Sighs from Hell, Commentary · Verse 24
Verse 24.
And he cryed, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.
YOu know I told you the 22th Verse, is a discovery of the departure of the godly, and the ungodly out of this life; where he saith, The beggar died, and the rich man also died. The 23. Verse, is a discovery of the proper places, both of the godly, and the ungodly after death; one being in Abrahams Bosom, or in glory, the other in Hell. Now this 24 Verse, is a discovery of part of the too late repentance of the ungodly, when they are dropt down into Hell. And he cryed, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me.]
From these words, And he cryed, we may observe, first, What a change the ungodly will have, when they come into Hell. He cried; it is like he was laughing, jesting, jearing, drinking, mocking, swearing, cursing, prating, pers…cuting of the godly in his prosperity, among his filthy companions; but now the case is otherwise, now he is in another frame, now his proud, flout, currish carriage is come down. And he cryed. The laughter of the ungodly will not last alwayes, but will be sure to end in a cry, The tryumphing of the wicked is short, Job 20 5. Consider, you must have a change, either here or in Hell. If you be not new creatures, regenerate persons, new-born Babes in this World before you go hence, your note will be changed, your conditions will be changed▪ for if you come into Hell, you must cry. O did but the singing drunkards, when they are making merrie on the Ale-bench, think on this, it would make them change their note, and cry, What shall I do? whither shall I go when I die? But as I said before, the Devil, as he labours to get poor souls to follow their sins, so he labours also to keep the thoughts of eternal damnation out of their mindes; and indeed▪ these two things are so nearly linked together, that the Devil cannot well get the Soul to go on in sin with delight, unless he can keep the Thoughts of that terrible after-clap out of their minds.
But let them know, that it shall not always be thus with them; for if when they depart, they drop down into Eternal Destruction, they shall have such a sence of their sins, and the punishment due to the same, that it shall make them to cry. And he cryed. O what an alteration will there be among the ungodly, when they go out of this World! it may be a Fortnight or a MonethMonth before their departure, they were light, stour, surly, drinking themselves drunk, slighting God's People, mocking at goodness, and delighting in sin; following the World, seeking after Riches, faring deliciously, keeping company with the bravest; but now they are dropt down into Hell, they cry. A little while ago they were painting their Faces, feeding their Lusts, following their Whores, robbing their Neighbours, telling of Lies, following of Plays, and Sports, to pass away the time; but now they are in Hell, they do cry. It may be last Year they heard some good Sermons, was invited to receive Heaven, was told their sins should be pardoned, if they closed in with Jesus; but refusing his profers, and slighting the Grace that was once tendered, they are now in Hell, and do cry.
Before they had so much time (they thought) that they could not tell how to spend it, unless it were in Hunting, and Whoring, in dancing and playing, and spending whole hours; yea, days, nay weeks, in the Lusts of the Flesh, but when they depart into another place, and begin to lift up their Eyes in Hell, and consider their miserable, and irrecoverable condition, they will cry.
O what a condition wilt thou fall into, when thou dost depart this World, if thou depart unconverted, and not born again, thou hadst better have been smother'd the first hour thou wast born; thou hadst better have been plucked one Limb from another; thou hadst better have been made a Dog, a To…d, a Serpent; nay, any other Creature in the visible World, than to die unconverted; and this thou wilt find to be true, when in Hell thou dost life up thine Eyes, and dost cry.
Here then before we go any further, you may see, that it is not without good ground, that these words are here spoken by our Lord, That when any of the ungodly do depart into Hell, they will cry. Cry, why so?
1. They will cry to think, that they should be cut off from the Land of the Living, never more to have any footing therein.
2. They will cry to think, that the Gospel of Christ should be so often proffered them, and yet they are not profited by it.
3. They will cry to think, that now, though they would never so willingly repent and be saved, yet they are past all Recovery.
4. They will cry to think, that they should be so foolish as to follow their pleasures, when others were following of Christ, Luke 13. 28.
5. They will cry to think, that they must be separated from God, Christ, and the Kingdom of Heaven, and that for ever.
6. To think, that their crying will now do them no good.
7. To think, that at the Day of Judgment, they must stand at the left hand of Christ, among an innumerable Company of the Damned Ones.
8. They will cry to think, that Lazarus, whom once they slighted, must be of them that must sit with Christ to judge, or together with Christ, to pass a Sentence of Condemnation on their Souls for ever and ever, 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3.
9. Cry to think, that when the Judgment is over, and others are taken into the everlasting Kingdom of Glory, then thou must depart back again into that Dungeon of Darkness, from whence thou camest out, (…o appear before that terrible Tribunal) where thou shalt be tormented so long as Eternity lasts, without the least intermission or ease.
How sayest thou, O thou wanton proud, swearing, lying, ungodly Wretch, whether this be to be slighted, and made a mock at. And again, tell me now, if it be not better to leave sin, and to close in with Christ Jesus, notwithstanding that Reproach thou shalt meet with for so doing, than to live a little while in this World in pleasures, and feeding thy Lu…s, in neglecting the welfare of thy Soul and refusing to be justified by Jesus, and in a moment to drop down to Hell, and to cry? O consider, I say consider bet…es, and put not off the Tenders of the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, lest you lift up your Eyes in Hell, and cry for anguish of Spirit.
And he cryed and said, Father Abraham have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus, &c.
These words do not o… …old forth the lamentable Condition of the Damned, and their lamentable howling and crying one under their anguish of spirit, but also they do signifie to us (as I said before) their too late Repentance; and also, that they would very willingly, if they might, be set at liberty from that everlasting …ery, that by their sins they have plunged themselves into. I say, these words do hold forth a desire that the Damned have, to be delivered from those Torments that they now are in: O Father Abraham, saith he, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my Tongue, for I am tor…ted in this flame. These words, Father Abraham may have some difficulty in them. It is possible, that some may think them to be meant of Abraham, and those; or him that ctieth out here, to be the Jews. Or it may be some may understand it to be GOD, or Jesus Christ his Son, which I rather suppose it may be, that is here cried out unto, because you find the same Cry to him, as it were uttered by the ungodly in other places of the Scripture; as in Luke 13. vers. 25, 26. Then shall they say, Lord, Lord, we have eat and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. Nay more, In thy Name have we cast out Devils, and in thy Name done many wonderful Works. This was just at their rejection. And again in Matth. 25. 11. They cry again to him, even to Jesus, Lord, Lord, open to us. And he there again gives them a Repulse, as also in this Parable. But however, or whosoever Abraham is, yet these Truths may be observed from the words.
1. That the Damned, when in an irrecoverable estate, will seek for, or desire deliverance from the Wrath that they are, and shall be in for Eternity, Surely, in the Floud of great Waters, they shall not come nigh unto him.
2. That they will pray (if I may so call it) earnestly for deliverance from their miserable estate. These two Things are clear from the words. For mark, He not onelyonly said, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me. But he cried, and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me. From whence, take a third observation, and that is, There is a time coming, wherein though men shall both cry and pray, yet they are like to have no mercy at the Hands of God; for so was this man served, as I shall further shew by and by when I come to it.
Some People are so deluded by the Devil, as to think that God is so merciful, as to own or regard any thing for prayer; They think any thing will go for currant and good satisfaction, while they are here in this World, through ignorance of the true nature of the Mercy of GOD, and the knowledge in what way God is satisfied for Sinners. Now I say, through ignorance they think, that if they do but mutter over some form of prayers, though they know not what they say, not what they request, yet God is satisfied, yea, very well satisfied with their doings; when alas! there is nothing less. O Friends, I beseech you to look about you, and seek in good earnest for the Spirit of Christ, so to help you now, …o strive and pray, and to inable you to lay hold of Christ, that your Souls may be saved, lest the time come, that though you cry and p…ay, and wish also that you …ad …d hold on the Lord Jesus, yet you must, and shall be damned.
Then … ▪ th… though God be willing to save Sinners at some time, yet this time do…h not always l…st. No, he that can find in his … to turn hi… back upon Jesus Christ now, … … the … … upon him hereafter, when he may cry and pray for mercy, and yet go without it. God will have a time to meet with them, that now do not seek after him: They shall have a time, yea, time enough hereafter to repent their Folly, and to befool themselves, for turning their backs upon the Lord Jesus Christ. I will laugh at their Calamities, saith he, and mock when their fear cometh, Prov. 1. 26, 27.
Again, this should admonish us to take time while it is proffered, le…t we repent us of our unbelief and Rebellion, when we are deprived of it. Ah Friends! Time is precious, an hours time to hear a Sermon is precious: I have sometimes thought thus with my self, Set the case the Lord should send two or three of his Servants, the Ministers of the Gospel, to Hell among the Damned with this Commission; Go ye to Hell, and preach my Grace to those that are there: Let your Sermon be an hour long, and hold forth the Merits of my Sons Birth, Righteousness Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Intercession with all my Love in him, and proffer it to them; telling them▪ that now once more, and but once, do I proffer the means of Reconciliation to them. They who are now roaring, being past hope, would then leap at the least proffer of Mercy: Oh they that could spend whole Days, Weeks, nay Years, in rejecting the Son of God, would now be glad of one Tender of that Mercy. Father, saith he, have mercy on me.
Again, from these words you may observe, that Mercy will be welcome, when Souls are under Judgment: Now his Soul is in the fire, now he is under the Wrath of God, now he is in Hell, there to be tormented; now he is with the Devils and damned Spirits, now he feels the Vengeance of God: Now, oh now, have mercy on me. Here you may see, that Mercy is prized by them that are in Hell, they would be glad if they could have it. Father have Mercy on me; For my poor Souls sake send me a little Mercy.
And send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my Tongue.
These words do not onelyonly hold forth, that the ungodly have a desire of Mercy, but what those Mercies are, that these poor Creatures would be glad of.
As first, To have the company of a Lazarus, granted to them, Father Abraham have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus. Now Lazarus was he that was beloved of God, and also he that was hated of them. Therefore,
2. Observe, That those Saints that the World in their Life-time could not in…ure, now they are departed, they would be glad to have society with them. O now send Lazarus, though the time was when I cared not for him, yet now let me have some Society with him.
Though the world disregard the society of Gods children now, yet there is a time coming in which they would be glad to have the least company with them. Nay, do but observe, those of the Saints that are now most rejected by them, even from them shall they be glad of comfort, if it might be. Send Lazarus; he that I slighted more than my dogs, he that I could not endure should come into my house, but must lye at my gate, send him: Now Lazarus shall be welcome to me, now do I desire some comfort from him; but he shall go without it.
From whence again observe, That there is a time coming, O ye surly dogged persecutors of the Saints, that they shall slight you as much as ever you slighted them. You have given them many an hard word, told many a lie of them, given them many a blow: And now in your greatest need and extremity they shall not pity you. The Righteous shall rather rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance of God upon thee, Psal. 58. 10.
Again, Send Lazarus. From whence observe, That any of the Saints shall then be owned by you to be Saints. Now ye look upon them to be of the Sect with Hymeneus and Philetus, but then you shall see them to be the Lazarus's of God, even Gods dear Children. Though now the Saints of the Lord will not be owned by you, because they are beggerly, poor, low, contemptible among you, yet the day is coming that you shall own them, desire their company, and wish for the least courtesie from them.
Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.
Thus shall the souls that abide in their sins, cry out in the bitterness of their spirits, with wonderful anguish and torment of conscience, without intermission▪ that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. That he, namely, the man who before I scorned should eat with the dogs of my flock, that before I slighted and had no regard of, that I shut out of door, send him, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.
Now these words, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, &c. do hold forth the least friendship, or favour; As if he should have said, Now I would be glad of the least mercy, now I would be glad of the least comfort, though it be but one drop of cold water on the tip of his finger. One would have thought that this had been a small request, a small courtesie, one drop of water, what is that? Take a pail full of it, if that will do thee any good. But mark, he is not permitted to have so much as one drop, not so much as a man may hold upon the tip of his finger. This signifies, That they that fall short of Christ, shall be tormented even as long as eternity lasteth, and shall not have so much as the least ease, no not so long as while a man may turn himself round, not so much leave as to swallow his spittle, not a drop of cold water.
O that these things did take place in your hearts, how would it make you to seek after rest for your souls before it be too late, before the Sun of the Gospel be set upon you.
Consider, I say, the misery of the ungodly that they shall be in, and avoid their vices by closing in with the tenders of mercy, lest you partake of the same portion with them, and cry out in the bitterness of your souls, One drop of cool water and cool my tongue.
For I am tormented in this flame.
Indeed the reason why the poor world do not so earnestly desire for mercy is, partly because they do not so seriously consider the torment that they must certainly fall into if they die out of Christ. For let me tell you, did but poor souls indeed consider that wrath that doth by right fall to their shares because of their sins against God, they would make more haste to God through Christ for mercy then they do. Then we should have them say, it is good closing with Christ to day before we fall into such distress.
But why is it said, Let him dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue? Because that as the several members in the body have heir share in sin, and committing of that, so the several members of the body, shall at that time be punished for the same. Therefore when Christ is admonishing his disciples, that they should not turn aside from him; and that they should rather fear and dread the power of their God than any other power, he saith, Fear him therefore, that can cast both [body] and soul into hell, Luke 12. 4. And again, Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Here is not one member only, but all the body, the whole body, of which the hands, feet; eyes, ears, and tongue are members. And I am perswaded, that though this may be judged carnal by some now, yet it will appear to be a truth then to the greater misery of those who shall be forced to undergo, that which God in his just Judgment shall inflict upon them. O then they will cry, one dram of ease for my cursing, swearing, lying, jearing tongue. Some ease for my b…agging, braving, flattering, threatning, dissembling tongue: Now men can let their tongues run at randome▪ as we use to say, now they will be apt to say, Our tongues are our own, who shall controle them? Psal. 12. 4. But then they will be in another mind. Then O that I might have a little ease for my deceitful tongue.
Methinks sometimes to consider how some men do let their tongues run at random, it makes me marvel. Surely, they do not think they shall be made to give an account for their offending with their tongue. Did they but think they shall be made to give an account to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead, surely they would be more wary of, and have more regard unto their tongue.
The tongue, saith James, is an unruly member full of deadly poyson, it setteth on fire the whole frame of nature, and is set on fire of hell, Jam. 2. The tongue, how much mischief will it stir up … a very little time? How many blows and wounds doth it cause? How many times doth it (as James saith) curse man? How oft is the tongue made the conveyer of that hellish poyson that is in the heart, both to the dishonour of God, the hurt of its neighbours, and the utter ruine of its own soul? And do you think the Lord will sit still (as I may say) and let thy Tongue run as it lists, and yet never bring you to an account for the same? No, stay; The Lord will not alwayes keep silence, but will reprove thee, and set thy sins in order before thine eyes, O sinner. Yea, and thy Tongue, together with the rest of thy members, shall be tormented for sinning. And I say, I am very confident▪ that though this be made light of now, yet the time is coming, when many poor souls will rue the day that ever they did speak with a tongue: O, will one say, that I should so disregard my tongue. O that I, when I said so and so, had before bitten off my tongue! that I had been born without a tongue! my tongue, my tongue, a little water to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame; even that flame that my tongue, together with the rest of my members, by sinning have brought me to. Poor Souls now will let their tongues say any thing for a little profit, for two pence or three pence gain. But, O what a grief will this be at that day, when they together with their tongue must smart for that which they by their tongues have done while they were in this world. Then you that love your souls, look to your tongues, lest you bind your selves down so fast to hell with the sins of your tongues, that you will never be able to get loose again to all eternity. For by thy words thou shalt be condemned, if thou have not a care of thy tongu. For I say unto you, that for every idle word that men shall speak, he shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment, Matth. 1…. 36.