The Cause and Cure of Ignorance, Section 68
SECT. 68.
TRue,None so confirmed in Atheisme but feare in time of danger. they doe not alwayes, nor at any time altogether, think there is no GOD, or judgement to come. Not alwayes, for though at present they thinke their villany is uns…ene, because it is unpunished, according to that in the Psalmes, The wicked thinketh there is no Go…, and the reason followes, his wayes alway prosper, Psalm. 10 4, 5 yet none as Plato speakes, are so confirmed in Atheisme, but some great danger will make them fly to the aide of a Divine power. Extremity of distresse will send the prophanest to God: as the drowning man stretcheth out his hand to that bough, which he contemned whiles he stood safe on shore: Even Sardanapalus who for all his bould denying of God, at every hearing of thunder was wont to hide his head in a hole.
Yea, in their greatest jollity, even the most secure heart in the world hath some flashes of feare, that seaze on them like an Arrest of Treason; for conscience cannot but sometimes looke out of it selfe, and see what it would not.
At least on their death beds they con…esse a God.At least, on their death beds they would give all the world to bee sure what the Scripture speakes of Hell were not true; though all their life they supposed it but a fable. How oft doe those ruffians, that deny God at the Tap-house, preach him at the Gallowes: and confesse that in sobriety of spirit, which they oppugned in wantonnesse. And not seldome are the most lethargized consciences so awakened ere they goe to Hell, that, Spira-like, they depart desolate and desperate in, and into hellish horrors.
Prosperity doth so tympanize mens soules, and entranse them from themselves, that they forget they had a Maker. Who is God? saith Pharoah. There is no God, saith Nebuchadnezar. What God can deliver out of my hand?Vengance makes wi…e whom sin makes foolish. saith Rabshakeh. I am God, saies Alexander. But Nebuchadnezer found there was a God. Pharaoh found what that God was. Rabshakeh found, to his cost, that there was an Almighty God, able to deliver in the Valleys▪ as well as on the hills. Alexander found hee was not as hee supposed, and confest that hee knew himselfe mortall by two things, viz. Sleepe▪ and Lust. And so it shall fare with these in the end. They that would stultizare in culpa, shall be forced sapere in poena. Vengeance shall make them wise, whom sinne hath made, and left foolish.
At least, in hell they shall know there is a righteous Judge, that will reward every man according to his deeds▪ & confesse, that what they once vainly imagined, was but imagined. There may bee Atheists on earth,Atheists on earth but none in hell. there are none in hell.
A Pope of Rome being on his death bed, said, Now comes three things to tryall, which all my life I have made doubt of: Whether there be a God, a Devill, and whether the soule be immortall: It was not long ere hee was fully resolved with a vengeance. And so shall you, O yee fools, when that houre comes, though yee flatter your selves for the present, like that desperate Pirate, who when (ransacking and rifling a bottom) he was told by the Master, that though no Law co…ld touch him for the present, he should answer it at the day of judgement; replyed, Nay, If I may stay so long ere I come to it, To consider before it prove too late.I will take thee, and thy Vessell too. Nothing more certain than death. Amongst Lawes, some are antiquated, as that of divorce: some changed, as that of Circumcision: some dispensed withall, as that of the Sabbath (in cases of necessity, Matth. 12.1. to 14.) but this statutum est, that all shall dye, and come to judgement, it is neither antiquated nor changed, nor dispensed withall.
And as nothing is more certain than death: so nothing more uncertaine than the houre thereof: thy pulse may leave beating, before thou canst fetch thy breath.
Wherefore thinke not, as Lot's Sons in Law, that we speake in jest: least you feel the fire & wrath of God in earnest.