The Fountain of Life Opened

¹First, It implies this evidently in it, that the soul out-lives the body, and fails not as to its being, when its body fails. It feels the house in which it dwelt dropping into ruins, and looks out for a new habitation with God. Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit. The soul understands it self a more noble being than that corruptible body, to which it was united; and is now to leave in the dust. It understands its relation to the Father of spirits, and from him it expects protection and provision in its unbodied state; and therefore into his hands it puts it self. If it vanished or breathed into air, and did not survive the body; if it were annihilated at death, it were but a mocking of God to say when we die. Father, into thy hand I commend my Spirit.

1. 1Q•isquis in Co••stum credet, non efflabit in aerem animam morieas, sed ad fid len despositarium co•fugiet, qui tuto conservet quiequid s•bitraditum est. Calv.

Secondly, It implies the souls true rest to be in God. See which way its motions and tendencies are, not only in life, but in death also. It bends to its God. It rolls, it even puts it self upon its God and Father: Father, into thy hands. God is the centre of all gracious Spirits. While they tabernacle here, they have no rest but in the bosom of their God. When they go hence, their expectation and earnest desires are to be with him. It had been working after God by gracious desires before, it had cast many a longing look heavenward before,¹ but when the gracious soul comes near its God, (as it doth in a Dying hour) then it even throws it self into his arms. As a River that after many turnings and windings,