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 V.

HOw great a trust and charge lyeth upon them to whom the care of Souls is committed, and from whom an account for other mens, as well as their own Souls shall certainly be required?

Ministers are appointed of God to watch for the Souls of their people, and that as men that must give an account, Heb. 13.17.* 1.1The word here translated watch, signifies such watchfulness as that of Shepherds which keep their stocks by night in places infested by Wolves, who watch whole nights together for their safety. If a man were a keeper only of Sheep or Swine, it were no great matter if the Wolf now and then carried away one whilst we slept; but Ministers have charge of Souls, one of which, as Christ assures us in the Text, is more worth than the whole World. Hear what one speaks upon this point.

God purchased the Church with his own Blood,* 1.2 O what an Argument is here to quicken the negligent? and what an Argument to condemn those that will not be quicken∣ed up to their duty by it? O, saith one of the Ancient Do∣ctors, if Christ had but committed to my keeping one spoonful of his Blood in a fragil glass, how curiously should I preserve it, and how tender should I be of that glass! If the•• he have committed to me the purchace of that Blood, should I not carefully look to my charge?

What, Sirs, shall we despise the Blood of Christ? shall we think it was shed for them that are not worthy of our care? O then let us hear those Arguments of Christ when∣ever we feel our selves grow dull and careless. Did I dye for them, and wilt not thou look after them? Were they worth my Blood, and are they not worth thy labour? Did I come down from Heaven to Earth, to seek and to save that which was lost: and wilt not thou go to the next door, or street, or village to seek them? How small is thy labour or condescension to mine? I debased my self to this, but it is thy honour to be so imployed.

Let not that man think to be saved by the Blood of Christ himself, that makes light of precious Souls, who are the purchace of that Blood.

And no less charge lyeth upon Parents, to whom God hath committed the care of their Childrens Souls: and Masters that have the Guardianship of the Souls as well as bodies of their Families: the command is laid immediately upon you, that they sanctifie Gods Sabbaths, Exod. 20.10. to com∣mand your houshold in the way of the Lord, Gen. 18.19.

O Parents, consider with your selves what strong engage∣ments lye upon you to do all you are capable of doing for the salvation of the precious Souls of your dear Children. Re∣member their Souls are infinitely of more value than their bodies, that they came into the World under sin and con∣demnation; that you were the instruments of propagating that sin to them, and bringing them into that misery; that you know their dispositions, and how to suit them better than others can. That the bonds of Nature give you singu∣lar advantages to prevail, and be successful in your exhorta∣tions beyond what any others have; that you are always

with them, and can chuse your opportunities, which others cannot. That you and they must shortly part, and never meet them again, till you meet at the Judgment-seat of Christ. That it will be inconceivably dreadful to see them stand at Christs left hand among the cursed and condemned, there cursing the day that ever they were born of such igno∣rant and negligent, such careless and cruel Parents as took no care to instruct, reprove, or exhort them. O who can think without horrour of the cryes and curses of his own Child in Hell, cast away by the very instrument of its Be∣ing?

Is this the love you bear them, to betray them to eternal misery? Was there no other provision to be made, but for their bodies? Did you think you had fully acquitted your duty, when you had got an Estate for them? O that God would effectually touch your hearts with a becoming sense of the value and danger of their Souls, and your own too in the neglect of that great and solemn trust committed to you with respect to them. And you Masters, consider, though God hath set you above, and your Servants below, yet are their Souls equally precious with your own: they have ano∣ther Master that expects service from them, as well as you: do not only allow them time, but give them your exhorta∣tions and commands, not to neglect their own Souls, whilst they attend your business: think not your business will pro∣sper the less, because it is in the hand of a praying servant; their Souls are of greater concernment than any business of yours can be.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 est noctes insomnes agere, quod so∣lent viri 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pernox soticitudo.
• * 1.2

  Gildas Salvian, p. 260.