Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 114 – Section 116
§ 114.
WHen once a man is got out of the ſnare of the Divell, he will doe what he can, Good men draw all they can io heaven, wicked all they can to bell.to pluck others after him. As by his ſinnes and bad example, hee hath drawn others from God: ſo now he will, all hee can, draw others with himſelfe to God; Saul converted, will build up, as faſt as ever he plucked downe; and preach, as zealouſly, as ever he perſecuted.
But take a view of each caſe in ſeverall perſons, and firſt of the godly. We read that Noah and Lot, hazarded their own peace and ſafety, (ſuch was their charity, to preſerve theirs that afflicted them) they did admoniſh others, like Prophets; and adviſe them, like Fathers; but both in vaine; theſe holy men ſeemed to them as one that mocked, and they did more then ſeeme to mocke them againe. We read likewiſe, how Andrew was no ſooner converted, and become Chriſt's Diſciple; but inſtantly hee ſeeketh out his brother Simon, to gaine him alſo to the ſame faith, Iohn, 1.41. And of Philip, that he did the like to Nathaniel, verſe 45. And of the woman of Samaria, that ſhe did the like to many of her neighbours, Iohn 4.28. to 41. And of the twelve Apoſtles, that ſo ſoone as they were endued with the Holy Ghoſt, they ſpread the Goſpell throughout the whole world, and with ſo good ſucceſſe, that wee reade of three thouſand ſoules converted, by one of them, at one time, namely, by Peter; ſo well did he obey Chriſt's command, who ſaid unto him, when thou art converted ſtrengthen thy brethren, Luk. 22.32.
Yea, Moſes ſo thirſted after the ſalvation of Iſrael, that rather then hee would bee ſaved without them, hee deſired the Lord, to blot him out of the Booke of Life, Exodus 32.32. and Paul to this purpoſe ſaith, I could wiſh my ſelfe to be ſeparated from Christ, for my brethren, that are my kinſmen, according to the fleſh, meaning the Iewes, Rom. 9.3. Their charity, and ſpirituall thirſt after ſalvation, was much like the naturall thirſt of Alexander, who being with his troopes in the Field, and in extremity of thirſt, when one preſentted him an Helmet of water, he refuſed it, ſaying, ſi ſolus bibero, hos maeror occupabit: or that of Rodolphus the Emperour, who in his warres againſt Octocarus, King of Bohemia, being offered drink by a ruſticke that attended his harneſſe, when both he, and his whole Army were ready to periſh with thirſt; refuſed it, ſaying, that his thirſt was for all his Army, and not alone for himſelfe.
There is a greate dearth of reaſon and charity in that man, who would bee happy alone; much more doe they deſire the bleſſedneſſe of others, that are of the communion of Saints: all heavenly hearts are charitable, and it is a great preſumption, that hee will never finde the way to heaven, who deſires to go thither ſingle: yea, a deſire to win others, is an inſeparable adjunct, or relative to grace; for it is impoſſible, that a man ſhould be converted, but having got himſelfe out of Sathans clutches, he will ſeeke to draw others after him; yea, where the heart is thankfull, and inflamed with the love of God and our neighbour, this ſhall be the principall aime: as that vertuous Lady, which Camden ſpeakes of, having beene a Leper her ſelfe, beſtowed the greateſt part of her portion, to build an Hoſpitall for other Lepers.
Neither can enlightened ſoules chooſe but diſperſe their rayes: we are no whit thankfull for our owne illumination, if we doe not looke with charity and pity, upon the groſſe miſſe-opinions and miſpriſions of our brethren. It is a duty commanded by God, Iud. 22.23. 2 Tim. 2.25.26. Heb. 3.13. And every good mans meat and drink, is to doe the will of him that ſent him; and though he cannot do, what he would; yet he will labour to do, what he can, to win others; not to deſerve by it, but to expreſſe his thanks.
§ 115.
ANd as Gods people would not bee ſaved alone, but winne all they can, They ſhall anſwer for ſoule-murther.knowing, ſociety no ſmall part of the very joyes of heaven: no more would wicked men be damned alone, but miſlead all they can, thinking it ſome eaſe and comfort in miſery, to have companions. As for example. What made the Scribes and Phariſies compaſſe Sea and Land, to make one of their profeſſion, but that they might make him twofold more the child of hell, then themſelves? as our Saviour expreſly witneſſeth, Matth. 23.15. Yea, they ſhut up the kingdome of heaven (ſo farre forth as they could) and would neither goe in themſelves, nor ſuffer others, that would have entred, to come in, v. 13. And what elſe, but this love of community, made Baalam (being a curſed reprobate himſelfe) ſo willing; firſt, to curſe all Iſrael, and after, when that would not fadge, to give ſuch divelliſh counſell againſt them? Numb. Reve. 2.1422. Or what is the reaſon thinke you, of all their practiſes againſt the juſt now, of their tempting them, and attempting what they can againſt them, but this, they would diſcourage us in the way to heaven, beat us off from our holy profeſſion, or being religious, and draw us backe to the world, that ſo they might have our company here in ſinne, and hereafter in torment? as if this were not to carry brimſtone to their own fire, and to make their own bed in hell.
And let ſuch know, that how many Novices, or Apprentiſes of Religion ſoever, have beene beaten off, by meanes of their ſcoffs, ſlanders, reproaches, or other their malicious practiſes againſt the godly; how many ſoever they have foreſtalled with prejudice againſt the religious, by making their ſavour to ſtinke before their neighbours, and acquaintance, through their lies and forgeries; ſo putting a ſword into their hand, to ſlay them, as the children of Iſrael unjuſtly charged Moſes and Aaron, touching Pharaoh, and his ſervants, Ex. 5.21. or how many ſoever are drawn to do and commit the like ſinnes, by their example; even ſo many of Chriſts band they have (as much as in them lyeth) diminiſhed, and ſhall one day be arraigned and condemned, not only for high treaſon, againſt our Soveraign Lord Chriſt, but alſo for ſlaying ſo many ſoules with death eternall; which ſin, having a reward of torment anſwerable, (as I ſhall ſhew anon) muſt of neceſſity, bring upon them more then double damnation. Wherefore let them, more wiſely then Dives, looke to it in time, take heed of powring water upon the fire of the Spirit, which had more need of kendling, then of quenching; and beating down the weake hands and knees, which ſhould rather bee lifted up for God, and againſt Sathan.
And thus you ſee that drunkards, and all wicked men, (whoſe meat and drink it is, to doe the will of their Father) ayme at our eternall ruine, as the divell did at the ruine of our firſt Parents, and their off-ſpring; and how could they doe ſo, if they did not partake of the divells nature yea, if they were not quite changed from men into divels?
§ 116.
BUt ſee other two reaſons, Other reaſons why they would have our company in the burning lake. 1 Being out of hope themſelves the yare loth others ſhould fare better then they.why they deſire community in the burning lake, and why they make no bones of ſoulemurther, the firſt is this, they know themſelves irrecoverably loſt, and therefore they are deſperate, becauſe they cannot riſe themſelves, they would ruine all; they know, they have ſo grievouſly offended God, and ſo deſpited the Spirit of grace, ſo ſinned againſt knowledg, and conſcience, and ſo often reiterated theirabominations, that they are become ſo incurable, and paſt hope of remedy, that no medicine, can helpe them, as God ſpeaks, touching the ſorrowes of the Iewes, by Ieremiah, Chap. 30.12.13.15. as ſometimes it fares with a ſicke patient, who while he hath hope of cure, is willing to abſtaine from ſuch meats as are dangerous, and hurtfull for him; but knowing his diſeaſe incurable, forbeareth nothing that he likes, and likes onelyonly thoſe things which are moſt forbidden him; ſo the Proverb is verified in them, Over Shoes, over Bootes, yea, which is deſperate, over ſhoulders.
As a man ſinking into the deeepe water, catcheth hold of him that is next him: ſo men diving into the bottome of iniquity, pull downe their adherents: and how can they more lively prove themſelves the Divells children, whoſe ayme it hath ever beene, ſeeing hee muſt of neceſſity bee wretched, not to bee wretched alone?
It is little content to them to bee reprobates, except they have company. Wherefore as falling Lucifer drew numerous Angells with him: ſo all his agents and adherents, as firebrands, in burning themſelves, burne others; the Divell out of malice miſleades them, and they others: what wretched companions then are theſe men! the Lord grant wee may know no more of them, then by heareſay.