Warning Given to Secure Sinners to Prepare for Judgment, Sermon 2

Warning Given to Secure Sinners to Prepare for Judgment · Sermon 2

p. 36MAT. 11. 23. Form. Part.

And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, ſhalt be brought down to Hell!

Our Lord Jeſus is called the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World: But in this Lamb there is Wrath, and that Wrath is very terrible. Oh the weight of the Mediatours Vengeance! This Wrath is threatned againſt the impenitent and unbelievers, who refuſe to be Saved from their Sins, reſolving to live, tho they Dye in them. The Light of the Goſpel being neglected, highly aggravates the Works of Darkneſs; makes them more inexcuſable, and a greater provocation. None ſhall fare worſe at the Day of Judgment, than thoſe that have had the longeſt and the cleareſt day of Grace; but would not know in that their day, the things which belonged to their Peace. Thou Capernaum which are exalted unto Heaven, ſhalt be brought down to Hell.

Theſe words which I have read, do ſpeak Chriſt's ſorrow and his diſpleaſure, wherein you may take notice,

1. Of the Perſons with whom he is diſpleaſed, Thou Capernaum; the City is put for the Inhabitants of it.

2. Here is the Reaſon of Chriſts diſpleaſure; they did not underſtand the great priviledge of being Exalted unto Heaven; they did not improve the advantage they had of getting thither.

p. 373. Here is a Puniſhment threatned, a ſore evil; and that is no leſs than Hell it ſelf.

4. Here is the manner ſpecified of their going to Hell; thou ſhalt be brought down to Hell, with a ſtrong Hand, with great Wrath, and in one of the hotteſt and loweſt Places there thou ſhalt lye for ever.

There are two Doctrines which I raiſe from the Words.

Firſt, Thoſe that hear the Goſpel, are exalted unto Heaven: Happy you, if you underſtand your Priviledge which at this day you enjoy.

Secondly, They who will not turn to God at the Goſpel-call, ſhall certainly be turned into Hell: Thou Capernaum, who art exalted unto Heaven, ſhalt be brought down to Hell; and if Chriſt ſays it ſhall be ſo, moſt certainly it will be ſo. The firſt of theſe I ſhall but juſt touch upon, for it is the ſecond that I principally purpoſe to Proſecute.

Doct. 1. The firſt Doctrine is this; They that hear the Goſpel, are exalted unto Heaven. The Goſpel is an heavenly Calling, Heb. 3. 1. it comes from Heaven, and ſays to thoſe that hear it, Come up hither.

1. Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1. 10. Here you have a Map of thoſe happy Regions of Light, and Love, and Joy; where there is nothing preſent that is burthenſome, where there is nothing wanting that is deſirable.

2. The Goſpel plainly chalks out the way that leads to Life: Chriſt is the way, the truth, and the life, Joh. 14. 6. the true way to life indeed: We p. 38have liberty to enter into the holieſt of all, by the blood of Jeſus: had it not been for his undertaking, and performance of what he undertook, there had been a flaming Sword at Heavens gate, and no fallen Man could ever have entred there. And as Chriſt, in whom we are to believe, is the way, ſo is alſo Holineſs: Chriſt by his Blood has purchaſed the heavenly Inheritance, and has bought the Saints themſelves that are to be the Inheritors; and 'tis by his ſanctifying Spirit, by true Holineſs, that they are made meet for that Inheritance. The pure in Heart, and ſuch will be likewiſe pure in Life, are the bleſſed Ones that ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5. 8. and who beſides are deſirous or fit to ſee the Lord?

3. Heaven in the Goſpel is offer'd; 'tis ſeriouſly, freely offer'd unto All; 'tis offer'd to the meaneſt Perſons, 'tis offer'd to the greateſt Sinners, and that without Money, without Price: 'Tis indeed too good, too great a thing for Man to purchaſe by any thing that he can give or do. Thoſe have very low thoughts of Heaven, and very high thoughts of their own Works, that think they can do enough to merit Heaven. Eternal Life is the free Gift of God, not deſerved by Man; and 'tis given through Christ, Rom. 6. 23. Had not Chriſt procured it, fallen Men would all have been as certainly excluded as the fallen Angels.

Briefly to Apply this.

1. Be thankful for the Goſpel, which makes the richeſt diſcovery that ever was made in this World; the Eaſt, the Weſt-Indies cannot ſhew any thing comparable to a bleſſed Immortality; the Jewels p. 39from the one, the Gold from the other, are contemptible, when Heaven is named. The Goſpel tells you where is the true, the tried Gold, and of the Pearl which is of greateſt price; and concerning a Treaſure in Heaven, which neither moth nor ruſt doth corrupt, nor can thieves break through and ſteal, Mat. 6. 20.

2. Let the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffer Violence, and do you uſe an holy force to take it; here you will meet with great oppoſition; Heaven is that which occaſions the envy of Hell, becauſe of its real and eternal Excellency, and does very well deſerve your labour. Let the Treaſure in Heaven cauſe your Hearts to be there, ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, hate every falſe way, becauſe it leads from Heaven, and towards Deſtruction; let the Hopes of a Crown of glory make you willing to bear the Croſs; look upon Sloth as moſt abſurd, when no leſs than Heaven will be given to them who ſhew their diligence in full aſſurance of hope unto the end: Preſs ſtill forward towards the mark; you cannot run too faſt for ſuch a Prize.

But I ſhall ſtay on this no longer: 'Tis the ſecond Doctrine that more largely I ſhall inſiſt on.

Doct. 2. And that's this, Thoſe that will not turn to God at the Call of the Goſpel, ſhall certainly be turned into Hell; 2 Theſ. 1. 8, 9. They that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

In the handling of this Doctrine, I ſhall,

p. 401. Diſcourſe concerning Hell, what it is, that you may the better underſtand it; and underſtanding be afraid of it.

2. I ſhall prove the Certainty of the Doctrine, that Sinners who will not turn to God, ſhall moſt ſurely be turned into Hell.

3. I ſhall Vindicate the Righteouſneſs of God, in thus dealing with, and eternally Puniſhing them that will not turn to him.

4. I ſhall conclude with the Ʋſes and Application.

In the firſt Place I am to Diſcourſe concerning Hell, and to ſhew you what it is. In Hell

There is a Deprivation of good.

There is an Infliction of evil, pain and torment.

There is an Eternity of both.

1. In Hell there is a Deprivation of good: All the temporal loſſes that have been ſuſtained by all the Children of Men in this World, are not comparable to the Poena Damni, Puniſhment of loſs, which one Sinner in Hell ſhall undergoe: Several things thoſe in Hell are deprived of.

1. They are deprived of all that Love, and Grace, and Mercy that is in God: The Pſalmiſt that knew by experience the excellency of God's Lovingkindneſs, affirms 'tis better than Life, Pſal. 63. 3. His Mercys are tender, and a multitude, and ſure to the Veſſels of Mercy. How were thoſe fill'd with admiration, and with a ſenſe of their obligation, Who in times paſt were not a People, but were made the People of God; who had not obtained Mercy, but after did obtain Mercy, 1 Pet. 2. 10. But alas, thô God be Love it ſelf, 1 Joh. 4. 8. he hath no Love for them that are in Hell, they lye under p. 41his Wrath and Hatred, and both are unalterably ſixt upon them: Though the Lord does delight in ſhewing Mercy, yet his Bowels do not at all ſtir or move towards the Damned; though they lye in extreameſt Woe, and are continually weeping and wailing, yet their Tears draw not forth his Compaſſions: He has caſt them off for ever, and will be favourable no more; he has forgotten to be gracious, and in implacable, but righteous Anger, has ſhut up his tender Mercies.

2. They that are in Hell, are deprived of the beatifical Viſion of God: The door of Heaven they found ſhut againſt them, when they ſaid, Lord, Lord, open to us! and 'twill never be opened: They ſhall never be ſuffered to ſee him face to face, but be always excluded from his Preſence. What Happineſs is there in ſeeing God! how tranſforming and ſatisfying is this ſight! Pſal. 17. ult. As for me, I ſhall behold thy face in righteouſneſs, I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake with thy likeneſs: But the Damned are not, never ſhall be admitted to ſuch a View; they are baniſhed that glorious Preſence, where there is fulneſs of joy, and where there are pleaſures for evermore: God has fixt a great gulph between himſelf and them, and through that 'tis impoſſible for them to paſs, Luk. 16. 26.

3. They in Hell are deprived of all hopes by a Mediator: Our Lord tells us, That he came not into the World to condemn the World, but that the World through him might be ſaved; and has given a large Commiſſion to Preach the Goſpel, to offer that Grace and Salvation whereof he is the Author, to every Creature, Mark 16. 15. The Lord Jeſus now encourages all to come to him, that p. 42they may have reſt to their Souls, and life through his Name; and them that come to him, he will in no wiſe caſt out, Joh. 6. 37. and when they refuſe to come, he expreſſes great ſorrow; he wept over Jeruſalem, becauſe ſhe knew not the time of her gracious Viſitation. But when Sinners have finn'd away the day of Grace, and ended all their days on Earth, and by their final Impenitency brought themſelves to Hell; then the ſame Chains are clapt on them, in which the Reprobate Angels ly fetter'd, and Chriſt will no more ſave them than theſe. Oh dreadful! to loſe all hope in Jeſus, never to be called to come to him more: Aſtoniſhingly ſcarful! to be in a place where the glad tidings of the Goſpel are never heard, where the Spirit never ſtrives, and where the Redeemer never ſtretches forth an hand to ſave!

4. They in Hell are deprived of the glory of the new Jeruſalem: 'Tis a mighty loſs, to loſe ſuch a weighty thing as a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Suppoſe a Rich Man, worth Millions, ſhould break, and not be worth a Farthing; ſuppoſe all the Kings and Emperors breathing, ſhould loſe their Crowns in one day, this would be but a petty Loſs, compared with the loſs of a Crown of Life: In Heaven there is ſuch a Crown, and the Damned might have had it, if they had but valued it; but alas! that Crown they muſt never wear: In Heaven there is a Kingdom, where they in Hell muſt never reign: When they ſee what they have loſt, and how fooliſhly, wilfully, and for the ſake of what poor thing they loſt it, how will they be fill'd with Hearttearing vexation, and be quite overwhelmed with p. 43ſorrow, Luk. 13. 28. There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth; when ye ſhall ſee Abraham, and Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets, in the Kingdom of Heaven, and you your ſelves thruſt out.

2. As in Hell there is a Deprivation of good, ſo there is an Infliction of evil, pain and torment.

1. There is in Hell great torment in the Conſcience: A wounded Conſcience in this World has been found intolerable. Spira, he ſignifies that Racks, Gibbets, Flames of Martyrdom, were nothing to what he felt, and in a Pang of Deſpair attempts Self-murthering; but being hindred, he breaks out into Blaſphemy, I wiſh I were above God, for I know he will not have Mercy on me: here was Hells language in his Mouth, and much of Hell-torment in his Heart. Judas his Conſcience was wounded, could he bear it? No, he becomes his own Executioner, with his own hand ends his Life, and ſends his Soul to his appointed place: And yet the torment of Conſcience in this World, is but the Preoeludium, the beginning of ſorrows. Every Conſcience in Hell will be thoroughly awake, and keep it ſelf for ever waking; it will be exactly ſenſible; not a Sin that has been Committed all the life-time, but will have made a Wound in the Conſcience; and not Wound but will be intolerably ſmarting, without hope of any eaſe. Conſcience will be in a perpetual Agony, in this Agony 'twill rage, and raging it will reproach the Damned: It will tell them of their preſumptuous ſinning, of their rejecting Chriſt, their neglecting great Salvation, and how all its checking of them was in vain: And now 'tis incurably wounded, it can never be quiet, but they ſhall always find it p. 44a tormented, a tormenting Fury within them.

2. There is in Hell, not only torment in the Conſcience, but alſo torment in the Mind and Heart: What rueful thoughts will poſſes their Minds! whatever they think of will be torturing; a pleaſing, a delightful thought can never enter into them more: If they think of Sin, it will be bitter to conſider how they have been deceived and ruin'd by it: If they think of their preſent Miſery, and the remedlineſs of it, and that themſelves had the greateſt hand in bringing themſelves into it, theſe thoughts like daggers, muſt needs pierce their Souls: If they think of God, Oh how will they be troubled! how will his Juſtice, Jealouſie, Fury, Holineſs, Truth, irreſiſtible Power, and Ʋnchangablen…ſs terrifie them! Thoughts on Earth were their Sins, and Thoughts in Hell will be their Racks and Sorrows; their Hearts will always be brim full of Grief. Shame and Confuſicn of face will add to their Miſery, when all their wickedneſs ſhall be known to all, which will make the juſtneſs of their Puniſhment. evident. And how will they be tormented with Anger at the very heart, and Indignation againſt themſelves! becauſe, though the Devil was their great Enemy yet they themſelves were far greater Enemies to themſelves than he.

3. There will in Hell be torment in Sinners M… mories: I wiſh that none of you that hear me thi… day, may in that place of Woe, remember th… Warning now given you, to your Confuſion, becauſ… you would not take it; heark what was ſaid, Lu… 16. 25. Son, remember thou in thy life-time received thy good things, and Lazarus evil things; but now … p. 45is comforted, and thou art tormented: Really the remembrance of what he had, what he was, and what he did on Earth, was in Holl very tormenting to this wretched Rich Man. The Damned there, will remember their delicious Fare, and how ſenſual and bruitiſh they were in pleaſing of their Appetites; they will remember the time they ſpent in Adorning of themſelves, taking much Pains to dreſs and trick the Carkaſs, but no Pains at all to purge the Heart; they will remember their Feaſts, their Mirth, their carnal Jollity, which quite ſtupified their Hearts, and baniſhed all thoughts and care about another World and Eternity; they will remember all the Mercies they enjoyed, which they did nothing but abuſe to their own harm, as well as to the diſhonour of that God who gave them.

Above all, they will remember what Pains were taken to have prevented their Deſtruction: The Lord was unwilling they ſhould Periſh, but Death was that which themſelves preferr'd before Life. Oh how long did Chriſt come, Sabbath after Sabbath, and knock at the door, but they would not open! How often did the Spirit ſtrive with them, to ſtop them in Hells road, and to turn them into the way of Peace, but they were ſtiff-necked, and always reſiſted the Holy Ghoſt. They will remember their Preachers Pains and Prayers, and labour and travel of Soul; how they lifted up their Voices, to awaken them out of their Sin and Security; how they intreated them to be reconciled to God, and to turn into the fate and bleſſed Paths of Righteouſneſs; but they were Deaf and obſtinate, nothing would prevail with them, and the remembrance of all this will be bitter, bitter, bitter to them.

4. In Hell there will be torment in the Body and p. 46the Members of it, and ſuch as no body ever felt, or was capable of bearing here on Earth: The Stone, the Cholick and the Strangury, the greateſt Torture that ever the hand of Man inflicted, are no more comparable to the Pains of Hell, than the ſmalleſt Prick of a Pin is to a Dagger that ſtrikes quite through, and gives the Heart a deadly Wound. The Senſes of the Damned ſhall have that which will be exceedingly afflicting: What woful Spectacles will their Eyes behold! What diſmal Noyſes will fill their Ears! how fierce and unquenchable are the Flames that they ſhall feel! all their parts ſhall be in pain, not ſo much as one free: The whole Body was defiled, and at Sins ſervice, all the Members were yielded as inſtruments of Ʋnrighteouſneſs; 'tis but righteous that all ſhould be Puniſhed. Why are the Bodies of the Wicked raiſed at the laſt day? ſurely that they may bear their part in the Condemnation, which the whole Man by Sin has deſerved. This Reſurrection is certain, but 'tis a dreadful Reſurrection, which is a Reſurrection to Damnation, Joh. 5. 29.

In theſe Torments you may well ſuppoſe that Death will be wiſht for, and that the Damned would rejoyce if they could find a Grave; but alas, after the Reſurrection, the firſt Death is no more. The Damned in a ſad ſenſe do put on Incorruption and Immortality, they can never dye and ceaſe to feel their Pains; they muſt always live a Life ten thouſand times worſe than Death, and there is no remedy. O you Wicked Men! where's your true Love to your Bodies, that you ſeem to be ſo tender of? I beſeech you mind your Souls, and love your Bodies better, than by Sin to expoſe them to the Vengeance of eternal Fire. You ſee how in Hell there is a Deprivation of good, an Inſtiction of evil, pain and torment: I add,

p. 473. In Hell there is an Eternity of both, the deprivation will be without Hope of Reſtitution; and the Torment will be without any end, without the leaſt Mitigation. Eternity is an amazing word; the thing it ſelf much more amazing! Who can ſee to the end of Eternity! who can ſee half way into Eternity! Time is continually paſſing; but Eternity never in the leaſt ſpends: 'tis not capable of any diminution; after myriads of Ages, 'tis ſtill as bulky and whole as ever. If Hell were Ten thouſand times hotter than it is, yet were it but a Temporal Puniſhment, and at laſt to end, 'twould be Nothing in compariſon. But ſince thoſe that are thrown into it, muſt lye in it for ever, Hells Eternity is the very Hell of Hell. In Eternity, whether of Joy or Woe, there is tota ſimul & perfecta poſſeſſio, the whole of it perfectly poſſeſs'd at once. Hell is not parcel'd out unto the Damned, but they continually feel the whole of it. This is terrible; there is not the leaſt part of the puniſhment, that ever they are exempted from undergoing: out 'tis much more terrible, that their Suffering muſt be always, and never have a Concluſion.

Divines have ſtretch'd their Wits to repreſent Eternity, that apprehenſions of it might be more ſuitable and affecting, but were never able to reach it. We can no more comprehend Eternity, than a Nut-ſhell can contain the whole Ocean. Suppoſe that all this World were fill'd with Sand, from the Earths Centre round, and up to the higheſt Heaven; and once in a Thouſand Years, one ſingle Sand ſhould be taken away: How ſad would it be to lye in Torment, till the whole vnst heap were gone! But after ſo many Millions and Millions of Years, for the Damned to be every whit as far from the End of p. 48their Miſery, as they were the very firſt moment they began to feel it; here all words fall ſhort, and I muſt conclude in Astoniſhment! Do not think that theſe are frightful things invented by Ʋs to ſcare you into better manners. When we warn and tell you of the Eternity of Hells puniſhment, we ſpeak the certain Truth of the Eternal God.

In the ſecond place, I am to prove the Doctrine; That they who will not turn to God, ſhall moſt certainly be turned into Hell. The Arguments to prove this, are theſe.

1. The firſt ſhall be drawn from the Wrath of God. This is revealed from Heaven againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouneſs of Men, Rom. 1. 18. They that are called to turn, and yet refuſe, that Wrath abides upon them ſtill; unbelief and impenitency bindes, as it were all their Sins faſt upon them, and they muſt needs remain under Wrath alſo, Joh. 3. ult. He that believeth not the Son, ſhall not ſee life, but the Wrath of God abideth on him. Nay, Wrath inſtead of being appeaſed, is increaſed, by contemning the Goſpel-offer of Gods favour and mercy in Chriſt. And where will unpacified Wrath at length iſſue? See Deut. 32. 22. A Fire is kindled in mine Anger, and it ſhall burn to the loweſt Hell.

2. A ſecond Argument ſhall be drawn from the Truth of God. He has threatned Hell for the puniſhment of unconverted Sinners, Pſal. 9. 17. The Wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God: Let there be never ſo many of them, Hell has room enough to hold them, and their multitude will not be any Security. The Truth of God is engaged to make good all his promiſes to the Faithful, and alſo all his threatnings to the Wicked p. 49A man muſt believe the Promiſes in order to the accompliſhment of them: But tho the Threatnings are dis-believed, they will be fulfilled; and the greater the unbelief, the more certainly and ſorely will they overtake, and lay hold on the Ʋnbeliever.

The Lord is to be credited when he ſpeaks, becauſe he is a God that cannot Lye; but when he adds his Oath to his word, what he ſayes is the more firmly to be aſſented to. His Covenant of Grace is confirm'd by an Oath, and when he could Swear by no greater, he Swore by himſelf. And his Oath alſo confirms his Threatnings of Wrath, Heb. 3. 18, 19. And to whom Swear he that they ſhould not enter into his Reſt, but to them that believed not? So we ſee that they could not enter in becauſe of Ʋnbelief.

3. Another Argument to prove, that unconverted Sinners ſhall be turned into Hell, ſhall be drawn from their preſent Impunity. Eſcaping now ſcot-free, we may conclude the greater certainty of a future reckoning. They that will not turn to God, we ſee that many of them are in Health, at eaſe, enjoy peace and plenty, and Sentence againſt their evil works being not now executed, and they hereupon being fully ſet to do Evil; 'tis reaſonable to believe there will be, and 'tis very Righteous there ſhould be a terrible Sentence of Condemnation, and that Sentence put in Execution upon them in the other World.

4. They that will not turn to God at the Goſpel call, ſhall be turned into Hell, for they ſlight the only Saviour. Chriſt calls himſelf a Door; ſo he has been, from the beginning of the World; ſo he will be to the End of it. There is no Door through which Hell can be eſcaped, but this. Unconverted Sinners wil not come to Him that they may have Life, Joh. 5. 42 p. 50therefore they are unavoidably Siezed by eternal Death. Corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, they know how to value, but the precious Blood of Chriſt is not prized, and not being Sprinkled with the Blood of Chriſt our Paſſover, who was Sacrificed for us; the Deſtroyer has power over them, and they fall into eternal Predition.

In the third place, I am to vindicate the Righteouſneſs of God in thus dealing with, and eternally puniſhing them that will not turn to Him: And here,

1. Let the Majeſty and greatneſs of God be conſider'd, againſt whom all Sin is committed. How much greater a Crime is it to ſtrike a Prince upon the Throne, than to ſtrike a Peaſant! How much is Sin gratned, being committed againſt the Higheſt Majeſty of all, who is infinitely Superiour to all other Powers, Pſal. 104. 1. O Lord, my God, thou art very great, thou art Cloathed with Honour and with Majeſty! Pſal. 145. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praiſed, and his greatneſs is unſearchable. Sin is a Tranſgreſſion of a Law, enacted by the King of Heaven; and is indeed a diſowning of his Soveraign Authority, as if he had no right to rule the Sinner. Think of the infinite diſtance between the God who is offended, and Man that is the Offender, and how much Sin offends; for it diſowns his Government, and ſtrikes at his very Being; for the Sinner wiſhes there were no God to be ſubject to. I ſay, think of all this, and you will perceive that Sin deſerves everlaſting Puniſhment. The carnal Mind thinks Hell too much for a Sinner to feel, becauſe it meaſures God by it ſelf, and thinks too little of the Glorious Jehovah.

p. 512. Sinners can never by all that they ſuffer themſelves, ſatisfie for their Iniquities; therefore their puniſhment in Hell is juſtly endleſs: No meer Creature can make ſatisfaction for Sin. If Chriſt the Mediatour, had not been over all God bleſſed for ever, by his Death and all his Sufferings, he would never have made Peace. His God-head put a real and infinite value upon the price he paid, and made it ſufficient for our Redemption. The Damned in Hell cannot ſatisfie the Juſtice of God for their Tranſgreſſions; therefore they juſtly are kept eternal Priſoners there. It is above five Thouſand Years ago, that the Evil Angels were caſt down to Hell; by the puniſhment they have undergone, have they made any Satisfaction for their offences? No, no, ſtill they have continued in their Enmity, and deſerved more puniſhment. And from Satans utter alienation from God and all goodneſs, we may infer, that Hell is not a place to mend any; but Sin is hight'ned; thoſe that were had on Earth, become worſe in Hell, and are unalterably confirm'd in Evil.

3. The puniſhment of Sin in Hell is juſtly Eternal, becauſe Sin is inſatiable. Suppoſe a Sinner could live in this World to Eternity, there is corruption enough in his Nature, to make him an Offender of God unto Eternity. If he were an everlaſting Liver upon Earth, he would be an everlaſting Tranſgreſſour. If the Carnal Heart would but ſpeak out, that would be its Language: I would deſire no other, no greater happineſs, than that I might live here for ever, that I might Sin here for ever. This inſatiable Nature of Sin, this inclination and deſire of the Sinner, is known to the Heart-ſearcher; therefore the puniſhment he inflicts is very Righteous, tho 'tis everlaſting.

p. 524. For the Vindication of the Righteouſneſs of God, take notice what has been offered unto Sinners, and rejected. Chriſt is offered; his juſtifying Righteouſneſs, his unſearchable Riches; all his Fulneſs; all the Benefits which he has purchaſed at ſo dear a Price, and yet the offer is made light of. How much is contemn'd, when Chriſt is Contemn'd! and how much of Sin is there in the Contempt! The bleſſed God in the Glorious Goſpel, does call to Sinners to turn to him; and what does he offer? His own all-ſufficient-ſelf. I my ſelf am yours, if you will turn to me, and become ſincerely mine. I will be a God to you, all my attributes ſhall be for you: I will be your Shield, and your exceeding great Reward, and your Portion for ever! Now for a Sinner to turn a Deaf Ear to all this, is ſuch a Sin, as does deſerve the Eternal loſs of what is offer'd; and the feeling of everlaſting Wrath is juſt, ſince ſuch infinite and everlaſting Goodneſs has been deſpiſed. I might alſo add, that the Sinner is told of this Eternal Puniſhment before-hand; therefore if his Luſts are ſo dear, that he will venture to be Damned, rather than part with them, when thoſe Luſts that War againſt his Soul have quite undone him, and brought him down to Hell indeed, he cannot charge God with Injuſtice; but he muſt blame himſelf, becauſe when warned of Hell and Wrath, he would not fear and Flee from it.

I come now to the Applacation. I begin with ſome Inferences, that may be drawn from the Doctrine.

1. If Sinners that will not turn, ſhall be brought down to Hell; certainly Sin is another kind of thing than is commonly imagined. Oh Sin! how much art thou p. 53miſtaken! Thou art very little underſtood on Earth! In Heaven thou art better underſtood by Saints, and full glad they are they are quite rid of thee! In Hell thou art better underſtood by Sinners, and they muſt Groan for ever under the weight of thee! O all of you, Study Hell more, if you would know Sin more fully. Gods ſeverity towards Man for Sin, argues it a very vaſt Evil. I am perſwaded, that all the Men upon Earth, that all the Saints and Angels in Heaven, ſince they cannot comprehend the greatneſs and goodneſs of God, neither can they comprehend all the Evil that is in Sin: And if God alone does fully underſtand how Evil Sin is, he alone is the competent Judge what Puniſhment is due to it. O exceeding ſinful Sin! Rom. 7. 13. thou canſt not be called by ſo bad a Name, as thy own is!

2. Learn from hence the Miſery of unconverted Sinners. Are there none unconverted here? I wiſh there were not. Are there not many unconverted in this place? I fear there are. Seriouſly conſider in what state you are. You walk upon the Brink of Hell; you Eat and Drink upon the Brink of Hell; in your Shops, at the Exchange, you are ſtill upon the Brink of Hell, when you lye down at Night, you Sleep upon the Brink of Hell. Oh what Hearts are yours, that you can Sleep ſecurely! Is ſuch a perilous State to be reſted in? In ſuch danger, and depths of Miſery, how ſhould you cry to the Lord for mercy, Pſal. 130. 1. Davids words are proper for a Sinner to make uſe of, Pſal. 51. 1. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, according to thy loving kindneſs, and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my Tranſgreſſions.

3. Hence I infer, That they who refuſe to turn to God, are certainly beſides themſelves, elſe the broken Ciſterns would not draw them away from the Fountain p. 54of living Waters; and a little gain and pleaſure, would not make them venture to lye in Flames unquenchable. God ſayes, Turn ye, turn ye! Will you turn, or will ye not? If you will, you ſhall live; if you won't, where are your Wits? You are out of them in the worſt Senſe of all. The Lord now ſayes, Turn, if ye will not hear and obey, at laſt he will ſay Depart, and that word you muſt obey, and be forced away from him into everlaſting Burnings.

4. Shall Sinners be turned into Hell; then their Proſperity is not to be envied or admired. It has been a Cuſtom in ſome places, to grant to condemn'd Malefactors, a Liberty to enjoy their Pleaſures and Delights a few days before their Execution; but alas, what did theſe ſignifie to them that were to dye a few days after? A fit Repreſentation of the condition of the Wicked! They are perhaps gaudily Cloathed, and daintily Fed, and have more than Heart could wiſh: But this proſperity is very ſhort; they ſtand in ſlippery Places, and quickly fall; they are brought to Deſtruction as in a moment, and utterly conſumed with Terrours, Pſal. 73. 18, 19. The ungodly do very much need our pity; but nothing that they have is worth our Envy.

5. Hence I inferr the happineſs of ſincere Converts. Many temporal Evils may be their exerciſe at preſent; but Hells eternal Torments they ſhall never feel, Rom. 8. 1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walk not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit. Whatever the Times are; in Eternity, and to Eternity, it will be well with them. If Hell were Ranſack't all over, you might find Profeſſours, Preachers, Princes, Nobles there; you might find worldly Wiſe, and worldly wealthy a greatmany, but p. 55not one true Convert among the whole Number. Converts are reconciled to God by the Blood of Chriſt, and are ſafe and happy. Hell is a dreadful place, and has a very wide Door; but who has the Key of it? The Key is not in Satans, but in Christ's keeping, Rev. 1. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the Keys of Hell and of Death. He will open the Door of Death, that Converts Bodies may come out of the Grave; he will keep the door of Hell faſt ſhut, that Converts ſhall never be thrown in thither.

ƲSE 11. Of Exhortation. That you would all conſider more ſeriouſly, and believe more heartily this Doctrine of Hell. Often think of the loſs ſuſtained, and of the Torment felt there. It was the Advice of Chryſoſtom, foreign: Let us not fly the remembrance of Hell Torment, that we may never be Tormented there. The believing conſideration of Hells puniſhment, will have many good Effects.

1. Hereby the deceitfulneſs of Sin will be diſcovered. The deceitfulneſs of Sin hardens you, Heb. 3. 13. Exhort one another daily, while 'tis called to day, leſt any of you be hardned through the deceitfulneſs of Sin. Sin pretends to conſult your eaſe, your ſafety, your ſatisfaction, your gain, your pleaſure: Think ſeriouſly of Hell, and all theſe will be found vain pretences. Oh how very falſe a thing is Sin! Firſt you muſt prove Hell deſirable, before you can prove that Sin is worthy to be loved and ſerved.

2. The Remembrance of Hell, will be a great Preſervative againſt the Tempter. Evil Angels are great Enemies to the good Word of God; eſpecally they are diſpleaſed at Sermons concerning Chrſt and Hell; p. 56they are unwilling that Men ſhould know the Deſtruction Sin has brought them in danger of; unwilling they ſhould hear of a Saviour and Deliverer. Think of Hell whenever you find the Devil tempting. He endeavours to hide Hell from your Eyes, that he may lead you ſecure thither. Satan tells the Intemperate Man, that makes himſelf a Beaſt by exceſſive Drinking; that this is the way to Exhilerate and chear his Spirits, a Remedy againſt care and ſorrow, and a means to make him merry. But he would not have the Drunkard think of Hell, nor of the dreadful Cup of Gods indignation without mixture, that will be put into his hand at the laſt day. Satan tells the defrauding, over reaching Knave, that he will be a great Gainer by his Subtlety; but he hides Hell from him, where none of his Gain remains, and where eternal happineſs, and an immortal Soul are lost for ever. Satan tells the filthy Wretch, of the pleaſures to be found in the embraces of the well-favoured Harlot; but this he conceals; that going to her Houſe, his Feet go down to Death, and his Steps will ſoon take hold on Hell. It would be Wiſdom in you, and in all, to ſee how Sin and Hell are joyned together. It would make the Tempter loſe his labour; if you would ever remember, that in Tempting you to Sin, he does in effect only perſwade to be willing for even to be deſtroyed.

3. The ſerious conſideration of Hell, will quicken you to cry for Mercy. upon the Sight of Hells miſery, how deſirable will Mercy be in your Eyes! You will pray for this with all Prayer. God will find you in the Congregation, in the Family, and in the Cloſet, making your ſervent Supplications; and Mercy will be your great Suit. God delights in ſhewing Mercy, Mic. 7. 18. The thoughts of Hell will p. 57make you ſee how much you need it, and ſuch fail not to obtain it.

4. The Remembrance of Hell will contribute much to your ſtedfastneſs in Religion; 'twill fortiſie and arm you againſt the fear of Man: how little is it that the greateſt Man, that the moſt of Men can do to you? to fall into the hands of mortal Men, that can but kill the body, is no great matter; but to fall into the hands of the living God, is fearful, Heb. 10. 31. Hark what our Lord ſays, Luk. 12. 4, 5. I ſay unto you my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but I will forewarn you whom you ſhall fear; fear him who after he hath killed, hath power to caſt into Hell; yea, I ſay unto you, fear him: Yes, he is indeed worthy to be feared! It was a ſaying of one, Omnia ſupplicia, graviorum ſuppliciorum vincuntur formi…ine; all Puniſhments are overcome by the fear of greater Puniſhments. When thou art called forth to bear Teſtimony to Chriſt and to his Truth, before a ſinful and an adulterous generation; though thou ſeeſt Wracks and Wheels, though thou ſeeſt Flames and Furnaces of ſcalding Lead, be not affrighted at the matter; the Grace and Comfort of the Spirit of Christ ſhall be ſufficient to carry thee through theſe Pains; and theſe are nothing, compared with the Vengeance of eternal fire, which will be inflicted upon thoſe that draw back unto perdition.

ƲSE III. Of Direction: How this whole Congregation may eſcape the Damnation of Hell. I hope every Eye is broad awake; and ſhould not every Ear be open, and every Heart exceedingly attentive, when Directions concerning this are given? The Directions are theſe:

1. If you would eſcape Hell, think of Hell, the p. 58effect of Sin, ſo long, 'till you utterly fall out with Sin the Cauſe: Sin is the only way that leads to Hell, ſhun that way and you are ſafe: Depart from evil, and though poſſibly you may become a Prey in this World, ye Satan ſhall not make a Pery of you. If Sin had never entred into the World, none in the World would have been turned into Hell; if neither Men nor Angels had ſinn'd againſt God, there would have been no ſuch thing as Hell in being. Oh! View the Flames that are ſo furious, and that will laſt for ever, and then conſider Sin was that which kindled them, and the demerit of Sin is ſo infinitely great, that it hinders them from being ever quenched: Does thy Pride expoſe thee to Damnation? never be Proud more: Will thy Earthly-mindedneſs bring thee to Hell? Oh ceaſe thy loving the World, and the things that are in the World! 1 Joh. 2. 15. Will any Sin that rules in thee, and that thou art willingly ſubject to, reign unto Death, and ruine thee for ever? Oh be unwilling that any Sin ſhould reign any longer; and if Sin be out of thy Will, 'tis out of the Throne: Cry with David, Pſal. 119. 133. Order my ſteps in thy Word, and let no Iniquity have the dominion over me. Weary you muſt be of Sins dominion, as well as fear Hells Damnation: You muſt not think to go to Heaven, and carry your beloved Luſts along with you thither; if you are reſolved to hold faſt theſe, you and they will go to Hell together.

2. If you would eſcape Hell, take notice how the door of Hope is open to the very worſt of you: Thoſe that are gone far in Hells road, and are within a ſtep of the burning Lake, tis poſſible for them to be catched as firebrands out of the burning. The door is open to day, I adviſe you to enter preſently; I cannot aſſure you 'twill ſtand open 'till tomorrow; While p. 59it is called to day, harden not your hearts, Heb. 3. 8. Though you are fallen by your Iniquities, yet if you will Now return to the Lord, there is hope for the very worſt of you; paſt Sins ſhall all be buried, if there be a preſent Converſion. Redemption is plenteous, and that ſhould abundantly encourage all to Hope and Turn, Pſal. 130. 7, 8. Let I ſrael hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him there is plenteous redemption, and he ſhall redeem Iſrael from all his iniquities.

3. If you would eſcape Hell, you muſt be ſure to look unto Jeſus: Lord Jeſus! Turn every Eye to thee, and cauſe every Heart to open and receive thee! Thoſe that were ſtung with the fiery Serpents, liv'd notwithſtanding, if they lookt unto the brazen Serpent: Thoſe that are in danger of Hell, and have very well deſerved it, ſhall be delivered from it, if by Faith they look to Chriſt, Iſa. 45. 22. Look unto me, and be ye ſaved, all ye ends of the Earth: Look unto him for Pardon, look unto him for Converting, Cleanſing and Renewing Grace; look unto him to be the Author of true Faith in you, and having been the Author, to be the Finiſher of your Faith alſo, Heb. 12. 2. Chriſt was for ſaken, that you might graciouſly be received by the Lord: He was Condemn'd to dye, and ſuffer'd Death upon the Croſs, that you might be deliver'd from eternal Death and Condemnation; that this was his deſign is plain, Joh. 3. 16. God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould ſcape Hell, and be brought ſafe to Heaven; ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life.