Tormenting Tophet, Title page – Author to the reader
TORMENTING TOPHET: OR A terrible Deſcription of HE…L, able to breake the hardeſt heart, and cauſe it quake and tremble.
Preached at Paules Croſſe the 14. of Iune 1614.
BY HENRY GREENVVOOD, Maſter of Arts, and Preacher of the Word of GOD.
The ſecond Edition corrected and amended,
Eſay 30.33.
Tophet is prepared of old; it is euen prepared for the King: he hath made it deepe and large: the burning thereof is fire & much wood: the breath of the Lord like a Riuer of Brimstone doth kindle it.
LONDON Imprinted by George Purſlowe for Henry Bell, and are to be ſolde at his ſhop without Biſhopſgate. 1615.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND my very deare friends Sir LESTRAVNGE MORDAVNT of Maſſingham Hall in the County of Norfolke Knight Baronet, and Lady FRAVNCIS MORDAVNT his moſt louing Bed-fellow, HENRY GREENVVOOD Wiſheth all increaſe of Grace in this Life, and Eternall Life in Life to come.
IT is, and hath beene long ſince (Right Worſhipful) the cuſtome of the learned, that when they commended to publike view (therein ayming at cōmon good) their Chriſtian paines and diuine indeuours, (knowing that the truth hath, and alwayes had many oppoſitions and detractions) to preſent them to men of high place, and well affected in Religion, that ſo their works might paſſe with leſſe feare, and danger of diſgrace and opprobrie: I (though vnlearned) making bold to imitate their Chriſtian policy herein, hauehave preſumed to preſent that doctrine to your Worſhips eies, that lately in publike place was ſounded in your eares, both of which ſenſes are great Inſtruments in the furtherance of our ſoules in the way of Gods Kingdome; for as the eare conueieth grace to the affections of the ſoule, ſo the eye bringeth much matter to the vnderſtā ding of the mind; nay, the eare cannot ſo often be an Auditor, as the eye an Oratour to the conſcience.
For which cauſe (your Worſhips nothing more affecting than growth in Grace and Religion) I hauehave attempted to commend to your often conſiderations Tormenting Tophet, for as nothing allureth the heart to grace, more than Gods mercies, ſo nothing more preualent againſt ſinne, than his fearefull and terrible iudgements.
If therfore your gracious Worſhips ſhall vouchſafe to accept of theſe my poore preſented paines, it will giuegive content to mine own heart, and (doubtles) anſwerable comfort to your owne ſoules.
And to conclude, as the Lord hath abundantly bleſſed your Worſhips with graces internall, and bleſſings external; So (to vſe the words of the Apoſtle) the very God of peace ſanctifie you ſtill throughout, and I pray God that your whole spirits, and ſoules and bodies, may be kept blameles to the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Amen. From Hempſted in Eſſex, Aprill, 3. 1615.
Your Worſhips alwayes ready to bee commaunded in the Lord, HEN. GREENVVOOD.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
CHriſtian Reader, I commend to thy charitable view, this terrible and lamentable deſcription of Hell, a Subiect moſt neceſſary in theſe dayes, wherin Iniquity hath gotten the vpper hād: the greateſt part of mankind laboreth of this dangerous diſeaſe, namely, hardnes of hart and contempt of all grace, I therefore for the remouing of this damnable euil, hauehave prepared this Tormenting Corraſiue. Blame mee not if I be too bitter in denouncing GODS Iudgements againſt ſinne, the preſumption of the time compels me, this onelyonly is the ayme of my intention herein, that many may bee ſaued from the damnation hereof.
Let not the Quotations of Latine and other tongues offend thee, but know this they are but as country Stiles, ſtepping ouer them thou loſeſt not the way by them, for their Expoſitions follow them.
Thus commending this Tractate to thy chriſtian conſideration, and thy ſelf to Gods moſt bleſſed protection, I reſt
Thine euerlouing and vvelvvilling brother in the Lord, HEN. GREENWOOD,