Him with David, a Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name;" [1] and "into Thy hands I commend my spirit," for " Thou redeemedst me, O Lord the God of truth!" [2] And although nature somewhat shuns death, yet grace prevails against it, and when Almighty God requires of them their soul they yield it with great resignation. But the wicked abhor death, and bear it very impatiently, and therefore it is said that the devils (the ministers of Gods justice) do require and force from them their soul against their will.
Colloquy. — O eternal God, grant me that I may live so unfleshed from all things of this life that there may be no need to pull from me my soul perforce! Require it of me when Thou wilt, for I am ready and willing to give it unto Thee, in what day soever Thou requirest it.
POINT III.
1. Thirdly, I am to consider the dreadffulness of that terrible question that God our Lord makes, " Whose shall be the things that thou hast provided?" In this is represented the final loss of those who (as has been said) live forgetful of death, which is suddenly and with great grief to leave the goods which they possessed, without enjoying them, or disposing of them, or knowing to whom they shall come. This is to say to them, " Whose shall be the things that thou hast provided?' Whose shall be the house in which thou livest, and the bed in which thou sleepest; the rich garments with which thou attirest thyself, and the treasures of gold and silver that thou hast in thy chests? Whose shall be the servants that now serve thee, and the friends that now entertain thee, and the office and dignity for which all do honour thee? O wretched man, that storest up " treasures," and knowest not for whom
