Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

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 whilst you live: Else what repose can you put on him when you dye. Who doth trust a Jewel in the hands of a stranger or enemy? We 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.

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. Why 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,