The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

Even Jesus can carry nothing with him out of the world, but his Soul, and therefore he provides for that. Which should teach us what we should do; our greatest care should be that our souls may be safe when we die: and that they may be so, we see here two things must be done ⟨p. 424⟩while we live: First, we must get assurance that God is our Father, & we are his children, and then when we come to dye we must commit our souls by faithful and hearty prayers into his hands; and for fear of the worse, we should begin betimes to prepare for death, and by daily prayer to put our souls into Gods hands. Observe that these words were first used by the Prophet David, Psal. 31. 5. who committed his soul to God, being horribly persecuted by Saul, and in great danger, and having no friend to trust to. Now our Saviour being in like, but greater distress, doth make choice of Davids words to express his prayer in, which should teach us to acquaint our selves with the Scriptures, especially of this kind: for as it will be accepted if our prayers be made according to Gods will, so is it a special advantage and help to our faith and prayers, to fashion them to the very patterns in Gods Book; and to say, as the godly have said to God in the like case. Finally, this practise of our Saviour may be a great comfort to us, and that two ways: for first we may gather from his example, that if once we have committed our souls to God he will keep them safe, as Paul said, 2 Tim. 12. And secondly, it will be comfortable for us in death or danger to fly to Jesus Christ, to beseech him to help our souls with his Father, who cannot forget that once himself on earth made the same moan to his Father, that we do now to him. Thus Stephen doth, Act. 7.

Euen Iesus can carry nothing with him out of the world, but his Soule, and therefore he prouides for that. Which should teach vs what we should doe; our greatest care should be that our soules may be safe when we die: and that they may be so, we see here two things must be done ⟨p. 424⟩while we liue: First, we must get assurance that God is our Father, & we are his children, and then when we come to dye we must commit our soules by faithfull and heartie prayers into his hands; and for feare of the worse, wee should begin betimes to prepare for death, and by daily prayer to put our soules into Gods hands. Obserue that these words were first vsed by the Prophet Dauid,