Death Improved and Immoderate Sorrow Reproved, Letter (4 of 5)

Death Improved and Immoderate Sorrow Reproved · Letter (4 of 5)

p. 1655. But the Saints Happineſs at Death conſiſts not only in freedom from Evil, but in the enjoyment of Good alſo. What they are freed from you have heard, what they ſhall meet with at Death reſts to be ſpoken to; but who can ſing the Songs of Sion in a ſtrange Land? Who can deſcribe that which eye never ſaw, ear never heard tell of, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive of, viz. the Joys that are prepared for thoſe that love God. Yet this I ſhould ſpeak to, but ſeeing I have treated of this in another Book, I ſhall be the briefer. Were their Happineſs only in their freedom from Miſery, it were no other than what bruit Beaſts ſhall have, whoſe Miſery ends with their Life; but Chriſt hath promiſed the pure in heart ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5.8. which cannot be in this Life, for no man can ſee his face, and live: Moſes indeed by faith ſaw him that is inviſible; and ſome Glimpſe of him a Believer may have, but a clear Viſion is only reſerved for Heaven; and by ſeeing God, is meant enjoying him, for without that the ſight will bring little comfort; for ought we know the Devils and the Damned may ſee him, as Dives did p. 166Lazarus in Abraham's Boſom, to their greater Torment. But to ſee him as he is, 1 John 3.2. is to enjoy him, and this is the Beatifical Viſion, as Divines call it: Yea, we ſhall have as much knowledge of him as finite Creatures are capable of, we ſhall apprehend him, though not comprehend him, for we may as well think to comprehend all the Water in the Sea in a Cockle-ſhell; for what is finite to infinite? Yet ſhall our knowledge of him be much enlarged, for here, the Apoſtle ſaith, we ſee but in a glaſs, but then face to face. But how God will communicate himſelf to us we know not, yet will he let us know as much of himſelf as is neceſſary to our future Happineſs, we ſhall be like unto the Angels that always behold the face of God, Mat. 18.10. and for ought we know our Viſion of him may be as clear as theirs; then will he ſee no iniquity in Jacob, and they will ſee no indignation in him. How we ſhall ſee God we know not, whether he will Spirituallize our bodily Organs, and make them capable of ſuch a ſight, or whether he will only preſent himſelf to the Eye of the Mind, is not much material to us, it is ſufficient we ſhall ſee him to ſatisfaction, and by ſeeing him enjoy him; we ſhall then know him whom to know is eternal life, John 17.3. There are many Myſteries, the perfect knowledge of them is reſerved for Heaven, as the Myſtery of the Trinity in Unity, of the Incarnation, of the Hypoſtatical Union, of God's Electing Love, the Myſtery alſo of our Redemption, and many more, which call rather for Faith to believe, than Demonſtration to prove; but then they will be fully unfolded, and we ſhall ſee infinite Wiſdom in the contrivance, p. 167and a ſweet Harmony among them, and that which was to the Jews a ſtumbling-block, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſs, will then be made manifeſt to be perfect Wiſdom. Indeed Knowledge in it ſelf now is excellent, more bright than the Morning, or the Evening-ſtar, but what will it be when perfected, when 'tis freed from all the dregs of Error, and refined from all the D…oſs, Chaff, and Bran that now accompanies it? which cannot be in this World. Here we are hindred from the Enjoyment of God by our Corruptions, for he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with approbation; but when thoſe ſpots are waſht away, and thoſe Blackamore skins changed, we ſhall walk in white, and follow the La…b whitherſoever he goeth. We need then no Miniſtry, nor Ordinances, who are the Pipes through which the Water of Life is conveyed, for then we ſhall go to the Fountain. Here we have a taſte of Canaan's Grapes, but there is the full Vintage. When we paſs this Jordan by the narrow Bridge of Death, we ſhall enjoy the promiſed Land; for though we have little in Poſſeſſion, we have much in Reverſion: We ſhall need no Ship when we are ſafely landed in the deſired Haven; we ſhall need no Armour when the War is over, nor need we run when the Prize is won, no Creature-comforts, when we have in God a full Supply; we need not pray for our ſelves, when we live in the actual poſſeſſion of all good things; nor for others, for the Wicked are paſt hopes, and the Godly paſt fears; and we ſhall ſee ſo much reaſon for the Damnation of the Wicked, though they be our Relations, that we ſhall rejoyce in it, and glorifie God for it, and admire that Hell p. 168being ours by Birth-right, we ſhould have a better Inheritance; but then we ſhall know more of God's Electing Love than now we do, which now is a great depth, which no Man can Fathom; nothing ſhall then remain that implies Imperfection, then ſhall our Sorrow be turned in…o Joy, and our Sighing into Singing; but when the Joy it ſelf is unconceivable, what conceptions, much leſs adequate expreſſions can we have of it? We ſhall have the full Enjoyment of God, but what that is, no word in Humane Language can expreſs: The Apoſtle John, who ſaw the Transfiguration, tells us, 1 John 3.2. It doth not yet appear what we ſhall be, but we know that when Chriſt ſhall appear, we ſhall be like to him, and ſhall ſee him as he is. And Paul, when he was caught up into the third Heaven, heard unutterable words, and ſuch as are not lawful for a man to ſpeak, 2 Cor. 12.4. And we may as well comprehend all the Water in the Sea in a Cockle-ſhell, or meaſure out Heaven with our Span, as fully to deſcribe Heaven's Happineſs, or Hell's Miſery. We are ignorant of many things here below, yea, many things in our ſelves, of our Immortal Souls, how little do we know, and many Secrets in Nature are hid from the moſt refined Wits; what then is it like we ſhould know of Angels, of God, of Heaven, and Glory? Such ſtrange conceits 'tis like we have of them, as a blind Man that never ſaw, hath of Colours, or of the Sun it ſelf: What Deſcription can we make of it that ſhall reach their Underſtanding? Or what Conception do we imagine a bruit Beaſt can have of a Rational Soul, which yet are at a far leſſer diſtance, than between us and the Creator, and therefore p. 169our apprehenſions of him muſt be far lower than the bruit Beaſts are of us; yet this we know of him, that all Good is eminently in him, and what is good in the Creatures flows from him; and is a Drop out of this Ocean, a Ray of this Sun, a Spark of this Fire? And if we enjoy God, we ſhall enjoy all that is really Good. That we ſhould be with him, was the Prayer of Chriſt, John 17.24. and doubtleſs the greateſt Bleſſing: But we may ſay of the Glory of Heaven, as the Queen of Sheba ſaid of the Wiſdom of Solomon, 2 Chron. 9.2. the one half was never told us; 'tis true, we read that the Walls are of Jaſper, the City of pure Gold, the Foundations of Precious Stones, the Gates of Pearls, the Street of Gold, &c. Rev. 21.18, &c. Theſe are the moſt precious things the World brags of, but there are no ſuch Corruptible things in this building not made with hands, theſe Materials are too courſe and beggarly to build the City of the Great God; 'tis built of Glory, but what that is we know not, or what that Bread of Life, and Water of Life, hidden Manna, promiſed to thoſe that overcome, will be beſt known in the Enjoyment; Light is ſown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart, but the Harveſt will be in Heaven: Here we may have a dark Night, and haply darkeſt a little before Day, but there will be a Glorious Morning; now we are under Clouds, and ſuffer many Sto…ms and Showers, but ere long we ſhall be taken up above the middle Region, where no Clouds appear, there God will own us for his Children, and Chriſt for his Spouſe. Oh, what a change will then be! here we can ſcarce have a Glimpſe of Chriſt, there the full Enjoyment; here we p. 170know little, but there we ſhall know all things, and be ignorant of nothing that is neceſſary to be known; and as Knowledge doth increaſe, ſo will our Love both to God and our Brethren: The more Excellency we ſee in God, or them, the more our Affections will be let out upon them, for nothing but Ignorance can ſtave off our Affections from the chiefeſt Good. When theſe ſcales are fallen from our Eyes, we ſhall love God above our ſelves, becauſe he is better, and love his People better than now we do, becauſe they will be better than now they are, refined from their Droſs; Love will run in the right Channel, and be ſet upon right Objects, God ſhall have all our Love, we ſhall love his Creatures by a reflect act; we ſhall love God for himſelf, and his Creatures for his ſake, and where we ſee moſt of God, there we ſhall love moſt; now we complain we cannot love him, but then we cannot chooſe but love him, for who can be in a fire and not burn? Our Love to him here, though true in its kind, yet is full of Imperfections, and like an Ague, hath its heats and colds, but there is no intermiſſions, it admits of no cooling. Ignorance here makes the Pearl of great price undervalued, and moſt Swine rather delight in Swill, and with Aeſop's Cock, prefer a grain of Barley before it, but theſe will be better acquainted with its worth. The Godly here have but a Viaticum, ſomething to animate them in the way, and to ſtay their ſtomack, but the Feaſt is for their Journey's end, where they ſhall drink Wine with Chriſt in his Father's Kingdom. 'Tis a Queſtion with ſome, whether there are degrees of Glory in Heaven; a full Anſwer will be beſt p. 171made by the Inhabitants themſelves. Something may be ſpoken to it, as to probability at leaſt, there will be no difference as to the duration, for Eternity admits not of addition or diminution; and as for degrees, in general every one ſhall enjoy as much Happineſs as they are capable of, as much as their Veſſels will hold, and there ſhall be no cauſe of complaint or repining at others, nay, or of deſiring more for themſelves, for this argues Imperfection of Happineſs, which Heaven owns not. Yet it ſeems probable there will be degrees, The righteous then will ſhine as the firmament, but thoſe that turn many to God, as the ſtars for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3. Now, the Stars ſhine brighter than the Firmament, and ſome ſtars differ from others in glory. There are degrees of Torment, For he that knew his Lord's will, and did it not, was to have the more ſtripes, Luke 12.47. And Chriſt tells us, It ſhould be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, for Tyre and Sidon, in the day of Judgment, than for thoſe Cities he preached to, and they not repented, Mat. 11.21. And I wiſh England be not ſick of this Diſeaſe, in making light of Chriſt; the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet were caſt alive into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimſtone, Rev. 19.20, &c. and this ſeems to be a higher degree of Torment than others have. And again, the Scripture ſpeaks of a greater degree of Condemnation, and that every one ſhall receive a Reward according to his Works; and ſome being greater ſinners than others are, Juſtice requires they ſhould ſuffer more; and the unfaithful Servant, Mat. 24.51. hath his Portion appointed with Hypocrites, which ſeems ſome peculiar p. 170duplicate page p. 171duplicate page p. 172Puniſhment. Now, there being degrees of Torments in Hell, and he that deſerves moſt Puniſhment, ſhall have moſt, why not of Glory in Heaven, where he that hath done moſt Work, ſhall have moſt Wages: And although I dare not ſay there are Nine Hierarchies of Angels in Heaven, as the Papiſts do, yet we read of Angels, and Arch-Angels, as well as of the Devil and his Angels, and why not then degrees of glorified Saints? He that by his Pound gained ten Pounds, was made Ruler over ten Cities, when he that had gained five Pounds, was Ruler only over five Cities, and what this ſignifies but a higher degree of Glory I know not, Luke 19.16. And Chriſt promiſes his Apoſtles, that followed him in the regeneration, they ſhould ſit upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael, Mat. 19.28. which Honour is not promiſcuouſly promiſed to all: And thoſe that have forſaken any thing for Chriſt, have greater Promiſes than others have. Thoſe therefore that deſire a greater degree of Glory than others, let them improve their Talents better than others do. Another Queſtion may be, Whether the Saints in Glory ſhall know each other? In Anſwer to it, I ſay, if it make for their future Glory, doubtleſs they will, for they ſhall want nothing of Perfection, and the Scripture looks very favourably upon the Affirmative. Chriſt tells us, That many ſhall come from the Eaſt, and from the Weſt, and ſhall ſit down with Abraham, and Iſaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven; but the Children of the Kingdom ſhall be thruſt out: And ſhall they ſit with them and not know them? In the Transfiguration the Apoſtle knew Moſes and Elias, and the Rich Glutton in Hell knew p. 173Abraham, and Lazarus in his Boſom. And is it probable that Men living here on Earth ſome few Years, when the Underſtanding is clouded with Ignorance, and the Memory with Forgetfulneſs, know one another, that they ſhould not know one another through Eternity, when thoſe Miſts are blown over? Some alſo queſtion whether the Souls of Believers go immediately into Heaven at the Death of the Body; and this ſeems to me as plain as the other, 'tis Chriſt's Promiſe to the Penitent Thief, This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. And this I judge was neither in Hell nor Purgatory, for I know not where thoſe are called Paradice. Lazarus when he dyed was carryed into Abraham's Boſom, where he was comforted, while the Rich Man was tormented, Luke 16.25. But I ſuppoſe there is little comfort in Purgatory-flames, this Fire is but newly kindled, and were it not to warm the Pope's Kitchen, would be ſoon extinguiſhed. In a word, the Scripture mentions Heaven and Hell, as the Receptacles of ſeparated Souls, but there is no mention of another place. Some alſo enquire, if they go immediately into Glory, whether they have at preſent the full degrees of Glory which they ſhall have hereafter. I Anſwer, Secret things belong to God, but things revealed, to us. It ſeems probable that though they have as much Glory as thay Entitle them truly Happy, yet there will be a further degree added at the Reſurrection, when Soul and Body ſhall be reunited, and the Sentence of Abſolution paſt upon them, Come, ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom, &c. Then, as the wicked go into everlaſting torments, ſo the righteous ſhall go into life eternal, Mat. 25.41. p. 174And thus you have heard of the Happineſs of Believers, but the duration of their Happineſs is the chiefeſt Flower in their Garland; for were it but to continue a thouſand thouſand Years, it would be a Hell to them in the midſt of Heaven to think that an end would come, and it would make them they could little rejoyce in their Enjoyments: But the conſideration that it will be for ever, is a great addition to their Happineſs; 'tis to be for ever, and for ever, Dan. 12.2. And 'tis called eternal Glory, 2 Tim. 2. And Reaſon ſhews it muſt be ſo, for the Soul is immortal, and the Reward promiſed is ſuch; and this Enjoyment is called Eternal Life. So then you ſee proved what before was aſſerted, That ſeeing all muſt dye, the Righteous have not long to ſuffer, for Death will ſet an end to all their Miſeries, and enter them into their Eternal Enjoyments of God and Glory, and put them into the poſſeſſion of thoſe Manſions of Glory, prepared for them by God before the foundations of the world. And then any Man may judge whether there be any great cauſe why they ſhould fear Death, which is the only Cure of all their Miſeries, and the only Porter to open Heaven-gates to them. It remains that we ſpeak ſomething of thoſe whoſe Happineſs expires with their Life, and their Miſeries commence at their Death.

Leſſon 5. The Fifth Leſſon this Providence teacheth, is, That ſeeing Men and Women may be taken away in the Flower of their Age, and Death can put a period to their Lives, then what a miſerable condition are Wicked Men in, when one day may put an end to all their Happineſs, p. 175and all their Hopes, for both their Happineſs and their Hopes is only in this Life, and ſhall expire at their Death; for whether they are Noble or Baſe, Rich or Poor, Young or Old, by what Names or Titles ſoever they are dignified or diſtinguiſhed, if they have no better a Portion than the World can beſtow upon them, 'tis at the longeſt for term of Life, and at Death their leaſe expires; Their Glory then will not follow them, and their Pomp will take her leave. Oh, what a change Death will make among many of our greateſt Gallants! their Happineſs depends upon a tickliſh point, and hangs but by the thread of their Lives; and there are a thouſand Diſeaſes, Diſtempers, Caſualties, and Accidents ready to cut the thread, and every Creature waits but for a Divine Commiſſion to ſtop their breath, and they are not ſure of one day to an end. The Experience of this very Age proves this point fully, how many hundred thouſands were in Ireland ſtript of all in a moment, and left as poor as Job, and many loſt their Lives with their Eſtates. The like may we hear of in other Countries, in London an hundred thouſand dyed in one Year; and what a change did Death make to them, that have their Portion only in this Life? What the Wiſe Man ſaith, Prov. 23.5. Rich's take wings, and fly away. We ſee by Experience many rich at Night, and poor ere Morning, b…t we alſo ſee many Rich Men ſnatch'd away from their Riches, who are well o're Night, and de…d in the Morning; yet many Men hunt and havk after Riches, and never overtake them, and if they do, cannot hold them; many purchaſe them too dear, even with the loſs of their Souls, and p. 176the ſhipwrack of a good Conſcience, and theſe make a hard bargain, for the Soul is more worth than all the World, Mat. 16.26. That a Wicked Man is not long to enjoy his Happineſs, is made out in the following Conſiderations.

1. Conſider, at Death all Men, of what Degree ſoever, from the leaſt to the greateſt, will leave behind them all theſe outward Enjoyments, viz. Riches, that very many ſo much glory in, and truſt to, and cannot take with them the worth of a ſhoe-latchet. Woe then to them that have no other Portion, what will their poor Souls do to Eternity, though now their Riches be their ſtrong hold, Prov. 18.11. yet can they not help in the evil day, Zeph. 1.18. Yet here they are honoured as Gods, but they are but Dung-hill Deities, moſt Men dote upon them as much as the Athenians did upon Diana's Temple, and Offer not only their Children, but their Souls unto them: But let their Attainments or Enjoyments be what they will, at Death they muſt leave all behind them; Kings and Emperours muſt leave their Crowns behind them, and the Biſhop his Mitre, the Pope himſelf not excepted; then thoſe that have made a great hurly-burly in the World, could not ſatisfie, their Duſt will be contained in a little Urn. At Death the Emperour muſt lay by his Robes, and the Beggar his Rags, for Death will lodge them in the ſame Bed, and ſet them upon even ground. The griping Uſurer muſt leave his Gold, and ceaſe to fill his Bags with Silver, when his own Mouth ſhall be fill'd with Earth. Kings then muſt bid farewel to their Crowns and Kingdoms, as Solomon to his Ivory Throne; and our great Gallants their well-contrived p. 177Houſes, though they call them after their own names, Pſal. 49.11, &c. Haply they may leave them to Fools, haply to Strangers, haply to Enemies to enjoy. It was the Speech of a good Man to a great Lord, when he ſhewed him his ſumptuous Buildings, pleaſant Gardens, Walks, Orchards, and other Rarities, Sir, (ſaith he) you muſt make ſure of Heaven, or you will never be recompenced in the Earth for all the Pains and Coſt you have beſtowed here. Yet many, like the Rich Man in the Goſpel, Luke 12. ſing a Requiem to their Souls, and promiſe themſelves long Life, when haply they have not a day to live, They put the evil day far from them, and becauſe they ſee not Death, think Death heeds not them, when he is even ſtaring them in the Face. They lodge Riches neareſt their Heart, and from it they expect their greateſt Security, but the Mortal Sithe is too hard for the Royal Scepter, yet many conſider it not, but buy Faggots for their own burning, for the ruſt of their Gold will eat their fleſh as fire, James 5.3. Here they have their Summer and their Winter Houſes, curious Parlours, Banqueting-Houſes, Rooms richly adorned, ſoft Beds, and eaſie Couches; but if they have no better Portion, Death will ſtrip them of this, and lodge them in a ſtinking Dungeon, and darkſom Cell, full of deadly Horror, void of Light or Comfort, a noiſom, ſulphurous, ſtinking Priſon; here are no curious Gardens, or pleaſant Walks for Recreation, neither is there any thing to recreate the Eyes, the Ears, the Smell, the Taſt, or the Touch; the Object of Sight will be Infernal Devils, and Damned deſpairing Wretches; the Melody the groans and ſighs, the roaring, yelling, ſcrietching p. 178of damned Souls; for the Taſte, pinching Hunger, and parching Thirſt, or ſomething that is worſe; their Smell is burning Brimſtone, and their Touch the ſcorching Flames. Oh, the Pains, the Time, the Coſt and Charges many Men are at in adorning their Habitations, Gardens, Walks, Orchards, &c. when all this while the poor Soul lyes neglected, and ſlighted; no Tree in the Orchard muſt grow diſordered, but muſt be pruned, muck'd, and manured, when in the Soul nothing is in order; no Weed muſt grow in the Garden, when no Vice muſt be weeded out of the Soul. Here they have pleaſant Walks, and Summer-ſhady Bowers, their Rich Paſtures, Pleaſant Meadows, their Flocks and Herds, their numerous Cattle, both ſmall and great, and whatever their hearts can deſire, that can be purchaſed for Love or Money; but Death will ſtrip them to the skin, and they ſhall carry nothing hence, neither can they call ought their own, but Tortures and Torments, Sighs and Groans, Anguiſh and Sorrows, Tears and Plaints. Here they ſolace themſelves, and like the Rich Glutton, go bravely clad, and fare deliciouſly every day; but there they cannot command a Cup of cold Water, nay, nor get it with begging, to cool their Tongue. Now they indulge their Fleſh, and pleaſe their Fancy, and like Solomon, Eccleſ. 2.4. deny nothing to themſelves, that can be attained, but ere long they will be forc'd, as he was, to ſay, All is vanity and vexation of ſpirit, ver. 17. All theſe things muſt be left behind, and were this the worſt it were well, but their eaten Bread will not be forgotten; well had it been for many of them had they begged p. 179their Bread from Door to Door, or earned it in the ſweat of their brows, for then ſo many abuſed Talents had not been charged upon them, and ſo many abuſed Mercies to be anſwered for. Here they have their Tables richly furniſhed, with what the Earth, the Sea, the Air can afford, and many new-invented Diſhes to allure the Stomack, and provoke the Appetite, when their poor Brethren have not Bread to eat: They have their great Attendants, Muſick of all ſorts, their wanton Songs, their Plays, and Interludes; but Sighs and Groans will then be their chiefeſt Muſick, and fineſt Melody, their Mirth will then be changed into Mourning, and their Joy into Heavineſs. Oh Death, what a change wilt thou make among our Luſtful Gallants! Here they burn in Luſt one to another, but there, though they lye together in the ſame Bed of Horror, their Luſting will be over. Thoſe that now think the Ground not good enough to tread upon, and will not ſuffer the Sun to ſhine upon them, nor the Wind to blow upon them, for ſpoiling their Beauty, ſhall then be heated more rudely in the Flames. Thoſe that think no Meat or Drink good enough, nor any Attire fine enough, will then be put into a courſer Dreſs, Hell Fire will ſpoil their Paint and Plaiſter, and Beauty-ſpots, their curled Locks, and powder'd criſped Hair, then one drop of Water will be better than all theſe; here are no Masks nor Fans to ſhelter them from the ſcorching Flames, their Bags of Gold and Precious Jewels muſt then be left behind. H…r… the Maid will not forget her Ornaments, nor th… Bride her Attire, but thoſe things there are out of Faſhion; Gold then is no currant Coin, I am p. 180ſure it cannot bribe Death. 'Tis ſaid of Pope John XXI. that he left above 200 Tun of Gold behind him; and that another Pope, when he was plunder'd by the French, loſt more Treaſure than all the Kings in the World could raiſe in one Year in all their Revenues. We ſee Riches are uncertain here, and will certainly fail when we have moſt need of them. Did griping Landlords, that drink the Sweat, the Tears, if not the Blood of their Oppreſſed Tenants, and make Muſick of their Groans, think of theſe Times, and of theſe Things, thoſe Morſels they now ſwallow ſo greedily, will have a poiſonful Operation. Many there are, that inſtead of feeding the Hungry, and cloathing the Naked, pluck the Meat from their mouths, and the Cloaths from their backs, to maintain their own Pride and Luxury; they put the Poor's Part into a Child's Portion, haply into a Whore's Lap; but the Lord of ſuch Servants will come at an hour they are not aware of, and give them their Portion with Hypocrites, Mat. 24 laſt. Now they have their Stage-Plays, Morrice-Dances, Wakes, May-games, and ſuch Revels, to drive Time away, which alas, flies too faſt of it ſelf; but what Recreation have they invented to make Eternity ſeem ſhort? Death will daſh all theſe Vanities out of Countenance. Here ſometimes a little of Hell-fire flaſh'd into the Conſcience, ſpoils the Sport; but there will be not only flaſhes, but flames. Here they endeavour to drink away theſe Heart-qualms, and allay theſe Dumps, but in Hell they cannot do it. The griping Uſurer here hath a dry Dropſie the more Riches he drinks in, the more he thirſts; but there the Thirſt will be allayed with Fire and p. 181Brimſtone. Here our Female Gallants ſpend their Time in their Glaſſes, they muſt not have a Pin awry, or an Hair amiſs, their naked Breaſts, and painted ſpotted Faces; Oh, what a change will Death make in their Garb and Ornaments! And indeed could we but ſee the Deformity of the Soul through the gariſh Habit of the Body, how leprous and deformed would many appear? They would be aſhamed to walk the ſtreets. Here they are ſet out like Puppets for to ſhew, to allure unwary Youth; for if there be no Wine in the Cellar, why hangs the Buſh? But theſe gaudy Robes are too thin to keep off a ſhower of Divine Vengeance. We may ſee how God approves of ſuch, Iſa. 3.18, &c. Now Ten Thouſand Pounds per Annum is thought too little, but ere long a poor Urn will hold their Aſhes, and a dark Dungeon their Souls; then they muſt be forced to ſay of all theſe things, as the Prophet of his Ax, Alas, Maſter, for it was borrowed. God hath entruſted them with other mens Portions as well as their own, but they have thought themſelves ſole Proprietors, and abuſed the Talents given to another end, but they muſt pay back every Farthing. 'Tis ſaid of the Turk's Seraglio, that 'tis two Miles in compaſs, and his Territories are wide and large, and his Incomes great; but Death can Scale theſe Walls, as well as thoſe of a poor Cottage. Could Great Men renew the Leaſe of their Lives, as Men do of their Eſtates, doubtleſs there would be great Fines given, but it will not be; they make a great buſtle in the World, and ſeek to turn all topſy-turvy for a while, and all to ſet themſelves on high, till Death the Leveller comes, and equals them with their p. 182poor Neighbours; for what is the difference now between Alexander and his meaneſt Slave? And ſometimes a Fool, ſometimes a Stranger, ſometimes an Enemy enjoyeth the Eſtate that they leave behind, and they take nothing with them but Guilt upon the Conſcience, and Sin upon the Soul, and the Ruſt of their Riches will eat their fleſh like fire, James 5.1, 2, &c. But miſtake not, 'tis not all Rich Men that I ſpeak of, but thoſe that abuſe their Riches, by loving them, truſting in them, employing them to maintain Pride, Luxury, or ſome other filthy Luſt, or with-hold good from the owners thereof; thoſe that miſpend the Talents lent them for a better uſe, for if the Servant that only hid his Talent, was caſt into outer Darkneſs, what will become of them that wilfully waſte it? Pride is a Worm that often breeds in Riches, and the never-dying Worm breeds in Pride: Riches in themſelves are great Bleſſings, and, if not abuſed, will prove helps in Heavens-way: Make friends (ſaith Chriſt) with the Mammon of unrighteouſneſs. But to many they are the greateſt blocks in Heavens-way, and this makes it ſo difficult a thing for Rich Men to enter into Heaven, Mat. 19.24. Heaven is a ſpacious Palace, but 'tis a narrow Way, and ſtrait Gate that leads to it, and Men cannot enter with the World upon their backs, there muſt be ſtooping and ſtripping, to get in: Hence the Apoſtle charges rich men not to be high minded, nor truſt in uncertain riches, 1 Tim. 6.17. 'Tis much ado to look, and not to luſt; to have Riches, and not fall in love with them. When Pride breeds in Riches, as Worms do in Apples, they ſuddenly corrupt, and will do the Owners no good; to p. 183uſe the world, and not abuſe it, is a Leſſon not eaſily learned, and having only food and raiment, therewith to be content. In Chriſt's time the poor received the Goſpel, when few of the Great Ones were called, 1 Cor. 12.20. Were there but half ſo much ſpoken againſt Poverty, and half ſo many cautions given as againſt Riches, there would be ſome Plea for the Covetous, but few ſee the danger of a great Eſtate; but Death will equal the Poor with the Rich, the Emperour muſt leave his Robes behind, and the Beggar his Rags; and great Saladine ſhall carry nothing with him but his Shirt, nor that neither into the other World, Haud ullas portabis opes Acherontis ad undas, Naked we came into the world, and naked ſhall we return out of it, Job 1.21. 1 Tim. 6.7. The Jews were permitted when they came into their Neighbour's Field, Orchard, or Vineyard, to pluck and eat, but muſt carry none away; and ſo we may do in the World. Riches at laſt will do us no more good, than they did the great Chaliph, that the Great Cham of Tartary cauſed to be famiſhed amidſt his Treaſures; then will their Sun ſet under a Cloud, and no difference between them and their poor Neighbour; thoſe that have carried the greateſt Burden, have the ſoreſt Back; and thoſe that have received the moſt Talents, are to make the greateſt Account. Oh that this were well conſidered in time, then ſhould we lay up our treaſure where neither moth nor ruſt corrupteth, nor where thieves break not through, nor ſteal, Mat. 6.20. For all other Treaſure will deceive them, that put their truſt in it. Thus you ſee at Death Wicked Men, whatever their Enjoyments now be, will be ſtript of all.

p. 1842. And as Wicked Men muſt leave their Riches behind …h…n at Death, ſo likewiſe their Pleaſures will bid them …dieu for ever. Now, Pleaſure is one of the …hree Deities moſt Men adore; for Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures ſhare the World between them; but at Death theſe Idols will diſappear; many ſpend their days in pleaſure, and ſuddenly go down to Hell, Job 21.13. Many ſpend their Time in Recreation, and follow no other Calling, and ſome cannot give a good Account of one hour's Work in a whole Week, ſpent in any Lawful Labour; they think 'tis a greater ſhame to be ſeen working, than to be ſeen drunken, or debauch'd; ſuch as theſe the Apoſtle calls lovers of pleaſures more than lovers of God, 2 Tim. 3.4. and well he may, for they ſpend more Time in, and are at more Coſt about their Pleaſures than in God's Service, and thirſt as greedily after them, as ever Covetous Man did for Gold, or Ambitious Man for Honour. There a…e many in our common Dialect are called Ladies of Pleaſure, and the Name pleaſeth them, that both God and former Ages call'd common Whores, and 'tis like they will be owned for ſuch at the day of Judgment, and then woe be to them, for they are of the Society that are appointed for Deſtruction, 1 Cor. 6.9, &c. Solomon tells us, Prov. 21.17. He that loveth pleaſure, ſhall be a poor man; and we ſee many times Luxury and Beggery ſucceed each other, and unlawful Luſts have ruined many Ancient Families, and made them leave Marcus Livius his Portions to their Children, Nihil praeter Coelum & Caenum, Air and Water. But if it go ill with the Body, it will go much worſe with the Soul; for thoſe that can p. 185take no Pleaſure in God, God will take no Pleaſure in them; theſe Men ſeem to think they were ſent into the World, as Leviathan into the Sea, to ſport therein, and that their Talents were given to no other end than to be conſumed this way; and then when God ſaid to Man after the Fall, In the ſweat of thy face thou ſhalt eat thy bread, that he ſpake only to the Poor, and not to them; but they will at Death find their miſtake, and ſee it was a bad Bargain to ſell their part in Paradiſe for a part in Paris; to ſell their Souls to ſatisfie their Luſts, to part with Eternal Joy, for momentany Delights; they will find they parted with a great deal in Reverſion for a little in Poſſeſſion, they will then have time enough (if Eternity may be called Time) to repent the Bargain; they will ſee it had been better to have been preſerved in Brine, than to have rotted in Honey. Now they can take the Timbrel and the Harp, and rejoyce at the ſound of the Organ, and ſpend their days in mirth, (as the Holy Ghoſt ſaith) and ſuddenly go down to the pit, Job 21.12, 13. I will not ſay as Tully, Nemo Sobrius ſaltat; nor as Diogenes, The better Dancer, the worſe Man, or that theſe Recreations are abſolutely unlawful; yet I think Chriſtians have not much time to ſpend this way, from their more ſerious Buſineſs, and greater Concerns; and truly if we conſider the ſtate of the Proteſtant Churches throughout the World, it might take off much of the edge of our Affections from theſe Vanities. But at preſent I am ſpeaking of thoſe to whom the ſatisfying of their Luſts is the main deſign they aim at, and the Affliction of the Church is not ſo much as the looſing one ſpot off their Faces, one p. 186Feather out of their Fan, or one Ribon out of their Head-tire; let ſuch read well Iſa. 3.11, 12, &c. and ſee if God delight as much in their Ornaments as they do; and what he ſaith to ſuch, Amos 6.3, &c. They put far from them the evil day, and cauſe the ſeat of violence to draw near. They lye upon their beds of Ivory, and ſtretch themſelves upon their Couches; they eat the Lambs out of the flock, and the Calves out of the ſtall. They chant to the ſound of the Viol, and invent to themſelves Inſtruments of Muſick like David: They drink wine in bowls, and anoint themſelves with chief Oyntment, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joſeph, &c. And is not this an exact Deſcription of many in our times? Read further the Deſtruction that God threatens to ſuch, and they will find he ſpake in earneſt, what they took in jeaſt. Thoſe that God curſeth, will be curſed, however they bleſs themſelves in their heart; thoſe that are no mourners in Sion, ſhall not be marked, and thoſe that are not marked, ſhall be ſlain, Ezek. 9.1, 2, &c. Thoſe that Sympathize not with the Church, are none of the Church. Nehemiah, though he was the King's Cup-bearer, and wanted nothing, was yet troubled at the Deſolation of Jeruſalem, Neh. 1.1, 2, &c. The Rich Glutton, when he fared deliciouſly every day, pitied not Lazarus; but little did he think how ſoon the Tables would be turned, and Lazarus ſhould have the better gain… he little thought a Reckoning-day was behind for all his ſweet Morſels: Feaſting doubtleſs in its ſeaſon is Lawful, but for ſome to keep a continual Feaſt, when others are forc'd to keep a continual Faſt, is not convenient; but many ſeem to live only to eat, and drink, and riſe up to p. 187play. Oh, how much good might many of thoſe do with their Eſtates, that now ſpend it all in Gormand…zing, in Drunkenneſs, and Debauchery? How many of our Female Gallants are there, that think the Morning ſhort enough to ſleep, and riſe, and dreſs themſelves before Dinner, and perhaps have more than one to aſſiſt them in the work, when their Devotion is ſhut up in a little room, if at all thought upon, and haply more Curſes than Prayers are put up, eſpecially if their Taylor, Sempſter, Waiting-Maid, Painter, have not pleaſed them. And the Afternoon the time is little enough for Diverſion; ſome idle Viſit, ſome wanton or obſcene Diſcourſe, ſome Stage-Play, Shew, or Interlude, Cards, or Dice, or ſome ſuch Recreations, or ſome Exerciſe haply worſe; and thus they paſs one Day, Week, Year after another, till Death ſnatches them hence, and they never have any time to be ſerious, or think upon their Eternal Condition: But Chriſt never directed us in ſuch a pleaſant way to Heaven, nor the Apoſtles never found it, neither can it be the narrow way the Scripture ſpeaks of; Theſe put the evil day far from them, and the thoughts of Death will put them out of Humour, but Death will make them more ſerious. Now theſe Extravagant Courſes put them on to rack their Rents, and Oppreſs their Tenants, and poor Neighbours, and keep back the Poor's Portion, and all little enough to maintain their Pride and Prodigality; thus they ſpend their time in Drinking, Swearing, Ranting, and Blaſpheming, in Ramming, Damning, and in Perſecuting thoſe that make any ſhew of Religion, or Civility; in rioting, drunkenneſs, chambering, and wantonneſs, Rom. 13.13. p. 188Theſe are they that make their bellies their God, Phil. 3.19. And many of both Sexes there are that Sacrifice to theſe Dunghill-Deities, ſo that a Scavenger, whoſe Office is to empty Jakes, is to be preferred before theſe, that only live to fill them. They are like unto the Panphagi, a People of Aethiopia, whoſe very Life was to eat, and to devour, from whence they had their Name, whom theſe Men ſeem to ſucceed; and they may fitly be compared unto the Jerfe, a Beaſt in the North of Suetia, which, having got his Prey, eats as long as his Skin will hold, and then ſtrains himſelf backward between two Trees that grow near together, till he hath evacuated his Meat, and then eats as before; a fit Emblem of a Drunkard and Glutton, that when they have gormandized, uſe means for Evacuation, and at it again. Of this Herd were Epicurus, Heliogabalus, Sardanapalus, and many more Monſters in Nature. They are like Swine, for ſcarce any other Creature will eat or drink more than ſufficeth Nature; they are (ſaith the Prophet) like fed Horſes, every one Neighing after his Neighbour's Wife. I have read of one, that to ſatisfie all his Senſes and ſenſual Appetites, in three Years time ſpent Thirty Thouſand Pounds, and ſware that had he ten times as much, he would ſpend it all to live like a God, in Pleaſure, for one Week, though he knew he ſhould be damned for it the next day after. But little did he know what Damnation ſignifieth, but in Hell he will change his Mind. And ſuch deſires I fear are too frequent in the World, and were not Men bounded by their Eſtate, I fear their Deſires would be as unbounded as his; and were it but for the loſs of the Soul, p. 189they would not ſtick at it. I doubt not but 'tis Lawful to eat the fat, and drink the ſweet, and partake of the good things God hath given us; but we muſt not Feaſt without fear, neither abuſe h…s Creatures to Gluttony, or Drunkenneſs. 'Tis ſaid of a Town in Africa, called Tombutum, that the Inhabitants ſpend their days in Dancing and Singing; and I fear if other Recreations did not call them off, many of ours would follow their Example. God for Sin did thruſt Man out of Paradice, but many in our days would wind themſelves in again, they think 'tis only the Poor are enjoyned to Labour, but the Rich may live Idle; but thoſe that have neither Head, nor Hand, nor Heart at work for the common Good, are but the unprofitable Burdens of the Commonwealth, and ſuch as the Apoſtle commands ſhould …t eat. Theſe wax wanton, and nouriſh themſelves a… for a day of ſlaughter, James 5.5. Pride, fulneſs of Bread, and abundance of Idleneſs, were the ſins of Sodom, from which England cannot waſh her Hands, for ſhe is like Jeſhurun, waxen fat, and kicketh. Fulneſs breeds forgetfulneſs, not only of her ſelf, but of her God alſo. Alexander the Conquerour gloried as much in this as in any of his Victories, that he could drink down any Man; and of ſuch Champions we have more than enow, and if Enemies were thus to be vanquiſhed, we ſhould not want Souldiers. 'Tis ſaid he provided a Crown for him that could drink moſt, of 180 pounds, but forty one of his Companions, ſtriving for the Maſtery, drank themſelves to Death; and were there but the like Prize offered, and the like Liberty given in our time, there would be a far greater number to open the Door to p. 190Death, yea, I ſuppoſe upon a far leſſer Temptation, in a ſmall Circuit of Land, in a ſmall compaſs of Time, (and many of them of the Gentry) a greater number have ended their days in ſuch a drunken Conteſt. The Lord grant it may be a warning to the reſt, let ſuch beware they be not forc'd to drink up the full Vials of God's wrath, which will be worſe than boyling Lead, or burning Brimſtone; and leſt they be forced to pledge thoſe Healths of Damnation in Hell, which they have drunk here in their Jollity; they may read their Portion, 1 Cor. 6.9, &c. For God ſpeaks in earneſt what they took in jeſt. Here our Voluptuous Gallants will be forc'd to leave their Hawks, and Hounds, and Whores; and our Swaggering, Roaring Gallants will become Roaring Boys indeed. Now they ſtuff their Diſcourſe, and bombaſt their Words with Oaths of the greateſt Magnitude, and Damn, and Ram, and Curſe, and Swear, as if they challenged God himſelf to a Duel; and drink Healths to the Devil himſelf, as if they would make Peace with him; and drink Healths of Damnation: But in Hell they ſhall have nothing to do but to pledge them. Had there been any other Healths there, the Rich Glutton had not begg'd ſo earneſtly for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue. Here are no Ladies of Pleaſure, for they will be found with another Name. Here are no wanton Delilahs to ſport with upon the Bed of Luſt, no changeable Suits of Apparel, no new Faſhions for our mincing Minions, no Recreations to drive away the weary hours; then they will have time enough (if we may call Eternity Time) to think upon their paſt Folly, and Repent, though too late, to p. 191think of the bad Bargain they made, when they ſold their Souls, their Heaven, and their Happineſs for a little Temporary Pleaſure, which periſh ere they were budded; which bear no more proportion to true Pleaſure, than painted Fire upon the Wall to true Fire, that hath neither Light nor Heat; then will their Garb be changed, and their Diet and Attendants; they will be ſtript of all their Coſtly Robes and Ornaments, which will be forgotten, or remembred with ſorrow; there will be neither Mirth nor Muſick, Singing nor Dancing, but Weeping, Wailing, and wringing of Hands; no Curious Sights to pleaſe the Eye, no Melody for the Ear, no delicious Taſte for the Palate, or any thing elſe to pleaſe the other Senſes; thoſe curious Bodies (to the pampering of whom the Soul is neglected) will be expoſed to Torture and Torments, were a man condemned to lye one Year upon a red-hot Gridiron, upon a raging Fire, and his Life could ſo long be continued, we ſhould think him to be a miſerable Creature: But what is this to Hell-Torments? Or, what is a Year to Eternity, where they ſhall never dye, yet alwaies endure the Pangs of Death? At Death they will find an end of all their Pleaſures, but Eternity will not end their Miſeries: Their Laughter here is not Mirth, but Madneſs, like a frantick man that is going to Execution, and ſhrieks and bawls for others to bear him company; yet theſe are the good things the rich Glutton had in this Life, and for which he muſt pay ſo great a Reckoning at his Death: This was his Heaven, his Hell came after. O Death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that lives at eaſe in p. 192his poſſeſſions, and hath proſperity in all things, Ecclus. 41.1. Now theſe delicate Bodies are ſo nice, that they cannot endure the Summers heat, nor Winters cold, but the Flames will not regard their Beauty, nor the Tormenter their Niceneſs: Then farewel all their Merry-meetings, and drunken Matches; their Feaſts, their Plays, their wanton Dalliance, all thoſe Toys will be laid aſide: Now Pleaſure is the God they worſhip, and ſacrifice their Souls unto, but the Name of it then will never more ſound in their Ears, nor any thing that bears the leaſt reſemblance of it be preſented to them; their witty Jeſts and merry Jokes will then be left, and well it were for them if they could forget them; and it will be their Trouble to think, how this way they drive away their Time, that was too ſwift of it ſelf. The Thought of Death is troubleſome to them, and they think 'tis unſeaſonable for a … but Poor Folks, Old People, or Miniſters; but for the Young, the Rich, the Strong, it will but indiſpoſe them, and diſpirit them, and put them out of Humour; they will not ſee Death, and then they think Death will forget them, but it ſteals upon them tacito pede with a ſilent Foot, and enters their Lodging before they are aware; and however they now eſteem highly of their Carnal Delights, ere long they will find that one grain of Godly Sorrow is worth a pound of Frantick Mirth; for the one ends in Eternal Pleaſure, the other in endleſs Miſery, when their Sport will be ſpoiled. Oh, what alteration will Death make when it comes! no time will then be ſpent in Wanton Embraces, Amorous Songs, or Laſcivious Diſcourſe; the Adulterer and Adultereſs p. 193will take no delight in each others Company; nay, they will curſe the time they ever ſaw the Face each of other. When Fire from Heaven fell upon Sodom, it quench'd their heat of Luſt: O that theſe Sons and Daughters of Pleaſure would think of the time when their Pleaſures will vaniſh, but the Sting remain! for certainly this will be the caſe of every one that dyes in an unregenerate condition, let them be High or Low, Rich or Poor, Noble or Baſe, for God is no excepter of Perſons.

3. The Third thing that Wicked Men muſt leave at their Death, is all their Honour, and their Glory, for this will not follow them then, though they greedily hunt after it now, Pſal. 49.12.16, 17. For though the Memory of the godly i… bleſſed, the name of the wicked ſhall rot, Prov. 10.7. How Odoriferous do the Names of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, and other Saints ſmell in all Ages? And how fulſomly do the Names of Wicked, Debauch'd, and Bloody Perſecutors ſtink? Such as Cain, Pharaoh, Haman, Jeroboam, Judas, Herod, and ſuch-like: Thoſe whoſe Names have ſurvived them, have ſuch a blot upon them, that will never be wiped off. But what they now Glory ſo much in muſt ere long be left behind; thoſe proud aſpiring Nimrods, thoſe Babel-builders, their Duſt ere long will be mingled with the Duſt of their meaneſt Slaves and Servants; for thoſe who are hewen out of the ſame Rock, why ſhould they not be buried in the ſame hole of the Pit? Theſe External Advantages make no real difference in the Eyes of God, or Wiſe Men; for who values a Horſe for his Trappings? But however theſe will be taken p. 194away, and then they will ſtand upon even ground; and although many Men now do Worſhip a Golden Calf, they will then perceive it was but a dumb Idol. All thoſe lofty Titles, which now they load themſelves with; as Worſhipful, Right Worſhipful, Honourable, Right Honourable, Reverend, Right Reverend, Majeſty, Holineſs, &c. muſt then deſcend with them into the Duſt, for great Saladine can carry nothing with him but his Shirt. Indeed Holineſs will go with us into another World, as it is an inherent Quality, not as 'tis a Title unjuſtly attributed to ſome Men, in that Kings and Emperours, nay, the Pope himſelf will ſpeed never the better for their Crowns, nor the Beggar the worſe for his Rags; for as Death, ſo God accepteth of no Man's Perſon for outward Advantages; 'tis Internal Qualifications he regards, Acts 10.35. External Splendour dazles not his Eyes, Titles of Honour ſignifie nought; theſe of themſelves neither pleaſe nor diſpleaſe, neither help nor hinder, though the abuſe may hinder; theſe are given to good and bad, and no man knows love or hatred by them. The Rich Glutton had Plenty, when Poor Lazarus was in want; Crowns and Kingdoms are but the Crumbs which the great Houſholder throws to the Dogs, that ſhall not taſte of the Childrens Bread. But now Dives hath none to wait at his Table, or any to receive his Scraps; none new to bow the knee before him, or to be uncovered, theſe days are over: Now many Mens greateſt deſign is to get Honour, and whether it be by hook or by crook, by fair means, or by ſoul, by Flattery, Bribery, Extortion, ſucking the Blood of Innocents, treading p. 195upon other mens backs, &c. ſo they can aſcend the ſteps of Honour, they matter not; when it proves oft-times a ſlippery ſtanding, and many break their Necks before they attain their end, witneſs Haman, Achitophel, Herod, and others. Many like Dioſtrophes in Church and State love the Pre-eminence, and ſome that are not fit for it, they will be aut Caeſar aut nullus, they would rather be the Chief in a Town, than the Second in a Kingdom. Ambition is like the Crocodile, of whom 'tis ſaid he grows as long as he lives, and ſhould he live longer, he would grow bigger: Nay, do we not ſee the Succeſſors take up Arms, and eſpouſe the Quarrel, as we ſee between the Biſhops of Rome, Alexandria, and Conſtantinople, for the Pre-eminence; and with us formerly between Canterbury and York. Yea, the chiefeſt Quarrels in the World hath been about Domination, what horrible Wars, Blood-ſhed, and Devaſtations hath this cauſed? The Biſhops themſelves have proved many times the troublers of Iſrael; and were the Spirit of Pride and Tyranny once caſt out, what Happy Times might we promiſe to our ſelves? Many ſeek to aſcend to the top of Promotion, that are not fit to ſtand upon the loweſt Round of the Ladder; and will rather ſet the Church and State on fire, than be fruſtrated in their Hopes: They care not whoſe back they tread upon, ſo they may riſe; Honour is the Idol they worſhip, the Shrine they bow unto, which indeed is the emptieſt of all Bubbles; yet is it courted by many, though enjoyed by few, and never pays the Coſt and Pains beſtowed in the Attainment: He that can avoid the Temptation of, All this will I give thee, and p. 196the Temptation of Rule and Domination, is a rare Man, like a black Swan. Good Men are not free from this Itch, the Apoſtles contended who ſhould be greateſt, and the Sons of Zebedee would ſit one on Chriſt's right hand, the other on his left in his Kingdom; few there be, though meanly qualified, but think themſelves fit for higher Places. I have read of ſome, that lying upon their Death-beds, gave large Money for Cardinals Hats, that it might be engraven upon their Tombs, for Poſterity to read; like unto Caninius the Roman, when Maximus dyed the laſt day of his Conſul-ſhip, made ſuit to be made Conſul for the reſt of the day; hence Tully calls him a vigilant Conſul, that never ſlept while he was in Office. The Itch of Honour hath undone the World, and made many a Man ſmart for it; for were Princes content with their Paternal Inheritance, what need ſo many Wars and Jars, as are at this day? How many Hundred Thouſand Men loſt their Lives before Alexander was ſetled in his Throne, and the Contention ended between Caeſar and Pompey, and ere they were well warm in their Seats, they were thruſt out again; one kill'd with Bodkins, and the other not without ſuſpicion of Poiſon. And alas, what had theſe for all their Labour but only a blaſt of Honour, which, if they miſcarry, will not cool their Tongues in Torment? Did Men but ſee Pride and Ambition in its own Colours, it would ſeem loathſom and dangerous; the loweſt degree ſets it ſelf againſt God, being diſcontented with the Station wherein God hath placed them; but the higheſt degree ſets it ſelf above God, Pharaoh cries out, Who is the Lord, that I p. 197ſhould obey him? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Iſrael go. Sennacherib boaſted no God could deliver out of his Hand, but he was miſtaken, and 185000 of his Souldiers were ſlain in one Night by an inviſible Hand. Herod, one of the Gang, aſſuming to himſelf the Honour due to God, was ſtricken by an Angel, and devoured by Worms, Lice, as Joſephus ſaith, as his Grandfather was; as alſo Maximus the Emperour, and Philip King of Spain, great Perſecutors; and that man of ſin, 2 Theſſ. 2.4. that exalteth himſelf above all that is called God, will have a fearful downfal; Proſperity begets Pride, and Pride feeds upon it, and between them the Worm of Conſcience, that never-dying Worm, is engendred. The Ambitious Man hath commonly too high thoughts of himſelf, and too low of others, and thinks the World takes not ſufficient notice of his Worth. The Phariſee thanks God he was not ſuch a one as the Publican, when he was much worſe; theſe Men look upon themſelves in a Magnifying-Glaſs, and wonder at their own bigneſs, but when they look upon others they turn the Glaſs, and look upon them to be far leſs than they are; but the beſt way is to look in God's Glaſs, which will not deceive us. Many think what others have, whether of Riches or Honour, is too much; but what they have, is always too little; they are like the Rich Man in Nathan's Parable, ready to ſpare their numerous Flocks, and make uſe of the Poor Man's only Lamb; but ſometimes overgreedy griping gets little. Xerxes, though he had 127 Provinces, not being content, ſeeking to enlarge his Territories, was ſlain, and loſt what he had (like Aeſop's Dog, that loſt his Meat by p. 198catching at the ſhadow) and was contented with his length and breadth of Ground. Great Pompey had ſcarce ſo much allotted him; and our William the Conquerour was three days unburied, before the Controverſie was ended whoſe the Land was where he ſhould be laid. In this Life theſe things are uncertain, but at Death they will be certainly taken from us, and how ſhort our Life is, we little know; a little Spider, an Hair in Milk, the Kernel of a Grape, the prick of a Pin, have put a period to the Life of ſome of our greateſt Heroes, and ſent them packing into another World, and then whoſe are thoſe things that they leave behind? Yet Domination is ſo ſweet, many will venture Neck and all to attain it. Nero's Mother, when ſhe was told that if her Son were Emperour, he would take away here Life, made Anſwer, She mattered not, ſo her Son might Reign: Which Prediction after fell out, her Son ript up her Bowels, that he might ſee the place of his Conception. How many Hundred Thouſand loſt their Lives before Alexander was eſtabliſhed on his Throne, and the Controverſie was ended between Caeſar and Pompey, as I have noted, who ſhould be greateſt? And when they came into their Thrones, they were ſcarce warm before they were thrown out again, one by Bodkins, and the other not without ſuſpicion of Poiſon. We may well ſee the aſpiring thoughts of Ambitious Men, for when our Captain Drake had taken Domingo from the Spaniard, in the Town-Hall he found the King of Spain's Arms, and this Motto, Totus non ſufficet orbis, ſignifying, the World it ſelf was not enough to ſuffice him, but the greateſt part hath not yet fallen to his p. 199ſhare. Ambition, like a Serpent, creeps into the Heart at a little hole, but is hardly got out: It crept into Heaven among the Angels, for ſome conceive they affected the Deity: It crept into Paradice, and made our firſt Parents deſire to know as God: The Babel-Builders they would fain dwell as God, and Antichriſt ſets himſelf above all that is called God, or is worſhipped. Every proud man is tainted with this Lunacy, and are diſcontent with the Station in which God hath placed them. Many have a great Shadow, that have little Subſtance; the worſer the Wi… the fairer the Buſh; the empty Veſſel makes the greateſt ſound, and the ſhallow Waters the greateſt noiſe; and worthleſs men make the greateſt brags. Babel had high towring Thoughts, ſhe muſt needs be like God himſelf, Iſa. 14.12. but God brought her down. Ambitious men are like unto the Ivy, though it have a contemptible Root, and cannot riſe without the aſſiſtance of the Oak or Elm, yet it never reſts till it overtop them.

When Zeuxes had finiſhed his Picture of Atalanta, he wrote under it, Painters may rather envy this, than imitate it. Demoſthenes loves to hear as he paſs'd along the Street that pleaſing word, This is that Demoſthenes; Hoc ego primus vidi, ſaith another. So fond are men of their own Brats, they are like Peacocks, proud of their own Feathers, when they forget their black Feet.

When Dionyſius commanded Zeuxes to draw the Picture of Envy, he brought him a Looking-glaſs, and bid him behold his own Face in it: And may we not as eaſily draw the Picture of Ambition as much to the life in many mens Faces? p. 200Alexander, when he was offered Darius's Daughter, and a great part of his Dominions with her, anſwered, As the Heavens could not contain two Sons, no more could the Earth two Alexanders. See the large extent of an ambitious Mind. But whatever the World ſaith to the contrary, Virtue will prove the faireſt Eſcutcheon, and that is the beſt Honour, where God is the top of the Kin, and Holineſs lies at the bottom.

'Tis ſtoried of Julia the Daughter of Auguſtus, Tha… being reproved for her Prodigality, and caution'd of her Father's Frugality, anſwered, If her Father forgat that he was Caeſar, ſhe would not forget that ſhe was Caeſar's Daughter. 'Tis hard for a Maid to forget her Ornaments, or a Bride her Attire, 'tis a great deal eaſier to forget the Soul: Moſt live above their Eſtate, few under it. Some ſay Pride and the Gout are alike, that is, both incurable. Ambition and deſire of Rule makes many Subjects murther their Prince, many Children their Parents, and many Wives their Husbands, and one Brother to kill another, Abſolom to rebel againſt his Father; yea, it makes Princes tyrannize over their Subjects, and Landlords over their Tenants, the Rich to oppreſs the Poor, and the Stronger to wrong the Weaker, and make Men-like the Fiſhes in the Sea, where the great ones devour the leſſer: But when Pride rides in the Saddle, Shame ſits upon the Crupper; Pride goes before Deſtruction, and a haughty Spirit before a Fall. The more Gold Pride eateth, the more Blood it ſucketh: The higher and faſter a man climbs, the more danger of breaking his Neck, for God p. 201reſiſteth the Proud, but gives Grace to the Humble, 1 Pet. 5.5.

King Philip glorying after his Victory, Archimedes perſwaded him to meaſure his Shadow, to ſee how much bigger it was grown by the Conqueſt: If Promotion ſhould make men bigger, yet it makes few men better. Of all the Roman Emperors, only Veſpaſion is ſaid to be better by his advancement: But did men well conſider, that all their Anceſtors Glory lies in the Duſt, and very ſhortly theirs muſt do ſo likewiſe, it might make them veil their Peacock's Plumes. 'Tis a Sin and Shame for an Angel to be proud, much more for a Muck-he…p Sack of Duſt, an Earth-worm, that hath no Breath to breathe, but what God puts into him. Yet many there are, that think God loves them beſt, becauſe he gives them moſt; then Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Jeroboam, Herod, the Great Turk, and ſuch-like, are much in favour: But here is a Miſtake in the Reckoning; God made Nebuchadnezzar to know and acknowledge, That the Moſt High ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men, and giveth them to whomſoever he will, and ſetteth up over them the baſeſt of men, Dan. 4.17. Pharaoh was advanced on high for his greater Fall; For this cauſe (ſaith God) I have raiſed thee up, &c. And, no doubt, Haman's Promotion was upon the ſame account. Riches and Honours many times prove Blocks in Heavens way, not in themſelves, but by their abuſe they are like the fine Feathers of the Oſtrich, fine to gaze on, but of little uſe to help them to mount aloft; when the Lark or Swallow are ſwift of Wing, and mount eaſily. 'Tis hard for a Rich man to mount upward, or to enter p. 202in at the ſtreight Gate, yea, as hard as for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle; the reaſon is, they have ſuch a Burthen upon their Backs, and they have ſuch a Loadſtone here on Earth, which they love and truſt to, which draws their Affection from Heaven to Earth, this hinders their flight, as 'tis Fabled the Golden Apples did Atalantas Race. Thoſe that ſtand upon the top of Pinacles are in Danger, and had need look to their footing: Thoſe that attract Guilt in attaining Promotion, are in the greateſt danger when 'tis gotten, for at utmoſt Death will be…ave them of it. 'Tis a ſad Fall from the higheſt Pinacle to the Depth of Hell, their Glory then will not follow them, their Pomp will take its leave. O what a ſad day will this be, when all theſe things wherein they gloried will be gone, and when Riches, Honour, and Pleaſures, as to them, ſhall be no more; which as Micah ſaid of his Ephod and Teraphim, Theſe are gone, and what have I more? Judg. 18.23. Now, when theſe their Gods are gone, what have they more? And theſe they have not long to enjoy; and this will be a further aggravation of wicked mens Miſery at Death.

4. That wicked men at Death loſe all their Worldly Felicity, ſuch as Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures, I have already ſhewed you; yet theſe are not all the Loſſes they ſhall then ſuſtain, the worſt are behind, though haply at preſent not ſo much regarded, for then they ſhall loſe their God, which will prove the greateſt Loſs by far.

The Torments of Hell are either privative or poſitive, Pain of Loſs, or Pain of Sence; the former p. 203is judg'd by Divines to be the greateſt and moſt grievous; for God being our chiefeſt Happineſs, to loſe him will be our chiefeſt Miſery; In his preſence is fulneſs of Joy, and at his right hand Pleaſures for evermore: But at Death there will be an eternal ſeparation from him, which Loſs will more affect the Soul, when the Underſtanding, Conſcience, and other Faculties ſhall be enlarged; a Thouſand thouſand rentings of the Soul from the Body will not be ſo much as One renting of the Soul from God; then the Soul will know the worth of the things ſhe hath loſt, and what a fooliſh bargain ſhe made, when God, and Heaven, and Happineſs were parted with for a Luſt; this will be a bitter Corazine, and an eternal Torment to a miſcarrying Soul, when ſhe knows (and know ſhe will) what it is to enjoy thoſe Rivers of pleaſures which are at the righthand of God, ou… ſight of Chriſt, ou… glimps of Heaven, one hours converſe with Angels and glorified Saints, would daſh the Glory of Ten thouſand Worlds out of countenance; this Beatifical Viſion, this enjoyment of God in Glory, is a Saints greateſt Happineſs, and well it may: We mourn and overmourn for little petty Croſſes or Loſſes in our temporal Eſtate, but the loſs of a thouſand Worlds will not equal this, a glimps of whoſe Face in Glory would make amends for all the Loſſes, Croſſes, Pains and Torments which here we can ſuffer for his ſake: 'Tis His Preſence that makes Heaven to be Heaven, and his Abſence is Hell it ſelf; the enjoyment of him here in a ſmall meaſure is Heaven upon Earth, and when he withdraws himſelf from the Soul, p. 204'tis a very Hell; but the blinded World is not ſenſible of his worth, ignotis nulla cupida, nothing but Ignorance could ſtave off our Affections from him, yet many, though they cannot live without him, yet value him not; they have not Bread to eat, or Clothes to put on, nor a Breath to breathe, but what he gives them, yet dare they abuſe their Meat to Gluttony, their Drink to Drunkenneſs, their Breath to blaſpheme his holy Name: But what will thoſe do, when there ſhall be an everlaſting ſeparation between God and them? The loſs of a Jewel is not much to one that values it but as a common Stone, but when they come to know its worth, it will more trouble them.

I have read of a Diamond taken from the Duke of Burgundy, ſlain by the Switzers, that was ſold for a crown, by the Soldier that took it, and ſo paſſed from one, to one, …ll at laſt it was bought for 20000 Ducats, which, as ſome value it, was above 7000 Pound, and put into the Pope's triple Crown.

See what Ignorance may do: But Ignorance of God will prove the moſt dangerous miſtake. There are many in our Age like David's Fool, that ſay in their Hearts, there is no God; nay, too many that proclaim it with their Tongues, but e're long they will be fain to eat their words: There is not one of them, but e're long will be fully convinc'd; for there is no Atheiſt in Hell, the Devil, though full of other Sins, is not guilty of this. Many here have Souls to little purpoſe, but like Salt, to keep their Bodies from Putrefaction; for as they think there is no God, ſo they live as if there were none. Many of theſe have p. 205been convinc'd of their Error, even in this Life, by the Judgments of God, the reſt will ſoon after; but theſe men, I ſuppoſe, rather deſire there were no God, than believe it: Many that own a God, fancy to themſelves one of their own making, a God all of Mercy and no Juſtice; they think he that made them muſt ſave them; but the Devils find it to the contrary. 'Tis true, he was merciful when he drowned the old World, burnt Sodom and Gomorrah with Fire, overthrew Pharaoh and his Army in the Red-Sea, ſlew in one night in the Camp of Sennacherib 185000, and will be ſo at the day of Judgment, when he throws the Devil and his Angels, and all unrepenting Sinners, into Hell: And they will find him juſt, as well as merciful, and one that will make good his Threats, as well as his Promiſes; He hath Power in his Hand to do both, and will be no reſpecter of Perſons, for if they are wicked, by what Name or Titles ſoever they are dignified or diſtinguiſh'd, ſuffer they muſt. Tophet is ordained of old, even for the King it is prepared: He hath made it deep and large, the pile thereof is fire and much wood, and the breath of the Lord, as a river of Brimſtone, doth kindle it, Iſa. 30.33. Now they ſay to God, Depart from us, we deſire not the knowledge of thy ways, Job 21.14. But e're long God will ſay to them, Depart from me ye wicked, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, &c. Mat. 25.41. Now they will not know God, and then God will nor know them, Mal. 7.22. Now the rottenneſs of their Hearts bliſters out in their Lips and Tongues, and they belch out their unſavoury Breath into the very Face of God himſelf. Now p. 206they will none of his counſel, but ſet as nought his reproofs; but he will laugh at their deſtruction, and mock when their fear cometh, Prov. 1.24. But how light ſoever they value him now, they ſhall know his Worth to their eternal Torment, for they ſhall for ever loſe him, and all comfortable Relations to him, and with him all that good is, the Joys of Heaven, the Society of Angels and glorified Saints; theſe indeed they little regard here, but they will know their Worth better hereafter.

It hath been the Speech of ſome of that Fraternity, That if they thought the Puritans (and ſuch they called all holy, ſober, ſerious men) were in Heaven, and their own Good-fellows and Pot-companions were in Hell, they would chuſe Hell before Heaven: And they are like enough to have their Choice, but e're long they would willingly eat thoſe words of theirs: Now they hate, perſecute, and revile them, and glad they are to be rid of them; then they ſhall be far enough out of their company, and out of their reach: They think they are not worthy to live in the World, whom God thinks the World is not worthy of, Heb. 11.35, &c. They are cutting off the Bough they ſtand upon, and taking away the Pillars that uphold the Building; they laugh at their own Miſery, and ſport themſelves with their own Folly; they reioice to ſee their own Houſes on Fire, and to ſee their own Wickedneſs proſper, which will be their Ruine; but when the mad Fit is over, (and over it will be e're long) when they conſider what they have been doing, their Note will be changed, and their Sport ſpoiled, they p. 207will find time enough for Repentance, and for every dram of Mirth they will have a pound of Sorrow. When God forſakes them, (and forſa…e them he will, if they forſake not their Sins) whither will they go for help? Their Pot-Companions cannot help them, for they are under the ſame Condemnation; the World cannot help them, for the Earth, and all the Works therein, ſhall be burnt up, their Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures ſhall be left behind, the Rocks and Mountains cannot cover them, theſe melt at the preſence of the Lord; their Companions can do them no good, they will curſe the time that ever they ſaw the Face each of other; the Ordinances which they ſlighted are then ceaſed; the Ambaſſadors of Peace called home, Hearing, Reading, Praying, Meditating, which were of uſe, and now our Duty, can then do us no good, no Petition now can be accepted, the Spirit hath now done ſtriving; here the worſt of Sinners call God Father, and would fain adopt the Devil's Brats to be God's Children, but it will then appear, theſe profligate Wretches are none of the Off-ſpring of Heaven, for God will own no ſuch Children; here they are not perſwadable, but then their Conſciences will inform them, and their Torments inſtruct them that their courſes were not good; now Heavens Glory, though never ſo lively ſet forth, doth not much affect them, their Eyes are not opened to behold it, but had they but a glimpſe of it, as the Apoſtles had in the Tranſfiguration, or ſuch a ſight as Paul had in the third Heaven, it would convince them.

p. 208'Tis ſtoried of Nicoſtratus that cunning Artiſt, That ſeeing an admirable Piece of Work, looked at it with admiration; being obſerved, he was asked by one, why he looked ſo intent upon it, replied, Oh Sir, had you my Eyes, you would wonder as well as I at this inimitable Piece of Work. And had the men of the World their Eyes open, or had they ever taſted one dram of the Rivers of Pleaſure which are at the right hand of God for evermore, they would be of another mind, they would ſee the Riches, Honour, Carnal Delights, Friends, and Favourites, yea, whatever the World affords we can ſpare, but God we cannot ſpare: And to miſcarrying Souls, the conſideration that the Time was, the enjoyment of theſe coeleſtial things was poſſible for us, as well as for others; we were ſet upon the Stage of the World to play our part; we had the ſame Means, Miniſters, Ordinances, Helps, and Furtherances as others had, the motions of the Spirit, and the Checks of our own Conſciences, as they, but the Devil blinded our Eyes, and hardened our Hearts, and the World bewitched us, but all theſe Means and Helps are gone, and 'tis too late, alas! too late to repent; we indulged our Fleſh, we ſatisfied our Luſts, we contented our carnal Companions, and we deluded one another: Nay, we had not only a poſſibility of Glory, but a fair probability: We had many Convictions upon our Spirits, that our way was not good, and that the way of Holineſs was to be choſen; hence we had many Reſolutions to alter our Courſes; yea, eſpecially in our Sickneſs and Diſtreſs, we made many Promiſes, yea, Vows and Covenants, to amend; yea, ſet p. 209upon the performances of ſome Duties, and refrained from ſome Sins, and made ſome Profeſſion of Religion, and were almoſt Chriſtians, and yet ſuffered the Temptations of Satan, the Alurements of the World, and the Enticements of our own Corruptions, and the Perſwaſions of our wicked Companions, to ſtifle theſe hopeful Beginnings; theſe perſwaded us there was time enough for Repentance, and that we had many a fair day yet to live; and now Death hath taken us away in our Sins, curſed be the time that ever we liſtened to theſe Syren Songs, which lull'd us aſleep in the Cradle of Security; we were not far from the Kingdom of Heaven, but for want of a little more, we ſhall never come there; and now our Sun is ſet, and will never riſe again, our day is over that will never dawn, and the night is come that no man can work; our golden hours are over, and our Opportunities are loſt, and that ſweet Gale of Mercy that once we had, will never blow upon us more: Oh that we were intruſted with one Year more, the World ſhould ſee what Reformed perſons we would be, we would live as mortified a Life as ever Saint did upon the Earth, and ſcorn with the higheſt Diſdain the Pleaſures, Profit, and Honours of the World; how exactly would we live! how painfully would we work out our Salvation! how would we watch our Hearts and our Tongues, and order our Actions! but, alas! theſe are vain Wiſhes, our Time is gone, our Glaſs is run out, our Opportunity loſt, and our Hopes are periſhed; God hath forſaken us, and become our Enemy; a Crown of Glory was once offered upon eaſie Terms, but the Market-day is over, and will p. 208duplicate page p. 209duplicate page p. 210never come again; it was under our Feet, and we would not ſtoop for it; Life and Death were ſet before us, and we had our Choice; Heaven was offered, and we refuſed it, and choſe the World before it, and lodged it in the beſt Room of our Hearts, and now it hath deceived us; we ſhould have forſaken all for Chriſt, but we forſake Chriſt and all for a Luſt; we indulged the Fleſh, yielded to the Temptation, and made a woful Choice, for a few vaniſhing Pleaſures, we parted with Heavenly Joys, and in the room had endleſs, eaſeleſs, and remedileſs Torments; it had been better for us, that we had been torn in pieces with wild Horſes, than to have yielded to the Temptations of Sin, as we have done: Now we find our Miniſter's Words true, which warned us of the bitter Fruits of Sin, but, alas! too late, our time is gone, and will not be recalled; curſed be the time we fell into ſuch lewd Company: How did we delude each other to Deſtruction; now I ſee the Fruits, the Effects and Ends of all our merry Meetings, drunken Matches, of our merry Songs and wanton Catches, and all our effeminate Dalliance; how much better might the time have been ſpent in Prayer, Hearing, and Meditation? Taverns, Ale-houſes, and Whore-houſes have been our Ruine.

Theſe, or ſuch-like, will be the ſad Complaints of miſcarrying Souls; for when God forſakes them, all that Good is will leave them, then muſt they bid farewel to the Saints and Angels for ever, for they will be in the preſence of God to Eternity, and had they but enjoyed them one day in Heaven, now all their Corruptions are p. 211done away, they would better know their worth and their own loſs; but Heaven and Hell, as they are out of ſight, ſo they are out of mind; but thoſe that mind them of it, are like Elijah, accounted the Troublers of Iſrael, and like Paul, Peſtilent Fellows; for they at preſent ſcorn the Society of the Godly, and then the Godly will ſcorn them; they ſhall then reap the Fruit of their own Folly, which will be a large Harveſt. But, among all their Loſſes, they ſhall loſe their Souls alſo, which Loſs is conſiderable, the Soul being of more value than the World, Mat. 16.26. and this will be an aggravation to them, they ſold them for nothing: Yet this Loſs ſignifies not the annihilation of the Soul, or that it ſhall be made nothing, this would be joyful News to them, for upon that Condition they would be willing the Devil ſhould tear it into a thouſand pieces, (ſuppoſing it diviſible) ſo he would tear it into nothing: But this cannot be, the Soul will run parallel with the longeſt Line of Eternity; neither can the Faculties thereof be loſt, the Underſtanding, Memory, Conſcience will remain, and be much heighten'd; the Underſtanding ſhould better know the Vanity of Earthly Enjoyments, and the Worth of Heavenly; the Memory ſhall never forget one Sin, nor any one Circumſtance of it, and the Conſcience ſhall torment them for it, and will prove a never-dying Worm to torment; but the Soul is ſaid to be loſt, when God, which is the Life of the Soul, is loſt; and when made a Bond-ſlave to Satan, and under God's Wrath and Curſe, and ſentenc'd to everlaſting Torments; when all her Hopes are extinct, and nothing but Deſperation is left her, p. 212all their miſgrounded miſguided Hope will then fail, and prove but like a Spider's Web, and at Death all poſſibility will be taken away, Salvation and Hopes will vaniſh together. The fooliſh Virgins Hope, as it was groundleſs, ſo was it fruitleſs; ſuch Hope may light a man to Death, never to the Grave. In a word, whatever they account good, or that tends to their Happineſs in this World, or that to come, Death will ſtrip them of it. Oh that Sinners in the fear of God would think of theſe things e're it be too late, then would they not for a little Pleaſure, vain Honour, or deceitful Riches, run thus upon the Pikes of Danger, and loſe God, Bleſſed for ever, and thoſe coeleſtial Enjoyments at his right hand, for evermore, and incur thoſe Helliſh Flames, which can never be quenched, Oh that men with a full Reſolution would ſet themſelves againſt the Temptations of Satan, the Alurements of the World, and the Enticements of their own Corruptions, and would give up not only their Names but their Hearts to Chriſt, then would they never feel what now they have juſt cauſe to fear.

5. Theſe are the Loſſes that wicked men will ſuſtain at Death, even all that good is; but this will not be all their Miſery, but there will be added to it the Pain of Sence, which is no inconſi…erable part of Hell, for they will be caſt into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond Death; they ſhall not only have the Talents which were lent them taken from them, but they ſhall be caſt into Priſon for not improving them, yea, into endleſs, eaſeleſs, and remedileſs Torments, Mat. 25.46.

p. 213Now this place of Torment, whereinto miſcarrying Souls ſhall be caſt, hath various Appellations in Scripture; ſometimes 'tis called a Priſon, Mat. 5.25. Agree with thine Adverſary quickly, &c. leſt thou be caſt into Priſon. This denotes the want of Liberty, and other comfortable Enjoyments: Sometimes 'tis called the bottomleſs Pit, Rev. 9.1. where the Dragon the old Serpent was caſt, Rev. 20.3. 'Tis alſo called Everlaſting Puniſhment, where all ungodly Sinners muſt go, Mat. 25.46. this alſo ſhews the duration. 'Tis called alſo Unquenchable Fire, which muſt conſume the Chaff, which are the Wicked, Luke 3.17. this ſhews the extremity of Torments. 'Tis called alſo a Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, where the Beaſt and the falſe Prophet ſhall be caſt, Rev. 19.20. 'Tis alſo called a Furnace of Fire, where the Tares muſt be burnt, Mat. 13.41, &c. 'Tis alſo called Outer Darkneſs, where thoſe that want their Wedding-Garment, when they are bound Hand and Foot, muſt be caſt, Mat. 22.13. 'Tis called ſometimes the blackneſs of Darkneſs, which is reſerved for the Devil and his Angels, Jude 6.13. 'Tis called alſo the Place of Torment, in which the rich Glutton was, when he ſaw Lazarus in Abraham's boſom, Luk. 16.28. 'Tis called the Wrath to come, from which Believers are delivered by Chriſt, 1 Theſſ. 1.10. As alſo the Damnation of Hell, and many other Epithets, Mat. 23.33. and all to expreſs the extremity of the Torment, and the duration thereof, and in ſome meaſure to ſet forth that which the Heart of Man cannot fully conceive of, nor his Tongue expreſs. By this we may ſee 'tis a place of Torment, a place of Horror and Darkneſs, a place provided on purpoſe p. 214for the manifeſtation of God's vindictive Juſtice and juſt Judgment. This is that Tophet provided of old, the pile thereof is Fire and much Wood, and the breath of the Lord, as a River of Brimstone, doth kindle it, Iſa. 30. laſt. When a few drops of this Wrath of God fell upon the old World, it drowned it, upon Sodom, it burnt it, upon Aegypt, it deſtroy'd it, upon Sennacherib, it flew 185000 of his Army in one night. But if a few drops make ſuch a devaſtation, what will a Torrent do? What will they do in the overflowing of Jordan? And what will thoſe poor Creatures do, that muſt be the Butt for all the Arrows of the Almighty to be levell'd at?

We read, that Nebuchadnezzar's Furnace was heat ſeven times hotter than uſually for Bread, but Hell is ſeventy times hotter than that, yet God will not think the heat too great, or the duration too long for Wicked men to ſuffer for a thouſand millions of Ages: He will not repent of the Severity; He is not as man, that he ſhould lye, nor as the ſons of men, that he ſhould repent: Thoſe that now at his Command will not leave one ſup, then ſhall not have one drop; then will they have no Beds of Donne to lye upon, no ſoft Couches to ſtretch their wearied Limbs upon, nor curious Hangings, nor coſtly Furniture to adorn their Rooms, only a Lake burning with Fire and Brimſtone to bath them in; no rich Wines, ſtrong Drinks, or cordial Waters, to comfort them, to quench their Thirſt, or cool their parched Throats, no, cold Water would be held a Cordial.

Their Society alſo would breed Horror, the Devil and his inſtruments, theſe will continually p. 215haunt them: Here if one ſhould appear at leaſt in an ugly ſhape, they are frighted, ſometimes out of their Wits, but there they are their daily Companions, and they will be troubled not with Sight only, but with Feeling alſo. As for the reſt of their Companions, they are not much better, for what Comfort can it be to live among wounded, ſick, diſeaſed, or frantick perſons, yelling, ſwearing, roaring, ranting, and blaſphemous men? But this falls ſhort of the communion in Hell; for amidſt all their helliſh Dialect, they muſt bea… a part in this helliſh Harmony; the thought of it may ſend them trembling to their Graves; were the Tormenters like themſelves, it were not ſo much; and yet we have read of thoſe that have been cruel enough, but to be under the Laſhes and Whips of Infernal Spirits, and theſe our Blood-thirſty Enemies, and ſet on work by an Omnipotent God, as the Executioners of his Infinite Wrath and Fiery Indignation, is terrible to think of. Thoſe that in their life-time were drawn into the Devil's Snares, muſt now reap the Fruit of their Folly, for whatever his Promiſes were, eternal Deſtruction of Soul and Body is his Wages. But he is not the only Tormenter, but miſcarrying Souls carry about them the never-dying Worm, which like Prometheus's Vulture is alwaies gnawing: And this will prove no inconſiderate part of Hell, here Conſcience is God's Regiſter, and records what is done, there it will be a Witneſs, a Judge, and an Executioner. The Memory alſo will not be in vain, but will bring to mind things by us long ago forgotten; the Sins committed, the Duties omitted; the Time loſt, the Opportunity let ſlip; the p. 216Underſtanding will then know the worth of the things loſt, the vanity of thoſe we had in exchange, and the woful Bargain we have made, and for this Conſcience will laſh to all Eternity. 'Tis one of the ſaddeſt Afflictions that can befal a Man in this Life, to be under the Terrors of an enraged Conſcience, witneſs Spira, that wiſh'd he were in Hell to know the worſt of his Torments: This was for one ſin, but when all their ſins, with all the aggravations, ſhall ſtare them in the Face, and when Conſcience ſhall have an enlarged Commiſſion, it will then ſpeak to purpoſe, and not hold its peace. Were a Man to grapple with the Creature, it were not ſo much, but who can contend with the Almighty? Who can dwell with conſuming fire, or with everlaſting burning? Hell is the place where the Priſoner muſt pay the utmoſt farthing; and God's Vials of Vengeance ſhall be poured out to the utmoſt, all the Talents lent ſhall then be required, and every vain Thought, and every idle Word ſhall be anſwered for; and every ſin of Youth, and riper Age, of Ignorance and Knowledge, Weakneſs and Wilfulneſs; the ſins of every Relation, Calling, and Employment; of Omiſſion, Commiſſion, and Participation, againſt the Law, and againſt the Goſpel, with all their Circumſtances and Aggravations. Oh the numberleſs Number of bloody Bills will be brought in, and fully proved! not a vain word, or thought, or wanton glance of the Eye, or wicked or laſcivious Geſture, or Action, will be then omitted or forgiven; there they muſt ſtay till they have paid the utmoſt Farthing, for God will be no loſer by them: Thoſe that have exceeded moſt in Sin, p. 217ſhall exceed alſo in Torments, as God threatens Babylon, Rev. 18.15, 16. No Tongue can tell, nor Heart conceive, how great their Torments will be, for they will be inconceivable, and unutterable. If all the Tormenting Diſeaſes that ever poor Creature groaned under were inflicted upon one Man, and all the Racks and Tortures that ever were invented by Man or Devil, were added to it, and this Man's Life ſhould be preſerved under theſe Tortures for a Year, for a Hundred, or a Thouſand Years, ſure it would be a miſerable Spectacle: But what is this to Hell Torments? This reaches only the Body, except by Sympathy, when Soul and Body are tormented in Hell. Or what is a Thouſand Years to Eternity? A thouſand thouſand rentings of the Soul from the Body, is not ſo much as one renting of Soul and Body from God. There are many now that cannot endure to hear the Devil's Name in a Sermon, yet can they endure to lodge him in their Hearts; but how will they lodge with him for ever? If he now appear in ſome horrid ſhape, how are they affrighted out of their Wits, but how then will they dwell with him for Eternity? Now if a Perſon be in pain, they have ſome intervals, ſome mitigation, but there is none; or ſome parts of the Body free, when others are tormented; but in Hell no Part, Power, or Faculty is free, yet haply thoſe Parts that ſinned moſt, may ſuffer moſt, as the Rich Glutton's Tongue ſeemed to do; their fire goes not out, neither doth their worm dye: Every Senſe there will have its Torment, as every Senſe here hath its peculiar Sins. Whether the Fire there be Material, as ſome imagine, or Metaphorical, as p. 218others more probably conceive it, is not much material for us to know, and well if we never know; if it be Material Fire, God adds ſtrength to it, otherwiſe it could not touch the Soul; if Metaphorical Fire, 'tis ſomething more afflictive than our Imaginations can reach; however Chriſt bids us not fear man, that can but kill the body, (haply by Fire) but cannot kill the ſoul, but fear him that can caſt ſoul and body into Hell. Now our Fire conſumes as well as torments, but Hell Fire doth not ſo; Wicked Men in Hell are like Moſes's Buſh, always burning, but never conſumed; would Hell-fire conſume them it would be happy News, but they are like the Salamander, they live in it, and will do to Eternity; they never leave ſinning, and their ſins are as Oyl or Pitch to increaſe the Flames, and God will not leave plaguing them for their ſins. Jerome tells us, their Sins are the Oyl, and God's Wrath the Fire, and while the Oyl is poured on, the Fire will not out. Thoſe Bodies that now are ſo tender they cannot endure Cold nor Heat, that muſt not have the Sun or Wind to ſee them, for ſpoiling their Beauty, will be now expoſed to Fire and Flames; thoſe that could not away with an ill ſmell, what will they do to endure the ſmell of burning Brimſtone, or what is worſe repreſented by it? Thoſe that delighted in Pleaſant Sights and Shews, muſt here take up with the ſight of Infernal Fiends, and Leprous Souls, far more ugly than the fouleſt Toad that crawls under our Feet; and the choiceſt Melody will be the Yellings, Roarings, and Blaſphemings of damned Devils, and miſcarrying Souls, and nothing to be felt but Fire, or what more is appointed p. 219for further Torment. How will they dwell with everlaſting burning, that now cannot away with Summer-heat? Theſe Flames will neither regard Age, Sex, nor Beauty, but like the Worms will feed upon one as ſoon as the other; for as the Worms will make their Neſts between thoſe Breaſts that now are expoſed to ſhew, and ſale, and eat out thoſe wanton Windows of Love, and Meſſengers of Luſt, and ſeize upon the faireſt Face, as on the moſt deformed Piece; and rottenneſs will conſume that Hair, that now is made the Nets and Snares to catch our wanton Youth; and Prey upon the moſt Ambitious Nimrod, or proudeſt Perſon, as ſoon as any other, making no difference between the Prince and the Peaſant, the Duſt of both will ere long be mixt, and not known aſunder; ſo in like manner will they go undiſtinguiſhed in the Infernal Pit, for God will reſpect no Man's Perſon in the Judgment, nor the Flames in Hell, but as their Work is, ſo will be their Reward. That there will be degrees in Torment, I think is out of doubt, for there are degrees in Sin, and the Judge of all the Earth will do Righteouſly; Thoſe that know their maſters will, and do it not, ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes; thoſe that have abuſed moſt Talents, have moſt to anſwer for: It ſhall be eaſier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment, than for Corazin and Bethſaida. Bloody Perſecutors of Chriſt and his Church, are like to have the hotteſt place in Hell, and thoſe that commit that Sin unto Death, ſhall ſpeed worſe than thoſe that ſin of frailty. Thoſe that now would be accounted Roaring Boys, will be ſuch indeed, when they come there, for Roaring and Yelling will be their beſt Muſick; p. 220and all ſhall dance after this Pipe, and bear a ſhare in this Conſort. Oh, that Men would be wiſe before it be too late, and Hell hath ſhut her Mouth upon them, for then they will have no reſt day nor night, but it is the duration that makes up the Miſery compleat: Did the Torments endure but a Hundred, or a Thouſand Years, though it were long, yet it would be ſome comfort, that an end would come, but the word Never, is a Hell in the midſt of Hell. Were a Man in perfect Health and Strength adjudged to lye upon a ſoft Feather Bed, without ſtirring Hand or Foot, for a Year's ſpace, though he had the comfort of Friends, Meat, Drink, and other Neceſſaries, it would be thought a great Puniſhment, much more if he lay upon a red-hot Gridiron, and could be preſerved with Life: But what is either of theſe to Hell-Torments, or a Year to Eternity? But their Torment muſt run parallel with the Life of God, the days of Heaven, and the longeſt line of Eternity; and when they have paſt as many Thouſand Millions of Years as there are Piles of Graſs upon the Earth, Stars in Heaven, Hairs upon Man & Beaſts, Sands upon the Sea-ſhore, Feathers upon all Fowl, and Scales and Fins upon all Fiſh, yet will their Miſery be no whit abated, or any nearer to an end than the firſt day they were caſt into it; for were this innumerable Number taken from Eternity, it is never the leſs. Oh, Eternity! Eternity! who can judge of thee, or find thee out? If the Earth were converted into Paper, and the Sea into Ink, and every Graſs-pile into Pens, and every Sand upon the Sea-ſhore were a skilful Arithmetician, and all of them with their conjoyned p. 221Labours, when they had caſt up their greateſt Sums, and added them together, yet would it not reach Eternity: Nay, if the whole Firmament were written from end to end with Arithmetical Figures, it would fall ſhort. Oh, what then but Horror and Deſpair will ſeize upon miſcarrying Souls! when all their hopes are daſh'd, then will they ſeek Death, but ſhall not find it: Oh, that theſe pains would break my Heart, and end my Life, ſay they. Oh, that I might at laſt be extinct, or that theſe Infernal Spirits would tear me in pieces, till they had rent me to nothing. Oh, that I had never had a Being! curſed be my Father that begat me, and the Womb that bare me; curſed be thoſe Companions of mine, that helped to undo me, and betray me into my Enemies hands. Such as theſe are like to be the wiſhes that Eternity will extract from tormented Souls. O that the conſideration thereof would make Men wiſe before it be too late! But if Death find us unprepared, this that I have deſcribed will be our condition for ever, which God forbid.