Londons Lamentation, Part 1 (4 of 7)

Londons Lamentation · Part 1 (4 of 7)

p. 116Fourthly, Our fire burns and conſumes only the body, it 4reaches not, it torments not the precious and immortal p. 117ſoul; but infernal fire burns and torments both body and ſoul. Now the ſoul of pain, is the pain of the ſoul, Matth. 10. 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the ſoul: but rather fear him which is able to deſt…oy b…th body and ſoul in H…ll. If the Glutton in the hiſtorical Parable, Luke 16. 24.Luke 16:24who …ad but one half of himſelf in Hell, viz. his ſoul, cried out, that he was horribly to…m…n…ed in that flame. What tongue can expreſs, or heart conceive, how great the damneds torments ſhall be in Hell, when their bodies and ſouls in the great day ſhall be re-united for …orture. Beloved, it is a juſt and righteous thing with God, that ſuch bodies and ſouls that have ſinned (impenitently) together, ſhould be tormented everlaſtingly together. To this purpoſe, the Hebrew Doctors have a very pretty Parable, viz. That a man planted an Orchard, and going from home, Pet. Mart.was careful to leave ſuch Watchmen, as might both keep it from ſtrangers, and not deceive him themſelves: therefore he appointed one blind, but ſtrong of his limbs, and the other ſeeing, but a Cripple. Theſe two in their Maſters abſence conſpired together, and the blind took the lame on his ſhoulders, and ſo gathered the fruit, their Maſter returning, and finding out this ſubtilty, puniſhed them both together. Now ſo ſhall it be with thoſe two ſinful companions, the 2 Cor. 5. 10. 2 Theſſ. 1. 7, 8, 9, 10.2 Cor 5:102 Thess 1:72 Thess 1:82 Thess 1:92 Thess 1:10ſoul and the body in the great day of our Lord. With Simeon and Levi they have been brethren in iniquity, and ſo ſhall be in eternal miſery. As body and ſoul have been one in ſinning, ſo they ſhall be one in ſuffering. (only remember this, that as the ſoul has been chief in ſin, ſo it ſhall be chief in ſuffering) But O Sirs, if a conſumable body, b… not able to endure burning flames for a day; how will an unconſumable ſoul and body, be able to endure the ſcorching flames of Hell for ever. But,

Fifthly, Our fire waſteth and conſumeth whatſoever is 5caſt into it. It turns fleſh into aſhes, it turns all combuſtibles into aſhes; but the fire of Hell is not of that nature; the fire of Hell conſumes nothing that is caſt into it: it rages, but it dos not waſte, either bodies or ſouls. Look as the Salamander liveth in the fire, ſo ſhall the wicked live in p. 118the fire of Hell for ever. They ſhall ſeek for death, but they Rev. 9. 6.Rev 9:6ſhall not find it. They ſhall deſire to die, and death ſhall fly from them. They ſhall cry to the Mountains to fall upon Rev. 6. 16, 17.Rev 6:16Rev 6:17them, and to cruſh them to nothing. They ſh…ll deſire that the fire that burns them, would conſume them to nothing: That the Worm that feeds on them, would gnaw them to Ma…k 9. 44, 46, 48.nothing: that the Devils which torment them, would tear them to nothing. They ſhall cry to God who firſt made Gen. 1. 26.Gen 1:26…hem out of nothing, to reduce them to that firſt nothing from whence th…y cam…: But he that made them, will not have mercy on them; he that f…rmed them, will not ſhew them ſo much Iſa. 27. 11.Isa 27:11favour. Semper comburentur, nunqu…m conſumentur; they ſhall alway…s be burned, but never conſumed. Ah how well Aug. This fire is poena inconſumpta. Jerom.would it be with the damned, if in the fire of Hell they might be conſumed to aſhes. But this is their miſery, they ſhall be ever dying, and yet never dye: their bodies ſhall be alwayes a burning, but never a conſuming. 'Tis dreadful to be perpetual fuel to the flames of Hell. What miſery to this? For infernal fire, to be ſt…ll a preying upon damned ſinners, and yet never making an end of them. The two hundred and fifty men that uſurped the Prieſts Office, were Numb. 16. 35.Num 16:35conſumed by that fire that came out armed from the Lord againſt them. And the fire that Elijah, by an extraordinary 2 Kings 1. 10. 12.2 Kgs 1:102 Kgs 1:12ſpirit of prayer, brought down from heaven upon the two Captains, and their fifties conſumed them. The fierce and furious fl…mes of hell, ſhall burn, but never annihilate the bodies of the damned. In hell there is no c…ſſation of fire burning, nor of matter burned. Neither flames nor ſmoak Hell torments puniſh, but not finiſh the bodies of men. Proſper.ſhall conſume or choak the impenitent; both the infernal fire, and the burning of the bodies of Reprobates in tha… fire, ſhall be preſerved by the miraculous power and providence of God. The ſoul through pain and corruption will loſe its beate vivere, its happy being; but it will not loſe its eſſentiàliter vivere, its eſſential life or being. But,

Sixthly and laſtly, Our fire may be quenched and extinguiſhed. 6The hotteſt flames, the greateſt confl…grations, have been quenched and extinguiſh…d by water. Fires on our hearths, and in our chimneys, are ſometimes put out by p. 119the Suns b…ams, and often they die and go out of themſelves. Our fire is maintained with wood, and put out with water: but the fire of hell never goes out, it can never be quenched. It is an everlaſting fire, an eternal fire, an Jerom was out when he ſaid, I…fe…num nihil eſſe, niſi conſcie…tiae horror…m. And … was ou…, who held, that the…e are no other Hell furies, than the ſtings of conſcience.unquenchable fire. In Mark 9. from v. 43. to v. 49. this fire is no leſs than five times ſaid to be unquenchable; as i… the Lord could never ſpeak enough of it. Beloved, the Holy Ghoſt is never guilty of idle repeti…ions: but by theſe frequent repetitions the Holy Ghoſt w…uld teach men to lo…k about them, and to look upon it as a real thing, and as a ſerious thing, and not ſport themſelves with unquenchable flames; nor go to Hell in a dream. Certainly the fire into which the damned ſhall be caſt, ſhall be without all intermiſſion of time or pun…ſhment. No tear…, nor blood, nor time, can extinguiſh the fire of hell. Could every damned ſinner weep a whole Ocean, yet all thoſe Oceans together, would never extinguiſh one ſpark of inf…rnal fire. The damned are in everlaſting chains of darkneſs; they are under the vengeance of eternal fire: they are in blackneſs of darkneſs for Jude 7. 6.ever. The ſmoke of their torment aſcend…d for ever and ever, and they ſhall have no reſt day nor night. The damned in hell Rev. 14. 11. O that word Never, ſaid a poor deſpairing creature on his death-bed, breaks my heart. They are lying Hiſtories that …ell us, that Trajan was delivered out of Hell, by the prayers of Gregory; and Falconella, by the prayers of Teclaes.Rev 14:11would fain die, but they cannot; Mors ſine mor…e, they ſhall be alwayes dying, yet never dead; they ſhall be alwayes a conſuming, yet never conſumed. The ſmoak of their Furnace aſc…nds for ever and ever. Aeternis puni…ntur poenis. They ſhall be everlaſtingly puniſhed, ſaith Mollerus on Pſal. 9. 17. And Muſculus on the ſame Text ſaith, Animi impiorum cruciatibus d…bitis apud inferos punientur. The ſouls of the …ngodly ſhall be puniſhed in hell with deſerved torments. Ʋbi per mi lia millia annorum cruciandi, nec in ſeculo ſeculorum liberandi, ſaith Auguſt. Myriades of years ſhall not determine or put a period to their ſufferings. Plato could ſay, that who ever are not expiated, but prophane; ſhall go into hell to be tormented for their wickedneſs, with the greateſt, the moſt bitter and terrible puniſhments, for ever in that priſon of hell. And Triſmegiſtus could ſay, That ſouls going out of the body defiled, were toſt to and fro with eternal puniſhments. Yea, the very Turks ſpeaking of the houſe of perdition, p. 120do affirm, That they who have turned Gods Grace Alcoran. Mahom. c. 14. p. 160. &c. 20. p. 198.into wantonneſs, ſhall abide eternally in the fire of hell, and there be eternally tormented. A certain Religious man going to viſit Olympius, who lived cloiſtered up in a Monaſtery near Jordan: and finding him cloiſtered up in a dark Cell, which he thought uninhabitable, by reaſon of heat, and ſwarms of Gnats and Flyes; and asking him, how he could endure to live in ſuch a place: he anſwered, All this is but a light matter, that I may eſcape eternal torments: … can endure the ſtinging of Gnats, that I might not endure the ſtinging of conſcience, and the gnawing of that Worm that never dies: this heat thou think…ſt gri…vous. I can eaſily endure, when I think of the eternal fire of Hell: theſe ſufferings are but ſhort, but the ſufferings of h…ll are eternal. Certainly infernal fire is neither tolerable nor terminable. The extremity and eternity of helliſh torments, is ſet forth by the Worm that never dieth. Chriſt at the cloſe of his Sermon makes a threefold repetition of this Worm, Mark 9. 44. Where their Worm dieth not. And again, ver. 46. Where their Worm dieth not. And again ver. 40. Where their Worm dieth not, and their fire goeth not out. Certainly thoſe puniſhments are beyond all conception and expreſſion, which our Lord Jeſus doth ſo often inculcate within ſo ſmall a pace.

In Hell there's nothing heard, but yells and cryes:A Pentelogia dolor inferni.

In Hell the Fire never ſlacks, nor Worm never dyes.

But where this Hell is plac'd (my Muſe) ſtop there.

Lord ſhew me what it is, but never where.

To Worm and Fire, to torments there

No term he gave, they cannot wear.Prudentius the Poet.

If after ſo many millions of years, as there be drops in the Ocean, there might be a deliverance out of hell; This would yield a little caſe, a little comfort to the damned: O but this word Eternity, Eternity, Eternity, this word Everlaſting, Everlaſting, Everlaſting, will even break the hearts of the damned in ten thouſand pieces. There is ſcarce any pain or torment here on earth, but there is ever ſome hope p. 121of eaſe, mitigation, or intermiſſion, there is ſome hope of relief or delivery, but in hell the torments there, are all eaſeleſs, remedileſs and endleſs. Here if one fall into the fire, he may like a brand be pulled out of it, and ſaved; but out of that fiery Lake, there is no redemption. That Majeſty that the ſinner hath offended and provoked, is an infinite Majeſty. Now there muſt be ſome proportion betwixt the ſinners ſin, and his puniſhment and torment. Now the ſinner being a finite creature, he is not capable of bearing the weight of that puniſhment or torment that is intenſively infinite, becauſe it would be his aboliſhing or annihilating; and therefore he muſt bear the weight of that puniſhment or torment that is extenſively infinite; namely, duratione infinita, infinite in the continuance and endurance. What is wanting in torment, muſt be made up in time. Everlaſting Fire and everlaſting puniſhment in the New Teſtament, Matth. 25. 2 Theſſ. 1. 7, 8, 9, 10, &c. Vide Auguſt. l. 21. c. 23. &c. 24. de civitate Dei.Matt 252 Thess 1:72 Thess 1:82 Thess 1:92 Thess 1:10is directly oppoſed to eternal life; to that bleſſed ſtate of the righteous which will never have an end. And therefore according to the Rules and Maximes of right reaſon, doth neceſſarily import a puniſhment of the ſame duration, that the reward is. Now the Reward of the Saints in that other world, is granted on all hands to be everlaſting, to be eternal; and therefore the puniſhment of the damned, can't be but everlaſting and eternal too. The Rewards of the Elect ſhall never be ended; therefore the puniſhment of the damned ſhall never be ended: becauſe as the mercy of God is infinite towards the elect, ſo the Juſtice of God is infinite towards the Reprobate in hell: The Reprobate ſhall have puniſhment Drexel.without pity, miſery without mercy, ſorrow without ſuccour, crying without compaſſion, miſchief without meaſure, and torment without end. All men in miſery comfort themſelves with hope of an end: The Priſoner, with hope of a Gaol-delivery: the Marriner, with the hope of his arrival in a ſafe harbour: the Souldier, with hope of victory: the Prentice, with hope of liberty; the Gally-ſlave, with the hope of ranſome: only the impenitent ſinner hath no hope in hell. He ſhall have end, without end; death without death: night without day: mourning without p. 122mirth: ſorrow, without ſolace: and bondage, without liberty. The damned ſhall live as long in hell, as God himſelf There is not a Chriſtian which doth not believe the fire of he…l to be everlaſting Dr. Jackſon on the Creed, l. 11. c. 23.ſhall live in heaven: their impriſonment in that Land of darkneſs, in that bottomleſs pit, is not an impriſonment during the Kings pleaſure; but an impriſonment during the everlaſting diſpleaſure of the King of Kings. Suppoſe (ſay ſome) that the whole world were turned to a Mountain of Sand, and that a little Wren ſhould come every thouſandth year, and carry away from that heap one grain of ſand, what an infinite number of years (not to be numbred by all finite beings) would be ſpent and expired, before this ſuppoſed Mountain could be fetcht away. Now if a man ſhould lye in everlaſting burnings ſo long a time, and then have an end of his wo; it would adminiſter ſome eaſe, refreſhment and comfort to him. But when that immortal Bird ſhall have carried away this (ſuppoſed) Mountain a thouſand If the fire of Hell were terminable, it might then be tolerable: but being endleſs, it muſt needs be eaſeleſs and …emedileſs. We may well ſay of it, as one doth, O killing life, Oh immortal death! Bellar. de arte moriendi, l. 2. c. 3.times over and over: alas, alas, man ſhall be as far from the end of his anguiſh and torment, as ever he was. He ſhall be no nearer coming out of hell, than he was the very firſt moment that he entered into hell. Suppoſe (ſay others) that a man were to endure the torments of hell, as many years and no more, as there be ſands on the Sea-ſhore, drops of water in the Sea, Stars in heaven, leaves on the trees, piles of graſs on the ground, hairs on his head, yea, upon the heads of all the ſons of Adam, that ever were, or are, or ſhall be in the world, from the beginning of it to the end of it: yet he would comfort himſelf with this poor thought, Well, there will come a day, when my miſery and torment ſhall certainly have an end. But wo and alas, this word Never, Never, Never, will fill the hearts of the damned with the greateſt horror and terror, wrath and rage, amazement and aſtoniſhment. Suppoſe, ſay others, that the torments of hell were to end, after a little Bird ſhould have emptied the Sea, and only carry out her Bill full once in a thouſand years. Suppoſe, ſay others, that the whole world, from the loweſt earth to the higheſt heavens, were filled with grains of ſand, and once in a thouſand years, an Angel ſhould come and fetch away one grain, and ſo continue till the p. 123whole heap were ſpent. Suppoſe, ſay others, if one of the damned in hell ſhould weep after this manner, viz That he ſhould only let fall one tear in a hundred years; and theſ… ſhould be kept together, till ſuch time as they ſhould equ…l the drops of water in the Sea: how many millions of ages would paſs, before they could make up one River, much more a whole; and when that were done, ſhould he w…ep again after the ſame manner, till he had filled, ſecond, a third, a fourth Sea, if then there ſhould be an end of their miſeries, there would be ſome hope, ſome comfort that they would end at laſt: but that ſhall never, never, never end. This is that which ſi…ks them under the moſt tormenting terrors and horrors.

Drexel…ius makes this Obſervation from the words of our Saviour, John 15. 6. If a man abide not in me, he is caſt forth as a branch, and it is withered, and men gather them, and caſt them into the fire, and they are burned. Where he obſerveth, that the words do not run in the Future Tenſe, he ſhall be caſt forth, and ſhall be caſt into the fire, and burned: but all in the Preſent Tenſe, he is caſt forth, is withered; men caſt them into the fire, and they are burned. This (ſaith he) is the ſtate and condition of the damned, They are burned: that is, they are alwayes burning: When a thouſand years are paſt, as it was at firſt, ſo it is ſtill, they are burned: after a thouſand thouſand years more, as it was before, ſo it is ſtill, they are burned: If after millions of years, the queſtion was asked, What is now their ſtate and condition, what do they? What ſuffer they? how doth it fare with them? there can be no other anſwer returned, bu… they are burned: continually, and eternally burning. Socinians ſay, There will come a time, when the fallen Angels, and the wickedſt men, ſhall be freed from infernal torments. And Auguſtine ſpeaks of ſome ſuch merciful men in Aug. l. 21. c. 17. &c. 18. c. 19 c. 20. c. 21. c. 22. de Civitate D…i.his time. And Origen held and taught, that not only impenitent Chriſtians, but even Pagans and Devils after the term of a thouſand years, ſhould be releaſed out of Hell, and become as bright Angels in heaven, as they were before. But theſe dangerous fancies, and ungrounded opinions fall flat p. 124before (the clear evidence of) thoſe ſad and ſerious truths, that I have now tendered to your conſideration. And thus I have ſhewed you the difference between our Fire and H…ll fire.

Now O ye Citizens of London, who truly fear the Lord, and who are united to Chriſt by faith, know for your everlaſting comfort and ſupport, that Chriſt has ſecured you from infernal Fire, from everlaſting Fire, from unquenchable Fire, from eternal Fire, and from the Worm that never dieth: as you may ſee clearly and fully, by comparing the Scriptures in John 3. 17. 18, 36. Luke 1. 68, 69, 70, 71, 74. Rom. 6. ult. Chap. 8. 1. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. 37. 1 Cor. 3. 21, 22, 23. Chap. 15. 54, 55, 56, 57, 58. 1 Theſſ. 1. ult. Rev. 20. 5, 6.John 3:17John 3:18John 3:36Luke 1:68Luke 1:69Luke 1:70Luke 1:71Luke 1:74Rom 61 Cor 3:211 Cor 3:221 Cor 3:231 Thess 1Rev 20:5Rev 20:6the Margent together. Chriſt by his blood hath quenched the violence of infernal flames, ſo that they ſhall never ſcorch you, nor burn you, hurt you, nor harm you. Nebuchadnezzars Fiery Furnace, was a Type of Hell (ſay ſome) Now look as the three Children (or rather Champions) had not one hair of their heads ſindged in that Fiery Furnace, ſo Hell Fire ſhall never ſinge one hair of your heads. Your intereſt in Chriſt, is a noble and ſufficient ſecurity to you againſt the flames of Hell. Pliny ſaith, that nothing in the world, will ſo ſoon quench fire, as Salt and Blood: and therefore in many Countreys where they can get plenty of blood, they will uſe ſalt and b…ood, rather than Water, to quench the Fire. If you caſt water on the Fire, the Fire will quickly work it out; but if you caſt blood upon it, it will damp it in a moment. O Sirs, Chriſts blood has ſo quenched the flames of Hell, that they ſhall never be able to ſcorch or burn thoſe ſouls that are intereſted in him. The effuſion of Chriſts blood is ſo rich and available (ſaith my Author) Leo de Paſ. Serm. 12. c. 4.that if the whole multitude of captive ſinners would believe in their Redeemer, not one ſhould be detained in the Tyrants Chains. All thoſe ſpots that a Chriſtian finds in his own heart, ſhall firſt or laſt, be waſhed out in the blood of the Lamb. 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all our ſins. Now ſuch as are waſhed and cleanſed from their ſins in the blood of Jeſus, ſuch ſhall never experimentally know, what everlaſting burnings, or a devouring Fire means. Such as are waſht in Chriſts blood, needs no purifying by Hells flames. Pliny ſaith of Polium, p. 125that it is a preſervative againſt Serpents. S…re I am, that th… blood of Chriſt is an effectual preſervative againſt all infernal Serpents and infernal torments.

You believing Citizens, who have ſet up God as the object N…ro ha…l a Shirt made o… a Salamanders …kin, ſo that i… he did walk through the fire in it, it would keep him from burning. O Sirs, Chriſt is the true Sa…amanders skin, that will certainly keep every gracious ſoul from burning in everlaſting flames.of your fear, and whoſe hearts are enflamed with love to Chriſt; know for your everlaſting refreſhment, that Chriſt has freed you, and ſecured you from everlaſting Fire, from unquenchable Fire, from eternal Fire; and therefore bear up ſweetly, bear up cheerfully under that Fiery diſpenſation that has paſt upon you. What is the burning of your houſes, and ſubſtance, to the burning of bodies and ſouls in Hell? What was the Fire of London, to infernal Fire? What is a Fire of four or five dayes continuance, to that everlaſting Fire, to that unquenchable Fire, to that eternal Fire that you have deſerved; and that free-Grace hath preſerved you from. A frequent and ſerious conſideration o… Hell Fire, (as I have opened it unto you) and of your happy deliverance from it, may very well bear and cheer up your hearts under all your greateſt ſufferings by that dreadful Fire, that has turned beloved London into a ruinous heap.

Sir, You have been a diſcourſing about helliſh torments; but for the further clearing up of the truth, we deſire your ſerious Anſwer to this ſad Queſtion, viz.

How will it ſtand with the unſpotted Holineſs, Juſtice and Object. Righteouſneſs of God, to puniſh a temporary offence with eternal puniſhments? for the evil of puniſhment ſhould be but commenſurate to the evil of ſin. Now what proportion is there betwixt finite and infinite? Why ſhould the ſinner lye in helliſh torments for ever and ever, for ſinning but a ſhort time, a few years in this world?

I judge it very neceſſary, to ſay ſomething to this important Anſw. Queſtion, before I come to diſcourſe of thoſe Duties that are incumbent upon thoſe Citizens whoſe houſes are turned into a ruinous heap: and therefore take me thus,

p. 126Firſt, Gods Will is the Rule of Righteouſneſs, and therefore 1what he do…h or ſhall do, muſt needs be righteous. He is Lord of all; he hath a Soveraign Right and an abſolute Supremacy over the creature: he is the only Potentate, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: he is the Judge of 1 Tim. 1. 15. Gen. 18. 25.1 Tim 1:15Gen 18:25the whole world. And ſhall not the Judge of all the earth do right? But,

S…condly, I anſwer, There is a Principle in man to ſin 2eternally: and therefore it is but juſt with God, if he puniſh him eternally. The duration of torment, reſpects the diſpoſition of the delinquent. Poenae ſingulorum inaequales intentione, Aqain.poenae omnium aequales duratione. If the ſinner ſhould live ever, …e would diſhonor God ever, and crucifie the Lord of Glory ever, and grieve the Spirit of Grace ever, and tranſgreſs a righteous Law ever; and therefore 'tis juſt with God to puniſh ſuch ſinners for ever. If the ſinner might live eternally, …t ſi p…ccato… … aeternum vi…t in aeter…m p…ccaret.he would ſin eternally, if he might live ſtill, he would ſin ſtill. Though the ſinner loſes his life, yet he dos not loſe his will to ſin. Sinners ſin as much as they can, and as long as they can; and did not the grave put a ſtop to their luſts, … ſi v…li… ….their hearts would never put a ſtop to their luſts. The ſinner ſins in his eternity, and God puniſhes in his eternity. The ſinner never loſes his will to ſin; his will to ſin is everlaſting; and therefore 'tis but juſt with God, that his puniſhment ſhould be everlaſting. A will to ſin is ſin in Gods account. God looks more at the will, than at the deed; and therefore that being laſting, the puniſhment muſt be ſo. The mind and intention of the ſinner, is to ſin everlaſtingly, eternally: if the ſinner ſhould live alwayes, he would ſin alwayes; and therefore as one ſaith, Quia mens in hac vita Gregory.nunquam voluit carere peccato, juſtum eſt, & nunquam caret ſupplicio. Becauſe the mind of man in this life, would never be without ſin, it is juſt that it ſhould never be without puniſhment in the life to come. Many of the men of the old world lived eight or nine hundred years, and yet faith and repentance was hid from their eyes: that patience, forbearance, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs and goodneſs, which ſhould 1 Pet. 3. 20.1 Pet 3:20have lead them to aſpeedy repentance, to a ſerious repentance, p. 127to a thorough repentance, to that repentance that was never to be repented of; was only made uſe of to patronize their lewdneſs and wickedneſs. This is certain wicked men left to themſelves, will never be weary of their Peccant i… aeter…o ſ…o, ergo p…i…t…r in aeter…o Dei. Auguſt…ne. The ſinner alwayes ſinned in his eternity, therefore he ſhall alwayes be puniſhed in Gods eternity.ſins, nor never repent of their ſins, and therefore God will never be weary of plaguing them, nor never repent of puniſhing th…m. The ſinner never leaves his ſin, till ſin firſt leaves him: did not death put a ſtop to his ſin, he would never ceaſe from ſin. This may be illuſtrated by a ſimilitude thus, A company of Gameſters reſolve to play all night, and accordingly they ſit down to Cheſs, Tables, or ſome other Game, their Candle accidentally, or unexpectedly goes out, or is put out, or burnt out, their Candle being out, they are forced to give over their Game, and go to bed in the dark; but had the Candle laſted all night, they would have played all night. This is every ſinners caſe, in regard of ſin, did not death put out the candle of life, the ſinner would ſin ſtill. Should the ſinner live for ever, he would ſin for ever; and therefore it is a righteous thing with God, to puniſh him for ever in helliſh torments. Every impenitent ſinner would ſin to the dayes of eternity, if he might but live to the dayes of eternity, Pſal. 74. 10. O God how long ſhall the adverſary reproach? Shall the enemy blaſpheme thy name for ever. For ever and evermore; or for ever and yet: (for ſo the Hebrew loves to exaggerate) as if the ſinner, the blaſphemer, would ſet a term of duration longer than eternity to ſin in. The Pſalmiſt implicitely ſaith, Lord, if thou doſt but let them alone for ever, they will certainly blaſpheme thy name for ever and ever. I have read of the Crocodile, that he knows no Maximum quod ſic, he is alwayes growing bigger and bigger, and never comes to a certain pitch of Monſtroſity ſo long as he lives. Quam diu vivit creſcit. Every habituated ſinner would (if he were let alone) be ſuch a Monſter, perpetually growing worſer and worſer. But,

Thirdly, I anſwer, That God againſt whom they have 3ſinned is an infinite and eternal good. Now a finite creature can't bear an infinite puniſhment intenſively, and therefore he muſt bear it extenſively. They have ſinned impenitently p. 128againſt an infinite Maj…ſty, and accordingly their Sin is … De…m … againſt an infi…ite Majeſty.puniſhment muſt be infinite. Now becauſe it cannot be infinite, in r…gard of the degree, men being but finite creatures, and ſo no cap…ble of infinite torments at one time: therefore their puniſhment muſt be infinite in the length and continuance of it. What is wanting in torment, m…ſt be made up in time. Every ſin is of an infinite nature, becauſe of the infinite dignity of the perſon againſt whom it is committed; and therefore it deſerveth an infinite pun…ſhment; which b…cauſe it can't be infinite ſecundum intentionem, in the intention and greatneſs of it: It r…maineth that it ſhould be infinite, ſecundum durationem, in r…ſpect of the d…ration and V…de Auguſt. l. 21. c. 11. de C…v…tate De.…ontinuance of the ſame. Mark, all puniſhments o…g…t to be levied according to the dignity of him, againſt whom the offence is committed. Words againſt common perſons, bear but common actions; words againſt Noble men, are ſcandala magnatum, great ſca…dals; but words againſt Princes, are Treaſon. So the dignity o… the pe…ſon againſt whom ſin is committed, dos exceedingly aggravate the ſin. To ſtrike an inferiour man, is matter of Arreſt, but to ſtrike a King, is matter of death. Now what an infinite diſtance and diſproportion, is there between the Lord of Hoſts and ſuch poor crawling Worms as we are, he being holineſs, and we ſinfulneſs; he fulneſs, and we emptineſs; he omnipotency, and we impotency; he Majeſty, and we vanity; he (inſtar omnium) all in all, and we nothing at all. Now to ſin againſt ſuch an infinite glorious Majeſty, deſerves infinite puniſhment. But,

Fourthly, I anſwer, Though the act of ſin be tranſient, 4yet it leaveth ſuch a ſtain upon the ſoul, as is permanent, and continueth in it evermore, and evermore it diſpoſeth the ſinner unto ſin (if it be not pardoned and purged out by mercy and Grace) and therefore it is but juſt, that this perpetual purpoſe of ſinning, ſhould be puniſhed with perpetuity A… long as the guilt of ſin remains, puniſhments and torments will remain.of pain. The guilt and ſtain of ſin, of its own nature, and unpardoned, endures eternally upon the ſoul; and therefore what can follow, but eternal torments. The laſting continuance of ſin, is remarkably deſeribed by the Prophet p. 129Jeremiah, Chap. 17. 1. The ſin of Judah is written with a Pen of Iron, and with the point of a Diamond; it is graven upon the table of their hearts. Not only written, but engraven that no hand can deface it. Slight not the commiſſion of any ſin, it periſhes not with the acting. The leaſt vanity hath a perpetuity, nay, an eternity of guilt upon it. Sin leaving a blot in the ſoul, brings the matter of Hell fire, is eternally puniſhed, becauſe there is ſtill matter for that everlaſting fire to work upon. But,

Fifthly, I anſwer, Though death put an end to mens lives, 5yet not to ſins. Hell is as full of ſin, as it is of puniſhment or torment. Though the Schoolmen determine, that after this life, men are capable neither of merit nor demerit; and therefore by their ſins do not incurr a greater meaſure of puniſhment; yet they grant, that they ſin ſtill. Though when the creature is actually under the ſentence of condemnation, the Law ceaſes to any further puniſhment, yet there is an obligation to the precepts of the Law ſtill. Though a man be bound only to the curſe of the Law, as he is a ſinner, yet he is bound to the precept of the Law, as he is a creature: ſo that though the demerit of ſin ceaſeth after death, yet the nature of ſin remaineth: though by ſinning they do not incurr a higher and a greater degree of puniſhment, yet as they continue ſinning, ſo it is juſt with God, there ſhould be a continuation of the puniſhment already inflicted. But,

Sixthly, I anſwer, It is no injuſtice in God, to puniſh temporal 6offences with perpetual torments. God meaſureth the puniſhment, by the greatneſs of the offence, and not by the time wherein the ſin was acted. Murder, Adultery, Sacriledge, Treaſon, and the like capital crimes, are doomed in the Judicatories of men, to death without mercy, and ſometimes to perpetual impriſonment, or to perpetual baniſhment; and yet theſe high offences were committed and done in a ſhort time. Now this bears a proportion with eternal torments. O Sirs, if the offences committed againſt God, be infinitely heinous, why may not the puniſhment be infinitely laſting. Sinners offences, as p. 130Auſtin well obſerves, are not to be meaſured temporis longitudine, Aug. de C…v…t. D…, l. 1. c. 11.by the length of time wherein they were done: but iniquitatis magnitudine, by the foulneſs of the crime: and if ſo, then God is juſt in binding the ſinner in everlaſting chains. We muſt remember, that God is a great and a glorious God, and that he is an omniſcient and an omnipotent God, and that he is a mighty, yea, an almighty God, and that he is a …oly and a juſt God, and that he is (out of Chriſt) an incomprehenſible, incommunicable, and very terrible God, and that he is an infinite, eternal, and independent God. And Heb. 12. 29. 30.Heb 12:29Heb 12:30we muſt remember, that man is a ſhaddow, a bubble, a vapour, a dream, a baſe, vile, ſinful, worthleſs Worm. Now theſe things being conſidered, muſt we not confeſs, that eternity it ſelf, is too ſhort a ſpace, for God to revenge himſelf on ſinners in. But,

Seventhly and laſtly, I anſwer, Such ſinners have but what 7they choſe. Whileſt they lived under the means of Grace, the God of Grace ſat before them Heaven and Hell, Glory Deut. 11. 26, 27. Chap. 30 15. Heb. 2. 2, 3. Chap. 10. 28, 29. John 3. 14, 15, 16, 17, 36. Chap. 1. 11.Deut 11:26Deut 11:27Heb 2:2Heb 2:3John 3:14John 3:15John 3:16John 3:17John 3:36and miſery, eternal life, and eternal death; ſo that if they eternally miſcarry, they have none to blame but themſelves, for chooſing Hell rather than Heaven, miſery rather than glory, and eternal death, rather than eternal life. Ah how treely, how fully, how frequently, how graciouſly, how gloriouſly, hath Chriſt been offered in the Goſpel to poor ſinners, and yet they would not chooſe him, they would not cloſe with him, they would not embrace him, nor accept of him, nor enter into a marriage Covenant with him, nor reſign themſelves up to him, nor part with their luſts to enjoy him: They would not come to Chriſt, that they might have John 5. 40. Mat…h. 22. 2, 3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4.John 5:402 Cor 4:32 Cor 4:4life; they ſlighted infinite mercy, and deſpiſed the riches of Grace, and trode under foot the blood of the everlaſting Covenant, and ſcorned the offers of eternal ſalvation; and therefore 'tis but juſt, that they ſhould lye down in everlaſting ſorrows. How can that ſinner be ſaved, that ſtill refuſes ſalvation? How can mercy ſave him, that will not be ſaved by mercy? yea, how can Chriſt ſave ſuch a man, that will not be ſaved by him? All the world can't ſave that man from going to Hell, who is peremptorily reſolved, that p. 131he will not go to Heaven. Sinners have boldly and daily refuſed eternal life, eternal mercy, eternal glory; and therefore 'tis but juſt, that th…y ſhould endure eternal miſery. And let thus much ſuffice for anſwer to the Objection.

But Sir, pray what are thoſe duties that are incumbent upon Queſt. thoſe that have been burnt up, and whoſe habitations are n…w laid in its aſhes?

I anſwer, They are theſe that follow. Anſw.

Firſt, See the hand of the Lord in this late dreadful fire, acknowledge 1the Lord to be the Author of all Judgements, and of this in particular. 'Tis a high point of Chriſtian Prudence Lev. 26. 41. Mich. 7. 9.Lev 26:41Mic 7:9and Piety, to acknowledge the Lord to be the Author of all perſonal or National ſufferings that b…fall us, Jer. 9. 12. Who is the wiſe man that may underſtand this? for what the Land periſheth, and is burnt up like a Wilderneſs that none paſſeth through. It is very great wi…dom to know from whom all our afflictions come; and for what all our affl…ctions come upon us. God looks that we ſhould obſerve his hand in all our ſufferings. Hear the rod, and who hath appointed it. God challenges all ſorts of afflictions, as his own ſpecial Adminiſtration, Mich. 6 9. See this Text fully opened in my firſt Epiſtle to my Treatiſe on …loſet Prayer.Mic 6:9Amos 3. 6. Is there any evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? I form the light, and create darkneſs; I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all th…ſe things, Iſa. 45. 7. God takes it very hainouſly, and looks upon it as a very great indignity that is put upon his Power, Providence and Juſtice, when men will neither ſee nor acknowledge his hand in thoſe ſore afflictions and ſad ſufferings, that he brings upon them: Of ſuch the Prophet Iſaiah complains, Chap. 26. 11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up, they will not ſee. The hand, the power of the Lord was ſo remarkable and conſpicuous in the Judgements that were inflicted upon them, as might very well wring an acknowledgement out of them, that it was the Lord that had ſtirred his wrath and indignation againſt them: and yet they wilfully and deſperately ſhut their eyes againſt all the ſeverities p. 132of God, and would not behold that dreadful hand of his that was ſtretched out againſt them. O Sirs, God looks upon himſelf as reproached and ſlandered, by ſuch who will not ſee his hand in the amazing Judgements that he inflicts upon them, Jer. 5. 12. They have belied the Lord, and ſaid it is not he: or as the Hebrew runs, he is not. Such was the Atheiſm of the Jews, that they ſlighted divine warnings, and deſpiſed all thoſe dreadful threatnings (of the Sword, Famine and Fire) which ſhould have lead them to repentance, and ſo tacitely ſaid, the Lord is not God: ſuch who either ſay, that God is not omniſcient, or that he is not omnipotent, or that he is not ſo juſt, as to execute the Judgements that he has threatned. Such belie the Lord, ſuch deny him to be God. Many feel the rod, that cannot hear it; and many experience the ſmart of the rod, that don't ſee the hand that holds the rod; and this is ſad. How can the natural man without faiths proſpective, look ſo high, as to ſee the hand of the Lord in waſting and deſtroying Judgements. By common experience we find, that natural men are mightily apt to father the evil of all their ſufferings upon ſecondary cauſes: ſometimes they cry out, this is from a diſtemper in nature, and at other times they cry out, this is from a bad Air: Sometimes they cry out of the malice, Plots, envy and rage of men; and at other times they cry out of Stars, Chance and Fortune, and ſo fix upon any thing, rather than the hand of God. But now a gracious Chriſtian under all his ſufferings, he overlooks all ſecondary cauſes, and fixes his eye upon the hand of God. You know what Joſeph ſaid to his unnatural Brethren, who fold him Gen. 45. 7.Gen 45:7for a ſlave; Non vos, ſed Deus; 'Twas not you, but God that ſent me into Aegypt. Job met with many ſore loſſes and ſad croſſes, but under them all, he over-lookt all inſtruments, all ſecondary cauſes; he over-looks the Sabeans, and the Chaldeans, and Satan, and fixes his eye upon the hand of God: The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away; bleſſed be Job 1. 21.Job 1:21the name of the Lord. Judas, and Annas, and Caiaphas, and Pilate, and Herod, and the bloody Souldiers, had all a deep hand in the ſufferings of Chriſt, but yet he over-looks them p. 133all, and fixes his eye upon his fathers hand. The cup which my Father hath given me, ſhall I not drink it. This cup was John 18. 11.John 18:11the cup of his ſufferings. Now in all his ſad ſufferings h… had ſtill an eye to his Fathers hand. Let us in all our ſufferings write after this Copy that Chriſt has ſet before us But of this I have ſpoken very largely already; and therefore let this touch ſuffice here.

Secondly, Labour to juſtifie the Lord in all that he has 2done: Say, the Lord is righ…eous, though he hath laid your City deſolate. When Jeruſalem was laid deſolate, and the Wall thereof broken down, and the Gates thereof were burnt with fire; Nehemiah juſtifies the Lord, Chap. 9. 33. Howbeit, thou art juſt in all that is brought upon us, for thou N…h…m. 1. 4. So Ma…c…us the Emperour juſtified God, when he ſaw his Wife and Children butchered before his eyes by the Tray…or Phocas, and knew that h…mſelf ſhould ſoon after be ſtewed in his own Broth; cryed out, Juſt art thou O Lord, and juſt are all thy Judgements.haſt done right, but we have done wickedly. The ſame Spirit was upon Jeremiah, Lam. 1. 1, 4, 8. How doth the City ſit ſolitary, that was full of people? H…w is ſhe become as a Widow? She that was great among the Nations, and Princ…ſs among the Provinces? How is ſhe become tributary? The wayes of Zion do mourn, becauſe none come to the ſolemn feaſts: all her Gates are deſolate; her Prieſts ſigh, her Virgins are afflicted, and ſhe is in bitterneſs. The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled againſt his commandment. The ſame Spirit was upon David, Pſal. 119. 75. I know, O Lord, that thy Judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulneſs haſt afflicted me. So Pſal 145. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his wayes, and holy in all his works. This Maxim we muſt live and dye by, though we don't alwayes ſee the reaſon of his proceedings. 'Tis granted on all hands, that voluntas Dei eſt ſumma, perfectiſſima, & infallibilis Regula divinae juſtitiae, & Deus ſibi ipſi lex eſt. The will of God is the chiefeſt, the moſt perfect and infallible Rule of Divine Juſtice; and that God is a Judge to himſelf. Shall Gen. 18. 25.Gen 18:25not the Judge of all the earth do right? In this Negative queſtion, is emphatically implyed, an Affirmative Poſition: which is, that God above all others, muſt and will do right; becauſe from his Judgement there is no appeal. Abraham conſidering the Nature and Juſtice of God, was confidently aſſured, that God could not do otherwiſe but right. Hath p. 134God turn'd you out of houſe and home, and marred all your pleaſant things, and ſtript you naked as the day wherein you were born: yes. Why if he hath, he hath done you no wrong: he can do you no wrong: he is a Law to himſelf: and his righteous Will is the Rule of all Juſtice. God can as ſoon ceaſe to be, as he can ceaſe to do that which is juſt and right. So Pſa. 97. 2. Clouds and darkneſs are round about him; Righteouſn…ſs and Judgement are the habitation of his throne. Clouds and dar…n…ſs, notes the terribleneſs of Gods adminiſtrations: though God be very terrible in his adminiſtrations, yet righteouſneſs and judg…ment are the habitation of his Throne. It hath been a day of Gods wrath in London, a day of trouble and diſtreſs, a day of waſting and deſolation, a day of darkneſs and gloomineſs, a day of clouds Zeph. 1. 15.Zeph 1:15and thick darkneſs, as it was once in Jeruſalem: yet righteouſneſs and judgement are the habitation of his Throne: or as it may be tranſlated, are the foundation of his Throne. Gods Seat of Judgement, is alwayes founded in righteouſneſs. So Daniel 9. 12. And he hath confirmed his words which he ſpake againſt us, and againſt our Judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done, as hath been done upon Jeruſalem. Ver. 14. The Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doth; for we obeyed not his voice. God is only righteous, he is perfectly righteous, he is exemplarily righteous, he is everlaſtingly righteous, he is infinitely righteous, and no unrighteouſneſs dwells in him. There are four things that God can't do: Pſal. 92. 15. Job 36. 23.Ps 92:15Job 36:231. He can't lie. 2. He can't die. 3. He ca'nt deny himſelf: Nor 4. He can't look upon iniquity, and not loath it: he can't behold iniquity and approve of it, or delight in it. God has a Soverainty over all your perſons and concernments in this world; and therefore he may do with you, and all that is yours as he pleaſeth: upon this account you ought to ſay, The Lord is righteous, though he hath laid your habitations deſolate, and burnt up your houſes before your eyes. Its true, God has dealt ſeverely with London; but he might have dealt more ſeverely with it: he might have burnt up Lam. 3. 22.Lam 3:22every houſe; and he might have conſumed every inhabitant p. 135in Londons flames. He might have made good that ſad word upon them, They ſhall go from one fire, and another fire ſhall Ezek. 15. 7.Ezek 15:7devour them. The Cit…zens of London may ſay with good Ezra, God hath puniſhed us leſs than our iniquities deſerve: and therefore it highly concerns them to ſay, The Lord is righteous. All that God doth is good: you know what H… zekiah ſaid, 2 Kings 20. 19. Good is the word of the Lord. This was a hard word, a ſad word, that all his treaſure ſhould be carried unto Babylon, and his Sons alſo, and made Servants there: and yet he ſaith, Good is the word of the Lord. What ever God doth is good. God in that he is good, (ſaith One) Lu…her in Pſalm 120.Ps 120can give nothing, do nothing, but that which is good; others do frequently, he cannot poſſibly. Upon this account alſo it concerns us to ſay, The Lord is righteous, though our See more of this in my Mute Chr…ſtia….City be laid deſolate. 'Tis better to be under a fiery Rod, than to be wallowing in the mire of ſin. 'Tis better that London ſhould be laid deſolate, than that God ſhould ſay, England farwell. Thats a Chriſtian worth Gold, who can ſeriouſly, heartily and habitually ſay, The Lord is righteous, though all our pleaſant things are laid deſolate.

I would ſay, the Lord is righteous; but by this fiery diſpenſation Object. I am turned out of houſe and home.

Now in anſwer to this Objection, give me leave to enquire, Anſw.

Firſt, Whether your houſe was dedicated to the Lord by 1faſting and prayer, or not? If it were only dedicated to the Deut. 20. 5.Deut 20:5ſervice of ſin, Satan, or the world, no wonder if the Lord has turned it into a heap. But,

Secondly, Give me leave to enquire, Whether you had ſet 2up Chriſt, and holineſs, and holy orders in your houſe or no? See Pſal. 101.Ps 101Did you in good earneſt reſolve with Joſhua, That you and your houſe would ſerve the Lord, Joſh. 24. 15. If not, no wonder, if the Lord has laid your habitations deſolate. But,

Thirdly, Give me leave to enquire, Whether you did labour 3and endeavour to the utmoſt of what you were able, that Chriſt might have a Church in your houſe or no? p. 136Col. 4. 15. Salute the Brethren, which are in L…odicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his houſe: that is, ſaith Dr. Hammond, which meets together in his houſe. 1 Cor. 16. 19. The Churches of Aſia ſalute you. Aquila and Priſcilla See Dr. Hammo…d on this Scripture. V…d. B…ſh. Dav Cotto…. Beza. Scult…us, Ambroſ. &c.ſalute you much in the Lord, with the Church that is in their houſe. Philemon v. 2. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow Souldier, and to the Church in thy houſe. Philemons houſe was a publick meeting-houſe, where the faithful had their Aſſemblies; and ſo continued for many years after, as Theodoret and others witneſſeth. Some underſtand this laſt Scripture, of the Church which kept their Aſſemblies in Philemons houſe. Others underſtand it of his houſehold, which was as a little Church in his houſe. Rom. 16. 5. Likewiſe greet the Church that is in their houſe. Chryſoſtome by the Church in their houſe, underſtands their Chriſtian Family; who ſaith he, were ſo godly, as to make their whole houſe the Church. Origen interpreteth it, of the faithful and ready Miniſtry of theſe ſervants of the Lord, in entertaining of the Saints in their houſe. 3. Theophylact thinketh it to be called the Church in their houſe, becauſe the faithfull were entertained there. 4. But beſide this, it ſeemeth that their houſe was a place for the Saints to Aſſemble in: there the Congregation uſed to come together. Martyr. 5. The laſt thing in their praiſe, was that they had a Church in their houſe: either, for that their family, for their godly order obſerved in it, ſeemed to be a Church, or elſe for the faithful gathered together in their houſe, to celebrate their Aſſemblies; for they might not have in moſt places the free uſe of their Chriſtian Religion, through the malice of the Jewes on the one hand, and the rage of the Gentiles on the other hand. Conſult Acts 13. and 14. Wilſon. In this great City of Rome there were divers Aſſemblies of Believers, which were held in ſome private mens houſes, where they might meet ſafeſt; the ſtate then, and ſome hundred years after, not permitting them any publick Temples or Auditories to meet in: as our Engliſh Annotators obſerve upon the place. In each particular family laſt cited, there was a Church of Chriſt. Now have you burnt Citizens, made it your buſineſs, to erect a Church p. 137of Chriſt in your particular families; if ſo, well it is with you, though you have loſt all. If not, do'nt wonder that God has laid your houſes deſolate. Adam had a Church in his houſe: ſo had Abraham, and Jacob, and Joſhuah, and David, and Cornelius; well governed Families, may in ſome ſenſe be well reputed Churches. The houſe of George Prince of Anhalt, for the good orders therein obſerved, is ſaid to have been, Eccl…ſia, Academia, Curia. Ah London, London, it may be, there might have been more houſes ſtanding within thy Walls, than now there is, if every particular houſe had been as a particular Church to Chriſt. As for ſuch houſes where there were no exerciſes of Religion; as for ſuch houſes where idleneſs, cheating, lying, curſing, ſwearing, ſlandering, gameing, drunkenneſs, uncleanneſs and riotouſneſs were rampant; They were rather the Devils Chappel, than Chriſts Church; and therefore it was juſt with God to lay ſuch habitations deſolate. But,

Fourthly, Give me leave to enquire, whether you were 4friends or enemies to Gods houſe. Now Gods houſe is his 2 Tim. 2. 20. Num. 12. 7. Joſh. 1. 2.2 Tim 2:20Num 12:7Josh 1:2Church; and his Church is his houſe: Heb. 3. 5, 6. And Moſes verily was faithful in all his houſe, as a ſervant: But Chriſt as a Son, over his own houſe; whoſe houſe are we. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye alſo as lively ſtones are built up a ſpiritual houſe, an holy Prieſthood, to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt. So 1 Tim. 3. 15. That thou maiſt know how thou oughteſt to behave thy ſelf in the houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Prov. 9. 1. Wiſdom hath builded her houſe, ſhe hath hewen out her ſeven pillars. Wiſdom, foreign chakmoth, the Hebrew word is Plural, wiſdoms: Wiſdoms hath built her a houſe. By Wiſdoms, ſome underſtand the Trinity of perſons, but moſt Col. 2. 3.Col 2:3conclude, that by wiſdoms is meant our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge. The word is Plural for honour ſake. As Princes write, we command: the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is ſaid to be Wiſdoms in the Plural number, to note, that he is the ſoveraign and ſupream wiſdom, and that he is inſtead of all wiſdoms, and comprehends all wiſdoms in himſelf: all the p. 138world being …ools in compariſon of him. Wiſdoms hath built her a houſe. 1. Some take this houſe to be the Humane nature of Chriſt; but that was not then built. 2. Others underſtand it of the work of Grace in mans ſoul: but this Gal. 5. 22, 23.Gal 5:22Gal 5:23the Spirit commonly works in this houſe, by the Miniſtry of the word. 3. Others by this houſe, underſtand Heaven, that upper houſe, that houſe of State, in which Chriſt ſaith there are many Manſions; but this can't, becauſe the houſe in the Text, is ſuch a houſe, to which Wiſdom doth immediately invite, and call all her gueſts. But 4. and laſtly, Others by houſe, underſtand the Church of Chriſt on earth, for the Church Militant, is a houſe built up of many lively ſtones: 1 Pet. 2. 5.1 Pet 2:5and with theſe I cloſe. Now by theſe Scriptures, it is very plain, that Gods houſe is his Church, and his Church his houſe. Now if you were enemies to Gods houſe, if you hated his houſe, and deſigned and endeavoured to pull down his houſe; no wonder that the Lord has laid your Mat. 23. 37, 38. Zech. 12. 2, 3, 6, 9.Matt 23:37Matt 23:38Zech 12:2Zech 12:3Zech 12:6Zech 12:9houſes deſolate. Such who cry out concerning his houſe, raſe it, raſe it, even to the foundation thereof, Pſal. 137. 7. may one day want a houſe to live in.

It is obſervable, that in private houſes, Chriſt his Apoſtles and particular Churches, and Primitive Chriſtians frequently uſed to meet (when the times were dangerous, (Joh. 20. 19. Then the ſame day at evening, being the firſt day of the week, Luke 24. 33.Luke 24:33when the doors were ſhut, where the Diſciples were aſſembled for fear of the Jews, came Jeſus and ſtood in the midſt, and ſaith unto them; Peace be unto you. Verſe 26. And after eight dayes, again his Diſciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jeſus, the doors being ſhut, and ſtood in the midſt, and ſaid, Peace be unto you. This was the uſual manner of ſalutation among the Jews, whereby they w…ſh…d one another all happineſs and proſperity. The doors of the room where they were together were ſhut, for the more ſecrecy and ſecurity, to avoid danger from the Jews, ſaith D… Hammond on the words, Acts 1. 13, 14. And when they were come in, they went See the Dutch Annotations.up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the Son of Alpheus, and Simon Z…lotes, and p. 139Judas the brother of James. Theſe all continued with one accord in prayer and ſupplication, with the women, and Mary th… Mother of Jeſus, and with his brethren, Acts 20. 7. And upon the firſt day of the week, when the Diſciples came together t… break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on th… morrow, and continued his ſpeech until midnight. Verſe 8. And See the Dutch Annotations and Diodation on Acts 20. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.Acts 20:7Acts 20:8Acts 20:9Acts 20:10Acts 20:11Acts 20:12here were many lights (Gr. many Lamps) in the upper chamber whither they were gathered together. Verſe 9. And there ſate in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep ſleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he ſunk down with ſleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. Verſe 10. And Paul went down and fell on him, and embracing him ſaid, trouble not your ſelves, for his life is in him. Verſe 11. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked along while, even till break of day; ſo he departed, Verſe 12. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. Acts 5. 42. And daily in the Temple, and in every houſe, they ceaſed not to teach and preach Jeſus Chriſt, Acts 12. 12. And when he had conſidered the See Dr. Hammond on the words, & the Engliſh Annotations.things, he came to the houſe of Mary the Mother of John, whoſe ſurname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. (or where many thronged to pray, as it runs in the Original) Acts 20. 20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have ſhewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from houſe to houſe. Acts 28. 30, 31. And Paul Vide Dr. Hammond of Acts 28. 30, 31.Acts 28:30Acts 28:31dwelt two whole years in his own hired houſe, and received all that came in unto him: Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching thoſe things which concern the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Luke 10. 38, 39. Now it came to paſs, as they went, that he entered into a certain Village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her houſe. And ſhe had a ſiſter called Mary, which alſo ſate at Jeſus feet, and heard his word. Beloved by theſe Scriptures, …is moſt evident and clear, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and his Diſciples and Apoſtles, and thoſe Chriſtians that lived in their times, did frequently meet in private houſes, and there performed acts of publick Worſhip, viz. ſuch as preaching, hearing, praying, breaking of bread, &c. How the primitive p. 140Chriſtians in thoſe hot times of perſecution, met in the nights, and in woods, and houſes, and obſcure places, they beſt underſtand, who have r…ad the writings of Tertullian, Cyprian, Chryſoſtome, Theodoret, Auſtin, Euſebius, Juſtin Martyr, Pliny, &c. But this to ſome being an unpleaſing Theam, I ſhall not enlarge my ſelf upon it. Only remember this, that there was never yet any Town, City, o… Country, Kingdom, or Common-wealth, that did ever fare the worſe for an holy praying people. Frequent and fervent prayer, be it in publick or in private, in a Synagogue or in an upper Room, never did, Jam. 5. 17, 18.Jas 5:17Jas 5:18nor never will bring miſery or miſchief upon thoſe places, where ſuch exerciſes are kept up. Such Conventicles of good fellowſhip (as ſome call them) where there is nothing but ſwearing and curſing and carouſing and gaming, and all manner of filthineſs and prophaneneſs, are the only Conventicles that bring deſolating Judgements upon Princes, People and Nations, as is moſt evident throughout the Scriptures. Take two texts for all: 1 Sam. 12. 25. But if ye ſhall ſtill do wickedly, ye ſhall be conſumed, both ye and your Kings. When Several hundred Scriptures might be produced, to make good the Aſſertion. Remember what one Achan did, and what one Manaſſeh did, 2 Kings 21. 11, 12. Eccleſ. 9. 18. One ſinner deſtroyeth much good. O then what a world of good, will a Rabble of ſinners deſtroy!2 Kgs 21:112 Kgs 21:12Eccl 9:18Princes and people continue to do wickedly together, then they ſhall be conſumed together. Zeph. 1. 12. I will ſearch Jeruſalem with candles, and puniſh the men that are ſettled on their lees; that ſay in their heart, the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. Verſe 13. Therefore their goods ſhall become a booty, and their houſes a deſolation. Verſe 17. And I will bring diſtreſs upon men, that they ſhall walk like blind men, becauſe they ſinned againſt the Lord; and their blood ſhall be poured out as duſt, and their fleſh as the dung. Verſe 18 Neither their ſilver nor their gold ſhall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath; but the whole Land ſhall be devoured by the fire of his jealouſie: for he ſhall make even a ſpeedy riddance of all them that dwell in the Land. Now if any of you whoſe houſes are laid deſolate, have had your ſpirits imbittered and engaged againſt the poor people of God, for practiſing as Chriſt and his Apoſtles did; Then lay your hands upon your mouths, and ſay, the Lord is righteous, though he has turned us out of houſe and home, and laid all our pleaſant things d…ſolate. Certainly all that legal and ceremonial holineſs p. 141of places which we read of in the Old Teſtament did quite vaniſh and expire with the Types, when Chriſt who is the ſubſtance (at which all thoſe ſhadows pointed) came into the world. I have neither faith to believe nor any reaſon to ſee, that there is in any ſeparated or conſecrated places for Divine Worſhip, any ſuch legal or ceremonial kind of holineſs, which renders Duties performed there, more acceptable M…r…. …n Rad. foreign pag….unto God, than if performed by the ſame perſons and in the like manne… in any other places. Doubtleſs Chriſt by his coming in the fleſh, hath removed all diſtinction of places through legal holineſs: this is clear by the Speech of our Saviour to the Samaritan woman, concerning the aboliſhing of all diſtinction of places for Worſhip through a ceremonial holineſs, John 4. 21. Jeſus ſaith unto her, woman believe me, the hour cometh when ye ſhall neither in this Mountain, nor yet at Jeruſalem worſhip the Father. The publick Worſhip of God was now to be reſtrained to no place, as formerly it was to the Temple at Jeruſalem. That is to no place for its ceremonial holineſs, which may render the parts of Divine Worſhip more acceptable to God, than if performed elſewhere. Becauſe thoſe Types which ſanctified the places form…rly, were now to be taken away, when Chriſt the ſubſtance was come. And the body of the Ceremonial Worſhip, being now to expire, and the partition wall taken down, that the Gentiles might be admitted to worſhip God in ſpirit and in truth. It could not poſſibly be, for theſe Reaſons, That the true Worſhip of God ſhould be tyed and fixed to any one ſuch Temple as was at Jeruſalem any more. The Temple at Jeruſalem was a mean of Gods Worſhip, and part of their Ceremonial Service, and a Type of Chriſt; but our Temples (ſaith my Author) are not a part Wee…nes 1. Vol. Chr…ſt…an Synagogue. p. 110.of the Worſhip of God, nor Types of the body of Chriſt. Neither are we bound when we pray, to ſet our faces towards them. They are called places of prayer only; becauſe the Saints me…t there: and if the Saints meeting were not in them, they were but like other common places. The Temple of Jeruſalem ſanctified the meetings of the Saints; but the meeting of the Saints, ſanctifies our Temples. Herods p. 142Temple at Jeruſalem was ſo ſet on fire by Titus his Souldiers, that it could not be quenched by the induſtry of man; and at the ſame time Apol…o's T…mple at Delphi was utterly overthrown by Earth-quakes, and Thunder-bolts, and neither of them could ever ſince be repaired. The concurrence of which two Miracles (ſaith mine Author) evidently ſheweth, Godw. A…tiq. H…b.that the time was then come, when God would put an end both to Jewiſh Cer…monies, and H…atheniſh Idolatry; that the King…om of his Son might be the better eſtabliſhed. The time of Chriſts death and paſſion was the very time that God in his eternal counſel, had ſet for the abrogation of the Ceremonial Law, and all ceremonial holineſs of places. As ſoon as ever Chriſt had ſaid, It is finiſhed, and had given up John 19. 30.John 19:30…he ghoſt, immediately the Vail of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom: and from that very hour there Matth. 27. 51.Matt 27:51was no more holineſs in the Temple, than in any other place. By the death of Chriſt all religious differences of places is taken away: So that no one place is holier than another. Before the coming of Chriſt, the whole Land of Canaan (becauſe it was a Type of the Church of Chr…ſt, and of the Kingdom of Heaven) was eſteemed by Gods people, a better and holier place, than any other in the world. And upon that ground among others, Jacob and Joſeph were ſo Gen. 47. 29, 31. Chap. 49. 29.Gen 47:29Gen 47:31deſirous to be buried there. And in the Land of Canaan, ſome places are ſaid to have been more holy than others, viz. Such as wherein God did manifeſt himſelf in a ſpecial and ſenſible manner. So the place where Chriſt appeared to Moſes in the fiery Buſh, is called Holy Ground: and ſo was that wherein he appeared to Joſhua. And the Mount Exod. 3 5. Joſh. 5. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 18.Exod 3:5Josh 5:151 Pet 1:18whereon Chriſt was transfigured, is called by Peter the Holy Mount. But theſe places were no longer accounted holy, than during the time of this ſpecial preſence of the Lord in them. So Jeruſalem was called the Holy City: yea, at the very moment Matth. 4. 5. Chap. 27. 53.Matt 4:5of Chriſts death, it is called the Holy City; becauſe it was a City ſet apart by God for a holy uſe, a City where he was daily worſhipped; a City that he had choſen to put his name upon. Though Jeruſalem was a very wicked City, yea the wickedſt City in all the world (counting the means p. 143they enjoyed) yet 'tis called the Holy City: and ſo doubtleſs in reſpect of ſeparation and dedication, it was h…lier than any other City or place in the world beſides. So the Temple in Jeruſalem is nine times called the Holy Temple; Pſal. 5. 7. 11. 4. 65. 4. 79. 1. 138 2. Jonah 2. 4, 7. Mich. 1. 2. Hab. 2. 20.Ps 5:7Ps 5:11Ps 5:4Ps 5:65Ps 5:79Ps 5:1Ps 5:138Jonah 2:4Jonah 2:7Mic 1:2Hab 2:20becauſe it was a more holy place, than any other place in Jeruſalem. Now mark, though all the parts of the Temple were holy; yet ſome places in it were holier than other ſome. This may be made evident three wayes. Firſt, There was a place where the people ſtood ſeparated from the Prieſts, Luke 1. 10. And this was ſo holy a place, that Chriſt would not ſuffer any to carry any veſſel through it. Ma…k 16. 11. And Secondly, There was a place where the Prieſts executed their Miniſtry, which was holier than that that the people ſtood in, and is therefore called the Holy Place, Lev. 16. 30. And Thirdly, There was a place which the High Prieſt might only enter into, and that but once a year, an… that is called the Holy of Holies, the holieſt place of all, Heb. 9. 3. But now ſince the death of Chriſt, there is no place in the world, that is holier than other. The prayer of faith is as powerful and as prevalent with God in one place, as in another Paul deſcribes the faithful to be ſuch, as call upon 1 Cor. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 8. Matth. 18. 20.1 Cor 1:21 Tim 2:8Matt 18:20God in every place. And I will ſaith he, that men pray every where. And where two or three (ſaith Chriſt) are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midſt of them. That every place ſhould be free for the people of God to worſhip the Lord in, was foretold by the Prophets, as a ſingular priv…l…dge, that ſhould come to the Church in the dayes of the Goſpel, Zeph. 2. 11, And men ſhall worſhip him, every one from his place; even all the Iſles of the Heathen. That is, all Count…ys▪ though not encompaſſed with the Sea; for the Jews …a…l…d …ll L…ds Iſlands, whither they could not come, but by Wa…r. M…n ſhould worſhip, not only at Jeruſalem, as o…, but in all pl…ces: They ſhould lift up pure hands and hearts, without wrath or doubting, both in Church and 1 Tim. 2. 8.1 Tim 2:8Chamber: any place whatſoever ſhall be a ſufficient Oratory, ſo that God be worſhipped in Spirit, and in truth, Mal. 1. 11. For from the riſing of the Sun, even to the going down of the ſame, my name ſhall be great among the Gentiles, and in p. 144every place (not in Judaea only) incenſe ſhall be offered unto my name, (Here th… Prophet frames his words to the capacity of the peo…le, and by the Altar and Sacrifices, he meaneth the ſpiritual ſervice of God, which ſhould be under the Goſpel, when an end ſhall be put to all theſe Legal Ceremonies by Chriſts only Sacrifice) and a pure offering: for my name ſhall be great among the Heathen, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. The poor bl…nd b…ſotted Jews thought, that God was ſo ty…d to them; that if they did not worſh…p him at Jeruſalem, he would have no ſervice nor worſhip in the world. But God t…lls them, that they were under a very high miſtake, for he would take care of his own name and glory For from the riſing of the Sun, even to the going down of the ſame, my name ſhall be great (that is, the knowledge of it, and of the right worſhip of it) among the Gentiles (this is an excellent Propheſie of the cutting off the Gentiles) and in every place incenſe ſhall be offered unto my name. My Worſhip, ſaith God, ſhall not be confined to Judae…, or Jeruſalem, See Iſa. 66. 19, 20. Chap. 60. 8. and Chap. 19. 19.Isa 66:19Isa 66:20or the Temple, but in every place I will have a people that ſhall worſhip me, and that ſhall be ſtill offering of prayers and praiſes, and thanksgivings to me. Chriſt by his death hath taken away all difference of places: And indeed it was but neceſſary, that when the body was come, the ſhadow ſhould ceaſe. Yea, ſince Chriſts death, all difference of perſons is taken away: For in every Nation under heaven, ſuch Act. 10. 34, 35. Gal. 3. 28.Acts 10:34Acts 10:35Gal 3:28as fear God and work righteouſneſs, are accepted of him. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bend nor free: there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Chriſt Jeſus. And therefore all difference of places muſt needs alſo be taken away, for this difference of places was as a partition wall between the Jews and the Gentiles. Now mark, ſince the Epheſ. 2. 14, 15.Eph 2:14Eph 2:15deſtruction of the Temple and City of Jeruſalem, the Lord hath not ſanctified, any other place in the world, or conſecrated it to a more holy uſe than the reſt, and it is only Gods inſtitution and word, that can make any thing, or any 1 Tim. 4 4 5.1 Tim 4:4place holy. Nothing can make any place or any thing elſe holy, but the Ordinance and inſtitution of God. It is Judaiſme, it is a denying of Chriſt to be come in the fleſh, to p. 145hold or affirm, that one place is holier than another. I know the Papiſts put more holineſs in ſome plac…s than th…y do in others: for they hold that it is more advantagio…s … the dead, to be buried in the Church-yard, than out of it. And in the Church, more than in the Church-yard; and in Chancel, more than in the Church; and n…ar the high Al…ar, more than in any other place of the C…ancel: and all out of a ſuperſtitious conceit, that theſe places are conſecrated and hallowed, that they are holier then other places are. But Chriſtians that live und…r a bright ſhining Goſpel underſtand the folly and vanity of theſe mens ſpirits, principles and practices. Such as are wiſe in heart, know that ſince Chriſt by his death hath taken away all religious difference of places: England is as holy as Canaan, and London as Jeruſalem, and our houſes as the Temple.Ne. 12 27, 28. Pſal. 30. Title, A Pſalm a…d So…g at the D… dication of the houſ… of David. While the Ark brought the Plague, every one was glad to be rid of it; but when it brought a bleſſing to Obed-Edom, they looked upon it as worthy of entertainment. Many will own a bleſſing▪Ark a proſperous truth: but he is an Ob…d-Edom indeed, that will own a perſecuted, toſſed, baniſhed Ark.Ps 30

Under the Law they were wont to dedicate their houſes, and conſecrate them to God, before they dwelt in them: Deut. 20. 5. And the Officers ſhall ſpeak unto the people, ſaying, what man is there that hath built a new houſe, and hath not dedicated it? (by Prayers, Hymns, and other holy ſolemnities) let him go and return to his houſe, leſt he dye in the battel, and another man dedicate it. Now thou…h this were done in thoſe times, with ſundry ceremonies which are now aboliſhed; yet the equity of the duty ſtill remains. And doubtleſs the beſt way for a man to bring down a bleſſing upon himſelf and his houſe, is to dedicate himſelf and his houſe to God, 2 Sam. 6. 11. And the Ark of the Lord continued in the houſe of Obed-Edom the Hittite three moneths: and the Lord bleſſed Obed-Edom and all his houſhold. Verſ… 12. And it was told King David, ſaying, the Lord hath hleſſed the h…uſe of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth to him, becauſe of the Ark of God. In this Scripture you ſee, that when men do any thing, to the advancement of Religion, or to the furtherance of Gods Worſhip and Service; he takes it kindly at their hands. The meaneſt ſervice that is done to Chriſt or his Church, hath a Patent of eternity. Again, in this Scripture you may run and read a real retribution and remuneration. God dos not put off Obed-Edom with a fine Feather, or with p. 146empty favours, or Court compliments, but he really bleſſes him and all his houſhold. Obed-Edom had been at ſome coſt and charge, in giving entertainment to Gods Ark; but God defrayes all the charges, and payes him abundantly for his kind entertainment, with intereſt upon intereſt. No man ever gave the Goſpel a nights lodging, that hath been a loſer by it. God will pay all ſuch with uſe and principal, who do any thing to the furtherance of his worſhip and ſervice. Hiram ſhall have Corn and Oyl, for affording materials to the building of the Temple. Cyrus ſhall proſper and be victorious, for breaking off the yokes that were about his peoples necks, and reſtoring of them to their Chriſtian liberty. Aegypt fared the beeter, for entertaining the Pa…riarchs; God ſtored that Countrey with great plenty and variety of outward bleſſings; becauſe his Church was to ſojourn there. God bleſſed Obed-Edoms perſon and poſſeſſion and family for the Arks ſake: the bleſſings that was upon Obed-Edom, was like the precious Oyntment that was ſhed upon Aarons head, and that ran down to the loweſt skirts of his garments. Every ſervant in Obed-Edoms family, taſted of Gods noble bounty; and fared the better, for the Arks ſake. Let men and Devils do their worſt, God will certainly bleſs their dwellings, who give entertainment Among all th… Lacedaemonians you could not have ſeen one drunken man among them, unleſs it was their ſlaves. The Mahumetans forbid any of their Sect to drink Wine, under pain of death. Their Muſſulmans and Dar…iſels affirmi…g, that there lurks a Devil under every Grape.to his Ark, to his people that deſire to worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth.

O Sirs, this is, and this muſt be for a lamentation, that there are ſo many Ale-houſes, and Gaming houſes, and Whore▪houſes, that are uſually ſtuft with vain perſons, yea, with the very worſt of the worſt of men, both on the Lords Day, and on other dayes. Certainly theſe houſes are the very Suburbs and Seminaries of Hell. Ʋbi fuiſti? Where haſt thou been? apud inferos, in Hell, ſaid Eraſmus merrily: comparing Tipling-houſes to Hell. Doubtleſs they are the Nurſeries of all ſin, and the Synagogue of Devils incarnate. In the above-mentioned houſes, how …otoriouſly is the name of God blaſphemed, and how ſhamefully are the precious fruits of the earth abuſed? and how many hundred families are there impoveriſhed? and how many thouſand children p. 147and ſervants are there empoyſoned? and how is all manner of wickedneſs and lewdneſs there encouraged and increaſed? But when, O when ſhall the Sword of the Magiſtrate be turned againſt theſe Conventicles of Hell. Certainly the horrid wickedneſſes that are daily committed in ſuch houſes, if not prevented (by a faithful, zealous, and conſtant execution of the Laws in force) will arm divin… venge…nce againſt the Land. Magiſtrates ſhould not bear the Sword of Juſtice in vain: For they are Miniſt…rs of God to revenge and execute wrath upon them that do evil. By their office they are bound to be a terror to evil doers, and encouragers of them that do well; and O that all in Power and Authority, would for ever reſolve againſt being Satans Drudges. Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of theſe things which thou The Devil in Diocl…ſia…, ſay ſome: the Devil in Trajan, ſay others. For he reigned next after this Book was written, and was very cruel againſt the Chriſtians, delivering them over to priſons and death, and all to drive them through fear from the profeſſion of Chriſt.ſhalt ſuffer: behold, the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon, that ye may be tryed; and ye ſhall have tribulation ten dayes: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. The Devil by his Imps and inſtruments, whom he acts and agitates, the Devil by engaging the Civil and the Military power of the world againſt the people of God, ſhould ſo far prevail, as to clap them up in priſon. The Priſon in this Text, notes (by a Synecdoche) the adjuncts and conſequences; as namely, torments, puniſhments, and all ſorts of Martyrdom. This one puniſhment, impriſonment (ſaith Brightman) doth contain preſcribings, confiſcation of goods, baniſhments, ſlaughters, fires, rackings, or whatſoever exquiſite torment beſide, as the ſtory teacheth. The Heathen Emperours, with thoſe wicked Governours, Officers and Souldiers that were under them, were the great inſtruments in Satans hand, to practiſe the greateſt cruelties upon the Saints in thoſe dayes. Some they caſt into Priſons; ſome they baniſhed; multitudes they ſlew with the Sword: ſome of the precious ſervants of Chriſt, they beat with ſtripes to death, others they branded in their fore-heads: Others were tortured and racked. Yea, and many holy women in that day had their breaſts cut off: and others of them had their breaſts burnt with a hot Iron: and ſometimes with Eggs roſted as hot as could be. Theſe with many p. 148other torments the people of God were exerciſed with, as all know, that have read the lamentable ſtories of thoſe ſad times.

But you may ſ…y, Why then is the impriſonment of the Saints Object. ſo aſcribed to the Devil, as if it were immediately acted by him. Behold, the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon.

1. To ſhew what influence the Devil hath in the acting of wicked men, ſo that in effect their deed is his deed; they Anſw. are ſo ſubſ…rv…ent to him.

2. It is to ſhew us, that the Author, Original and fountain from whence all the perſecutions of the Saints do flow, is the Devil, who was a murder and a lyar from the beginning.John 8. 44.John 8:44

3. It is to aggrevate the horribleneſs of this ſin of perſecution, as being a main piece of the Devils buſineſs, what ever the inſtruments are.

4. It is to comfort and encourage the people of God to pa…ience and conſtancy in all their ſufferings for Chriſt, ſeeing that it is the Devil that is their grand enemy, and that makes (in his inſtruments) the higheſt oppoſition againſt them. A gracious man in the midſt of all oppoſitions (as Chryſoſtoms ſaid of Peter) is as a man made all of fire walking in ſtubble, he overcom… and conſumes all oppoſitions; all difficulties are but whet-ſtones to his fortitude. When Chriſtians meet with great oppoſers and great oppoſitions, they ſhould ſay as that noble Souldier Paedarelus (in Eraſmus) did to him that told him of a numerous and mighty Army which was coming againſt him. (Tanto plus gloriae reforemus quoniam eo plures ſuperabimus) The number of oppoſers makes the Chriſtians conqueſt the more illuſtrious. It is very obſervable, that in Diocleſians time, (under whom was the laſt and worſt of the ten perſecutions) When Chriſtian Ruffia.Religion was more deſperately oppoſed than ever, yet then it proſpered and prevailed more than ever. So that Diocleſian himſelf obſerving, that the more he ſought to blot out the name of Chriſt, the more legible it became: and the more p. 149he laboured to block up the way of Chriſt, the more paſſible As they ſaid once of the Graecia…s in the Epigramm whom they thought invu…nerable, We ſh…ot at them, but they fail not down, we wound them, but do'nt kill them. See Exod. 1. 10, 11, 12, 13. Acts 8. & Acts 14.Exod 1:10Exod 1:11Exod 1:12Exod 1:13Acts 8Acts 14it became. And what ever of Chriſt he thought to root out, it rooted the deeper, and roſe the higher: thereupon he reſolved to engage no further, but retired to a private life. All the oppoſitions that the D…vil and his inſtruments had raiſed againſt the Saints in all the ages of the world, hath not diminiſhed, but encreaſed their number. For the firſt three hundred years after Chriſt there was a moſt terible perfecution. Hiſtorians tell us, that by ſeven and twenty ſeveral ſorts of deaths they tormented the poor people of God. In theſe hot times of perſecution, many millions of Chriſtians were deſtroyed. And yet this was ſo far from diminiſhing of their number, that it encreaſed their number: for the more they were oppreſſed and perfecuted, the more they were encreaſed. And therefore ſome have well obſerved, that though Julian uſed all means imaginable to ſuppreſs them, yet he could never do it. He ſhut up all their Schools, that they might not have learning; and yet never did learning more flouriſh than then. He deviſed all manner of cruel torments, to terrifie the Chriſtians, and to draw them from their holy faith: and yet he ſaw, that they encreaſed and multiplied ſo faſt, that he thought it his b…ſt courſe at laſt to give over his perſecuting of the Saints, not out of love, but out of envy, becauſe that through his perſecution they encreaſed. This was repreſented unto Daniel Dan. 2. 34, 35.Dan 2:34Dan 2:35in a viſion, Dan. 2. The Kingdom of Chriſt is ſet forth there by a little ſtone cut out of the Mountain without hands (without art or induſtry; without Engines, and humane helps) The ſtone was a growing ſtone, and although in all the ages of the world, there have been many hammers at work to break this ſtone in pieces; yet they have not, nor ſhall not prevail, but the little ſtone ſhall grow more and more, till it becomes a great Mountain, and fills the whole earth.

And let this ſuffice for Anſwer to the firſt Objection.

p. 150I would juſtifie the Lord, I would ſay he is righteous, though Object. 2 my houſe …e burnt up: but I have loſt my goods, I have loſt my eſtate; yea, I have loſt my all as to this world: and how then can I ſ…y the Lord is righteous? how can I juſtifie that God, which has (even) ſtript me as naked, as the day wherein I was born, &c.

To this I anſwer. Anſw.

Firſt, D…dſt thou gain thy eſtate by juſt, or unjuſt wayes 1and means? If by unjuſt way…s and means, then be ſilent before the Lord. If …y juſt wayes and means, then know that the Lord will lay in that of himſelf, and of his Son, and of his Spirit, and of his Grace, and of Heavens glory, that ſhall make up all thy loſſes to thee. But,

Secondly, Did you improve your eſtates for the glory of 2God, and the good of others, or did you not? If not, why do you complain? If you did, the reward that ſhall attend you at the long run, may very well bear up your ſpirits under all your loſſes. Conſult theſe Scriptures, 1 Cor. 1. 15. 2 Cor. 9. 6. Eccleſ. 11. 1. Gal. 6. 7, 8. Iſa. 32. 20. Iſa. 55. 10. Prov. 11. 18. Rev. 22. 12. But,

Thirdly, What Trade did you drive Chriſt-wards and Heaven-wards, and Holineſs-wards? If you did drive either 3The Stars which have leaſt circuit, are neareſt the Pole, and men that are leaſt perplexed with buſineſs, are commonly neareſt to God.no Trade heaven-wards, or but a ſlender or inconſtant Trade heaven-wards, and holineſs-wards, never wonder that God by a fiery diſpenſation, has ſpoiled your Civil Trade. Doubtleſs there were many Citizens who did drive a cloſe ſecret ſinful Trade, who had their by▪wayes and back-doors; ſome to uncleanneſs, others to merry meetings, and others to ſecret Gaming. Now if thou wert one of them that didſt drive a ſecret Trade of ſin; never murmur becauſe thy houſe is burnt, and thy Trade deſtroyed, but rather repent of thy ſecret Trade of ſin; and wonder that thy body is not in the grave, and that thy ſoul is not a burning in everlaſting flames. Many there were in London, who had ſo great a Trade, ſo full a Trade, ſo conſtant a Trade, that they had no time to mind the everlaſting concernments of their precious ſouls, p. 151and the great things of Eternity. They had ſo much to There were many who ſacrificed their pr…ci…us …me …ther to … the M… ni…t…r of ſleep, or to Bacc…us the G…d of Wine, or to … …he Goddeſ… … B…auty: … i… all …ere due to the B…d, the Tavern, and the …rothel-houſe. Numb. 22. 32. 2 Pet 1. 10.Num 22:322 Pet 1:10do on Earth, that they had no time to look up to Heaven; as once the Dake of Alva told the King of Fra…ce. Sr. Thomas More ſaith, there is a Devil called neg…tiu…, buſineſs, th… carrieth more ſouls to Hell, then all the D…v…s in Hell beſide. Many Citizens had ſo many Irons in the fire, and were cumbred about with ſo many things, that the… wholly neglected the one thing neceſſary: and therefore it was but juſt with God, to viſit them with a fiery Rod. Look, as much earth puts out the fire; ſo much worldly b…ſineſs puts out the fire of heavenly affections. Look, as the earth ſwallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; ſo much worldly buſineſs ſwallows up ſo much precious time, that many men have no leiſure to ſecure their intereſt in Chriſt: to make their calling and election ſure: to lay up treaſure in Heaven; to provide for eternity: and if this have been any of your caſes who are now burnt up, it highly concerns you to juſtifie the Lord, and to ſay he is righteous, though he has burnt up your habitat…ons, and deſtroy…d your Trade. 'Tis ſad when a crowd of worldly buſineſs, ſhall crowd God and Chriſt, and Duty out of doo…s. Many Citizens did drive ſo great a Publick Trade in their Shops, that their private Trade to Heaven was quite laid by. Such who were ſo buſie about their Farm and their Merchandiſe, that they had See Luke 14. 16. 22.Luke 14:16Luke 14:22no leiſure to attend their ſouls concernments, had their City ſet on fire about their ears, Matth. 22. 5. But they made light of it (that is, of all the free, rich and noble off…rs of Grace and mercy that God had made to them) and went their wayes, one to his farm, another to his Merchandiſe, Ver. 7. But when the King heard thereof, he was wroth: and he ſent forth his Armies (that is, the Romans) and deſtroyed thoſe murderers, and burnt up their City. It is obſervable, that the Exod. 20. 9. Vid… Exod. 29. 38, 39. Numb. 28. 3. Deut. 6. 6, 7, 8.Exod 20:9Exod 29:38Exod 29:39Num 28:3Deut 6:6Deut 6:7Deut 6:8Jews who were commanded ſix dayes to labour, were alſo commanded to offer Morning and Evening Sacrifice daily. They had their Morning Sacrifice when they entred upon their work; and they had their Evening Sacrifice when they ended their work. Their particular callings did not ſteal away their hearts from their general callings. The Jews p. 152divided the day into three parts, the firſt ad Tephilla, orationem, W…emſe Mor. Law. p. 223.to prayer: the ſecond ad Torah, legem, for the reading of the Law; the third ad Malacha, opus, for the works of their lawful callings. Although they were dayes appointed for work; yet they gave God his part, they gave God a ſhare of them every day. God who is the Lord of all time, hath reſerved to himſelf a part of our time every day. And therefore mens particular callings ought to give way to their general calling. But alas, before London was in flames, many mens (Oh that I could not ſay moſt mens) particular callings ſwallowed up their general calling. The noiſe is ſuch in a Mill, as hinders all intercourſe betwen man and man: So many of the burnt Citizens, had ſuch a multitude of worldly buſineſſes lying upon their hands, and that made ſuch a noiſe, as that all intercourſe between God and them was hindered. Seneca one of the moſt refined Heathens could ſay, I do not give, but only lend my ſelf to my buſineſs. I am afraid this Heathen will one day riſe in Judgement againſt thoſe burnt Citizens, who have not lended themſelves to their buſineſs, but wholly given up themſelves to their buſineſs, as if they had no God to honour, no ſouls to ſave, no Hell to eſcape, nor no Heaven to make ſure. But,

Fourthly, Job loſt all, and recovered all again: he loſt a 4fair eſtate, and God doubles his eſtate to him. So David Compare the firſt and laſt Chapters of Job together.l…ſt all, and recovered all again. 1 Sam. 30. 18. And David recovered all that the Amalakites had carried away, and David reſcued his two wives. Ver. 19. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither ſmall nor great, neither Sons nor Daughters, neither ſpoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them. David recovered all. Here the end was better than the beginning; but the contrary befell the Amalekites, who a little before had framed Comoedies out of poor Ziklags Tragoedies. In the beginning of the Chapter you may ſee, that David had loſt all that ever he had in the world. All the ſpoil that he Verſe 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.had taken from others, were gone, his Corn gone, his Cattel gone, his Wives gone, and his City burnt with fire, and turned into a ruinous heap, ſo that he had not a houſe, a p. 153habitation in all the world to put his head in: he had nothing left him, but a poor, grieved, madded and enraged Army. The people ſp…ke of ſtoning of him: but what Verſe 6.was the event now? why David recovers all again. O Sirs, when a Chriſtian is in greateſt diſtreſs, when he hath Remember that of Zeno, who ſaid, he never ſailed better, than when he ſuffered ſhipwrack.loſt all, when he is not worth one penny in all the world; yet then he hath a God to go to at laſt. David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. A Chriſtians caſe is never ſo deſperate, but he hat ſtill a God to go to. When a Chriſtian has loſt all, the beſt way to recover all again, is to encourage himſelf in the Lord his God. God ſometimes ſtrip… his people of outward mercies, and then reſtores to them again thoſe very mercies that he had ſtript them off I have read a ſtory of a poor man that God ſerved f…ithfully, and yet was oppreſſed cruelly; having all his goods taken from him by an exacting Knight, whereupon in a melancholy humour, he perſwaded himſelf, that God was dead, who had formerly been ſo faithful to him, and now (as he thought) had left him: It ſo fell out, that an old man met him, and deſired him to deliver a Letter into the hands of his oppreſſor: upon the receipt and peruſal of which, the Knight was ſo convinced, that immediately he confeſſed his fault, and reſtored the poor man his goods; which made the poor man ſay, Now I ſee, that God may ſeem to ſleep, but can never dye. If God has taken away all: yet remember, that God has a thouſand thouſand wayes to make up all thy loſſes to thee, which thou knoweſt not of; therefore do'nt murmur, don't fret, do'nt faint, nor do'nt limit the Holy One of Iſrael. If thou madeſt no improvement of thy houſe, thy eſtate, thy Trade, then 'tis thy wiſdom and thy work, rather to be diſpleaſed with thy ſelf for thy non improvement of mercies, than to be diſcontented at that hand of Heaven, that hath deprived thee of thy mercies. Remember Oh ye burnt Citizens of London, that you are not the firſt that have loſt your all. Beſides the inſtances already cited, you muſt remember what they ſuffered in the tenth and eleventh Chapters of the Hebrews; and you muſt remember that in the Ten Perſecutions many thouſands of the people of God were ſtript p. 154of their all: and ſo were very many alſo in the Marian dayes, who ſhrugs or complains of a common Lot? It was grace upon the Throne, that thou enjoyedſt thy houſe, thy eſtate, thy Trade ſo long, and therefore it concerns thee to be rather thankful, that thy mercies were continued ſo long unto thee, than to murmur becauſe thou art now ſtript of all. But,