The Fountain of Life Opened

Thirdly, Nay that's not all; the gracious soul may confidently and securely commit it self into the hands of God when it parts with its body at death; not only because it is his creature, his redeemed creature, but because it is his renewed creature also. And this lays a firm ground •or the believers confidence of acceptec•a, not that it is the proper cause or reason of its acceptance, ⟨p. 498⟩but as it is the souls best evidence that it is accepted with God, and shall not be refused by him, when it comes to him at death. For in such a soul there is a double workmanship of God, both glorious pieces, though the last exceeds in glory. A natural workmanship, in the excellent frame of that noble creature the soul. And a gracious workmanship upon that again. A new creation upon the old. Glory upon Glory. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, Eph. 2.10. The Holy Ghost came down from heaven on purpose to create this new workmanship. To frame this new creature. And indeed it is the Top and glory of all Gods works of wonder in this world. And must needs give the believer encouragement to commit it self to God whether at such a time, it shall reflect either upon the end of the work, or upon the end of the workman; both which meet in the salvation of the soul so wrought upon the end of the work in our glory. By this we are made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1.12. It is also the design and end of him that wrought it, 2 Cor. 55. Now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God. Had he not designed thy soul for glory, the spirit should never have come upon such a sanctifying design as this. Surely it shall not sail of a reception into glory, when it's cast out this Tabernacle. Such a work was not wrought in vain, neither can it ever perish. When once sanctification comes upon a soul, it so roots it self in the soul, that where the soul goes, it goes. Gifts indeed, they die. All natural excellency and beauty, that goes away at death, Job 4. ult. But grace ascends with the soul. It is a sanctified, when a separate soul. And can God shut the door of Glory upon such a soul, that by grace is made meet for the inheritance? O it cannot be.