A Second Guide to Heaven, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
NOW methinks each of you that read or hear these lines should say, is all this true? Is it possible? Who are the Persons, what Men and Women, we that are call'd Christians? Well, take heed least that you be not the Persons, and very shortly feel it. Why are you not more awaken'd and consider? Think, what if all this should be true? What have I to say against it? What is the sinful pleasure that I chuse for it? What the blessed work I neglect and am more afraid of than this Hell? Can I plead I never heard of God's wrath, or I did not believe it? Ay, but God told you, it would be so, and he swore to it. I shall not here answer the many Cavils, as that sin is not so bad in our Eye, and others that are sav'd seem'd not so good, or much better than we, and why doth not God help us? And is there no end of this Wrath?
Lay aside all these Cavils, and reason not thy self into Hell. How sad is the condition of lost Man, that all this wrath will not affright from one Sin, or quicken to one Duty? Why will you not enquire into the matter? If you are convinc'd and startled, why lye so still in Sin? How can you thus stab and wound your selves every day? Some call upon God to damn them, when they should pray, and cry to be sav'd. In Contempt and Rage swear by the blood and wounds of Christ, that were to save them from this Hell. They shew all Mischief and Spite, act against God; and many hasten others to Hell, and yet think that the very Powder which blows up the House shall scape burning. Will you thus destroy your selves miserably, cut off but one Hand, pluck out one Eye; and not throw Body and Soul into Hell; nay, go with your Eyes wide open to Hell, under Noon-day Gospel-light; sin against your own light of Conscience and Convictions, and against the clear light of the VVord; and you in a very short time destroyed, not stay an hundred, or five hundred years? no within a day, a month, a year you may feel these Torments.
I can scarce forbear some Inferences.
1. Then Sinners are not such mild, sober, merciful and innocent Creatures, as many of them seem and pretend to be; no, they are Bloody, Cruel, and Merciless. They are worse than blood-thirsty men, that destroy others in this Life; we call them bloody Butchers, that kill innocent Beasts for our use; but oh what are these Murderers of Souls? VVe startle and cry out to hear of VVilful, Self-murder; what Soul-killing working is in every Family and Town! VVhat cruel VVretches to themselves! Sins seem easie and pleasing now, can they be tormenting them? Fishes swim with pleasure in the VVater, in their Element; But if you put them and the VVater in a Cauldron, and Fire under it, the very Element proves scorching. Gods fire of wrath will make thy sins tormenting, that are now pleasing to thee.
2. Then those Parents, and Masters, and Acquaintance are not so kind, and loving, and tender, as they pretend to their Children, and Families and Friends, that provide all for this life, care only for their Bodies, and neglect their Souls: Cruel in keeping away Food, or not administring it to them that might feed them to Eternal Life; nay, it may be give them Poyson. How many bloody, wicked, Soul-destroying Parents? How many Husbands and Wives, cruel to each other this way? tender if a but Finger-ach, if sick, if wounded; but Sin-sick at heart, and not concern'd, not help; how many cruel Friends that flatter and fawn, and sooth each other to Hell. Some breed up their Children in Pride, Luxury, Idleness, put them into bad Company, place them in bad Families, bad Callings, never pray for them. Better be Herod's Hog than his Child; feed their Horse, their Dog, starve their Child.
3. Then the Great, and Rich, and Prosperous Men in this World, the Wise the Mighty and Successful Politicians, are not such happy and wise Men, as they seem and pretend to be; if they cannot see one Foot beneath their Grave, nor one hours happiness beyond their Death-bed groans. No wonder they cry out at last, and refuse to be comforted; why they are lost to all Eternity, no comfort, to say, think of your Honour, your Wealth, your Feasts, your Furniture; no, one gripe, one grim look of Death will swallow up all. That Atheistical Politician that declares the success of Caesar Borgius as to all the World,Machiavle only had not made Provision against his own Death, but poyson'd himself, when provided for another, and so blasted all his Designs, shew'd his folly and madness.
4. Then sin is no such small trifling thing as the World would perswade themselves and others. It's a stab to the Soul to Eternity, cruel Venom and Malignity, spread over all Body and Soul, torment each part. It's a bitter Drop that will so imbitter an Ocean of Eternity. No wonder good Men cry out against it, weep because of it.
5. And then Holiness, and Strictness, Diligence and Striving in Good is commendable, this justifies good men in their greatest and most fervent duties; this shews why they bless God so much for Pardon, why they prize Christ, and all the Ordinances;Ps. 32.1, 2. Ps. 103.1. why 'twas the only thing David desir'd above his Kingdom and Posterity; David's Earthly Kingdom is lost, but he hath got an Heavenly Kingdom; this makes good ministers so earnest, cry aloud, beg and intreat.
6. Then they are not in the best and safest Condition, that are most bold in Sin, and fearless of VVrath.
7. Then set to this work as your main and only business, in all your affairs; let nothing hinder or tempt you to sin. VVhen one had a great present sent him, he sent it back again, and said, Pray tell your Master, all I desire, he may pray, that I may not miscarry forever.
You have infinite cause to bless God, and admire his Goodness, if you are flying from this wrath to come, and have some hopes, how will it be when you come there?
9. Now this first sad consideration affords,
1. Matter of Lamentation. 2. Ground of Expostulation. And 3. Matter of Consideration, and serious Meditation.
1. Matter of Lamentation.
1. Bewail the sad condition of thine own Soul; mourn over thy miserable, lost undone self. You have wept for many trifling matters, and been vext and disquieted about others, their thoughts or speeches of you, or carriages towards you; when they slight you, or deal unworthily, ungratefully, or falsely. But did you ever yet fall out with your selves, and be troubled about the business of greatest concernment, that you should thus wound, stab, and ruine your selves? Could you bewail it with tears of blood,? its not sufficient; oh what weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth is in Hell, because of this. How many blessed mercies, rich opportunities, choice advantages of doing your selves good, have you cheated your selves of. Nay,
1. You have contriv'd it, design'd it, studied all ways how to accomplish this deceit, and destruction. Men are wise to do evil,Isa. 29.15. they seek deep to hide their Counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark to destroy themselves. All mens design is to wound and hurt themselves, and not be discover'd. As men deal craftily with others, so they do to themselves. Its a sad thing, when a man hath wit enough, and make use of it, to reason himself into Hell, to plead against Good, and for evil.
2. Men please themselves in this self-undoing, Soul-ruining work, they glory and boast in their cunning craftiness to deceive themselves.Ps. 10.3, &c. The wicked boasteth of his Hearts desire and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth, through his pride he will not own God, God is not in all his thoughts, God's judgments are far above out of his sight; he hath said in his heart, I shall never be moved, for I shall never be in adversity.
3. There is no convincing men of this folly and madness, and self-destruction. They will hearken to you in other matters. But let the Charmer charm never so wisely,Ps. 58.4, 5. they are as the deaf Adder that stops her ear. VVhat shall be done to convince Sinners? Let Ministers cry aloud, and not spare, shew them their sins, and their danger, it's all one. God's Messengers cry out, Who hath believed our report? Ezek. 18. lat.God says, Why will you die, I have no pleasure in your death, I had rather you would turn and live. Why have you pleasure in your own death? cannot you pity your selves? look on your own hands and feet with pity, and think, must these burn in Hell fire.
Shall I not pity mine own Body and Soul? Shall Ministers weep over me, Parents or other Friends bewail my stubborness and misery, and I not bewail mine own sad condition? I need a soft tender Heart to mourn over this hard, rocky, and deceitful Heart. Sometimes I have despair'd to preach of the great things of Salvation. I have been thinking, I am now going to the sick, to the wounded, to the poor, to the dying with offers of Life, Riches and Salvation, but all will be slighted. Were we to offer more of this World, how many would attend? Could we offer and give 10 or 20 l. a Week to every one that would pray an hour every day in his Family, how many praying, at least pretending Families would there be in every Parish and Town? Alas! men see not the worth of Spiritual and Eternal mercies; that a little Grace is worth thousands of Gold and Silver;Ps. 19.10. that they may be rich, and healthy, and honourable, and not perish eternally: That they cannot be holy, but they must be everlastingly happy. A man may have a careful, tender Father, a loving indulgent Mother, desirable and pleasing Wife and Children, a pleasant habitation, a competent maintenance, and yet perish; but a Man can't have God for his Father, Christ for his Saviour, the promises for his Portion, and Heaven for his Home and Inheritanee, but he must be unconceiveably blessed. And yet no convincing of persons as to their own good most will own and acknowledge this to others; that such good Men are happy, and such wicked wretches miserable, but not apply it to their own Souls.
2. It's matter of Lamentation as to the whole World, that this deceit is so general and universal; take it as to all Ages. You find all Prophets complaining in their days,Jer. 5. beg as to great Men, and mighty Men, and poor Men, as to Prophets and Priests, and all the People, that they decive themselves, and deceive one another. How sad, that but one Noah in the whole World, but one Lot in all Sodom; nay, the Apostle complains, and Christ himself,Ro 11. that few would be un-deceiv'd: None Righteous, no not one; not one that seeketh after God. Had they false Prophets or good Ministers, still deceitful, and destroying themselves.
So in all Countries, Towns and Parishes; different persons different tempers, dispositions, contrary Religions, but all agree in this common deceit of self-deceiving; Let ther be little different opinions in our country, one destroys himself with Pride, another with Hypocrisy, a third with Covetousness, severe against each other, but favourable to themselves; some let none escape their Censures, but themselves.
3. It's to be bewail'd, that this deceit should be so gross, that Men should hasten to Hell with their eyes wide open, run into sin against the clear light of the Word, nay the convictions of their own Consciences. As a propahne wretcth confessed, his corruptions were too strong for his convictions and Conscience: The Apostle says, that such know themselves worthy of death, yet will live and take pleasure in it.Rom. 1. last Men can't but know that they daily wrong their Souls, and yet go on, eat, and drink and laugh, upon the brink of destruction. How many Thousand in this Nation, that are as merry and unconcern'd as if all were well, they shall find all rotten. There is no need of convincing them that they are wicked, they know it, no nor that wicked Men must perish eternally, they own it, but still not apply this to themselves. To say, I am the Man.
4. That this deceit and undoing should be of such dreadful consequence, and yet not regarded. Were it the loss of an Eye, or an Hand, or House or Cattle, it were sad; but to lose Body and Soul, God, and Christ and Heaven, and all good; and this loss irrecoverable, and irreparable, never to be made up in it self, nor to be made amends for any other way; nay, to fall into dreadful and unspeakable misery and torment. How can this be sufficiently bewail'd.
2. Here is matter of Expostulation.
May I expostulate, and yet reason with you Sinners, will you yet hear and consider, that have rejected so many Councils and calls?
1. Why will you die Sinners? Death is terrible in it self, but what is eternal Death? Why will you love Death, and chose it above, and before Life? If others will die, and no stopping them, you can't perswade them, why will you destroy that being, that soul and body of your own? What hurt have you done your selves, that you have such inplacable malice against your own Souls, as to chuse cursing rather than blessing, and Death rather than Life. What have you to plead for Sin? What is there so desirable in it, as rather die your selves, then that Sin should die? Are not Soul-saving ways better for the present; is not sobriety better than temperance and excess, patience than passion, contentment than covetousness. All the ways of Sin are hurtful, troublesome and bitter.
2. Let me expostulate with you about self-salvation. What have you to plead against it? Come let us reason together: Are not your ways un-equal, and these ways equal? Is it not a blessed thing, to live, loving, and honouring and praising God on Earth, as your Friend, Lord and Father, and come to enjoy him and all good with him to all Eternity? Is not Heaven large, and good, and long enough to reward all your labour of Love? Are the terms too hard, and the way too strait? Can you desire such matchless glory on easier terms? Do not you labour and sweat more for this World, that promises little, and performs less? Will it not cast you off at last, and afford you but a small hole to lay your dead stinking Corps in; but in this way you may have an House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.
1. Would you have Christ do more for you, die or suffer more for you? Can you buy at an higher, at a dearer rate? To save you lost, and utterly undone; he might have given Kingdoms for you, but in this he had not shewn so much love; in this God and Christ acted to the highest; he might have made more glorious Heavens and Earth, and shewn more power and wisdom, and have destroy'd and punish'd sinners more terribly, and have shewn greater wrath; but could he shew greater love than this, to die and lose himself for a time to win and gain you. Now will you tell him to his face, that his Blood was needless, and that you were not so dreadfully lost, and wretchedly undone, that he should die to save you? He knows better than you; how earnestly could I plead with you on this account. I beseech you by the mercies of God,Psal. 2.1. in the bowels of Jesus Christ. If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort in his love, if any bowels of mercy, think on those things, and do not destroy your selves, when Christ hath done so much to save you. Why will you be-grudge him the purchase of his Blood, the travel of his Soul? All he requires, is, let me save thee, let me love thee; Can you deny such requests? If you will deny him, and perish rather, yet why will you spit in his face, trample on his blood, and make it common or unclean? Why will you in derision and contempt swear by his blood and wounds? Why will you call upon him to damn you, when you should pray to him to save you? If you will not prise his yearning bowels, do not kick at them, do not make his wounds bleed, and Crucify him a fresh; Why do you sometimes pretend love? Why do you laugh at those that do prize him, and boast of other bargains and lovers? What shall be said to Sinners? Christ would have you give up your selves; he begs you, though you are his before, he will accept it as a gift, he will but borrow you to mend you, and give you back to your selves again; he will but take away the dross, your filth, your sickness, your burden; he will make you sound and heart-whole, he will crown you with Glory and Honour, and make you truly good, and of worth; now your Heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, hard and unbelieving, he will make it tender, humble, and Heavenly, and so for Head, Tongue, and Life.
But If you will not hearken to, and love Christ, yet love your selves; if you will not accept of this Salvation, he will burn, he will destroy you. He that now woes and intreates, and came at first lowly and meek, will come shortly in flaming fire, reveal'd from Heaven with his mighty Angels,2 Thes. 1.7.8. to take vengeance of thee.
What shall I say, would you have Christ woe and intreat more, send other Messengers, and make other proposals, can he offer you more than he doth; more than himself and Heaven, and all in it; is he not altogether worthy and able? Can others do any thing for you, is there any other name? Can you help your selves without him?
3. Matter of information and serious consideration.
1. What an unspeakable mercy is it, if we are in a hopeful way of being sav'd from all this dreadful wrath; if we are undeceiv'd.
2. On the other hand how sad is their condition that have no friends, or helpes to undeceive them; not only a deceitful Heart within, but careless Parents, bad Examples, wicked Neighbours? all flatterers and no friends to their Souls.
3. Then it's a business of great concernment, and a work that requires care, watchfullness, pains, and diligence to have this Body and Soul eternally sav'd; were it so easie as many, most think, so many wise and learned, and rich and wary Men would not miscarry so wretchedly as they do.
4. We have cause to admire and prise the free Grace of God, that can save from this dreadful Hell, and make us unspeakably happy.