Works, Treatise 3

Works · Treatise 3

p. 1Tormenting TOPHET, Or, A terrible deſcription of Hell, able to breake the hardeſt heart, and cauſe it quake and tremble.

Eſay. 30. 33.

Tophet is prepared of old; it is euen prepared for the King▪ hee hath made it deepe and large: the burning thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord like a Riuer of Brimſtone doth kindle it.

ALbeit the LORD in the beginning created man in glorious manner, omnino ad imaginem ſui, ratione ſapientem, vita innocentem, dominio potentem, altogether after his owne moſt glorious Image, p. 2in purity, and in perfection of holineſſe both in ſoule and body, yet withall he gaue him naturam flexibilem, a mutable and changeable nature; creating him in poteſtate ſtandi, ſeu poſſe cadendi: in power of ſtanding, and in poſſibility of falling: power of ſtanding, that he had from God his Creator, poſſibility of falling, that he had from himſelfe, being a creature.

A reaſon whereof S. Auguſtine giuethAuguſtine. in his booke of Confeſsions: Becauſe the Lord created man ex nihilo, of nothing: therefore he left in man poſſibility to returne in nihilum, into nothing: if he obeyed not the will of his Maker.

And as Baſil ſaith, Si Deus dediſset Baſil.Adae naturam immutabilem, deos potius quàm homines condidiſset: id eſt, If God had giuen Adam an immutable, and vnchangeable nature, he had created a God, not a man: for this is a maine truth in Diuinity, immutabiliter eſſe bonum proprium ſolius eſt Dei: id est, to bee immutably, and vnchangeably good, only proper to God.

p. 3Adam therfore being thus created, that he might either ſtand or fall, by the Diuels ſubtill ſuggeſtion, and by the abuſe of his owne frée will receiued a double downe-fall, the fall of ſinne by diſobedience, and the fall of death by ſinne, the laſt fall, being the wages of the firſt fall, as ye may read Rom 6. laſt verſe: The wages of ſinne Rom. 6. 23.Rom 6:23is death.

The Lord therefore hauing pitty vponupon this his miſerable eſtate, vouchſafed in his Sonne to ſhew mercy vponupon ſome by election to ſaluation: as to ſhew iuſtice vponupon other ſome by reprobation to damnation.

According to which irreuocable decrée, the LORD hath prepared euen from the foundation of the earth, anſwerable places: a glorious habitation for the one, and a terrible dungeon for the other.

Which generall truth is confirmed in the words of my Text, hauing particular reference to the reprobat Aſſyrians. For, as the Lord in his mercy doth promiſe in this Chapter to his p. 4people repenting them of their ſins, manifold bleſſings, ſpirituall and corporall, temporall and eternall: ſo doth he threaten in his iuſtice terrible vengeance to their enemies, the Idolatrous Babylonians and Aſſyrians, not only temporall, but alſo eternall, not to the meane ſubiect alone, but to the King himſelfe; ſaying: Tophet is prepared of old, it is euen prepared for the King, &c.

Not to inſiſt therefore too long vponupon introductions, leſt it ſhould be ſaid to me, as once a flowting Cynick ſayd to the Citizens of Myndus, a little City with great gates: Shut your gates, leſt your City run out: I come to the Text it ſelfe, which containeth in it a terrible and lamentable deſcription of Hell, prepared of old, for the tormenting of all vngodly people of the world, of what eſtate or condition ſoeuer they be, euen for the King. For Tophet is prepared of old, it is euen prepared for the King, &c.

p. 5In which terrible Deſcription of Hell, I obſerue ſo many ſeuerals, as the Beaſt had heads in the Reu. 13. 1.Rev 13:1Reuelation, that muſt be tormented in her.

Firſt, the certainty of this place of torment: Tophet is prepared of old.

Secondly, the parties for whom: for all vngodly wretches: yea euen for the King: It is euen prepared for the King.

Thirdly, the impoſſibility of getting out, once in: He hath made it deepe.

Fourthly, the great number that ſhall be tormented in her: expreſſed in this word, Large.

Fiftly, the extremity and bitternes of the torments of Tophet: the burning thereof is fire.

Sixtly, the eternity and euerlaſtingneſſe of the torments of Tophet: much wood, ſo much, as ſhall neuer be waſted.

Seuenthly, the Authour or inflictor of theſe fearefull tortures: and p. 6that is the Lord offended: in theſe words, The breath of the Lord like a Riuer of brimſtone doth kindle it: wherein I note the ſeuerity of God againſt ſinne and ſinners.

The certainty of this place of tormentThe firſt part. is here deſcribed by thrée: by the Name, by the Act, by the Antiquity.

Firſt, by the Name: Tophet.

Secondly, by the Act: is prepared.

Thirdly, by the Antiquity: of old.

Tophet is prepared of old.

This Tophet was a valley neereTophet. vntounto Ieruſalem, iuxta piſcinam fullonis & agrum Acheldema, ad auſtrum Sion: that is, Neere to the Fullers poole and the field Acheldema, on the South ſide of Sion: Called alſo Gehinnom, the valley or dale of Hinnom: Quia locus iſte in praedio erat viri cuiuſdam Hinnom Aretius.dicti: Becauſe this place was in the poſſeſſion of a certaine man called Hinnom: as ſaith Aretius. In which place the Iewes (following the curſed example of the Ammoni…es) did ſacrifice their children in the fire to the Idoll Moloch, Quem pro Mercurio colebant: p. 7whom they worſhipped for Mercury, as ſaith Montanus: or rather, pro Saturn… Montan. in Eſay.colebant, for Saturne, as ſaith Scultetus: Quem Poetae proprios fingunt Scultet. in Eſay.deuoraſſe filios: whom the Poets fained to hauehave deuoured his owne Children.

This Moloch, was Idolumaereum, Scultet. in Eſay.concauum, paſſis brachijs, ad excipiendos infantes ſacro nefario deſtinatos, ſubiectis prunis torrendos: that is, A brazen Idol, hollow within, his hands ſpred abroad to receiue Infants, that were through their curſed Idolatry tortured in the fire, and ſacrificed to him, as writeth Scultetus. Snepfſius deſcribeth thisSnepfſius in Eſay. Idoll on this manner: Idoli ſtatua erat cuprea (ſic enim annotarunt Hebraei) porrigens brachia ad excipiendos pueros: that is, This Idoll was made of copper (ſo the Hebrewes hauehave obſerued) ſtretching forth his hands to receiue thoſe maſſacred children.

The Iewes more at large write ofDeſcriptio Molo…h. him, that he was of great ſtature, and hollow within, hauing ſeuen places or chambers within him: the firſt, to …eceu…e meale offered: the ſecond, duplicate page p. 8duplicate page p. 9duplicate page p. 10duplicate page p. 11p. 8Turtle Doues: the third, a Shéepe: the fourth, a Ramme: the fift, a Calfe: the ſixt, an Oxe: the ſeuenth, a Child: he was faced like a Calfe, imitating the idolatry of Egypt: his hands were euer ſtretched out to receiue bribes and gifts: his Prieſts were called Chemmarims, becauſe they were ſmoked with the incenſe offered to Idols, of whom ye may reade 2. King. 2. Ki. 23. 15.13. 5. Hoſ. 10. 5. Zephan. 1. 4.

This Tophet or valley of Hinnom was put downe by good King Ioſiah, and in contempt therof, dead carrions and the off-ſcowrings of Ieruſalem commanded to be caſt therein.

The Iewes report, that in Tophet there was a déepe ditch, which they callled Os inferni, the mouth of Hell, Ier. 7. 32.Jer 7:32which neuer could be filled: into which the Chaldeans hauing ſlaine the Iſraelites, threw them.

For the deriuation of this word, ſome think that it is deriued à Tophes lapidibus pretioſis in modum Punicis, inter quos …ntr…ebatur ignis: that is, Of the Topaze ſtone like the Pumicke, in p. 9which fire was nouriſhed: but this deriuation is farre fetcht and faulty.

But for moſt certaine, Tophet is Tophet …nd….deriued of that Hebrew Toph, quod tympanum ſonat: which ſignifieth a Tabret, or loud inſtrument: becauſe, when they ſacrificed their children to Moloch, they did tympana pulſare, ne exaudi P…. Eſai▪rent eiulatum liberorum qui comburebantur: id eſt, Smite vponupon the tabret, that they might not heare the lamentable ſcreeching of their children in the fire, as ſayth Piſcator.

So that by a certaine Simile, the Spirit of God doth here compare hellHow Tophet taken for hell. to Tophet: for as in Tophet there was lamentable ſcréeching of the children in the fire: ſo in hell there ſhall bee ſcréeching and ſcreaming, wéeping and wayling for euermore.

Hell hath many names in like reſpects: as it is called TARTAROS ofTARTARAS…. TAROSSO▪ to terrifie: becauſe of the terrors thereof.

It is called HA…ES of the prinitiueHA…ES. particle A… not to ſ… pl…ce without light: which expreſſ…th th… p. 10dolour of Hell: as ſayth Chytreus.Chytreus in. 20. …. Apoc. numero 7. de poenis impiorum. Auernus.

It is called Auernus: abſ que veratemperatura: without true temperature: for there the fréezing cold ſhall not mitigate the ſcorching heat, nor the ſcorching heat the freezing cold.

And here it is compared to Tophet, in regard of the terrible tortures, and pitious out-cryes of the condemned.

Ʋt per hortum voluptatis, Paradiſi Sim ….ſcilicet, ſedes beatorum figuratur: ita per hunc locum terroris, Tophet, ſcilicet, infernus deſcribitur: that is: As by the garden of pleaſure; namely, Paradiſe, the place of the bleſſed is figured: So by this place of terrour; namely, Tophet, the dungeon of hell is deſcribed.

From which fearefull Metaphor,Obſeru. we may iuſtly make this our obſeruation: namely, that Hell is a moſt lamentable and wofull place of torment, where (in regard of the extremity of torments impoſed vponupon the damned) there ſhall bee ſcréeching and ſcreaming, weeping, wayling, and gnaſhing of teeth for euermore: and this is Tophet.

p. 11Where torment ſhall be vponupon torment, each torment eaſeleſſe, endleſſe, remedileſſe; where the worme ſhall be immortall, cold intolerable, ſtinch indurable, fire vnquenchable, darkneſſe palpable, ſ…ourges of Diuels terrible, and ſcréeching and ſcreaming continually: and this is Hell.

In hell (ſaith S. Auſtine) there isAuguſt. vermis conſcientiae, ignitae lachrymae, and dolor ſine remedio: that is, The gnawing worme, the burning teares and ſorrow, that can neuer be eaſed▪

And againe, hee ſaith in his third Tom. de Spiritu & Anima: Ibi trit metus, Aug. 3. tom. de Spiritu & Anima▪& moeror: luctus … dolor: tunc verè nihil lugere erit niſi f…ere, quia poenitere tunc nulli poterit valere: ibi erit tortor c…dens, vermis corrodens, ignis conſumens: that is, In hell there is howling and horror, ſobbing and terror: where weeping helps not, and repentance boots not: where is paine killing, worme gnawing, and fire conſuming.

Vermis & tenebrae flagellū, frigus & ignis: Poeta Tertul. in Apologet.Daemonis aſpectus▪ ſcelerū, confuſio luctus.

Tertullian in Apologetico, ſpeaking of p. 12Hell, ſayth thus: Gehenna eſt ignis arc a… ni ſubterraneus ad poenam theſaurus: that is, Hell is a treaſure of ſecret fire kept vnderunder the earth to puniſh withall. The truth of this heauy report Diues with the reſidue of the damned, doe finde by wofull experience, who ſtill cryes out, I am tormented in this flame.

This is miſerable Tophet, prepared for all vngodly people of the world.

Vſe 1 The meditation of theſe torments ſhould breake our ſtony hearts in pieces, and ſtrike vsus into ſuch a diſmall dump, as was Baltazar, when he ſawDan. …. 5. the hand-writing on the wall againſt him: theſe ſhould bee an extractiue force and power, to drawe grones from our harts, teares from our eies, and ſins from our ſoules.

Grauia peccata grauia deſiderant lamenta:

Great ſins require great lamentations:

Swéet meat muſt hauehave ſowre ſawce: ſin muſt hauehave mourning, eyther here by attrition Legall, and contrition Euangelicall, or elſe hereafter wee ſhall be caſt into Tophet, where we ſhall lye ſcreaming and ſcreaming continually.

p. 13Plangite igitur plangenda: Bewaile Greg…r.your ſinnes therefore that ought to bee lamented. Eſtote tam proni ad lamenta, …odo.ſicut fuiſtis ad peccata: Be as prone to lamentation, as euer you were to tranſgreſsion, as prone to lament them, as euer ye were to commit them.

In a booke inſcribed De natura rerum, I reade of a Byrd called Auis Paradiſi: the Bird of Paradiſe: which is ſo called in regard of her ſplendid and excellent beauty: which Bird being taken in the ſnare of the Fowler, doth iugemiſcere ac lachrymare dies nocteſque: Lib. … na…. ….mourne and lament night and day, vntill ſhe be reſtored to liberty: So wee that were once Aues Paradiſi: Birds …of Paradiſe, but now captiuated in the thraldome of ſinne and Satan: and lyable to this tormenting Tophet, ſhould neuer ceaſe mourning and wayling, vntill wee bee reſtored …o Grace againe.

Bleſſed are you that hauehave grace thus to mourne, yee ſhall bee comforted: the Lord will wipe away, as …ll ſinnes from your ſoules, ſo all teares p. 14from your eyes in the Kingdome of ſaluation.

Vſe 2 Againe, the conſideration of this terrible Tophet ſhould cauſe vsus willingly to imbrace the counſell of the Pſalmiſt: To ſtand in awe and ſinne Pſal. 4. 4.Ps 4:4not: And worke in our hearts that feare ſpoken of in the Goſpell of Matthew, Feare him that is able to deſtroy Mat. 10. 28Matt 10:28both body and ſoule in hell: This terrible report ſhould ſtrike vsus into a threefold feare.

Feare to be depriued of the grace of God.

Feare to be excluded the louing preſence of God.

Feare to be tormented in the Lake vnquenchable.

It was the practice of an holy man,Exemplum. who ſaith: I feare him that is able to damne both body and ſoule: I tremble at Hell: I tremble at the Iudges countenance, which is able to make all the Angels and powers of Heauen to tremble: I tremble at the voyce of the Archangell: I tremble at the roaring deuils: I am afraid of the gnawing p. 15worne, the ſmoke, the vapour, the brimſtone, the darkneſſe▪ the burning: Ah wo is me that am the ſonne of bitterneſſe, indignation, and eternall wéeping.

This made Paul indeuour to keepeAct. 24. 16.Acts 24:16 a cleare conſcience both towards God and man.

This made Ierome afraid to offend: Whether I eate or drink (ſaith he) or whatſoeuer I do elſe, me thinks I heare this ſaying ſounding in mine eares, Ariſe yee dead, and come to Iudgement, Ariſe yee dead, and come to Iudgement: Which when I conſider, it makes mee quake and ſhake, and not dare to commit ſinne, which otherwiſe I ſhould hauehave committed.

And what is the cauſe (I pray) that wicked wretches runne into all exceſſe and ryot of ſinne as they doe? Is it not becauſe they lay not to heart this tormenting Tophet? witneſſe elſe the Prophet Amos, who ſaith: that they Amos 6▪ 3.Amos 6:3put off from them the euill day, and boldly approch to the ſeates of iniquity. If putting off the remembrance of p. 16the vengeance to come, wil make men diſſolute and wretchleſſe, then ſurely laying to heart the inutterable torments of Tophet, will bee a notable meane to reclaime men from all vngodlineſſe.

But if men wil harden their harts, aboue the hardneſſe of an Adamant, and wil not be moued, neither by mercies nor iudgement: let all ſuch know that Tophet groneth for them, where they ſhall howle and yell in fiery torments for euermore.

Thus much in a word for the word Tophet.

The ſecond obſeruable for the certainty of this place of torment, is the Act or thing done, in theſe words: Is Is prepared.prepared. Parata Tophet, non paranda: It is not ſayd, That Tophet ſhall bee hereafter prepared, or it is now preparing; but it is already prepared: Tophet is prepared.

The malicious diuell laboureth nothing more, then to perſwade men that there is no ſuch place of torment, that ſo the more eaſily hée may leade p. 17them thither, as the thiefe is led to executionSimile. with a vayle before his eyes. But for the truth hereof, let theſe things following duely be obſerued.

As a princely magnificence requirethSimile. that a King hauehave a beautifull Palace for the beſt ſort of men, and a diſmall priſon for the rebellious: So the King of kings hath a glorious Palace, wherein are many manſions for his Saints, and a dark and loathſome dungeon for the Diuell and his Angels.

The law of nations requireth that Malefactors for their offences bée baniſhed for euer: ſo the Lord doth baniſh from his gracious preſence all the vngodly of the earth into the fearfull Iland of hell.

The Cicilian Aetna, called at thisAetna. day, Gibello Monte, where roarings are heard, and flames of fire are ſéene: the flaſhing of Veſuuius; the cracking, as it were, of fire in a Furnace in the Marine Rocke of Barry▪ what doe all theſe preſage, but aſſure all theſe that feare the Lord (beſides his counſell reuealed p. 18in his word) that Tophet is already prepared.

Againe, in all things naturall and ſupernaturall, there is an oppoſition, there is a contrariety: there is good, there is euill: there is light, there is darknes: there is ioy, there is ſorrow: there is a Heauen, and therefore there muſt be a Hell, into which the ſoules of the reprobate ſhall bee carried when they dye, by the black & grifly angels.

Againe, the Scripture ſpeaketh eueryevery where of this place of torment: Whoſoeuer ſhall ſay, Foole, ſhall bee Mat. 5. 22.Matt 5:22worthy to be puniſhed with hell fire.

Againe, It is better for thee to goe Mar. 9. 43. 35. 47.Mark 9:43Mark 9:35Mark 9:47into the Kingdome of God, with one foot, with one hand, with one eye, then hauing two feet, two hands, and two eyes, to be caſt into Hell fire.

But that of the 25. of Mathew is very pregnant for this purpoſe, where the word it ſelfe is vſed: Goe from me Math. 25.Matt 25yee curſed, into euerlaſting fire: which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels.

This doctrine meeteth with all Atheiſts p. 19that ſay, There is no heauen,Refut. Atheiſt. Pſal. 14. 1.Ps 14:1 no hell, no God, no Diuell: As that noted foole that ſaid in his heart, There is no God.

With all Epicures, that think thereEpicure. is neither time nor place, either of heauen or hell after death: that ſung thatEſa. 22. 13.Isa 22:13 curſed Epitaph of Sardanapalus.

Ede, bibe, lude, charum praeſentibus explePoet.

Delitij… animum: poſt mortem nulla voluptas:

Eate, drinke, and bee merry; for after death there is no pleaſure: They ſay true, for after death they ſhal find ſmal pleaſure in Tophet.

This Doctrine conuinceth alſo allHeretike. heretikes that deny both Reſurrection and Iudgement, nineteene ſeuerall ſorts whereof are reckoned vp together all on a row by that learned writer Danaeus: the Appellites, Archontikes, Danaeus.Baſilidians, Bardeſaniſts, Caians, Carpocratians, Cerdonians, Heraclites, Hermaines, Marcites, Marcionites, Ophites, Proclians, Symonians, Saturninians, Sethians, Seuerians, Selucians, and Valentinians.

Ʋſe 1 p. 20Seeing then that Hell is already prepared, and ſtandeth ready to receiue to torment all that worke iniquity: ſéeing there is but a twine thred betwixt the ſoule of a ſinner, and this ſcorching flame: O how ſhould this prepare vsus for the Kingdome of Heauen! Paratis patet ianua, imparatis clauditur: that is ſayd for Heauen: The prepared Virgins enter in, the imprepared not.

Imparatis patet ianua, & paratis clauditur: and this is ſayd for Hell: The imprepared enter, the prepared not.

But, alas, the preſumptuous ſecurity of this our age: men liue as though there were no Hell: or if there be, as though it were afarre off, and yet notwithſtanding it followes them as neere as the ſhadow doth the body: Death and Hell both follow cloſe theR…. perſon of eueryevery ſinner, Death to deuoure the body, and Hell to ſwallow vp the ſoule.

Yet for all this, the wicked will ſport themſelues in their ſinnes, and …oniall be in their iniquities: but mark p. 21the end, Nouiſſima illarum eſt mors: the end of theſe wayes is death: as well noteth that iuſt and vpright man Iob: Iob 21. 12, 13.Job 21:12Job 21:13they reioyced in the ſound of Organs, and in a moment they goe downe into Tophet: they ſay, Peace, peace, when Tophet is prepared to take away their ſoules.

O that careleſſe people would conſider this: it would make them liue ſo preciſely, as though it were the laſt moment they had to liue: it would make them cry out in the terrours of their ſoules with the Iaylor, O, what Act. 16.Acts 16muſt I doe to be ſaued from the damnation of Tophet.

The third thing obſeruable for the certainty of this place of torment, is the antiquity of the ſame: Of olde.Of old.

Non caſu aut fortuna parara erat Tophet, ſed certo iudic…o omnipotentis definita: that is, Tophet was not caſually prepared, but in the determined counſell, and decreed purpoſe of God: not lately ſounded, but from the foundations of the earth, before man or Angell was created.

p. 22For Hels antiquity, I referre you to the ſecond of Peter, Chap. 2. verſ. 4. 2. Pet. 2. 4.2 Pet 2:4where it is ſayd: If GOD ſpared not the Angels that fell, but caſt them downe to hell. Now they could not be caſt into that which was not: therefore Hell was ordained before the fall of Angels: for the Lord (who beholdeth all things paſt, preſent, and to come; vno actu, vno ictu, ſimul, & ſemel, at one and the ſelfe-ſame preſent) foreſeeing what would become of Angels and Men, preordained anſwerable places: for thoſe whom he hath elected in Chriſt, Heauen hee hath treated of old: and for thoſe whom he hath left to glorifie his Iuſtice, Tophet is prepared of old

Where we plainely ſ…, that theNote. Lord ha… ▪ …ocabl… d…reed of the ſtate of Ang… and men, before all worlds, for Heauen and for Hell: a… there are but two wayes, ſo there are but two ends, Saluation and Damnation, Heauen and Hell.

Idle is the opinion of Rome concerningError Romae. their intermedia loca, middle p. 23places, twixt Heauen and Hell.

The peruerting Papiſt hath added to Tophet three ſubterreſtriall places more: Purgatory, Lymbus Infantum, Lymbus Patrum.

Purgatorie, for thoſe that dye inPurgatory their deniall ſinnes, and light tranſgreſſions: and for thoſe which hauehaveBell. l. 2. de Purgatorio. cap. 1. their ſinnes remitted, but not ſatiſfied for the puniſhment.

And they place this next to Tophet, where there is both poena damni, an… poena ſenſus, puniſhment of loſſe, a… puniſhment of feeling: this laſteth … euer, but for a time: for it ſh… diſſolued at the comming of C… iudgement.

Lymbus Infantum, wh… …hildrenLymbus Infantum. remaine, dying without Baptiſme.

And this they place next to Purgatory; where there is poena damni, but not ſenſus, the puniſhment of loſſe, but not of feeling: and this laſteth for euerlaſting.

Lymbus Patrum, where the FathersLymbus Patrum. were before Chriſts comming.

And this they place vppermoſt: p. 24where there was poena damni, but not ſenſus, the puniſhment of loſſe, but not of féeling: but this was diſſolued long agoe, by Chriſts deſcenſion into hell.

Thus you ſée how the pope by theſe his lyes and fopperies, thorowly proueth himſelfe the moſt deare child of the diuell, the Author & founder of allIoh. 8. 44.John 8:44 lies. But let eueryevery Chriſtian take this for an inalterable truth, that there is but Election and Reprobation, grace and ſin, the narrow gate, and the broad way: but two ends, Heauen and Hell; to one of theſe muſt all fleſh goe.

Athanaſius ſpeaking to this point,Atha…ſ…de …. Chriſt. ſayth: Impius in duas partes diſcerpitur, & vt ad duo loca diſcedat, condemnatur: that is, A wicked man is diſtracted in two parts, & condemned to two places, his body to the Graue, and his Soule to HADES, that is, to Hell.

Seeing then that the Lord hath prepared Tophet of old, and the Decree of God is gone out vponupon all fleſh, either for heauen or for hell: this ſhould haſten vsus carefully to worke out our ſaluation with feare and trembling, p. 25and to make ſure our Election: For what if we hauehave all the world, and be caſt into Tophet? what ſhall become of vsus? it had been better for vsus neuer to hauehave been borne.

Obſerue (I beſeech you) the carriage of the Apoſtles in the Goſpell, when they heard that one of them ſhould betray their Lord and Maſter CHRIST, and woe worth that party that ſhould doe that curſed act: it had been good for that party neuer to hauehave been borne: they were all amazed and aſtonied, and could not be at quiet, till they knew who ſhould do that damnable deed: they came therefore to our Sauiour, ſaying: Numquid ego, Domine? Mar. 14. 19Mark 14:19Is it I, Lord? Another, Is it I, Lord? So we hearing, that Hell is prepared of old, and the greateſt part of mankinde (as ſhall bee ſhewne hereafter) ſhall bee ſwallowed vp of her: Oh, this ſhould make vsus carefull, firſt, and aboue all things to ſeeke the KingdomeMat. 6.Matt 6 of God, and the righteouſneſſe thereof, that wee may ſee our ſelues in the number of thoſe l…w, whoſe p. 26names are written in the booke of Election, and not in the number of thoſe that ſhall be tormented in Tophet.

Let vsus reſolue with the Pſalmiſt,Pſal. 132. 3.Ps 132:3 not to ſuffer our eyes to ſléepe, nor our eye-lids to ſlumber, nor the temples of our head to take any reſt, till wee hauehave found the ſaluation of our God, our ſoules ſealed to the day of redemption, and freed from the damnation of Tophet. But where is this religious care and godly reſolution? O the diſſolute and deſperate courſe of this our ſinfull age! men put their ſaluation to a hazzard with Ludouike, Si Ludouic.ſaluabor, ſaluabor: Si damnabor, damnabor: that is, If I be ſaued, I be ſaued: If I be damned, I bee damned, there is the care that I take.

In the feare of God, I earneſtly beſeech you, aboue all things to make ſure your Election, and that by yourRom. 8.Rom 8 Vocation: your Vocation by your Iuſtification: your Iuſtification by your Sanctification, the reward wherof will be eternall Glorification.

Ioyne vertue with your Faith:…. Pet. 1. 5. p. 27with vertue, knowledge; with knowledge, temperance; with temperance, patience: with patience, godlineſſe; with godlineſſe, brotherly kindneſſe; and with brotherly kindneſſe, louelove: Labour hereby to make your Calling and Election ſure; for if yee doe theſe things, ye ſhall neuer fall into the vengeance of Tophet.

The ſecond part of this Text, areThe ſecond part. the parties for whom Tophet is prepared, and that is for all vngodly people of the world, of what eſtate or condition ſoeuer they be: It is euen prepared It is euen prepared for the King. 2. Re. 18. 30.for the King.

Theſe words in particular hauehave reference to blaſphemous Senacherib, who was flaine of his two ſonnes in a Temple of Nineueh, worſhipping his god Niſroſh: and in generall, it extendeth to all idolatrous Kings, Emperors and Superiors whatſoeuer.

Here then firſt we ſee, that no perſon,Obſeru. 1. in what dignity ſoeuer he be, by his eminent place, is exempted from Hell.

Diues, a great perſonage, yet tormentedLuke 10.Luke 10 p. 28in thoſe flames: Quid profuit Wiſd.ſibi ſuperbia? quid diuitiarū copia? What hath pride pronted him? or what hath the pompe of riches done him good? Alas, theſe could not ſaue his Soule: For (as ſayth the Pſalmiſt) a man byPſal. 4…. 67Ps 4:67 his riches cannot redéeme his brother, he cannot giuegive his ranſome to God: ſo precious is the redemption of ſoules, and their continuance for euer.

And in Samuel we read, That-kings are not exempted from the iudgments of God: If yee doe wickedly, yee ſhall 1. Sam. 12, 25.1 Sam 12:25periſh, and your King.

In the firſt Epiſtle to the Corinths, wee may read, who they are that are threatned with Tophet: neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers,1. Cor. 6. 9.1 Cor 6:9 nor wantons, nor theeues, nor couetous, nor drunkards, nor extortioners ſhall inherit the Kingdome of God: This is ſpoken of Kings, as well as of others. And in the Reu. wee finde,Reu. 21. ….Rev 21 that the fearefull and vnbeléeuing, the abominable, murtherers and whoremongers, and ſorcerers, Idolaters, and all lyers ſhall hauehave their part in p. 29the Lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone: and this is ſpoken of the King, as well as of the Btgger: for the Lord in iudgement fréeth from hell, not according to place, but grace: not outward condition, but inward diſpoſition.

Nay moreouer, great men, Noblemen, and mighty Princes, are not only lyable to Tophet, but the greateſt part of them ſhall to the diuell: Not many wiſe men, nor many mighty, not many noble are called: for as God1. Cor. 1. 2… 1. …. 2. ….1 Cor 1:2 would hauehave all men ſaned, and come to the knowledge of the truth. i. ſome of all ſorts, ſome Iewes, ſome Gentiles, ſome Kings, ſome Nobles, ſome Preachers, ſome Rich, ſome Poore: ſo of all theſe the greateſt ſumme goe downe to Tophet. Yet for all this, great men muſt not bée reprooued forſooth, the truth that maketh againſt them, muſt not be imbraced of them.

Abner could not abide to heare Iſboſheth 2. S…m. ….tell him of his going in …o Rizpah his father Sauls Concubiae

Ahab hated Micaiah the ſonne o… p. 30….Imlah for not propheſying (as he ſaid) good vntounto him.

The people cryed out in Eſayes time: Dicite nobis placentia, placentia: Eſay 30.Isa 30that is, ſpeake pleaſing things vntounto vsus.

The Prieſts and people of Anathoth let. 11. 21.threatned Ieremy to take away his life, if he propheſted to them in the name of the Lord.

Amaziah ſaid to Amos the Prophet:Amos 7. 12. 23.Amos 7:12Amos 7:23 Goe, bee gone, propheſie in Iudah: but propheſie no more in Bethel, for it is the Kings Chappell, and it is the Kings Court.

They hated him that rebuked in theAmos 5. 10Amos 5:10 gate, and abhorred him that ſpake vprightly.

The people in the time of Micah, likedMica. 2. 11. them well that propheſied to them of Wine and ſtrong Drinke. I pray God that the great Ones of this Land be not tainted with this corruption.

Well, for mine owne part, I had rather be ſtormed againſt for preaching Tophet to you here, then ye ſhould curſe mee in Tophet hereafter, for ſmoothing and flattering you.

p. 31Yet this reprehenſion of great men, I would wiſh it might be done in wiſdome and humility: which I beſeech Rom 12. ….Rom 12you, O King, by the tender mercies of God, reforme theſe and theſe things: for ſome in this caſe are indiſcréet and too too ſawcy, and rather exaſperate the hearts of their hearers againſt them, then winne them to the Lord by their exhortation.

Ʋſe. If then Kings and great men bee not exempted from Tophet, what ſhould this worke in them but obedience to that counſell of the Pſalmiſt, Bee wiſe now therefore, O yee Kings, Pſal. 2.Ps 2ſerue the Lord in feare? Looke vp to heauen, acknowledge your ſelues ſubiects to a greater.

As the Lord hath honoured Kings aboue others, ſo hee looketh for a greater returne of honour from them than from others: for where the Lord gineth much, there the Lord requireth the more.

Kings and Princes are the KéepersDeu. 17. 18Deut 17:18 of the two Tables of the Law of God: and to them is committed from God p. 32the gouernment both of Church and Common-wealth: they muſt therefore be carefull that the Word may runne very ſwiftly throughout eueryevery Angle of their Realmes: So ſhall God gainePſal. 147.Ps 147 an vniuerſall glory, and Kings themſelues a more fiable ſubiection.

Kings and Queenes are called nurſing Eſay 49. 23Isa 49:23Fathers, and nurſing Mothers: and al to commend vntounto them the care they ſhould hauehave of Gods glory, and the good of their people.

Ioſua was ſuch a Ruler, that remained Ioſ. 24. 1….Josh 24:1reſolute and conſtant in the worſhip of God to his liues end.

Dauid prepared a place for the Arke 1. Ch. 15. 1.of God, & was carefull for the Church of the Lord.

Iehoſhaphat, Ezechias and Ioſias 2. Ch. 17. …. ch. 29. 1, 2. ch. 34. 1, 2.were reformers of their Kingdomes, enemies to idolatry, and graciouſly defended the Word of God.

And bleſſed be God for our Kings moſt excellent Maieſty: who is maieſticall in his place: in religion zealous▪ in life vertuous: and in mercy aboundantly gracious: The Lord increaſe p. 33his graces in him: the Lord anoint him with the oyle of Holineſſe aboue his fellow Princes: and the Lord kéepe him from this terrible Tophet: and let all people that beare good will to this our Engliſh Sion, to this my Prayer ſay, Amen.

It is euen prepared for the King.

Secondly, wée may here perceiueObſeru. 2. Acts 10.Acts 10 with Peter; that verily there is no reſpect of perſons with God in iudgement: he iudgeth the rich as the poore; the father as the child; the maſter as the ſeruant; the King as the begger▪ as the Prophet Dauid ſayth, With righteouſnes ſhall he iudge the world, and the people with equity.

Though wickedneſſe among men, be Eccl. 3. 16.Eccl 3:16in the place of iudgement; yet the Lord our God will deale iuſtly

Though among men there is reſpect of perſons to be had, without which a confuſion would (and this is neceſſary to be vrged, for men are full of contempt, and too ſawcy with them of ſuperiour place and authority:) yet when all ſhall be ſummoned before the p. 34tribunall of God, the Lord will indifferently procéede to iudgement without any reſpect of perſons.

Vſe. And this ſhould not only pull down the haughty minds of the noble (who think for their greatneſſe here, it will bée eaſier for them hereafter than others:) but alſo this ſhould bee an vnalterable preſident to all Iudges of the world.

As they ſit in Gods place, ſo they ſhould imitate the Lord in iudgement: this ſhould make them obey the counſell of the Lord deliuered by the Prophet Dauid: Bee learned yee that are Pſal. 2.Ps 2Iudges of the earth.

O the care that Iehoſaphat tooke for iuſt and righteous iudgement! after he had made Iudges, and ſet them in eueryevery City of Iudah, hee gaue them this charge: Take heede what ye doe, 2. Ch. 19. 1, 6, 7.for yee execute not the iudgements of man, but the iudgements of the Lord, and the Lord will bee with you to preſerue you, if you doe iuſtly, but to confound you if you, doe vniuſtly: wherefore now let the feare of the Lord bee p. 35vponupon you, take heede and doe it: for there is no iniquity with our God, nor reſpect of perſons, nor receiuing of rewards.

O that this gracious counſell were entertain'd of the Iudges of this land; then wée ſhould not heare of ſo many complaints in our Land as we doe: then we ſhould not hauehave cauſe to complaine with the Prophet, That iudgement Eſay 59. 14Isa 59:14is turned backward, and iuſtice ſtandeth a farre off: that truth is gone, and equity no where to bee found: then we ſhould not hauehave ſo many begger'd by the Law, as dayly are: Law was neuer made to vndoe men, but to compell men to doe well: it was made to curb the vnruly, but not to begger the innocent: it is growne to this ſaying now a dayes, I had rather loſe it, being my right, then go to law for it; why, what is the cauſe? O becauſe of rack… fees, cloſe bribes, and the perpetuity of attendance.

Iudicate ſecundum iuſtitiam, Iudge, iudge, O ye ſonnes of men, according to righteouſneſſe: let your iudgement

p. 36be in veritate, in truth.

be in iudicio, in iudgement.

be in iuſtitia, in righteouſneſſe.

I pray God it may neuer be ſayd of our Iudges of England, as once was ſayd of the Iudges of Iſrael; The …ſay 57.Lord looked for iudgement, but behold oppreſsion: for righteouſnes, but behold a crying.

Let there not be found in a Land where the Goſpell dwelleth, ſuch Iudges1. King. 2. 11 Kgs 2:1 as were thoſe that killed innocent Nakoth.

Let none be like the ſonnes of Samuel, 1. Sam. 8. 3.1 Sam 8:3That turned aſide after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.

The duty of Iudges is notably ſet downe in Exod. 23. Thou ſhalt not receiue a falſe tale; Thou ſhalt not ouerthrow the truth for the multitudes ſake; Thou ſhalt not ouerthrow the right of the poore in his ſuite: Thou ſhalt keep thee from a falſe matter: Thou ſhalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wiſe, and peruerteth the words of the righteous.

p. 37And this charge is continued in Leuiticus: Leu. 29. 15Yee ſhall not doe vniuſtly in iudgement: Thou ſhalt not fauour the perſon of the poore, nor honour the perſon of the mighty, but thou ſhalt iudge thy neighbour iuſtly.

A Iudge muſt be Scientia potens, andJudi…is officium. Ʋirtute valens: i. Able in learning, and zealous in liuing: by the one, he ſhall diſcernere inter allegata, Diſcerne betwixt cauſes propounded: by the other, diſrumper… iniquitatem, without hinderance puniſh and confound all manner of iniquity.

In all your iudgements let theſe be… aymed at; the glory of God, the righting of wrong, the ſuppreſſion of euill, and the maintenance of truth.

Be zealous for the glory of our God; and let the good lawes that are, be duly and impartially executed.

It was a great commendation that was giuen to Selcucus Gouernour ofSelcucus. the Locretians, who hauing made this Law againſt whoredome, That whoſoeuer committed the act, ſhould loſe both his eyes: his ſonne being p. 38taken in the fact, was not pardoned, though the Citizens begged it earneſtly: but hee cauſed one of his ſonnes eyes to bee pulled out, and one of his owne eyes: So hee ſhewed himſelfe a mercifull Father, and a iuſt Iudge.

O that wee had the like Lawes againſt this and the like moſt odious offences, and that they were as ſtrictly executed: that many hereby may bee ſaued from Tophet.

The Lord guide that honorable aſſembly in Court of Parliament, that they may all ioyne with one voyce and ſpirit, for the baniſhing of Popery, the reforming of iniquitie, and maintaining and countenancing of the Word of Truth, and painfull Preachers of the ſame.

And you (my Honourable Lord) as you hauehave begunne well, in reforming many foule abuſes in this Citie, ſo in the zeale of the Lord, Proſper Pſal. 45.Ps 45with your glory: ride on with the Word of Truth, Meekeneſſe, and Righteouſneſſe, and your right hand p. 39ſhall teach you terrible things.

Thus am I bold to caſt in among you, the ſilly myte of my counſell, meerely of Chriſtian charitie, that ye may neuer taſte of the wofull damnation of Tophet.

The third part of the deſcription ofThe third part. He hath made it deepe. Tophet, is ſet downe in theſe words, He hath made it deepe.

Many from theſe words doe goe about to proue the locall place of Hell, concluding it to be below: as from the ſignification of Sheol alſo.

Sheol is taken for a Pit▪ or Graue, Sheol.or Hell: the ſtate of the dead, the place of the damned ſpirits.

In the Scriptures, ſometimes it is taken for the Graue, and ſometime for Hell: ſo is HADES alſo.

The Septuagint tranſlating the Hebrew into Greeke, and expreſſing there the ſenſe of Sheol, vſed HADES, both for the death of the body in the graue, and of the Soule in hell.

Mercer vponupon Geneſis ſaith, That Mercer in c. 37. Gen.the proper ſignification of Sheol, is to ſignifie all places vnderunder the earth, and p. 40not the pit or graue alone: whereupon it is eueryevery where oppoſed to heauen, which is higheſt of all.

Hell is called by the name of Abyſſus Abyſſus.in the Scriptures, which ſignifieth a deepe and vaſt gnife vnderunder the earth, a bottomleſſe pit: into which the diuelsLuke 8. Reu. 20.Luke 8Rev 20 feare to bee ſent: and where they are chained and bound when it pleaſeth God.

From which Abyſſus, there is an aſcent to the earth, no deſcent lower: Reu. 9. 2. and 11. 7. and 17. 8. and therfore helf ſuſpected to be beneath.

Becauſe Tophet is here ſayd to beNic. de Lyra in Eſai. profunda, deepe, Nicolaus de Lyra putat eſſe circa centrum terrae: Thinketh that it is about the centre of the earth.

The Apoſtles that preached to the Iewes, vſed the word Gehenna, from the Hebrewes, which they well vnderſtood: and Saint Iames writing to the Iewes, ſayth: The tongue is inflamed of Gehenna, of hell: but the reſt of them that preached to the Gentiles, vſed the word HADES, which name was knowne vntounto them, and they tooke it p. 41to be a place vnderunder the earth, where the wicked after this life were puniſhed.

Tartarus (which is vſed for hell) is Tartarus Heſiod. in …goma.ſo farre vnderunder the earth, as Heauen is aboue the earth, ſaith Heſiodus.

The Poet ſpeaking of it, ſayth, Tartarus ipſe bis patet in praeceps tantum: id eſt, Tartarus is twice as deep as Heauen is high.

The Rabbines hold hell to be below,Rab. Abr. in cap. 2. …o…e. as Rabbi Abraham ſaith: Sheol makom, &c. Sheol is a deepe place oppoſed to Heauen which is on high.

And Rabbi Leui ſaith, Sheol hi mattah, Rab. leu in cap. 26. …o&c. Sheol is abſolutely below, and is the centre.

The Scriptures alſo place hell below,Eſay 14. 9.Isa 14:9 Sheol beneath is moued for thee, to meete thee at thy comming.

Moſes calleth it the lower hell: Fire Deu 32. 2…Deut 32:2is kindled in my wrath, and ſhall burne vſus que ad infernum inferior…m, to the bottome of hell.

The Pſalmiſt calleth it a déepe pit: Let him caſt them into the fire, and into P…the deepe pits, that they ri…e nor▪ And … one…er place he calleth it, … ….….

… calleth it a B…ning Lake, in…. … … …on, which muſt needs …e ….

… on ſpeaketh of the depth of… ▪ this place ſaying; The gheſts of …n … in the depth of hell.

And againe, The way of Life is on … ▪… from hell beneath.

Thus it is manifeſt, that hell is beneath in the loweſt parts of the workmanſhip of God: But preciſely to ſay where, whether in the centre of the centre of the world, or in the ayre, or…. in the water, or vponupon the earth, it is … reuealed; neither is it néedfull for vsus to know: but ſurely it ſhal be in the moſt remote place from Heauen, which is in … about the earth; for the … of the righteous, when they are … from their bodies, doe pr… … … to the locall place of … ▪ and the ſoules of the … ar… conſtraine… to ſtay below … … …, where t…y … … ſhall be tormentes …or euermore.

p. 43But if a man be too curious in this point, I would wiſh him conferre with Socrates, who being aſked whatSocrates. was done in hell, ſaid: Hee neuer went thither, nor communed with any that came from thence: By which anſwere he derided the curioſity of the demander.

Euclides (as Maximus writeth) beingMaxim. …. 23. demanded of one what the gods did, and with what things they were beſt delighted, ſaid; As for other things I know not, but I am ſure of this, that they hate all curious perſons.

But this is not the thing wee ayme at in this depth of hell.

This word Deepe doth bewray vntounto…. vsus the impoſſibility of getting out, once in: for God hath made hell ſo deepe, as there is no hope of crawling out.

In inferno nulla redemptio: In hel there is no redemption: Therefore Infernus ….ab inferendo dictus, quia ita inferuatur & praecipitantur, vt nunquam …, that is, Hell is ſaid of calling in, fo… they ſhall bee ſo caſt downe, as they p. 44…hall neuer hauehave hope or power of craw…ing out.

Infern…s (ſaith Hugo) eſt profund… … ….…ine …undo: that is, A deepe without bottome. That party that had not on the Wedding garment, was not only caſt into hell, but hee was alſo bound hand and foot: and all to ſhew the impoſſibility of getting forth, once in: Bind him hand and foot, and caſt him Mat. 22. …Matt 22into vtter datkneſſe.

Now alas, if a man bee bound hand… and foot, and caſt into a Wel fiue thouſand fadomes déepe, what hope hath he of euer comming out? ſo hel is déep, and hee that is once tumbled in, ſhall neuer come forth more.

This is euident by the ſpeech of Dines▪ who ſaid, O Father Abraham, ſend …L…zarus, or ſome from the dead, that my brethren may not come into the like place of torment. What is the reaſon that Diues begged not for his owne paſſage from thence vntounto them, who was able to hauehave taught the d… lors of hell by wofull experience? O hee knew that that had beene bootleſſe, p. 45for hee ſaw ingentem hiatum, A great gulfe ſet betwixt Heauen and Hell, that made the paſſage impoſſible.

In earthly priſons and dungeons, a man by ſome or other meanes haply may get out: but hell is déepe, ſo déepe, as Heauen, Earth, and Hell can neuer helpe one poore ſoule forth.

Ʋſe. This then well conſidered, ſhould worke déepe humiliation in the ſoules of eueryevery of vsus, that ſo grace may receiue vsus, & not this Déep deuoure vsus.

One depth cryeth and calleth out for another: the depth of hell calleth to vsus for anſwerable humiliation: hee that will not bee humbled for his ſinnes heere, ſhall bee humbled and tumbled to the déepe of hell hereafter.

God giueth grace to the humble▪ yea the déeper thou art in the Law, the higher thou ſhalt be in the Goſpell▪ the déeper in hell, the higher in beauen: a bucket the déeper it goeth into… the well, the more water it bringeth vp with it: ſo the déeper a man is humbled for ſin, the more ſhall be his grace of ſaluation. Humble your ſelues there p. 46fore vnderunder the mighty hand of God▪ that yee may be all exalted in the day of Viſitation.

In this deep was the poore Publican, Luk. 18. 13Luke 18:13when in bitterneſſe of heart he vttered theſe words, Lord, be mercifull to me a ſinner: A ſinner by birth, a ſinner by life, a ſinner by thought, a ſinner by word, a ſinner by work, a ſinner by ſinnes of omiſſion, a ſinner by ſinnes of commiſſion, a ſinner before my conuerſion, a ſinner many thouſand times ſince my conuerſion: Lord be… mercifull to me, a lamentable ſinner.

Ʋſe. 2 Againe, ſeeing Hell is deepe, as once in, no hope of crawling out: Let Eſay. 56. 6.Isa 56:6vsus ſeeke the Lord while hee may bee found, and call vponupon him while hee is neere. Ecce nunc tempus acceptum: Be 1. Cor. 6. 2.1 Cor 6:2hold, now the accepted time, behold, now is the day of ſaluation.

This life is the time wherein we muſt worke out our ſaluation with it are and trembling, if after this life we will be freed from the deepe damnation of Tophet.

The irrationall creatures them p. 47ſelues are very carefull to take thier times and ſeaſons, as ſaith the Prophet, Ier, 8, 7. The Storke, the T… Crane and the Swallow obſerue … times and ſeaſons: there is a time when the Swallow is with vsus in England, and there is a time when he takes his leaue of vsus.

That ſilly creature in the … of the Prouerbs, gathereth in Summer, to maintaine the poore life of it in Winter: So ſhould we take our time: for after this life, there … neither place for pardon, nor time for repentance.

Yet for all this, golden Time is not reſpected, but men do …oſt off their repentance from day to day, till at the laſt they … into the depth of …

Yea, the time of Grace is … to many, they muſt hauehave … or a… delight to driue it … 'Tis death to many to all … ly vponupon the … of their …, but … a time, when they shall wiſh, that all their life had been spent at the hearing of Sermons and Prayer, duplicate page p. 48duplicate page p. 49duplicate page p. 50duplicate page p. 51duplicate page p. 52duplicate page p. 53duplicate page p. 54duplicate page p. 55p. 48as tedious as it ſéemeth to them now.

O the damned in hell would giuegive (if it were in their power) a million of worlds to hauehave but one houre grantedTempus gratia negligere, eſt abſolute anima perdere. them to liue on the earth againe, that ſo they may come within compaſſe of offered grace to ſaluation. But if yée will not heare the Lord when hee calleth to you, there wil come a day when ye ſhall cry, Lord, Lord, and his eares ſhall bée ſhut to your prayers, and his Iuſtice ſhall caſt you into the déep dungeon of Tophet, there to remaine, till Mat. …. 26.ye hauehave payed the vttermoſt farthing.

The fourth part of the DeſcriptionThe 4. part And large. of Tophet, mentioned in this word, Large.

As the Lord hath made hell Deepe, ſo hath he made it Large, in regard of the great number that ſhall be tormentedOecolam. in Eſay. Obſer…. Eſay …. 14 in her, as ſaith Oecolampadius.

This word is vſed in the fift Chapter of this Propheſie, Hell hath inlarged her ſelfe, and hath opened her mouth without meaſure: It hath ſet open her mouth, as it were with a gag, and all to receiue the great multitudes p. 49that ſhall diſcend into her.

It is called Lacut magnus in the Reuelation, 14. 9. A great Lake.

That this doctrine is too true, witneſſe that of the Goſpell of Mat. 20. 16. Multi vocati: Many are called, but few conuerted: Many called, but few choſen.

The moſt High made this world for 4. Eſd. 8. 1.many, but the world to come for very fewe.

Obiect. But ſome man may obiect againſt theſe Scriptures other Scriptures, to proue the great number of them that ſhall be ſaued, and ſo by conſequence, the ſmall number that ſhal be tormented in Tophet.

Saint Mathew ſaith, That many Math. 8. 11Matt 8:11ſhall come from the Eaſt, and from the Weſt, and ſhall ſit downe with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob in the Kingdome of God: many, an innumerable company, ſhall be ſaued.

Saint Iohn in Reuelat. 7. 9. doth point out that great number that ſhall be ſaued, with that nota ſtellifera, that ſtarry note. Behold, I ſaw a great multitude p. 50of all Nations▪ and … and People▪ … tongues, … before th… Throne, and … the Lamb… ▪ …loth… in long whe… …, and … ▪ … … …: … whi… … … w… of …y, and … i… th…i… … in … of …

It may ſéeme by theſe … that …any ſhall …e …, and no… … a multitude damned.

I … that though the n…mber… of the Elect …e great, by … …lfe conſidered (to … praiſe of … mercy be it …) yet if it bee … to the number of thoſe that … … … Gods … … Alas▪ …hen … re… … … … …he… are … a handfull, and t… hell will be made e…éedi…g …

…his great …eſtruction of … in hel…, is liuelily ſhad… … to vsus in the iudgements of God on … … with mercy▪ as in the … of the old world … … holy … … there aliue? only N… … … …… … … … … the deſtruction of … by … how few …ſ…aped p. 51there aliue? onelyonly Lot with his daughters: in the deſtruction of Iericho by the ſword; how few eſcaped there aliue? only Rahab with her family, thatIoſ. 6. 22.Josh 6:22 intertained the Iſraeliticall Spies. To come to later times, in the deſtruction of Ieruſalem by Titus Veſpaſian, how few eſcaped there aliue? Many hundred thouſands of them were ſtarued to death, many hundred thouſands of them taken captiues to the Roman Empire, ſome put to one death, ſome to another, and few eſcaped aliue, and thoſe of the meaner ſort, agricolae & vinitores: Husbandmen, and labourers in Vineyards.

If (beloued) in the iudgements of God in this world ſo few hauehave eſcaped aliue, how few (thinke you) ſhall ſcape at the dreadfull day of iudgemēt, when of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall Mat. 12. 36Matt 12:36ſpeake, a great account muſt bee made for the ſame? yea, when InquiſitionW…d. 1. 9. ſhall bee made for the very thoughts of the vngodly: If the Iuſt ſhall ſcarce bee ſaued, where ſhall the ſinner appeare? Againe, that great is the number of p. 52thoſe that ſhall to Tophet, and therefore Tophet made large to giuegive them fiery intertainment, it appeareth in the very liues of men vponupon earth: for, where there is one that commeth to the profeſſion of the truth, truly with the ſincere heart of Nathaniel: thereIoh▪ 1…John 1 are ten, yea twenty, yea more, that walke in the way of ſinne, in the road to Tophet, without any check of conſcience, remorce for their ſinnes, or reclamation from their ſinfull courſes in the world, ſome in the way of Atheiſme, ſome in Paganiſme, ſome in Epicuriſme, ſome in Browniſme, ſome in Anabaptiſme, ſome in Mahometiſm, ſome in Papiſme, yea ſome in Diueliſme: a matter with many teares to be lamented.

But wouldſt thou not be with this… large company in this large place of torment: O then follow not a multitude to doe euill▪ Reuel. 18. 4. Come out from amongſt them: for if thou beeſt partaker with them in their ſinnes, thou muſt be partaker with th… in their puniſhments: Faſhion not thy ſelfe after p. 53the wicked faſhion of this world: rather walke alone by thy ſelfe to heauen, than goe with the multitude to hell: Walke in the narrow way of grace to ſaluation, ſhun the broad and large way; for that will bring thée to Tophet, which (as thou heareſt) is made excéeding déepe and large.

The fift part of the deſcription ofThe fift part. The burning therof is fire. hell in theſe words, The burning therof is fire: expreſſing the bitterneſſe of the torments of Tophet. There is great controuerſie among the learned about this fire. Whether it be trueAn in inferno ignis. ſubſtantiall fire, or fire allegoricall? if it be true fire, whether it be materiall, corporall, or ſpirituall?

If it be Corporall, whether it burneth the body only, or ſoule and body alſo?

Whether there be true fire in hell?Quaeſtio 1. or whether theſe words (the burning thereof is fire) bee taken allegorically?

Caluin would hauehave it taken allegorically;Caluin. in Eſai. and thinks there is no true fire in hell.

p. 54His reaſon is this, If Wood and the Worme be taken metaphorically, why not then the fire alſo?

But this is no argument to proue… … … this fire allegoricall: For in the holy Scriptures, things ſpoken together are not alway taken in the ſame manner and nature: For example ſake; CHRIST is called a Dore, a Vine, a Rocke, a Stone, figuratiuely: and doth it therefore follow, that hee was not God and Man ſubſtancially?

Againe, in S. Lukes Goſpell, ourLuk… Sauiour ſaith, I appoint you a Kingdome, as my Father hath appointed to me, that ye may eate and drinke at my Table in my Kingdome: Eating is allegoricall: but will you ſay that the Kingdome is allegoricall alſo?

I confeſſe that wood in hell is taken allegorically, but that fire is taken ſo, I vtterly deny.

Bullinger holdeth true and ſubſtantiall … in …fire in hell: and ſo do the moſt and beſt of the learned.

Chriſt puniſhed with fire in this world, Sodome: and the M…murers p. 55G…. …9.in the Booke of Numbers▪ Chap…r… Numb. 1….Num 1and called th… name of that place Th… … becauſe the fire of the Lord burnt amongſt them.

And Chriſt ſhall come to iudgementEſay. … with Fire: which ſhall hauehave two properties▪

To burne: this propertie ſhall puniſh…. … … th… wicked: to ſhine… this property ſhall comfort the Saints, as faith Theodoret.

And what ſhall hinder the being of fire in hell, when the extremity of tortures ſhall bee put vponupon the damned? he that will not beleeue this, ſhall one day ſeele it to his ſorrow.

If then it bee granted that there is ſubſtantiall fire in hell, the next queſtion will be, Whether it …ee Materiall, Quaeſt. ….Corporall or Spirituall?

Surely Materiall fire, that is, fire… …. … nouriſhed and maintained with wood, it ſhall not be: for as the flaſhings of Aetna and Veſ…ius, and other places of the earth do burne without fuell▪ ſo ſhall the fire of hell do… …e that is able to make the damned … … … p. 56is able to maintaine this fire without wood.

Whether then it bee Corporall, or Spirituall, (for if it bee Subſtantiall, it muſt be one of theſe) Gregory calls itGregory. Ignem incorporeum, a Spirituall fire, but that is not likely, for it paſſeth the nature of fire to be Spirituall: and to goe about to make it Spirituall, is to make it no fire at all.

But it is moſt probable, that it is, and ſhall be, a Corporall fire, with an extraordinary afflicting power, giuen vntounto it, tormenting both Soule and body.

Saint Auguſtine affirmeth the fire… of hell to be Corporall.

If it bee Corporall, whether it tormentethQ… the body only, or both Soule and body: and how a Corporall fire ſhould worke vponupon a Spirituall ſubſtance.

Saint Bernard ſayth, that Ignis exteriùs … d… … domo. …. 38.carnem combur…, vermis inter…ùs conſcientiam corrodet: id eſt, Fire ſhall outwardly burn thy fleſh, and a worme ſhall inwardly gnaw thy conſcience.

p. 57Againe he ſaith, Duo mala ſunt vermis Idem part. ſer. 16.& ignis, altero roditur conſcientia, altero concremantur corpora: that is, the worme & fire are two inſufferable torments: by the one, the ſoule is vexed, by the other, the body ſcorched.

Againe he ſaith: In earne cruciabuntur Idem meditat. 4. cap.per ignem, in ſpiritu per conſcientiae vermem: that is, in the fleſh they ſhal be tormented by fire, and in the Spirit by the worme of conſcience.

Iſodore ſaith, that there is duplex Iſodor. de ſummo bono. l. 1. c. 31.poena damnatorum, quorum mentem vrit triſtitia, & corpus flamma: that is, Their minds burne with ſorrow, and their bodies with the flame.

Beda ſaith, Ignis erit poena extrinſecus Bed. l. 3. in ca. 9. Ma….ſauiens, vermis dolor, interiùs accuſans: that is, The fire ſhall be a torment outwardly raging, and the worme a griefe inwardly accuſing.

Though theſe maintaine fire in Hell, yet they hold (as you ſee) that it is not of power to touch the ſoule▪ but only to torture the body: but … …m perſwaded according to the iudgemēt of many learned Fathers, That this p. 58fire tormenteth both body and Soule.

Zanchy de Operibus Dei, ſaith, That … O… … 1. … 19.the diuels, mens bodies and ſoules are tormented with fire euerlaſting. For as they were (as Simeon and Leui) brethren in the ſame euil, ſo both of them ſhall be tormented in the ſame fire.

Iuſtine Martyr ſaith, That the diuell Iuſt. Mar…. … … 1. … ….ſhall ſuffer puniſhment and vengeance encloſed in euerlaſting fire: and they are no bodies, but ſpirits.

The truth of this is ratified by Chriſt himſelfe: Goe from me, ye curſed, Mat. 25. 41Matt 25:41into euerlaſting fire, prepared for the diuell and his angels.

And the ſpéech of Diues prooueth this moſt true: for it is no Parable, but Hiſtory (as Chryſoſtome ſayth)Chryſ…ſt. Parabol… ſunt vbi exemplum ponitur, tacentur nomina: that is, Thoſe are Parables, where an example is propounded, and no names mentioned: he crieth out, and ſhall for euerlaſting, I am tormented Luk. 16▪ 24Luke 16:24in this flame.

And if a man will not beléeue this, I make bold to vſe againſt him, the words of Ruffinus, who ſaith, Si quis p. 59R…ffinus.negat diabolum aeternis ignibus mancipandum, partem cum ipſo aeterni ignis acc…piet, vt ſentiat quod negauit: that is, If any man doth deny that the Diuell is tormented with euerlaſting fire, hee ſhall one day bee partaker with him of that fire, that hee may feele that which hee would not be brought to beleeue.

But how this Corporall fire ſhall torment the diuels and the ſpirits of the damned, I know not, and I truſt neuer to know, and it is but curioſity to be too too inquiſitiue in theſe points: for as a Father ſayth, Melius eſt dubitare Auguſtine.de occultis, quàm litigare de incertes: viz. It is better to doubt of vnknowne things, then to ſtriue for vncertaine.

Compeſ…at igitur ſe humana temeritas, & id quod non eſt, non quaerat, ne illius quod eſt non inueniat: that is, Let no man raſhly meddle about thoſe thing… that are not reuealed, leſt hee findeth not the good of thoſe things that are reuealed.

It beeing probable that there is in hell a Subſtantiall and Corporall fire, that vexeth both the ſoules and bodies p. 60of the damned, let vsus now ſée the difference of this fire from our elementall fire.

This fire of hell differeth from ourIgnis inferni medium differt ab … lementari. elementall fire, in fiue reſpects.

Firſt, In regard of heate: Our fire in regard of hel fire, is but as fire painted on a wall, in regard of our fire.

Oh, it is fierce and an intolerable fire.

We reade of one, who (vponupon the violenceExemplum. of any ſtrong temptation) would lay his hands on burning coales, and beeing not able to endure the ſame, would ſay to himſelf: O! how ſhal I be able to indure the paines of Hell fire?

The fire into which Sydrach, Miſach Dan. 3. 21.Dan 3:21and Abednego were caſt, was excéeding fearfull: but alas, nothing to hell fire.

Eſay ſpeaking of this terrible fire, ſaith: Who is able to dwell in this deuouring Eſa. 33. 14.Isa 33:14fire? or, who ſhall bee able to dwell in theſe euerlaſting burnings?

Secondly, In regard of light, our fire giueth a comfortable light, but the fire of hell giueth no light.

p. 61Cremationem habet, lumen verò non Greg. Moral. l. 9. c. 46habet, (ſaith Gregory:) It burneth, but giueth no light at all.

It is a darkiſh fire (ſaith Baſil) that Baſil. in Pſa. 33.Ps 33hath loſt his brightneſſe, but kept his burning.

Phauourinus in verbo foreign ſaith: Hades Phauor. in verb. hades.is a place voyd of light, and full of eternall darkneſſe.

Sophocles cals it foreign: blacke Sophoc. in Oedipo.darkneſſe.

Euripides cals it foreign: the Eurip. in Ariſtide.houſe without Sunne-light.

Theognis cals it foreign: the Theognidis gnome.blacke gates.

Euſtathius ſaith, foreign:Euſtath. in 1. I…ad…s. Hell is a darke place vnderunder the earth.

The darkneſſe of Aegypt was wonderfullExo. 10. 21Exod 10:21 and fearefull: Wonderfull, becauſe it was ſo thicke as it might bee felt: Fearefull, and therefore made the ninth plague of Pharao: yet that darkneſſe was nothing to the darkneſſe of hell, which is called the Black darkneſſe.Iude 13.Jude 1:13

The Poets, in regard of the darkneſſe thereof, do compare hell to a certaine duplicate page p. 60duplicate page p. 61p. 62territory in Italy, betwixt Baiae and Cumae, where the Cimerij inhabit: ſo inuironed with hils, that the Sunne neuer commeth to it: wherevpon this Prouerb commeth: Cimeris Cimerae ten…brae.tenebris atrior, Darker then the darkeneſſe of Cimeria. Whoſoeuer hee be, that loueth darkneſſe more then light, ſhall hauehave his heart full of darkneſſe in Tophet.

Thirdly, Our elementall fire burneth the body only, but the fire of hell burneth both ſoule and body, as yee hauehave heard at large.

Fourthly, Our elementall fire conſumeth that which is caſt into it: but the fire of hell doth alway burne, and neuer conſume.

Fiftly, Our elementall fire may be quenched, but hell fire can neuer bee quenched: The chaffe will hee burne Mat. 3.Matt 3with vnquenchable fire: their worme ſhall neuer dye, their fire ſhall neuer Eſay …6.Isa 6goe out.

As there is nothing that maintaineth it, ſo there is nothing that can extinguiſh it.

p. 63From all this we may obſerue theObſeruatio. extremity & bitternes of the torments of Tophet: Yea, minima poena inferni Tho. Aquia.maior eſt maxima poena huius mundi: that is, The leaſt torture in hell, is greater than the greateſt torture that euer was deuiſed vponupon the earth. That Hellhound that murthered the King of France, had as heauy a puniſhment as this world could affoord: for his arme that did that curſed act, was taken from his ſhoulder, his nailes pulled from his hands and féet, his fleſh piece by piece pulled from him with hot burning pincers, and in the end rent in pieces with foure horſes: all this is nothing to y^e leaſt torment of Tophet.

Chryſoſtome ad populum Antiochenum, Chryſaſt a… po…. Ar…ch. … 49.ſaith, That fire and ſword and wilde beaſts, or any thing more grieuous than theſe, are ſcant a ſhadow to the torments of hell.

And this bitter torment ſlandeth in theſe two: In poena damni: that is, In the puniſhment of loſſe: and in p…n… ſenſus: that is, in the puniſhment of feeling: the former wherof is the greateſt p. 64(as ſayth Saint Chryſoſtome) this poena damni, this puniſhment of loſſe is more bitter then the paines of hell, yea, worſe then a thouſand hels▪

This poena damni, though it be a priuatiuePoe…a damni. puniſhment, yet it hath a poſitiue effect: For, to be depriued of ioy, cannot but bring intolerable ſorrow: euen as the abſence of the Sunne cauſethSimile darkneſſe, ſo the want of Gods preſence bringeth inexpreſſible griefe.

When the Arke of God was taken by the Philiſtims, old Eli, with griefe, 1. Sa. 4. 18.1 Sam 4:18fell backward and died.

Demoſthenes tooke his baniſhment… ▪ in vito Demoſthe…is ſo heauily, that many times he would weep bitterly when he looked towards Athens, though he found much kindeneſſe at the hands of his enemies.

Tully, when he was baniſhed from Italy, though he were in Greece, yet hee wept bitterly when he looked towards Italy.

Abſolon tooke his baniſhment from … 14. 22his fathers preſence very grieuouſly.

If theſe exiles breed ſuch ſorrow, how fearefull will it be to be baniſhed p. 65from the preſence of the Lord! Who is 2. Cor. 1. 3.2 Cor 1:3the Father of mercies, and God of all conſolation: in whoſe preſence is ioy, in whoſe pleaſure is life: to bée baniſhed from the preſence and louing countenance of the Lambe: from the fellowſhip of Saints and Angels: from all ioyes and felicitie, with thatMar. 25. bitter ſentence, Goe from me, yee curſed, into euerlaſting fire, prepared for the Diuell and his angels. Goe from me: theſe are words of ſeparation & ye curſed: theſe are words of obiurgation: into euerlaſting fire: theſe are words of deſolation: prepared for the diuell and his angels: theſe are words of dolefull exemplification.

This is the greateſt part of the ſecond death: for as the firſt death ſeparateth the ſoule from the body, ſo the ſecond death ſeparates ſoule and body from the preſence of the Lord for euermore.

Oh what weeping and wailing will Luke 13.Luke 13there be, when yee ſhall ſee Abraham, Iſaac, & Iacob intertained into the Kingdome of God, & ye your ſelues ſhut out!

p. 66He therefore ſpake truly that ſaid, The teares of hell are not ſufficient to bewayle the loſſes of heauen.

Infoeliciſſimum genus infortuni…, meminiſſe fuiſſe foelicem: that is, it is the vnhappieſt thing of all, to thinke that euer we were happy.

Dura ſatis miſeris memoratio priſca bonorum:

Poeta.It is miſery enough, and though there were no more miſery, to remember the ioyes we hauehave loſt.

As the old man in the Poet ſayd, I. Terent.hauehave a ſonne, nay, alas, I had a ſonne: ſo the damned may ſay: We hauehave a heauen, nay, alas, we had a heauen.

Lyſimachus King of Macedonia, Lyſimach.warring againſt the Scythians, béeing inforced by extreme thirſt, to yéeld himſelf into the hands of his enemies, after he had drunke cold water, brake out into theſe lamentable words: Good God, for how ſhort a pleaſure, how great a Kingdome hauehave I loſt? So the damned ſoule may ſay, Good God, for how ſhort a time of pleaſure, how great a Kingdome hauehave I loſt?

And ſurely this is iuſt with God, p. 67that thoſe that ſeparate themſelues from him here, ſhould bee baniſhed from him hereafter: That thoſe that hate the Saints here, ſhould be debarred their company hereafter: that thoſe that crucifie the Lambe here, ſhould bee curſed of the Lambe euerlaſtingly hereafter.

The ſecond thing that maketh Hell torments ſo bitter and intolerable, is poena ſenſus: the puniſhment of feeling. Poena ſenſus.EueryEvery member of body, and eueryevery faculty of ſoule, together tormented for euer.

The eye afflicted with darkneſſe, the eare with horrible and hideous out-cries, the noſe with poyſonous and ſtinking ſauors, the tongue with gally bitterneſſe, the whole body with intolerable fire: a fire that ſhall burne ſo violently, that the damned ſhal prize a drop of water aboue tenne thouſand worlds.

The faculties of the ſoule alſo ſhall bee moſt pitiouſly tormented: the memory with pleaſures paſt: the apprehenſion with paines preſent: the vnderſtanding p. 68with ieies loſt: and in this faculty ſhal lie the worm of conſcienceMiſ…ria reproborum maxima. gnawing, which the Scriptures ſo often threaten to ſinners: this worme is a continuall repentance and ſorrow full of rage and deſperation, by reaſon of their ſinnes: and this worme or remorſe ſhall chiefly conſiſt in bringing to their minds the meanes and cauſes of their preſent calamities: how eaſily they might hauehave béen fréed from hel, and how often they hauehave béen inuited to Heauen, and they would none, but now when they would, they cannot. And this worme biteth and gnaweth on the bowels of theſe miſerable men for euermore.

The will alſo ſhall be moſt grieuouſly tormented with a furious malice againſt God, and againſt the Elect. And in this their curſed eſtate, they ſhal recurſe, curſe God againe, becauſe hee made them, and making them, adiudged them to death, and dying, they can neuer finde death: they ſhall curſe his puniſhments, becauſe hee puniſheth them ſo vehemently: they ſhall curſe p. 69his benignities, becauſe they are ſawced with contrary ſeuerities: they ſhal curſe Chriſts bloud ſhedde vponupon the Croſſe, becauſe it hath bin auaileable to ſaue thouſands, and nothing auailable to ſaue them: they ſhall curſe the Angels in Heauen, and the Saints in bliſſe, becauſe they ſhall ſée them in ioy and themſelues in torment: curſings ſhall be their Hymnes, and howlings their Tunes: blaſphemy ſhall be their Ditties, and lachrymae their notes: lamentations ſhall be their Songs, and ſcriching their ſtraines: theſe ſhall be their euening & morning, yea, mourning ſongs: Moab ſhall cry againſt Moab: father againſt child, and child againſt father that euer he begate him: Vae, vae, vae, Reu. 8. Vae prae amaritudine, vae prae multitudine, vae prae aeternitate poenarum: id eſt, Woe in regard of the Bitterneſſe, wo in regard of the Multitude, and woe in regard of the Euerlaſtingnes of the torments of Tophet.

Now therefore I may truely ſay of all the damned crue, as our Sauiour ſayd of Iudas, It had beene good p. 70Mat. 26 24Matt 26:24for him if he had neuer been borne. So it had béen good for the damned, if they had neuer béen borne: or if they muſt néeds hauehave a being, they had bin toads or ſerpents, that ſo they might neuer hauehave knowne theſe vnſpeakable ſorrowes of Tophet.

I cannot but muſe at a company of wicked hel-hounds, that will vſe theſe execrable words: Would I were damned if euer I knew of this or that: God damne me body and ſoule, if I do it not. Alas, alas, full little do theſe wretches know, what it is to bee damned: if they did vnderſtand aright, they would be hangd vp before they would vſe theſe fearefull ſpeeches: vnleſſe they meant with the moth-ſlye, neuer to be at quiet, till they hauehave …lipt their wings in thoſe flames.

I therefore conclude this part withPro… … … … alib. 3. …. 12. the admonition of Proſper, who wiſheth all men to thinke, how great an euill it is to be excluded the preſence of God, to be baniſhed from Heauen, and caſt into euerlaſting fire with the diuell and his angels, to ſee no light, but feele p. 71exceſſiue heate, to bee drowned in the deep Lake of Gehenna, & to be eternally torne with moſt greedy worms: To thinke on theſe things (ſaith hee) is a ſure way to renounce all vice whatſoeuer: and hée that will not be brought to lay to heart theſe, I leaue him to féele the ſmart of them for euerlaſting.

The ſixt part of the deſcription ofThe ſixt part. And much wood. Obſeru. Tophet, is ſet downe in theſe words, Much wood.

Wherein is noted the eternitie of the torments of Tophet.

The Perpetuity of theſe torments is eueryevery where mentioned in the book of God.

The Prophet Daniel ſpeaking of the condemnation of the wicked, addeth perpetuity to their ſhame: ſaying, Some ſhall awake to perpetuall ſhame Dan. 12. 2.Dan 12:2and contempt.

S. Marke, ſpeaking of the vexing worm, addeth perpetuity to the gnawing of it: their worme neuer dyeth.Mar. 9. 24.Mark 9:24

S. Paul addeth to the perdition of the wicked, perpetuity alſo: Their Perdition is euerlaſting, 2. Theſ. 1. 9. p. 72Saint Iude addeth the like, That they Iude.ſuffer eternall fire.

And Saint Iohn doth adde vntounto theReu. 20. 10Rev 20:10 lake, perpetuity: The diuell was caſt into the lake, where he ſhall be tormented day and night for euermore.

Thus we ſée that the torments of hell are infinite, ratione ſinis: without Reu. 9. 6.Rev 9:6end: and though they ſéeke death, yet finde it they ſhall neuer.

Thus ſhall they be like a man thatSimile. is to bee preſſed to death, who calleth for more weight, more weight to diſpatch him of his paine: but alas, hee muſt not hauehave it: So in hell they ſhall cry for death, and goe without it.

As the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh of Gods mercy, That his mercy endureth for euer; Pſa. 136.Ps 136ſo the damned may ſay of his Iuſtice, that his iuſtice endureth for euer.

There were ſome comfort to the damned ſoules, if theſe their torments might hauehave end; but that ſhal neuer be: that is that that breaketh the hearts of the damned: no torment in hell comparable to this of perpetuity: what, neuer hauehave end, neuer? O this is ſuch a torment, p. 73that the damned themſelues are not able to expreſſe.

It is a common ſaying: But for Adagium.hope the heart would burſt; but they are ſhut out of all hope: and therefore who can expreſſe their torments?

O (ſaith a heathen man) God ſhall once giuegive an end to theſe euils: but the damned ſhall neuer be able to ſay this. For (as Gregory ſaith) Mors miſeris Gregory.fit ſine morte: finis ſine fine: defectus ſine defectu: quoniam mors ſemper viuit, & finis ſemper incipit, & defectus deficere neſ cit: that is, The death of the damned is ſuch as ſhall neuer dye; their end ſhall neuer end; and their deſtruction, a perpetuall confuſion.

No maruell therfore if S. Bernard Bernard d… c…nſid ad E…en. li… …ſaith; Horreo in manus incidere mortis vinentis, & vitae mortentis: that is, It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of liuing death, and dying life.

If there might bee an end of theſe paines, it were ſomething, though it were after ſo many millions of yéers▪ as there are drops of water in the ſea, ſtars in the firmament, motes of duſt p. 74vponupon the earth, and as there hauehave béen moments of time ſince time began: but this cannot be granted: but when the Lord doth giuegive ouer his beeing, then, & neuer before then ſhall the damned be diſcharged, though the blockiſh Catabaptiſt perſwadeth the contrary.

The reaſon of the perpetuity of theſe torments is threefold.

The firſt, Drawne from the Maieſty of God offended: an infinite Maieſty offended, an infinite torment impoſed.

The ſecond, Drawne from the ſtate and condition of the damned▪ For as long as they remaine ſinfull, ſo long ſhall they remaine tormented for ſin: but in hell they euer remaine ſinfull, therefore in hell they ſhall euer be tormented.

Sinne is like oyle, and the wrath of God like fire: as long as the oyle laſteth, ſo long the fire burneth, and ſo long as they are ſinfull, ſo long for ſin tormented; therefore for euer damned.

For moſt ſure it is, that in hell there is neither grace nor deuotion: the wicked that be caſt in exteriores …enebras extra p. 75limitem diuinae miſericordiae: They ſhall bee caſt into outward darkneſſe, out of the limits both of grace and mercy. Though their weeping in hell may ſeeme penitentiary, yet they doe but lugere poenas, non peccata: they doe but mourne their ſorrowes, not lament their ſinnes.

And though Diues his prayer for his brethren may ſéem to procéed from a charitable ſoule, yet it was not for their good, but for his owne: for hee knew that if they ſhould come to hell, (his lewd and vicious example being part occaſion thereof) his torments ſhould be doubled, nay centupled vponupon him. In hell therefore there beeing neither grace nor deuotion, but ſtill affected iniquity, their torments muſt be euerlaſting.

The third reaſon, Drawne from that ſtinging attribute of Gods Iuſtice; becauſe life was offered them heere, and they would none, it is iuſt with God, that when in hell they begge it, they ſhould goe without it: yea, that they ſhould ſeeke death and neuer finde it.

p. 76Once they were offered ſaluation, being gone in Adam, but that offer being neglected, let them neuer looke for another.

O if this long torment were alwaies thought vponupon, it would make vsus vſe this ſhort time of our life better; they are Spirituall Lunatikes, and worſe then mad Bedlomites, that will purchaſe an eternall torment for ſo ſhort a pleaſure.

I beſéech you therefore (beloued brethren) for your ſoules ſake, which ſhould bee more worth vntounto yov than a thouſand worlds, let not theſe infinite torments bee paſſed ouer with a ſhort or ſhallow conſideration, but write the remembrance of them in the inward parts of your ſoules with the Diamond of deepeſt meditation, that ſo this Tophet may neuer be your deſtruction.

The ſeuenth and laſt part of theThe ſeuenth and laſt part. The breath of the Lord, &c. Deſcription of Tophet, ſet downe in theſe words, The breath of the Lord like a Riuer of Brimſtone doth kindle it.

In which words there is not only a p. 77Proſopopeia in the breath, but a Topographia in the brimſtone vſed: both which figures do notably expreſſe the furious indignation of the Author, and the fierce ſeuerity of the act: the Author or Inflictour of all theſe fearefull puniſhments, is the Lord God offended, at whoſe anger the Heauens do melt, the Earth quakes, and the whole Creation trembles, into whoſe hands to fall is moſt fearefull, For the Heb. 2…. …9Heb 2:9Lord our God is a conſuming fire.

The Lord is the decreer, appointer and commander of all theſe fearefull torments: and the Lord doth execute them vponupon the damned, both immediatè, immediately from himſelfe: and mediatè, mediately by his inſtruments, as by the diuels, fire, darknes, ſtinch and other creatures.

Feare therfore (in the feare of God) this fearefull and terrible name IEHOVAH: that at the day of neede, ye may find him a mild and gentle Lamb, and not A roaring Lyon of Iudah.Reuel. …

The ſeuerity of puniſhment is ſet down by a double allegory, Breath and Brimſtone.

p. 87To expreſſe the rage and …yranny of Saul againſt the Lambes of IESVS, this word is vſed in the Acts: And Act. 9. 1.Acts 9:1Saul yet breathing out threatnings and ſlaughter againſt the Diſciples of the Lord, &c.

So here, to expreſſe the furious indignation of the Lord againſt ſinners, the Breath of the Lord is vſed.

Like a Riuer of Brimſtone.

The perplexing property of brimſtone is to burne: Darkely; to grieue the ſight: Sharply, to afflict the more: Loathſomly, to perplexe the ſmell.

We reade in the Scriptures, that the Lord being much prouoked, puniſhed not onelyonly with fire, but with burning brimſtone, which is ten to one more terrible.

As vponupon Sodome, he rained fire and Gen. 19. 24Gen 19:24brimſtone from heauen.

I will raine vponupon him a fore raine, Eze. 38. 22▪Ezek 38:22haile-ſtones, fire and brimſtone.

VponUpon the wicked God ſhall raine Pſal. 11. 6.Ps 11:6ſnares, fire and brimſtone, and ſtormy tempeſt, this ſhall bee their portion to drinke.

p. 79The beaſt, and the falſe prophet, Apoc. 19. 20.Rev 19:20both aliue were caſt into the Lake of fire and brimſtone.

Oh, who can expreſſe now the lamentation of Tophet, for the breath of the Lord like a riuer of brimſtone doth kindle it!

As this ſhould be of power to keep you from the leaſt iniquity: ſo it ſhould poſſeſſe you with the knowledge of the right nature of ſinne: that it is the moſt odious and loathſome thing in the world: A ſtinking carcaſe ſtinketh Gregor.not ſo in the noſtrils of man, as a polluted ſinner ſtinketh in the noſtrils of Almighty God.

As Plato ſaith of vertue: That if it Plato.could be ſeene with a bodily eye, it is ſo ſplendid and glorious a thing, that all the world would bee rauiſhed with the louelove of her: So may I ſay the contrary of vice: That if ſinne could be ſeene in his owne colours, and in his right nature, all the world would loath, and vtterly deteſt it.

But miſerable man (the more is the pitie) conceiueth not aright of ſinne, p. 80one would think that Adam had committed but a ſmal ſin in eating the forbiden fruit, at the intreaty of Eue, yet he and all his pouerity guilty of eternall death for the ſame: One would thinke that that poore man had committed but a ſmall fault, In gathering a few chippes on the Sabbath day; (wee hauehave fouler matters committed on our Sabbaths, and go vnpuniſhed) yet hee was ſtoned to death for his labour: one would thinke that Ananias Acts. 5.Acts 5detaining part of the money, and maintaining …he contrary with a lye, had committed but a ſmal fault, yet he was ſtrooke dead for the ſame at the feet of Peter: one would think that an idle word were but a ſmall ſin, yet of eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, a great account muſt bee made for the ſame.

And as men coureiue of ſinne, ſo they imagine of puniſhment, they thinke that the Lord will not deale ſo ſeuerely with them; and yet my Text ſayth, That the breath of the LORD like a Riuer of Brimſtone doth kindle p. 81it: The terror of whoſe wrath is indurable.

Harken here all you that make but a ſport of ſinne, looke vponupon your puniſhments preſcribed: the leaſt ſinne that euer you hauehave committed, (being Zach. 5. 8.Zech 5:8weighty as lead) is able to ſinke your ſoules downe to damnation.

Ceaſe therefore from euill, and doe that which is good: Caſt away the workes of darkneſſe, and put on the armour of light: hate the little ſinne as wel as the great, an idle thought as well as blaſphemy: make much of offered grace to ſaluation: Chriſt now knocketh at the doore of your Soules, and would gladly come in and dwell with you: For it is his delight to dwell Prou. 8.Prov 8with the ſonnes of men: ſhut him not out as did the Bethleemites: Bid him not be gone, as did the Gadarens, but Be ye open, ye euerlaſting doores, that the King of glory may come in; that you hauing giuen him entertainment here, he may do the like by you hereafter, placing you with the ſheep on his right hand, and ſinging this bleſſed p. 82harueſt ſong vntounto you, Come, ye bleſſed of my Father, inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

To the which moſt bleſſed place of glory, the Lord bring eueryevery Soule of vsus at the day of our death and diſſolution; and that for IESVS CHRIST his ſake, to whom with God the Father, and God the bleſſed Spirit, thrée glorious perſons, but one immortall God, be aſcribed all honour and glory both in Heauen and Earth, this day and euer, Amen,

(*⁎*)

FINIS.