The Preaching of Christ and the Prison of God, Part 2

The Preaching of Christ and the Prison of God · Part 2

p. 72The Second Part of a Diſcourſe on 1 Pet. 3.19.

The Second Doctrine that the laſt words of the Text afford us is this.

2. Doct. The ſpirits of Wicked Men when they go out of the Body, are confin'd to, and ſhut up in Gods Priſon.

THree things here are to be ſpoken to, and inſiſted on. 1. That God hath 2 Priſon 2. That the Souls of wicked Men when they go out of the Body, ſhall be caſt into this Priſon. 3. I ſhall ſhew how Dreadful and Terrible this Priſon is.

1. That God hath a Priſon. Earthly Princes have places of Durance and Reſtraint for ſuch as offend them, and Tranſgreſs their Laws, Gen. 1.2, 3. two of the Officers of Pharaoh offended the King of Egypt; their Lord was wroth with them, and expreſſes his Diſpleaſure by puting them in Priſon; And is it not highly reaſonable and juſt that the King of Heaven and Earth ſhould have his Priſon to confine Tranſgreſſors to, and to puniſh delinquents p. 73in? Should Sinners that do their own wills, fulfil the Devils Luſts, Rebel againſt Gods Laws, ſtill be at liberty to Contract more Guilt, and provoke more wrath? if Iniquity were for ever joyn'd with Impu…ity, would not the Majeſty of God be ſtill affronted, his Laws trod under foot, his threatnings derided and ſcorn'd? Tho ſinners own God in word, and cannot utterly race and extirpate the Notion of a Divine Being out of their Souls, yet they hold it in unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18. They are as Dark Lanterns, to ſhut in, and hide the Light of this great Truth; they unjuſtly Impriſon, Hold and Detain it; they will not ſuffer it to have Authority in their Conſciences; they will not permit it to reign in their Souls, to controul their Luſts, to reſtrain their Vices, to check their ſins; and may not God righteouſly ſhut up thoſe Spirits of Men, that have ſo unrighteouſly impriſoned, bound, held under that great and primary Truth, that there is a God, and have lived as if there were none, as if there were no Omniſciency to obſerve their Sins, no Holy, Juſt Being to Loath and hate them, no Omnipotent Arm to Puniſh them: God hath ſeveral Attributes to Diſplay his Glory; as he hath a Palace to Magnify his Mercy p. 74in, ſo he hath a Priſon to Glorify his Juſtice in; the Righteous Judg of the whole World hath ſeveral ſorts of Perſons to deal with, he hath Friends that he will ſhine on, and Enemies that his wrath will burn againſt to all Eternity; he hath Children that he will Portion, and Enemies that he will Puniſh; as he will entertain and Feaſt his Sons and Daughters at the Table of Mercy in his Palace, ſo he will Treat Satans Seed at the Table of Juſtice in his Priſon; all the World ſhall be Gods Gueſts, he will ſet out their Food, he will proportion and appoint their Cup; they that have not their Inheritance in God, ſhall yet have their portion from him; The Lord is the Portion of my Inheritance, and of my Cup; this is the ſweet Language of a Saint, Pſal: 16.5. but this is the terrible Language of the Scripture concerning Sinners, Job 31.2. What Portion of God is there from above? And what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not Deſtruction to the Wicked? And a strong puniſhment to the Workers of Iniquity? God will magnify his Righteouſneſs in feeding Sinners with the Fruits of their own ways, and doings, and in adjudging them to their proper place, Acts 1.25. Judas is ſaid to go to his own place; the place his Sins had beſpoken, p. 75provided and prepared for him; This place may well be called a Priſon to ſinners. For, 1. Sinners are made to be what they would not be; For them to gratify ſinful Self-Love, was here their great ſin, and for God highly to croſs Self-Love there, will be their Eternal Punſhment. Sinners ſhall be the Foot ſtool of an Angry God, Pſal. 110.1. They ſhall be the mark of Revenging Juſtice, they ſhall be Veſſels of wrath, and Veſſels for Diſhonour, Rom. 9.21, 22. How dreadful is this for God to Illuſtrate his Juſtice, and Magnify his Wrath in their Eternal Miſery? How Terrible is it for God to get him Honour, by Wounding Eternally the Heads and Hearts of Sinners, to Exalt himſelf by throwing them down into the bottomleſs Pit, in ſtriking and ſuppreſſing them, in conſuming and preſerving them at once, to continue a bare ſtock of being, that he may Graft Eternal Torments on? Will not this be exceedingly diſhonourable, and infamous to Creatures, that they did not pay God any Rent, Service or Obedience, but neceſſitated their great Land-lord to Diſtrain on them, and make diſtreſs, and take up their Souls and Bodies both in Execution? Will not this be an Everlaſting reproach, that they Robbed God of his p. 76Honour and Glory, and obliged him to make Reprizals on them? That they would give him no Glory as they ought, Jer. 13.16. but left God to get Honour on them as he could. So God ſaith, He would get him Honour on 'Pharoah, and on his Hoſt, Exod. 14.17.

2. Sinners ſhall be where they would not be, even in a bottomleſs Pit, in a Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, and under outer Darkneſs, Rev. 20.1, 3, 10. The ſtate of the Damned may well be called a Bottomleſs Pit, they cannot in their Thoughts reach to, or by their longeſt Line of Reaſon Fathom the bottom of this Pit; they cannot ſay, they are arrived at the utmoſt that God can do againſt them, or they can ſuffer from him? As in Heaven there will ſtill be freſh Viſions of Glory, ſo in Hell there will ſtill be new Scenes of Miſery; and how Terrible is this Expreſſion, a Lake of Fire? A Lake that will never Ebb, never ſink, never dry away; this Lake will be as broad, as deep, as hot and ſcorching to Eternity, as it was the firſt moment ſinners were caſt into it.

3. Sinners ſhall be deprived of what they would poſſeſs and enjoy, what God threatens Babylon with ſhall be fulfilled to them, and executed on them, Rev. 19.14. All the p. 77things that their Souls Luſted after, ſhall depart from them; all that is delicate and dainty ſhall depart from them, and they ſhall find them no more for ever; all the Lamps whereby they did drive away the Darkneſs and Terror of their Night, ſhall be put out, their Ciſterns ſhall be broken, their Paradiſe of Earthly Pleaſures and Delights ſhall be utterly and eternally blaſted, the Breaſts of Creatures ſhall be withdrawn from their Mouths, and all their Idols for ever ſnatch'd out of their Arms, a great part of their Hell ſhall be drawn out of, and from that which once was their Heaven; this ſhall laſh and ſcourge their Souls, to think of the Mercies they enjoyed, and abuſed; to remember the good things that they received from God, perverted, and turned againſt God; that they fed their Luſts with what ſhould have fuelled their Love; thoſe Gifts inticed their Hearts from God, which ſhould have drawn them to him. Dives in Hell complained of the pain of Senſe, but hath no relief; Abraham minds him of the pain of Loſs, and ſo augments his miſery, Luke 16.24, 25. Abraham ſaid, Son, remember that thou in thy Life time receivedſt thy good things; as if Abraham ſhould ſay, Thou hadſt all thoſe good things which thou didſt eſteem p. 78and value, that thou didſt deſire and delight in, that thou didſt love and doat on; thou hadſt thy choice, thou didſt poſſeſs the Prize thou didſt run for; but now thy Days of Pleaſure are at an end, thy Sun of Proſperity is ſet; Thou haſt no wrong, yea, God is highly Righteous in his Diſpenſations towards thee; he withholds ſpiritual and eternal Mercies, that thou didſt never deſire, but always deſpiſe, and ſnarches away Temporal Enjoyment, which thou didſt ever Idolize.

4. Sinners ſhall feel, ſuffer, endure what they Loath, and Abhor; Job complains that the things that his Soul refuſed to touch, were his ſorrowful meat, Job 6.7. So the wicked in Hell may renew, and take up this doleful complaint, that they muſt feed on that Wormwood and Gall, that they abhor, and drink the Wine of the wrath of God, that they loath, that Food is provided for them, that they have the greateſt averſation from; that Cup is reached out to them, that they have the greateſt deteſtation of; they ſhall be filled with their own ways, Prov. 14.14. Eat the Fruit of their own doings, and Drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty, Job 21.20. Rev. 14.10. All deadly Poyſons, all fatal Ingredients ſhall be tempered together, p. 79and meet in their Cup, containing Red Wine, and full of Mixture, Pſal. 75.8. All the Evils that may Enebriate, intoxicate and overcome the Spirits of Sinners, are to be found in this Cup; yet in another Senſe, it is Wine without Mixture, Rev. 14.10. Not any Tincture, not any drop of Mercy, but it is pure Wrath; theſe Evils will be ſo bitter, ſo grievous, ſo terrible, that perſons will be a burden to themſelves, Job 7.20. When God made Job his mark, and ſhot the Arrows of Temporal Evils againſt him, he complains he was a burden to himſelf; How then will ſinners be a burden to themſelves, when the Arrows of the Almighty ſhall Pierce them, when the Poyſon of them ſhall drink up their Spirits; when the Terrours of God ſhall ſet themſelves in Battle array againſt them, Job 6.4. If Job did loath Life becauſe it was ſo much imbittered with Temporal Afflictions, Job 7.16. How much more ſhall ſinners in Hell loath their own being, when embittered with Eternal Evils?

5. Hell may well be called a Priſon, becauſe that men ſhall be confined at home, and ſhall be impriſoned in the preſence of an Angry Revenging God.

1. Sinners ſhall be ſhut up in themſelves. It is the great ſin of the Children of Men, p. 80that they ſtray, wander from themſelves, dwell continually abroad; the Prodigal, when he went into a far Country, he did not only depart from his Father, but alſo wander from himſelf: The firſt ſtep towards his Recovery was to come to himſelf, Luke 15.13, 14, 17. So it will be the Sinners Puniſhment to dwell at home, to be confined to himſelf, to have his Thoughts Eternally fixed on his own Folly and Iniquity, to conſider of the wrong ſteps he took, the corrupt fruit he brought forth, the debts he contracted, the ſeeds of miſery he ſowed, the Eternal Wrath he provoked, that tho he was admoniſhed of his ſin, and warned of his danger; yet he would not be diverted, he could not be reclaimed; that he would not give Audience to his Maker, yet liſtened to his Enemy; that the Door of his Heart was ſhut againſt Chriſt, yet open to Satan and the World. Sometimes Magiſtrates do Command Offenders to keep their own homes, and Impriſon them in their own Houſes, that they are not to ſtep out, or ſtir abroad: Even ſo the Great and Juſt God will ſhut up ſinners in themſelves; will turn their Eyes inward, and will fix their Thoughts on their ſhameful Nakedneſs, their Monſtrous Uglineſs, their loathſom p. 81Deformity; God threatens the Houſe of Iſrael, that they ſhould take their Inheritance in themſelves, Ezek. 22.26. this will be Eminently and Signally fulfilled in another World; then Sinners ſhall take their Inheritance in themſelves, their own ways and doings ſhall procure the greateſt evils to them; their own backſlidings ſhall reprove them; their own wickedneſs ſhall laſh them to Eternity; their Accuſations, their Upbraidings, their Reproaches ſhall be from within; their own Conſciences ſhall fly in their Faces, charge their Sins, bind their Iniquities on them; Condemn them for their Ingratitude, and Enmity againſt God. The Lord tells ſinners, He will reprove them, and ſet their Iniquities in order before them, Pſal. 50.21. This is a dreadful word, I will ſet in order before you, foreign, the word hath two Senſes in the Old Testament, that are pertinent in this place, to ſet in order a Cauſe that is to be Argued, or Pleaded, Job 13.18. Behold now I have ordered my Cauſe; So God will order his Cauſe when he is to Accuſe, and Plead againſt Sinners; He will detect their Enmities, rip up their Abomination, exactly order all matters that Evidence their Guilt, that may ſhut their Mouths, and ſhame their Faces. 2. The word Signifies p. 82to order a Battel, 2 Sam. 10.9, 10. Joab did put his Army in Aray, every Troop and Company hath their ground appointed, every Soldier his place fixed in which he is to Fight; It is dreadful when God draws together Troops of Childiſh Sins, Legions of Youthful Luſts, Brigades or Battalians of Tranſgreſſions committed in Riper Years, when God will ſet all theſe in Battle Array againſt the Soul, and will Command them all to give a fierce onſet, a Furious Charge on it: O! How terrible will it be when God ſhall at ſeveral times preſent them to View, and bring them to the remembrance of a Guilty Creature, when they ſhall be ſo ſet in order, that the ſinner cannot but behold them, cannot but think on them, cannot turn away his Eye from this Formidable, and dreadful Hoſt of his Iniquities; the Eye of the Soul ſhall be opened, and never cloſe again; The Sinner ſhall awake, and never doze, never be ſtupified, never ſleep again, but ſhall Eternally dwell upon the Sight, and ſenſe of what he hath done againſt, and deſerved from God.

2. Sinners ſhall be impriſoned in the preſence of an angry God. This may ſeem ſtrange, that God's Preſence ſhould be Hell to the Damned, that is Heaven to the Bleſſed; p. 83yet thus it ſhall be: It is threatned as a dreadful Evil to Zedekiah, that his Eyes ſhould behold the Eyes of the King of Babylon, Iſa 32.4. Zedekiah had dealt perfidiouſly and treacherouſly with the King of Babylon; he had broken his Oath with him and rebelled againſt him: But have not ſinners done worſe? have they not broken repeated Promiſes, and falſified their Covenant with God? have they not back-ſliden from him with a perpetual back-ſliding? have they not held faſt their deceitfulneſs, and refuſed to return to him, Jer. 8.5. have they not been hardened in their Enmity, and perſiſted to run aſtray, and to go a whoring from God, Pſal. 73.27. and O how terrible will God's Face, how dreadful will God's Preſence be to them? I have been credibly informed of a Woman that had proſtituted, and defiled her ſelf in her Husband's Abſence beyond Sea, and was with Child by her Adultery, that hearing that her Husband was arrived, and ready to land, did hang her ſelf, that ſhe might not ſee his Face, whom ſhe had ſo highly offended, ſo bitterly provoked by her Adultery? How then will Spiritual Harlots, and Adulterous Souls Endure to ſee the Face of God, and to behold his angry Countenance to Eternity: O! how p. 84bitter will it be to them to be confined to the Thoughts of their Rebellion, and Gods Enmity againſt them for it? The thoughts of God now are very unpleaſant, and very unwelcome to Sinners, Rom. 1.28. They like not to retain God in their Knowledg. It was burdenſome to them to acknowledg there was a God; and it was bitter to them to think of this God, Pſal. 10.9. God is not in all their thoughts, they baniſh God as much as is poſſible, out of their minds, they forget him as much as they can, they cannot think of God but as a Law Giver, that forbids their Lusts, and Actions; and as a Judg that holds them guilty, and threatens them with Eternal Puniſhments; therefore they ſay to God himſelf, and to the Thoughts of God, Depart from us, Job 12.14, 15. they would not ſuffer ſuch Thoughts to break in upon them, to lodg or ſtay with them, becauſe they begin their Hell, and anticipate their Torments before the time; yet tho it be ſo greivous to ſinners to remember God, to have their Thoughts fixed, to have their Minds dwell on God; yet they muſt behold, they muſt Converſe with this Angry God for ever. O! what a doleful, dreadful Priſon will it be when a guilty Creature, and an angry God ſhall be alone p. 85together. Sinners now have their divertiſements, they drink deep draughts of the Pleaſures of Sin, of the Wine of Senſual Delights, that they may forget their Miſery, and ſhake off the thoughts of a Final Account, of a Righteous Condemnation, and of an Everlaſting Deſtruction; but in this Priſon they can no more ſteep their Souls in Pleaſures, nor ſoak them in Senſual Delights; all the Comforts of the World are gone, but ſin remains, guilt abides, Conſcience can never be Charmed, Silenced, or ſuppreſſed: When ſinners lye down among Thorns of Terrours, and in Sheets of Flames; when they make their Bed in Hell, Behold God is there! Pſal. 139.3. This is an awakening, a dreadful Behold. O think on it, behold God is in Hell! There he meets Sinners with a frowning Face, with a puniſhing Hand; behold God is there to remember Iniquity againſt men, to bind the yoke of their Tranſgreſſions on them: This will moſt ſurpriſe and aſtoniſh; this will moſt diſmay, ſink, overwhelm the Damned to meet with a God they have ſo wearied, ſo grieved, ſo vexed, ſo burdened with their Iniquities; Behold God is there, but it is ſtill to fill their Cup of wrath, to deal out blows, and give wounds to them by his Almighty Power! p. 86Behold God is there, and doth unveil his rowning Face to ſcorch them, and make bare his glorious Arm to deſtroy them.

The ſecond thing that I propoſed to ſpeak to is, That the Spirits of Sinners, when they go out of the Body, ſhall be caſt into, and ſhut up in Gods Priſon.

The Scripture confirms this truth in ſeveral places, The rich man is ſaid to die, and in Hell he lifted up his Eyes, being in Torments, Luke 16.22, 23. No ſooner was his Soul out of the Tabernacle of the Body, but it was in the Priſon of Hell. So Judas is ſaid to go to his own place, when he paſſed into the Regions of Darkneſs, and of Miſery, Acts 25. The filthy Sodomites, after their Bodies were burnt with a Temporal Fire, their Souls were Tormented in Eternal Fames, Judes Epiſtle 7. He that wandereth out of the way of underſtanding, ſhall remain in the Congregation of the Dead; in the Hebrew it is foreign; the word ſignifies Giants; ſome have thought that Hell is called the Congregation of the Giants; there were Giants before the Flood, Gen 6.4. as they were of High Stature in Body, ſo they were no Dwarſs in Sin and Wickedneſs; their Iniquities grew to ſo great a Height, that God was provoked to ſend a deſtroying Flood; theſe Giants were not p. 87only drowned in the Waters, but alſo ſwallowed up of Eternal Death. Theſe were ſuch heinous Sinners, that they ſeem to be preſented as chief Proprietors, and Principal Poſſeſſors, and Inhabitants of Hell.

I ſhall endeavour to Demonſtrate to you, that it muſt needs be ſo, That the Souls of wicked Men when they go out of the Body, do paſs into a Priſon: For,

1. Here in this World they do caſt off all reſtraints, they are all for Carnal Liberty, they exempt themſelves from Gods Juriſdiction; they count their Hearts their own, they will Love and Luſt as they pleaſe, Heb. 9.10. Their Abominations were according as they Loved. Sinners reckon their Tongues to be their own, Pſal. 12.4. Our Lips are our own, Who is Lord over us? Therefore they will Talk, and ſpeak as they pleaſe. The ten Tribes are called Aholah, Ezek. 23.4. as much as to ſay, her Tent, becauſe that Iſrael, like an Adulterous Wife, left the Houſe of God, her Lawful Husband, forſook him, and repaired to her own Tent Idolatrous Iſrael built high places, ſet up Temples in Dan and Bethel; theſe were the Iſraelites own Tents; they did break off from Gods Temple, they thought it Bondage and p. 88Slavery to be tied to Worſhip in Gods Houſe, they would Offer their Sacrifice in their own Tent. The Prodigal thought himſelf not a Freeman while he was under his Fathers Eye and Government; he would not depend on him for Maintenance, or be controuled by his Authority, or Subject to his Commands; he would have his Portion in his own Hands, and Live of himſelf; ſo he gathered together all that his Father gave him, and departed into a far Country, Luke 15.12, 13, 14. There he lived according to his own Luſts, and liking; he waſtes his Fathers Goods, keeps bad Company, and indulgeth his vile affectiones to the height. So Sinners carry it as if they were not under Gods Eye, or Subject to his Authority, Jer. 5.5. It is ſaid of the great Men, That they altogether broke the Yoke, and burſt the Bonds. So Pſal. 2.23. The Kings of the Earth did ſet themſelves, and take Counſel together againſt the Lord, and against his Anointed, ſaying, let us break their Bands aſunder, and caſt away their Cords from us. Tho Jeſus Chriſt came as a Redeemer to ranſom, and as a Deliverer to reſcue Souls from Slavery; yet they took up ſuch wrong Notions, ſuch hard Thoughts of him, as if he came to chain and fetter them, to yoke and enſlave them, p. 89to ſpoil them of the Pleaſure, and deprive them of the liberty of their lives. Hoſe tells us, that the Princes of Judah were like thoſe that remove the bound, Hoſ. 5.10. Sinners will not be reſtrained and limited by Gods Bounds, or be held by his Bonds, or bare his yoke. Our firſt Parents affected inordinate Liberty, to caſt off all reſtraints, to remove all bounds, to be lawleſs and independent, tho this indeed be Monſtrous to have the limited Nature of a Creature, and yet the boundleſs unlimited will of God. Our firſt Parents thought to change their Tenure, and of Tenants to become abſolute Lords; They denied God that little Quit Rent that he reſerved to himſelf, and invaded the Fruit of that Tree, that he reſtrained them from; that Carnal Liberty that Sinners ſo much hunt after, and aſpire to, is a ſtream from this Poyſoned Fountain, and pernitious Fruit from this corrupt root; their degenerate Children have all like ſheep, gone aſtray, and have turned aſide into their own way, Iſa 53.6. yea, they love to wander, Jer. 14.18. They chooſe their own ways, and their Soul delights in their Abominations, Iſa. 66.3. They think God a poor Master that can do little for them, Job 22.14, 15. Job 22.17. What can the Almighty do for them? They account him a hard Master, p. 90that requires too much of them, Matt. 25.24. I knew thou waſt a hard Man, Reaping where thou haſt not ſown, and gathering where thou haſt not ſtrowed, Men affect a broad way, a wide Gate, tho it tend to Deſtruction, Matt. 7.13. They cannot Endure the Girdle of Gods Covenant, or the Bond of his Laws; and therefore how juſt a Puniſhment is it that thoſe ſhould be caſt into Gods Priſon, that have caſt off his Yoke? How Righteous is God in puniſhing ſinful Carnal Liberty, with Eternal Bondage and Confinement.

2. Sinners are Criminals, and Debtors, and in both reſpects do deſerve a Priſon.

1. Wicked Men are Criminals; they rob God, they withold his due, they uſurp his Rights. It is ſaid of Jeſus Chriſt, that he reſtored what he took not away; This was propheſied and ſpoken of our Surety, Pſal. 66.4. If he did not take away from God, who did it? Surely ſinful Man did take away from God; he robb'd God of his Truſt, of his Love, of his Religious Worſhip; He alienated himſelf from God, he withdrew and eſtranged all the Creatures from God. Men ſhould have been firſt Fruits devoted to God, and as living Sacrifices offered to him; In this reſpect God may charge the whole World, as of Old he did charge the whole Nation of the p. 91Jews, Mal. 3.1. Ye have robbed me in Tyths and Offerings. O how many Thieves are there in the World, that rob God both of the Seventh of their Time, in profaning of his Sabbath, and of the Tenth of their Goods? They care not how little they expend to maintain God's Service, and to uphold his Worſhip in the World; do they not daily rob God of their precious thoughts, and of their choiceſt affections? They ſet up their own ends, and exalt their own Wills, and do not make God's Will their Sovereign Law, his Glory their Supream End; How many Families rob God of his Worſhip every day? There is no praying to him, no calling upon him, Pſal. 14.4. Jer. 10. laſt. All their Life is the ſowing of Mammon, the pleaſing themſelves, the gratifying their own Luſts and Vile Affections; Is it ſcandalous to ſteal from Men, and is it not more heinous to rob God?

2. Men are Enemies to, and rebel againſt God, Col. 21. You that were Strangers and Enemies in your minds through wicked works. Sinners are Strangers to God, they do nothing to oblige him: they are Enemies to God, they do much to provoke him; they are Enemies againſt God in their minds; it is an hearty, a deep rooted Enmity; their Minds are ſtill intent on Evil Works. The Apoſtle ſeems p. 92to me to glance at, and have reſpect to thoſe words of God recorded by Moſes, Gen. 16.5. the Lord ſaw that the Imaginations of the Thoughts of Man's Heart were only evil continually. And Men expreſs their Enmity to God by their Rebellion againſt God. Hear how God accuſeth Iſrael, and complaineth againſt them, Iſa. 1.2. Hear, O Heavens, and give ear, O Earth, I have nouriſhed, and brought up Children, and they have rebelled againſt me. God calls in the whole Creation, ſummons all the Creatures to give in Evidence, and to be Witneſſes againſt them; the Sun, Moon and Stars did run their Race, and afford Light and Influences continually to them; the Earth did bear them, and bring forth Fruit to ſupply their Wants, and continue their Lives. God made ſo many Servants above, and below to miniſter to Man, yet this proud ungrateful Creature withdraws his Service from God, denies Obedience to his Maker: Oh hear, and be aſtoniſhed, both Heaven and Earth, that Iſrael that I have adopted, the Jews that I have nouriſhed, taught, educated as my Children, yet have made void my Laws, and rebelled againſt me: Princes have Priſons for Thieves and Rebels againſt them, and ſhall not the King of the whole World have a Priſon for p. 93thoſe that rob him, and rebel againſt him. Rebellion againſt God is far worſe than a Rebellion againſt any Earthly King; for God is an Infinite, and an Eternal Being; he gave us Life, Breath, and all things; his Laws are all righteous, his Commands are holy; they ask but for the Rights of a God: They are juſt, they demand but what we owe our Neighbour; they are good for our ſelves, in the keeping of them is great reward, Pſal. 19.11. The Apoſtle commends the Law, and ſaith, the Command is Holy, Juſt and Good. Theſe are Three weighty, comprehenſive Epithites. When we yeild God his Right, we reap Benefit to our ſelves, juſt as the Trees that ſerve us in bringing forth Fruit, do alſo ſerve themſelves in bringing forth a Stone or Kernel, to continue their own Kind. Obedience to God is grounded on our very Nature, and founded in our very Being. Thoſe that have received a Being from God's Hand, ſurely ought to receive a Law from his Mouth. Rebellion againſt God therefore muſt needs be an heinous Crime, and deſerve an Eternal Priſon. Thoſe that ſerve their own Luſts, and do Satan's Will in time, are worthy to ſuffer God's Will to Eternity.

p. 943. Sinners are guilty of Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery, Pſal. 73.27. Thou haſt deſtroyed ſuch as go a whoring from thee. Ye Adulterers and Adultereſſes, know you not that the Friendſhip of this World is Enmity with God? James 4.14. As a Rebellious Son was by God's Law to be ſtoned to Death, Deut. 21.20, 21. ſo a Woman guilty of Adultery, and the Adulterer, were both to be put to death, by God's Command, Levit. 20.10. Judah gave Sentence againſt Tamar for her Whoredom; Let her be brought forth, and burnt, Gen. 38.24. If the Rebellion of a Son againſt an Earthly Father, was Capital; if bodily Adultery was puniſhed with Death, what then doth Soul-Adultery deſerve? God is our Lawful Husband, Iſa. 54.5. Thy Maker is thy Husband. Yet have not ſinful Souls affected the Bed of a Stranger? have they not turned from God after Creatures? As Chriſt admoniſhes, and accuſeth the Woman of Samaria for living in Adultery, or at leaſt in Fornication, John 4.18. He that thou now haſt, is not thy Husband; ſo God may charge unconverted Men and Women, that they live in Spiritual Adultery, that the object they moſt love and doat on, is not their Lawful Embraces; the Creatures were not made to be Idols to Entice us from God, p. 95but are beſtowed as Love tokens to allure our Hearts to God; yet the Hearts of Covetous Sinners do go after their Covetouſneſs, Ezek. 33.31. And the Hearts of Idolaters do walk after the Heart of their deteſtable things, Ezek. 11.21. tho this was a great cheat, to think that Dead Idols, or falſe Gods had a heart to retaliate their Love, or to Requite them for their Worſhip; on this Account God is the only Lawful Husband, and meer object of our Love, becauſe he hath a Heart to Love us again, Prov. 8.17. I love thoſe that love me; Idols or Creatures cannot ſay ſo; Dead Idols, and Dead Creatures have no Heart to love us. O! conſider then what a horrid Crime Spiritual Adultery is; hereby we defile the Creatures, do offer Violence to them, and put a Rape on them; they call and invite us to the Love of God, they entice us not to the ſinful, and inordinate love of themſelves. It is mens Luſt that is active in this Adultery, the Creature is only Paſſive, it groans under this Force put on it, but cannot decline and avoid it; the Creature is innocent, but it is a Mans Unchaſt and Filthy Heart that is guilty. For this Spiritual Whoredom men deſerve to be caſt into Gods Priſon; if God be broken by their whoriſh Heart, Ezek 6.9. p. 96then ſurely they are worthy to be wounded, and broken for it.

2. Men are debtors to God, every ſin is a Debt, Matt. 6.12. Forgive us our Debts, as we forgive our Debtors; we primarily owe to God a Debt of Love, and Obedience; but for default in the Payment of this Debt, there ariſes another Debut, we owe God Glory to be raiſed out of our Sufferings, Eternal Miſery and Torments; all Creatures muſt bow to God, and ſome way or other ſerve him, Iſa. 45.32. Either as Veſſels of Honour, or as Veſſels for Diſhonour; God muſt have glory either by his Mercy, or our Miſery; it is but juſt that God ſhould enter his Action againſt his Debtors, that he ſhould Sue, Arreſt and Impriſon them. If thoſe that owe Mony to Men, and do not pay it, are caſt into Priſon; much more thoſe that owe Service, and Obedience to God, and not render it, are to be thrown into an Eternal Priſon.

3. Sinners are now already in Priſon, they are called Priſoners, Iſa. 24.6. Iſa. 49.9. they are Styled Captives, Iſa. 61.1. they are ſaid to be taken Captive by the Devil at his will, and to be held in his Snare; they are in the Bond of Iniquity, Acts 8.23. The Sins of Men do take them, and their iniquities do hold them, Prov. 5.22. we read p. 97that Paul and Silas were caſt into the inner Priſon, Acts 16.24. This Expreſſion of the Inner Priſon, implies the Priſon was divided into two parts; there was an outer, and an inner Priſon; ſo I may diſtinguiſh, God hath an outer and inner Priſon; his outer Priſon is in this World, his inner Priſon is in Hell; here ſinners are in the outer Priſon, they are bound, Iſa 61.1. they are held, Rom. 7.6. They are taken captive, 2 Tim. 2 laſt. They are ſhut up under ſin, Gal. 3.22. Loaden with Dead Works, Heb. 9.14. Guilty before God, Rom. 3.19. And Condemned, John 3.18. He that believes not is Condemned already; and if men ſtay, and continue in the outer-Priſon, and Death finds them here, how juſt is it that God ſhould caſt them into his inner Priſon, and ſhut them up, and hold them there for ever.

4. Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, when he was a ſurety for Sinners, and ſtood in their room, and ſtead, was made a Priſoner, was under a reſtraint and confinement, Iſa. 53.8 It is ſaid, He was taken from Priſon and Judgment. Jeſus Chriſt could not have been taken out of Priſon, if he had not firſt been in Priſon. But how was Jeſus Chriſt in Priſon? I anſwer, 1. The great ſorrow that was in, the amazing fear that was on Chriſts Spirit, was as a Priſon about his Soul, Matt. 36.37, 38. he was ſorrowful, and very heavy, he ſaid, My Soul is ſorrowful to the Death. He p. 98was ſore amaz'd, Mark 14.33. taking a proſpect of the dreadful ſtorm that did hang over him, the deep and bitter Cup reach'd out to him. the vaſt Ocean of Sorrows and Sufferings that were before him, yet he was heard in that he feared, Heb. 5.7. This implies that he was under fear, yet he was deliver'd from it, that it did not ſink him, or overwhelm him. 2. Jeſus fell into the hands of his Enemies, they ſeized on him, led him him away to Annas and Caiaphas, they held him under their power for ſeveral hours, till they Condemned and Executed him, John 18.12, 13. the Captain and band of Soldiers took Chriſt, bound him, and led him away as a Priſoner. 3. Jeſus was buried, he was laid in the duſt, and ſhut up as a captive of Death in the priſon of the grave; but ſuch was the dignity of his perſon, the value of his Blood, the ſatisfactory, nature of his Suffering, that his Captivity was ſhort, his Impriſonment laſted but a little while; yet this confinement and priſon of Chriſt doth teach us what ſinners deſerve; doth inſtruct us what they muſt expect, if they are not waſhed from their Sins in Chriſts Blood, and reconciled to God by his Death; his Perſon being infinite, and his Sufferings ſatisfactory, his Priſon could only be temporary and ſhort; but the nature of Sinners being Finite, and their ſufferings not able to p. 99expiate their ſins, their Priſon muſt needs be Everlaſting.

5. God threatens ſinners with this Priſon, and he muſt needs be juſt to himſelf, and true to his word; the Lightening of Gods Threatning, is not without a Thunderbolt of Execution and Vengeance, Pſal. 9.17. The wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God; God hath not only ſaid it, but alſo ſworn it, That he will never forget any of the deeds of impenitent Sinners, Amos 8.7. the Lord hath Sworn by the Excellency of Jacob, that is, by himſelf, that is Jacobs Excellency, ſurely I will never forget any of their Works. Tho men forget God, and his Laws, yet he will not forget their Crimes and Iniquities. Gods Threatning muſt ſtand, therefore ſinners muſt fall into the Bottomleſs Pit: Gods word muſt take hold of them, Zack. 1.5, 6. therefore they will be caſt into the Eternal Priſon; If we confirm not Gods Command by doing it, Deut. 27. laſt. God will confirm his threatning by executing it, Dan. 9.12.

6. The Spirits of Sinners departed out of the Body muſt be ſhut up in Gods Priſon; for God hath mighty Officers of Juſtice, he hath powerful Bayliffs and Serjeants to Arreſt, to Seize on, to carry away departing Souls, Luke 12.20. foreign, they ſhall require, and demand thy Soul of thee, they that p. 100ſhall require it, will not be denied, will not be rejected and ſent empty away, they will take hold of guilty Creatures, drag them to the higheſt Tribunal, and preſent them to the Sovereign Judg of Heaven and Earth; good or bad Angels ſeize on diſlodging and removing Souls.

I have been credible informed concerning a wicked man that I knew my ſelf, That when he was on the brink of the Pit, and on the Borders of Eternity; Something in the likeneſs of a Crow appeared in his Chamber, and ſate on the Teſtar of his Bed, and could not be driven away till the ſick man gave up the Ghoſt, and then it ſuddenly Vaniſhed away. The Antient Rabbins have talked of the Angel of Death, that did appear to Sick and Dying Men, and was very Terrible to them; by this Angel of Death they ſeem to mean ſome good or bad Angel ſent to fetch the Soul to God's Tribunal to give its Account, and to receive its final Sentence. God doth not want Means, or Meſſengers to attach and apprehend guilty Souls, and to Conduct them into his Terrible and glorious preſence.

The 3d. thing I propoſed to ſpeak to, was to ſhew you how dreadful this Priſon is; and that I ſhall open to you in theſe following particulars.

1. This Priſon is a very dark Priſon, the p. 101Scripture calls the darkneſs of it, outer darkneſs, Matt. 8.12. The Children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt into outer darkneſs, ſo the unprofitable ſervant is ſentenced to, and ſent into outer darkneſs, Matt. 25.30. Sinners now are in darkneſs, yea, they are ſaid to be darkneſs, Epheſ. 5.8. but this expreſſion points at the inward darkneſs of the minds of Sinners; there is a Cataract on the Eye of the Soul, a Veil on the Underſtanding; but there is beſides this inward darkneſs, an outer darkneſs, when ſinners ſhall be removed at the greateſt distance from God the Father of Lights, James 1.17. They ſhall be eternally ſeparated, and cut off from the Communion with God; In his light Saints ſhall ſee light, Pſal. 36.9. In the light of his Countenance, they ſhall ſee the light of Life; but wicked men ſhall go to the generation of their ungodly Fathers, they ſhall never ſee the Light, Pſal. 49.9. The mist of darkneſs is their portion, 2 Pet. 2.17. yea, the blackneſs of Darkneſs is reſerved for them as an eternal inheritance, Judes Epiſt. the 13th v. what Terrour is there in this expreſſion, The blackneſs of darkneſs. Neither Creatures that Shine as a Candle to them, nor God as a Sun ſhall ariſe on them Luke paints out the ſadneſs of Pauls State, and of thoſe that were in the Ship with him, Acts. 17.20. That no ſmall Tempeſt laid on them, and that neither the Sun nor the Stars for many days appeared p. 102to them. Thus it ſhall be with the Damned in Hell, a dreadful Tempeſt of the wrath of God will lye upon them, and he will never appear as a Sun to chear them, nor ſuffer Creatures as Stars to ſhine for their Comfort; they will be ſhut out from Gods gracious preſence, and alſo ſhut up from the Creatures, they ſhall neither have Beams from Heaven, nor Lamps from Earth, they ſhall leave all their Idols behind them in the world; they ſhall looſe all their ſenſual pleaſures and delights; God will give them no joy, and Creatures will lend them no comfort, therefore blackneſs of darkneſs muſt needs follow. Thick darkneſs that might be felt was one of the plagues of Egypt, Exod. 21.22, 23. but this laſted but three days, but here is Eternal Darkneſs.

2. This priſon is a ſtrong priſon, there is no breaking out of it, no Filing off the Chains of the Damned or Forcing open the doors, the Judg himſelf by the arm of his own Omniſciency is the Keeper of this Priſon; the Eye of his Omniſciency ſtill watches over the Priſoners, that there is no flying or eſcaping. God challengeth all creatures, who ſhall deliver out of my hand, Deut. 32.39. if he do tare in pieces, and deliver up the body to the firſt, and the Soul to the Second Death; there will be none to reſcue or deliver, Pſ. 50.22. when God ſhuts up, there is no opening, Job p. 10312.14. Tho there may be millions of Priſoners in Hell, yet this Evidences their weakneſs, and evinces Gods ſtrength, that this huge and vaſt multitude cannot wreſt themſelves ou… of the Hand of the Judg, or break his Priſon; God that caſt them thither, will hold and ſecure them there.

3. Gods Priſon is a cloſe Priſon; there will be no Addreſſing to, Viſiting or Releiving of his Priſoners, Luke 16.26. conſider what Abraham there ſpeaks to Dives, And beſides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, ſo that they that would paſs from hence to you cannot, neither can they paſs to us, that would come from thence. There is a great gulf that cannot be filled up, or paſſed over, and this gulf is Fixed, it ſhall remain and continue for ever: Gods Decree is Stable, it cannot be changed, revoked, or repealed; there is an unalterable, an eternal ſeparation between the bleſſed and the damned; it is not to be thought that any of the Saints will pity the Damned, will relent towards them, or melt over them; Saints that be perfected, and even ſwallowed up in the Love of God, they ſhall fully acquieſs in his will, and rejoyce that his Juſtice is Magnified, and his Power Glorified in the Eternal Deſtruction of the Wicked; but Abraham makes only a ſuppoſition; if any ſuch thing were poſſible, if Saints could ſympathiſe p. 104with the Damned, if their Bowels did yearn towards them, if they were willing to relieve them, or to carry over any ſupplies to them, if they did endeavour to caſe their Pains, or mitigate their Torments; all ſuch deſires would be in vain, all ſuch endeavours would be fruſtrated and inefiectual; they could not get to the Damned, their Kindneſs could not reach them or affect them, all Communicatition with them is obſtructed, all paſſages are ſhut up, theſe tormented Creatures are inacceſſible, Saints can carry no water to cool their Tongues, can bring them no Cordials to revive their Souls; the Damned cannot come forth, nor others come in to them to ſuccour or eaſe them.

4. It is an Eternal Priſon, there will be no Goal-delivery, no diſmiſſion or releaſing of theſe Priſoners. We read in Iſa. 24, 21.22. of ſome that ſhould be gathered together and ſhut up in Priſons, but after many days they ſhould be Viſited. Piſcator underſtands this of Kings and Princes that ſhould be Conquered by the King of Babylon, and held in Bondage for many years, but theſe oppreſſed men ſhould at laſt be Viſited, and releived by the gracious Kingdom of Je…s Chriſt, that ſhould give liberty to their Souls, freedom to their Conſciences. But thoſe that God apprehends, and ſhuts p. 105up in his Priſon ſhall never be viſited, and recover their Liberty. Jeremiah was by the Fury of his Adverſaries caſt into a deep and miery Dungeon, but God rais'd him up Friends; Ebed-melech and others did let down Cords into his Dungeon, drew him up, and ſaved his life, Jer. 38.10, 11, 12, 13. But no Beam of Hope ſhall ſhine, no Cord of a Promiſe ſhall be let down to the Damned to draw them up out of their Dungeon. It was an Act of Oppreſſion, Cruelty and Tyranny in the King of Babylon, that he opened not the Houſe of his Priſoners, Iſaiah 14.17. but this is an Act of Pure and High Juſtice in God, that he will never open the Houſe of his Priſoners; they that ſinned without Dread of his Juſtice, ſhall ſuffer without Relief from his Mercy: There is now a Wall of Partition between God and ſinners in this Life, but this may poſſibly be broken down, but there is a Gulf fixed in Hell, that can never be paſſed over. This is dreadful to conſider, that God executes ſinners, and yet they continue his Priſoners to feel more Wrath, and ſuffer more Vengeance; the guilt of ſin ſtill cleaves to them, and the wrath of God will ſtill abide on them, John 9. last, John 3. last, ſin is ſaid to remain, and ſo wrath doth abide. Repentance in Hell will be without p. 106any Fruit; their Grief without Relief; their Groans, Cries, Petitions will not prevail, can obtain nothing at the Hand of God; ſinners were deaf to God in time, and he will be deaf to them in eternity: Their Hearts were hardned, and his Bowels will be ſhut: The Fewel of Gods Anger will be everlaſting, therefore the Fire will be eternal, an Immortal Death, an ever dying Miſery, and endleſs Torments will be the Portion of the Damned. The ſuffering Jews complain, and ſay, that God had hedged them about, and they could not get out, Lam. 3.7. ſo the damned in Hell are ſo hedged in by their own guilt, and the juſt wrath of God, that they can never get out: Their Deſtruction will be everlaſting, their Ruin irrecoverable; God will not Releaſe them, and they cannot Reſcue themſelves.

5. This heightens the Miſery of departed Souls, that their Priſon is a place of Torments, as well as of Reſtraint: Dives complains he was tormented in that Flame, Luke 16.24. and would have his Brethren warned, that they might not come into that place of Torments, Luke 16.25. God will exact his debts of, and execute his threatnings on ſinners: He will tread them in the Wine-preſs, and preſs out all that is ſweet, grateful and pleaſant, and leave p. 107only a dry Husk of Being: the Damned ſeem to be called Carcaſes, Iſaiah 66. laſt. Ye ſhall go forth, and ſee the carcaſes of the men that tranſgreſſed againſt me. The Expreſſion is Elegant, Significant and Emphatical: Chriſt will command his Enemies that would not have him to reign over them, to be brought before him; he will ſentence them to be ſlain in his preſence; when they are ſlain, when all the Peace, Joy, Comfort of their Souls is deſtroyed, what will remain but a meer Carcaſe of Being. When men ſhall be only to be miſerable, to endure vengeance, to ſuffer Torments, this may well be ſtiled a Carcaſe of Being. Bullinger de Triumph. tells us, that the day that an Emperour Triumphed, the Priſoners were led in Chains, and expoſed as an open ſpectacle to the Eyes of the Spectators; and that when the Chariot of him that Triumphed, turned to go up to the Capitol, then the Priſoners were led away to the Priſon, and the Triumpher ſtaid in the Capitol, till news was brought him, that the Priſoners, or ſome one of them was put to death in the Priſon; the Priſon this day was a place of Execution among the Romans. Gods Priſon will be a place of Eternal Execution and Torments. Dives begged that Lazarus might but dip p. 108the Tip of his Finger in Water, and let fall a few drope to cool his Tongue, Luke 16.24. his Requeſt ſeems very modeſt, he did not deſire that Lazarus ſhould dip his whole Hand, no not his whole Finger, but only the Tip of his Finger; this was a very ſmall Petition, yet it is not granted, but rejected and decried. Sinners in Hell ſhall not obtain the leaſt eaſe, refreſhment or mitigation of their Torments. God will deal with ſinners, as they did with Jeſus Chriſt; he cried out, I Thirſt, John 19.28. but did he receive any thing to refreſh or eaſe him? no, his Enemies only filled a Sponge with Vinegar, and put it to his Mouth, John 19.30. this was to Torment, rather than Relieve him. As Chriſt obtained nothing from men to refreſh him, ſo ſinners ſhall get nothing from God to eaſe them; when once they are ſhut up in his Priſon, as the wicked Jews, Prieſts and Scribes upbraided Chriſt with his words and works, Mat. 27.40, 41, 42, 43. that he ſaid he would build the Temple, that he aſſerted himſelf to be the Son of God, that he ſaved others; ſo a Righteous God, and an Awakened Conſcience will upbraid Sinners with their evil words, and their ſinful actions to eternity; the iniquity of their Heels will compaſs them about, the reward of their Hand will be given to them: Iſaiah 3.10. they ſhall feed on the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own inventions; Prov. 1.31. They that glory in their wiſdoms, and applauded themſelves in their inventions, as of they had found out the true and chief Good, as if they had diſcovered the true Pleaſures, the true Liberty, the true Happineſs, ſhall ſmart for their Inventions, and feel the woful effects of them for ever.

6. This renders the Condition of thoſe that are in Gods Priſon, terrible, that they are under the fear and dread of future evils, and of a more ſevere puniſhment: As the thoughts of the Affizes are bitter and terrible to Malefactors; they know that then their Crimes will be remembred, accuſations will be formed, Witneſſes will appear againſt them, they will be Condemned and Executed: So ſinners in Hell may dread the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, and the Judgment of the Great Day: Sinners are not yet at the bottom of their Pit, they are not yet fallen under the heavieſt, hotteſt, fulleſt expreſſions of the Wrath of God; they do not yet ſee the worſt of their Condition: It is ſaid that Death and Hell ſhall be caſt into the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone; this is the ſecond death, Revel 20.14. What is intended and meant by Death and Hell? I ſuppoſe by Death here, is meant the Body that died, and ſo fell under the power of Death; and Hell here ſignifies the Souls of the Damned that were caſt into Hell: The Continent is put for the thing Contained; the Bodies of the wicked were held under death, and their Souls were ſhut up in Hell, but the Bodies of the Wicked ſhall not ſtill ſleep in the Grave; they ſhall awake and riſe, be joined to, and united with their Bodies; but this reſurrection will not be a benefit, but a hurt to them; it will not be a priviledge but a puniſhment; their Bodies ſhall riſe that they may fall into the Lake of Fire, that they may feel Torments, that they be obnoxious to puniſhment from the Revenging Hand of God; thoſe that are now in Hell do know that this will be, that their Souls and Bodies muſt meet again, that as they joined in ſin, ſo they may be Companions in miſery; this conjunction they dread, they would rather their Bodies ſhould dwell in the Grave for ever, than that Soul and Body both ſhould be united to be drowned in a Lake of Fire, to be ſwallowed up of the ſecond Death.

7. Sinners ſhall have the miſery of their Priſon heightned by theſe two aggravations. 1. They that remember what Mercy was once offered to them, and was rejected by them. 2. They that behold what happineſs others enjoy, and they are eternally deprived of. 1. Sinners ſhall call to mind what means of Grace they once enjoyed, what tenders of Salvation were made to them; the Son of God preached to the old World; he called them to Repentance, he warned them to fly from the Wrath to come; yet their Underſtandings were darkned, their Conſciences ſtupified, their Hearts hardned, their Ears ſtopt; even ſo it hath been ſince, thoſe that have been in the Church, and under the ſound of the Word, have heard tidings that ſhould have affected their Spirits, gladded their Hearts yea, even raviſhed their Souls; a year of Jubilee hath been proclaimed, a day of Salvation hath been afforded; ſinners have been told, that dead Souls may hear the Voice of the Son of God and live; that Priſoners in this World may be ſet free, Captives releaſed, Wounds may be healed, Diſeaſes cured, Sinners may be juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, filthy Souls may be cleanſed, Conſcience may be purged from dead works; yet men mind not, regard not, ſeek not any of theſe things: They make light of all the Travel of Chriſts Soul, of the Purchaſe of his Blood, of the Legacies of his Teſtament, Matt. 22.5. they conſider not that their Diſeaſes threaten them with Eternal Death; that the weight of their Guilt will ſink them down into the Bottomleſs Pit; that the ſhame of their Nakedneſs will expoſe them to everlaſting Contempt and Abhorrency; all this Stupidity, Folly and hardneſs of Heart ſhall be renewed, and reflected on as a juſt Cauſe of Eternal Puniſhment: They ſhall remember, how Jeſus Chriſt called, and they did not anſwer; he knocked, and they did not open; he ſtretched out his Hands filled with pretious and ineſtimable Gifts, but they did not ſtretch out the hand of Faith to receive Chriſt, and his Benefits: They would not look to Chriſt that they might be ſaved, Iſaiah 45.22. They turned from the Captain of Salvation to a Murtherer, from a merciful Shepherd to a cruel and devouring Lion; they would not come to Chriſt that they might have life, John 5.40. they would not lean on Chriſt… Arm, that they might not fall under the wrath of God, and the vengeance of eternal Fire. This will one day ſting them, that ſin was ſweeter to them than ſalvation; that rather than quench the fire of Luſt, they would run into the flames of Hell; that rather than the Old Man ſhould ſuffer, and its Members be mortified or cut off, they themſelves would periſh everlaſtingly: This will to eternity wound them, that their vanity of Mind, their careleſneſs of Spirit, their unbelief, and hardneſs of Heart hath undone them; that they dallied, trifled away the time; turned away the Phyſitian, refuſed the Redeemer, rejected the Bridegroom, and muſt ſuffer the deſerved puniſhment for all this to eternity; they will ſee their opportunity is loſt, and never to be regained; that the Door of Gods Houſe is ſhut, never to be opened again; that the Treaty of Peace is broken off, never to be revived any more; that the Ladder that joined Earth and Heaven together is taken away, is drawn up, and will never be let down to ſinners any more.

p. 1132. This will aggravate the Miſery of thoſe that are in this Infernal Priſon, that they ſhall ſee what others enjoy, but they are bereaved of, and ſhut out from, Luk. 13.28. There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth, when ye ſhall ſee Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of God, and you your ſelves thruſt out. The Time was when Sinners were earneſtly called upon, were preſſed with importunity to enter into the Kingdom of God, but they neglected, they contemned it, but now this is their Puniſhment to be thruſt out into Eternal Darkneſs and Torment; and their loſs will be embittered, when they behold what others are arrived at, and in Poſſeſſion of: O how will it pierce the Hearts of the degenerate Seed of Godly Men, to ſee their Fathers poſſeſs a rich Inheritance, and they themſelves to be Poor for ever! How will this vex, incenſe and inrage them; to ſee others at a plentiful Royal Feaſt, and themſelves to lie under an Eternal Famine! That Saints Triumph in Glorious Triumph, and they are held in Eternal Bondage: That others wear Robes, and Crowns of Glory, but they themſelves are clothed with ſordid Garments, and Rags of Infamy; it might be a trouble to Lazarus to ſee Dives his Plenty, and his own Penury: To behold his Delicates, and coſtly Fare, and then reflect on his own hunger and wants; but in the other World things are quite turned. Now Dives is troubled to ſee Lazarus at Reſt, and he himſelf in Torments, p. 114to behold Lazarus Feaſted, and himſelf Famiſhed, Luk. 16.19, 20, 21, 22, 24. O how will this Diſquiet and Torment Sinners to ſee Saints bathing themſelves in the Fountain of Life, and that they cannot get a drop of Water to cool their Tongues, and allay their Torments!

1. Ʋſe, Of the Doctrine: Is it ſo that the Spirits of Wicked men gone out of the Body, are in Gods Priſon, then this Truth ſhould awaken ſecure, and ſtrike a Terrour into hard Hearted Sinners. O do not imagine, that if you are afflicted, that you receive all your evil things here; Gods anger is not turned away, his Sword is not ſheathed, his Controverſie is not at an end with you; there is a vaſt Arrear of Debt, a dreadful remainder of Wrath yet behind: You drink but the Top of the Cup of Gods Fury, the dregs of it yet remain to be ſucked into your Souls in another World, Pſal. 75.8. God lets fall but ſome drops of his Diſpleaſure here, the moſt dreadful ſtorm is yet behind, Pſal. 11.6. God now doth but Skirmiſh with Sinners in this World, he will join Battel, and come to a cloſe fight with them in another World. O Sinners! will you chooſe the way to Gods Priſon, will you take the Road that leads to the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone? you fooliſhly run into the Devils ſnares, and ruſh upon Hell and Deſtruction; will you bring forth Fruit to Death? Rom. 7.5. Will you bear ſuch Fruit as will make you more worthy of Death, and more p. 115fit for Deſtruction? Will you provide evidences, and prepare witneſſes for your Condemnation? Jer. 14.7. Mens Iniquities teſtifie againſt them. The more Sins they commit, the more Witneſſes they raiſe up againſt themſelves. Will you heap up fuel for your Eternal burning? Will you daily purchaſe for your ſelves a place in this Eternal Priſon? Will you yield your depraved Wills, your vile Affections as ſo many Chains given into the Devils hand to lead you by unto this dreadful Priſon? Will you Barter, and Trade away your Souls for ſo contemptible a price, as the Wages of Unrighteouſneſs, and the Pleaſures of Sin that are but for a ſeaſon?

Will you be ignorant of Satan Devices? Will you not diſcern his deſigns? he ſeeks for, he hunts after your Souls. His aim is to gain and ſeize them, that he may carry them away into this dark Priſon: O Sinners will you not conſider, will you not rouſe up your ſelves, and ſtart out of your deep Sleep? there may be but a ſtep between you and this Eternal Priſon. Will you delay at the brink of the Pit? will you ſleep at the Door of the Priſon? Will you not ſtop your ſelves before it be too late? Will you ſtay in the Devils ſnare, till he takes up his ſnare? Amos 3.5. ſeizes on the prey he hath caught, and carries it away to Hell? As the Lord liveth, there is a place of Miſery, there is a dreadful Priſon, and place of Torments. Do not baniſh it out of your Thoughts; do not ridicule p. 115it as a meer Invention of Men, or as vain ungrounded Fancy, entertained in weak and timerous Minds. Do not go on to deſpiſe or queſtion it, till God confutes your unbelief, and puniſhes your Atheiſm, by the woful, painful feeling of that, which you would not believe or fear.

2. Ʋſe. Do not envy Sinners, do not grudge them their full Cup of ſenſual Delights, their calm and ſmoath Streams of Proſperity. God hath a reckoning with them; Judgments are travelling towards them, Hoſ. 5.1. Vengeance is ready to take hold of them, thoſe that now will bear no Yoak, will be reſtrained by no bounds, muſt ſhortly be laid faſt in the Eternal Priſon: They that now ſwim in Rivers of Pleaſures, muſt ſoon be drowned in Perdition and Deſtruction: They that ſuck in large draughts of ſenſual Delights, muſt within a little time drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty. Would you envy a Malefactor a large Meal, or a full Glaſs of Wine, that next day is to be executed? Would you grudge a Man Fine Cloaths, or delicate Fare, that next hour is to be caſt into devouring Fire? their Comforts are meaſured by Time, but their Miſery and Torment is to be meaſured by Eternity?

3. Ʋſe, O examine your ſelves, what grounded Hope you have that you ſhall be ſecured from Eternal Bondage, and delivered from the wrath to come; are you in the Road to the Priſon, or in the way to the Palace? p. 117there are but theſe two Receptacles and places of Entertainment for departed Souls. Conſider well of it, are you in a periſhing way? Pſal. 1. laſt. or in the way Everlaſting, Pſal. 139. laſt? Put theſe following Queſtions to your Souls.

1. Are your Eyes opened? Iſa. 42.7. This is the means to bring us out of our ſpiritual Priſon, and the firſt ſtep towards our Liberty. Why are Men ſo quiet, ſo contented, ſo ſatisfied to ſtay in Gods outer Priſon? Surely it is, becauſe their Eyes are ſhut, they diſcern not where they are, and how great their danger is. Jeſus Chriſt firſt opens the blind eyes, and then he brings the Priſoners out of the Priſon-Houſe: Inquire therefore, did you ever come to your ſelves, take up true Notions, or form a right Judgment concerning your loſt, deplorable and miſerable Eſtate? Luk. 15.17. The Prodigal came to himſelf, he converſed with, reflected on himſelf, dwelt on the ſad Thoughts of what his Folly, and Luſts had reduced him to; and then he took up this fixed Reſolution, I will ariſe and go to my Father, Luk. 15.18, 19, 20, 21. If Men did come to themſelves, they would leave Sin as a bad and hard Maſter, and would return to God their Heavenly Father. The Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks of Sinners recovering themſelves out of the ſnare of the Devil, 2 Tim. 2. laſt. The Word in the Greek is foreign. It ſignifies to recover out of Drunknneſs, and to become ſober; and thoſe that thus become ſober do eſcape p. 118out of the ſnare of the Devil. Sinners are drunken with falſe Notions, with wrong Conceptions, and ungrounded Imaginations concerning themſelves, the goodneſs of their own Eſtate, the ſweetneſs of the Pleaſures of Sin, the worth of the Riches of the World. Men muſt return to ſobriety of Mind, to a right Judgment of their State and Ways, that they may recover out of the ſnare of the Devil. Are the Scales of Ignorance fallen off from your Eyes, is the Veil drawn off from your Hearts? Act. 12.7, 9. A Light ſhined into Peters Priſon, and then he was raiſed, and called out of it; ſo here.

2. Are you come to Jeſus the Mediator of the New Teſtament, and to the Blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaks better things than the Blood of Abel? Heb. 12.24. Are you come into his Righteouſneſs? Pſal. 69.27. That is an obſervable Phraſe, to come into the Righteouſneſs of the Meſſiah; Believers come into it as their Garment that muſt cloath and cover them, their Fortreſs and City of Refuge, that muſt ſecure them from the Curſe of the Law, and Revenging Juſtice. Thoſe that lay hold of, and come into the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, are paſſed from Death to Life, and ſhall never come into Condemnation, John 5.20. Theſe things are linked with, and depend on each other, coming into Chriſts Righteouſneſs ſecures us from coming into Condemnation; have you fled by Faith to the Mediator and his Blood, ſo that you have received the Atonement that he made, p. 119Rom. 5.11? Do you apply the Reconciliation that Chriſt hath made to your ſelves? 2 Cor. 5.18. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himſelf by Jeſus Chriſt.

3. Are you made Free from the Law of Sin and Death? Rom. 8.2. The Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Chriſt Jeſus, hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death. The Law of the Spirit is the mighty, powerful, effectual working of the Spirit of Life. Though the Law of Sin be ſtrong, yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is ſtronger. This Law of the Spirit can prevail and carry it againſt the Law of Sin; have we ever experienced this mighty Law of the Spirit? hath it broke our Fetters and Chains, mortified our Luſts, enlarged our Hearts? Pſal. 119.32. Then will I run the way of thy Commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my Heart. It is the work of the Spirit to enlarge the underſtanding by beaming in new Light, and to enlarge the Will by kindling new ſpiritual Love; when Chriſt by his Spirit doth cirtumciſe the Heart, then the Chains of Luſt do fall off: Is the Law of God written in you? Jer. 31.33. Is this a prevailing, reigning Principle in your Hearts, and as a powerful Byaſs on your Wills? Do you chooſe the way of Truth, and chooſe Gods Precepts? Pſal. 119.30, 173.

4. Have you New, Honourable, and Ornamental Chains caſt about your Souls? Iſa. 45.14. It is promiſed the Church, that the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians, and other Gentile Nations, ſhould come over to her, and be hers; p. 120they ſhould come over to her, and after her in Chains. We are not to underſtand the Words as if Chriſt ſhould force Proſelites into his Church, or Subjects into his Kingdom. Jeſus Chriſt never did violence to the Bodies of Men, or by an outward force hale Men to him; but the Phraſe ſignifies the powerful work of Chriſt by his Spirit on the Minds and Conſciences of Men; he caſts Chains of Light and Love about the Souls of Men: He mightily convinces and perſwades them of the Truth of his Doctrine, of the Excellency of his Promiſes: He plants ſtrong Inclinations in them, he makes powerful Impreſſions on them, that they cannot but ſubject themſelves to him, and yield and ſubmit to his Church. Thoſe that are bound with Chains of Light and Love, ſhall not be Priſoners in Hell, or bound there with Chains of Everlaſting Darkneſs.

5. Is your Priſon Rayment put off and changed? when Joſeph was brought out of the Dungeon, and was called to come in to Pharaoh, it is ſaid he changed his Raiment, Gen. 41.14. Priſon Garments were not fit to be worn by a Man called unto Liberty, and in the preſence of a King. While we are in the ſpiritual Priſon we wear filthy Garments, Zech. 3.3. The old Man is a ſordid Garment, that doth defile and deform our Souls; this Priſon Raiment doth fit Men for the Priſon of Hell. O therefore conſider, whether you have put off the old Man, and his Deeds, Col. 3.9. and have crucified the Fleſh with its Affections and Luſts, Gal. p. 1215.24. Have you put on the Lord Jeſus? Rom. 13. laſt. Have you put his Mind on your Mind, and his Will on your Will, and his Affections on your Affections? Have you put on the new Nature of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo put him on for Sanctification? it is ſaid of the Church that ſhe is all Glorious within, and that her cloathing is of wrought Gold: That ſhe ſhall be brought unto the King in Raiment of Needle work, Pſal. 45.13, 14. and it is ſaid, verſe 15. That ſhe and the Virgins her Companions with Joy ſhall enter into the Kings Palace. This Scripture teaches us, how they muſt be cloathed that are to be Married to Jeſus Chriſt, and to be taken into his Royal Palace, and into a bleſſed Communion with him. The cloathing, the Ornaments of our Souls will inform and inſtruct us, whether we are ſecured from Gods Eternal Priſon, and fitted to dwell in his glorious Palace.

3. Ʋſe, O ſeek to prevent your going into, and abiding in this dreadful Priſon; when the Pſalmiſt was under but Temporal Afflictions, and outward Reſtraints, how doth he cry to God! Pſal. 142. laſt. Bring my Soul out of Priſon; that I may Praiſe thy Name: And ſhould you not be more earneſt, and importunate with God, to bring your Souls out of a ſpiritual Priſon, and to prevent their being caſt into an Eternal Priſon. Dives would have his Brethren warned that they might not come into that place of Torment, Luk. 16.28. and ſhall not we much more deſire this for our ſelves, and regard Gods warnings that we may not come into this p. 122Priſon? Two things here I ſhall endavour: (1.) To give you ſome Motives, to ſtir you up to avoid this Priſon. (2.) I ſhall give you ſome Directions how you may be preſerved from this Priſon. Strive to eſcape this Priſon, that your Lot and Portion may not be in it for ever: For,

(1.) This is a moſt uncomfortable Priſon: The Company is very bad, Devils and damned Souls will inhabit theſe Regions of darkneſs. O what horrid Scrieches and doleful Grans, what fearful Execrations and Blaſphemies will be heard there to Eternity! Priſon-Fare here in the World uſeth to be courſe and unpleaſant; 1 King. 22.27. Ahab ſaith of the Prophet Micaiah, Put this fellow in Priſon, and feed him wich Bread of affliction, and water of affliction: But how much worſe will the Treatment of Sinners be in Hell! they muſt feed on Wormwood and gall, and be filled with the fruit of their own ways, and drink the Wine of the Wrath of God. God will call off all Comforters frm them, and call all his Terrors againſt them, Lam. 2. laſt. As Jeſus when he ſtood in the place of Sinners, and aſwered Gods Juſtice for their iniquities, he was deſerted by all his three Diſciples that he took to be with him in his Agony, who fell aſleep; when he was apprehended all his diſciples forſook him, and fled from him, Mat. 26.40. Mark. 14.50. Jeſus Chriſt complains in that Prophetical Pſalm, Pſal. 69. v. 20. Reproach hath broken my Heart, and I am full of p. 123heavineſs; and I looked for ſome to take pity, but there was none; and for Comforters but I found none. He complains God his Father forſook him, Pſal. 22. He hid his pleaſing Countenance from him, and turned his angry Face againſt him; the ſight of this cauſed Chriſt to ſweat drops of Blood in the Garden. You ſee Jeſus Chriſt ſtood alone to bear the wrath of God; all forſook and rejected him. As Jeſus Chriſt was dealt withal, ſo thou muſt expect to be uſed; all Creatures will withdraw, and God alſo will hide his Face. Sinners ſhall behold nothing but the huge Hoſt of their iniquities compaſſing them about, and the Lord of Hoſts fighting againſt them; Conſcience ſhall reproach them, God will loath them, all Fleſh will abhorr them, Iſa. 66. laſt.

2. Gods Priſon is a reproachful, ignominious and infamous Place: Here Gods Debtors are detained, here his Enemies are confined; this will be an Eternal Diſgrace to the Priſoners, that a patient Creditor was put to arreſt them, that a long-ſuffering God was neceſſitated to apprehend and ſhut them up: He hath ſworn that to Him every Knee ſhall bow, Iſa. 45.23. And thoſe obſtinate, ſtiff-necked Sinners would not willingly ſtoop to God, would not yield him any ſincere Obedience, therefore God was obliged to bow, to break, to ſtoop them, whether they would or no. To be a Tree for Fruit, is honourable; but for Barrenneſs to be made a Tree for Fuel, p. 124is diſgrace ful; to ſerve God only by their Sufferings and Torments, to illuſtrate the Story of Gods Juſtice by his Hating of them, and the Glory of his Power by Puniſhing them, this is infamous to Creatures. Dan. 12.2. it is ſaid, ſome ſhall riſe to ſhame and everlaſting contempt.

3. The Priſon is our own Place, Acts 25. Judas is ſaid to go to his own Place. We have deſerved to be caſt thither, to be confined there for ever: Confuſion of Face belongs to us, Dan. 9.8, 9. Death is the Wages due to our Iniquities, Rom. 6. laſt. We have ſhewed the Power of our Enmity againſt God, and he may ſhew the Power of his Wrath againſt us, Pſal 90.11. We are Children of Wrath by Nature, Eph. 2.3. ſo Hell is our Inheritance and Patrimony: We are Children of Diſobedience, Eph. 2.2. and ſo Hell is our Purchaſe. God hath been exiled out of our Minds, Pſal. 10.4 and we deſerve to be baniſh'd out of his glorious Preſence. It is ſaid that Cain went out from the preſence of the Lord, Gen. 4.16. and the Prodigal went into a far Countrey, Luk. 15.13, 14. Thus Sinners do ſinfully baniſh themſelves from God, and a ſinful Baniſhment doth deſerve and may procure a poenal Baniſhment: If every Worker of Iniquity hath bid God Depart. Job 21.14, 15, They ſay to the Almighty, Depart from us; then ſurely it is but a juſt Recompenſe for Chriſt to ſay at laſt, Go ye Curſed into everlaſting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, Matth. 25 41.

(2.) I ſhall now proceed to ſome Directions, how you may eſcape this Priſon.

1. You muſt Believe ſoundly that there is ſuch a Priſon: This Truth muſt be fixed on, and rooted in your Minds; it muſt not be a doubtful Opinion, but a rooted Perſwaſion: God is wronged by wicked Men, and he muſt right himſelf; they have preſſed him with their Iniquities as a Cart is preſſld under the ſheaves, and he muſt eaſe himſelf, Iſa. 1.24. Ah, I will eaſe me of my Enemies, and avenge me of my Adverſaries. Sinners riſe up proudly againſt God, Pſal. 138.21. Am I not grieved p. 125with thoſe that riſe up againſt thee? and God muſt humble and abaſe them: Pſal. 73.29. Thou ſetteſt them in ſlippery places, thou caſteſt them down into deſtruction. Ungodly men break God's Yoak, Jer. 5.5. and therefore muſt be broken with that Rod of Iron that is in Chriſt's hand, Pſal. 2.9. God will draw near to them in Juſtice, Mal. 3.5. I will come near to you to Judgment, that are gone far from God as to Obedience: Pſal. 73.27. Lo thoſe that are far from thee ſhall periſh.

2. Acknowledge that you have deſerved to be thrown into this Priſon: Have you not lived without God in the World, Eph. 2.12. and and ſo have you not begun your Hell on Earth? have you not executed a great and grievous part of the Eternal Puniſhment on your ſelves, by neglecting Converſe with God, and cutting your ſelves off from Communion with him? Have you not contentedly been without God in Time, and is it not righteous that you ſhould be without him to Eternity?

3. Submit to the Spirit of God when it becomes a Spirit of Bondage to your Souls, Rom. 5.15. It is then a Spirit of Bondage, when it arreſts the Conſcience with a deep heavy ſenſe of Sin; when it ſets home the Threatnings and Curſe of the Law, when it ſeals to a Sinner a Sentence of Condemnation, and fills the Soul with the Terrors of God: Gal. 3.22. The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin; the word foreign might as well be rendred ſhut up: The Scripture hath ſhut up all men, and all the Acts of the Natural man under ſin; it is foreign, all things that appertain and belong to the Natural man, and flow from him: For they that are in the fleſh, cannot pleaſe God, Rom. 8.8. The Sacrifice of the Wicked, that is, his beſt Religious Service, is an Abomination to the Lord: And the Prayer of the Wicked, that is, all his common Actions, are alſo an Abomination to the Lord, Prov. 15.8, 9. If the Sacrifice and the Way of the Wicked be an Abomination, then the Scripture may well conclude his All under Sin. Ungodly men ſeem to walk at Liberty, to be ſecure, merry, and unconcerned at Sin, the Wrath of God, and an Eternal State; but the Spirit of God comes and arreſts ſecure Sinners, and ſhuts them up under the bitterneſs of Sin, and the p. 126dreadful ſenſe of the Wrath of God; in this Caſe it is dangerous for Perſons to ſhake off the Terrors of God, to deſpsſe his Threatnnings, and to break God's Priſon: Thoſe that quench Convictions, and return to a looſe and licentious Life, are in great danger of undoing themſelves to Eternity. Be therefore perſwaded, that the Spirit and the Scripture do mercifully ſhut up Unregenerate Men, and all their Actions under ſin; it is not that they may ſink under their Guilt, languiſh under their Diſeaſe, and periſh everlaſtingly; but all this is to humble their proud Minds, and break their hard Hearts, that they may ſue to Free Grace to remit their Debt, break their Chains, heal their Diſeaſe, and ſave their Souls. The Scripture ſhuts up all under ſin, that the Promiſe by Faith of Jeſus Chriſt might be given to them that believe: The Spirit of Bondage prepares Perſons for the Spirit of Adoption, that Men may act Faith on Jeſus Chriſt, lay hold of the free Promiſe, and ſo have Juſtification and Salvation as an Alms of Mercy.

4. Liſten to Chriſts Voice, that calls you out of the ſpiritual Priſon, Iſa. 49.9. That thou mayſt ſay to the Priſoners, Go forth; and to them that are in darkneſs, Shew your ſelves. O deſire and cry to Jeſus Chriſt to ſpeak this effectually to your Soul: You need he ſhould ſpeak with a ſtrong hand, Iſa. 8.11. Look to Jeſus Chriſt to open the door of Gods Priſon, Iſa. 61.1. and alſo to open the door of your hard heart. Acts 16.14. God opened the Heart of Lydia. O deſire Jeſus Chriſt to ſpeak ſo, that your Chains may fall off, your Doors fly open, and you be brought out of darkneſs and the Priſon-houſe, Iſa. 42.7. You need to be ſprinkled with the Blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to keep deſtroying Juſtice out: The Blood of the Paſchal Lamb ſprinkled on the Doorpoſts of the Iſraelites, was a Sign to the deſtroying Angel that he was not to break into that Houſe, or kill any there, Exod. 12.22.23. It is the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt the True Paſchal Lamb, 1 Cor. 5.7.8. that muſt be our Guard, Security, Protection; and where this is ſprinkled, God ſets a Sign on thoſe Souls, that they ſhall not periſh, but eſcape; that they are not appointed to Wrath, but to obtain Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt. God ſaith p. 127in Iſa. 66.19. that he would ſet a Sign among the Jews: Calvin on the Place, thinks that there is an alluſion to the Blood of the Paſchal Lamb ſprinkled on the Iſraelities Doors, that was a Sign they ſhould be ſafe: So Chriſts Blood applyed to us, and ſprinkled on us, is a ſure Sign and Token of our Salvation, that we ſhall not come into Condemnation, but find Mercy with the Lord: O therefore apply your ſelves by Faith to Jeſus Chriſt as a Redeemer, Iſa. 59.20. that you may be Ranſomed by the Blood he hath ſhed, by the Price he hath paid; addreſs your ſelves to Jeſus Chriſt as a Deliverer, Rom. 11.26. that you may be Reſcued by that Power he can put forth. Jeſus Chriſt is a Redeemer by Price, and a Deliverer by Power; theſe two conjoyned do render him a Compleat and perfect Saviour. If Jeſus Chriſt be a refining Fire to you in this World, Mal. 3.2, 3, 4. God will not be a Conſuming Fire to you in the world to come, Heb. 12. laſt.

5. Repent unfeignedly of, and truly break off from your Sins: Mark 1.15. Repent and believe the Goſpel. O waſh your Hearts from Wickedneſs, put away the evil of your doings, eſcape that Corruption that is in the World through Luſt, Jer. 4.14. Iſa. 1.16, 17. 2 Pet. 1.4. Break and ſhake off the bond of Iniquity, Acts 8.23. Get out of the Snare of the Devil, 2 Tim. 2. laſt. and you need not dread the Eternal Priſon. God will not condemn thoſe that bear his Image, live his Life, wage War with his Enemies. As you ſeek to Jeſus Chriſt to quench the Fire of God's Wrath by putting his Blood on it, ſo do you pluck away the Fuel of this Fire by Repentance and continual Mortification; ſuffer in your Fleſh, in your corrupt Nature here, 1 Pet. 4.1. that you may not ſuffer in your Soul for ever hereafter; dye to ſin, that you may not dye for ſin: If your Luſts do ſtill find Favour with you, how can you hope to find Mercy with God? Curb your Fleſh, reſtrain your ſelves from Carnal Liberty, and you ſhall be ſafe, and ſecured from eternal Bondage. Make a Covenant with your Eyes, Job 31.1 reſtrain them from wandring, and gazing on tempting and enticing Objects. Cry to God, Lord turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity, Pſal. p. 128119.37. Keep your Hearts with all diligence, Prov. 4.23. ſuppreſs vain thoughts that ſpring up; quaſh ſenſual deſires that are ready to ſprout forth: The old man is a ſtock ſtill budding; In-dwelling ſin is ſtill tempting; this Womb would ſtill conceive, and bring forth Fruit to death; there is a Law in us, Rom. 7.21. that Satan hath enacted, Members that he hath made; Col. 3.5. Luſts that he hath kindled, 1 Joh. 2.15, 16. Our daily Work therefore muſt be to contend with our corrupt Wills and vile Affections; to fight againſt ſin, to conflict with and overcome our ſelves: He that overcometh ſhall not be hurt of the ſecond Death, Rev. 2.11. You muſt reſtrain your Tongues, and ſet a Watch before the door of your Lips; the Pſalmiſt ſaid, he would take heed to his ways, that he did not ſin with his Tongue; he would keep his Mouth with a Bridle, Pſal. 39.1. Much ſin would be prevented if we did watch over our Words. Chriſts great ſilence when he was falſly accuſed, points at Sinners great ſin in abuſing their Tongues in raſh and evil ſpeaking. We muſt alſo refrain our Feet from the ways of Sin and Death, Pſal. 119.101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy Word. By the Word of thy Lips I have kept my ſelf from the Path of the deſtroyer, Pſal. 17.4. Wicked men take Liberty to themſelves to ſay or do what they pleaſe: Jer. 14.10. They love to wander, they have not refrained their Feet: It is dangerous for you to affect a Liberty for your corrupt Hearts, roving Senſes, and wandring Feet. If you give Liberty to your Luſts, God will proclaim Liberty to the Sword, Jer. 34.17. Would you have Gods puniſhing hand at Liberty to deſtroy you? would you have his Gliſtering Sword at Liberty to cut you off? ſhall all banks be cut, and the Flood of the Wrath of God be at Liberty to overwhelm and ſwallow you up for ever? Abridge your ſelves, deny carnal Liberty to your Fleſh and it's Luſts: If you walk in the Narrow Way of the Law-giver, you ſhall not fall into the ſtrait Priſon of the Judge.

FINIS.

End of the text · Samuel Tomlyns, The Preaching of Christ and the Prison of God (1694)