A Golden Chain

The time when we are specially to commend our souls into the hand of God, is first of all the time of any affliction or danger. This was the time when David commended his soul into the hands of God in the Psalm before named. We know that in any common danger or peril, as the sacking of a city, or burning of an house, if a man have any precious jewel therein, he will first fetch that out, and make choice of a faithful friend, to whose custody he will commit the same: even so, in common perils and dangers we must always remember to commit our souls as a most precious jewel into the hands of God, who is a faithful creator. Another more special and necessary time of practising this duty, is the hour of death, as here Christ doth, and Steven, who when the Jews stoned him to death, called on God, and said, Lord Jesus receive my spirit. And as this duty is very requisite and necessary at all times, so most especially in the hour of death; because the danger is great by reason that Satan will then chiefly assault us, and the guilt of sin will especially then wound the conscience. Lastly, at all times we must commit our souls into Gods hands: for though we be not always in affliction, yet we are always in great danger: and when a man lieth down to rest, he knoweth not whether he shall rise again or no: and when he ariseth, he knoweth not whether he shall lie down again. Yea, at this very hour we know not what will befall the next.

The time when we are specially to commend our soules into the hand of God, is first of all the time of any affliction or danger. This was the time whē Dauid commended his soule into the hands of God in the Psalme before named. We knowe that in any common danger or perill, as the sacking of a citty, or burning of an house, if a man haue any pretious iewell therein, he will first fetch that out, and make choise of a faithfull friende, to whose custodie he will commit the same: euen so, in cōmon perils and daungers we must alwaies remember to commit our soules as a most pretious iewell into the handes of God, who is a faithfull creatour. Another more speciall and necessarie time of practising this dutie, is the houre of death, as here Christ doth, and Steuen, who when the Iewes stoned him to death, called on God, and said, Lord Iesus receiue my spirit. And as this dutie is very requisite and necessarie at all times, so most especially in the houre of death; beca•se the danger is great by reason that Satan will then chiefely assault vs, and the guilt of sinne will especially then wound the conscience. Lastly, at al times we must commit our soules into Gods handes: for though we be not alwaies in afflictio, yet we are alwaies in great danger: and when a man lieth downe to rest, he knoweth not whether he shall rise againe or no: and when he ariseth, he knoweth not whether hee shall lie downe againe. Yea, at this very houre we knowe not what will befall the next.