Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 121
§ 121.
BUt to be everlaſtingly in Hell, to lye for ever in a bed of quenchles flames, is not all: Drunkards ſhal have a double portion of vengeance to other men.for as thy ſinnes have exceeded, ſo ſhall thy ſufferings exceed; as thou haſt had a double portion of ſinne to other men here, ſo thou ſhalt have a double portion of torment to them hereafter; the number and meaſure of torments, ſhall be according to the multitude and magnitude of offences; mighty ſinners ſhall be mightily puniſhed, for God will reward every man according to his workes, Revel. 20.12.13. and 22.12. As our workes are better or worſe, ſo ſhall our joyes in heaven, our paines in hell bee more or leſſe; as every one hath beene more wicked, he ſhall bee more wretched; Capernaum exceeding Sodome and Gomorrah in ſin, ſhall feele alſo an exceſſe of puniſhment; and the willfull ſervant ſhall receive more ſtripes, then the ignorant, Luk. 12.47.48. Mat. 10.15 which being ſo, viz. that every man ſhall be puniſhed according to merit; what will become of thee? ſurely thy ſins are ſo prodigious, that they ſcorne any proportion under a whole volume of plagues.
But ſee wherein thy ſinnes exceed other mens, The drunkards ſinns aggravated by the circumſtances.that ſhall go to the ſame place of torment, how every ſinne receiveth weight and increaſe in regard of circumſtances, and how thou, after thine hardnes and heart which cannot repent, heapest unto thy ſelfe wrath againſt the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the just judgment of God, who will reward every man according to his workes, Rom. 2.5, 6.
The particulars which greaten, aggravate, and adde weight to thy ſinnes, and make them above meaſure ſinfull, are ſo diverſe and ſundry, that I may not inſiſt upon all; yet ſome are of ſuch import, that I dare not omit them.
Firſt, the civill juſtitiary, who omitteth the performance of thoſe good duties which the Law requireth, First, the civily righteous have he… for their portion but drunkards are notoriouſly wicked.is in a damnable condition; but thou in a farre worſe, who wilfully runneſt on in the commisſion of thoſe ſinnes, which the Law flatly forbids. It was the not ſlaying of Agag. 1 Sam. 15. that loſt Saul his Kingdome, and the favour of God. The not circumciſing of Moſes his firſt borne. Exodus 4. had like to have coſt him his life. The not relieving of poore Lazarus, Luk. 16. was the rich mans ruine. It was not the evill ſervants ſpending his Maſters money, which caſt him into priſon, but the not gaining with it; he did not evill with his Talent, no, it was enough to condemne him, that he did nothing with it.
Now if barrenneſſe bee ſent into the fire, how can rapine looke to eſcape? if omisſion of good works be whipped with Rodds, ſurely commisſion of impieties ſhall be ſcourged with Scorpions.
The old world did but eat, and drink, build, and plant, marry and bee merry, and were ſwept away with the Beeſom of an univerſall deluge: which things were in themſelves lawfull: what then ſhall become of Lyers, Swearers, Drunkards, Adulterers, malicious monſters, ſcandalous ſinners, whoſe workes are in themſelves ſimply unlawfull? If the civily righteous ſhall not bee ſaved in that great and terrible day, where then ſhall all ungodly drunkards, and deboyſhed ſwilbowles appeare?
Heaven is our Goale, we all runne: loe the Scribes and Phariſies are before thee; what ſafty can it bee to come ſhort of thoſe, that come ſhort of heaven? Except your righteouſnes exceed, &c.
Meroz was curſed by the Angell, becauſe they came not to helpe the Lord, in the day of battell, Iudges 5.23. they fought not againſt God, yet becauſe they did not fight for him, they are curſed. And if they that ſtand in a luke-warm neutrality ſhall be ſpewed up, ſure the palpable and notorious offender, who takes up armes againſt God, and oppoſes all goodneſſe, ſhall bee trodden under foot of a provoked juſtice.
O conſider this, and lay it to heart, you, that commit ſinnes of all ſorts and ſizes; you, that can tear heaven with your blaſphemies, and bandy the dreadfull name of God in your impure mouthes, by your bloody oaths and execrations; yee that dare exerciſe your ſaucy wits in prophane ſcoffes at Religion; yee that can neigh afterſtrange fleſh &c.