A Golden Chain

Now in that Christ commends his soul into the hands of his father, he doth it to testify that he died not by constraint, but willingly: and by his own practise he doth teach us to do the like, namely to give up our own souls into the hands of god: & because this duty is of some difficulty, we must observe ⟨p. 342⟩three motives or preparatives which may induce us to the better doing of it. The first is, to consider that God the father of Christ, is the creator of our souls, and therefore he is called the father of spirits. And if he be a creator of them, then is he also a faithful preserver of them. For sure it is, that God will preserve his own workmanship. Who is or can be so careful for the ornament & preservation of any work as the crafts-master? and shall not God be more careful then man? Wherefore S. Peter exhorteth us to commit our souls unto God, as unto a faithful creator. The second motive is this: we must look to be resolved in our consciences, that •od the father of Christ is our father: every man for himself must labour to have the assurance of the pardon of his own sins, and that the corruption of his soul be washed away in the blood of Christ, that he may say, I am justified, sanctified, and adopted by Christ. And when any man can say thus, he shall be most desirous and willing to commit his soul into the hands of God. This was the reason which moved Christ to lay down his soul into the hands of God, because he is his father. The third motive or preparative is, a continual experience & observation of Gods love and favour towards us, in keeping and preserving him; as appears by Davids example,¹ Into thy hands (saith he) I commit my soul: for thou hast redeemed me, O thou God of trueth.

Nowe in that Christ commends his soule into the handes of his father, hee doth it to testifie that he died not by constraint, but willingly: and by his own practise he doth teach vs to do the like, namly to giue vp our own soules into the hands of god: & because this dutie is of some difficultie, we must obserue ⟨p. 342⟩three motiues or preparatiues which may induce vs to the better doing of it. The first is, to consider that God the father of Christ, is the creatour of our soules, and therefore he is called the father of spirits. And if he be a creatour of them, then is he also a faithfull preseruer of them. For sure it is, that God will preserue his owne workemanship. Who is or can be so carefull for the ornament & preseruation of any worke as the craftes-master? and shall not God be more carefull then man? Wherefore S. Peter exhorteth vs to committe our soules vnto God, as vnto a faithfull creatour. The second motiue is this: wee must looke to be resolued in our consciences, that od the father of Christ is our father: euery man for himselfe must labour to haue the assurance of the pardon of his owne sinnes, and that the corruption of his soule bee washed away in the blood of Christ, that he may say, I am iustified, sanctified, and adopted by Christ. And when any man can say thus, he shall be most desirous and willing to commit his soule into the handes of God. This was the reason which mooued Christ to lay down his soule into the handes of God, because he is his father. The third motiue or preparatiue is, a continuall experience & obseruation of Gods loue and fauour towards vs, in keeping and preseruing him; as appeares by Dauids example,