serve him but the Kingdom This is the case Men when they persecute are for the stuff but the Devil is for the soul nor will any thing less than that satisfie him Let him then that is a sufferer commit the keeping of his soul to God lest stuff and soul and all be lost at once Secondly A second conclusion that followeth upon these words is this That sufferers if they have not a care may be too negligent as to the securing of their souls with God even when persecution is upon them For these words as they are an instruction so they are an awakening instruction they call as to people in danger as to people not so aware of the danger or as unto a people that forget too much that their souls and the ruin of them are sought after by Satan when trouble attends them for the Gospel sake As who should say when troubles are upon you for the Gospel sake then take heed that you forget not to commit your souls to the keeping of God We are naturally apt with that good man Gideon to be threshing out our Wheat that we may hide it from the Midianites Judge 6.11 but we are not so naturally apt to be busying our selves to secure our souls with God The reason is for that we are more flesh than spirit and because the voice of the world makes a bigger sound in our carnal mind than the word of God doth Wherefore Peter here calls upon us as upon men of forgetful minds saying Let them that suffer according to the will of God have a care of their souls and take heed that the fears of the loss of a little of this world do not make them forget the fear of the losing of their souls That Sufferers are subject to this may appear by the stir and bustle that at such a time they make to lock all up safe that the hand of man can reach while they are cold chill remiss and too indifferent about the committing of their soul to God to keep it This is seen also in that many in a time of trouble for their profession will study more to deceive themselves by a change of notions by labouring to perswade their consciences to admit them to walk more at large by harkening to opinions that please and gratifie the flesh by adhering to bad examples and taking evil Counsels than they will to make straight steps for their feet and to commit the keeping of their souls to God What shall I say have their not been many that so long as peace has lasted have been great swaggerers for Religion who yet so soon as the Sun has waxt warm have flaggâ—d have been discontented offended and turned away from him that speaketh from heaven All which is because men are naturally apt to be more concerned for their goods carnal peace and a temporal life than they are about securing of their souls with God Wherefore I say these words are spoken to awaken us to the consideration of soul-concerns and how that should be safely lodged under the care protection and mercy of God by our committing of it to him for that purpose by Jesus Christ our Lord. Thirdly Another conclusion that followeth upon this exhortation is this That persecution doth sometimes so hotly follow Gods people as to leave them nothing but a soul to care for They have had no House no Land no Money no Goods no Life no Liberty left them to care for All is gone but the soul. Goods have been confiscated liberty has been in Irons the life condemned the neck in a Halter or the body in the Fire So then all to such has been gone and they have had nothing left them to care for but their soul. Let them commit the keeping of their soul to God This conclusion I say doth naturally flow from the words For that the Apostle here doth make mention only of the soul as of that which is left as of that which yet remains to the sufferer of all that ever he had Thus they served Christ they left him nothing but his soul to care for Thus they served Stephen they left him nothing but his soul to care for and they both cared for that Father into thy hands I commend my spirit said Jesus And Lord Jesus receive my spirit said Stephen Luk. 23.46 Acts 7.59 As for all other things they were gone They parted the very cloaths of Christ among themselves before his face even while he did hang pouring out his life before them upon the Tree They parted my garments among them said he and upon my vesture did they cast lots Mat. 27.35 Mar. 15.24 Joh. 19.23 24. This also has oftentimes been the condition of later Christians all has been gone they have been stript of all nothing has been left them but soul to care for Job said that he had escaped with the skin of his teeth and that is but a little but he doth not escape with so much that loses all that he has life and all we now except the soul. But Fourthly Another thing that followeth from the words is this namely That when the Devil and wicked men have done what they could in their persecuting of the godly they have yet had their souls at their own dispose They have not been able to rob them of their souls they are not able to hurt their souls The soul is not in their power to touch without the leave of God and of him whose soul it is And fear not them saith Christ that kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. Mat. 10.28 This I say lies clear also in the Text for the exhortation supposes that what ever the sufferers there made mention of had lost They had yet their souls at their own dispose Let them that suffer even to the loss of goods liberty or life commit the keeping of their soul to God As who should say though the enemy hath reached them to their all and stripped them of their all yet I know that their soul is not among that all For their soul is yet free from them at liberty and may be disposed of even as the sufferer will Wherefore let him commit the keeping of his soul to God lest he also through his negligence or carelessness be also spoiled of that The sufferer therefore hath his soul at his own dispose he may give that away to God almighty in spight of all that the Devil and the world can do He may indeed see men parting his Land his Houshold stuff yea his very Rayment among themselves but they cannot so dispose of his soul. They have no more that they can do Luk. 12.5 Fifthly Another conclusion that followeth from these words is this That a man when he is a sufferer is not able to secure his own soul from the hand of hell by any other means but by the committing of the keeping thereof to God Do you suffer are you in affliction for your profession Then
perishing for ever When the Jews went to stone Stephen they laid their clothes down at a distance from the place at a young mans feet whose name was Saul that they might not be a cumber or a trouble to them as to their intended work So we when we go about to drive sin out of the world in a way of suffering for Gods truth against it we should lay down our souls at the feet of God to care for that we may not be cumbered with the care of them our selves also that our care of Gods truth may not be weakned by such sudden and strong doubts as will cause us faintingly to say but what will become of my soul When Paul had told his Son Timothy that he had been before that Lyon Nero and that he was at present delivered out of his mouth he adds And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom He shall and will here is a man at liberty here are no cumbersome fears But how came the Apostle by this confidence of his well-being and of his share in another world Why he had committed the keeping of his soul to God compare 2 Tim. 1.12 with chap. 4.18 For to commit the keeping of the soul to God if it be done in faith and prayer it leaves or rather brings this holy boldness and confidence into the soul. Suppose a man in the Country were necessitated to go to London and had a great charge of money to pay in there Suppose also that the way thither was become exceeding dangerous because of the high-way-men that continually abide therein what now must this man do to go on his Journey chearfully Why let him pay in his money to such a one in the Country as will be sure to return it for him at London safely Why this is the case thou art bound for Heaven but the way thither is dangerous It is beset every where with evil Angels who would rob thee of thy Soul What now Why if thou wouldest go chearfully on in thy dangerous Journey commit thy treasure thy Soul to God to keep And then thou mayest say with comfort well that care is over For whatever I meet with in my way thither my Soul is safe enough the Thieves if they meet me can't come at that I know to whom I have committed my Soul and I am perswaded that he will keep that to my joy and everlasting comfort against the great day This therefore is one reason why we should that suffer for Christ commit the keeping of our Souls to God because a doubt about the well-being of that will be a clog a burden and an affliction to our spirit Yea the greatest of afflictions whilest we are taking up our Cross and bearing it after Christ. The joy of the Lord is our strength and the fear of perishing is that which will be weakning to us in the way Secondly we should commit the keeping of our Souls to God because the final conclusion that merciless men do sometimes make with the servants of God is all on a sudden They give no warning before they strike We shall not need here to call you to mind about the Massacres that were in Ireland Paris Piedmont and other places where the godly in the night before they were well awake had some of them their heart blood running on the ground The savage Monsters crying out kill kill from one end of a street or a place to the other This was sudden and he that had not committed his Soul to God to keep it was surely very hard put to it now but he that had done so was ready for such sudden work Sometimes indeed the Ax and Halter or the Faggot is shewed first but sometimes again it is without that warning Vp said Saul to Doeg the Edomite and slay the priests of the Lord 1 Sam. 22 11-19 Here was sudden work fall on said Saul and Doeg fell upon them and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linnen Ephod Nob also the ciâ—y of the Priests he smote with the edge of the sword both men and women children and sucklings c. Here was but a word and a blow Thinkest thou not who readest these lines that all of these who had before committed their Soul to God to keep were the fittest folk to die And immedately the King sent an Executioner and commanded his head to be brought Mark 6.27 The story is concerning Herod and John the Baptist Herod's dancing girl had begged John Baptist's head and nothing but his head must serve her turn well girl thou shalt have it Have it I but it will be long first No thou shalt have it now just now immediately And immediately he sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought Here is sudden work for sufferers here is no intimation before hand The executioner comes to John now whether he was at dinner or asleep or whatever he was about the bloody man bolts in upon him and the first word he salutes him with is Sir strip lay down your neck For I come to take away your head But hold stay wherefore pray let me commit my Soul to God No I must not stay I am in hast slap says his sword and off falls the good mans head This is sudden work work that stays for no man work that must be done by and by immediately or 't is not worth a rush I will said she that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. Yea she came in hast and as hastily the commandment went forth and immediately his head was brought Thirdly Unless a man commits the keeping of his Soul to God it is a question whether he can hold out and stand his ground and wrestle with all temptations This is the victory even your Faith and who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth c. And what incouragement has a man to suffer for Christ whose heart cannot believe and whose Soul he cannot commit to God to keep it And our Lord Jesus intimates as much when he saith Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life Wherefore saith he thus but to encourage those that suffer for his truth in the world to commit the keeping of their Souls to him and to believe that he hath taken the charge and care of them Paul's wisdom was that he was ready to die before his enemies were ready to kill him I am now ready saith he to be offered up and the time of my departure is at hand 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. This is therefore a thing of high concern to wit the committing of the Soul to God to keep it 'T is I say of concern to do it now just now quickly whether thou art yet engaged or no for it is a good preparatory too as well as profitable in a time of persecution consider it
Look to your selves therefore who ever you are that talk of leaving your Souls with God but do live loose idle profane and wicked lives God will not take care of such mens Souls they commit them not unto him as they should They do but flatter him with their lips and lie unto him with their tongue and think to deceive the Lord. But to no purpose He that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption 'T is he that sows to the Spirit that shall reap life everlasting Galat. 6.7 8. I shall come now to the second thing contained in the Text namely To give you a more distinct description of the men that are thus bid to commit the keeping of their souls to God And they are thus described They that suffer according to the will of God 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 Two things are here to be inquired into 1. What the Apostle here means by the will of God 2. What suffering according to the will of God is First For the will of God it is divers ways taken in the Scriptures as sometimes forelecting justifying sanctifying acts of God Sometimes for Faith good Life and sometimes for suffering for his name Rom. 9. Ephes. 1.11 Rom. 4.6 7 8. John 7.17 1 John 3.23 1 Thes. 4.3 Mat. 7.21 But by will of God here we must 1. Understand his Law and Testament 2. His order and designment First By his will I understand his Law and Testament This is called the revealed will of God Or that by which he has made himself and how he will be worshipped known unto the children of men Now I understanding these words thus must before I go further make this distinction to wit That there is a difference to be put betwixt them that suffer for the breach and those that suffer for keeping of this Law and Testament For tho' both of them may suffer by the will of God yet they are not both concerned in this Text. A malefactor that suffereth for his evil deeds the due punishment thereof suffereth as other Texts declare according to the will of God But I say this Text doth not concern it self with them For both this Text and this Epistle is writ for the counsel and comfort of those that suffer for keeping the Law and Testament of God that suffer for well-doing 1 Pet. 3.13 14 17. Chap. 4.13 14. The man then that is concerned in this advice is he that suffereth from the hands of men for keeping of the word of God And this is he that has licence leave yea a command to commit the keeping of his Soul to God in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator We will a little enlarge upon this He that keepeth the word of God is such an one that has regard to both the matter and manner thereof The matter is the Truth the Doctrine contained therein the manner is that comely godly humble faithful way of doing it which becomes a man that has to do with the Law and Testament of God And both these are contained in the Text. For first here is the will of God to be done and then secondly to be done according to his will Let them that suffer according to his will Which words I say take in both matter and manner of doing So then the man that here we have to do with and to discourse of is a man that in the sence now given suffereth That which makes a Martyr is suffering for the word of God after a right manner And that is when he suffereth not only for righteousness but for righteousness sake not only for truth but of love to truth not only for Gods word but according to it to wit in that holy humble meek manner as the word of God requireth A man may give his body to be burned for Gods truth and yet be none of God's martyrs 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. Yea a man may suffer with a great deal of patience and yet be none of Gods Martyrs 1 Pet. 2.20 The one because he wanteth that grace that should poise his heart and make him right in the manner of doing the other because he wanteth that word of the Holy One that alone can make his cause good as to matter 'T is therefore matter and manner that makes the Martyr and 't is this man that is intended in the Text which is aforesaid described So then they that suffer for the Law and Testament of God in that holy and humble manner that the word requires they are they that by this word of God are commanded to commit the keeping of their Souls to God From this consideration two things present themselves to our sight First That a man may be a Christian and suffer and yet not suffer in the sense last given according to the will of God Secondly There have been and may yet be a people in the world that have and may suffer in the sence of the Apostle here according to the will of God A few words to the first of these namely that a man may be a Christian and suffer and yet not suffer in the sence of the Apostle in the Text according to the will of God He may be a Christian and yet not suffer as a Christian. He may want the matter or he may want the manner of suffering as a Christian. This is evident from what this Apostle suggests in several places of this Epistle For 1. Saith he If ye be buffeted for your faults chap. 2.20 This supposeth that a Christian may so be for he speaketh here to the same people unto whom he speaketh in the Text though he putteth them not under the same circumstance as suffering for well-doing If ye be buffeted for your faults for what Gods word calls faults What thank have you from God or good men tho' you take it patiently So again For it is better if the will of God be so that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing Chap 3.17 Here 't is plainly supposed that a Christian man may suffer for evil-doing yea that the will of God may be that he should suffer for evil-doing For God if Christians do not well will vindicate himself by punishing of them for their doing ill Yea and will not count them worthy tho' they be his own to be put among the number of those that suffer for doing well Again But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busy-body in other mens matters Chap. 4.15 These are cautions to Christians to perswade them to take heed to themselves their tongues and their actions that all be kept within the bounds of the word For it would be a foolish thing to say That these are cautions to perswade to take heed of that into which it is not possible one should fall 'T is possible for Christians to suffer
thy self by his word and providence and as for this or that mans judgment refer thy case to the judgment of God 3. Obj. But if I be taken and suffer my cause is like to be clothed with scandals slanders reproaches and all manner of false and evil speakings what must I do Answ. Saul charged David with Rebellion 1 Sam. 22.8.13 Amos was charged with conspiring against the King Amos 7.10 Daniel was charged with despising the King and so also were the three children Dan. 6.13 chap. 3.12 Jesus Christ himself was accused of perverting the nation of forbidding to give tribute to Caesar and of saying that himself was Christ a King Luk. 23.2 These things therefore have been But 1. Canst thou after a due examination of thy self say that as to these things thou art innocent and clear I say will thy conscience justifie thee here Hast thou made it thy business to give unto God the things that are Gods and unto Caesar the things that are his according as God has commanded If so matter not what men shall say nor with what lies and reproaches they slander thee but for these things count thy self happy Blessed are you when men shall revile you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely lying for my name sake saith Christ. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you Mat. 5.11 12. Comfort thy self therefore in the innocency of thy Soul and say I am counted a Rebel and yet am Loyal I am counted a deceiver and yet am true 1 Sam. 24.8 9 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 6.8 Also refer thy cause to the day of judgment for if thou canst rejoyce at the thoughts that thou shalt be cleared of all slanders and evil speakings then that will bear up thy heart as to what thou maiest suffer now The answer of a good conscience will carry a man thorough Hell to Heaven Count these slanders part of thy sufferings and those for which God will give thee a reward because thou art innocent and for that they are laid upon thee for thy professions sake But if thou be guilty look to thy self I am no comforter of such I come now to speak to the third and last part of the Text Namely of the good effect that will certainly follow to those that after a due manner shall take the advice afore given 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 Two things from the last clause of the Text lie yet before us And they are they by which will be shown what good effect will follow to those that suffer according to the will of God and that commit their Souls to his keeping 1. Such will find him to themselves a Creator 2. They will find him a faithful Creator Let them commit the keeping of their Souls to him as unto a faithful Creator In this phrase a faithful Creator behold the wisdom of the holy Ghost how fitly and to the purpose he speaketh King is a great Title and God is sometimes called a King but he is not set forth by this Title here but by the Title of a Creator for it is not always in the power of a King to succour and relieve his Subjects that are suffering for his Crown and Dignity Father is a sweet Title a Title that carrieth in it an intimation of a great deal of bowels and compassion and God is often set forth also by this Title in the holy Scriptures But so he is not here but rather as a Creator For a Father a compassionate Father cannot always help succour or relieve his Children though he knows they are under affliction Oh but a Creator can Wherefore I say he is set forth here under the Title of a Creator First a Creator nothing can die under a Creators hands A Creator can sustain all A Creator can as a Creator do what he pleases The Lord the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not nor is weary Isa. 40.28 The cause of God for which his people suffer had been dead and buried a thousand years a go had it not been in the hand of a Creator The people that have stood by his cause had been out of both as to persons name and remembrance had they not been in the hand of a Creator Who could have hoped when Israel was going in even into the mouth of the red Sea that ever his cause or that people should have revived again A huge host of the Egyptians were behind them and nothing but death before and on every hand of them but they lived they flourished they out-lived their enemies for they were in the hand of a Creator Who could have hoped that Israel should have returned again from the land from the hand and from under the Tyranny of the King of Babylon They could not deliver themselves from going thither they could not preserve themselves from being diminished when they came there their power was gone they were in captivity their distance from home was far their enemies possest their Land their City of defence was ruined and their houses burned down to the ground and yet they come home again there is nothing impossible to a Creator Who could have thought that the three Children could have lived in a fiery furnace that Daniel could have been safe among the Lyons that Jonah could have come home to his Countrey when he was in the Whales belly or that our Lord should have risen again from the dead but what is impossible to a Creator This therefore is a rare consideration for those to let their hearts be acquainted with that suffer according to the will of God and that have committed the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing They have a Creator to maintain and uphold their cause a Creator to oppose its opposers And hence it is said all that burden themselves with Jerusalem shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it Zech. 12.3 Secondly A Creator A Creator can not only support a dying cause but also fainting spirits For as he fainteth not nor is is weary So he gives power to the faint and to those that have no might he increaseth strength Isa. 4.29 He is the God of the spirits of all flesh and has the life of the spirit of his people in his own hand Spirits have their being from him he is the Father of Spirits Spirits are made strong by him nor can any crush that spirit that God the Creator will uhpold Is it not a thing amazing to see one poor inconsiderable man in a Spirit of faith and patience overcome all the threatnings cruelties afflictions and sorrows that a whole World can lay upon him None can quail him none can crush him none can bend down his spirit None can make
him to forsake what he has received of God a commandment to hold fast His holy harmless and profitable notions because they are spiced with grace yield to him more comfort joy and peace and do kindle in his Soul so goodly a fire of love to and zeal for God that all the waters of the World shall never be able to quench Ay say some that 's because he is head-strong obstinate and one that will hear no reason No say I but it is because his spirit is in the hand under the conduct and preservation of a Creator A Creator can make spirits uphold Spirits and make one Spirit stronger to stand than are all the Spirits of the World to cast down To stand I say in a way of patient enduring in well doing against all that Hell can do to suppress Thirdly A Creator A Creator can bring down the Spirits that oppose and make them weak and unastable as water The Lord the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not nor is weary There is no searching of his understanding He gives power to the faint and to those that have no might he increaseth strength now mark even the youth shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall A Creator can dash the Spirits of the enemies with fear God can put them in fear and make them know that they are men and not God and that their Horses are flesh and not spirit When the enemy came to take Jesus Christ their spirits fainted their hearts died in them they went backwards and fell to the ground They had hard work to strengthen their spirits to a sufficiency to boldness and courage though they brought Halberts and Staves and Swords and weapons with them to take a naked man John 18.3 4 5 6 7. And although this is that which is not so visible to the World as some other things are yet I believe that God treads down the Spirits of men in a day when they afflict his people oftner than we are aware of or than they are willing to confess How was the hostile Spirit of Esau trod down of God when he came out to meet his poor naked brother with no less than four hundred armed men He fainted before his Brother and instead of killing kist him Gen. 33. How was the bloudy Spirit of Saul trod down when David met him at the mouth of the Cave and also at the hill Hachâ—lah 1 Sam. 24.62 God is a Creator and as a Creator is a Spirit maker a Spirit reviver a Spirit destroyer He can destroy body and Soul in hell Luk. 12. Fourthly A Creator As a Creator he is over all Arts Inventions and Crafts of men that are set on work to destroy Gods people whether they be Souldiers excellent Orators or any other whatsoever we will single out one the Smith that roaring fellow who with his coles and his Bellows makes a continual noise I have created the Smith saith God that bloweth the coals in the fire that bringeth forth an instrument for his work and I have created the waster to destroy Isa. 45.16 The Smith what is he I answer an Idol-maker a promoter of false worship and one that makes Instruments of cruelty therewith to help to suppress the true Chap. 41.7 Chap. 44. the 12. Chap. 46. â— chap. 54.17 I have created the Smith saith God that bloweth the coals in the fire The Idol inventor the Idol-maker the supporter of Idol worship he is my creature saith God to teach that he has power to reach him and to command his Sword to approach him at his pleasure notwithstanding his roaring with his Bellows and his coals in the fire So then he cannot do what he will in the fire nor with his Idol when he has made it the instrument also that he makes for the defence of his Idol and for the suppressing of Gods true worship shall not do the thing for the which 't is designed by him And so the very next verse saith No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord. ver 17. And the Text saith moreover I have created the waster to destroy The waster what 's that why the Smith makes an Idol and God has made the rust the Smith makes a Sword and God has made the rust The rust eats them up the moth shall eat them up the fire shall devour them The wicked saith the Psalmist have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy and to stay such as are upright in conversation their sword shall enter into their own heart and their bow shall be broken Psal. 37.14 15. All this can God do because he is a Creator and none but God can do it Wherefore by this peculiar Title of Creator the Apostle prepareth support for suffering Saints and also shews what a good conclusion is like to be made with them that suffer for righteousness sake according to his will and that commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator Fifthly A Creator a Creator can make such provision for a suffering people in all respects as shall answer all their wants Have they lost their peace with the World have they no more peace with this World Why a Creator can make create peace can create peace peace Peace with God and peace with his conscience and that 's better than all the peace that can be found else where in the World Isa. 57.19 Have they lost a good frame of heart do they want a right frame of spirit Why though this is to be had no where in the World yet a Creator can help them to it Psal. â—1 10 Have they lost their spiritual defence do they lie too open to their spiritual foes Why this a Creator can help And the Lord shall create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon all her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all her glory shall be a defence Isa. 4 5 6. This is the work of the Spirit for though the Spirit it self be uncreate yet all the holy works of it in the heart are verily works of Creation Our new man is a Creation our graces are a Creation our joys and comforts are a Creation 2 Cor. 5.17 18. Ephes. 4.24 Isa. 65.17 18 19. Now a Creation none can destroy but a Creator wherefore here is comfort But again God hath created us in Christ Jesus that 's another thing the Sun is created in the Heavens the Stars are created in the Heavens the Moon is created in the Heavens Who can reach them touch them destroy them but the Creator Why this is the case of the Saint because he has to do with a