The Soul of Man, Part 8 · Doctrine · Proposition 1
PROP. I.
THere is a'twofold Separation of the Soul from the Body; viz, one Mental, the other Real: Or,
1. Intellectual by the mind only.
2. Physical, by the stroke of death.
Separatio per intellectum fit, cum duo revera conjuncta, separatim contipimus. Conimbr. de Anima, p. 595.1. Of Intellectual or mental Separation I am first to speak in this Proposition, and it is nothing else but an act of the understanding or mind, conceiving or considering the Soul and Body as separated and parted each from other, whilst yet they are united in a personal oneness by the breath of life.
This mental Separation may and ought to be frequently and seriously made, before death make the real and actual Separation; and the more frequently and seriously we do it, the less of horror and distraction will attend that real and fatal stroke when ever it shall be given. For hereby we learn to bear it gradually, and by gentle essays to acquaint our shoulders with the burden of it. Separation is a word that hath much of horror in the very sound, and useth to have much more in the sense and feeling of it; else it would not deserve that title, Iob 8.14. The King of Terrors, or the most terrible of all terribles: but acquaintance and familiarity abates that horror, and that two ways especially.
1. As it is preventive of much guilt.
2. As it gains a more inward knowledge of its Nature.
1. The serious and fixed thoughts of the parting hour is preventive of much guilt, and the greatest part of the horrour of death rises out of the guilt of sin. The sting of death is sin, 1 Cor. 15.56. Augustine saith, Nothing more recals a man from sin,Nihil sie revocat à p…ccato, quam frequens mortis meditatio. August. than the frequent meditation of death. I dare not say it is the strongest of all curbs to keep us back from sin; but I am sure it is a very strong one.
Let a Soul but seriously meditate what a change death will make shortly upon his person, and condition; and the natural effects of such a meditation,Qui considerat q…alis e…it in morte, semper pavidus erit in operatione, at que , inde in oculis sui Condi…oris vivet. Nihil quod transit, appetit; & pene mortuum se considerat, quia se moriturum non ignorat. Greg. Mor. 12. through the blessing of God upon it, will be a flatting and quenching of its keen and raging appetite after the ensnaring vanities of this World, which draw men into so much guilt, a conscientious fear of sin, and an awakened care of duty. It was once demanded of a very holy man (who spent much more than the ordinary allowance of time in Prayer, and searching his own heart) why he so macerated his own Body by such frequent, and long continued Duties? His answer was, O I must dye, I must dye: Nothing could separate him from duty, who had already separated his Soul from his Body, and all this World by fixed and deep thoughts of death.
2. Hereby we gain a more inward knowledge and acquaintance with the Nature of death: and the more we are acquainted with it, the less it terrifies us. A Lion is much more dreadful to him that never saw him, than he is to his Keeper who feedeth him every day. A pitcht Battle is more frightful and scaring to a new listed Souldier that never took his place in the Field before, nor saw the dreadful countenance of an Army ready to engage, nor heard the thundering noise of Cannon, and Vollies of Shot, the shouts of Armies, and groans of dying men on every side; than it is to an old Souldier who hath been used to such things. The like we may observe in Seamen, who it may be trembled at first, and now can sing in a Storm.
Scarce any thing is more necessary for weak and timorous Believers to meditate on, than the time of their Separation. Our hearts will be apt to start and boggle at the first view of death, but it is good to do by them as men use to do by young Colts, ride them up to that which they fright at, and make them smell to it, which is the way to cure them.Sicut panis necessarius est prae caeteres e…ementis, it a intenta mortis meditatio ne…ssaria est prae caeteris donis & exercitiis. Dionys. Look as Bread (saith one) is more necessary than other Food, so the meditation of death is more necessary than many other meditations. Every time we change our habitations, we should realize therein our great change. Our Souls must shortly leave this, and be lodged for a longer season in another mansion: when we put off our cloaths at night, we have a fit occasion to consider, that we must strip nearer one of these days, and put off not our cloathes only, but the Body that wears them too.
Holy Iob had by frequent thoughts familiarized death and the Grave to himself, and could speak of them, as men use to speak of their Houses and dearest Relations, Iob 17.14. I have said to corruption thou art my father, to the worm, thou art my Mother and Sister. But it needs much grac… to bring and hold the heart to this work, and therefore Moses begs it of God, Psal 90.12 So teach us to number our days; and David, Psal. 39.4. Lord make me to know my end. Yea, the advantages of it have been acowledged by men whose light was less, and diversions more than ours▪ The Iews for this use and end had their Sepulchers built before-hand, and that in their Gardens of pleasure too; that they might season the delights of life, with the frequent thoughts of death, Iohn 19.41.
Philip of Macedon would be awakened by his Page every morning with this sentence, Memento te esse mortalem; Remember, O King, thou art a mortal man.
A Great Emperor of Constantinople not only at his Inauguration, but at his great Feasts,Elig… ab his saxis, ex quo, invictissime Caesar, tibi Tumulum me fabricare velis. ordered a Mason, to bring two stones before him, and say, Chuse, O Emperor, which of the two thou wilt for thy Tomb-stone. Reader, thou wilt find mental Separation much easier than real separation: 'tis easier to think of death, than it is to feel it; and the more we think of it, the less we are like to feel it.