Judgment Worthy of God, Imprimatur – Preface
Inprimatur
Gualt: Blandford, VICECAN: OXON. Aug. 1. 1664.
Ἀξία Θεο̂υ κρίσις. Iudgment worthy of God. OR An aſſertion of the EXISTENCE and DURATION OF Hell Torments, IN Two occaſional Letters, written ſeveral years ſince, by
The moſt Learned, Reverend, and Pious Dr HENRY HAMMOND.
TO WHICH IS ADDED An Accordance of St PAUL with St JAMES, in the great point of Faith and Works,
By the ſame Author.
—Who being Dead yet ſpeaketh.
Heb. 11.4.
OXFORD Printed by H. H. Printer to the Univerſity, for RIC: ROYSTON, and RIC: DAVIS, 1665.
The Preface.
SO ſervilely diſ-ingenuous is our Nature, and altogether brutiſh in the purſuit of ſenſual enjoyments, that the propoſal of rewards does in no proportion lead us ſo forcibly to our Intereſts and duties, as do the threats and menaces of puniſhment. Inſomuch that it may be ſaid with perfect truth, that God is far more gracious in ſeverity then in mercy; far more obliging and indulgent in creating of a Hell, then in furniſhing a Heaven. Whilſt the flaming ſword and dreadful Cherubim, ſet at the Entrances of Paradiſe, though they ſeem'd meant to hinder the return of our firſt Parents, prove really both theirs and ours beſt Convoy thither. We being ſuch, whom vengeance only can reclaim, terrors allure, and even damnation it ſelf preſerve from ruin and damnation.
Accordingly, it is an Obſervation verify'd by full experience, that our fears of Hell are ballanc'd with our hopes of Heaven; and our beliefs concerning each, anſwer our Expectations of either. The Apoſtle's aſſertion of Mens heaping to themſelves Teachers according to their luſts, being as true of their choice of doctrines: and however in other things we live not anſwerably to our Principles, in this Inſtance we rarely deviate, and by the ſame degrees grow confident in doing ill at preſent, and diſbelieving of our future ſufferings for it: ſo that it proves a Contemplation of great variety to recollect what ſhifts men put themſelves upon, to gain a truce and correſpondence with their vices; how they ſweat and labour, as to acquire the real puniſhments, ſo to elude the anticipated dreads and frightful Expectations attending their miſdoings.
1. And firſt of all; how being engag'd in vitious practice, they ſtrive to palliate its deformity with the beauteous appearances of neighbouring vertue; calling their angers juſtice, their luſts friendſhips, their rapines zeal, and ſo of the reſt. But when this Umbrage proves too thin, and the hypocrite has the ill fate never long to impoſe on others, and therefore much leſſe upon himſelf.
2. The next Attempt is made to leſſen the regard of Vertue and ſhame of Vice, by ſuggeſting that both are the production of opinion: That Nature knew no Ethicks, but founding all things in Community made no proprieties excepting thoſe of enjoyment and poſſeſſion: whilſt Law and right are the meer iſſues of preceding VVrong, the uſurping on that freedome which was the native birthright of mankind; and honeſty is nothing but a bondage unto common fame, the being a fool to eſcape the ſtile of Knave. But when this gourd is wither'd in the day of it's appearance (diſhoneſt practiſe; however faſhionable and recommended by Example; being of ill mark and ſeeking Covert: never ſecure by any ſtrengths, nor ſhelter'd by Concelement: Nay more then this, the partial ſinner condemning ſtill in others, the very guilts he flatters in himſelf, which makes it evident that naughty practiſe has an horrour in it which in deſpight of intereſt or prepoſſeſſion confeſſes it deteſtable)
3. A freſh expedient is ſought, and men are taught to argue, that howſoever Wickedneſſe be ſhamefull in its nature, it will not much import if it at leaſt be innocent in its effects; and followed by impunity. Which hope is countenanct by the indifferent and ſeeming caſual diſpenſation of ſucceſſes in the World; where one event happens to the good and bad, the clean and unclean; him that ſacrifices, and him that ſacrifices not; whilſt providence is ſo far from puniſhing offenders as to allow to them the moſt ſignal liberalities; and good men in the interim rarely ſhare in any thing but miſery. Yet notwithſtanding this; ſince conſcious guilt by ſad miſgiving controules its moſt aſſur'd enjoyments; and reaſon addes her more concluding ſuffrage, retorting back the Argument, and from the impunity of wicked men at preſent demonſtrates that inſtead of peace and ſafety a ſure arrear of judgment muſt be look'd for; it being moſt conſequent, that if there be a God, he muſt be juſt; and if he be ſo, will puniſh in a future world the injuſtices which ſcape and thrive in this.
4. Henc it growes needful for the vicious perſon to look out farther for ſecurity; and beaten from the former ſhelters, his next addreſſe is to religion, and with the troops of other Criminals he ſeeks for refuge at the Altar, which to all purpoſes beſides he ſcornes and deſecrates. And here he boldly claimes the priviledge of Saintſhip, of Faith, Predeſtination, and thouſand texts of Scripture which promiſe mercy and forgiveneſſe unto ſinners. But when theſe flattering expectations are ſilenc't by the voice of the ſame Scripture, which plainly ſaies that no Whoremonger, Adulterer, unclean perſon, or the like, ſhall have any inheritance in the kingdome of Chriſt and of God: and on the Contrary, that tribulation and anguiſh is on the Soule of every man that doth evil whatſoever his opinions be: and as to advantages from outward profeſsion, they are but this; he that knows the VVill of God and does not practiſe, has right unto this one prerogative alone, to be beaten with more ſtrips then others:
5. After theſe frequently repeated miſadventures, the ſinner encourages himſelf to try a yet unthought of Artifice: and ſince that in all addreſſes whither to Nature or Religion he meets with ſad abodes of future puniſhments: he would fain pleaſe himſelfe with putting far off from him the evill day: ſuggeſting that theſe puniſhments both are and likewiſe will be future ſtill; at leaſt are ſo remote, as not to merit our regards, or ſtand in competition with a preſent ſatisfaction. But when the hourly poſſibilities of death and a ſucceeding ſtate of torment, revenging with ſevere inflictions the broken minutes of reprieve, intrude upon the mind; then this fair dream of Comfort likewiſe vaniſhes as faithleſſe and as empty as the reſt. And now it were to be expected, that the ſenſual Man driven ſo often from his faſtneſſes and places of retreat, ſhould yield and be content at laſt to part with ruine.
6. But the Induſtry of vice is not ſo wanting to its ſelf: for though it be made evident that vertue is a real being, and the demure pretenſion to it will no way ſatisfy our intereſt or duty: alſo that it appear religion has no Goſpel for the wilful ſinner: and no impunity can be expected to tranſgreſſion, nor advantage in delay of ſuffering: One more, and indeed the only unattempted refuge is laid hold of▪ to try if that theſe puniſhments are really ſo formidable as is pretended; or ſuch indeed as a generous and valiant ſinner may meet and grapple with. The which is put in practiſe by framing eaſy Characters of the inflictions apportion'd to tranſgreſsion, and likewiſe ſhortning the date of their duration.
And indeed this method of procedure ſeems to be the laſt effort of reſolute Impiety: when men determin'd not to leave their ſin, rifle the regions of darkneſſe for their ſhelter, and ſeek a refuge in perdition: fulfilling the prophetick ſtrain and high Hyperbole of making a Covenant with Death and being at an agreement with Hell. A method which though not perfectly unknown unto precedent generations, was rarely ventur'd on; but ſeems left like to the barbarous Weſtern VVorld to be invaded and poſſeſt by this our Age. Even that, which having attempted Miſchiefs beyond all common practiſe, was in reaſon to look out for ſalvo's and excuſes no leſſe peculiar. And as if theſe would not be authentick if only whiſper'd in diſcourſe, we have liv'd to ſee them made the Argument of Books and magiſterially diſputed as ſober truths and maximes of Divinity. For beſides the preparatory Doctrine of the Socinians, The Socinians opinion of the future ſtate of Souls.(who teaching men to disbelieve that Reſurrection which God aſſerts, leave it an eaſy task to overthrow that which themſelves contriv'd.) We have in our own language been ſolemnly inſtructed that the pains of Hell are nothing but the luxuries of Earth; the drudgery of getting Children, Mr Hobbs.and living or'e again that age which ſenſual men would live for ever. Mr White▪We have bin likewiſe taught thoſe pains dwell only in the phancy, nay in the VViſhes and importunate deſires of them that are tormented: as if the flames of the infernal Tophet had bin the painted Fires of Purgatory, and every criminal were his own Hell and pain and Devil too.
Reſolution concerning Origen.Laſtly, we have been taught that the ſeverity of the day of judgment ſhall paſs upon its ſelf, when death ſhall learn to dye, damnation be condemn'd, and perdition be deſtroy'd. Whilſt men have brought again from the infernal pit that monſtrous Hereſy, which ſhould have juſtify'd its doctrine, by having been its ſelf conſum'd there, and loſt unto Eternity.
Alaſs! who will from henceforth be afraid of ſin, if it only puniſh by inflicting pleaſure, torment by baiting us with keen deſire, or end in painleſs deperdition? We can dwell with conſuming fire, and peacefully cohabit with everlasting burning, if the flames be only thoſe of lust, or of deſire; or be they real ones, if they utterly conſume, and are ſo great as to be withal moſt friendly, and calcine us in a moment.
Which ſeverals being thus nakedly premis'd, there will not need a farther Preface to manifeſt, how very ſeaſonable the ſubjects of the enſuing diſcourſes are: nor more to juſtify the Edition of them, unleſſe it may be uſeful to declare, that theſe conſiderations were ſo weighty, as to perſwade thereto the Right Reverend Father in God, the Lord Biſhop of London, (who was entruſted with theſe Venerable Remains) though he otherwiſe is very jealous without much caution to commit (and will not ſuffer any other perſon to bring) the poſthumous labours (eſpecially the occaſional private letters) of his friend to publick light: leaſt, though every thing which fell from that Excellent Pen, merits its readers full reception, yet wanting the advantage of a review, it may not altogether merit and deſerve its Author; that is, be not ſo exactly abſolute, as whatſoever paſt his ſecond view was ſure to be.
May the Charity of the one in writing, and the other in publiſhing theſe diſcourſes be anſwer'd in the advantage of the Reader; who can only, by being convinc'd there is a Hell, eſcape the knowing what it is, and will happily confute theſe Papers by being a Proſelyte unto them.