2. But alas! what becomes of thy soul then? Thy soul appears naked, there's no garment to defend it, no Proctor appears to plead for it: It is brought singly to the bar, and there it must answer. It is appointed for all men once to die. But what then? And after that to come to judgment, Heb. 9.27. Eccles. 12.7. The body returns unto the earth from whence it was taken, but the Spirit to God who gave it. All mens spirits, as soon as their bodies and souls are parted, go to God to be disposed of by him, where they shall keep their everlasting residence. Consider when thou hearest the bell rung out for a dead man, if thou hadst but the wings of a dove to fly, and couldst fly after him, and appear with him before Gods Tribunal, ⟨p. 134⟩to see the account that he must give unto God for all things done in the flesh: and when no account can be given, what a state of misery and horror wouldst thou see him in! and this is a silent kind of judging: The last day of judging shall be with great pomp and solemnity. This is a matter closely carried between God and thy self; but then thou must give an account of all that thou hast received: And then when thou canst not give a good account, then is thy talent taken from thee. Why, saith God, I gave thee learning, how didst thou use it? I gave thee other gifts of mind, how didst thou employ them? God hath given thee wisdom, and wealth; Moral virtues, meekness, and patience, &c. these are good things: But mark, whatsoever good things thou hadst in this world, is now taken from thee. If a man could but see the degrading of the soul, he should see that those moral virtues in which his hope of comfort lay, even these, though they could never bring him to heaven, yet they shall be taken from him. As when a Knight is degraded: First his sword is taken from him, then comes one with a hatchet and chops off his golden spurs, and then go Sr. Knave: This is the degrading of the soul before the judgment is received: the moral virtues are taken from him, and then see what an ugly soul he hath: he had hope before, now he's without hope: he had some patience in this world, but he made no good use of it, and now his patience is taken from him: And when thou shalt come ⟨p. 135⟩to a place of torment, and thy hope and patience be taken from thee, what case wilt thou be in then?
2. But alas! what becomes of thy soul then? Thy soul appears naked, there's no garment to defend it, no Proctor appears to plead for it: It is brought singly to the bar, and there it must answer. It is appointed for all men once to die. But what then? And after that to come to judgment, Heb. 9.27. Eccles. 12.7. The body returns unto the earth from whence it was taken, but the Spirit to God who gave it. All mens spirits, assoon as their bodies and souls are parted, goe to God to be disposed of by him, where they shall keep their everlasting residence. Consider when thou hearest the bell rung out for a dead man, if thou hadst but the wings of a dove to fly, and couldst fly after him, and appear with him before Gods Tribunal, ⟨p. 134⟩to see the account that he must give unto God for all things done in the flesh: and when no account can be given, what a state of misery and horrour wouldst thou see him in! and this is a silent kind of judging: The last day of judging shall be with great pomp and solemnity. This is a matter closely carried between God and thy self; but then thou must give an account of all that thou hast received: And then when thou canst not give a good account, then is thy talent taken from thee. Why, saith God, I gave thee learning, how didst thou use it? I gave thee other gifts of mind, how didst thou imploy them? God hath given thee wisedome, and wealth; Moral vertues, meeknesse, and patience, &c. these are good things: But mark, whatsoever good things thou hadst in this world, is now taken from thee. If a man could but see the degrading of the soul, he should see that those moral vertues in which his hope of comfort lay, even these, though they could never bring him to heaven, yet they shall be taken from him. As when a Knight is degraded: First his sword is taken from him, then comes one with a hatchet and chops off his golden spurs, and then go Sr. Knave: This is the degrading of the soul before the judgment is received: the moral vertues are taken from him, and then see what an ugly soule he hath: he had hope before, now he's without hope: he had some patience in this world, but he made no good use of it, and now his patience is taken from him: And when thou shalt come ⟨p. 135⟩to a place of torment, and thy hope and patience be taken from thee, what case wilt thou be in then?
