Sighs from Hell, Commentary · Verse 25
Verse 25.
But Abraham said, Son, remember, that thou in thy life-time hadst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evill things, now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
THese words are the answer to the request of the damned. The Verse before (as I told you) is a discovery of the desires they have after they depart this world. Here is the answer, Son, Remember, &c.
The answer signifies thus much, That instead of having any relief or ease, they are hereby the more tormented, and that by fresh recollections, or by bringing afresh their former ill-spent life, while in the world, into their remembrance: Son, Remember, thou hadst good things in thy lifetime; As much as if he had said, Thou art now sensible what it is to lose thy Soul, thou art now sensible what it is to put off repentance; thou art now sensible that thou hast befooled thy self in that thou didst spend that time in seeking after outward, momentary, earthly things, which thou shouldest have spent in seeking to make Jesus Christ sure to thy soul; and now through thy anguish of spirit, in the pains of hell thou wouldst enjoy that which in former time thou didst make light of; but alas, thou art here beguiled and altogether disappointed, thy crying will now avail thee nothing at all, This is not the acceptable time. 2 Cor. 6. 2. This is not a time to answer the desires of damned Reprobates; If thou hadst cryed out in good earnest while grace was offered, much might have been, but then thou wert careless, and didst turn the forbearance and goodness of God into wantonness: wert thou not told, that these who would not hear the Lord when he did call, should not be heard (if they turned away from him) when they did call, Prov. 1. 24. to 28. But contrariwise he would lough at their calamity, and mock when their fear did come.
Now therefore instead of expecting the least drop of mercy and favour, call into thy mind how thou didst spend those days which God did permit thee to live; I say, remember, that in thy life-time thou didst behave thy self rebelliously against the Lord, in that thou wert careless of his Word and Ordinances, yea, and of the welfare of thine own soul also: therefore, now I say, instead of expecting or hoping for any relief, thou must be forced to call to remembrance thy filthy waies, and feed upon them to thine everlasting astonishment and confusion.
From these words therefore which say, Remember that thou in thy life time hadst thy good things. There are these things to be taken notice of.
1. They that by putting off repentance, and living in their sins, lose their souls, shall instead of having the least measure of comfort, when they come into hell, have their ill-spent life alwayes very fresh in their remembrance. While they live here, they can sin and forget it, but when they depart they shall have it before them, they shall have a remembrance, or their memory notably enlightened, and a clearer, and a continual sight of all their wicked practices, that they wrought and did while they were in the World. Son, remember, saith he, then you will be made to remember. 1. How you were born in sin, and brought up in the same.
2. Remember how thou hadst many a time the Gospel preached to thee for taking away of the same, by him whom the Gospel doth hold forth.
3. Remember that out of love to thy sins and lusts, thou didst turn thy back on the tenders of the same Gospel of good tidings and peace.
4. Remember that the reason why thou didst lose thy Soul was, because thou didst not close in with free grace, and the tenders of a loving and freehearted Jesus Christ.
5. Remember how near thou wast to turning at such and such a time, only thou wast willing to give way to thy lusts when they wrought, to drunkards when they called, to pleasures when they proffered themselves, to the cares and incumbrances of the world, which like so many thorns did choak that or those convictions that were set on thy heart.
6. Remember how willing thou wast to satisfy thy self with an Hypocrites hope, and with a notion of the things of God without the real power and life of the same.
7. Remember how thou, when thou wert admonished to turn, didst put off turning and repe…ng till another time.
8. Remember how thou didst dissemble at such … time …e at such a time, cheat thy neighbour at such a time, mock, slout, scoff, taunt, hate, persecute the people of God at such a time, in such a place, among such company.
9. Remember that while others were met together in the fear of the Lord to seek him, thou wast met with a company of vain companions to sin against him; while the Saints were a praying, thou were a cursing; while they were speaking good of the name of God, thou wert speaking evil of the Saints of God. O then thou shalt have a scalding hot remembrance of all thy sinful thoughts words and actions, from the very first to the last of them that ever thou didst commit in all thy life time: Then thou wilt find that Scripture to be a truth, (Deut. 28. 65, 66, 67.) The Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life. In the morning, thou shalt say, would God it were even: and at even thou shalt say, would God it were morning; for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. Nay, thou wilt find worse things to thy wo then this Scripture doth manifest. For indeed there is no tongue able to express the horrour, terrour, torment, and eternal misery, that those poor souls shall undergo, without the least mitigation or ease and a very great part of it shall come from that quick, full, and continual remembrance of their sins that they shall have. And therefore there is much weight in these words, Son, remember that thou in thy life time hadst thy good things.
From these words you see this is to be observed, that the ungodly shall remember, or have in remembrance the mispending their lives, Remember that in thy life time thou hadst thy good things. You may take these words good things either simply, for the things of this world, which in themselves are called, and may be called good things, or else with these words, namely, (the things of this life) all the pleasures, delights, profits, and vanities, which the ignorant people of the world do count their good things, and do very much cheer themselves therewith. Soul, soul, eat, drink and be merry▪ for thou hast much goods laid up for many years, Luke 12. 20. Now I say, God, according to his glorious Power and Wisdome, will make poor Creatures have alwayes in their minds a fresh and clear remembrance of their ill-spent life; he will say unto them, Remember, remember, that in thy life-time, it was thus and thus with thee, and in thy life-time thy carriage was so and so.
If Sinners might have their choice, they would not have their sins and transgressions so much in remembrance; as is evident by their carriages here in this Would: for they will not endure to entertain a serious thought of their filthy life, they put far away the evil day, Amos 6. 3. Ezek. 12. 27. but will labour by all means to put the thought of it out of their mind: but there they shall be made to remember to purpose, and to think continually of their ungodly deeds. And therefore it is said, that when our Lord Jesus comes to Judgment, it will be to convince the ungodly world of their wickel and ungodly deeds. Mark, To convince them, Jude 14, 15. They will not willingly take notice of them now: But then they shall hereafter in spite of their teeth. And also between this and then, these that die out of Christ shall be made to see, acknowledg, and confess, do what they can, when they lift up their eyes in hell, and remember their transgressions. God will be a swift witness against them, Mal. 3. 5. and will say, Remember what thou didst in thy life-time, how thou didst live in thy life time. Ha Friend! If thou dost not in these days of light remember the days of darkness, Eccles. 11. 8. (the days of Death, Hell, and Judgment) thou shalt be made in the days of Darkness, Death, Hell, and at the Judgment too, to remember the days of the Gospel, and how thou didst disregard them too, to thy own destruction, and everlasting misery. This is intimated in that 25. of Matthew.
Remember that in thy life-time thou hadst thy good things.]
The great God, instead of giving the ungodly any ease will even aggravate their Torments, first, by slighting their perplexities, and by telling of them what they must be thinking of: Remember, saith he, O ye lost Souls, that you had your joy in your life-time, your peace in your life-time, your comforts, delights, ease, wealth health, your Heaven, your Happiness, and your Portion in your life-time.
O miserable state! Thou wilt then be in a sad condition indeed, when thou shalt see that thou hast had thy good Things, thy best Things, thy pleasant Things; for that is clearly signified by these words, Remember that thou in thy life-time hadst thy good things, or all the good things thou art like to have. From whence take notice of another Truth (though it be a dreadful one) which is this; There are many poor Creatures, who have all their good, sweet, and comfortable Things in this Life, or while they are alive in this World: Remember, saith h… that in thy life-time thou hadst thy good things, Psal. 17. 14.
The Wickeds good Things will shortly have an end; They will last no longer with them than this Life, or their Life-…ne. That Scripture was not written in vain, It is like the crackling of Thorns under a Pot, make a little blaze for a suddain, a little heat for a while, but come and consider them by and by, and instead of a comfortable heat, you will find nothing but a few dead Ashes; and instead of a flaming fire, nothing but a smell of smoak.
There is a time coming, that the ungodly would be glad of a better portion, when they shall see the vanity of this; that is, when they shall see what a poor thing it is, for a man to have his portion in this World. 'Tis true, while they are here on this side Hell, they think there is nothing to be compared with Riches, Honours, and Pleasures in this World; which makes them cry out, Who will shew us any good, Psal. 4. 6. that is comparable to the pleasures, profits, and glory of this World? But then they will see there is another thing that is better, and of more value then Ten Thousand Worlds. And seriously Friends, will it not grieve you, trouble, perplex, and torment you, when you shall see that you lost Heaven for a little pleasure and profits in your Life-time; certainly, it will grieve you and perplex you exceedingly to see what a blessed Heaven you left for a ▪Dunghil World▪ Oh! that you did but believe this, that you did but consider this, and say within your selves, What, shall I be contented with my portion in this World? What, shall I lose Heaven for this World? I say, consider it while you have Daylight, and Gospel-light, while the Son of God doth hold out Terms of Reconciliation to you, least you be made to hear such a voice as this is, Son, remember, that in thy life-time thou hadst thy good things: Thy comforts, thy joys, thy ease, thy peace, and all the Heaven thou art like to have: O poor Heaven! O short pleasures! what a pitiful thing it is to be left in such a case. Soul consider, is it not miserable to lose Heaven for 20, 30, or 40 Years sinning against God? When thy Life is done, thy Heaven is also done; when Death comes to separate thy Soul and Body, in that day also thou must have thy Heaven and Happiness separated from Thee, and Thou from That. Consider these Things betimes, lest Thou have thy portion in thy Life-time. For if in this life onelyonly we have our portion, we are of all people the most miserable, … Cor. 15. 19. Again consider, that when other men (the Saints) are to receive their good things, then thou hast had thine: When others are to enter into joy, then thou art to leave and depart from thy joy: When others are to go to God, thou must go to the Devil. Oh miserable! thou hadst better thou hadst never been born, than to be an Heir of such a portion; Therefore, I say, have a care it be not thy condition.
Remember, that thou hadst thy good things, and Lazarus evil things.
These words do not onelyonly hold forth the misery of the Wicked in this Life, but also great consolation to the Saints, where he saith, And Lazarus evil things; That is, Lazarus had his Evil Things in his Life-time, or when he was in the World.
From whence observe,
1. That the Life of the Saints, so long as they are in this World, is attended with many Evils or Afflictions, which may be discovered to be of divers Natures, as saith the Scripture. Many are the troubles of the Righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of all.
2. Take notice, that the Afflictions or Evils, that accompany the Saints, may continue with them their Life-time, so long as they live in this Vale of Tears; Yea, and they may be divers, that is, of several sorts; some outward, some inward, and that as long as they shall continue here below, as hath been the Experience of all Saints in all Ages; and this might be proved at large, but I onelyonly hint in these Things, although I might enlarge much upon them.
3. The Evils that do accompany the Saints will continue with them no longer than their Lifetime: and here indeed lies the comfort of Believers, the Lazarus's, the Saints, they must have all their bitter Cup wrung out to them in their Lifetime: Here must be all their Trouble, here must be all their Grief. Behold, saith Christ the World shall rejoyce, but you shall lament; but your mourning shall, mark, it shall be turned into joy, Joh. 16. 2. You shall lament, you shall be sorrowful, you shall weep in your Life-time, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, and your joy no man (let him be what he will, no man) shall take away from you. Now if you think, when I say the Saints have all their Evil Things in their Life-time, that, I mean, they have nothing else but Trouble in this their Life-time, this is your mistake: For let me test you, That though the Saints have all their Evil Things in their Life-time, yet even in their Life-time they have also joy unspeakable, and full of glory, while they look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. The joy that the Saints have sometimes in their hearts, by a believing consideration of the good Things to come when this Life is ended, doth fill them fuller of joy, than all the Crosses, Troubles, Temptations, and Evils, that accompany them in this Life, can fill them with grief, 2 Cor. 4.
But some Saint may say, My troubles are such as are ready to overcome me. Answ. Yet be of good comfort, they shall last no longer than thy Lifetime.
But my Trouble is, I am perplexed with an heart full of corruption and sin, so that I am much hindred in walking with God.
Answ. 'Tis like so, but thou shalt have these Troubles no longer than thy Life-time. But I have a cross Husband, and that's a great grief to me.
Well, but thou shalt be troubled with him no longer than thy Life-time, and therefore be not dismaid, be not discomforted, thou shalt have no Trouble longer than this Life-time.
Art thou troubled with cross Children, cross Relations, cross Neighbours? They shall trouble thee no longer than this Life-time.
Art thou troubled with a cunning Devil, with unbelief; yea, let it be what it will, thou shalt take thy farewel of them all (if thou be a Believer) after thy Life-time is ended. O excellent! Then God shall wipe away all Tears from your Eyes; There shall be no more Death, nor Sorrow, nor crying, nor any more pain; for the former Things are passed away.
But now, on the contrary, if thou be not a right and sound Believer; Then though thou should'st live a Thousand Years in this World, and meet with sore Afflictions every day; Yet these Afflictions, be they never so great and grievous, they are nothing to that Torment that will come upon thee, both in Soul and in Body, after this Life is ended.
I say, be what thou wilt, if thou be found in unbelief, or under the first Covenant, thou art sure to smart for it at the time when thou dost depart this World? But the Thing to be lamented is, For all this is so sad a condition to be fallen into, yet poor Souls are for the most part sensless of it; yea, so sensless (at sometimes) as though there was no such misery to come hereafter. Because the Lord doth no immediately strike with his Sword, but doth bear long with his Creature, waiting that he might be gracious: Therefore, I say, the Hearts of some of the Sons of Men, are wholly set upon it to do mischief, Eccles. 8. 11. And that forbearance and goodness of God, that one would think should lead them to Repentance; the Devil hardening of them by their continuing in sin, and by blinding their Eyes, as to the end of God's forbearance toward them, they are led away with a very hardned and sensless heart, even until they drop into Eternal Destruction.
But poor hearts, they must have a time in which they must be made sensible of their former Behaviours, when the just Judgments of the Lord shall flame about their Ears, insomuch that they shall be made to cry out again with anguish, I am sorely tormented in this flame.
But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
As if he should say, Now hath God recompenced both Lazarus and you, according to what you sought after, while you were in this World: As for your part, you did neglect the precious Mercy and goodness of God, you did turn your Back on the Son of God, that came into the World to save sinners: You made a Mock of preaching the Gospel; You was admonished over and over, to close in with the loving kindness of the Lord in his Son Jesus Christ. The Lord let you live 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, Years; all which time, you, instead of spending it, to make your Calling and Election sure, Job 21. 29, 30. did spend it in making of Eternal Damnation sure to thy Soul. And also Lazarus, he in his Life-time did make it his business to accept of my Grace and Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. When thou wast in the Alehouse, he frequented the Word preached; when thou wert jearing at goodness, he was sighing for the sins of the times, Eccles. 9. 4. While thou wert swearing, he was praying: In a word, while thou wert making sure of Eternal Ruine, he, by Faith in the Bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ, was making sure of Eternal Salvation. Therefore, Now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Here then you may see, that as the Righteous shall not be always void of comfort and blessedness; so neither shall the ungodly go always without their punishment. As sure as God is in Heaven, it will be thus: They must have their several portions. And therefore, you that are the Saints of the Lord follow on, be not dismayed, For asmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. last Verse. Your portion is Eternal Glory. And you that are so loath now to close in with Jesus Christ, and to leave your sins, to follow him, Your day is coming, Psal. 37. 13. in which you shall know, that your sweet morsels of sin, that you do so easily take down, Job 20. 12, 13, 14. and it scarce troubles you, will have a time so to work within you to your Eternal Ruine, that you will be in a worse condition, than if you had ten thousand Devils tormenting of you: Nay, you had better have been plucked Limb from Limb a thousand times (if it could be) than to be partakers of this Torment, that will assuredly, without Mercy, lie upon you.