do daily offer our Sacrifices to God: At the firſt therefore, we are to offer up our ſelves unto him.
Secondly, When a man is called forth unto any great work, or ſervice, or employment, eſpecially if it be beyond his own ſtrength and power, Then he is to reſign and give up himſelf unto God: So Moſes did; So David did; So all the Worthies of God have ever done, when they have been called out to any great employments.
Third…y, When a man is in any great danger, diſtreſs, and affliction, Then he is to reſign and give up himſelf and will unto God. If the Lord have any pleaſure in me (ſays David) he will bring me back again; yet if not, his will be done. So Joab, when he ſaw that enemies were round about him; Let us fight, ſays he, for the cities of our God, &c. and the will of the Lord be done.
Fourthly, …hen a man doth joyn himſelf unto the Lord and his people, Then he is eſpecially to reſign and give up himſelf unto God. So the Churches of Macedonia did; for ſays Paul, 2 Cor. 8.5. And this they did, not as we hoped, but firſt gave their own ſelves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Fifthly, When a man hath ſinned greatly, and wandred from the Lord, and from his holy Profeſſion, and doth return again unto God, Then he is in a ſpecial manner to reſign and give up himſelf unto God: The ſame thing is to be done in our renewed as in our firſt Converſion. And if ye look into 2 Chron. 30. ye ſhall find, that when all Iſrael had gone aſtray, Hezekiah exhorting them to return unto the Lord, he ſaith, v. 8. Now be ye not ſtiffnecked as your fathers were, but yield your ſelves unto the Lord: Margent, Give you your hand unto God. When we have ſtollen any thing from God, it is our duty to reſtore it. Have we therefore in our firſt Converſion given our ſelves unto God, and afterward by our ſins taken them away ag…in? whenever we do return unto God, then it is our duty to reſtore, and ſo to reſign up our ſelves unto him. And thus now ye ſee what thoſe ſpecial times and ſeaſons are which call for this work at our hands. The times of Converſion c…lls for it; The time of ſpecial Employment calls for it; The time of great danger calls for it; The time of joyning to the Lord and his people calls for it; And the times of our returns unto God after wandrings calls for it.
But Thirdly, Though we are to reſign our ſelves unto God in ſuch times as theſe are ſpecially; Yet moſt eſpecially we are to do it when we come to ſuffer; for then God is ready to receive us, Exod. 19.4. Then men are ready to deſtroy us. Pſal. 10.14. The poor committeth himſelf to thee: When we come to dye: For then did Chriſt do it eſpecially. Then the Soul is to return unto him that gave it. It doth not dye or ſleep with the body in the grave, but it returns unto him that gave it This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe, ſaith Chriſt. And the Apoſtle tells us, That Paradiſe is the third heavens, and the place of Glory, 2 Cor. 12. Paul ſaith, I deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all. How can a man be ſaid to be with Chriſt preſently upon his death, if the ſoul dyes, and ſleeps with the body? Yea, ſays he, I am in a ſtrait; in reſpect to you I deſire to live: in reſpect of my ſelf I deſire to dye. But if the ſoul ſleeps and dyes with the body, why ſhould not he deſire to live in regard of himſelf? When the man dyes, then the ſoul and ſpirit returneth to him that gave it. When a man therefore dyes, it is fit to reſign and give up his ſoul unto God.
Secondly, When a man dyes then, if his ſoul goes to Heaven, it is to paſs through the Enemies Countrey; for Satan is the Prince of the air. The Air is full of Devils; the ſoul therefore hath need of a good Convoy to paſs through this Enemies Countrey. And how ſhould a man get this Convoy, but by reſigning and giving up his ſoul into the hands of God.
Thirdly, When a man dyes, Then he launches forth into the Ocean of Eternity; And as God is the diſpoſer of our times for the preſent, ſo of our Eternity alſo. Fit it is that we ſhould acknowledge his Sovereignty over us, in reference to our Eternity: And therefore when a man comes to dye, he is in a ſpecial manner to reſign and give up himſelf unto God, to be laid out and diſpoſed of to all Eternity.
Fourthly, And when a man comes to dye, Then there is a great parting between the ſoul and the body; Then I part with that which is moſt dear to me. Now when a man parts with his Children, or thoſe things that are dear to him, he will put them into the ſafeſt hands that he can; But when we come to dye, then is the great parting-time: And therefore then and then eſpecially we are to reſign and give up our ſelves and our ſouls unto God. Thus Chriſt did; Father, into thy hands I commend my ſpirit.
Queſt. VVell, But how and by what means ſhall I be able to reſign and give up my ſelf and ſoul unto God when I dye, ſo as I may receive this Depoſitum again to my comfort?
Anſw. It is good for us to enquire into this matter; VVe know… not how ſoon we may be called to this dying work …f the Candle be newly lighted, it may eaſily be put out; and if it have burned long, it will eaſily go out. 'Twas the deſire of Dionyſius, That Chriſts laſt word on the Croſs,Domine, fac ut ultimum tuum verbum in cruce, ſit etiam ubimum meum verbum in hac luce. Gera d. ex Dionyſ. harm. cap. 17. might be the laſt word of his life. Do you therefore deſire to cloſe up your life with this gracious Reſignation according to Chriſts Example. Then,
Firſt, Be ſure that you do not give away your ſoul from God to any thing elſe whilſt you live. If you have given away your ſoul unto other things whilſt you live, it will be a vain thing for you to ſay Chriſts words when you come to dye. VVhen men come to their death, ye know they do ordinarily make their VVills; And in the firſt place they ſay, I give my ſoul unto God; Then if they have Lands, or Houſes, or …oney, they give them to their VVives, Children, Relations, and Friends, according to their pleaſure. But ſuppoſe now, That a man ſhall give Land or Houſe to ſuch or ſuch a Child or Friend, which he hath ſold or given away before; …hall his VVill ſtand in force? VVill not all men ſay, This he could not give away, for he had ſold that, or given that before. S… in regard of ones ſoul; Though upon my death I ſay, As for my ſoul, I give that to God, yet if I have ſold away my ſoul before for unjuſt gain, or have given away my ſoul before unto filthy pleaſures; How can I reſign and give that to God when I dye? VVill not the Lord ſay, Nay, this is none of yours to give; this you had ſold or given away before. Oh then be ſure of this, That whileſt you live, you do not ſell or give away your ſoul from God; for then Death-bed-reſignation will be but as the Act and Deed of a man that makes his VVill when he is not compos mentis.
Secondly, If you would ſo reſign your ſoul unto God when you dye, that you may receive this Depoſitum again with comfort; Then be ſure that you make God your Friend whileſt you live: Elſe what repoſe can you put on him when you dye. VVho doth truſt a Jewel in the hands of a ſtranger or enemy? VVe read Judges 10.14. when the children of Iſrael had forſaken the Lord, and ſerved other gods, that when they cried to the Lord to ſave them out of the hands of their enemies, the Lord ſaid unto them, Go and cry unto the gods which ye have choſen, and let them ſave you in the time of your tribulation. So will the Lord ſay to us, if in the time of our health we follow after our pleaſures, and profits, and our old ſins, Go and cry to the gods whom ye have ſerved; go and repoſe your ſouls in their hands, and let them help you now if they can. No man will repoſe or commit that which he prizeth into the hands of a ſtranger or enemy. O then, whilſt we have our health and life, let us make God our Friend.
Thirdly, And not only ſo; but get an aſſurance that God is your Friend and Father: Though God be our friend, if we do not know it, how ſhall we commit our ſouls to him when we dye. Paul ſaid, I know whom I have truſted, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him unto that day. It's an hard thing for a doubting heart that cannot ſay Father diſtinctly, to reſign as Chriſt did. VVhy then ſhould you live upon hopes mingled with uncertainties; is it not yet time to get your aſſurance? Oh labour more and more to attain to theſe riſes of aſſurance; for the more aſſurance you have when you come to dye, the more eaſily and truly you will ſay, Father, into thy hands I commend my ſpirit,
Fourthly, And if you would reſign up your ſoul unto the hands of God, ſo as you may receive that Depoſitum again with comfort; Then obſerve what that Depoſitum is which God doth now truſt you with, and be you faithful in the keeping thereof. VVhen Chriſt went away, he left us a Depoſitum, he did leave and depoſite ſome of his things in our hands; his Truths, his Ordinances, his Talents, and if I do not keep his truſt, his Truths, his Ordinances, his Talents, how can I expect that he ſhould keep my ſoul for me? Mark how theſe go together. 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have truſted, ſays Paul, and I am perſwaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him. Then ver. 14. that good thing which was committed unto thee, keep. As if he ſhould ſay, As we deſire that he ſhould keep our truſt; ſo we muſt keep his truſt. Some things the Lord hath committed to us; Some things we commit to him. Now therefore, as you do deſire that he may keep your ſouls for you; So do you keep his Truths, his Ordinances, and whatever he hath committed unto you.
Fifthly, And if you would be able to do this work of Soul-reſignation in the day of your death rightly; then uſe your ſelf to do it every day. That is eaſily done, which is often done. And if you look upon the example of Chriſt, ye ſhall find, That as ſoon as he drew near to the Croſs, the firſt thing he did, was, to reſign up his Will unto God, being in his agony in the Garden. If it be poſſible, ſaith he, let this cup paſs; yet not my will, but thy will be done. And the laſt thing he did, was to reſign up his ſoul unto God. This affliction was begun and ended with holy reſignation. It's begun with a reſignation of his Will, it's ended with a reſignation of his Soul. So ſhould all our afflictions be begun and ended with Self-reſignation; And if I can but begin my affliction with the reſignation of my Will unto the Will of God, I ſhall end the affliction with the reſignation of my Soul into the hands of God; And the more frequently I do it whilſt I live, the more eaſily I ſhall do it when I dye; and ſay in truth with Chriſt, Father, into thy hands I commend my ſpirit.
Sixthly, Study the Sovereignty of God; The more your heart is poſſeſſed with Gods Sovereignty, the more Reſignation. It is the Lord, ſaid Eli, let him do what ſeemeth good, 1 Sam. 3.18. And good is the word of the Lord, ſaid Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20.19.
Seventhly, Then behold this Example of Chriſt, being before you, whom beholding, &c. The ſight of a reſigning Chriſt will make you reſign and ſay, Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.
And thus now I have done with this laſt ſpeech of Chriſt on the Croſs. The words of dying Friends are precious, and we remember them. Now ye have heard this living ſaying of a dying Chriſt. You that are the friends of Chriſt will remember them; and the Lord teach us ſo to remember them, that thereby we may learn both to live and to dye, both to do and to ſuffer.