Heaven and Hell Epitomized, To the reader
THE PREFACE and EPISTLE TO THE READER, Eſpecially of the Pariſh of Rickmerſworth in Hertfordſhire, and Borden in Kent; as alſo the occaſion of this Treatiſe.
I Have ſometime conſidered with my ſelf, (not without ſome remorſe and grief of ſpirt) the multitudes of men and women, that even in thoſe places, where the Word of God is plainly and powerfully taught, run headlong in the broad way which leadeth to deſtruction. And indeed if my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night (though every tear were a tear of blood) I could never ſufficiently bewail the ſlain of the daughter of my people, of that Pariſh to which the providence of God hath called me.
That the lying vanities of this world ſhould by moſt be ſo greedily purſued, and the reall mercies relating to a better world, ſo wretchedly deſpiſed: that a brutiſh fleſh, which muſt ſhortly be food for wormes, ſhould be ſo highly prized, and conſtantly gratified; and an angelical ſpirit, the ſoul which muſt live for ever, ſo baſely ſlighted and unworthily neglected: that every ſoul-damning luſt ſhould be ſo heartily embraced; and the ſoul-ſaving Lord but coldly and complementally entertained: that the road to Hell ſhould be ſo exceedingly filled, and the way to Heaven almoſt wholly unoccupied. Surely this ought to be for a bitter lamentation; and O what ſea of blood is enough to bemoan this horrid wickedneſſe!
It hath ſeemed to me therefore a matter worthy of diligent enquiry, what ſpecial Malefactors ſhould be indicted for theſe many ſoul-miſcheifs, and ſoul-murders, which are committed amongſt us. And truly by that acquaintance which I have with the Word of God, and experience of the ſoul-affairs of men, I find, though many Acceſſaries might be named, that ignorance ought to be arraigned and condemned as one of the principals. The people periſh for want of knowledge, Hoſ. 4.6, Inner darkneſs is the beaten path to utter darkneſs, to the blackneſs of darkneſs for ever. Men in this miſt of ignorance (like ſhips) run upon thoſe rocks which ſplit them eternally. As the Indians prefer every toy and trifle before their Mines of Gold; ſo they, every ſenſuall ſinful pleaſure, every fooliſh periſhing creature, before the beautiful Image of God, the unſearchable riches in Chriſt, the endleſs happineſs in Heaven; becauſe they know not the vanity and emptineſs of the former, the excellency and pretiouſneſs of the latter. Did men know the gift of God, and who it is that ſpeaketh to them, Ignoti nulla cu…ido.and what he offereth, they would ask of him, and he would give them living waters, John 4.10.
What is the reaſon, that ſo many make a mock of ſin, and dance merrily over the infernal pit, and play with the unquenchable fire, but ignorance? The Child doth not know that the fire will burn him. As the Horſe they ruſh into the battel (fighting againſt God and their ſouls) not knowing it will be to their deſtruction, to their damnation. Theſe Balaams run greedily after the wages of unrighteouſneſs, not ſeeing the Angel that ſtandeth in the way with a drawn ſword in his hand ready to kill them. Did they know what they do, when they wilfully break Gods Law, they would ſooner leap into a furnace of ſcalding lead, than provoke ſo jealous a God. But ſin goeth in a diſguiſe, and thence is welcome; like Judas, it kiſſeth and kils; like Joab, it ſalutes and ſlayes. The fooliſh ſinner ſeeth the pleaſant ſtreames of Jordan, but not the dead Sea, into which they will certainly empty themſelves to his ruine.
What is the reaſon that the Devil carrieth ſo many captive at his will, leadeth them whither he pleaſeth, but ignorance? They are ignorant of his wiles, of his devices: they know not (as drunken Lot of his Daughters) when he cometh, nor when he goeth. The Prince of darkneſs takes up his throne in dark underſtandings. The god of this world blindeth their minds, 2 Cor. 4.4. leaſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould ſhine unto them. How eaſie is it for him to lead blind men out of the way, and then to deſtroy them! as Pliny ſaith, the Eagle deals with the Hart, ſhe lights upon his horns, and there flutters up and down filling his eyes with duſt, born in her feathers, that at laſt he may caſt himſelf from the rock, and ſo be made a prey unto her: ſo the wicked one bindeth a muffler before mens eyes, and then turneth them off the ladder and executes them.
What is the cauſe of mens ſcandalous practices but ignorance? The dark corners of the earth ar… full of the habitations of cruelty, Pſal. 74.20. The flood-gates of wickedneſſe are open, when the door of knowledge is ſhut; the cauſe why there was no mercy, nor truth in the land, but ſwearing, and lying, and ſtealing, comitting adultery, and blood touching blood, was ignorance, Hoſ. 4.1, 2. This is the root of bitterneſs on which thoſe curſed fruits grow. This is the blind Captain, which like Zilpah hath a Gad, a troop of enormities following him. Paul thanks ignorance for his blaſphemy and perſecuting the Church, 1 Tim. 1.13. The reaſon why the heathen did not call on God, was becauſe they did not know him, Pſal. 79.6. The moſt ugly and monſtruous wickedneſs, which ever was hatched or brought forth, calleth ignorance mother. Had they known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2.8. Act. 3.15.17. What Auguſtine ſaith of Original ſin, is (in ſome reſpects) true of Ignorance, it is peccatum, poena peccati, & cauſa peccati; It is a ſin as contrary to the law of God which requireth men to know him, 1 Chron. 28.9. Lev. 5.15.18. It is the puniſhment of ſin as the fruit of our apoſtacy from God; It is the cauſe of ſin, as toads and ſerpents grow in dark cellars; as blind Alehouſes are ſinks and ſources of all villanies, ſo are dark and blind hearts. They are ſtrangers to the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, Eph 4.18.
Ignorantiae …uae peſſimaefiliae, Falſitas & Dubietas, Aug. de c…vit. d…i l. 22. c. 22.What is the cauſe of mens erroneous principles but ignorance? They erre, not knowing the Scriptures, Mat. 22.29. Impoſtors like cozening tradeſmen, when they have men in a dark ſhop, put what rotten deceitful ware they pleaſe into their hands; they lead captive ſilly women, that are ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim. 3.6, 7. Hereticks like nurſes may put meat or poiſon into their mouths who are babes in underſtanding; they that are children in knowledge will be toſſed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. The blind man eates many a flye, and the ignorant man ſwallows many an error. Men will eaſily be brought to deny the truths which they underſtand not, and to ſpeak evil of the things which they know not, Jude verſ. 10. Simul ac deſinunt ignorare, deſinunt odiſſe, ſaith Tertullia… (in apolog.) of them that condemned the Chriſtian Religion.
What is the reaſon that men put God off, either with no ſervice or worſhip at all, or elſe with a few cold ſuperficial lazy duties, without either heat or life, but their ignorance? They know not the Majeſty, purity, jealouſie, and ſeverity of God; they worſhip they know not whom, and therefore they worſhip him they care not how; their Altars are of any ſlight form or faſhion, becauſe (like the Athenians) they are dedicated to the unknown God; they that know not their maſters will, cannot obey it. Some cry up their good meanings to excuſe their ignorance; but ignorant devotion is like feet without eyes, which the farther they carry men, the greater is their wandring and wo.
What is the reaſon that men take up ſhort of Chriſt, and renewing grace, that they pleaſe themſelves with the ſhadow inſtead of the ſubſtance of Religion, that they cry peace, peace, to their ſouls onelyonly upon ſome outward priviledges or a few inward good meanings (as they call them) when they are in a moſt damnable condition, and ſuddain deſtruction is ready to ſeiſe on them (as travail on a woman with child) which they cannot eſcape; ſurely it is ignorance of the nature of Chriſtianity and ſanctification; they know not what regeneration is, and what faith and repentance are, which are the conditions upon which ſalvation may be had; therefore they reſt in forms (which will fade) when their hearts and lives deny the power of godlineſſe. This, this is (not as Papiſts would perſwade their deluded votaries the mother of devotion, but) the monſter which cauſeth ſuch hideous births of corruption. This is the epidemical diſeaſe that raigneth all the year long, and killeth (I fear) more ſouls then any of our new diſtempers doth bodies: For the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; Which ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, 2 Theſſ. 1.6, 7, 8, 9. This, this is the ſourſe of mens ſins on earth and eternal ſufferings in hell.
But one would think ſuch truths as theſe might be ſeaſonable in Turky or India, or in Spain and Italy, where the tree of knowledge is forbidden fruit, where they may not read their fathers mind in their mother tongue; but is it poſſible that in England (where the will and word of God is more powerfully preached, more practically applied, more clearly diſcovered than in any nation of the world) there ſhould be any ignorant perſons? Alas, alas, We finde by woful experience that there are many, very many Indians and heathen (for ignorance) in England. Men and women that know as little of God and holineſs of Chriſt, his natures, offices, of true faith and repentance, as if they had been born, and bred up all their time in Turky or India. I am aſhamed to write what I know of the ſottiſh ſtupid helliſh ignorance of many, and ſome that are aged too, that are going to dye, and yet never knew what it was to live, either to God or their ſouls. The good Lord affect my heart more with the danger and dreadfulneſſe of their eternal conditions.
O how ſad is it that ſo many precious ſouls ſhould lie lazing on their beds of ſecurity and idleneſs, and though the Sun ſhine brightly in upon them, they will not draw their curtains and open their eyes to behold it! That in a valley of viſion, a Goſhen, a land of light, thouſands ſhould live and dye in worſe then Egyptian darkneſſe; that the Bible ſhould be a ſealed book to them, and almoſt every one have the dark ſide of that glorious pillar towards him!
Reader, To cure this ſoul-murdering diſtemper, I have endeavored (according to the truſt committed to me, and the grace beſtowed on me) to diſcover in this Treatiſe the life in Chriſt, or true Chriſtianity, with the matchleſs endleſs felicity that accompanieth it; as alſo the nature and danger of unregeneracy, with the means to come out of it; by which thou mayſt ſee that many cozen their ſouls with counterfeit coin (falſe evidences for heaven) inſtead of true, which will not abide the touchſtone of Scripture, and ſo like Uriah, they carry thoſe letters about them, though they know it not, which will at laſt coſt them their lives, and cauſe their eternal deaths. That there is no fool like the ſinner who ſelleth his ſoul for a ſong; his Saviour, his eternal happineſs, the unſpeakable pleaſures at Gods right hand for evermore, for the periſhing empty profits, and baſe brutiſh pleaſures of ſin, which are but for a ſeaſon; Though ſin be delightful in the act (to carnal wretches) yet it will be bitterneſs in the end. It will be a bitter-ſweet to all its lovers, when for their momentany pleaſure they ſhall be recompenced with eternity of intolerable unconceivable pain. That it is not for nothing that Miniſters call ſo loudly and earneſtly to thee, to kill thoſe luſts which would kill thee, and to follow after holineſs, without which no man ſhall ever ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14. It will teach thee, that God and Chriſt, heaven and hell, thy ſoul and eternity, death and judgement are not things to be dallied with; believe it, thou wilt one day find that it is bad jeſting with ſuch edged tools. Surely the greateſt ſeriouſneſs that is imaginable is too too little for them. O hadſt thou but the thouſandth part of that ſeriouſneſs about them which they deſerve, and call for at thy hands; ſurely thou wouldſt have other manner of thoughts of them, and carriage towards them then now thou haſt. Well, I have four ſpecial things at preſent from the living God to commend to thee and leave with thee in order to thine eternal good (I known not how ſoon I may be taken from thee) If thou loveſt thy ſoul, practice them faithfully; if not, anſwer the contrary when thou and I ſhall meet in the other world at the great and terrible day of the Lord Jeſus.
Firſt, do thou labor for the knowledge of God and his Son, thy ſelf, and the duty which thou oweſt to thy Maker and Redeemer; haſt thou not read the doleful conſequence of ignorance? and doth it not nearly concern thee to get out of that damnable condition?
Without this thou canſt never be Religious, notwithſtanding all thy pretences that thou meaneſt well, and haſt as good an heart as the beſt. If thou knoweſt not the God of thy fathers, thou canſt never ſerve him with a perfect heart, 1 Chron. 28.9. All thy worſhip will be but wild, and wandering from God; all thy ſervices but the ſacrifice of a fool; The foundation of obedience muſt be laid in knowledge, Mal. 1.8. till then thou offereſt up to the Lord, the lame and blind, which he will not accept. God expecteth reaſonable ſervices, Rom. 12.1. ſuch for which thou canſt give a good reaſon out of his word, which muſt be the warrant of thy worſhip. Be not therefore in ſhape a man, a reaſonable creature, and as NebuchadneZZar, in heart a beaſt; be not as the horſe and mule which hath no underſtanding, Pſal. 32.9.
Without knowledge thou canſt not be ſaved; If the Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that periſh, 2 Cor. 4.4. Wilful ignorance is a ſad ſign that thou art in Gods black bill. If God will ever have thee to be ſaved, he will bring thee to the knowledge of this truth, 1 Tim. 2.4. When Hammans face was covered, his execution was near. Do not delude and deſtroy thy ſoul by preſuming that thy ignorance will not damne thee; for if thou art without knowledge, he that made thee will not ſave thee, and he that formed thee will ſhew thee no mercy, Iſa. 27.11. Mark Reader but this one place, Pſal. 95.10, 11. where the God of truth confirmeth it by an oath that they which do not know his ways, ſhall not enter into his reſt. One would think that a priſoner ſhould be both earneſt and diligent to learn his neck verſe, who knoweth he muſt be hanged if he cannot read; and doſt not thou read in broad Characters, in the word of God, that thou muſt be an eternal monument of divine fury in hell, if thou doſt not learn to know the onelyonly true God and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent? doth it not then behove thee to be diligent for knowledge?
1. How ſhouldſt thou wait on the word of God which enlightneth the mind, and maketh wiſe the ſimple!Auditus eſt ſenſus diſciplinae. Pſal. 19.7, 8. David had more underſtanding then the ancients, becauſe Gods word was his meditation, Pſa. 119.98, 99. Watch at wiſdoms gate, with an humble hungry ſoul, and God may fill thee with good things; God maketh manifeſt the favour of his knowledge by his Mniſters in every place, 2 Cor. 2.14. If thou wouldſt ſee, go where the Sunne ſhineth.
2. Ply the throne of grace with unceſſant prayers,Bene or aſſc eſt bene ſtuduiſſe. that God would enlighten thy mind in the knowledge of his will. If any man lack wiſdom or knowledge, let him ask it of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not, Jam. 1.5. Intreat him to open thine eyes that thou mayſt ſee the wonderful things contained in his law, Pſal. 119.18. If thou cryeſt after knowledge, and lifteſt up thy voice for underſtanding; if thou ſeekeſt her as ſilver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hid treaſure, then ſhalt thou underſtand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God; For the Lord giveth wiſdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and underſtanding, Prov. 2.3, 4, 5, 6.
3. Take heed of ſinning againſt thoſe commands which thou knoweſt: Hold not the truth in unrighteouſneſs; Do not wanton away the light, leaſt God give thee up to judiciary darkneſs. Thou knoweſt thou ſhouldſt pray with thy family, and in ſecret; make conſcience of the Lords day, inſtruct thy children, forbear drunkenneſs, ſwearing, lying, uncleanneſs, and the like; be ſure thou do not ſhut up this knowledge in thy conſcience, and deny it in thy converſation, leſt (as a candle pent up in a dark lanthorn) it ſwail out quickly. If any man will do my will, he ſhall know my doctrine whether it be of God or no, John 7.17. To practice what you know, is the way to know what to practice; Knowledge is the mother of obedience, it breeds it; and obedience is the nurſe of knowledge, it feedeth and nurtureth it; if thou improveſt thy little ſtock well, doubt not but God will adde to it and encreaſe it; leave no means untried for the obtaining this purchaſe. I have (if thou belongeſt to our Pariſh) offered thee to inſtruct thee to my power in the myſteries of Chriſt, appointed alſo days for that end; it may be thou art one of thoſe many that ate too old to learn, that ſcorn to be taught. I would ask thee one queſtion, and think of it, Art thou not too old to be ſaved? Doſt thou not ſcorn to go to heaven? Surely thou doſt; by contemning the way thou ſcorneſt the end. Well take heed thou doſt not die without knowledge; for if thou doſt, all the world cannot keep thee one quarter of an hour out of hell, and then thou wilt have time enough to befool thy ſelf for refuſing a good offer, and willfully rejecting through thy pride thoſe things which concerned thine eternal peace. I ſhall conclude this head with the words of that eminent and pious writer.Mr. Gurnal Arm 1 part, p. 239, 240. How long (ſaith he) may a poor Miniſter ſit in his ſtudy before any of the ignorant ſort will come upon that errand (i. e. to learn the knowledge of God & themſelves)! Lawyers have their Clients, and Phyſicians their Patients; theſe are ſought after & called up at midnight for counſel; but alas the ſoul which is more worth then raiment and body too, that is neglected and the Miniſter ſeldome thought one, till both theſe be ſent away. Perhaps when the Phyſitian gives them over for dead, then we muſt come and cloſe up their eyes with comfort, which were never opened to ſee Chriſt in his truth, or elſe be counted cruel, becauſe we will not ſprinkle them with this holy water, and anoint them for the Kingdom of heaven, though they know not a ſtep of the way that leads to it. Ah, poor wretches, what comfort would you nave us ſpeak to thoſe to whom God himſelf ſpeaks terror? Is heaven ours to give to whom we pleaſe? or is it in our power to alter the laws of the moſt High, and ſave thoſe whom he condemns? Do you remember the curſe that is to fall upon his head, that maketh the blind to wander out of the way? Deut. 27.18. What curſe then would be our portion, if we ſhould confirm ſuch blind ſouls as are quite out of the way to heaven, encouraging them to go on, and expect to reach heaven at laſt, when God knows, their feet ſtand in thoſe paths that lead to eternal death? No, 'tis written, we cannot. God will not reverſe it, you may read your very names amongſt thoſe damned ſouls which Chriſt comes in flaming fire to take vengeance on, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. And therefore in the fear of God let this provoke you of what age or ſex, rank or condition ſoever you be, to labor for the ſaving knowledge of God in Chriſt, whom to know is life eternal, John 17.3.
Secondly, Do not reſt in bare knowledge but endeavor to get thy will, affections, and heart renewed; a clear head muſt be accompanied with a clean heart; ſaving knowledge is ever a ſanctifying knowledge. Content not thy ſelf with any thing ſhort of regeneration and the power of godlineſs; Maſter Robert Bolton, Mr. Boltons life …y Maſter …gſhaw.when dying, told his children, That he verily believed none of them durſt think to meet him at the great tribunal in an unregenerate eſtate. So I am confident that none of you can with any comfort (nay without unſpeakable horror and ſorrow) meet me at the Bar of Chriſt in your natural eſtates. O how ſad will it be for thee that art now aſleep in ſin, to awake (like the Jailor) at the midnight of death, and to find this inward change, this new creation, this life in Chriſt miſſing: what an heart quake will poſſeſs thee? how pale and trembling wilt thou ſpring into the preſence of Chriſt, in the other world for thy particular judgement! Conſider thy profeſſion will not ſerve turn; the ſtorm of death will waſh out all colours of profeſſion that are not laid in the oyle of renewing grace, Mat. 25.8.
Thy priviledges will not do it; circumciſion is nothing, nor uncircumciſion but a new creature, Gal. 6.15. Thou mayſt enjoy Scripture, and Sabbaths, and Sacraments, and many ſeaſons of grace, and hell at laſt. Nay the higher thy exaltation (in regard of theſe priviledges) if thou dieſt unconverted, the greater thy condemnation will be. None go to ſuch Chambers of utter darkneſs, as they that are lighted thither with the torches of Ordinances. Heathen will keep holy day in hell, in compariſon of thoſe that are now lifted up to heaven and periſh. If the ſweeteſt wine make ſuch ſharp vinegar, and the cold lead when melted be ſo hot and ſcalding; how pure and weighty will that wrath be which ſhall be extracted out of abuſed love and mercy! Grace is the ſweeteſt friend, but the bittereſt enemy. If thou waſte the riches of grace, God will recover out of thee riches of glory. Thy performances alſo can be no infallible evidence of thy good eſtate. The Phariſees prayed, faſted, did (many of them) abound in outward acts of charity, righteouſneſs and holineſs (which are commanded by God, and muſt be minded by all that will be ſaved) and yet Chriſt telleth us expreſly, That except our righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, we ſhall in no wiſe enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5.20. There was in them a… in the young man one thing wanting, and that was the regeneration of their natures, the actual predominancy of the intereſt o… God and Chriſt in their hearts above all intereſt of the fleſh and world. I beſeech thee therefore make ſure of the new birth, without which it is impoſſible for thee to eſcape the ſecond death. I have in the third uſe of this Treatiſe endeavoured to awake… thee to, and to direct thee about this great work, as in the firſt uſe I have diſcovered the unſpeakable endleſs miſery of them that dye before it be done. Thoſe which had the Sudor Anglicus or ſweating ſickneſ…, dyed aſſuredly if ſuffered to ſleep; thoſe were their beſt friends that kept them waking, though they (poſſibly) had little thank for it. It may be thou mayſt think I am too ſharpe; but truely the wound is deep, dangerous, yea deadly, and therefore though I put thee to pain by lancing it, I am forced to it, otherwiſe thou wilt not be cured. Sin and hell, and holineſs and ſanctification are other manner of things then the ſleepy world dreameth of.
The Lord give thee an heart to obey his counſel in order to thy converſion, and then I am ſure thou wilt have cauſe to give him thanks that I would not let thee ſleep quietly on a bed that was in a flame, nor in an condition that was next door to infinite miſery and eternal deſperation.
Thirdly, exalt godlineſs in thy family. If once Chriſt be chief in thy heart, I am confident he will to thy utmoſt power be ſo in thy houſe; that thou art really, which thou art relatively. Labor that thy children and ſervants may know and ſerve God▪ Dwell with thy wife as a man of knowledge, as heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindred. 1 Pet. 3.7. Bring up thy children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Eph. 6 4. Teach thy ſervants their duty to God and their own ſouls. Conſider theſe are the laws of the righteous God; and ere long when thou ſhalt leave all the dying and lying vanities of this world, thou muſt give an account in the other world, how thou haſt obeyed them. God hath committed a great truſt to thee, even the charge of the ſouls of all in thy family; and doth not thine heart tremble to think of ſoul-blood, of ſoul-murder! I aſſure thee thou mayſt be as truely and really guilty of their deaths and damnations by ſtarving them as by poiſoning them. I mean by not inſtructing, chatechizing, and principling them in the things of God, by not praying with them, and over ſeeing that they mind the worſhip of God, as in making them drunk, and teaching them to ſteal and ſwear.
For thy children, Doſt thou not know that they are born children of wrath, and heirs of hell? and canſt thou be quiet till thou ſeeſt in them ſome ſigns and hopes of regeneration; an intereſt in Chriſt, and thereby a right to heaven? When thou readeſt of Herod, how he murdered poor children, thou condemneſt him; thou thinkeſt Ah hard-hearted Herod! But doſt not thou do ten thouſand times worſe, in murdering the ſouls and bodies of thy dear children for ever? Ah hard-hearted, ah bloody father! Herod was a man of bowels, a merciful man to thee. Is it any wonder to hear (ſaith one) of that ſhip ſunk, or daſht upon a rock, that was put to ſea without card of compaſs? nor is it a wonder to hear of children ſinking in perdition, who are thruſt into the world, which is a ſea of temptations, without any knowledge of God and their duty. One would think every time thou readeſt and heareſt of the extremity and eternity of hells torments, of the multitudes that muſt undergo them, of the few even of thoſe within the viſible Church that ſhall be ſaved, and of the difficulty of obtaining ſalvation, that thy loyns ſhould tremble, and thy joynts ſmite together; that thy head, yea heart ſhould ake for fear any of thy dear children ſhould be among thoſe many that muſt drink that cup of the Lords pure wrath; & that thou ſhouldſt be reſtleſs night and day in wraſtling with …od, and inſtructing them, in uſing all means to prevent their endleſs ruine; ſurely if thou hadſt a ſpark of true love to thy children, thus it would be with thee.
And for thy ſervants, unleſs thou art careful, that they ſerve the Lord, they are but little beholden to thee for thy ſervice; thou giveſt them (poſſibly) food and outward things convenient, but doſt thou not do as much for thy cattel? And is it thinkeſt thou, enough to do no more for thoſe ſouls which muſt live in unſpeakable pain or pleaſure for ever, then for thy beaſts? If he that provideth not for the bodies of his family, be worſe then an Infidel, 1 Tim. 5.8. ſurely he that provideth not for their ſouls, is kin to a devil; ſay not, they are ſtubborn and will not be taught. Haſt not thou power in thy hands either to teach them, or turn them out of doors? Let none ſerve thee that will not ſerve God. Thou wilt not keep a ſervant that knoweth not how to do thy work, at leaſt if he will not learn, and then follow it with diligence; Now let thy conſcience be judge; Is not Gods work (the pleaſing and glorifying his infinite majeſty) of far greater concernment than thy greateſt and weighteſt work? and dareſt thou keep one that neither knoweth how to do it, nor will learn? Follow the man after Gods own heart, Pſ. 101.2.9. I will walk within my houſe with a perfect heart: Mine eyes ſhall be upon the faithful in the land that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, he ſhall ſerve me. It is ſaid of Conſtantine (that in this he was truely great) that he would have his whole Court gathered together, and cauſe the Scriptures to be read to them, and inſtruction to be given them from the Word of God.
Beſides, if thou didſt but regard thy own temporal good, thou wouldſt inſtruct thy ſervants and children in ſpiritual things; for they that are unfaithful to their Maſter and father in heaven, will be unfaithful to their maſter and father on earth. They that make no conſcience of their duty to God, but rob him of his ſervice and worſhip, will never make conſcience of their duty to thee, but if they have opportunity, will rob thee of thy time, ſervice, and goods.
Be ſure that thou performe family duties, as praying, reading, and the like, morning and evening; do not ſerve the fleſh and the world all day, and then put God off with a few cold ſleepy petitions at night; the command is, Pray continually, 1 Theſſ. 5.17. Daniel was at it three times a day, Dan. 6.10. David ſeven times a day, Pſal. 119.164. Gods mercies are renewed on thee every morning, and ſhould not thy prayers and praiſes be renewed every morning? Doth not the preſervation of thy family every night, deſerve family acknowledgement in the morning? Weariſome nights are appointed to others; the beds of others prove their graves, thou and thine might have awaken in hell; doth this diſtinguiſhing mercy deſerve no thanks? Is not thy family every day lyable to many dangers, both bodily and ſpiritual? doth it not need pitying, ſanctifying, pardoning, directing, preventing mercy every day, nay every moment? and is not all this worth a prayer? Upon no account neglect the offering up of theſe morning and evening ſacrifices; let thy prayers and of the reſt in the family come up before the Lord in the morning like incenſe, and the lifting up of thine hands at night as an evening ſacrifice.
Do not ſay as ſometimes I have heard of thee, that thou canſt not ſpare time for theſe duties, thy family is great, and thou canſt not get them altogether, thy buſineſs is great, and a little time ſpent this way, may wrong thee; I anſwer thee, Canſt thou get all thy family together twice a day to ſet meals for their bodies, and canſt thou not get them together twice a day for ſet meals (family duties) for their ſouls? 2. What greater or weighter buſineſs canſt thou have, then the working out the ſalvation of thy own, and the ſouls committed to thy charge? are not the moſt important affairs thou canſt poſſibly deal about, but toys and trifles to this? 3. Was not Davids family greater then thine, and his occaſions weighter? and yet he could find time (though a King) for family duties, Pſal. 101.9. He and his Queen did both inſtruct their child in the things of God, 1 Chron. 28.9. Pro. 4.3. to 10. Pro. 31. If thou art poor, and ſaiſt thou art to provide for thy family, ſee an anſwer to that in this book, pag. 187.188.189. Though God will give you both another manner of anſwer to your fooliſh pretences, when ye appear at the judgement ſeat of Chriſt.
Have a ſpecial care alſo of the ſanctification of the Lords day in thy family; remember the living God commandeth thee, that thou, thy ſon, thy daughter, thy man-ſervant, and thy maid-ſervant, and all within thy gate keep that day holy. Do not make the ſins of others thine by thy pattern or permiſſion; let not that queen of days be defloured or prophaned by idleneſs, earthly thoughts, words, or actions; ſpend the whole time which thou ſpareſt from the publike Ordinances, in ſecret and private duties, as praying, reading, ſinging, chatechiſing, taking an account of thy children and ſervants, what they know of the myſteries of Chriſt, and particularly what they have learned that day. Eſteem it a ſpecial priviledge, a great mercy, that thou and thine may upon that day ſequeſter your ſelves wholly from worldly imployments, and enjoy communion with the bleſſed God in the means of grace. This I ſhall be bold to tell thee, that Religion and the ſervice of the moſt high God in thy family, dependeth much, yea very much upon thy obſervation of the Lords day; thou mayſt expect its increaſe or decreaſe according to thy ſanctification or prophanation of it. In the Primitive times when the queſtion was Servaſti Dominicum? the anſwer was, Chriſtianus ſum, omittere non poſſum. Thou pretendeſt to be a Chriſtian, make conſcience of every minute of that day of Chriſt. Be ſure that thou and as many of thy family as can poſſily be ſpared, attend with all diligence and reverence at the publike place of worſhip; there God receiveth the greateſt praiſes, and there he beſtoweth the choiceſt mercies. O bleſſed are they that dwell in his houſe, bleſſed are they that wait at Wiſdoms gates, that watch at the poſts of her doors, Prov. 8. In all things ſhew thy ſelf a pattern to them that are under thy care and charge; the peop!e committed to thy government, will ſooner imitate thy doings, then obey thy ſayings. Sin cometh in at firſt by propagation, but is increaſed exceedingly by imitation; thou that haſt thy children and ſervants following thee either to heaven or to hel, haſt need chooſe a right path, even the narrow way that leadeth to life. Weigh thy words, conſidering that they will learn thy language; avoid thoſe ſinful expreſſions of Faith and Troth (let your yea be yea, and your nay nay; for whatſoever is more is evil) of repeating others oathes, of ſpeaking irreverently of the great God and his word, of wiſhing evil on any man; for the command is, Bleſs them that curſe, Mat. 5.44. let no evil communication proceed out of thy lips, duplicate page duplicate page but let thy ſpeech be ſeaſoned with grace, that it may adminiſter good, and be exemplary to the hearers. Look well to thy works, that they be agreeable to the word of God. In thy Religious performances eſpecially manifeſt all reverence, fervency, & ſeriouſneſs, that thy children and ſervants may ſee that thou art in earneſt about ſoul-affairs; about eternity-concernments; thou little knoweſt how profitable ſuch a pattern may be unto them. Do thy utmoſt, uſe all means commanded thee to ſave thy ſelf and them that dwell with thee. Be confident that ſhortly Chriſt will ſay to thee as Eliah to David, With whom haſt thou left thoſe few ſheep in the wilderneſs? What is become of the children and ſervants which I intruſted thee with? will it be enough thinkeſt thou for thee then to anſwer, Lord, For my children, I brought them up without any charge to the Pariſh; or Lord, I bred them Gentlemen; or I put them out to trades, or I left them competent eſtates. And for my ſervants, I paid them their wages, gave them their meat and drink, according to my agreement with them. When Chriſt ſhall reply (Man) what is become of their ſouls which I created capable of the immediate fruition of my ſelf, which I redeemed with my precious blood? what ſhame will then cover thy face, and what horror fill thy heart, when the blood of their ſouls ſhall be required of thee! O therefore let Joſhuahs practice and reſolution be thine, That thou and thy houſe will ſerve the Lord, Joſh. 24.15.
Fourthly, Make Religion and the worſhipping and glorifying the great God the great buſineſs of thy whole life. Improve all thy time, power, eſtate, intereſts, and talents whatſoever to the utmoſt, for the honor of God, and thine own everlaſting good. Look on thy ſelf as created, preſerved, ſupplyed with nightly, daily, hourly mercies (not for the ſervice of thy fleſh, no, that end were mean and low, but) that thou mighteſt be enabled unto and encouraged in the ſervice of the glorious God; Surely ſaith that noble Lord Du Pleſsi…, In the epiſtle before Veritaes Chriſtia. Relig.If all the world were made for man, then man was made for more then the world. All the favors thou enjoyeſt are but baitslaid by God to catch thy ſoul; as they come all from him, ſo let them be improved all for him. It is godlineſs alone that will hold out when thou comeſt to the greateſt hardſhips at the day of affliction and the hour of thy diſſolution. The good man and his godlineſs are like Saul and Jonathan, lovely in their lives, and in their deaths they are not divided, therefore exerciſe thy ſelf unto godlineſs. It may be, thou art one to whom God hath given much in the world; I muſt tell thee that much will be required of thee; the greater thy receipts are, the greater thy returns muſt be, and the larger thy diſburſements for God; make to thy ſelf friends of the Mammon of unrighteouſneſs, that when that faileth, thou maiſt be received into the Celeſtial habitation. The way to get that which thou canſt not part with, is by charity to part with that which thou canſt not keep. Thou canct not carry thy bags to heaven; it is good to take bills of exchange from the poor, whereby thou maiſt receive there what thou couldſt not carry thither; Laudent te eſurientium viſcera, non ructantium opulenta convivia, ſaith Hierom. It is ſtoried of Alexander, that having given away almoſt all he had, one of his friends asked him where his treaſure was; he anſwered, pointing to the poor, In ſcriniis, in his cheſt. He asked him what he had left for himſelf; Alexander anſwers, ſpem majorum. Let thy charity eſpecially relate to the ſouls of people. What were it for thee to maintain four or ſix poor children at School, whereby they may come to read, and learn to know the way to life? Doth it not grieve thee to underſtand the groſs ignorance of many! and what do they tell us (when we reprove them for it) that they are not book learned, they could never read! What were it for thee that haſt (poſſibly) ſeverall hundreds per annum, to give twenty pound a year this way? I tell thee that God expecteth more than this for his ſervice; and I am confident thou maiſt have more comfort in ſuch acts of ſoul-charity, than in ten times the value beſtowed on the world and the fleſh. I am ſure God keepeth an exact account how thou employeſt thy revenues; and think of it again and again, what thou wilt do in ſuch an hour, when thou ſhalt ſtand naked at the judgement ſeat of Chriſt, and all thy receipts and disburſments ſhall be declared and mentioned before the Lord, Angels, and Men; when Imprimis Pride cometh with her Tailors long bill of ſo many thouſands for new faſhions, fooliſh fancies, or gaudy attire for thee or thine, when the poor members of Chriſt were ready to periſh with nakedneſs. Item, Gluttony or drunkenneſs, or luxury, ſo many thouſands. Item, So many hundreds for Hauks or Hounds, or gaming. Item, ſo many hundreds for idle needleſs expences. Item, for propagating the goſpel, relieving the poor, exalting the intereſt of Chriſt, ſo many pounds, or onelyonly ſome few ſcraps, which the Knight or Eſquire, or Gentleman could ſpare after he had made full proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts thereof. Believe it, thou wilt wiſh then, thou hadſt done more for God and his intereſt, and leſs for the fleſh. It was a wiſe ſpeech of Licon the Philoſopher (when a wealthy Merchant bragd to him of the multitudes of his ſhips and furniture for ſea,Laert. how he was able to trade into all parts) I eſteem not that to be felicitie which hangs upon ropes and cables. Sure I am thy wealth hath wings, and will within a few daies take an eternal flight from thee; the way to make the beſt of it, is not to lay it up, but to lay it out as may be moſt for the glory of God
Whoever thou art, whether poor or rich, make an abſolute dedication of thy ſelf and thy all unto Chriſt, if thou wouldſt attain ſalvation by Chriſt. He that cannot live of himſelf, muſt not live to himſelf; for if he doth, he dieth eternallie, he loſeth himſelf for ever. If heaven might be had upon mens curſed terms of liberty for their luſts, Chriſt would have cuſtomers enough; but he that bought the purchaſe is fitteſt to ſet the price.
Reader, I ſet before thee in this Treatiſe Life and Death, Heaven and Hell; if thou art a true Iſaac, and haſt a ſpiritual appetite, I dare promiſe thee ſuch ſavoury meat as thy ſoul loveth; but if Gallio-like, thou careſt for none of theſe things, or as the two tribes and an half, deſireſt thy portion on this ſide the land of Canaan; If as Spira thou wilt put thy relations and poſſeſſions, honor and pleaſure, and outward good things in one ſcale; and God, and Chriſt, and Heaven in the other; and then chooſe the former, and refuſe the latter; I hope I ſhall never envy thy happineſs, nor deſire to eat of thy dainties, or drink of thy cup, but pray that the Lord would have mercy on the; onelyonly let me tell thee; if thou wouldſt avoid the unconceivable endleſs miſery of the damned; if thou wouldſt attain the eternal matchleſs felicity of the ſaved: If thou wouldſt have all thy former rebellions blotted out through the blood of the Son; If thou wouldſt have thy perſon reconciled to the Father; If thou wouldſt have God in Chriſt to ſtand by thee, when none of thy friends or comforts ſhall own thee; if thou wouldſt appear at the dreadful Bar of Chriſt with comfort, when thouſands and millions ſhall weep and wail; If thou wouldſt not have me, nor this book to be a witneſs againſt thee before the Lord, Angels and men: then turn from ſin ſpeedily, cleave to thy Saviour unfainedly, give up thy ſelf to all the commands of Chriſt unreſervedly; To day if thou wilt hear his voice, harden not thy heart, leaſt he ſwear in his wrath, that thou ſhalt never enter into his reſt, Heb. 3.
Reader I ſhall detain thee but a little longer in the porch, onelyonly to give thee a brief account of this enſuing tractate; Though I confeſs I never liked large Apologies for any publications; for if mens books are like to be ſerviceable to the honor of the infinite God, and the welfare of the ſouls of men, … ſmall a Apology will ſerve; if they are …ot, why do they trouble the world …ith them? It is not all the image and …uperſcription, which their excuſes can …amp on them, ſhall ever make them …urrant coin with me. I was called to …each a Sermon at Borden in Kent, Octob. 7. 1658. at the Funeral of a grave Re…gious Gentlewoma… (one that (as I am …formed) was a tender mother of her …ildren, and a dutiful daughter to the …ther of Spirits) Miſtris Beresford, wi…w of Maſter Michael Beresferd, a learn… painful godly Miniſter of the Lord Je… Chriſt, who had a good report of … men (that feared God and knew …) and of the truth it ſelf; He was …niſter of the abovenamed Pariſh above …nty years.
… was after the preaching of it, re…ed to publiſh it, and promiſed that …nſiderable number ſhould be freely …red in ſeveral families, whereby …gh the bleſſing of God, ſome poor ſouls might be turned from darkneſs unto light, and from the power of Sata… unto God. Before I had prepared th… Sermon for the Preſſe, I was intreate… to inlarge it into a Treatiſe. All whic… deſires I was willing to ſatisfie, part… out of the great reſpect I did bear*Mr. John Beresford Citizen & Apothecary, one that feareth the Lord abo…e many. one eſpecially that earneſtly begd i… but chieſly out of the weak deſire I … to be inſtrumental for the converſion … the ſouls of them to whom the Serm… was preached, and of the Pariſh wh… the Lord had committed to my cha… I conſidered with my ſelf that by r… ſon of my ſickly and infirm body, I … not likely to continue long with t… people, to which the providence of … did at firſt joyn me, and from whic… far greater things could never divorce … and therefore it might not be need… to leave them ſome teſtimony of my … fained deſires of their eternal welfa… Who knoweth what this mean pi… may do, if the divine power pleaſ… accompany it? Poſſibly out of the … that is here ſown, when the husb… man is dead, an harveſt may be … ed of glory to God and good to ſouls.
Reader, If thou gain any ſpiritual profit by it, let God have the praiſe, and let him be remembred in thy prayers, who is
Thy Servant for Chriſts ſake, George Swinnocke. Febr. 22. 1658./9.