Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 4 (1 of 3)

Commentary on 2 Peter · Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 4 (1 of 3)

p. 488VERSE 4. For if God ſpared not the Angels that ſinned, but caſt them downe to hell, and delivered them into chaines of darkeneſſe, to be reſerved unto judgement.

THe Apoſtle having dogmatically confuted, and prophetically condemned, the depravers of true doctrine: proceeds to an exemplary demonſtration of the judgements of God upon ſinners. For God cannot be ſibi diſsimilis, … like to himſelfe: nor doth tolerate that in one, which he doth puniſh in another: b… hates iniquity whereſoever he finds it, and preſerves one immutable tenor of his Iuſtice. Whenſoever ſin goes before, puniſhment ſhall certainely follow after, no leſſe ſeaſonable repentance come betweene. Of this he makes A

Relation, to Verſ. 8.

Illation, Verſ. 9.

The Relation conſiders two generalls; Gods Iuſtice in puniſhing offenders, MercieMercy in ſparing his ſervants. This holds in three Hiſtories. 1. Of the Angels, they that fell, are confounded; there's his Iuſtice: they that ſtood are conſerved, there's his merciemercy. 2. Of the old world; when the impenitent were ſwept away with a floud; there's his Iuſtice: and righteous Noah with ſeven more for his ſake, were ſaved in the Arke; there's his MercieMercy. 3. Of Sodome and her ſiſter-cities when fire from heaven burnt up the reprobates; there's his Iuſtice: and righteous Lot was delivered; there's his merciemercy.

Now upon all theſe premiſes comes the Illation, Ver. 9. The Lord knowes hea… deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reſerve the unjuſt unto the day of Iudgement … be puniſhed. If our faith be as much, his merciemercy is not leſſe: if their rebellion be t… leſſe, his Iuſtice is as much. The firſt Iudgement takes hold on altitude, the ſecond on latitude, the third on plenitude. For height and excellencie the Angels were glorious in heaven, yet ſome are caſt into hell. For breadth and numerous amplitude, no leſſe than a whole world were drowned. For fulneſſe and opulencie, the Sodomines lived in a ſecond Paradiſe, yet were they burned. There is no wickedneſſe ſo high none ſo broad, none ſo rich; but Gods Iuſtice can overthrow it. Let men be as hi… as Angels, as many as will make a world, as rich as the Sodomites; yet if they be unrepentant ſinners, they ſhall periſh.

W…e begin aloft firſt, and behold the Angels revolting from heaven, and for their fault turned out of heaven. Wherein we have conſiderable Their

Excellencie; by nature Angels.

Apoſtacie, they Sinned.

Penaltie, were not ſpared.

In the former I will touch upon foure points:

1 Their creation, which though it be not preciſely ſpecified by Moſes, is moſt certainely included, Col. 1.16. By him were all things created that are in earth or is heaven. who were created in heaven but the Angels? Whether thrones, or domin…, or principalities, or powers. Which though ſome underſtand of Empires, orders, and p. 484governments: others, the Palaces of Gods Majeſtie, and ſeates of immortalitie. But the opinion approved of the moſt, and the moſt approved opinion; conceives all there ſpoken of Angels. Creat Angelos ſpiritus, Pſal. 104.4. He maketh his Angels ſpirits. Some Philoſophers conceited that Angels had their beginning of the ſoules of men. Ex bonorum animabus naſci bonos daemones, ex malorum cacodaemones. That good ſoules became Angells, and bad ſoules divells. And ſome would father this opinion upon Plato but inconſiderately. Plato, indeed thought and taught a metempſychoſis, a tranſmigration of ſoules into new bodies; morè Pythagorico. Such was that Homerical fiction of Vliſſes his companions turned into Hogs and Beares. But he ſaid never, that of ſoules were made Angels.

But why was this omitted by Moſes in his hiſtorie of the creation. 1. Some thinke it was to avoid idolatrie in the Iſraelites; Quibus ſi innoleſceret Angelus; who if they had knowen Angels, would have fallen to their adoration. Chryſ. Theodor. But they could not be ignorant of the Angels, which had ſo often appeared to their Fathers, and done them ſo many miniſteriall kindneſſes. 2. Others thus; Moſes treated of things that had their beginning with the materiall world, but Angels were created before the viſible world. Baſil. Damaſc. But this is a falſe ſuppoſition; for before the world there was nothing created. 3. Others thus, their creation is comprehended under the names of Heaven and Light; Quia omnibus praeſunt coeleſtibus; becauſe they are ſet over all heavenly things. Aug. Bed. But this were to leave the literall ſenſe, and to divert it unto Allegorie, which may not be admitted in ſo plaine a hiſtorie. The beſt opinion is, that their creation is omitted for two reaſons. 1. Becauſe Moſes applieth himſelfe to the ſimple capacitie of the people, and deſcribeth the creating of viſible and ſenſible things; leaving ſpirituall as above their underſtanding. Ieron. Ep. 139. ad Cyprian. 2. Leſt men ſhould thinke that God needed the helpe of Angels, in the production or diſpoſition of the other creatures. As if the fabricke of the world had beene too great a buſineſſe for himſelfe alone to undertake: and therefore ſhould bee required the miniſtration of thoſe Angelicall powers.

That they were created is undeniably plaine, now the next Quaere is, when. 1. Some thinke they were made long before the world. Origen. Tract. 35. in Matth. Damaſcen. lib. 2 cap. 3. de fide. But the Scripture teſtifies that the evill Angels apoſtated ſo ſoone as ever they were created. Ioh. 8.44. Non manſit in veritate; Hee abode not in the truth. And our Text infers, that ſo ſoone as they ſinned, they were caſt into hell. But before heaven was made there was no hell. Nulla talis diſtinctio loci, priuſquam conſtitutio mundi. Before the conſtitution of the world, there could be no diſtinction of place: for there was nothing but God. 2. Some from the firſt verſe of Geneſis would prove, that the Angels were created together with the world; the Heaven comprehending Angels, as the continent doth the content, the houſe doth the inhabitant. And whereas it is ſaid, Darkeneſſe was on the face of the deepe; Origen thinkes this deepe to be that place whither the divell and his Angels were caſt. But the HOLY GHOST ſhewing the eternitie of Wiſedome, ſaith: Prov. 8.23. I was from everlaſting, from the begining, or ever the earth was. When there was no depthes, before the mountaines were ſetled, before the hills was I brought forth. The Angels therefore were not before the earth and hills: for then this ſhould be no good argument to prove the antiquitie and eternitie of Wiſedome, which is the Son of God. 3. It is moſt probable, that they were created upon the fourth day, when the ſtarres and other ornaments of heaven were made. Iob, 38.7. When the morning ſtarres ſang together, and all the ſonnes of God ſhouted for joy. They are ſaid to rejoyce and praiſe God together with the ſtarres; therefore then it ſeemes they tooke their being and beginning: for queſtionleſſe immediatly upon their creation they praiſed God. Beſides, the heavens were that day perfected, the matter of them being only before prepared. It is fitte that the houſe ſhould bee formed, before the inhabitane be produced. And this may ſatisfie any honeſt inquiſitor, unleſſe hee rather p. 490deſires to wrangle than to learne. But theſe be the Lords owne ſecrets, whereof we may be ignorant without danger. Howſoever, we have proved that the Angell is Condita ſubſtantia, a created ſubſtance: which confutes that Pythagorean dotage of philoſophers with this Duo principia, two beginnings; one of good and another of evill. Together with that Manichean hereſie among ſome Chriſtians, of which ranke were the Archoniticke and Caiane heretickes, of whom we read i… Epiphanius; that the Angels were from everlaſting, & Deo cooeterni, coeternall with God; whereas it is plaine that they are creatures of his making.

2 Their nature; an incorporeall ſubſtance, ſubtle and powerfull, created after the Image of God, reſembling him as they are ſpirituall and immortall, but eſpecially as they are holy and juſt, and full of divine created perfections. They are ſubſtances, though inviſible, that have being, life, ſenſe, underſtanding; and not mee…e qualities. Pure qualities can neither ſin nor be capable of puniſhment: but my Te… proves both theſe concurring in the reprobate Angels. But how can an incorpore…l ſubſtance be capable of puniſhment? yet who would aske that queſtion, that find… a ſoule within himſelfe troubled with paſſion; even when no offence or diſtemperance riſeth from that groſſe and corporall part: yet is his ſoule vexed with the ſenſe of ſin, with ſorrow, care, and perturbation of conſcience. Though the Angels be ſpirituall, they are capable of puniſhment, for the torments of hell are ſpirituall. This confutes the Sadduces of our times, who thinke Angels to be nothing but motions, and melancholy paſſions: or, thoſe that take evill ſpirits to be only evill qualities and diſpoſitions inherent with us: or the Libertines, that thinke good or evill Angels to be nothing els but good or bad fortunes and ſucceſſes. But quibus non cavent in pecc…, hos ſentient in ſupplicio. Whom they would not beware off in their ſins, they ſhall feele in their torments. As they that live like Angels on earth, ſhall bee made like Angels in heaven: ſo they that will not beleeve any devils, yet live like devils, muſt have their portion with Devills. And Stultus in culpa, will bee made ſapiens i… paena.

3 Their office: Angel is not a name of nature, but of office. Greg. Ex eo q…d eſt, Spiritus: ex eo quod agit, Angelus, Aug. They ſtand round about the Lord as a…endants, and execute his impoſed heſts like ready ſervants. A quo dominatio, ab eo denominatio: this name is given them for ſome ſupereminent qualitie.bbPſal. 18.10.Ps 18:10 Hee rode upon a Cherub, and did flie. They are ſaid to have wings for their ſpeed of obedience. Therefore Gregory ſayes, that their titles are according to their meſſages. They that are ſent on buſineſſe of leſſe moment, are called Angels: they that of greater importance, Archangels. The Angel ſent to contract that ſacred match betweene the King of heaven, and the Virgin Mary, was called Gabriel. Luk. 1. Gabriel ſignifies the power of God: a fit Ambaſſador for ſuch a meſſage; becauſe the conception of Chriſt, and by it the redemption of the world; is called the Strength of Gods …, Luk. 1.51. Gabriel was ſent. 1. I doe not thinke with Hierome, becauſe Virgins are as Angels: as Iſidor. Caelibatus, quaſi coeli beatus. Indeed CHRIST ſayes, that i… heavenccMat. 22.30.Matt 22:30 they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as Angels of God. But ſo all the faithfull are Virgins to CHRIST, and ſhall bee made as Angels by CHRIST. 2. Nor yet ſo much to ſhew that he was a high Angel, becauſe of his high and glorious meſſage. 3 But indeed, as Aquinas in this truely, That our … mane nature might be repaired, after the ſame manner it was ruinated. As a ſerpe… was ſent to Eve by the Devill, to worke our woe: ſo an Angel was ſent to Mary by God, to bring newes of our bliſſe. Ad Evam Angelus malus acceſſit, ut per cam … ſepararetura Deo: Ad Mariam Angelus bonus venit, ut in ea Deus untretur …, Fulgent. By Eve man was ſeparated from God, in Mary God was united to m… an evill Angel was the worker of the ſeparation: a good Angell was the meſſenger of the conjunction. So great is their office, that CHRIST himſelfe accepted the name, Mal. 3.1. Angelus faderi…, the Angel of the Covenant, Popiſh writers d…y that CHRIST was ever called an Angel in the old Teſtament. For that, Gen. 48. p. 49116. they would thence prove prayer to Angels. The Angel that redeemed mee from …vill, bleſſe the lads: but no Angel redeemed us, but IESUS CHRIST. They …y, if at any time the Sonne of God appeared, it was moſt likely to bee in mount …nai, at the giving of the Law; that being the moſt noble apparition of all. Yet ſaith …ephen, Act. 7.53. Ye received the Law by the diſpoſition of Angels, and have not kept it. …ngels then appeared, not CHRIST. But the Angels there were miniſtring ſpirits, giving their attendance, and executing their office. It is no good argument; be…uſe the Law was given by Angels, therefore not by CHRIST. S^t Paul cleares … Gal. 3.19. The Lord was ordained by Angels in the hands of a Mediatour. The …iniſtery was of Angels, the authoritie of Chriſt. They further object; if Chriſt …d appeared at any time before his birth, it was moſt likely then when word was …ought to Mary of the incarnation of Gods Sonne: both for the dignity of the …erſon to whom, and of the Miniſtery what. But the meſſenger was Gabriel, not …hriſt. Anſw. 1. Mary was not yet ſo great a perſon, as to be preferred before all …e Patriarches, Chriſts Progenitors. Her dignitie came not by her owne worthi…eſſe, but by Gods ſpeciall grace: foreign, Freely beloved. 2. There was grea…r reaſon that the ſame Angel Gabriel, the firſt revealer of the prophecie to Daniel …oncerning the Mesſiah; ſhould alſo be the meſſenger of the accompliſhment of it. 3. … was not fit that the Sonne of God himſelfe ſhould bee the meſſenger of his owne …mming into the world, Princes ſend their officers before, to give tydings of their …mming: and ſhould not that great Prince ſend his Angels before, that it might …peare he was Lord of the Angels?

This is their office, wherein they are patterns to us.ddPſal. 103.20.Ps 103:20 Bleſſe the Lord ye Angels …his, that excell in ſtrength, that doe his commandements, hearkening unto the voice of his …ord. For this we pray, that the will of God may be done by us on earth, as it is done …y the Angels in heaven, Mat. 6.10, Our obedience cannot be like in perfection, …uſt be like in proportion: for qualitie here, for equality hereafter. We muſt Pa…ere ſicut Angeli, if we deſire Fulgere ſicut Angeli. In life we are men, in hope …ngels: now quamdiu non habemus perfectionem Angeli; non habeamus praeſumptionem …iaboli, Aug. While we want the perfection of Angels, God bleſſe us from the …reſumption of Devils, Luk. 12.9. Let us confeſſe Chriſt before men, that he may …onfeſſe us before the Angels.

4 Their glory: when the Scripture attributes the higheſt praiſe to inferior …eatures, the compariſon is drawen from the glory of Angels.Gen. 33.Gen 33 Iacob commending …e countenance of his reconciled brother ſaies, I have ſeene thy face, as the face of an Angel, Pſal. 78.25. Man did eate Angels food; which was Manna: a moſt ex…ellent meate, that if the Angels needed ſuſtenance, they could wiſh no better, 1 Cor. ….1. If I ſpake with the tongues of Angels; Si quae ſint Angelorum linguae: if the …ngels had tongues, they muſt needs be admirable, Act. 6.15. They looke ſted…ſtly on Stephen, and ſaw his face as it had beene the face of an Angel. David admiring …ans creative glory, with incontained paſſion breakes forth; Thou haſt made him …tle lower than the Angels, Pſal. 8.5. Man in his greateſt glory is inferiour to An…els. Famous men in the Church are called Angels. So Ioh. Bap. Mat. 11.10. I …nd my Angel before thy face. Eſa, 33.7. The Angels of peace. Rev, 2.1. To the …ngel of the Church. Iudg, 2.1. The Preachet of repentance was called the Angel of …e Lord, Hag. 1.13. The Prophet is called the Lords Angel, Mal. 2.7. He is the Angel of the Lord of Hoſtes, Ezek. 28.14. The King of Tyrus is called an Anointed …erub. The widow of Tekoah put the terme upon David, 2. Sam. 14.17. My …rd is as an Angel of God, to diſcerne good and bad. This was their happy eſtate, unto …hich Nihil defuit, niſi quòd non immutabilis fuit; there was nothing wanting, but …e unchangeableneſſe of it. But optimi corruptio peſſima: they were the beſt of all …eatures, they are the worſt of all creatures: being not content to remaine Angels, …ey became devils.

The Angels that ſinned. I come to their Apoſtacie; wherein conſider p. 492foure circumſtances: the Perſons, the Cauſe, the Manner, and the meaſure of their fall.

1 The Perſons that fell; ſome of the Angels, not all, They that ſinned. For they that ſinned not, ſtand for ever conſerved by the merciemercy of God. Servat i… ruptos aeterna charitas. This is Saint Pauls diſtinction, 1 Tim. 5.21. I charge thee … fore God, and the Lord Ieſus, and the elect Angels. Some are elected, and becauſe electi… preſuppoſeth refuſall, the reſt are rejected. VponUpon this falling, they are not properly any more Angels, but divells and ſpirits of darkeneſſe. Satan in Hebrew; … enemie, or detractor. Salomon acknowledging his peace ſaith; Non eſt mihi wo… 1 King. 5.4. I have not an adverſary. The Princes of the Philiſtines put the … upon David; Ne ſit nobis Leſſatan. 1 Sam. 29.4. Leſt he be an adverſary to us. S… David to the ſonnes of Zerviah; Cur eſtis mihi Leſſatan? 2 Sam. 19.22. Why … you adverſaries unto me? So Chriſt to Peter. Matth. 16.23. Get thee benihd me S… The Greekes have, Diabolus, foreign, inſidioſè capere. His whole exerciſe is to … ceive man, and to reduce him to his owne ruine. Thus he is called The Fathe… lies, the Prince of darkneſſe, &c. all corruptive, deſtructive names. Beelſebub, D… nus muſcarum; the god of flies, or the maſter-flie. Flies though beaten off, will … turne againe; ſo doth Satan after many repulſes. The red Dragon; dy'd into … ſanguine hew with the bloud of ſoules. The Tempter; Immundi ſpiritus, …ncle… ſpirits, Matth. 10. Which diſcovers their follie that proverbially; Damon … adeò niger, ut eum fingunt pictores: the divell is not ſo blacke as painters make …. But by their leaves let us not truſt him; but endevour by a good life, and a holy … to keepe our ſelves out of his clutches.

Proclus, and Pſellus a Greeke writer, makes many kindes of divells. Some … ſpirits, Lelurion, converſant about the orbe of the Moone: ſome acriall, in that p… of the aire next us: others watry, earthy, ſubterrane, metalline ſpirits, which obſeſſe the covetous and metall men. And the Scripture in ſome ſort alludes to … which calls them Powers of the aire, and wanderers through the earth, Revel. 12.11. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, for the divell is come downe among them: Do… as if before he had beene hovering in the aire. They delight in filthy places, deſ… and Sepulchers, and hogs. They drove one into the wilderneſſe, Luk. 8.29. A… ther amongſt the tombes, Matth. 8.28. From whom being caſt they entred … ſwine, and drove them into the ſea; as if they delighted in the waters, ſporting … the Leviathan in the Ocean. They make ſome deafe, other dumbe, other furious, … miſerable whom they poſſeſſe. They inſinuate themſelves into men by flie temptations, and therefore are called familiars. The beſt and bleſt Angels ſeeme alſo … have their diſtinctions, Col. 1.16. Thrones, dominions, principalities, powers. I doe … ſpeake of thoſe nine orders, as the bold Dyoniſius, and the overventurous Pap…. But they are ſo called, becauſe God by them governs the Nations, moves the heavens, reſtraines divels, workes miracles, conveyes Prophecies, protects his ſerv… and executes judgements upon his enemies. Yet ſo as theſe names may be give… … all Angels, by occaſion of diverſe employments; or to ſome for a time and … for ever.

2 The cauſe, which was indeed wholly in themſelves. For either God or … muſt be the cauſe of their ſin, or themſelves; but neither man, nor God, there… themſelves. Not man, for had not the Angels falne firſt, they could not have b… the cauſe of his fall. That nature continuing good it ſelfe, would never have … cured evill to others. But now their whole endevour is ſpent upon hindring … Aſcent to that glory, from whence they are juſtly dejected. Man either was … then made, when the Angels revolted: or if he were, how could be living o… … ruine the ſpirits in heaven? The divell cannot challenge man, but man may … the divell, for this perdition. He firſt tempered the cup for himſelfe, and then … ted man to drinke: but he had better never have pledged him.

Not God, for then that were injuſtice, to condemne them for that which … p. 493…lfe cauſed. It were unrighteous to make them fall, and then puniſh them for …lling. But he did foreſee it and would not prevent it: and in not hindring it he ſee…ed to cauſe it. Indeed, this holds in the creature: who is bound, foreſeeing an evill, … doe his beſt in preventing it; and otherwiſe is made acceſſary to it. But God is … abſolute Lord of all, and not bound to any of his creatures, further than he bin…eth himſelfe. In CHRIST he hath bound himſelfe to beleevers, and all his Pro…ſes are Yea and Amen; and he will keepe his word. But ſhall any creature ch… …ge him for not doing that he never promiſed to doe? But God did not confirme …em in their created grace, therefore cauſed their fall. Anſw. GOD did not …rpoſe their confirmation. Dedit poteſtatem velle, non voluntatem ſtare: he gave them …ower of willing, not will of ſtanding. He is not tied to conferre more grace up… his creature, than himſelfe pleaſeth. It was enough that hee created them righ…ous, without addition of their confirming. Nec tenetur agere quicquid poteſt, nec …tionem reddere quicquid facit. He is not bound to doe whatſoever he can, nor to …ve account of whatſoever he doth.

In a word, the Angels had in themſelves the proper cauſe and beginning of their …wne fall: which was a free and flexible will. They might will good, and perſeve…nce in good: and that will being mutable, they might alſo will evill, and ſo fall …om God. The ſame kind of will was in innocent Adam. But good trees cannot …ing forth bad fruite: therefore the Angels being good, could not ſin of themſelves, Anſw. Thoſe words muſt be conſtrued Senſu compoſito, non disjuncto. Indeed a good …e remaining good, cannot produce evill fruite: but being changeable, it may. …ut God foreſaw it, therefore the Angels could not eſcape it. Anſw. Yet is not his …reſcience any cauſe of their fall, but only an antecedent. Becauſe we ſin, therefore was foreknowen to God: not becauſe it was foreknowen to God, therefore we …nne. God ſaw Iudas his treaſon in the glaſſe of his Preſcience before Iudas had member compoſed, or the world was formed: yet was not this the cauſe why Iudas …trayed CHRIST. Praeſcivit, non Praedeſtinavit, Aug. Vidit non coegit, ſcivit non …xit, praedixit non praeſcripſit, Lip. He foreſaw it, he did neither compell it, nor com…and it, nor allow it. Preſcience is to God, as memorie is to us: memorie preſents … us things paſt, preſcience to God things to come. Our memorie is not the cauſe …hy things paſt were done: nor is Gods foreknowledge the cauſe why things to …me ſhall be done. We remember ſome things we doe, we doe not all the things we …member. So God foreſees all he does, he does not all he foreſees. We remember … orchyard ſuch a time planted, that now yields good fruites, by nature, not by vio…ce, ſo God foreſaw it. We remember a murther done, by will, not compulſion; … God foreſaw it. Neither our memorie, nor Gods preſcience cauſed theſe: but …cy come to paſſe, naturall by nature, voluntary by will, contingent by hap, ne…ſſary by neceſſitie. But did God only foreſee it? No, he alſo decreed it: why …en how could they avoid it? Anſw. He decreed to leave them to themſelves, that …ey might fall if they will, and then to give them no grace of riſing. But then as …od hit me, as throw me: it is all one to thruſt an old man downe, as to take away … ſtaffe that ſhould keepe him up. Nay, but the old man throwes away his owne …ffe and God doth not reach it him: they did forſake their owne grace, and fall by …eir owne folly. But here let us fall from diſputation to admiration. Oh the depth the wiſedome of Godhow; unſearchable are his judgements, and his wayes paſt finding out.

3 The Manner, this was by ſin, ſaith our Apoſtle. But what was this ſin? …ough it be no where preciſely expreſſed in the Scripture: yet from two places it. …y be collected, that it was a rebellion againſt God ariſing from pride. Gen. 3.5. … ſhall be as Gods. He tempted man to this ſin; an ambitious pride of bettering … eſtate. Now it is probable, that he ſought to overthrow him by the ſame way … fell himſelfe. Iob 4.18. He charged his Angels with folly. The ſin whereof Eli…as would accuſe Iob, was a juſtifying or lifting up himſelfe before God. From this …potheſis or ſuppoſition he reaſons: that if God ſo plagued pride in thoſe Angelicall p. 494natures, how will he diſſemble it in man, who dwelleth in a houſe of clay, whoſe foundation is in the duſt! Some ſay; God ſubjected the world to man, not to Angels. Pſal. 8.6. What is man, that thou haſt put all things under his feete! This the reprobate Angels could not endure, therefore rebelled and fell. Yet ſtill the ma… ner and matter of their revolt appeares to be pride. An inſinuating ſinne: it crept into Paradiſe, and robbed us of our birthright; we may curſe it to this day. It c… bed into heaven, and robbed Angels of their glory, they may curſe it for ever. It is an impudent and ſtupid ſin, more in ſenſible than Salomons drunkard. We have … onelyonly thruſt thornes, and needles, and goades, but even ſwords and ſpea… into her heart to make her bleed; and yet ſhe is proud to bee ſpoken againſt.

I ſpeake not of pride in the huske, but in the heart. Her Taylor, Faſhion, is now held an honeſt man; I am ſure a powerfull one. How ridiculous ſoever a ga…e appeares, faſhion can perſwade men to it. O that our preaching were in faſhion too; then we ſhould hope to perſwade you. We tell pride, that as the freſheſt rivers … into the ſalt ſea; ſo all the honours of the world ſhall end in baſeneſſe, all the pleaſures of the world in bitterneſſe, all the treaſures of the world in emptineſſe, all the garments of the world in nakedneſſe, all the delicates of the world in rottenneſſe. If Chriſt bids us cut off, and caſt away the offending eye, hand, foote; all which are needfull members tied with joynts and nerves to the body: we may well ſpare theſe unneceſſary dependants, no parts of our fleſh, but flags of our ſhame, Luk. 18.12. The Phariſie prayes not for ſupply of defects, nor acknowledgeth a defect of ſupplies: but tells his owne fulneſſe, and that great difference which his miſtaken eyes ſaw betweene himſelfe and the Publican; ſwelling with his owne wind till he burſt. They plow with the Oxen of their owne imaginary righteouſneſſe; and contemplate the Farme which their owne workes have purchaſed; and Marry themſele… to merite as to Wife: therefore in the pride of their peremptory ſtomachs they ſcorne the Lambes ſupper. Therefore Chriſt refuſeth them in his call, but ſeekes ſinners: not ſinners in perverſeneſſe, but ſinners in ſenſe and conſcience, in plea, action, confeſſion, and condemnation of themſelves. It is a needy and acknowledged emptyneſſe, that lies at his gate, who is rich in merciemercy, like Lazarus with all his … cers open, and begging the very crummes of commiſeration.

Humilitie is the hardeſt of all vertues: all vices are againſt it, yea all vertues … againſt it: men are proud of their wiſedome, proud of their beneficence. Yea, … mility it ſelfe is againſt humility, and by a ſtrange prodigious birth brings forth pride: as Diogenes, and that worſe Ciſterian, is proud of his very patches. How co… mon is it for men to diſclaime vaine glory vainegloriouſly! making a remonſtrate of that within them, whereof they ſtudie a renouncement from them. But the … things are alwayes moſt humble: the boughes of trees, the more laden with fruites the nearer they hang to the ground. The beſt gold goes downe in the ballance, … lighter ſtayes above. Good corne lies in the bottome of the heape, the chaſe keepes aloft. The good Angell lifts him up that would worſhip him;aaRevel. 19.10.Rev 19:10 See th… … it not, for I am thy thy fellow ſervant. The bad Angell affects it,bbMatth. 4.9.Matt 4:9 All theſe … give thee, if thou wilt fall downe and worſhip mee. Timent boni Angeli adorari… … natura, quam vident in Chriſto ſublimatam. Good Angels are fearefull to be w… ſhipped of that nature, which they ſee exalted in Chriſt: evill Angels deſire t… worſhipped of that nature, which they know is made after the Image of God. Satan isccIob 41.34.Job 41:34 a King over all the children of pride. Pride turned Angels into divells, … militie ſhall turne men into Angels. Of all ſins let us bleſſe our ſelves, yea the Lo… keepe us from pride; that humbling our ſelves, we may bee exalted by Its … CHRIST.

4 The meaſure; they left their condition totally and wholly: they quite … ſooke God, his Image, heaven it ſelfe, and the office therein aſſigned them. I… 44. He abode not in the truth: by this Truth is meant the Image of God; which … ſaies,ddEpheſ. 24. conſiſts in righteouſneſſe, and the holineſſe of truth: It is called Truth. 1. Becauſe p. 495it never deceived any man, as unrighteouſneſſe doth; which promiſeth pleaſure, profite, content, and performes nothing but griefe and ſhame. 2. There is no Hypocriſie in it, it makes no ſhew of other than it is. This originall condition the Angels voluntarily left, forſaking their place, as Saint Iude ſpeaketh. God in the be…inning appointed moſt excellent places for his ſeverall creatures; wherein they were …o performe their required homage and ſervice. Heaven was the proper place aſſigned to the Angels: to man in his innocencie, Paradiſe: after his fall, the families …f the Patriarchs: before and in Chriſts time, the Temple; now the congregrati…ns of the faithfull. Theſe were our appointed places to ſet forth the praiſes of our …aker. This place the Angels left, forſaking the preſence of God, and their owne …ffice wherein they ſhould have beene for ever employed.

But doe not the divells keepe in the aire? Some doe by Gods permiſſion; but …ot as in their proper place and firſt habitation: for that was in the comfortable pre…ence of God in heaven. But whereſoever they are, they carry a hell about them: if …hey be not in hell, yet hell is in them. As the militant Saints have in them the …ingdome of heaven, though the kingdome of heaven doe not yet containe them. …nd the bleſſed Angels protecting us on earth, are ſtill in a heaven; by reaſon of …e gracious and glorious preſence of the infinite God that is with them. So the …ivells are never remote from their hell. Ioh. 8.44. He was a murtherer from the be…inning: whereupon Maniche grounds; Diaboli malitia non habuit initium: the …ickedneſſe of the divell had no beginning: hence came that conceit of two beginings. Anſ. 1. He was not ſo from the beginning, as Chriſt who had no beginning. …he latter confutes it; It is not ſaid, In the beginning; but From the beginning. … Neither was he made ſo in his owne beginning of being: as ſome ſottiſhly draw …hat literall Leviathan into an allegorie. Pſal. 104.26. There is that Leviathan whom …ou haſt made to play therein: as if God had made him a divell. 3. Nor yet ſo from …e beginning; that in eodem inſtanti caepit eſſe a Deo, & malus eſſe a ſe; in the ſame …ſtant, he tooke of God a being, and of himſelfe an evill being. As it is ſaid of our …ule, Cum infunditur, inficitur; the infuſion and infection meete together. For he as firſt made good, and therefore muſt by intervention of ſpace become bad. … but Becauſe there was a little time betweene his creation and Apoſtacie; Hee a…de not in the truth, Eſa 14.12. How art thou falne from heaven O Lucifer, Son of the …ormng! He was a ſon of the morning, not a ſon of the day; he ſtood not ſo long. … Eſpecially, Homicida ab initio, non ſuo, ſed generis humani. He was a murtherer …om the beginning, not of himſelfe, but of mankind. And Saint Auſtens reaſon is …od; Non poſſet occidi, niſi factus fuiſſet homo: man could not be murthered before … was made: the divell could not be a murtherer before he had ſomething to kill: …leſſe we ſay, he was Homicida in ſe, his owne murtherer. But from the beginning … murdered us; and we ſhould never have recovered that wound, unleſſe it had …ene by a ſecond murder, the killing of Ieſus Chriſt.

But if the Angels in their innocencie and excellencie fell wholly and utterly …om God: then much more may weake man rend himſelfe from God by ſin, yea …d alſo from Chriſt. Anſw. The grace of Creation came far ſhort of the grace Redemption. There was a power to ſtand or to fall; but that power was in it …fe. Here is a power to ſtand, none to fall; but this power is not of our ſelves. …e power ſtands in the promiſe of God, and gracious covenant in CHRIST. … will make an everlaſting covenant with them, and they ſhall not depart from me. aaIer. 32.40.Jer 32:40We … ſtand as never to fall. God doth not truſt our ſalvation in our owne hands: but We are dead, and our life is hid with Chriſt in God. bbCol. 3.3.Col 3:3If our portion were in our owne …d, we would quickly ſpend it, as that Prodigall did his patrimony. We are the …liſh children of Adam, and would part with our ſalvation for an Apple: and … nature the brothers of prophane Eſau, that ſold his Birth-right for a meſſe …pottage. But it is there laid up, where we can never ſpend it, nor the divell …d it. There is a difference betweene the ſtate of nature, and that which is above p. 496nature: betwixt a Created, and a Regenerated will: not that the latter is not alſo created; but becauſe the former is in the will by creation, ſo is not the latter. 1. The created will had a freedome to will that is good; ſo hath this. 2. The created will had a power to will perſeverance in goodneſſe, ſo hath this. 3. The created will … not the will it ſelfe, nor the act of perſeverance; the regenerate will ha… both theſe.

Here the doctrine of the Romiſh Schoole erres, which teacheth; that in converſion the will hath a freedome to receive grace, or not to receive it: ſo mans po… er of faith and ſalvation ſhould be in his owne hand. But the unconverted will refuſeth grace, yea rebelleth againſt it: andccIoh. 6.44.John 6:44 No man can come unto Chriſt, unleſſe the Father draw him. It is not the will it ſelfe, but the converſion of the will, that mak…s it willing to goodneſſe. The will of regenerate man is not as the will of crea… Angels, able to ſtand or fall: but God hath conformed it, and confirmed it; … will the own ſtanding for ever. True ſaving grace is never loſt: without Chriſt … could never get it, but when Chriſt hath given it him, he ſhall never loſe it. Some Schoole-men ſay, that God doth Creaturis dignitatem cauſalitatis communicare; … Auſten ſeemes to favour it: but man could as well make himſelfe, as make h… ſelfe good. And if he were naturally worthy to have grace, where had he t… grace to be naturally worthy? Sure, this makes him little beholding to God, th… gives him but the grace whereof he is worthy. As we ſay, God could doe no m… in mercy: ſo this ſaies. God could doe no leſſe in Iuſtice. But they for the l… object, Revel. 3.11. Hold faſt that which thou haſt, that no man take thy Crowne. N… Si alius poteſt accipere, tu potes perdere. If another may take it, then thou mayeſt lo… it; and ſo fall from grace. Indeed common graces a man may have and loſe: b… not that grace which makes him accepted with God: hee can as ſoone loſe the being of Nature, as the being of this grace. The Romiſts, as they eſtabliſh a free will … get grace, ſo they confeſſe a power to loſe it: on both ſides they run into groſſe errors. As Auguſt. contr. Tul. Vt ſtatueret liberum arbitrium, negavit praeſcienti… futurorum: itaque dum vult facere liberos, facit ſacrilegos. But our ſeed is immor… whereof we are made holy; therefore our holineſſe is immortall. Three things … never be loſt; the love of God in Chriſt, the Grace of the Spirit, and our Inhe…itance in heaven. We are in Chriſt; and unleſſe Chriſt could be ſevered from Go… we cannot be ſevered from Chriſt. Indeed for Pagans, that are not in Chriſto, ſed … caligine; not in Chriſt, but in darkeneſſe. And for Iewes, that are Non in Chriſto ſed in lege; not in Chriſt, but in the Law. And for Libertines, that are non in Chriſt…, ſed in carne; not in Chriſt, but in the fleſh; theſe all may periſh: but they that … united to Chriſt, never. There is a Cordiall union of friend to friend; a Ca… union, of man to wife: a Vitall union, of ſoule to body: theſe may bee parcel… but a Spirttuall union never. As Chriſt is in God, and God in Chriſt; ſo are … in him. Prove it, Ioh. 17.22. That they may be one, as we are one: I in them, and th… in me. But, Revel. 2.4. Thou haſt left thy firſt love. Not fallen from love, but f… ſuch a degree of love. Beſides, there is a counterfeit charity, but true can never … loſt. To conclude, we ſtand not of our ſelves, but by the Grace of Chriſt, … merciemercy of God.ddPſal. 142.4.Ps 142:4 We may looke on our right hand for comfort, on our left … ſupportance; and find refuge to faile us, no man caring for our ſoule. But if we … unto the Lord; Thou art our refuge; thy mercies faile us not. The ſea hath no … cie, the fire hath no merciemercy, the earth hath no merciemercy, beaſts have no merciemercy, … hath no merciemercy, the world hath no merciemercy, the Divell leaſt of all hath merciemercy; … The Lord hath merciemercy. David by experience gives it, the children of God … it; and let no man at the perill of his owne ſoule deny it.

Thus we have conſidered the Apoſtacie and fall of theſe Angels; a point ſo… what intricate and thorny; and would have beene much more confuſed, had I f… lowed all the perplexfull, barren, and unneceſſary queſtions of the Schoole; w… have in them more ſubtilty than doctrine, more doctrine than uſe: full of Sch… laſticall p. 497yea Sophiſticall doubts. One charged a Painter to draw him Equum volt …antem, a trotting or pranſing horſe: and he (miſtaking the word) drew him Equum volutantem, a wallowing or a tumbling horſe, with his heeles upward. Being brought …ome, and the beſpeaker blaming his errour; I would have had him pranſing, and you have made him tumbling: if that be all, quoth the Painter, it is but turning the Picture the wrong ſide uppermoſt, and you have your deſire. Thus in their quod-…ibeticall diſcourſes they can but turne the lineaments, and the matter is as they would have it. I ſpeake not this to diſgrace all their learning; but their fruitleſſe, …eedleſſe diſputes and arguments; who findes themſelves a tongue, where the Scrip…ure allowes them none. It ſpeakes of the Angels ſins generally, without particula…iſing what it was: hereupon ſay the Papiſts; it is an inſufficient Iudge to decide all doubts and controverſies. But becauſe it doth not anſwer punctually the curioſity …f their idle braines, can it not therefore decide all profitable queſtions, and ſatisfie …ll juſt doubts? Yes, it determines all things that concerne our conſciences, and …verlaſting ſalvation. In unneceſſary things it is ſilent, as if it forbad us to enquire. For uſe to our ſelves.

1. Seeing the fault for which God confounded the Angels, was the leaving …f their being and firſt eſtate: this ſhould humble us to bewaile the ſame ſin in our …elves; for we have alſo left our beginning. The Image of God was imprinted on …s, ſo well as on them: they defaced it in themſelves.eeIohn 8.44.John 8:44 When the divell telleth a lye, …e telleth it of his owne. A ſe habet, nullo alio ſuggerente: no man ſuggeſted it to him. To this they alſo tempted us, ſo that we loſt our beginning: a thing that few of us …ruly lament; our Originall corruption. Sometimes men ſorrow for their actuals, …ut ſeldome for their originals: as if that ſhould not trouble them, which they …rought into the world along with them; or as if that were their parents fault, none of their owne. But the royall Prophet confeſſed;ffPſal. 51.5.Ps 51:5 I was conceived and borne in ſin. …antillus puer, tantus peccator, Auguſt. When a little child, I was a great ſinner. I …iſpute not problemes; whether this comes to us by imitation, which was the Pe…gian hereſie; for certainly it comes to us by propagation. The good man may ge…erate, cannot regenerate, the children of his fleſh. Auguſt. Nor is it materiall to …ee decided, whether the ſoule be infected by the contagion of the body, as good …nction is by a fuſty veſſell: for the ſoule is infected ſo ſoone as ever it is infuſed. Or whether in the very moment of infuſion God did forſake it. OnelyOnly let our care …e, as in a common fire; not to queſtion or examine how it came, till firſt we hav… …ut it out. A Paſſenger brought to a pit, by the cries of one fallen into it, fell a won…ring how hee came there: to whom the poore man replies; forbeare marvelling …ow I fell in, and doe thy beſt to helpe me out. Miſerable Parents, have brought …orth a miſerable childe into this miſerable world; Nec citius tulerunt natum, quàm …amnatum, Bern. We are ſure we have it, O that halfe ſo ſure we were all delivered …om it! How ſhould this humble us, to looke unto the rock whence wee were hewen, …nd the pit whence wee were digged. Te maculatum non nega, ſed lava. Deny not thy …ollution, but cleanſe it. All our teares are few enough to waſh out our Originall …aines: what are left for our actuall and continuall aſperſions? Men raile on for…ne, challenge the ſtarres, blame bad company, curſe the divell, for their ſinnes: …ill they miſſe the proper cauſe, their originall apoſtacie, and corrupt beginning. …iabolus te non faceret perverſum, niſi tua te origo feciſſet pervertibilem. Satan could not …ake men profane rebellers, unleſſe their uncleane nature had firſt made them ſin…ers. From this impure beginning, comes all iniquity: for naturally the ſeeds of all …nnes are within us: and it corruption preceed, eruption will eaſily follow. And …od will ſmite him that ſinnes, though (as Saul ſaid) it be my ſon Ionathan. Indeed …e ſmote his owne ſon IESUS for our ſake, not for Angels. Chriſts ſide was laun…d, to let out our impoſtume. It is his grace alone that reduceth us to our begin…ing; yea to a farre better beginning, ſuch an one, as ſhall never have ending.

2. Seeing the Angels ſinned; Let him that thinkes he ſtandeth take heed leſt hee p. 498fall. No height of man can match the Angels; if juſtice ſpared not ſin in them, how will it forbeare us? no ſtrength of man can match the Angels: if they were not able to reſiſt the judgement, what can we doe? Heaven is a great way further from hell, than is Earth: if ſin could tumble downe Angels, how much more eaſily the ſons of men, from ſo low and conterminate a place? Adam was excellent in Paradiſe, yet ſhort of the Angels in heaven; their beauty and glory, was far greater: b… if God puniſhed ſin in the Angels, how will hee diſſemble it in men? The Iewes thought it a high priviledge to ſay, we are the ſons of Abraham; yet Abraham was but a man. Wee goe further, and ſay, Wee are the ſonnes of God: but how? by creation only: ſo were the loſt Angels: we muſt have a better title than ſo, or elſe ſin will confound us with the Angels. God forbore not ſin in thoſe his ſelected and eldeſt ſons on earth, the Iſraelites; not in his celeſtiall children, the Angels: yea hee is ſo far from ſparing it in any, that to ſave ſome he ſpared not his own Son. What then is our Title? In Chriſt: indeed there it is onelyonly good; a bleſſedneſſe which was not granted to the loſt Angels. But then let us walke worthy of this Chriſt, that we may confirme an argument of comfort to our owne ſoules.

But caſt them downe into hell, and delivered, &c.] I come to their penalty; the firſt branch whereof is their Dejection; He caſt them downe into hell. Herein is Locus a quo implied, the place from which they were caſt, Heaven: and Locus ad qu… expreſſed, the place into which they were caſt, Hell; there is Poena damni in the form…r, Poena ſenſus in the latter. The one privative, a loſſe of all bleſſedneſſe: the other poſitive, an infliction of all curſedneſſe.

Caſt them downe.] This implies ſome place from whence they were caſt, and that is heaven: the place of their creation, the ſeate of bleſſedneſſe, the palace of glory, the eternall manſion of joy. Lift up your hearts a while, to contemplate that place from whence they fell, and whither we deſire to riſe.

Firſt take it generally; there is a heaven whereſoever Gods gracious preſence ſhineth. Yea as the Father ſaid; I had rather be out of heaven with Chriſt, than a heaven without Chriſt. So we had better be on earth with Gods favour, than in heaven without it. For as the Sunne makes a day, ſo the countenance of God makes a heaven, whereſoever it ſhineth. Abſence of light cauſeth darkeneſſe; if God turne away his face, nothing remaines but wretchedneſſe.ggPſa. 16.11.Ps 16:11 In thy preſence is the fulneſſe … joy. If the fulneſſe of joy be in his preſence, then the fulneſſe of ſorrow is in his abſence.hhPſa. 30.7.Ps 30:7 Thou didſt hide thy face, and I was troubled. For the light of Gods countenance David often praiſes; nothing was ſo terrible as the hiding of his face from him: eſpecially if it bee true what the French Nightingale ſung; That hell is every where, where God is not. If the Kings favorite be for ever decourted, and baniſhed the royall preſence; this more afflicts him than thoſe that never ſaw it. Ignoti null… amor, an unknowne good is uncared for: many men little affect heaven, becauſe they never apprehended the ſweetneſſe of it. But that which is retained with great ſenſible joy, cannot be loſt without great ſenſible griefe. Had theſe wicked Angels ne… knowne the delectableneſſe of Gods preſence; their owne expulſion out of heave… had beene leſſe plague unto them. Now they may name all their thoughts, tho… children of their mindes; Idiabods; For ii1 Sam. 4.21.1 Sam 4:21the glory is departed from them. It w… Abſaloms extreameſt diſcontent to be kept from the Court; therefore in paſſion …e ſollici…es Ioab; kk2 Sam. 14.32.2 Sam 14:32Let mee ſee the Kings face.

This is their eternall miſery, never to ſee Gods pleaſed countenance. Darkneſ…e is the more intollerable to them, becauſe they were created children of light: Their diſmall plaints, extorted by flames, more irkeſome, becauſe they once bore a part in the muſick of heaven, the melody of Angels. As Eliſha ſaid to that great Lord;ll2 Kin. 7.2.2 Kgs 7:2 Thou ſhalt ſee it with thine eyes, but thou ſhalt not eate thereof. There is good cheere, and they for whom it was provided, muſt never taſte it. Luk. 14.24. None of th… that were bidden, ſhall taſte of my ſupper. Thus miſerable are they that live out of the orbe of mercy, drawing their unhappy breath without repentance; upon who… p. 499fury and indignation waites, the length and bredth whereof cannot be meaſured; with a diligent traine of unſufferable plagues, that will never ceaſe to puniſh, ſo long as there is a will of God to bid them. It is a queſtion whether the rich mans owne poſitive and ſenſible torments more afflicted him, or the ſight of his once deſpiſed Lazarus in the boſome of reſt. Pſal. 112.10, The wicked ſhall ſee it, and be grieved; he ſhall gnaſh with his teeth, and melt away. What ſo vexeth him? The horne of the …ighteous exalted with honour. Luk. 13.28. There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, …hen you ſhall ſee the Saints in the kingdome of God, and your ſelves thruſt out: when you ſhall See it.

We may alſo conſider this point at home; and thinke how it afflicted our firſt Parents to ſee that Paradiſe, out of which they were caſt and kept with a flaming ſword. Every earth was not fit for Adam, but a Garden, a Paradiſe. Excellent pleaſures have beene found in Gardens planted by men: yet is the leaſt leafe, twig, …r pile of graſſe paſt all mens making. When he that creates the matter, undertakes …he forme, this muſt needs be tranſcendently perfect. No tree, herbe, flower, was …here wanting; that might be for ornament or uſe, for ſight, ſent, or taſte. The …ountie of God extended it ſelfe further than to neceſſitie; even to delight and recre…tion. Yet for all this, if Gods gracious preſence had not ſhone there, no abun…ance could have made him bleſſed. Yet behold, God offered him all fruites there, …nd reſtrained but one; Satan offered him but one, and forbore all the reſt: and …an choſe rather to be at Satans finding, than at Gods. Then did the Iuſtice of God turne him out of his gates with a curſe: why ſhould he feed a rebell at his own …oord? That God from whoſe face he fled with feare in the Garden, now makes …im flie with ſhame out of the Garden. The Angels that ſhould have kept him, …ow keepe Paradiſe againſt him. It was eaſie to have kept happineſſe, eaſi…r to …oſe it, but moſt hard to recover it. That very cauſe which drove man out of Pa…adiſe, hath alſo with-drawen Paradiſe from the world. Now as when man was …oiling in the curſed and weedy earth, what a vexation muſt ariſe in his con…cience, by the ſight of his diſcharged Paradiſe! So terrible is it to the divells …iling in the aire, to contemplate that heaven from which they are baniſhed for …ver.

Secondly more ſpecially, and in a ſtricter acception; heaven is the locall re…eptacle of infinite and interminate joy. In thy preſence is the fulneſſe of joy, and at …hy right hand there are pleaſures for evermore. For qualitie they are Pleaſures: for …uantitie, Fulneſſe: for Dignity, at Gods right hand: for Eternitie, For evermore. There ſhall be no feare to have the eyes dimmed with teares, or the ſoule ſurpriſed …y death, or the heart dejected with ſorrow, or the eares diſturbed with cries, or the …enſes diſtracted with paine. There are poſſeſſions without impeachments, king…omes without cares, length of yeares with ſtrength of delights, greatneſſe of ſtate …ithout conſcience of corruption, love of all without jelouſie of any. There m…n …hall be good and not perſecuted, happy and not envied, rich and not robbed, kings …nd not flattered. The Inhabitants are at the ſame inſtant raviſhed with ſeeing, ſa…sfied with enjoying, and ſecured for retaining. There is the glory of God whoſe … rightneſſe they behold: ſafetie from foes, whoſe ruine they rejoyce at.llPſal. 58.10.Ps 58:10 (The …ighteous ſhall rejoyce when he ſeeth the vengeance, he ſhall waſh his feete in the bloud of …e wicked.) The company of Saints, whoſe comforts they participate: the receit …f a kingdome, and with it the full poſſeſſion of the Fee-ſimple of life, the tenure …hereof is inviolable. Ioy ſo tempered, that it ſhall ſatisfie and not glut: perſons ſo …blim'd, that what makes them everlaſtingly happy, ſhall never make them weary. …here is a river, and the Spring, the Throne of God; the water Chryſtall, the bankes …t with the trees of life. There is a Citie, the gates of it Pearle, the ſtreets of it Gold, the Walls of it precious ſtones, the Temple in it God, the light of it the …ambe, the veſſels to it Kings of the earth. The cheare of joy, the exerciſe ſin…ng, the Citie praiſe, the ſubject God, the Quire Angels.

p. 500Such is heaven, which alas mans parvitie is as farre from comprehending, as his armes be from compaſſing. Heaven ſhall receive us, we cannot conceive heaven. Quid mors est rogitas? ſi ſcirem, mortuus eſſem. Doe you aske what death is, fact one: if I could ſhew you, I were firſt dead. Doe you aske what heaven is, when I meet you there I will tell you. Could this eare heare it, or this tongue utter it, or this heart conceive it; it muſt needs follow, that they were tranſlated already thither. Howſoever what hath beene ſpoken may remonſtrate this; how great an infelicity the privation of heaven is. One ſpake truly; that the teares of hell are not ſufficient to bewaile the loſſe of heaven. This fully appeares by that judicatory ſentence, Mat. 25.41. When the wicked ſhall haply reply; though we may not aſcend with thee unto glory, yet let us have thy preſence on earth: let us be any where ſo thou, O Chriſt, be with us. No, Depart from mee; from peace, from joy, from comfort, from my preſence, from my ſalvation, from my glory, for ever. O wretchedneſſe, that diſdaines all compariſon; if there were no hell, this were enough to wring out everlaſting teares.

Applicat.Seeing both theſe Angels and alſo men, were caſt out of their original and proper reſidence by ſin; and God hath made ours recoverable by Chriſt, which is not gr… ted to them; let us ſtudiouſly ſeeke an entrance into that eternall reſt, we tranſgreſſe daily, yet the Lord ſhutteth not heaven againſt us: we finde more mercy than our forefather. His ſtrength was worthy of ſeverity, our weakeneſſe findes pitty. We loſt a Paradiſe that cannot be found, but we may find a Paradiſe that cannot be loſt. Here is no fiery ſword to keepe us out; we care not to ſeeke where that Paradiſe is which we loſt; but this we both care to ſeeke and hope to finde. As man is the Image of God, ſo was that Paradiſe the Image of heaven: both the Images are defaced, both the firſt patterns are eternall. The firſt Adam was in the firſt Paradiſe, and ſtayed not: the ſecond Adam is in the ſecond Paradiſe, and there abides. Th… day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe; was his promiſe to the penitent Malefactor. Paul was there and heard, and ſaw what he could not utter. By how much the third heaven exceeds the richeſt earth; by ſo much doth that Paradiſe which Chriſt ha… found, exceed that which we have loſt. Now if we deſire to have our ſaluation perfected above, we muſt begin it below. The gate of heaven is opened on earth. The place where God manifeſted his favour, Iacob called Bethel, heaven gate.mmGen. 28.17.Gen 28:17 This the houſe of God, and this is the gate of heaven. As a man cals that the Court, where he was firſt brought to the preſence of the King. Now this is done by a holy expectance, hearty affection, patient forbearance, prepared aſſurance, conſtant perſeverance, and raviſhed exultance.

By a holy expectation, and a life expreſſive of ſuch hope. He that lookes to weare a Crowne, habituates himſelfe to royall affections. Our converſation is to heaven, whence we looke, &c. They that hope to carry earth up to heaven, ſtrive firſt … bring heaven downe to earth.

By a hearty affection: if we cannot get in, yet let us get ſo neere as we can; a… keep about the gates of the Citie: where the faithfull are congregated, there heaven it ſelfe is opened. Cain thought it not the leaſt part of his curſe, to be caſt … from the face of God; from Adams family, where the face of God was ſeen in his holy worſhip.

By a patient forbearance and withdrawing our affections from terrene things. This World is but viaticum; and no man ſeekes for his inheritance in his Inne.

By a prepared aſſurance armed for all encounters. No Priſoner feares the Gaoler, looke he never ſo ſterne; who knowes that his commiſſion, is but to bring him to the Court ſafe. To the Saints, Mors non poena, ſed remedium, death is not a penalty, but a remedy. Nec tam mors naturae, quàm malitiae, quàm miſeriae. It is … ſo much a death of nature, as of corruption and calamity.

By a conſtant perſeverance, reſolving upon the worſt diſaſters not to turne back. Knowing, that if the Goſpell takes away riches, it will require them: if it take p. 501away life, it will reſtore it better. Patience ſhall never be a loſer by it.

Laſtly, by a raviſhed exultance and joy, that ariſeth from the meditation of heaven. Which ſo tranſports us, that for the time we thinke our ſelves there: and conceive of former ſorrowes, as men awaked from a buſie dreame. What ſhall be …he poſſeſſion of that place, whereof the contemplation is ſo ſweet! Dulce eſt in lit…ore ſtantem Dicere naufragium. It is a pleaſure to ſit on the quiet and ſecure ſhore, …nd diſcourſe of eſcaped wrackes. This is our true Paradiſe; the lower remaines Quoad locum, non quoad Paradiſum; as it is a place, not as it is a Paradiſe. On earth we loſt it, in heaven we ſhall find it. There faith ſhall be turned into beatificall viſi…on; expectation loſt in poſſeſſion. There we ſhall know the truth of things we argue here below. How ſweet now would the knowledge of ſome ſecrets be unto …s; yet are many not worth the knowing: there thoſe deepe and glorious myſteries …hall be made plaine, and we ſhall diſcourſe them one to another. Diſcourſe them I …ay; for now the ſoules in heaven have the language of intelligence; and when their …odyes are joyned they ſhall have the language of utterance. And becauſe Dura…io eſt affectus entium; the perfection of all ſhall be a bleſt everlaſtingneſſe. I will give you the kingdome of heaven, ſaith CHRIST; this diſgraceth all earthly kingdomes. I will give you an incorruptible Crowne, this diſgraceth all corruptible crownes. I will give you eternall joy, this diſgraceth all momentary pleaſures. Eter…all life is the gift of God through Ieſus Chriſt.

Downe into hell.] This is Locus ad quem, the next part of their puniſhment; a …enſible paine; the poſition of intolerable and interminable plagues. In handling whereof conſider three circumſtances. Quod ſit, quid ſit, ubi ſit. That it is, what it is, where it is.

Firſt, that there is a Hell, is plaine: for they could not be caſt into a place that had no being. Yea, it is manifeſt that it had a being before ſin; and God made it before he had preſent and actuall uſe of it. It was conſtituted ere the Angels fell, that it might receive them when they fell. Hell was made before ſinne was hatched, as Heaven was formed and fitted before the Inhabitant was produced. For we muſt obſerve that God created Angels and men after his owne Image; Ratione ſapientes, vita innocentes, dominio potentes; wiſe, innocent, powerfull. But withall he gave …hem naturam flexibilem, a mutable condition; which had power of ſtanding, and poſſibilitie of falling. Power to ſtand was of God the creator: poſſibilitie to fall was of themſelves the creatures. Immutabiliter eſſe bonum Dei ſolius est proprium, Aug. To be unchangeably good is onelyonly proper to God. Auguſtine in his con…eſſions gives the reaſon. Becauſe God created man ex nihilo, of nothing: he left in him poſſibilitie to returne in nihilum, unto nothing. Si Deus dediſſet illis naturam im…utabilem, deos potius quàm creaturas condidiſſet, Baſil. If God had given them an immutable nature, he had created them gods, not creatures. Now out of the whole …oſte of Angels he kept ſome from falling: and when all mankinde was fallen, he …edeemed ſome by his owne Son. And as he ſhewes merciemercy upon ſome in their ſal…ation, ſo it is fit he ſhould ſhew juſtice upon others in their juſt damnation. Now becauſe there muſt be diſtinct places for the exerciſe of both theſe, which are in God equally infinite: by an irrevocable decree from the foundation of the world, a glorious habitation was ordained for the one, and a terrible dungeon for the other. Theſe ſhall goe into everlaſting puniſhment, and the righteous into life eternall. So cer…aine are both theſe places, that they were of old prepared. Matth. 25.34. Inherite …he kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of this world, Ver. 41. Depart …e curſed into everlaſting fire prepared for the divell and his Angels. Eſa. 30.33. To…het is ordained of old: non paranda, nec parari certa, ſed parata. Of old, for the Lord that beholds all things, paſt, preſent, future, Vno actu, uno ictu, at once; ſimul & ſe…el: as he foreſaw the different eſtates of men and Angels, ſo he provided for them different places. That there is a hell.

Firſt, the Scripture plentifully teſtifies, Mark. 9.43, &c. I know that many have p. 502wrangled againſt it: Danaeus reckons up 19 ſeverall ſorts of heretickes that deny of it. But ſay what they will, the wicked would give much to be ſure that the Scripture was not true. Credere nolunt, & non credere nequeunt: they will not beleeve; and yet they cannot chuſe but beleeve; their caſe is fearefull.

The Heathen affirmed a hell and place of torment for bad men: they retained ſo much light, as to know of that future darkeneſſe. Some of them have beene terrified with their owne inventions, and diſtracted with horror of the torments deſcribed by their owne pens. As Pigmalion doted on his owne picture, ſo were they a… zed with their owne comments. How much more, if they had knowen theſe intolerable horrors, as they are, not as they were deſcribed. Par nulla fig… Gehennae.

Beſides, many wicked men are puniſhed, and many as wicked eſcape. Now Iuſtum eſt, ut qui pariter peccarint, eaſdem paenas luerent. It is fit that partners in …inne ſhould not be ſevered in torment. God doth not puniſh all here, that he may allow ſome ſpace of repentance: nor doth he forbeare all here, leſt the world ſhould deny his providence. Parcit ut puniat, punit ut parcat. He ſpares that he may puniſh, and he puniſheth that he may ſpare. He afflicteth ſome in the ſuburbes of hell, that they might never come into the citie it ſelfe. But Quos malos fert incruciatos, refert … ciandos. The evill he now ſuffers uncorrected, he referres to be condemned. Sinne knowes the doome, it muſt ſmart, either here or hereafter.

Further, in all things naturall and ſupernaturall, there is an oppoſition and contrarietie. There is good, there is evill: light and darkeneſſe: ſorrow and joy. Now as there be two wayes, ſo there muſt be two ends. Heaven, whither the good Angels ſhall carry the Saints; Hell, whither the blacke and griſly ſpirits ſhall hurry the reprobates.

Againe, all men naturally doe honour the good, and puniſh the evill. The Barbarians themſelves have lawes of caſtigation, and executions to cut off irregul… perſons. Shall the Lord in his Iuſtice come ſhort of creatures, of barbarous creatures? The Law of Nations requires that malefactors, if they ſcape with life, …e baniſhed for ever. And ſhall not God baniſh rebells on earth, from his glorious preſence in heaven, into that fearefull Iland of hell? If this were not, Stabit cum Ne rone Paulus, Nero was as good a man as Paul. Eſau ſhould ſtill have his birthright i… bliſſe, and Cain be a Saint as well as Abel. As beleevers ſay,nn1 Cor. 15.191 Cor 15:19 If in this life … ly wee have hope in CHRIST, wee are of all men moſt miſerable. So might the wicked ſay, If in this life only we have ſenſe of ſorrow, we are of all men mo…t happy.

Laſtly, every Prince is allowed this concurrence to his State: that as he hath a pleaſant palace for himſelf and his ſervants, ſo he hath a Gaole and priſon for rebels and traitors. That heaven is glorious where the high King keepes his magnificent Court; the outer ſide of whoſe pavements we delight to behold, and admire for beautie. So is that hell a diſmall dungeon where he puts his enemies, the outſid… whereof men are not ſuffered to ſee, leſt they ſhould die with horror of the ſight. They that have ſeene the flames, and heard the roarings of Aetna, now Monte G… lo, the flaſhings of Veſuvius, the thundrings and burning flakes evaporating from marine rockes; have not yet ſeene the very glimmerings of hell. A painted fire is a better ſhadow of theſe, than theſe are of hell torments.

I am ſure I ſpeake to no Atheiſts; I could ſay; doeſt thou thinke there is no hell? Quis daemonum hoc aſſeret? What divell will ſo affirme? they know it, and feele it. Why art thou come to torment us before our time? Shall not men tremble … deny, what the divells confeſſe? Chryſ. What, eate, drinke, and play, Epicu…e; Poſt mortem nulla voluptas? no pleaſure after death? None indeed to reprobates; there is nothing but hell for them, and they ſhall find ſmall pleaſure in that. C…, ſed fuge: credendo fugies. Beleeve it, and avoid it: by beleeving thou ſhalt avoide it. We are ſure God hath made it; let us be but halfe ſo ſure that we ſhall eſcape it. A p. 503good king having ordained poſitive Lawes by which he would governe; cauſed In…uments of execution to be made; gibbets, wheeles, rackes, and ſuch torturous …gines. And being made, he commanded them to be brought forth, and expoſed … open view: and upon every one was written, Ne noceat, ne noceat: that it may doe … harme: obſerve it, that you may never feele it. So God admoniſheth us of hell, …e noceat: he doth as it were ſhew it us, that it may never hurt us. Oſtendiſti populo …avia, ooPſal. 60.3.Ps 60:3Thou haſt ſhewed thy people grievous things: but ſhewed them, not inflicted …em. Minatur verbis, ne utatur verberibus. By threatning us, he would ſave the la…ur of plaguingus.

But ſhall God menace this, and we not be moved? Is the hand-writing on the …ll, and Belſhazzar ſtill merry? God loves him thatppEſa. 66.2.Isa 66:2 Trembles at his word. Doe … not tremble at it? how ſhould we then eſcape it? We read of a bird of Paradiſe, … called for her excellent beautie: that being taken in the fowlers net, ſhe doth grone …d weepe night and day, and ſo languiſh away. We were once ſuch Birds of Pa…diſe, but by ſinne taken in Satans nets; captived in wickedneſſe, and condemnable … this hell of wretchedneſſe: O how ſhould we grone and weepe till we get out of …is Priſon where we are, into the libertie where we would be! Plangite plangenda: … muſt have ſorrow; either hereby attrition legall, and contrition evangelicall, or …reafter by deſtruction infernall. Eſtote tam proni ad lamenta, quàm fuiſtis ad pecca… Iſidor. Let us be as ready for repentance, as ever we have beene for diſobedience. … is too common for men to put farre away from them the evill day. Procul volunt …e, quod juxta eſt. They injuriouſly oppreſſe others, and luxuriouſly riot themſelves; …hy?qqLuk. 12.45.Luke 12:45 My Maſter deferres his comming. Quaſi tardè venturus ſit, qui nunquam … nuſquam ab eſt. As if it would be long before he be preſent, that is, in no place at … time abſent. Whereas the ſhadow doth not more diligently waite upon the bo…, than doth confuſion upon ſin. Therefore ſo live to day, as if thou wert not to …e to morow. Seeing for the wicked is prepared a hell, let us ſeeke for heaven. …orrupt nature prepared us all for the former, let holy grace prepare us for the o…er. It is ſaid of heaven, Imparatis clauditur janua, paratis patet: it is open to the pre…red, ſhut to the unprepared. The contrary is true of hell: to the prepared it is …ut, to the unprepared it is open. God ſhewed the Prophets many fearefull viſions, … their terrror, and aſtoniſhment; but withall he encouraged them, that the judge…ents ſhould light upon others, and he would deliver their ſoules.rrEz…. 12.18. Ezekiels quaking …d trembling was but for a ſigne: Iſraels ſhould be in ſenſe and anguiſh of heart. If …e tremble at theſe torments while the wicked laugh and are joviall; we ſhall put … our feare to them, laugh and bee merry when they tremble. As Daniel ſaid … that Monarch;ſſDan. 4.19.Dan 4:19 Let not the dreame trouble thee; the dreame ſhall be to them that hate …e, and the interpretation to thine enemies. Let our hearts repent and beleeve, and … not this terror trouble us: the terror be to the divells that hate God, and to the probates his enemies.ttPſal 1 32.18.Ps 1:32Ps 1:18 His enemies will I cloth with ſhame, but upon himſelfe ſhall his …owne flouriſh. For tormenting cares, we ſhall have flouriſhing Crownes, in the …mmunion of Saints and Angels.

The next queſtion is, what is Hell? It is that place where the Iuſtice of God …nfineth reprobates to their eternall puniſhments. The plagues thereof are inter…ll, externall, eternall. Internall, that conſiſts in a plenary deſertion of God; ſo …t they are continuall ſinners, and continuall ſufferers. Two contrarities being re…nciled in them; extreme preſumption, and extreme deſperation. Preſumption, … with bitter malice and curſt heart they ſhall perpetually blaſpheme, and ſinne a…inſt the Holy Ghoſt, Revel. 16.11. Deſperation, without all hope of merciemercy, or …itting one thought of peace. The one being a ſinne againſt Gods Iuſtice, the …her againſt his merciemercy. Externall, that conſiſts. 1. In a deprivation of all com…rt; that they doe feele, being not more bitter, than the thought of that they can…t feele, Chryſ. A privative cauſe hath a poſitive effect. Tully baniſhed from Ita… though it were into Greece, wept bitterly when he remembred Rome. Exiled p. 504Demoſthenes, though hee found much kindneſſe amongſt his enemies, yet wo…ld weepe when he looked towards Athens. The captive Iewes hung up their harpe…, when they remembred Sion. Another laments that Roma relinquenda eſt: but wh… he conſiders, Scithia eſt quo mittitur; burſts out into teares it is the moſt unhappy part of unhappineſſe, to remember former welfare. Dura ſatis miſeris mem… priſca bonorum. 2. In a ſenſible paſſion of univerſall anguiſh: as a brand in a gr… fire, no part free from burning. Eternall, not determinable with time, for th… Time ſhall be no more: everlaſtingneſſe ſhall make abſolute their ſorrowes: … arme may be weary of ſmiting, not Gods: it is fabled of Iupiter, that if he ſhou… ſpend his artillerie as faſt as men ſinne, Exiguo tempore inermis erit, his quiver wo… ſoone be empty: Vulcan could not make his thunderbolts faſt enough. But the d… ned are puniſhed in hell, ſo long as there is a God in heaven.