A69538:58
The last work of a believer his passing prayer recommending his departing spirit to…
The last work of a believer his passing prayer recommending his departing spirit to Christ to be received by Him / prepared for the funerals of Mary the widow first of Francis Charlton Esq. and after of Thomas Hanmer, Esq., and partly preached at St. Mary Magdalens Church in Milk-Street, London, and now, at the desire of her daughter, reprinted by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by B. Griffin for B. Simmons, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Christ doth receive the Spirits of his Saints when they leave the Flesh.
CHrist doth receive the Spirits of his Saints when they leave the Flesh.
Here we shall first tell you what Christs receiving of the Spirit is. The Word signifieth to take it as acceptable to himself; and it comprehendeth these Particulars.
1. That Christ will not leave the new-departed Soul to the will of Satan its malicious Enemy. ⟨p. 15⟩How ready is he to receive us to perdition, if Christ refuse us, and receive us not to Salvation? He that now seeketh as a roaring Lion night and day, as our adversary, to devour us by deceit, will then seek to devour us by execution. How glad was he when God gave him leave but to touch the goods, and children, and body of Job? And how much more would it please his enmity, to have power to torment our Souls? But the Soul that fled to the arms of Christ by Faith in the day of trial, shall then find it self in the arms of Christ in the moment of its entrance upon Eternity. O Christian, whether thou now feel it to thy comfort or not, thou shalt then feel it to the ravishing of thy Soul, that thou didst not fly to Christ in vain, nor trust him in vain to be thy Saviour: Satan shall be for ever disappointed of his desired Prey. Long wast thou combating with him; frequently and strongly wast thou tempted by him: Thou oft thoughtest it was a doubtful Question who should win the day, and whether ever thou shouldest hold out and be saved: But when thou passest from the Flesh, in thy last Extremity, in the end of thy greatest and most shaking Fears; when Satan is ready, if he might, to carry thy Soul to Hell; then, even then shalt thou find that thou hast won the day. And yet not thou, but Christ is he that hath been victorious for thee (even as when thou livedst the life of Faith, it was not thou, but Christ lived in thee,