Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man wherein the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul are opened, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved, the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applyed, divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined, the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered, and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed / by John Flavel ...

Inference IX.

IF Souls be Immortal, Then there must needs be a vast dif∣ference betwixt the aspects and influences of death, upon the Godly and Vngodly.

O if Souls would but seriously consider what an alteration death will make upon their condition, for evil or for good: how useful would such meditations be to them. (1) They must be disseized, and turned out of these houses of Clay, and live in a state of separation from them: of this there is an inevitable necessity, Eccles. 8.8. 'Tis in vain to say, I am not ready, ready or unready, they must depart when their lease is out. 'Tis as vain to say, I am not willing, for willing or unwilling, they must be gone, there's no hanging back and begging, Lord, let death take another at this time, and spare me; for no man dies by a Proxy. (2) The time of our Souls departure is at hand, 2 Pet. 1.13, 14. Iob 16.22. The most firm and well built body can stand but a few days, but our ruinons Tabernacles give our Souls warning, that the day of their departure is at hand. The lamp of life is almost burnt down, the glass of time almost run: yet a few, a very few days and nights more, and then time, nights and days shall be no more. (3) When that most certain, and near approaching time is come, wonderful alterations will be made on the state of all Souls, Godly and Ungodly.

(1) A marvellous alteration will then be made on the

Souls of the Godly. For (1) no sooner is the dividing stroak given by death, and the parting pull over, but they shall find themselves in arms of Angels, mounting them through the upper Regions in a few moments, far above all the aspectable Heavens, Luke 16.22. The airy Region is indeed the place where Devils inhabit, and have their haunts and walks; but Angels are the Saints Convoy through Satans Territories from the arms of mourning Friends, into the welcome arms of officious and benevolent Angels. (2) from the sight and converses of men, to the sight of God, Christ, and the general assembly of blessed and sinless Spirits. The Soul takes its leave of all men at death, Isa. 38.11. Fare∣well vain World, with all the mixed and imperfect com∣forts of it, and welcome the more sweet, suitable and sa∣tisfying company of Father, Son, and Spirit, holy Angels, and perfected Saints, Heb. 12.23. (3) From the bondage of corruption, to perfect liberty, and everlasting freedom, so much is implied, Heb. 12.23. The Spirits of just men made perfect. (4) From all fears, doubtings, and questionings of our conditions, and anxious debates of our title to Christ, to the clearest, fullest, and most satisfying assurance: for what a man sees, how can he doubt of it? (5) From all burdens of affliction, inward and outward, under which we have groaned all our days, to everlasting rest and ease, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3. O what a blessed change to the righteous must this be?

(2) A marvellous change will also be then made upon the Souls of the ungodly, who shall then part from, (1) all their comforts and pleasant enjoyments in the World, for here they had their consolation, Luke 16.25. here was all their Portion, Psal. 17.14. And in a moment find themselves arrested and seized by Satan, as Gods Gaoler, hurrying them away to the prison of Hell, 1 Pet. 3.19. There to be reserved to the judgment of the great day, Jude v. 6. (2) From under the means of Grace, Life, and Salvation, to a state perfectly void of all means, instruments, and opportunities of Salvation, Iohn 9.4. Eccles. 9.10. never to hear the joyful sound of preaching or praying any more, never to hear the wooing voice of the blessed Bridegroom, saying,

Come unto me, come unto me, any more. (3) From all their vain, ungrounded presumptuous hopes of Heaven, into abso∣lute and final desperation of mercy. The very sinews and nerves of hope are cut by death, Prov. 14.32. The wicked is dri∣ven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death. These are the great and astonishing alterations that will be made upon our Souls, after they part with the Bodies which they now inhabit. O that we who cannot but be conscious to our selves, that we must overlive our Bodies, were more thoughtful of the condition they must enter into, after that separation which is at hand.