A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 2 – Title page 2
MATTH. III. 12. Whoſe Fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather the Wheat into his Garner, but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
Serm. II. Preached March 12. 1693.BEloved, I have gone through the ſeveral Terms of the Text, by way of Explaination, and have taken Notice of ſeveral Propoſitions or Points of Doctrine that naturally ariſe therefrom. I purpoſe only to proſecute but one of them, namely, the 6th. and laſt, viz.
Doct. That the Wrath of God is like Fire, 'tis intollerable; or, the Miſery and Torment of the Damned will be diſmal and amazing; there's no expreſſing how fearful their condition is and will be, who fall under the vindictive Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God.
I ſhall only do three things
1. Further open the Nature of Gods Wrath.
2. Prove and demonſtrate the Truth of the Propoſition.
3. Improve it by way of Application.
And to proceed, it is neceſſary to note to you in the firſt place, (as I before hinted) that the Wrath of God may be conſidered under a twofold Conſideration: As it is manifeſted,Gods Wrath opened.
1. Internally or Externally, taking hold of, and ſeizing upon ſome ungodly perſons here, whilſt in this World.
2. As it is Eternal, ſeizing on and taking hold of all undone and loſt Sinners hereafter.
Sin is the cauſe of Gods Wrath and Vengance, both of that which is felt here and ſhall eternally be felt and undergone hereafter; the word (as the learned note) which is tranſlated Wrath, comes from a Root foreign that ſignifies heat, or to be hot, and hence 'tis compared to fire; an angry Man we ſay is a fiery Man, a Man that hath much fire or fury in him; the Wrath of man is hot, but the Wrath of God is much hotter: Becauſe there is Wrath, beware. Sirs, there is Wrath in the Heart of Job 36. 18.God againſt Sinners, there his anger is kindled; there is Wrath alſo in his Decree, and in his Threatnings, his Wrath continues on all Unbelievers: He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth upon him. Tho' many of them do not feel it, they Joh. 3. 36.have not the ſenſe of it, but ſhall have one day; yet there are ſome that God lets out his Wrath upon to ſuch a degree here, that they do feel it, and cry out under the ſenſe and horror thereof in a fearful manner.
External wrath opened.Secondly, The Wrath of God, as it is compared unto fire, is oft-times let out to conſume men in divers reſpects.
1. Sometimes by Poverty, as by a flame he conſumes in a ſecret way their outward ſubſtance; there is a Curſe upon their eſtates, which dries up their Riches in which they Truſted, and ſet their Hearts upon, forgetting God their Maker, their Chief Good and Laſt End.
2. Sometimes he Conſumes their Honour, Reputation and Credit, they falling by their Iniquity into diſgrace, after they have made a Profeſſion of Religion, and have been in the Love and Eſteem of good Men.
3. Sometimes alſo by Sickneſs as by a flame he conſumes their Health; and thus he threatned the People of Iſrael, The Lord ſhall ſmite thee with a Conſumption, and with a Feaver, and with an Inflamation, and with extream Burning.Deut. 28. 22.
4. Alſo his Wrath oftentimes breaks out like fire on ſome Men by ſuddain Death, in a ſtrange and unuſual manner, as in the caſe of Lots Wife, and of Nadab and Abihu; and there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before Levit. 10. 1, 2.the Lord. This was ſo amazing, that Moſes ſaid unto Aron and unto Eleazor, and unto J…hamar, Vncover not your heads, neither rend your cloaths, leaſt ye die, and leaſt Wrath come upon all the People; but let your brethren, the whole houſe of Iſrael bewail the burning verſ 6which the Lord hath kindled: Open not your Mouths, (as if he ſhould ſay) ſhew no ſuch ſorrow as at other times, for God is Juſt, (and he hath let out his deſerved Wrath againſt theſe young Men) leaſt you ſhould ſeem to Juſtifie them, and ſhew a diſlike of God's token of Divine diſpeaſure.
5. Moreover God many times lets out his Wrath by War, and the Sword conſumes and devours much people: As alſo by Famine and by the Peſtilence. The Wrath of God, as it is let out in this World is as a drying, ſcorching and devouring fire: The flame of Gods Diſpleaſure puts all into a flame; as at this day, all the Earth ſeems to be on a fire, God is now a burning up, and conſuming the Nations; Therefore he hath poured upon him (ſpeaking of Jacob) the fury of his anger, and the ſtrength Iſa. 42. 25.of Battel, and it hath ſet him on … round about, yet he knew it not, and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart: War conſumes the Riches, the Wealth, the Strength, the Food and Bread of the Nation, as well as the People, but it is not laid to heart. He Job. 16. 9.teareth me (ſaith Job) in his Wrath: The Hebrew Word foreign (as Mr. Caryl Notes) "is near in ſound to our Engliſh Tear, and it ſignifieth to Tear as a Lyon his prey." Wrath is of a Tearing and devouring Nature. God ſometimes in his Wrath Tears in pieces the Bodies of Men, he tears their Power, their Riches, and conſumes their Beauty, and turns all (as it were to Aſhes) and thus he will pour out his Wrath on Babylon, and ſhe ſhall be burned with fire.
6. The Wrath of God alſo Seizeth on the Souls of ſome men, whileſt they are in this World; as when they are left, or given Internal Wrath explained.up unto hardneſs of Heart, Vnbelief, and blindneſs of Mind; indeed this is moſt dreadful of all: What can be a greater Token of Gods Divine Wrath? it is the begining of that Future Vengeance that ſhall be poured forth upon them to Eternity.
Thus the Almighty dealt by the Jews for their Sin in rejecting of Jeſus Chriſt, and putting him to death by wicked hands, for this he gave them up to an hard, unbelieving, and an impenitent heart, and then let in the Romans upon them, who utterly deſtroyed their City and Temple, and ſo ſcattered them on all the face of the Earth; and hence the Apoſtle ſaith, that Wrath was come upon them to the uttermoſt.1 Theſ. 1. 16.
7. Internal wrath on the Conſciences of Men opened.The Wrath of God like Fire ſometimes alſo ſeizeth on the Conſciences of men, by which means they are fearfully tormented, for their horrid Blaſphemy, Prophaneſs, Atheiſm, Apoſtacy, &c. We have had two Examples of this ſort, viz. Mr. Francis Spira in the laſt Century, and Mr. John Child in this.
It is enough to make all who read thoſe Naratives to Tremble, at the very thoughts of the incenſed Wrath and Anger of an offended God. Who can ſtand before his indignation, when his wrath is poured out like fire, on the Souls and Conſciences of Men? O how doth he ſeem to Tear them into peices, even to ſuch a degree as they ſeem to be in the very torments of Hell, while in the Body: And not knowing but that a faithful reciting of ſome Paſſages concerning the inward Horror of the ſaid Spira and Child, may be of ſome uſe to Caution all to take heed of ſuch like ſins which they fell under, I ſhall (tho' more briefly than I intended) compare their States, Circumſtances, inward Anguiſh and Horror of their Spirits, together.
SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Eſtate of Francis Spira,
SPira having received the Light of the Goſpel, became a Teacher of the Bleſſed Truths thereof amongſt his Friends and familiar Acquaintance; and (ſays the Narrative) in compariſon ſeemed to neglect all other Affairs, much preſſing this main point of Doctrine, viz. That we muſt wholly and only depend on the free and unchangable Love of God in the Death of Chriſt, as the only way to Salvation.
As to his natural and corrupt Inclination; 'I was, ſaith he, exceſſively Covetous of Money; and accordinly applyed my ſelf to get it by Injuſtice, corrupting Juſtice by doing it,' &c.
As touching Spira's Sin and his grand fall, it was thus, viz. The Popes Legate, Reſident at Venice, was ſtirred by the malice of the Papiſts to accuſe Spira to him, and by the Craft and Policy of the Legate, and through ſlaviſh Fear, Spira firſt fled, and afterwards renounced his Teſtimony to the Truth; before which it appears he reaſoned thus within himſelf, thro' the Suggeſtion of the Devil, viz. 'Be well adviſed, fond Man, conſider Reaſons on both ſides, and then judge, how canſt thou thus overwean thine own ſufficiency, as thou neither regardeſt the Examples of thy Progenitors, nor the Judgment of the whole Church? doſt thou not conſider what miſery this thy Raſhneſs will bring thee into? thou ſhalt loſe thy Subſtance gotten with ſo great Care and Travel; thou ſhalt undergo the moſt exquiſite Torments that Malice … deviſe; thou ſhalt be … an Heretick of all; … to cloſe up all, thou ſhalt die ſhamefully: What thinkeſt thou of the lothſom ſtinking Dungeon, the Bloudy Ax, the Burning Faggot? are they delightful? be wiſe at length, and keep thy Life and Honour.—Go to the Legate, Weak Man, and freely Confeſs thy Fault,' &c. And upon theſe thoughts he goes to the Legate, and ſalutes him with this News, viz.
Having for theſe divers years entertained an Opinion concerning ſome Articles of Faith, contrary to the Orthodox and received Judgment of the Church, and uttered many things againſt the Authority of the Church of Rome, and the univerſal Biſhop, I humbly acknowledge my Fault and Error, and my Folly in my misleading others; I therefore yeild my ſelf in all Obedience to the ſupream Biſhop of Rome, into the Boſom of the Church of Rome, never to depart again from the Traditions and Decrees of the Holy See; I am heartily ſorry for what is paſt, and I humbly beg Pardon for ſo great an Offence.
The Legate at this commanded him to return to his own Town, and there to confeſs and acknowledge the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be holy and true, and to abjure the Opinions of Luther, &c.
After this he ſigned an Inſtrument of Abjuration, and then fell under horrid Deſpairation.
'And he thought he heard a direful Voice,' ſaying, Thou wicked Wretch, thou haſt renounced the Covenant of thy Obedience, thou haſt broke thy Vow; henc Apoſtate bear with thee the Sentene of thy Eternal Damnation. He trembling in Body and Mind fellinto a Swound.
Now began ſome of his Friends to repent too late of their Raſh Council, not looking ſo high as to the Judgment of God, laid all the blame on his Melancholly Conſtitution, that over-ſhaddowing his Judgment, wrought in him a kind of Madneſs, and directed him to the uſe of Physicians, &c.
To which Spira replyed, Alas poor men! how far wide are you? do you think that this Diſeaſe is to be Cured by Potions? believe me, there muſt be another manner of Medicine; it is neither Plaiſter nor Drugs that can help a fainting Soul, caſt down with the ſence of ſin, and the Wrath of God; 'tis only Chriſt that muſt be the Pyſician, and the Goſpel the Souls Antidote. Amongſt others that come to viſit him was Panlus Vergerius, and Mattheus Gribauldus, principal Labourers for his Comfort; they ſound him about 50 Years of Age.
Neither affected with Doteage, nor with the unconſtant head-ſtrong Paſſion of Youth, but in the ſtrength of his Experience and Judgment; in a burning heat, calling for drink; yet his Underſtanding active, quick or Apprehenſion, Witty in Diſcourſe, above his ordinary manner—they forcibly infuſed ſome liquid Suſtenance into his Mouth, moſt of which he ſpit out again, and in a fretting mood ſaid, As it is true, that all things work for the better to thoſe that Love God, ſo to the wicked all to the contrary; for whereas a plentiful Off-ſpring is the Bleſſing of God and his Reward, being a ſtay to the weak Eſtate of their Aged Parents, to me they are a cauſe of bitterneſs and vexation; they do ſtrive to make me tire out this miſery, I would fain be at an end; I deſerve not this dealing at their hands. Oh that I were gone from hence, that ſome body would let out this weary Soul! My ſin, ſaid Spira, is greater than the Mercy of God; nay, anſwered his Viſitors, the Mercy of God is above all ſin, God would have all men to be ſaved; it is true, (ſaid he) God would have all the Elect to be ſaved; he would not have damn'd Reprobates to be ſaved: I am one of that Number; I know it, for I willingly denyed Chriſt, and I feel that he hardens me, and will not ſuffer me to hope. Being asked whether he did believe that Doctrine to be true for which he was accuſed before the Legate, he aſwered, I did believe it when I denyed it, but now I neither can believe that nor the Doctrine of the Roman Church; I believe nothing, I have no Faith, no Truſt, no Hope, I am a Reprobate, like Cain or Judas, who caſting away all hope of mercy, fell under deſpair; and my Friends do me wrong, that they ſuffer me not to go to the place of Vnbelievers, as I juſtly deſerve.
The mercy of God (ſaid he) is exceeding large, and extends to all the Elect, but not to me, or any like me, who are ſealed to Wrath: I tell you I deſerve it, my own Conſcience condemns me, what needeth any other Judge; if Peter grieved, and repented, it was becauſe Chriſt beheld him with a merciful Eye, and in that he was pardoned; it was not becauſe he wept, but becauſe God was gracious to him; but God reſpects not me, and therefore I am a Reprobate; I feel no Comfort can enter into my Heart, there's place only for Torments and Vexings of Spirit: I tell you, my Caſe is properly mine own, no Man was ever in the like plight, and therefore my Eſtate is fearful.
And then roaring out in bitterneſs of Spirit, he ſaid, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Some ſaid with a whiſpering Voice that he was poſſeſſed; he over-hearing it, ſaid, Do ye doubt it? I have a whole Legion of Devils that take up their dwelling in me, and poſſeſs me as their own; and juſtly too; for I have denyed Chriſt, Chriſt will not be denyed, no not in a word, and therefore it is enough; in Heart I never denied him.
He ſaid, when asked, that he knew there were worſe, far worſe pains than thoſe that he then ſuffered; for the wicked ſhall riſe to their Judgment, but they ſhall not ſtand in Judgment; this I tremble to think of, yet I deſire nothing more than that I might come to that place, where I may be ſure to feel the worſt, and to be freed from fear of worſe to come.
Being bid to believe the Truths he had denied, he replied, I cannot, God will not ſuffer me to believe them, nor to truſt in his mercy; what would you have me to do? I would, but I cannot, tho' I preſently be burnt for it.
I find I can neither believe the Goſpel, nor truſt in Gods Mercy; I have ſinned againſt the Holy Ghoſt, and God by his immutable Decree hath bound me over to perpetual Puniſhment: God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardneth; God hath taken away from me all power of Repentance, and brings all my ſins to remembrance; and guilty of one, guilty of all, fore it is no matter whether my ſins be great or ſmall, few or many; they are ſuch, that Chriſts Blood, nor the Mercy of God belongs not to me; he hath hardened me, I find that he daily more and more doth harden me, and therefore I am without hope; I feel it, therefore cannot but deſpair: I tell you, there was never ſuch a Monſter as I am, never was any man alive a ſpectacle of ſuch exceeding Miſery. I know that Juſtification is to be expected by Chriſt, and I have denyed and abjured it, to the end I might keep my frail Life from Adverſity, and my Children from Poverty, and now behold how bitter my Life is to me, and God only knows what will become of this my Family; but ſure no good is likely to betide it, but worſe and worſe, and ſuch at length as one ſtone ſhall not be left upon another.
Said he, The Spirit of God often admoniſhed me, when at Cittadella I did as it were ſet my Seal, the Spirit of God often ſuggested to me, Do not write Spira, do not Seal, yet I reſiſted the Holy Ghoſt, and did both, and at that very time I did evidently feel a wound inflicted my very will, &c.
David was Elected and dearly Beloved, and tho' he fell, yet God took not utterly away his holy Spirit, and therefore was heard when he prayed, 'Lord take not thy holy Spirit from me.' But I am in another Caſe, being for ever accurſed from the preſence of God; neither can I pray as he did, becauſe the Holy Spirit is quite gone, and cannot be recalled,—'O that I might feel but the leaſt ſenſe of the Love of God to me, tho' but for one ſmall moment, as I now feel his heavy Wrath that burns like Torments of Hell within me, and afflicts my Conſcience with pangs unutterable: Very Deſperation is Hell it ſelf; you perſwade me to believe, how fain would I do it, but I cannot:' Then violently graſping his Hands together, and raiſing himſelf, 'Behold, ſaid he, I am ſtrong, yet by little and little I decay and conſume, and my Servants would fain preſerve this weary Life, but at length the Will of God muſt be done, and I ſhall periſh miſerably.'
'I ſee, ſaid he, my Damnation, and I know my remedy is only in Chriſt, yet I cannot ſet my ſelf to take hold of him! Such are the Puniſhments of the Damned, they repent of their loſs of Heaven, they cannot amend their ways.'
'Now alſo Belzebub comes to his Banquet; you ſhall ſee my End, and in me an Example to many, of the Juſtice and Judgment of God.'
'What Hell can be worſe than Deſparation, or what greater Puniſhment than the gnawing worm, and unquenchable Fire? Horror, Confuſion, and which is worſe than all, Deſparation it ſelf, continually tortures me; and now I count my preſent-Eſtate worſe than if my Soul were ſeparated from my Body, and were with Judas and the reſt of the damned; therefore I deſire to be there, rather than alive in the Body.'
'God hath taken Faith from me, and left me other common Gifts for my deeper Condemnation, by how much the more I remember what I had, and hear others diſcourſe of what they have, by ſo much the more is my Torment, in that I know what I want, and there is no way to be relieved: Thus ſpake he, the Tears trickling down; profeſſing that his Pangs were ſuch, as that the Damned in Hell endure not the like Miſery. That his Eſtate was worſe than that of Cain or Judas, and therefore he deſired to dye; yet, Behold, ſaid he, the Scriptures are accompliſhed in me, They ſhall deſire to dye, and Death ſhall fly from them.'See the Relation of him at large, Sold by A. and J. Churchil, at the black Swan in Pater-Noſter-Row.
SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Eſtate of John Child,
MR. John Child was a Preacher, and when he was young a very zealous Aſſerter of the Doctrine of Gods Free-Grace; Namely, of Perſonal Electrion, and of the Saints final Perſeverance; and was a man of conſiderable Natural Parts and Ability, being much followed whereever he preached, both in the City and Countrey, yet ſeemed to be of a haughty Spirit, loving Applauſe and Popularity, which it may, be feared was the Cauſe of his Fall, and may be a Warning to all how they have mens Perſons in Admiration. But he had not many years aſſerted the Doctrine before mentioned, before he changed his Judgment, and turned to be a grand Arminian; which Notions he maintained with great Confidence, and was ſo conceited of his Abilities, that he feared not to Diſpute with any Man, charging the Doctrine of Perſonal Election at a ſtrong manner, as if the Aſſerters of it rendered God cruel, and worſe than the worſt of Mortals: In his Judgment he was a Baptiſt, being againſt Infants Baptiſm, and for the Baptiſm of Believers; for many years he lived in Buckingham-ſhire, near me, I being intimately acquainted wth him for near 30 years; but a little before the laſt Perſecution of Diſſenters he removed his Dwelling, and came to London, and lived near to my Habitation, in Pauls Shadwel; now the firſt time I came to fear him, was through ſome Words he uttered to me, which was to his effect; I have, ſaid he, ſeriouſly conſidered whether there be any thing in Religion worth ſuffering for: Which Words I wondred at, from ſuch a one as he; but ſoon after he Conformed, (Troubles riſing high,) and then wrote a Curſed Book, rendering the Diſſenters, eſpecially the Baptiſts, very odious; caſting Reproach upon their faithful Miniſters, becauſe ſome of them were not learned men, I mean with the Knowledge of the Tongues; and quickly after this he fell under fearful Deſpairation: I was one of the firſt Men that he ſent for, and I found him in a diſmal State and Condition, being filled with Horror, ſaying, he was damned, and crying out againſt himſelf for Writing that Book; ſaying, he had touched the Apple of Gods Eye; I ſaid all I was well capable to ſpeak, to Comfort him, but all in vain; at another time he ſaid, Mine iniquities are great and many, old ſins as well as of a late date come to mind; Wrath is come upon me to the utmoſt, God hath forſaken me, good Men are my Enemies; I hate my ſelf, I am afraid and aſhamed to go abroad, and am confuſed and diſtracted at home; the Scriptures look dreadfully upon me, I have raiſed Reproach, invented Reproach, and by it wronged multitudes,—I am afraid to live, and afraid to dye; Judgment I fear will be terrible in this World, and more in the World to come; I cannot give an Account of my Actions to Men, how much leſs to God! my Heart condemns me, and he is greater, and knows more: I think I have not only outdone Cain, Balaam, and Judas, but ſome of the Devils themſelves.
O I cannot Repent, I cannot Repent! I ſhall go to Hell! I am broken in Judgment; When I think to Pray, either I have a fluſhing in my Face as if I were in a flame, or I am dumb, I cannot ſpeak; all the ſigns of one whom God hath left, forſaken and hardened—If I was in Heaven, it could not relieve me, for I ſhould behold the Face of God and holy Saints, as now I behold the Face of good Men upon Earth, with ſhame and confuſion of Face—and then again ſaid, Wrath is come upon me to the utermoſt—I am one of the greateſt Hypocrites that ever lived upon the Earth, and ſhall be ſo accounted: God hath and will do his will upon me—Oh he thunders upon me! ſhould God let out the ſence of my ſins on me, (as he will) I ſhould howl like a Dog, roar like a Lyon, bellow like an Ox; mine inward parts would melt within me, as braſs melts in a flaming fire; I ſhall lye lower than Judas, I have ſinned worſe then Judas—he quoting thoſe words in Heb. 10. 2, 6. If we ſin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truths, remains no more ſacrifice for ſin, &c. he ſaid, when I am faint and low, I take ſome refreſhments, but in Hell, there is no refreſhment, not a drop of Water to cool my Tongue.
To ſome that came to viſit him, and to Comfort him, he ſaid, All is gone, I am undone—I have been ſo great a ſinner againſt God, and the people of God, that God will have no Mercy on me, but will glorifie himſelf by me, and make me an Example for the ſtrengthening and eſtabliſhing of his People, but it ſhall end in my deſtruction—God hath ſworn in his Wrath that I ſhall never enter into his reſt—I have been a looſe and carnal Profeſſor, and if I were in the place of God, I ſhould meet the ſame meaſure that God doth to me: My Calamity is even at the door, and all men in a little time will juſtifie Gods dealing with me: The Wrath of God is kindled, and burns in me; it is impoſſible for you to imagin my torment, and this is but an Earneſt penny of my Eternal Damnation. Said a godly man, this is a humbling diſpenſation that you are exerciſed under—A humbling diſpenſation, ſaid he, do you call it? I tell you, it is an hardening diſpenſation, and I feel it to be ſo: Said his Friend, I hope there is mercy yet reſerved for you; to whom he replyed, I know I ſhall have ſuch Mercy as the Damned have; I do highly juſtifie God in his dealings with me—at another time, I once thought, ſaid he, that there was a power in man, but now I find it otherwiſe, for I cannot Pray—I have no deſire after any thing that is good; I cannot Repent. His Viſitors asked him if they ſhould Pray for him? he ſaid, No, No.
One ſaid to him, the Learned Dr. Twiſt in his Vinditiae Gratiae conſeſſeth there were Depths in the Controverſie between the Calviniſts and Arminians, yet he believed the Truth againſt the Arminians.
Mr. Child replyed, I thought I could have dived to the bottom of it by my parts, but I ſee I cannot; and then, and many other times ſaid, I am broken in Judgment—One of his Viſitors ſaid, you are obliged to ſtoop to the Soveraignty of God; he replyed, Oh I cannot! I would be above him! O that there ſhould be an Eternal bleſſed Being, and I ſure never to enjoy him; there ſhall be an Eternal Wrath and Puniſhment, and I ſure to fall under it. I ſhall be an eternal Monument of the Wrath of God—Pride and Covetouſneſs hath ruined me, it hath undone me; I have been too much influenced thereby: I have been a Hypocrite, I am ſo now: I ſeem to repent, I do not, I cannot repent: And walking to the end of the room, turned back with a very ſtern Countenance, and ſtriking his Hand on his Breaſt, ſaid, No Sir, I cannot pamper this Body, for God will have it made a remarkable Example to this Generation. He cryed out againſt himſelf for charging thoſe that hold the Doctrine of Perſonal-Election with Conſequences beyond the Senſe of their Minds or Principles; I have, ſaid he, made this World my God, I have been guilty of Idolatry, I have been guilty of Pride, endeavouring to run every Man down in Diſpute; I have endeavoured to ſhake the Croſs off my Shoulders; how deplorable a thing is this, that I that have preached ſo much of the glory of another World, ſhould now be deprived of it all: You will as ſurely ſee me damned, as you now ſee me ſtand here.
To others he ſaid, I have trifled in Religion, trifled, trifled—I am loſt, there is no Hope, no Hope: At another time he ſaid, The black Tokens of Reprobation are upon me: He ſaid to Mr. Plant, ſmiting on his Breaſt, Sir, I am Damn'd, I am Damn'd; it is ſo moſt certainly: My day is over; O that it was with me as in days paſt! but it is too late, the Decree is gone forth, it is Sealed in Heaven, and it is irreverſible. Jeſus Chriſt cannot ſave me, he will not, he cannot Mediate for me, I have ſo much offended him, in maliciouſly abuſing of his People: O what a Wretch was I! what a Spirit was I led by! I have guilt enough, ſaid he, to ſink ſeventeen Kingdoms, and I know the Earth would open its mouth and ſwallow me alive, like Corah, Dathan and Abiram, were it not that God hath reſerved me to be a more publick Spectacle of his Anger and Diſpleaſure both to Angels and Men. I can neither Pray, nor deſire others to pray for me; my Heart is perfectly hardened; how ſhould I, when I cannot deſire Jeſus Chriſt to pray for me; flouds of Tears flowing from him, Dear bought Experience, ſaith he, hath taught me, that it is no ſmall thing to trifle with him in the great things of Religion and Eternity, &c. In one of his Letters ſent to Mr. James Jones are theſe Expreſſions, viz. Being poſſeſſed with Doubts, Fears and Tremblings, night and day, the ſad ſavour of Gall and Wormwood, an horrible Reliſh of Gravel-ſtones, the ſad Apprehenſions of Curſes, Blaſtings and Mildew—the diſmal ſound of the mad Prophets words, I ſhall ſee him, but not now, I ſhall behold him, but not nigh—had I been a Backſlider of an ordinary ſize—I have a Voice behind me, or dire Texts—to love and make a Lye is a qualification for the Lake.
His poor Wife, as I remember, intimated to me, that the very Ends of the Halr of his Head in the Night-ſeaſon did ſtand in Drops thro' the Anguiſh of his Soul.
The Narrative concerning Mr. Child is Sold by Tho. Fabian at the Bible in Cheapſide, and worthy it is, Reader, of thy peruſal.Thus he continued for ſeveral Months under moſt dreadful horror and fearful deſparation, until the 13th. of Octob. 1684. when to put an end to his miſerable Life, he hanged himſelf in his own hired houſe, in Bricklane near Spitlefields, London, leaving a ſorrowful Widdow and ſeveral Children: But ſhe poor Woman lived not long after. 'Tis to be noted, that there was a ſtrange blaſt upon his Eſtate, for tho' I underſtood by a Friend that was intimate with him, he was little before his fall worth near a thouſand pounds, yet I can hear but of a little left to his Children, his Eldeſt Son being but in a low and mean Condition. I take not upon me to paſs Judgment upon this miſerable Man, not knowing how God might deal with him, whoſe Mercy is Infinite, for I do not believe Self-murther is an unpardonable ſin; for if ſo, there is more Sins unto Death than one; certainly it is a Sin againſt the Father and the Son, and not againſt the Holy Ghoſt, and therefore may be forgiven unto men, who may before their Life is quite gone have Repentance given to them. But I am of the Opinion, (with a worthy Miniſter that viſited him) that if any Atheiſt in the World who had formerly known this man, and had converſed with him in his bitter Agonies, he would have ſeen ſufficient Demonſtrations to have convinced him that there is a dreadful God, or a Power beſides and above Nature, who can touch, ſhake, and diſorder, and turn into Confuſion the ſtrongeſt conſtitution of body, by miniſtring and faſtning terrible things upon the Soul; and as he ſaith, let this Pillar of Salt tend to warn and ſeaſon the People of this preſent and future Ages, of the danger of ſinning againſt the light of their underſtanding.
Moreover, it doth I am ſure ſerve with a witneſs to prove, and fully to demonſtrate the truth of that Propoſition I am upon, viz. That God doth ſometimes let out his Wrath on the Conſciences of ſome men, for their horrid evil in this World, which ſeems intollerable and hard to be born or undergone by any Mortal. But,
Secondly, The fire of Gods eternal wrath opened.To proceed, by buring up the Chaff with unquenchable fire, or by the Wrath of God in this place, our Bleſſed Saviour doth intend, caſting the wicked into Hell it ſelf: Remarkable it is, that no leſs than four or five times the Lord Chriſt poſitively affirms in Mark 9. that the fire of Hell into which Body and Soul of wicked men ſhall be caſt, cannot be quenched; where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched, &c. Why repeated ſo often? is it not to aſſure all ungodly perſons of the certainty Mark 9. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.of it? Men are not willing to believe this great truth, they are too ready to think that it is inconſiſtent with infinite goodneſs to inflict ſuch Puniſhment on his Creatures, but alas, they forget that there is an infinite perfection in every one of the Divine Attributes, and that as Gods mercy is infinite, unſearchable, and unconceivable, ſo is his wrath and fury; none are able to conceive, much leſs to declare, what pain and anguiſh the damned undergo. What torments like fire? and what fire is ſo hot and ſo tormenting as Hell-fire? ſad it is to burn half an hour in an Elementary fire, yet the Martyrs have endured that for Chriſts ſake; God made it eaſie to ſome of them: But alas, who can bear the burnings of Hell-fire, when wrath ſhall be let out upon the Soul to the utterermoſt?
O Sirs, what a fearful thing will it be to be found chaff, and falſe hypocritical Perſons! ſuch cannot eſcape the damnation of Hell; No, nor can any ſinner whatſoever, except they believe, repent, or are born again; there is no avoiding being caſt into unquenchable fire.
Thirdly, I ſhall now endeavour to prove the point, viz. That the Wrath of God in Hell is intollerable, and far greater than any Wrath let out here, either on the Bodies or Souls of men; which will appear, if we conſider theſe particulars following:
Firſt, The extremity of their Torment will appear, upon the Conſideration that it is inconceivable, beyond all mens underſtanding Pſa. 90. 11.; who knoweth the power of thy Anger? who can apprehend Tormens of Hell inconceivable.it, or is rightly and duely affected therewith? we can conceive of all bodily pain, or external Torment, but cannot comprehend the Nature of infinite Wrath, no more than we can conceive or apprehend the Nature of infinite Love and Goodneſs.
Secondly, It is and will be intollerable, becauſe it is according to that fear, nay beyond the fear that an awakened Conſcience hath Hells Torments according to the fear of them.of it; even according to thy fear ſo is thy Wrath. O what frightful thoughts and aſtoniſhing fears had Spira and Child of Gods Wrath: Now Sirs, it cannot be ſaid of the Wrath of God as ſome other things, or of Death it ſelf, i. e. that the fear is worſe than the thing; No, no, acording to the fear, ſo is the the Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God. The fears of a dreadful Deity are not vain Bugbares, and the effects of ignorance, or of a craſie head, of Folly, Melancholly, or Superſtition, as ſome Atheiſtical Wretches are ready to ſay; No, no, but it is grounded and built upon ſolid Foundations, as it is in part made manifeſt ſometimes by the terrible effects upon mankind, (as I have hinted.) Wrath bears proportion unto the greateſt fear of it, nay, doth far exceed the fear thereof, and what prepared Plagues, infinite pains, intollerable anguiſh, have ſome ſelf-accuſed, and ſelf-condemned mortals ſeared and looked for? what is the nature of that certain fearful looking for of Judgment Heb. 10. 26.and fiery indignation? why now according to the fear of it, ſo will the thing it ſelf be. Some have felt much Sorrow, but have feared much more: Mans thoughts and fears exceed all that can be expreſſed, &c.
Thirdly, The Wrath of God will be intollerable in Hell, No pains like the pains of Hell.and the extremity of the damned amazing, if we compare that miſery and anguiſh with all, or any, nay the worſt of Plagues and Puniſhments that can be undergone in this World; I mean of all temporal Miſeries, as Peſtilence, Famine, War, or any tormenting Diſeaſe, as the Stone, Gout, &c.
1. Theſe may be but the Fatherly Rebukes and Chaſtenings of the Almighty; not from a Sin-revenging hand, but a Sin-correcting hand of God; not in Wrath, but in Love; but if his Anger be ſo terrible when he chaſtizes as a compaſſionate Father, what is his fury when he puniſhes as a ſevere Judge? if he deals thus ſharply with thoſe he loves, what will their portion be whom he hates? if his Wiſdom leadeth him forth thus to corect in mercy, what will be the ſtrokes of his Juſtice and incenſed Wrath and Fury?
2. The Miſeries of this preſent Life are abated, or mitigated with the mixture of ſome Sweet: None are ſo univerſally afflicted, ſo deplorable, but ſome thing remains to eaſe their ſufferings and tormenting pains: Judgments are tempered with Mercys. No man (as one obſerves) is tortured with all Diſeaſes, nor forſaken of all Friends; beſides, if the Malady be incurable and remedileſs, yet their grief is a little allayed by the Sympathy of Friends and Neighbours: But in Hell the damned are tortured and ſurrounded with pain and horror, and incompaſs'd with flames, without any mixture, nothing to refreſh their diſtreſſed Souls and Bodies, no, not one drop of water to cool their Tongue. The rich Man deſired but ſo much water that Lazarus could bring upon the tip of his finger, and it was denyed him.Luk. 16. 24.
Fourthly, The State of the Damned is void of the leaſt degree of Comfort, Eaſe and Refreſhment: The ſame ſhall drink of No Eaſe, no Comfort in Hell. His Wrath without mixture. Rev. 14. 10.the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation, and he ſhall be tormented with fire and brimſtone in the preſence of his holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb: They ſhall have Judgment without Mercy, Sorrow without Joy, Pain without Eaſe, Darkneſs without Light, all felicity is totally withdrawn. Pitty is the cheap and ſmalleſt relief any here can meet withal in miſery, not denyed to the moſt guilty notorious Criminal, but yet this is not afforded to the damned; all their bitter Crys cannot move the Compaſſion of God nor the Bleſſed Angels or Saints in Heaven toward them, for they are not Objects of Compaſſion, their Miſeries being the juſt puniſhments of an offended God, whom they wilfully and of their own choice contemned, thro' love to Sin and this preſent World; beſides, in Hell all humane affections are extinguiſhed for ever. Ah, this is the quintiſence and perfection of Miſery, the exceſs of Anguiſh and Sorrow, to be deprived of all good things pleaſing to our deſires, and to ſuffer all evils from which we have the deepeſt averſation and abhorrence; for as in Heaven all Good, all Felicity, all Joy, is inconceivable, ſo in Hell all evil is felt and endured to the higheſt degree, and nothing but what is evil.
Some of the greateſt miſeries that Mortals have met with here in this World, have been inflicted upon them by the hand of Man, (whoſe power is but little, and oft-times reſtrained and mittigated by the Lord) as in the caſe of the poor Martyrs: But in Hell the pain and puniſhment the of damned will be from the immediate hand of Almighty God, whoſe power is Infinite; nay, and it ſhall be according to his glorious Power, or the greatneſs of his Power; Who knows the power of thine anger? When 2 Theſſ. 1. 9. Pſa. 80. 11.infinite power is exerted in puniſhing the offending Sinner, who can conceive of that? what are the Laſhes of a ſmall Whip, to that with Scorpions? or the ſtroaks of a Child, to the blows of a Giant? but alas, this will not reach it, becauſe the Stroaks of Gods Wrath are incomprehenſible; in Hell he lets out the perfection of his Wrath, as in Heaven the perfection of his Love, &c. The Sorrows and Miſeries we endure here from the hand of God, may by Repentance, by Cryes and Tears, through Chriſts Blood be taken off; God hath promiſed to eaſe ſuch who fly unto him (and look up to his Son) of their burthen, as he did thoſe that were ſtung with fiery Serpents in the Wilderneſs, who looked up to the brazen Serpent; but no Tears, no Cries, no Repentance, will do in Hell, there's no Goſpel preached, no means of Grace afforded, no Chriſt held forth.
Fourthly, The Torments of the damned will be diſmal, intolerable The damned caſt into a la7c of fire.and amazing, becauſe they ſhall be caſt into a lake of fire, or be tormented with fire. O how amazing is it, to be thrown into a fierce fire! look into a Glaſs-houſe, (behold their burning Furnaces) or into a hot Oven; can you bear the thoughts of being thrown into one of them? whether the fire of Hell be material or metaphorical Fire, however the reality and extenſiveneſs of the Torment is ſignified by it, held forth by it, and as in other tropes in the Scripture, the things ſignified or held forth by thoſe Metaphors far exceed what they are borrowed from, ſo no doubt it is here, our ordinary fire is not an adequate Repreſentation of the fire of Gods Wrath, tho' it may ſeem to ſet it forth to our Capacities in ſome meaſure; what is the fire that man kindles, to the fire that God kindles? nay, to that Divine Wrath doth kindle? The breath of the Lord, like a ſtream of brimſtone doth kindle Iſa. 30. 33.it. It is mingled with the moſt tormenting Ingredients, and not a little of it, but a River; this ſerves ſo Illuſtriouſly to ſet it forth, that as one hints, as ſome of the Ancient Fathers expreſſed it, if one of the damned might paſs out of Hell flames into the fierceſt fires here, it were to exchange a torment for a refreſhment.
Fifthly, It will be intolerable, becauſe the puniſhment of Hell Hell Torments can never ſatisfie Divine Juſtice.is to ſatisfie Divine Juſtice, to pay the juſt Debt owing to God for the breach of his holy Law; true, becauſe ſin is an infinite wrong, and the Creature is but finite, they can never pay the Debt, nor make a ſatisfaction for the injury done to God, therefore they muſt ſuffer eternally; they are always a paying, but can never fully pay what they owe, Juſtice requiring the utmoſt farthing Mat. 5. 26.: Nothing can ſurely ſet forth the diſmalneſs of their torment more than this. Oh take a view of Divine Wrath in the ſufferings of our Bleſſed Saviour, when he ſtood in our ſtead, and was to ſatisfie for the Sins of all the Elect, how did it bring him down proſtrate to the ground, and made him ſweat great drops of blood, and to Cry out, My Soul is exceeding ſorrowful, even unto Death! Tho' he was God as well as Man, and had the Strength of the infinite Deity to ſupport him! Ah Sirs, this wrath laid upon finite Creatures, will ſink them down to the loweſt Hell, and grind them to Powder.
Sixthly, It will be Wrath-amazing, and very terrible Wrath, The Torments of Hell ſeize on the Souls of the damned.becauſe it will ſeize on the Soul of the Sinner, it will put the Soul into the fire: The Soul hath been the chief ſinner here, and therefore ſhall be the chief ſufferer in thoſe Regions of Sorrow; and how unſupportable is that Wrath which is let out on the Soul or Spirit of man, you have had a taſte in Spira and Child. If, Sirs, a ſpark of Divine Diſpleaſure, when it falls upon the guilty Conſcience, tears it pieces, what will be thoſe floods of Divine Wrath poured forth in Hell on the Souls of Men and Women? who can ſtand here whilſt in this World before an Angry God, or encounter with Offended Omnipotency? ſuch is the ſharpneſs of his Sword, the heavineſs of his Rod, when laid on by the hand of his Wrath, that every ſtroak is deadly, and no doubt Satan greatens the wounds on the Conſcience, he charges the guilt upon their Spirits with all the Soul-killing aggravations, and ſtrives to hide Divine Mercy, and Rob the Soul of the precious Blood of Chriſt, the only lenitive and choice balm to heal a wounded Spirit. O what viſions of horror, what ſence of fear, and perplexity, were preſented to the diſtreſſed minds of theſe two miſerable Creatures before mentioned! the guilty Conſcience turns all Joy into Sorrow, all Light into Darkneſs, the ſweet Promiſes of the Goſpel, that aſſure of favour and pardon to believing Sinners, afford no relief, but are turned into arguments of Deſpair, by reflecting on their former Iniquities and abuſe of Mercies, ſo that Chriſt himſelf they ſee is become their Accuſer.
'Whatever the wounded Sinner ſees and hears (ſaith a worthy Miniſter) afflicts him, whatever he thinks of, torments him; all the diverſions in the World, Buſineſs, Pleaſures, Merry Converſations, Comedies, are as ineffectual to give him freedom from thoſe ſtings and furies in his breaſts, as the ſprinkling of holy Water is to expel the Devil from a poſſeſſed Perſon; thoſe who in their Pride and Jollity have deſpiſed ſerious Religion, either as a fond Tranſport and Extaſie, or a dull Melancholly and Dejection about the Soul, &c. yet when God has ſet their ſins, with all their killing circumſtances, before their Eyes, how changed, how confounded are they at that apparition! how reſtleſs in the dreadful expectation of the doom that attends them!' But alas, alas, what is internal Wrath let out on the Soul in Hell, as he notes? for the Aprehenſions of the Soul will be enlarged, and their ſpirits work with the quickeſt activity: Here tho' they have no hope at preſent, yet they know not what God may do in a moment to turn their Sorrow into Joy, and their Night into Noon-day; here are many things to divert their thoughts, and they meet with ſome intermiſſion of their horror and perplexity, as Mr. Child intimated, but in Hell there's none of this.
Seventhly, It will be intolerable miſery, becauſe it ſhall be Torments on the Body and Soul too, not on the Soul only, Body and Soul both ſhall be tormented in Hell.but on both. O it will be a diſmal Meeting, when they two old Companions meet together at the laſt day, I mean the miſerable Soul and Body of a wicked man, at the Reſurrection, and hear the doleſom Sentence, Go ye curſed. Spira and Child had direful Sorrow and Anguiſh in their Souls, but their Bodies were not much tormented, they both being in a ſtate of Health as to the outward man; but the fire of Gods Wrath will extend to and ſeize upon the Body as well as on the Soul in that day; every Faculty of the Soul and Member of the Body which have been Inſtruments of Sin, ſhall then be in Pain, and under fearful Torture and Miſery: Now the Spirit of a man may ſupport or ſuſtain his bodily Infirmities and Afflictions, but in Hell the Spirit cannot afford any Relief to the Body, becauſe it cannot ſuſtain its own miſery, both muſt and ſhall ſuffer.
Eighthly, All the Perplexing Paſſions and Faculties will then be let out upon the wicked, beyond whatever they have been here whilſt in this World.
1. The Conſcience in a fearful manner ſhall torment the damned: Conſcience will torment the damned.May we not conclude Conſcience will terrifie them after this manner? O thou Wretch, what a God haſt thou loſt, who is a moſt infinite, ſuitable, ſeaſonable, and a Soul-ſatisfying Good! what a Chriſt art thou deprived of, who died for poor Sinners! how often did he knock at thy Door, calling upon thee, intreating thee to let him in, who ſtood with his Arms ſpread open to embrace all that came to him! and what a Heaven and endleſs Joy haſt thou contemned, and this for one baſe Luſt, for bruitiſh Pleaſure for a moment, for a little Earthly Profit, and ſinful Honour! How didſt thou hearken to thy vile Companions, and cloſe in with them, rather than adhere to me, who accuſed thee for thy curſed Evils! thou wouldſt not mind thoſe Checks and Laſhes thou hadſt from me in thy Boſom; did not I tell thee what thy Pride, thy Lying, thy Swearing, thy Whoreing, thy Theft, thy Cheating, thy Covetouſneſs, and Cruelty to the Poor, or Unmercifulneſs, thy Neglect of the means of Grace, and of Goſpel or Chriſtian Duties, thy Hardneſs of Heart, thy Unbelief, thy Hypocriſie and Formality, would bring thee to in the End? This is the gnawing Worm that dyeth not: O how fearfully will Conſcience terrifie and torment the Soul of the Damned then! now it is Blinded; Miſled, Deceived, may be ſeared with a hot Iron; but then it will be throughly awakened, and all Vails taken off; it will lay unmerciful Blows upon the Soul, and make it cry, yea, roar, and none to ſpeak a word to allay or appeaſe its Acclamations and its fearful Outcries: You may judge of the Nature of a Tormenting Conſcience in Hell, by what thoſe have ſound and experienced to be the Effects of it, who have been under Deſparation in this World.
2. Shame alſo will torment them, ſome ſhall riſe to Shame and Dan. 12. 2. Shame wil torment the damned.everlaſting Contempt. O what Shame and Confuſion of Face ſhall the Damned be cloathed with! ſhould a King loſe his Crown and Kingdom to get a few Cockle-ſhells, would it not bring Shame upon him? O how will the Damned Soul cry, I have for meer Toys and Trifles loſt that God that made me, that Chriſt that is worth ten thouſand Worlds, even he that is the Pearl of great Price: I have been that Judas that did not value him above thirty pence, no, not above the ſinful Profits of this World, not above the Pleaſure of Sin, and the filthy Luſts of the Fleſh; thus will the unclean Perſon be aſhamed, Shame will torment him; I muſt, ſaith he, now lye in Hell for ever, and pay dear for my Folly.
2. The Drunkard will be alſo tormented with Shame: I was ſuch a Fool, (he then may ſay) that for the ſake of my Cups, and Love to my curſed Companions, and merry Bouts, have loſt God, the Perfection of Happineſs; I rather choſe to go to the Ale-houſe, or Tavern, to Drink and carouſe with theſe Damned Wretches, than to go to hear Gods Word; I derided them that feared to ſin againſt God, and accounted them Fools, but I muſt lye in Hell for ever, and pay dear for my wickedneſs.
3. Shame alſo will torment the Proud and Ambitious Perſon: Ah what a Fool was I, he will ſay, to love the Praiſe of Men more than the Praiſe of God! I ſought vain Honour, and pleaſed my ſelf with a Name, all my Deſign was to be great, and had in Eſteem among Men; I was proud of my Eſtate, and deſpiſed he Poor; I was of a Haughty Spirit, and gloried in my Titles of Honour; I ſought the Favour of my Prince, but regarded not the Favour of God; I was proud of my Parts, I gloryed in my Gifts, in my Beauty, in my Strength; I delighted my ſelf in Antick Dreſſes, and in Decking of my Vile Body that now is here burning in Hell; I was ſo Graceleſs, that I would not leave off Idle and Fooliſh Faſhions, though Godly Miniſters were grieved at me, and told me my Doom, and tho' God bore Witneſs againſt my High Head and Haughty Heart, by ſtrange Prodigies in Nature, ſeen in divers poor Animals, yet I ſtill vaunted my ſelf in Pride, and Wantouneſs, and laught at Chriſts Miniſters when they reproved me. O what ſhame torments me now, here muſt, I lye in Hell under Gods Wrath for ever, and pay dear for my Folly!
4. The prophane Swearer and Blaſphemer will be alſo tormented with Shame: O, ſaith he, I looked upon my ſelf to be no ſmall Perſon, but one of the Hero's of my Day, and fit to keep Company with great Men, becauſe I could ſwear and curſe with any of them; how often did I call upon God to Damn me! I have but that which I deſired, he hath now damn'd me indeed: I acted like a fearleſs Brute Beaſt: O what Shame do I find my Soul covered with, that I ſhould caſt away my ſelf for that filthy Vice that was no Profit to me any manner of way!
5. Shame alſo will terriſie, and bring Confuſion upon the carnal Worldling, or Covetuous Perſon, who made this World his God I had, he will ſay, ſtore of Gold and Silver in my Bags and Cheſts, where it lay to ruſt, but I refuſed to feed the Poor, and to cloath the Naked, I regarded no diſtreſſed Members of Chriſt; I ſet my Heart upon my Earthly Treaſure, valuing it above God and Jeſus Chriſt: O what a Fool was I, in that I could not foreſee how ſoon I muſt leave all that which I had gathered. I to get the World, ſlighted, nay, deſpiſed my own Soul; now if I had ten thouſand Worlds, I would give them for the Favour of God, nay for one drop of Water to cool my Tongue.
6. The Lyar moreover will be tormented with Shame. Ah! ſaith he, how often did I read, that thoſe that did love and make Lies ſhould burn in this Lake, but I would not believe it; I damn'd my own Soul by telling Lies to pleaſe my graceleſs Companions, even to cauſe them to laugh and be merry, or to excuſe my ſelf, and free me from ſhame when on Earth, or for a little worldly Profit, Gain, or for popular Applauſe, I made no Conſcience oftelling Lyes: O what Shame doth theſe things now bring upon my Spirit!
7. The Seducer and Heretical perſon likewiſe will be filled and tormented with ſhame, who preached falſe Doctrine, or ſucked in deteſtable Errors, laying aſide the chief Corner-ſtone, and magnifying Morality, or the Light of natural Conſcience, above Chriſt: I ſeemed, ſaith he, to be a ſtrict and zealous Perſon, and deceived multitudes of People, but for truſting in my own Righteouſneſs, for hugging a few baſe filthy Raggs I am damned: I was ignorant of Gods Righteouſneſs, and of the Myſteries of the Goſpel, yet gave out that none were true Chriſtians but ſuch as my ſelf; I denyed that Chriſt that bought me, and did not believe the Reſurrection of my Body, but now I find how the Devil blinded my Eyes, and now here tormented with Shame I muſt lie in theſe flames, Body and Soul for ever! O! and what a multitude of poor deluded Creatures have I been an Inſtrument to bring into this place! Wo is me that ever I was born!
8. The Hypocritical Profeſſor will be tormented with Shame alſo: I reſted (he will ſay) upon a bare Name of being Religious, pleaſed my ſelf with the Shell, withan empty Cabinet, without the Jewel, a Lamp of Profeſſion, with a Form of Godlineſs, my Buſineſs was to keep up my Credit amongſt Gods People, that they might take me to be one of them; yet my own Conſcience often told me I was not ſincere, I loved not the Life and Power of Godlineſs, I did all to be ſeen of men, had baſe ends, I appeared abroad to be what I was not at home: O what Shame now torments my Soul! I had a darling Luſt which I would not forego, my heart was never really changed—Thus I might go on to the reſt, &c. O what Shame will ſeize upon the Sinner, when all his vain Excuſes are laid open, and all his Extenuations of his Guilt are diſcovered, when his ſecret Deeds of Darkneſs are publiſhed (as it were) on the Houſe-top, when his Breaſt ſhall be tranſparent to all Eyes, when his inward Thoughts, curſed Luſts, cruel Malice, Murthers and Deceits, are made manifeſt, and all his beaſtly Senſualities ſhall be laid open before God, Angels and Saints, when the Vails and Covers of Shame ſhall be taken off, how will he be confounded for ever!
9. The Devil alſo no doubt will reproach them for their Folly, The Devil will upbraid the damned.though he be in Miſery with them: Ah thou Wretch, may not he ſay, waſt thou not a Fool to believe me, (whom thou waſt often told was a Liar from the Beginning) and wouldſt not believe thy God? See how I have betrayed thee, and blinded thine Eyes, and made thee taken with ſilly Rattles, Toys and Triffles; I preſented thee with falſe Money, with braſs Counters, and thou didſt take them, and refuſe precious Gold and Pearl; I knew I was damned, and ſhould be tormented, and I out of Malice to thy Soul reſolved to try to make thee as miſerable as my ſelf, and I have done it: Alas I had no power to force thee, but I ſaw thou hadſt no Strength to reſiſt my Enticements, nor didſt thou ſee thy own Diſability, I hid it from thee, that thou mighteſt not look up to Chriſt for Help: I made thee believe thou waſt a Chriſtian, it was I that told thee thy Heart and State was good, (when I knew thou waſt an undone Man) and thou didſt believe me; I had more Honour ſhewed me by thee, than the Great God; thou didſt believe me, and wouldſt not believe Him, his Word, his Miniſters. Ah how juſt is it, thou Fool, that thou ſhould ſtlie here with me to Eternity in theſe Flames,
3. Moreover, Sorrow will violently penetrate and ſeize on the Soul of the Damned, partly upon the Account of what they The ſorrow and deſpair of the damned will be great.have loſt, together with the ſenſe of the Evil they feel. O how great is the loſs of an earthly Kingdome! doubtleſs no little Grief and Sorrow to a King who meets with that Affliction, but what is that to the loſs of the preſence of God, the Viſion of God, and the glorious Enjoyment of Chriſt, and the Eternal Crown and Kingdom above. Oh! what Grief and Perplexity will this be unto them, eſpecially when they reflect on the ſmall value of thoſe Things for the ſake of which they deprived themſelves of Eternal Felicity! How have ſome mourned for the Loſs of an Husband, a Wife, or Children! What will then the Sorrow be for the Loſs of Jeſus Chriſt? Chriſt is loſt, Heaven is loſt, and now here muſt I lye! O gulph of miſery, doleſom darkneſs and endleſs Torment!
4. Deſpair will torment them alſo, this will make their pain and anguiſh more intolerable. O how diſmal was the Deſpair of Spira and Child, but in Hell it will exceed, it will be utter Deſpair, without all Hope and Intermiſſion!
5. Fury and Rage will afflict them alſo: O how will they tear, roar and howl in a hideous manner, hating themſelves and curſing thoſe that inticed them to ſin and folly, and to ſlight the eternal Joys of Heaven?
Tenthly, The Miſery which the Damned undergo in Hell will The wicked in Hell ſhall have the frightful company of Devils.be great, upon the Account of their hateful and amazing Companions, viz. the Devils, they muſt dwell with Devils for ever: how have ſome who have but thought they have ſeen the Devil, trembled, and been terrified! Alas, alas! in Hell ſinners ſhall be continually with him, nay with millions of Devils; who can expreſs the Horror that will ſeize on the damned in this reſpect? We do not love to ſee ſuch who have ruined us of our Eſtates, robbed us out of Malice of our good Names; a King in Chains, in a Dungeon, cannot like to behold the vile Traitor that dethroned him, that wounded him, and ſtript him of all his Royal Robes; thus hath the Devil dealt with thoſe miſerable Creatures of loſt Mankind that are damned; yet he ſhall be with them, and be their Companion, and may, as you heard, reproach them, which with the conſtant ſight of his ugly face, will add to their Miſery and Sorrow.
Eleventhly, The Place of Torment is called a Lake of Fire, yet Hell is a dark place.it is called utter Darkneſs, they ſhall never ſee the leaſt Glimpſe of Light any more for ever. O how grievous is it to dwell in darkneſs! the Darkneſs of Egypt no doubt was one of their worſt Plagues, Darkneſs that might be felt, but alas what was that Exod. 10. 21.darkneſs to the darkneſs which the damned ſhall be in; and feel to Eternity? If therefore the fire of Hell be material fire, yet it will not be like our common fire, the Property of which is to give Light; but it will be dark fire: God can change that quality of Fire, if he pleaſe, tho' it may have all other Properties, yet not that. The Holy Ghoſt ſaith, ſpeaking of the ungodly, who are as Clouds without Water, Trees whoſe Fruit is withered, twice dead, plucked up by the Root, that to them is reſerved the Blackneſs of Darkneſs for ever. The blackneſs of Darkneſs ſhews the Horror of their Puniſhment, and it being reſerved Jude 13.for them ſhews the certainty of it: As their Deeds have been deeds of Darkneſs, Works of Darkneſs, and ſome of them have wrought Wickedneſs in ſecret, or in darkneſs, ſo their Puniſhment ſhall be Darkneſs, never to have the leaſt Glimpſe of external, nor internal, nor eternal Light, any more for ever.
Eleventhly, The Torment of the Damned is and will be intolerable, becauſe it will be for ever and ever, the Eternity Torments of the wicked Eternal.of their Miſery is that which above all things renders it amazing, 'tis called in my Text unquenchable Fire: O how aſtoniſhing is this! all the Tears of thoſe miſerable Wretches can never quench one ſpark of the fire; no, no, if they could weep a Sea of Briniſh Tears, or a Sea of Blood, it could not allay or extinguiſh the leaſt ſpark of divine Wrath. God will never reverſe the diſmal ſentence: How often doth our Saviour ſay, there the Worm dyeth not, and the Fire is not quenched: Sure he Mark 9.repeats it ſo oft, as I hinted before, becauſe the Heart of Man is ready to queſtion the Truth thereof. Wicked men are not willing to believe it, but they ſhall find it to be true to their endleſs Sorrow at laſt: Ah Sirs, the Thoughts of this drives them into the greateſt Horror imaginable; if Pain and Anguiſh be never ſo extream, yet if there is Grounds to hope and believe it will be but ſhort, that affords ſome Eaſe, ſome Relief; but when there is no hope, but they muſt bear it as long as they live, (tho' they may live ten, twenty or thirty years) the Thoughts of this is intolerable. What then ſhall we ſay of the Torments of the Damned, which as they are far beyond all pain and miſery that ever mortal felt on Earth, ſo they will abide to the days of Eternity; ſhould one of you be caſt into a Fire, a fierce Fire, and it was poſſible that your Body might lye therein, burning, and broiling, and you not be able to dye, for an hundred years, would not the Thoughts of ſuch Puniſhment be exceeding frightful and tormenting; but alas, alas! what is an hundred years to Eternity, if after ten hundred thouſand million of years are run out in Hell, the damned might hope their Torments would be over, it would relieve them, but when ſo long a time (comparatively) is gone, they ſhall not be one moment nearer the end of their Sorrow and Miſery: If one ſand of the Sea ſhore was removed, and but one in a year, yet ſhould that be done or continued every year, until all the ſands on the Sea-ſhoar were removed, (tho' it would be a long time firſt) yet they would be all removed at laſt: And had the Damned but ſo much hope, that after ſo long a time as that would amount to, their Torments would have an end, it would revive their Spirits. O this word Eternity, Eternity, is moſt amazing to wicked men! beſides, as in Pleaſures, Joy and Delights, time ſeems to ſlide away in a ſilent and inſenſible manner, ſo in horrid Pain and Miſery the days ſeem long and tedious, every minute is accounted; ſo that the Conſideration of this muſt needs make their Eternity, if it were poſſible, a double Eternity, nay, many Eternities; for one hour under the greateſt Extremities of Miſery ſeems ten times, nay, an hundred times longer than an hours time in the Enjoyment of the ſweeteſt Delight and Pleaſure. An Eternity of Joy is long in reſpect of Duration, but ſeems ſhort (ſaith a worthy Divine) in reſpect of Apprehenſion. So on the other hand, ſay I, an Eternity of Pain, Torment and Miſery, is long in reſpect of Duration, but ſeems much longer in reſpect of Apprehenſion.
Queſt. But ſhall there not be an end of the Torments of the Damned? will infinite Goodneſs be ſo ſevere with his offending Creatures? can this ſtand conſiſtent with the Sweetneſs of his Nature and infinite mercy?
Anſw. I Anſwer, there is a Perfection in every one of Gods divine Attributes; as his Love is infinite to ſuch who are his Elect ones, who do believe in him, honour and obey him, ſo is his Hatred infinite to all thoſe who deſpiſe, hate and diſhonour him.
2. God will be ſure glorifie his Veracity, or the Truth of his Threatning: He that hath ſaid, the righteous ſhall be ſaved with an everlaſting Salvation, or ſhall have eternal Life, hath ſaid, that the wicked ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power: They are 2 Theſſ. 1. 8, 9.tormented day and night for ever and ever. Now ſince God hath Decreed and denounced eternal punpiſhment to obſtinate ſinners, it is ſufficient to ſatisfie all Doubts about the Juſtice of it. Let God be true, and every man a Liar; for divine Juſtice and Wrath is the Correſpondence of his Will, Actions, and Holineſs of his Nature to the damned: 'As divine Love and Goodneſs is to ſuch who are ſaved; we may therefore, ſaith one, as eaſily conceive there is no God, as that God is unjuſt, becauſe abſolute Rectitude is an inſeparable perfection of his Nature;' is God unrighteous who taketh Vengance? God forbid.Rom. 3 5. 6.
3. Sin deſerveth no leſs than an infinite and an eternal puniſhment, therefore unleſs the Damned could give an infinite Satisfaction by ſuffering, they muſt ſuffer eternally, for they muſt lye in Priſon until they have paid the uttermoſt farthing: But alas, how ſhould they make full payment to Gods Juſtice who run continually into Debt, more and more! for the Damned in Hell do not ceaſe ſinning, they will ſin to Eternity, and therefore muſt ſuffer to Eternity.
4. Nay, they will ſin with the greateſt Fury and Madneſs againſt God, when they come to be under the greateſt ſence of Deſpair imaginable; they will ſin then like as the Devils do now, and will for ever, when they ſee they are deprived of all good, and only poſſeſs what is evil: O how will they hate God, blaſpheme his holy Name for evermore! the bleſſed God is the Object of their Curſes and eternal Averſation; in Hell is weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth. 'Extream Sorrow and extream Fury, Deſpair and Rage (ſaith one) are proper Paſſions of loſt Souls; their Enmity againſt God is direct and explicit, the Feaver is heightned into a Frenzy. If their Rage could extend to him, and their Power equal to their deſire, they would dethrone the moſt High; Hatred takes pleaſure in Revenge.' 'Tis ſaid of the Worſhippers of the Beaſt, that they gnawed their Tongues for pain, and Blaſphemed the God of Heaven Rev. 16. 10. 11.becauſe of their pain: Theſe Torments and Blaſphemies of the Damned are clearly repreſented by theſe curſed impenitent Idolaters.
'If a Criminal were juſtly condemned to a ſevere Puniſhment, and ſhould contumeliouſly, with the greateſt Fury reproach the Prince by whoſe Authority he was condemned, could it be expected there ſhould be a mitigation of the ſeverity of the Sentence?' How then ſhould the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth reverſe or mitigate the Sentence againſt the Damned, who blaſpheme his holy Majeſty, and if they were able to effect as they are malicious to deſire, would deſtroy his very being, and execute that on him which he in Juſtice inflicts on them?
5. To haſt to the Application: The infinite Guilt that cleaves to ſin, and the Conſideration that they continually add more Guilt upon their own Heads, requires a proportion in puniſhment, as the Evil of ſin exceeds our Thoughts: The Majeſty of God being infinite, conſequently the puniſhment of it will be infinite, and beyond our Conceptions; it will be a letting out of his infinite Wrath and utter extent of his power, therefore unto the Wicked is reſerved the blackneſs of Darkneſs for ever.
APPLICATION.
From hence we may inferr, how great Evil there is in ſin; O ſin is the Plague of all Plagues! who can conceive how deteſtable Sin the greateſt evil.a thing is ſin in the ſight of God, ſince He who is ſo gracious, merciful and compaſſionate a God, ſhould throw millions of Men and Women in his Wrath into the lake that burns with fire and brimſtone.
2. This alſo ſhews the woful Depravation of Mankind, what Darkneſs, Ignorance and Folly is in their Minds and Hearts, that chooſe Sin, when told not only how hateful it is to God, but what intolerable and durable Torments it doth expoſe them unto: One would think that a perſon that hears theſe things ſhould never indulge his vicious Appetite any more, nor lay his Reins looſe on the neck of his Luſt, but it is more marvelous to ſee or hear that he who believes the Scripture, and doubteth not of the Truth of Hell Torments, ſhould yet notwithſtanding lead an ungodly Life; what believe there is ſuch Torments prepared for all impenitent Perſons, and yet not turn to God by Jeſus Chriſt!
3. From hence alſo we may inferr, how neceſſary it is that Miniſters open the Torments of Hell, ſeeing Jeſus Chriſt ſo often in the Goſpel threatens all Hypocrites and Vnbelievers therewith: They that ſay it is legal Preaching, to preach ſuch a Doctrine as this, know not what they ſay; will they magnifie their Wiſdom above the Wiſdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the firſt and great Preachers of the Goſpel of Peace, who ſaid, we knowing therefore the Terror of God, perſwade Men; that is, to beleive in Chriſt, and to live godly Lives, that ſo they may never 2 Cor. 5, 11.feel Gods eternal Wrath; the Hearts of Men can more eaſily conceive of the Torments of Hell than of the Joys of Heaven.
And as it may be of uſe by way of Information, ſo alſo by way of Terror, and that to many ſorts of Perſons.
1. Tremble ye wordly Profeſſors, who have earthly Spirits, that ſet your Hearts on things below, and neither cloath the Naked, nor feed the Hungry, Weep and howl for the miſery that ſhall come upon you,—ye have heaped Treaſure together againſt the laſt day; Jam. 5. 1, 2, 3.how will your Folly gall your Conſciences when you lye in Hell-Torments! whilſt you heap up Gold and Silver in your Bags and Cheſts, you heap up Wrath againſt the laſt day: Remember what Chriſt ſays unto you, And theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting Mat. 25. 46.puniſhment. What will your Profeſſion ſignifie, if you love the World above God, which be ſure you do, if you ſee a Brother or Siſter in want, and do not give them ſuch things that they need: Remember Mr. Child, I have made this World (ſaith he) my God.
2. Tremble you proud and vain-glorious Perſons: Pride, cryes poor Mr. Child, hath undone me; The Proud and all that do wickedly Mal. 4. 1, 2.ſhall be as ſtubble, and the day that comes ſhall burn them up. Will you glory in your Riches, Honours, Gifts, Knowledge, or any thing you have? will you not be reclaimed to throw off your Godprovoking Faſhions, whatſoever comes of it, but plead to uphold your Luſts and Vanity, tho' the Name of God be diſhonoured, and Religion brought into Contempt, and the Godly grieved.
3. Tremble you vain young Men and Women, who forget your Creator in the days of your Youth, that ſecretly reſolve your own Hearts ſhall chooſe your ways; who will feed your carnal Appetites and wanton Deſires, and will run on in wicked Courſes, let Miniſters ſay what they will, Godly Parents ſay what they will, yet you will ſwear, lye, be drunk, commit Uncleanneſs. O know, as you feed your Luſts here, and that burns in you, ſo ſhall Hell feed on you, and that fire like Chaff burn you up hereafter: Will a few merry Hours with your filthy Companions make a compenſation for the loſs of your precious and immortal Souls? Are you willing to ſuffer the Wrath of God for ever, rather than to forgo your vain and wicked Courſes?
4. Tremble ye that harbour Atheiſtical Thoughts in your Hearts, and are ready to think or hope there is no God: O how ſoon may you feel him within you, by his terrible Wrath! as Mr. Child in bitterneſs of Soul cryed out.
5. Tremble ye Lyars, that love to make a lye, for you ſhall have your portion in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone, which is the ſecond death.Rev. 21. 8.
6. Tremble ye who are light and frothy perſons alſo, you that are Back-biters, Buſie-bodys, that vilifie and reproach the Servants of God out of Malice and Prejudice, you will be as Chaff that ſhall burn in Hell for ever.
7. Tremble all ye that ſlight Chriſt and his Goſpel, and neglect thoſe convictions you have either of Sin or Duty, and that ſlight all ſerious thoughts of Eternity, or how things will go with you in another World, and who ſtiffle your Conſciences, or turn a deaf ear to it's rebukes, God may awaken you er'e long in his Wrath, and tear you to pieces when there is none to deliver you.
8. Tremble all ye Hypocrites, whoſe Hearts condemn you for harbouring ſome Sin or another in your boſoms, who are not what you ſeem to be, but ſtrive to cover your vileneſs under a cloak of a viſible Profeſſion: Fearfulneſs will ſoon ſurprize you: Who amongſt us ſhall dwell with devouring fire? Iſa. 33. 14.who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burning? Hell is that place that is prepared for Hypocrites and Vnbelievers: It ſeems by the Mat. 24. 51.word of our Bleſſed Saviour, that they above all are in a dangerous Eſtate, and ſhall not eſcape eternal burning.Luk. 12. 45.
9. Tremble ye Apoſtates, ye who have backſliden from God. O fear, leſt God let out his Wrath upon you here, and it burn within you, whilſt you are alive in the body; and if it prove a final Apoſtacy, Wo be to you as ever you were born! then there remains no more ſacrifice for ſin, but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment, and fiery indignation that ſhall devour the adverſaries.
Exhort. O Repent, Repent, haſte to Chriſt, believe on him.Heb. 10. 27.
1. Motive. The God of mercy exerciſes much Patience towards poor Sinners, O how doth he wait, O how willing is he they ſhould be ſaved, and not come into the place of Torment.
2. He tells you what your End will be, if you believe not, if you accept not his Son, fly not for Refuge to take hold of Jeſus Chriſt; if ye believe not in Chriſt, ye ſhall dye in your ſins; that is, you ſhall be damned for ever: He that believeth and is baptized Joh. 8. 24.ſhall be ſaved, but he that believeth not ſhall be damned. He ſets out the Torments of the damned by the moſt amazing figures, Mark 16. 16.to move upon mens Spirits, and work upon their Minds, ſo that they being deterred form evil Practices may flee from the Wrath Heb. 6. 18.to come, by laying hold on the hope ſet before them; he gives warning before he ſtrikes, tells you of your danger; Except ye repent ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh; he that believeth on the ſon hath everlaſting life, and he that believeth not the Son, ſhall not ſee Life, but the Joh. 3. 36.Wrath of God abideth on him; the wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, Pſa. 9. 17.with all the Nations that forget God: You may know how it will go with you at the laſt day, if you hear but Gods warning-pieces in his Word: Know ye not the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10.of God? Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor effeminate Perſons, nor abuſers of themſelves with mankind, nor Thieves, nor Drunkards, nor Extortioners; &c. Compared with Rev. 21. 8.
3. God calls, nay cries to you ſinners, O ye ſimple ones, why Prov. 1. 26, 27.will ye love ſimplicity, and fools hate knowledge! turn ye at my reproof, and behold I will pour out my ſpirit upon you, &c.
4. He gives ſinners time and ſpace to repent, or a day of Grace. O now unexcuſable will he leave every ungodly man at the laſt day! their deſtruction ſhall appear to be of themſelves; be ſure God will be clear when he judges, none ſhall have any thing to charge him with, all mouths ſhall be ſtopped. The man That wanted the Wedding-Garment was ſpeechleſs.
5. God hath ſent his Son to die for Sinners: God ſo loved the Joh. 3. 16.world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting life.
6. He ſends his Miniſters to call you, to invite you, who tell you all things are now ready: Sinners, will your ſinful Honours, Mat. 22. 7.Riches or Pleaſures, make a reparation for the loſs of a Chriſt, the loſs of Heaven, and loſs of your own ſouls? Take two or three Directions.
1. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven firſt, before all things.
2. Take notice, this is the day of your Viſitation, know now the Directions.things that belong to your peace, before they are hid from your Eyes: Behold now is the accepted time, &c.
3. Cloſe with Chriſt whilſt the Spirit ſtrives with thee, and before Conſcience is feared, or let out againſt thee, to tear thee into pieces.
4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace, and know aſſuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death, even everlaſting burnings, therefore renounce it with the greateſt abhorrence; know all the Pleaſures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity, and according to the Judgment of Reaſon and ſenſe would any one chuſe the enjoyment of the greateſt Pleaſures for a day, and afterwards be ſatisfied to ſuffer the moſt exquiſite Torments for a year? much more folly and madneſs it is for momentary brutiſh delights to incurr the fiery. Indignation of God for ever.
1. One word to you that are Believers, and I have done. Comfort to Believers.O bleſs God for Jeſus Chriſt, who has born the wrath of God for you, and in your ſtead, that you might never ſeel the bitterneſs of it, even Jeſus who delivered us from wrath to come.1 Theſſ. 1. 10.
2. Admire the diſtinguiſhing Grace and ſpecial Love of God: We love him, becauſe he firſt loved us: It was his Love that overcame you. The meer fear of Hell is not ſufficient to Convert the Souls of men, tho' it may ſtop them in their way, and prevent great Abominations in the groſs acts thereof, yet does not, cannot renew their Nature, regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives; that Religion that is the meer effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle, even legal, wavering and inconſtant; yet the fear of Hell may awaken the ſinner, and in ſome ſence prepare for Grace: When the Soul is ſtormed by the terror of Wrath, and the fear of Hell has made a breach, Divine Grace enters, but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works ſpiritual affections, (as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical, free and voluntary, from the entire conſent of the Soul) and are abiding.
3. Be content with your Condition, tho' poor in this World, remember Lazarus, how much better was his ſtate than the Rich Glutton's? O do not envy the wicked that are Rich, they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell, which they with greedy covetous minds heap up. I remember a Paſſage which is related in Hiſtory: A General with an Army paſſing through another Princes Countrey, gave ſtrict Order that no Perſon ſhould offer to touch the leaſt thing which belong'd to the Inhabitants; but nevertheleſs one Souldier as they were upon their March, ſtole a Bunch of Grapes, which the General being informed of, gave Order that he ſhould immediately be put to Death; as he was going to Execution, he fell a eating his Grapes, and ſome Perſons looking greedily on him, he obſerving them, ſaid, Do not envy me my Grapes, for they coſt me dear, they coſt me my Life.
4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jeſus Chriſt, and preferr the honour of God and his intereſt above all things in this World; let the main end and deſign of your Souls in deſiring Grace, Gifts, Knowledge, &c. and in all you act and do in his Service, be, that you may advance his Glory.
Sirs, the time is near when it will be known who are Chriſts Wheat, true Chriſtians, and who are not; but let all that are but Chaff tremble, for Hell is prepared for them: He will gather the Wheat into his garner, but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
FINIS.
THE BLESSEDNESS OF Chriſt's Sheep: OR, No final Falling from a State of true Grace. DEMONSTRATED, In Several SERMONS, lately Preached, and now for general Good Publiſhed. Wherein all the grand Objections uſually brought againſt the Saints final Perſeverance, are fully anſwered.
By BENJAMIN KEACH.
Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto Perdition: but of them that believe, to the ſaving of the Soul.
London, Printed in the Year, 1694.