(1.) As to the especial and immediate object of this exercise of faith, and which must take with it a special motive, — that, I say, is God, under the consideration of his sovereignty, power, and faithfulness; and this upon the motive of some experience of his kindness and grace. So speaks the psalmist, Ps. xxxi. 5, " Into thine hand I com- mit my spirit." What Avas it that gave him confidence so to do I " Thou hast redeemed me," saith he, " O Lord God of truth." A sense of redeeming grace, conveyed by the truth of the promises, is required in all that would commit their spirits into the hand of God.
1 The decease to which Dr Owen refers must have occurred between Septem- ber 26' and October 3. Colonel Desborough, a member of his congregation, brother-in-law to Oliver Cromwell, and one of the heroes of the Commonwealth, died on the 10th September 16S0. lie refused to sit on the trial of Charles I. ; and though so nearly related to Cromwell, opposed him when he sought to become king. But it is evident, from the dates, that the allusion cannot be to him. The quaint and pious Thomas Brooks, a preacher of distinguished pathos and useful- ness, and author of some well-known treatises, such as " Heaven upon Earth," "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ," "Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver," etc., died on the 27th of September 1GS0. The date wouid answer to the allusion in the dis- course, if the terms of it did not leave an impression that Owen refers to a mem- ber of his own congregation. Brooks was a zealous Congregationalist; but this could hardly be all the " church-fellowship" to which Owen refers; In his work, " The Golden Key," he subscribes himself " late preacher of the word at Mar- garet's, New Fish Street."— -Ed.
342 the christian's work of dying daily.
And therefore, brethren, when you come to the exercise of this great duty, you must lay this foundation in some sense and experience of the grace and kindness of God, or you can never perforin it in a due manner. And, —
[1.] Upon this motive, the first thing we consider in God, in the resignation of our souls to him, is his sovereignty. It is mentioned in two places in the Psalms, in both which this duty is proposed unto us. Ps. xvi. 1, 2, " Preserve me, 0 God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord" (thou hast said unto Jehovah), " Thou art my Lord." He doth not use the word nw again,— but tflK, " Thou art my Lord," (WW \HN ) " who hast the sovereign disposal of me. I am going to give up my spirit to thee ; and I do it upon the consideration of thy sovereignty, that ' thou art my Lord/" So Ps. xxxi. 14, 15, " I trusted in thee, 0 Lord." Why so? "I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand." — " It is because of thy sovereignty. ' Thou art my God/ who hast the sovereign disposal of me; therefore I commit myself to thee." It follows those words, " Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." Faith regards the glorious sovereignty of God, as the absolute free disposer of all things here, and unto eternity, without any reserve but his own pleasure, when it makes this resignation of the soul unto him.
[2.] It hath a peculiar respect unto the power of God, 2 Tim. i. 12, " I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." It is common for persons to go through it in a customary manner. Die they must; but there is nothing can encourage them to yield up their souls to God, but an apprehension of such an infinite power that is able to preserve them in eternal being in the invisible world, espe- cially to the day of the resurrection.
[3.] It respects the faithfulness of God, as one who hath promised that he will take care of us when we are gone out of this world, 1 Pet. iv. 19, " Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator;" that is, as a God who is omnipotent, who made all things, and is faithful in the accomplishing of his promises.
So, then, this duty I exhort unto is an immediate address unto God, an exercise of faith upon him, with special respect unto his sovereignty, power, and faithfulness, upon an experience we have, in some measure, of his goodness and grace.
The seat before my eyes is very much changed in a short time, and I know not, brethren, how soon it may be the lot of any of you to stand in need of understanding this thing and bringing it into prac- tice. You may, if you please, remember it, for it is of great import-
THE CHRISTIAN'S WORK OF DYING DAILY. 343
ance to have immediate converse with God with respect unto those great and awful attributes of his sovereignty, power, and faithfulness. That is the first thing.