A Second Guide to Heaven, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
THE Third Part of the Text is a twofold Motive to perswade Men to make use of this Prescription, which may serve as two Reasons to the Doctrine.
Reason I. An impartial Examination, and a well grounded Approbation of a Man's own Work,2 Cor. 1.12. 1 Joh. 3.21. will administer matter of holy and warrantable rejoycing in himself. The word foreign from foreign the Neck, the stretching out the Neck,Luke 21.28. not as an Indication of Pride, but lifting up the Head, raising up Faith, Hope, and Joy; it signifies boasting, and rejoycing, and glorying, the Soul fill'd with inward delight, unspeakable Joy, boast of Grace and Mercy; not to ascribe to himself, and despise others.
(1.) But the Principle or Ground of his Joy, is Inward and Spiritual, rais'd and cherish'd in him by the Spirit of God, Rom. 14.17. not meat and drink, but joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
(2.) The matter of his Joy, or the thing wherein he rejoyceth, is Internal, not in things without him, not in Soul, Estate, good Name, but in a sincere Heart, holy Desires, true love to God, and God's love to, and in him, Psal. 4.6, 7. The light of Gods Countenance, the Apostle says, This is our rejoycing, let others say in other things: The Hypocrite, this is my rejoycing, the Testimony and Applause of Men: The Worldling, this is my rejoycing, the increase of my Corn, Cattle, and Money; but David, Psal. 17.14, 15. turns his back on all these, men of the World that have their portion in this life, their belly fill'd with hidden treasures, full of Children, and leave their Wealth to them, and yet as if to say, Much good may it do them and theirs. As for me, I will behold thy face and be satisfied.
Now this Joy and Comfort is secret,Pro. 14.10. 1 Joh. 1.4. Joh. 16.22. hidden from the World, sweet and full, satisfying, and refreshing; lasting Joy, and Peace, such as the World cannot give, nor take away.
II. Every Man had need look to himself in all, because every man must bear his own burden; that is his own sin, the guilt and weight of it, and the sad effects, bear the burden, of his account at the great day; and if found guilty, must bear the burden of wrath that must be laid upon him. It cannot be understood as if we should not bear others burdens of weaknesses and afflictions, that is requir'd in v. 2. foreign here foreign.
But I shall rather run these two Heads into Application, and press them as two Cogent Motives.
Applic. More general, be perswaded then to look to your selves, and see all be right and well, that you are truly good. Two grand Motives.
1. If you are lost, and miscarry, you are miserably, irreparably lost.
2. If you are sound, and sav'd, you are unspeakably happy.
1. Then know, if you loose and deceive your selves, the whole World, Heaven and Earth, and all in it, is nothing to you. What are all the concernments of this life and another to me, if I come under the wrath of God to all Eternity.
1. There is poena damni. 2. Poena sensus.
1. Consider what you loose, if you deceive and loose your selves.
1. A sinner loseth himself in all he is, Body and Soul, who could believe this, that any would thus deceive, and destroy themselves, he looseth his reason and understanding; he is at present a Fool, distracted, chooseth Toyes, pleas'd with Feathers and Bubbles; nay, sports in Poyson, chooseth Death and Cursing, Wo and Misery, Prov. 26.18, 19. As a mad-man that casteth fire-brands, arrows and death, so is he that deceiveth his Neighbour, and thereby himself, and saith, am I not in Sport? It's a sport to this sinful Fool to do himself and others mischief. It's a ghastly dreadful fight to see a man cut and knock himself, tear his own flesh,Pro. 10.23. as Mad-men.
What a sad condition is that Man in, that feedeth on ashes, not on Bread, a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his own soul, nor say, is there not a lye in my right hand, Isa. 44.20. He looseth his Head, not know God and Christ, his Heart not love him, his memory not retain good, his will not able to bow and yield, though for his own good, but hurried on as a headstrong Horse to his ruine, his desires not breath after God, his fears not afraid of sin or judgement, and all his true joy, only a little crackling of Thorns. Loose his Health, sick at Heart,Isa. 1.3. Rom. 3.11. unsound all over, not a sound whole part. Loose his Life, quite dead, Eph. 2.1, 2. past feeling, ch. 4.19. know not, nor feel its Wounds, nor smell his own filthiness, no more than the rotten bones in your Sepulchre. Dying every day towards Hell and Eternel Death, he hath lost his Eyes, not see, deaf and dumb, what a dismal sight is this? A Sinner quite lost as to Body and Soul in this life. He only seems to see, and hear, and speak,Isa. 29.8. he dreams that he hates, but in the morning of the Resurrection, awakes and there is nothing.
He is losing all this here, and at Death stript of all together. In old Age he looseth his Eyes, his Hearing, his Taste, &c. Eccles. 1.12.Death sends his Harbengers and fetches out part of the old House, and on a sick Bed; death spoils and rends in pieces, its a ghastly sight, to attempt to speak and not be able, no understanding, no memory, no strength to move, gape and gasp, grown and sweat; that all is gone before the House falls, and then what a loathsome object is a dead Carcass, a filthy lump, stink presently, noisome and rotten; but oh what is become of the Immortal Soul? Can this loss be exprest? Can it be repair'd, loss of all together? What can be more poor, base and empty than a dead loathsome stinking Carcase. Who would buy it for a farthing; nay, who would not give many to be rid of it. A Body that was deckt and gaudy, strong and lively, pleasant and beautiful, now deformed, weak and dishonourable, and then they loose all that did accompany it to make it pleasing and desirable, as ease, and strength, and comeliness. Nay, they loose all the peace and quickness of the Soul, and have horrours, and blackness, and fears, and confusions. He had a wise head, a plotting Brain, and a fluent eloquent Tongue, a grave and winning deportment, all gone and lost.
2. He that looseth himself, looseth all he had or seem'd to have.
(1.) As Bread, and Drink, and Cloathing, and Houses, and Fields, and Friends, now a small hole in the Earth encloseth him in Boards, and covers him up amongst the dark Clods. These things Sinners hold fast here, and let go God, and Christ, and Heaven; ay, but then they loose all these, all swallowed up in the Grave, Ps. 49.17, 6, 7. they carry nothing with them, 1 Tim. 6.7. Job's case was said to lose all in a day. How many thousands lose more every day by Death? As to Food and Refreshments, Dives starv'd to all Eternity, not a drop for his Tongue, not a Crum, that had a full Table, and Cup, and Servants to attend; now Worms wait on him, creep over him, feed sweetly on him; he that before spake so big and loud, that made others tremble, nor the Worms afraid of. God says to the Rich Fool, when he calls for his Soul, then whose shall those things be whose, soever they were, they were none of his: His Barns and Corn were his the Day before, that Night all nothing to him. Here we have Divisions, Sun, Moon and Stars, Earth, Sea and Heaven, Meadows and Corn-fields, lower Rooms and Chambers, Fire and Bedding, Eating and Sleep, Acquaintance and Friends, Stories about the Times, and other Affairs, hear of one great man, another Mans chat; businesses and matters here and there; hear of, you think and talk of them; but even once struck dead, what's this World lost and dead to thee, no more to see, and know and discourse. No friends go into the Grave with you, unless it be to lye and rot there with you. Tender Fathers and Mothers, no more embrace their sweet, now clammy and cold Babes; the Children cry and roar, and pinch'd and whipt, and the tender Mother lies in the Grave with her arms by her side wrapt up; no more tender Embraces, no more compassion, pity, help; when sick, turn them to the other side, when throat-scorcht, dry, apply moisture, give a Cordial to the fainting Spirits, hold the aking Head; but when dead, lay you in the dark cold silent Grave; and if weep over the Grave, it does you then no good, they return home and fright them. Who weeps for the Grandmother that is dead and rotten. How can you thus throw away your selves?
Obj. But you will say none can prevent this, good Men also thus perish.
An. Ah, but they shall rise again Glorious and Beautiful, strong and lovely. 1 Cor. 15.44. and Phil. 3. last. Who would thus destroy such an excellent Fabrick as the body is, and all its concomitants.
2. Withall, the Man loseth all Spiritual Mercies and Comforts, that were afforded to his Soul. Now he is weary of Ordinances, Sabbaths, the Bible, Sermons, but then no more of them;Pro. 1. ult. Heb. 2.3. Ch. 10.29. nay the slighting and abuse lie heavy on them, to their greater Condemnation: Good Men value them now above Gold, bewail the loss for a little time. Psal. 42. beg. Thirst and Cry, many tears are undone without them; but then not so much as Christ to weep over them, or that thou hadst known, but now hid.
3. He loseth what he might have been and had; he might have been softned and tender, but now harden'd to all Eternity. An hard Heart is the heaviest judgement; he was offer'd to be Pardon'd, Heal'd, Purg'd, and Sanctified. Now he hath no more calls, no more stirrings of the Spirit. The accepted time, the day of Salvation is over, no Ministers sent after you to woe and intreat you: No, God says, Rev. 22.11.2 Cor. 5.20 Let him that is filthy be filthy still, &c. I would have cleans'd and sav'd him, and he would not. O dreadful, to have Lusts raging for ever; it's a mercy to have one Lust conquer'd here, and but then their Sins they liv'd in will be raging and not satisfy'd; there the Drunkards Throat is scorcht with thirst, and not the least drop; the filthy Adulterer rage in his Lust, and burn and scorcht, gnaw and rend his bowels. You might here have had precious Graces; but there is no Faith, no Patience, no Hope, no Love to God and good; you might have had peace in believing, comfort in troubles, but there is all horrour and amazement:1 Pet. 1.7. Here Gods comforts delight good Mens Souls in affliction,2 Cor. 1.3. but There is no relief.Psal. 94.19. You might have been a Child of God, and Heir of Glory, now Blessing and Praising God amongst Saints and Angels; but now you are roasting and roaring amongst Devils. Some think this the greatest torment of Hell, a sence of the loss of Gods presence and favour. You might have Pray'd, and wept, and prevail'd for Mercy; but Ten Thousand Tears prevail not now for one drop of Mercy. Lose all the precious full and free promises and proffers of Grace and Mercy.2 Cor. 1.1.29. Tim. 4.1.8. All Yea, and Amen in Christ. All Nay, and nothing without him. All run in the Channel of Godliness, then all the Curses are in the way to Hell.
4. He loseth all his hopes of having it better, there was a time you had hope, but Death is the last change to Hell or to Heaven. The Siners hope gives up the Ghost with him. Job. 8.3, 4.Jo…. 11. Ch. 27.8. Hope is a blessed support to believers, were it not for hope the Heart would break. That hope of Glory support men, under all afflictions in old Testament and new. David and Job, Psal. 42.5.and the Apostles, and all with them. Why art thou cast down? A Sinner can tell reason enough, why he is cast down: He may rather ask, why art thou so merry O my Soul, that can'st not hope in God. How sad is this wretches condition?
5. He loseth all he does; all his thoughts, all his words and works, all his pains and time, all his worldly labour, and all his duties, nor thanks for all; spend his strength in vain, care and fear and trouble, and weep and run, and ride and work to no purpose.
6. He loseth Eternal Mercy to come; all that is in Heaven. O the joys and comforts others have in a God, in a Christ, in your Father, in their Saviour, and this for ever. It's much to lose a Life here, but what is it to lose Eternal Life; what is the loss of a House, to the loss of a Kingdom? what the loss of a dying Father or Mother, though loving and tender, to the loss of an Everlasting Father, whose love and mercy is Everlasting also? Doth a Mother weep at the Grave of a sweet Child? Who can with tears of blood bewail enough a Soul that hath lost God? Isa. 54.7, 8.Rom. 5.4, 5. Modicum illud vocas Domine, &c. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, in a little wrath I hide my face from thee for a moment. Says one in the place, Lord, dost thou call that little, small and for a moment, when thou hidest thy blessed face, it's Death, it's Hell, it's Damnation: Or what is it then when God hides his face for ever?
Methinks you that read this, should think and say, it belongs not to me, God forbid; yes, if thou carelesly lose, and foolishly deceive thy self here, thou art the Man. Thou art angry if lose thy Cattel, thy Mony, thy House, thy Friends; lose thy self, and that thou boastest much more, yea, all is lost.
2. I come to the Second Part. Tribulation and Anguish will cease on Body and Soul too;Pana sensus. could'st thou dye, be annihilated, sink into nothing, it were somewhat, but thou shalt live to be sensible of all this loss, in this life and that to come: I shall not multiply Heads.
The great wrath and anger of God that is Almighty will fall on thee,Nahum. 1. beg. and who can express how great that is. Read what God hath done of old, hear and observe all his dealings now with Sinners; how many sweat, groan, roar, and yet not eas'd, unexpressible pain and torment fall on the Body; the eyes see gastly frightful objects, how dread an Apparition: The name and thoughts of the Devil in the dark now make thee tremble; how can you hear dreadful screeches and groanes; some are so tender that they can't bear the groans of dying friends, or of some when wounded, and their broken bones are drest. The noise in Bedlam is dreadful; did you hear and see an Hundred Scorching in flames, roasting and rack'd as some Devils incarnate on Earth now do, beginning Hell Torments. You can't bear the Tooth-ach, Gout, Stone; how will you then bear Burning Brimstone,Rev. 14.10, 11. not a drop, but Lakes, you thrown into it.
But oh! the wrath and horror that shall seise on the Soul; A wounded Spirit, a damned Soul, who can bear, the gnawing worm of Conscience. All thy Sins are so many Devils to rack and torment thee; all come to remembrance, thy Pride, Wantoness, Hypocrisie, all Sins great and small, all thy neglects of Heavenly Duty; and all this can't be recall'd, it's too late now to Repent: This made Esau cry and roar,Heb. 12.15, 16. What horror and confusion seise on you, dreadfull foresights and apprehensions of lashings and scourgings. As a Man with a sore back, shreeks, cryes out, looks back at more strokes coming, when struck into the flesh, into the bones, into the Soul: No end, no stopping, pierc'd and pinch't with all Miseries together, Thirst, Hunger, Poverty, Shame, Pain, Horror; and on all parts here the Hand held the Head, but then the Hand rack't and scorch't to the top of the finger, not a joynt or bone free, not a foot or sinew; and all rack't to the highest degree, and all this amongst the vilest crew, such as you may seem to abhor their Company here, Swearers, Drunkards, Blasphemers;Momentaneum este quod delectat, eternum, quod cruciat. these are merry together on Earth, but then roar and rave, rage and weep, wail and gnash their Teeth; and all this not in a clear Air, in an upper Chamber, on a soft Bed, but in a Dungeon, in Darkness, in a bottomless-pit. What was Jeremy's Dungeon to this,He had rotten rays and old clouts to help him out. None here. though they sunk in the mire; and there have no rest Night nor Day; no Summer, no Spring; all a black Night, and no end of this. It's call'd a bottomless-pit, because always sinking; and never come to the bottom of this wrath.