The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 52
CHAP. LII. That the greatest punishments are reserved and layed up for the wicked in the world to come.
NOtwithstanding all which hath beene spoken, and howsoever sinners are punished in this life, it is certaine, that the greatest and terriblest punishments are kept in store for them in another world: And albeit that during this transitory pilgrimage, they seeme to themselves oftentimes to live at their ease, and enjoy their pleasures and pastimes to their hearts contentment; yet doubtlesse it is so, that they are indeed in a continuall prison, and in a dungeon of darkenesse, bound and chained with fetters of their owne sinne, and very often turmoyled and but chered with their owne guilty conscience, overcharged with the multitude of offences, and fore-feeling the approach of hell: And in this case many languish away with feare, care, and terror, being toyled and tyred with uncessant and unsupportable disquietnesse, and tossed and distracted with despaire, untill by death they be brought unto their last irrevokable punishment; which punishment is not to endure for a time, and then to end, but is eternall and everlastingly inherent both in body and soule: I say in the body, after the resurrection of the dead; and in soule, after the departure out of this life till all eternity: for it is just and equall, that they which have offended and dishonoured God in their bodies in this life, should be punished also in their bodies in the world to come with endlesse torments: of which torments when mention is made in the holy Scripture, they are for our weake capacity sake called Gehenna, or a place of torment, utter darkenesse and hell fire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, &c. againe, eternall fire, a poole and pit of fire and brimstone, which is prepared for the devill and his darlings: and how miserable their estate is that fall therein, our Saviour Christ giveth us to know in the person of the rich glutton, who having bathed himselfe in the pleasures and Luke 16.delights of this world, without once regarding or pittying the poore, was after cast into the torments of hell, and there burneth in quenchlesse flames, without any ceasing or allaying of his griefes: therefore whatsoever punishments the wicked suffer before they die, they are not quitted by them from this other, but must descend into the appointed place to receive the surplus of their payments which is due unto them: For what were it for a notorious and cruell Tyran that had committed many foule and wicked deeds, or had most villanously murdered many good men, to have no other punishment but to be slaine, and to endure in the houre of death some extraordinary paine; could such a punishment ballance with his so many and great offences? Whereas therefore many such wretches suffer punishment in this world, we must thinke that this is but a taste and scantling of those torments and punishments which are prepared and made ready for them in the world to come. And therefore it often commeth to passe, that they passe out of this life most quietly, without the disturbance of any crosse or punishment; but it is that they might be more strangely tormented in another world. Some not considering this point, nor stretching the view of their understanding beyond the aspect of their carnall eyes, have fallen into this foolish opinion, to thinke that there is neither justice nor judgement in heaven, nor respect of equity with the Highest: when they see the wicked to flourish in prosperity, and the good and innocent to bee overwhelmed with adversity, yea and many holy men have fallen into this temptation, as Iob and David did, who when they considered the condition Job. 12. & Psal. 73.of the wicked and unjust, how they lived in this world at their hearts ease, compassed about with pleasures and delights, and waxing old in the same, were carried to their sepulchres in peace; they were somewhat troubled and perplexed within themselves, untill being instructed and resolved by the Word of God, they marked their finall end and issue, and the everlasting perdition which was prepared for them, and by no means could be escaped. And thus it commeth to passe (saith S. Augustine) that many sinnes Epist. 54.are punished in this world, that the providence of God might be more apparant; and many, yea most reserved to be punished in the world to come, that we might know that there is yet judgement behinde.