A Few Sighs from Hell, Exposition · Verse 31

A Few Sighs from Hell · Exposition · Verse 31

p. 185Ver. 31. And he ſaid unto him, If they hear not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded, though one riſe from the dead.

ANd he ſaid] That is, and God made anſwer to the words ſpoken in the verſe before, And he ſaid unto him, If they hear not Moſes. &c. As if he had ſaid, Moſes was a man of great renown, A man of worthy note, A man that talked with God face to face, as a man ſpeaketh to his friend; The words that Moſes ſpake were ſuch as I commanded him to ſpeak. Let who will queſtion them, I will own them, credit them, p. 186bleſs them that cloſe in with them, and curſe thoſe that reject them.

I my ſelf ſent the prophets they did not run of their own heads: I gave them commiſſion: I thruſt them out, and told them what they ſhould ſay. In a word, they have told the world what my mind is to do both to ſinners and to ſaints. They have Moſes and the Prophets let them hear them. Therefore he that ſhall reject and turn his back either upon the threatnings, counſels, admonitions, invitations, promiſes, or whatſoever elſe I have commanded them to ſpeak, as to ſalvation and life, and to directions therein, ſhall be ſure to have a ſhare in the many curſes, that they have ſpoken, and the deſtruction that is pronounced by them.

Again if they hear not Moſes and the Prophets, &c. As if he had ſaid, thou wouldeſt have me ſend one from the dead unto them, what needs that? They have my mind already, I have declared unto them what I intend to ſtand to, both for ſaving them that believe, and damning them that do not. That therefore which I have ſaid I will make good, whether they hear, or forbear. And as for this deſire of yours, you had as p. 187good deſire me to make a new Bible, and ſo to revoke my firſt ſayings by the mouth of my prophets. But I am God, and not man, and my word is immutable, unchangeable, and ſhall ſtand as faſt as my decrees can make it; Heaven and earth ſhall paſs away, but one jot or tittle of my word ſhall not paſs. If thou hadſt ten thouſand brethren, and every one in danger of loſing his ſoul, if they did not cloſe in with what is contained and recorded in the Scriptures of truth, they muſt even every one of them periſh and be for ever damned in hell: for the Scriptures cannot be broken. I did not ſend them ſo unadviſedly to recall it again by another conſideration. No, for I ſpeak it righteouſneſs and judgement, Iſa. 63.1, 2, 3. and in much wiſdom and counſel. It being therefore gone out of my mouth in this manner, it ſhall not return in vain until it hath accompliſhed the thing whereto I have ſent it.

But again, thou ſuppoſeſt that miracles and wonders will work more on them, which makes thee ſay, ſend one from the dead. But herein thou art miſtaken, for I have proved them with that once and again, by more then one, or two, or three p. 188of my ſervants. How many miracles did my ſervant Moſes work by commandment from me in the land of Egypt, at the red ſea, and in the wilderneſs; yet they of that generation were never the ſooner converted for that, but notwithſtanding rebelled & luſted, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt, Acts 7. How many miracles did Samuel, David, Elias, Eliſha, Daniel, and the Prophets, together with my Sonne, who raiſed the dead, caſt out devils, made them to ſee that were borne blind, gave and reſtored limbs, yet for all this (as I ſaid before) they hated him, they crucified him. I raiſed him again from the dead, and he appeared to his diſciples who were called, and choſen, and faithful, and he gave them commandment and commiſſion to go and teſtifie the truth of this to the world: and to confirme the ſame he inabled them to ſpeak with divers tongues, and to work miracles moſt plentifully, yet there was great perſecution raiſed againſt them, inſomuch that but a few of them died in their beds. And therefore, though thou thinkeſt that a miracle will do ſo much with the world, yet I ſay, No. For if p. 189they will not believe Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded though one ſhould riſe from the dead.

From theſe words therefore take notice of this truth, namely that thoſe who reject, and believe not Moſes and the Prophets, are a very hard-hearted people, that will not be perſwaded though one riſe from the dead.

Again, they that regard not the holy Scriptures to turn to God, finding them to teſtifie of his goodneſs and merciemercy, there is but little hopes of their ſalvation; for they will not, Mark, They will not be perſwaded though one ſhould riſe from the dead. This truth is confirmed by Jeſus Chriſt himſelf. If you read Joh. 5. where the Lord is ſpeaking of himſelf, that he is the very Chriſt: he brings in four or five witneſſes to back what he ſaid. Firſt, John Baptist. 2 The works that his Father gave him to do. 3. His Father ſpeaking from heaven. 4. The teſtimony of the Scriptures; when all this was done, ſeeing yet they would not believe, he layes the fault upon one of theſe two things. 1. Their regarding an eſteem among men. 2. Their not believing of the Prophets writings, even p. 190Moſes and the reſt. For had ye believed Moſes (ſaith he,) ye would have believed me; why? For he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how can ye believe my words. Now I ſay, he that ſhall ſlight the Scriptures, and the teſtimonie of the prophets in them concerning Jeſus Chriſt, muſt needs be in great danger of loſing his ſoul if he abide in this condition; becauſe he that ſlights the teſtimony, doth alſo ſlight the thing that is teſtified of, let him ſay what he will, and ſay the contrary never ſo often. For as Jeſus Chriſt hath here laid down the reaſon of mens not receiving him, ſo the Apoſtle in another place layes down the reaſon again with an high and mighty aggravation. 1 Joh. 5.10. ſaying, He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witneſs in himſelf: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; becauſe he believeth not the Record. Mark, the Record that God gave of his Son. The record, you will ſay, what is that? Even the teſtimony that God gave of him by the mouth of all the holy Prophets ſince the world began, Acts 3.20. That is, God ſending his holy Spirit into the hearts of his ſervants the Prophets and p. 191Apoſtles, he by his Spirit in them did bear witneſs, or record, to the truth of ſalvation by his Son Jeſus, both before, and after his comming. And thus is that place alſo to be underſtood which ſaith, There are three that bear record in earth, the Spirit and the Water, and the Blood. That is, the Spirit in the Apoſtles which preached him to the world, as is clear if you read ſeriouſly, 1 Theſſ. 4.8. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of Jeſus Chriſt, and obedience to God through him, ſaith thus, Now he that deſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not us, No? who then? Why God: But it is you that ſpeak. True, but it is by and through the Spirit. He therefore that deſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not man, but God, who alſo hath given us of his holy Spirit. This is therefore a mighty confirmation of this truth, that he that ſlights the record or teſtimony that God by his ſpirit in his Prophets and Apoſtles hath teſtified unto us, ſlights the teſtimony of the ſpirit who moved them to ſpeak theſe things: and if ſo, then I would fain know, how any man can be ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt that ſlights the teſtimony concerning Chriſt, yea, the teſtimony of his own ſpirit concerning his own ſelf. p. 192'Tis true, men may pretend to have the teſtimony of the Spirit, and from that conceit ſet a low eſteem on the holy Scriptures: But that ſpirit that dwelleth in them and teacheth them ſo to do, it is no better then the ſpirit of Satan, though it calls it ſelf by the name of the ſpirit of Chriſt. To the law therefore and to the teſtimony, Try them by that: If they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them.

The Apoſtle Peter when he ſpeaks of the glorious voice that he had from the excellent Majeſty, ſaying of Chriſt, This is my beloved Son, hear him, ſaith thus to them whom he wrote unto; You have alſo a more ſure word of prophecy (or of the prophets, for ſo you may read it) unto which you do well that you take heed. That is, though we tell you that we had his excellent teſtimony from his own mouth, evidently, yet you have the prophets: we tell you this, and you need not doubt of the truth of it, but if you ſhould, yet you may not, muſt not, ought not, to queſtion them, Search therefore unto them until the day dawn, and the day ſtar ariſe in your hearts. That is, until by the ſame ſpirit that gave p. 193forth the Scripture, you find the truth confirmed to your ſouls which you have recorded in the Scriptures. That this word of prophecy, or of the prophets, is the Scriptures, read on. For (ſaith he) knowing this firſt that no prophecy of the Scriptures, is of any private interpretation, &c. 2 Pet. 1.18, 19, 20. But you will ſay, What needs all this ado, and why is all this time and pains ſpent in ſpeaking to this that is ſurely believed already? This is a thing received by all, that they believe the Scriptures to be the word of God, that ſure word of prophecy, and therefore you need not ſpend your time in proving theſe things and the truth of them ſeeing we grant and confeſs the truth of it before you begin to ſpeak your judgement of them.

Anſw. The truths of God cannot be borne witneſs unto too often, you may as well ſay, You need not preach Jeſus Chriſt ſo much, ſeeing he hath been and is received for the true Meſſias already.

2. Though many may ſuppoſe that they do believe the Scriptures, yet if they were but well examined you would find them either by word of mouth, or p. 194elſe by converſation, to deny, reject, and ſlight the holy Scriptures. 'Tis true, there is a notional, and hiſtoricall aſſent in the head, I ſay, In the head of many, or moſt, to the truth contained in Scripture: but try them, I ſay, and you ſhall find but a little, if any, of the faith of the operation of God, in the hearts of poor men to believe the Scriptures and things contained in them. 'Tis true, many, yea moſt men believe the Scriptures as they believe a fable, a ſtory, a tale, of which there is no certainty; but alas! there are but few do intend, and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the very word of God.

But you will ſay, this ſeems ſtrange to me. Anſw. And it ſeems as true to me, and I doubt not but to make it manifeſt, and plainly to appear, that there are but few, yea, very few, that do effectually (for that I aim at) believe the Scriptures, and the truths contained in, and ſpoken of by them. But to make this appear, and that to purpoſe (if God will) I ſhall lay you down the ſeveral operations that the Scriptures have on them who do effectually believe the things contained in them.

p. 1951. He that doth effectually believe the Scriptures, hath in the firſt place been killed, I ſay killed by the authoirty of the holy Scriptures; ſtruck ſtark dead in a ſpiritual ſenſe by the holy Scripture, being ſet home by that ſpirit which gave them forth upon the ſoul. The letter killeth; the letter ſtrikes men dead, 2 Cor. 3.6. and this Paul witneſſed and found before he could ſay, I believe all that the prophets have ſpoken. Where he ſaith, I was alive without the Law once; That is, in my natural ſtate, before the Law was ſet on my heart with power: But when the commandement came, ſinne revived and I died, Rom. 7.9. and that law that was ordained to life I found to be unto death: For ſin taking occaſion by the commandment deceived me, and thereby ſtew me. v. 10. Now that which is called the Letter in Cor. is called the Law in Rom. 7. which by its power and operation, as it is wielded by the Spirit of God, doth in the firſt place kill and ſlay all thoſe that are enabled to believe the Scriptures. I kill ſaith God; That is, with my law. I pierce, I wound, I prick men into the very heart by ſhewing them their ſins againſt p. 196my law, Acts 2.36, 37. And he that is ignorant of this, is alſo ignorant of, and doth not really and effectually believe the Scripture.

But you will ſay, how doth the law kill and ſtrike dead the poor creature? Anſw. Firſt the letter or law, do kill thus. It is ſet home upon the ſoul, and diſcovers to the ſoul its tranſgreſſions againſt the law; and ſhews the ſoul alſo that it cannot compleatly ſatisfie the juſtice of God for the breach of his law, therefore it is condemned, Joh. 3.19. Mark, He that believes not is condemned already; To wit, by the law, that is, the law doth condemn him, yea, it hath condemned him already for his ſins againſt it, as it is written, Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them, Gal. 3.10. Now all men as they come into the world are in this condition, that is, condemned by the law. Yet not believing that their condemnation by the law really, they do not alſo believe really and effectually the law that doth condemn them. For as men have but a notion of the one, that is, their condemnation, becauſe of ſins againſt p. 197the law;Verſe 3 ſo they have but a notion of the condemning, killing, and deſtroying power of the law; for as the one is, ſo in theſe things, alwayes is the other; there is no man that doth really believe the law or Goſpel further, then they do feel the power and authority of them in their hearts. Ye erre, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Now this letter, or law, is not to be taken in the largeſt ſenſe, but is ſtrictly to be tyed to the ten Commandments, whoſe proper work is onelyonly by ſhewing the ſoul its ſins againſt this law to kill, and there leaves him ſtark dead, not giving him the leaſt life, or ſupport, or comfort, but leaves the ſoul in an helpleſs and hopeleſs condition as from it ſelf, or any other meer creature. 'Tis true, the law hath laid all men for dead, as they come into the world; but all men do not ſee themſelves dead, untill they ſee that law that ſtruck them dead, ſticking in their ſouls, and having ſtruck them that fatall blow. As a man that is faſt aſleep in an houſe, and that on fire about his ears, and he not knowing of it, becauſe he is aſleep; even ſo, becauſe poor ſouls are aſleep in ſin, though the p. 196duplicate page p. 197duplicate page p. 198wrath of God,Verſe. 31. the curſe of his law, and the flames of hell have beſet them round about, yet they do not believe it becauſe they are aſleep in ſin. Now he that is awakened and ſees this, ſees, that through this he is a dead man: Even ſo they that do ſee their ſtate by nature, being ſuch a ſad condition, do alſo ſee themſelves by that law to be dead men naturally.

But now, when didſt thou feel the power of this firſt part of the Scripture, the law, ſo mighty as to ſtrike thee dead? if not, thou doſt not ſo much as verily believe that part of Scripture that doth contain the law in it, to be the truth of God. Yet if thou ſhouldeſt have felt ſomething, I ſay ſomething of the killing power of the law of God in thine heart, this is not an argument to prove that thou believeſt all the things contained in Scripture; for there is Goſpel as well as Law, and therefore I ſhall ſpeak to that alſo. That is, whether thou haſt felt the power of the Goſpel, as well as ſomething of the power of the Law.

2. Then if, thou haſt found the power of the Goſpel, and ſo believed it; p. 199thou haſt found it thus with thy ſoul. 1. Thou haſt been ſhewed by the word or truth of the Goſpel in the light of the Spirit of Chriſt, that by nature thou wert without the true faith of the Son of God in thy ſoul: For when He, the Spirit is come, he ſhall ſhew men that they believe not in me, ſaith Chriſt, Joh. 16.9. For mark, though thou haſt, as I ſaid before, felt ſomewhat of the power of the Law, Letter, or ten Commandments, yet if thou haſt not been brought to this, to ſee by the ſpirit in the Goſpel, that thou art without faith by nature, thou haſt not yet taſted, much leſs believed any part of the Goſpel. For the Goſpel and the Law are two diſtinct covenants (as I have before ſhewed:) And they that are under the law maybe convinced by it, and ſo believe the law or firſt covenant, and yet in the mean time to be a ſtranger to the covenant of promiſe; that is, the Goſpel, & ſo have no hope in them, (Eph. 2.12.) There is not any promiſe that can be ſavingly believed, untill the ſoul be by the Goſpel converted to Jeſus Chriſt. For though men do think never ſo much that they believe the things of the Goſpel, or the word of the Goſpel p. 200of our ſalvation, yet unleſs they have the work of grace in their ſouls, they do not, cannot rightly believe the things contained in the Scriptures.

Again, as the law killeth thoſe that believe it, even ſo the promiſes contained in the Goſpel, do through faith adminiſter comfort to thoſe that believe it aright. My words (ſaith Chriſt) my words, they are ſpirit, and they (Mark, and they) are life, Joh. 6.63. As if he had ſaid, The words contained in in the law as a covenant of works, they wound, they kill, they ſtrike dead thoſe that are under them. But as for me, the words that I ſpeake unto you, they are ſpirit and they are life. That is, whoſoever doth receive them believingly, ſhall find them full of operation to comfort, quicken, and revive their ſoul. For as I did not come into the world to deſtroy mens lives, ſo the words that I ſpeak, as I am ſent to preach the Goſpel, they have no ſuch tendency unto thoſe that believe them. The promiſes that are in the Goſpel, Oh, how do they comfort them? ſuch a promiſe, and ſuch a promiſe, O how ſweet is it? O how comfortable to thoſe that believe them? p. 201Alas, there are many poor ſouls that think they believe the Scriptures, that they believe the word of God, and yet poor ſouls that they are, they never enjoyed any thing of the life and power of the promiſes to comfort them, after they were killed by the law: For mark, If thy comfort be indeed by the promiſes they come in upon thy heart to quicken, to revive thee, to raiſe thee from the ſentence of death that is paſſed on thee by the law. And through the faith that is wrought in thy ſoul by the operation of Gods holy Spirit (though once killed by the Law or Letter) thou art made alive in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, preſented to thy ſoul in the promiſes.

3. Doſt thou indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the word of God, then the things contained in them, eſpecially the things of the Goſpel are very excellent to thy ſoul, as the birth of Chriſt, the death, reſurrection, interceſſion, and ſecond coming of Chriſt, O how precious and excellent are they to thy ſoul, inſomuch, that thou regardeſt nothing in compariſon of them. O! it is Chriſts birth, death, blood, reſurrection, &c. according to the Scriptures, that thou doeſt rejoyce in exceedingly, and abundantly p. 202deſire after, 1 Cor. 15.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. compare with Phil. 3.6, 7, 8.

4. Doeſt thou believe the Scriptures to be the word of God? Then thou ſtandeſt in aw of, and doſt much reverence them. Why, they are the word of God, the true ſayings of God; they are the counſel of God; they are his promiſes and his threatnings. 'Tis like, poor ſouls are apt to think, If I could hear God ſpeak to me from heaven with an audible voice, then ſure, ſay they, I ſhould be ſerious, and ſure I ſhould believe it. But truly if God ſhould ſpeak to thee from heaven except thou wert converted, thou wouldeſt not regard nor really believe him. But if thou doeſt believe the Scriptures thou ſeeſt that they are the truth, as really as if God ſhould ſpeak to thee from heaven through the clouds, and therefore never flatter thy ſelf, fooliſhly thinking, that if it were ſo, and ſo, then thou couldeſt believe. I tell thee, ſaith Chriſt, If they believe not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one ſhould riſe from the dead. But,

5. Doeſt thou believe the Scripture to be the word of God? Then through p. 203faith in Chriſt, thou endeavoureſt to have thy life ſquareed according to the Scriptures, both in word and practice. Nay, this, I ſay, thou mayeſt have, though thou do not believe them all. My meaning is, that if thou believe none but the ten Commandments, thy life may be according to them a legal holy life: and if thou do believe the Goſpel too, then thy life will be the faith of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; that is, either thou wilt live in the bleſſed and holy enjoyment of what is teſtified in the Scripture concerning the glorious things of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, or elſe, thou wilt be exceedingly panting after them. For the Scriptures carry ſuch a bleſſed beauty in them to that ſoul that hath faith in the things contained in them, that they do take the heart and captivate the ſoul of him that believeth them, into the love and liking of them.

6. He that believes the Scriptures to be the word of God, if he do but ſuppoſe that any one place of the Scripture doth exclude him, and ſhut him out of, and from a ſhare in the promiſes contained in them: O it will trouble him, grieve him, perplex him, yea he will not p. 204be ſatisfied until he be reſolved, and th… contrary ſealed to his ſoul, for he know… that the Scriptures are the word o… God, all truth; and therefore he know… that if any one ſentence doth exclude… or bar out him, for want of this or the other qualification; he knows alſo that not the word alone ſhuts him out, but he that ſpeaks it, even God himſelf; and therefore he cannot, will not, dare not be contented untill he find his ſoul and Scripture together (with the things contained therein) to embrace each other, and a ſweet correſpondency and agreement be between them. For you muſt know, that to him that believes the Scriptures aright, the promiſes, or threatnings are of more power to comfort or caſt down, then all the promiſes or threatnings of all the men in the world. And this was the cauſe why the Martyrs of Jeſus, did ſo ſlight both the promiſes of their adverſaries, when they would have overcome them with profering the great things of this world unto them, and alſo their threatnings, when they told them they would rack them, hang them, burn them; none of theſe things could prevail upon them, or againſt them, becauſe they did p. 205moſt really believe the Scriptures, & the things contained in them; as is cleerly found, and to be ſeen in Heb. 11. and alſo in Mr. Fox, his records of their brethren.

7. He that believeth the Scriptures to be the word of God; believeth that men muſt be borne again, and have that faith which is of the operation of God, or elſe they cannot be ſaved. And he that believeth this, believeth alſo, that if he be not borne again, and alſo be partakers of that faith which is of the operation of God, (according as he hath read and believed,) he muſt and ſhall be damned. And he that believeth this aright, will not be contented until (according as it is written,) he do partake of, and enjoy the new birth, and until he do find through grace that faith, that is wrought by the operation of God, in his ſoul. For this is the cauſe why men do ſatisfie themſelves with ſo ſlender a conceited hope that their ſtate is good, (when it is nothing ſo) namely, becauſe, they do not credit the Scripture; for did they, they would look into their own hearts, and examine ſeriouſly whether that faith, that hope, that grace which they think they have, be of that nature, p. 206and wrought by that ſpirit and power, that the Scripture ſpeaketh of. I ſpeak this of an effectual believing, without which all other is nothing unto ſalvation. Now then becauſe I would not be too tedious, I ſhall at this time lay down no more diſcoveries of ſuch an one as doth ſavingly believe the Scriptures, and the things contained in them, but ſhall ſpeak a few words of examination containing the things already mentioned. As,

1. Thou ſayeſt thou doſt indeed and in truth effectually believe the Scriptures, I ask therefore, waſt thou ever killed ſtark dead by the law of works contained in the Scriptures? To be killed, and to be ſtruck dead, you will ſay, what is that? Why, to be killed by the law or letter, is by the power thereof to be made to ſee thy ſins againſt it, and to be left in an helpleſs condition by that law, for I ſay the proper work of the law is to ſlay the ſoul, and to leave it dead, in a helpleſs ſtate. For it doth neither give the ſoul any comfort it ſelf, when it comes, nor doth it ſhew the ſoul where comfort is to be had; and therefore it is called the miniſtration p. 207of condemnation, as in 2 Cor. 3.9. Yea in plain termes, the miniſtration of death, 2 Cor. 3.7. For though men may have a notion of the bleſſed word of God as as the children had, yet before they be converted, it may truly be ſaid of to them, Ye erre, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God, Mark 12.24.

2. You ſay you do believe the Scriptures to be the word of God. I ſay again, examine, waſt thou ever quickened from a dead ſtate by the power of the Spirit of Chriſt through the other part of the Scripture. That is to ſay, by the power of God in his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt through the covenant of promiſe. I tell thee from the Lord, if thou haſt, thou haſt felt ſuch a quickning power in the words of Chriſt, (Joh. 6.) that thou haſt been lifted out of that dead condition that thou before waſt in, and that when thou waſt under the guilt of ſin, the curſe of the law, and the power of the devil, and the juſtice of the great God; that thou haſt been inabled by the power of God in Chriſt revealed to thee by the Spirit, through, and by the Scripture, to look ſin, death, hell, the devil, and the law, and all things that are at enmity p. 208with thee for thy ſins, with boldneſs and comfort in the face, through the blood, death, righteouſneſs, reſurrection, and interceſſion of Chriſt made mention of in the Scriptures.

And thirdly, on this account, O how excellent are the Scriptures to thy ſoul! O how much virtue doſt thou ſee in ſuch a promiſe, in ſuch an invitation! O ſayeſt thou! there are ſome promiſes in the book of God that I have had nouriſhment from, and through Chriſt in them! O they are ſo large; they ſay Chriſt will in no wiſe caſt me out! My crimſon ſins ſhall be white as ſnow. I tell thee friend there are ſome promiſes that the Lord hath helped me to lay hold of Jeſus Chriſt through, and by, that I would not have out of the Bible, for as much Gold and Silver as can lie between York and London piled up to the ſtars. And why ſo? O becauſe through them Chriſt is pleaſed by his Spirit, to convey comfort to my ſoul! O I ſay, when the law curſes, when the Devil tempts, when hell-fire flames in my conſcience, my ſins with the guilt of them tearing of me, then is Chriſt revealed ſo ſweetly to my poor ſoul p. 209through the promiſes: that all is forced to fly and leave off to accuſe my ſoul. So alſo, when the world frowns, when the enemies rage and threaten to knock me in the head, then alſo the precious, yea, the exceeding great and precious promiſes do weigh down all, and comfort the ſoul againſt all. This is the effect of believing the Scriptures ſavingly; for they that do ſo, have by and through the Scriptures good comfort, and alſo ground of hope. Rom. 15.4. believing thoſe things to be its own which the Scriptures hold forth.

4. Examine, doſt thou ſtand in aw of ſinning againſt God, becauſe he hath in the Scriptures commanded thee to abſtain from it? Doſt thou give diligence to make thy calling and election ſure, becauſe God commandeth it in Scripture? Doſt thou examine thy ſelf whether thou be in the faith or no, having a command in Scripture ſo to do? Or doſt thou (notwithſtanding what thou readeſt in the Scripture, follow the world; delight in ſin; neglect coming to Jeſus Chriſt; ſpeak evil of the Saints; ſlight and make a mock at the ordinances of God, delight in wicked company, p. 210and the like. Then know that it is becauſe thou doſt not indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures effectually. For as I ſaid before, if a man do believe them, and that ſavingly, O then he ſtands in aw, he looks to his ſteps, he turns his feet from evil, and endeavours to follow that which is good, which God hath commanded in the Scriptures of truth; yet not from a legal or natural principle, that is, to ſeek for life by doing that good thing, but knowing that ſalvation is already obtained for him, by the blood of that man Chriſt Jeſus on the Croſs, becauſe he believes the Scriptures; therefore (mark I pray) therefore I ſay, he labours to walk with his God, in all well pleaſing and godlineſs becauſe the ſweet power of the loves of Chriſt which he feels in his ſoul by the Spirit according to the Scriptures, conſtrain him ſo to do, 2 Cor. 5.14.

5. Examine again, doſt thou labour after thoſe qualifications that the Scriptures do deſcribe a child of God by? that is faith, yea the right faith, the moſt holy faith, the faith of the operation of God. And alſo doſt thou examine whether p. 211there is a real growth of grace in thy ſoul, as love, zeal, ſelf-denial and a ſeeking by all means to attain, (if poſſible) to the reſurrection of the dead; that is, not to ſatisfie thy ſelf until thou be diſſolved & rid of this body of death, and be transformed into that glory that the Saints ſhall be in after the reſurrection day; and in the mean time doſt labour, and take all opportunities to walk as near as may be to the pitch, though thou know thou canſt not attain it perfectly, yet I ſay, thou doeſt aim at it, ſeek after it, preſs towards it, and to hold on in thy race thou ſhunneſt that which may any way hinder thee, and alſo cloſe in with what may any way further the ſame: knowing, that that muſt be, or deſiring that it ſhould be thine eternal frame, and therefore out of love and liking to it, thou doſt deſire and long after it, as being the thing that doth much pleaſe thy ſoul.

Or how is it with thy ſoul? Art thou ſuch an one as regards not theſe things? but rather buſie thy thoughts about the things here below, following thoſe things that have no ſent of divine glory upon them: if ſo, look to thy ſelf, for p. 212it is high time for thee ſo to do, for thou art an unbeliever, and ſo under the wrath of God, and wilt for certain fall into the ſame place of torment that thy fellows have fallen into before thee, to the grief of thy own ſoul, and everlaſting deſtruction both of ſoul and body.

Conſider and regard theſe things, and lay them to thy heart, before it be too late to recover thy ſelf by repenting of the one, and deſiring to cloſe in with the other. O I ſay, regard, regard, for hell is hot, Gods hand is up, the Law is reſolved to diſcharge againſt thy ſoul; the judgement-day is at hand; the graves are ready to fly open, the trumpet is near the ſounding, the ſentence will ere long be paſt, and then you and I cannot call time again.

Now then from what hath been ſpoken, there might many things be ſpoken by way of Uſe and Application: But I ſhall be very brief, and but touch ſome things and ſo wind up. And firſt, I ſhall begin with the ſad condition of thoſe that die out of Chriſt and ſpeak ſomething to that. Secondly, to the latter end of the parable which more evidently concerns the Scripture and ſpeak ſomewhat to that.

1. Therefore you ſee that the former part of the parable contains a ſad declaration of the ſtate of one living and dying out of Chriſt; how that they loſe heaven for hell, God for the devil, light for darkneſs, joy for ſorrow.

2. How that they have not ſo much as the leaſt comfort from God, who in the time they live here below, neglect coming to him for mercy; not ſo much as one drop of cold water.

3. That ſuch ſouls will repent of their folly when repentance will do them no good, or when they ſhall be paſt recovery.

4. That all the comfort ſuch ſouls are like to have, they have it in this world.

5. That all their groanings and ſighs will not move God to mitigate in the leaſt his heavy hand of vengeance that is upon them, for the tranſgreſſions they have committed againſt him.

6. That their ſad ſtate is irrecoverable; or they muſt never, (mark) never come out of that condition.

7. There deſires will not be heard for their ungodly neighbours.

From theſe things then I pray you conſider the ſtate of thoſe that die out of Chriſt Jeſus, yea I ſay, conſider their miſerable ſtate; and think thus with thy ſelf. Well, if I neglect coming to Chriſt, I muſt go to the devil, and he will not neglect to fetch me away into thoſe intollerable torments. Think thus with thy ſelf; What, ſhall I loſe a long heaven for ſhort pleaſure? ſhall I buy the pleaſures of this world at ſo dear a rate as to loſe my ſoul for the obtaining of that? Shall I content my ſelf with a heaven, that will laſt no longer then my life time? What advantage will theſe be to me when the Lord ſhall ſeparate ſoul and body aſunder, and ſend one to the grave, the other to hell, and at the judgement-day the final ſentence of eternal ruine muſt be paſt upon me?

6. Conſider, that the profits, pleaſures, and vanities of this world will not laſt ever, but the time is coming, yea juſt at the doors, when they will give thee the ſlip, and leave thee in the ſuds, and in the brambles of all that thou haſt done.

And therefore to prevent this thy p. 215diſmal ſtate, think thus with thy ſelf. 'Tis true, I do love my ſins, my luſts, and pleaſures, but what good will they do me at the day of death, and of judgement? Will my ſins do me good then, will they be able to help me when I come to fetch my laſt breath? What good will my profits do me? and what good will my vanities do when death ſayes he will have no nay? What good will all my companions, fellow jeſters, jeerers, liars, drunkards, and all my wantons do me? will they help to eaſe the pains of hell? will theſe help …o turn the hand of God from inflicting his fierce anger upon me? Nay, will not they rather cauſe God to ſhew me no mercy, to give me no comfort; but rather to thruſt me down in- into the hotteſt place in hell where I may ſwim in fire and brimſtone.

3. Conſider thus with thy ſelf; Would I be glad to have all, every one of my ſins to come in againſt me to inflame the juſtice of God againſt me? would I be glad to be bound up in them as the three Children were bound in their clothes, and to be as really thrown into the fiery furnace of the wrath of almighty God, as they were into Nebuchadnezzars fiery furnace.

p. 2164. Conſider thus. Would I be glad to have all and every one of the ten Commandments to diſcharge themſelves againſt my ſoul? The firſt ſaying damne him, for he hath broken me. The ſecond ſaying damne him, for he hath broken me, &c. Conſider how terrible this will be, yea more terrible then if thou ſhouldeſt have ten of the biggeſt peeces of Ordnance in England to be diſcharged againſt thy body; thunder, thunder, one after another. Nay, this would not be comparable to the reports that the law (for the breach thereof) will give againſt thy ſoul: For thoſe can but kill the body; but theſe will kill both body and ſoul; and that, not for an hour, a day, a month, or a year, but they will condemn thee for ever. Mark, it is for ever, for ever. It is into everlaſting damnation. eternal deſtruction, eternal wrath and diſpleaſure from God, eternal gnawings of conſcience, eternal continuance with devils.

O conſider, it may be the thoughts of ſeeing the devil doth now make thine hair to ſtand right up on the head. O but this to be damned, to be among all the devils, and that not onelyonly for a time, p. 217as I ſaid before, but for ever to all eternity.

This is, wonderfully miſerable, even miſerable; that no tongue of man, no nor of Angels is able to expreſs it.

5. Conſider thus with thy ſelf, not onelyonly my ſins againſt the law will be laid to my charge, but alſo the ſins I have committed in ſlighting the goſpel, the glorious Goſpel; theſe alſo muſt come with a voice againſt me. As thus, Nay, he is worthy to be damned, for he rejected the Goſpel, he undervalued the Goſpel, he ſlighted the free grace of God tendred in the Goſpel. How many times waſt thou (damned wretch) invited, intreated beſeeched to come to Chriſt, to accept of mercy, that thou mighteſt have heaven, thy ſins pardoned, thy ſoul ſaved, and body and ſoul glorified, and all this for nothing but the acceptance, and through faith forſaking thoſe imps of Satan, which by their embracements have drawn thee downward toward the gulf of Gods eternal diſpleaſure.

How often didſt thou read the promiſes, yea the free promiſes of the common ſalvation? How oft didſt thou p. 218read the ſweet counſels and admontions of the Goſpel to accept of the grace of God, but thou wouldſt not, thou regardeſt it not, thou didſt ſlight all.

2. As I would have thee to conſider the ſad and woful ſtate of thoſe that die out of Chriſt, and are paſt all recovery; ſo would I have thee conſider the many mercies and priviledges thou enjoyeſt above ſome (peradventure) of thy companions that are departed to their proper place. As firſt, conſider thou haſt ſtill the thread of thy life lengthened which for thy ſins might ſeaven years ago, or more, have been cut aſunder, and thou have dropped down among the flames.

2. Conſider, the termes of reconciliation by faith in Chriſt, is ſtill profered unto thee, and thou invited, yea intreated to accept of it.

3. Conſider, the termes of reconciliation is but (bear with me though I ſay but) onelyonly to believe in Jeſus Chriſt with that faith that purifies the heart and enables thy ſoul to feed on him effectually, and be ſaved from this ſad ſtate.

4. Conſider, the time of thy departure p. 219is at hand, and the time is uncertain, and alſo that for ought thou knoweſt the day of grace may be be paſt to thee before thou …ieſt, not laſting ſo long as thy uncertain life in this world. And if ſo, then know for certain that thou art as ſure to be damned as if thou wert in hell alread…, if thou convert not in the mean while.

5. Conſider, it may be ſome of thy friends are giving all dilligence to make their calling and election ſure, being reſolved for heaven, and thou thy ſelf endeavoureſt as faſt to make ſure of hell, as if reſolved to have it: and together, with this, conſider how it will grieve thee, that while thou wert making ſure of hell, thy friends were making ſure of heaven: but more of this by and by.

6. Conſider, what a ſad reflection this will have on thy ſoul to ſee thy friends in heaven and thy ſelf in hell; thy Father in heaven, and thou in hell; thy Mother in heaven, and thou in hell; thy Brother, thy Siſter, thy Children in heaven, and thou in hell. As Chriſt ſaid to the Jews of their relations according the fleſh, ſo may I ſay to thee concerning thy friends, There ſhall be weeping p. 220and wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth, when ye ſhall ſee your Fathers and Mothers, Brethren and Siſters, Husbands and Wives, Children and Kinsfolk, with your Friends and neighbours, in the kingdom of heaven, and thou thy ſelf thruſt out, Luke 13, 27, 28, 29.

But again, becauſe I would not onelyonly tell thee of the damnable ſtate of thoſe that die out of Chriſt, but alſo perſwade thee to take hold of life and go to heaven, take notice of theſe following things.

1. Conſider, that what ever thou canſt do, as to thy acceptance with God, is not worth the dirt of thy ſhoes, but is all as menſtruous rags, Iſa. 64.6.

2. Conſider, that all the conditions of the new covenant (as to ſalvation) are and have been compleatly fulfilled by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and that for ſinners.

3. Conſider, that the Lord calls to thee for to receive whatſoever Chriſt hath done, and that on free coſt, Rev. 22.17.

4. Conſider, that thou canſt not honour God, more then to cloſe in with his profers of grace, mercy, and pardon of ſin. Rom. 4.

p. 221And becauſe there is a gap open for poor ſinners to come from under the curſe and condemnation of the Law into the grace of Chriſt, (for there is one made by the blood of Chriſt, he having broken down the middle wall of partion) I ſhall ſpeak a few words further, and they are theſe.

To invite ſinners, ſeeing there is mercy and deliverance to be had, to come in and accept of it, and that from theſe conſiderations.

1. Conſider thy ſtate by nature if thou come not in, which is this. Thou art under the breach of the law, and ſo under the curſe, which doth call for inexpreſſible deſtruction. I mean deſtruction of ſoul, deſtruction of body, deſtruction by fire, by hell fire; by the fire the devils muſt be burned in, even eternal fire: deſtruction from God for ſins againſt the law, without intermiſſion, without eaſe, without end, without hopes of any recovery, or of ever coming out of this ſad and miſerable condition.

2. Conſider, thou wilt bring all this upon thy ſelf for having ſome of the devils brats, ſome helliſh luſts, that like p. 222ſo many witches, imps, will ſuck and draw thy ſoul from God, Chriſt, Angels, Saints, Heaven and all happineſs.

3. Conſider, thou wilt buy ſin at a dear rate, inaſmuch as it will coſt the body, ſoul, eaſe, peace, joy, comfort, heaven, God, Chriſt, &c.

4. Conſider, that that Chriſt who will …ow ſave the ſoul and body if thou wilt come in, will hereafter reject thee, and caſt thee out from the joyes of the world to come, and damn thee, though thou hadſt a thouſand ſouls, without any pitty or yerning of bowels toward thee, if thou ſhalt refuſe him now.

5. That which is worſe then all the reſt thou ſhalt have the very mercy of God, the blood of Chriſt, the preachers of the word, together with every Sermon, all the promiſes, invitations, exhortations, and all the counſels and threatnings of the bleſſed word of God: Nay, beſides, thou ſhalt have all thy thoughts words and actions, together with all thy food, thy raiment, thy ſleep, thy goods, and alſo all hours, dayes, weeks, moneths, and years, together with whatſoever elſe God hath given the…e, I ſay, thy abuſe of all theſe ſhall p. 223come up in judgement againſt thy ſoul. For God will reckon with thee for every thing, whether it be good or bad, Eccleſ. 12.14.

Again. 7. Thy damnation will be worſe then the damnation of the very devils, foraſmuch as thou wilt have not onelyonly the law from God as a Creator (which they alſo had) to anſwer for the breach of; But thou wilt have thy rejection of the tenders of the glorious Goſpel of the glorious Lord Jeſus to anſwer for, (as I ſaid before) which ſin the devil was never in a capacity to commit, inaſmuch as he never had the Goſpel tendered to him. But thou vile wretch haſt had it over and over, once and again, time after time, and that with intreaties, beſeechings, wiſhings and wooings, by one meſſengers after another, and yet haſt reject…d. O wonderful calamity that is coming upon thee! For firſt, thou ſhalt fall into endleſs torment. Secondly, thou ſhalt groan and weep to ſee for what thou haſt brought thy ſelf into ſuch a ſad and miſerable condition. Thirdly, thou ſhalt weep to think that weeping and repenting will do thee no good. Fourthly, thou ſhalt ſee thy p. 224neighbours in heaven, thy Father Mother, or other of thy relations, but they ſhall not groan for thee, but rather rejoyce that the judgements of God have found out thee ſo vile a wretch and are a puniſhing thee. The righteous ſhall rejoyce when he ſeeth the vengeance: he ſhall waſh his feet in the blood of the wicked. Pſal. 58.10. O woful! woful! One would think this enough (if thou be not ſtark mad, and fully bent to give the devil thy ſoul) to make thee fly to Chriſt for ſuccour and help that thou mayeſt be delivered in the day of trouble.

I ſay therefore conſider ſeriouſly of theſe things. 1. May not the very devils themſelves come in againſt thee, as well as Sodom that damned crue? May not they I ſay come in againſt thee and ſay, O thou ſimple man or woman! O vile wretch that had not ſo much care of thy ſoul, thy precious ſoul, as the beaſt hath of his young, or the dog of the very bone that lyeth before him. Was thy ſoul worth ſo much, and didſt thou ſo little regard it? were the thunder-claps of the law ſo terrible, and didſt thou ſo ſlight them? Beſides, was the Goſpel ſo freely, ſo frequently, ſo fully p. 225tendered to thee, and yet haſt thou rejected all theſe things?

Haſt thou valued ſin at an higher rate then thy ſoul? then God, Chriſt, Angels, Saints, and Communion with them in eternal Bleſſedneſs, and Glory? Waſt thou not told of hell fire, thoſe intollerable flames? Didſt thou never hear of the intollerable roarings of the damned ones that are therein? Didſt thou never hear or read that doleful ſaying in the 16. of Luke, how the ſinful man cries out among the flames, One drop of water to cool my tongue. Thus I ſay may the very devils, being ready to go with thee into the burning furnace of fire and brimſtone, though not for ſins of ſo high a nature as thine, tremblingly ſay, Oh that Chriſt had died for devils, as he died for man! And, Oh that the Goſpel had been preached to us, as it hath been to thee! O how glad would we have been of it! How would we have laboured to have cloſed in with it? But woe be to us, for we might never have it profered; no, not in the leaſt, though we would have been glad of it. But you, you have had it profered, p. 226preached, and proclaimed unto you; beſides, you have been intreated, and beſeeched to accept of it, but you would not. O ſimple fools! that might have eſcaped wrath, vengeance, hell fire, and that to all eternity, and had no heart at all to do it.

2 May not the meſſengers of Jeſus Chriſt alſo come in with a ſhrill and terrible note againſt thy ſoul, when thou ſtandeſt at the bar of Gods Juſtice, ſaying, Nay, thou ungodly one, but how often haſt thou been forewarned of this day? Did we not ſound an alarum in thine ears, by the trumpet of Gods word day after day? How often didſt thou hear us tell thee of theſe things? Did we not tell thee ſin would damn thy ſoul? Did we not tell thee, that without converſion there was no ſalvation? Did we not tell thee, that they who loved their ſins, ſhould be damned at this dark and gloomy day, (as thou art like to be.) Yet did we not tell thee, that God out of his love to ſinners ſent Chriſt to die for them, that they might (by comming to him) be ſaved? Did we not tell thee of theſe things? Did p. 227we not run, ride, labour, and ſtrive abundantly (if it might have been) for the good of thy ſoul, (though now a damned ſoul? Did we not venture our goods, our names, our lives? Yea, did we not even kill our ſelves with our earneſt intreatings of thee to conſider of thine eſtate, and by Chriſt to eſcape this dreadful day? O ſad doom! when thou ſhalt be forced full ſore againſt thy will to fall under the truth of this judgement, ſaying, O how have I hated inſtruction, a…d how hath my heart deſpiſed reproof? for indeed) I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me, Proverbs 5.11, 12, 13.

Thirdly, may not thy Father, thy Mother, thy Brother, thy Siſter, thy Friend, &c. appear with gladneſs againſt th…e at the terrible day? Saying, O thou ſilly ſon, or daughter, brother, or ſiſter, or friend! Oh …ow rightly hath God met with thee! O how righteouſly doth his ſentence paſs upon thee? Remember, thou wouldſt not be ruled nor perſwaded in thy life time: as thou didſt not care for us, and our admonitions p. 228then, ſo neither do we care for thy ruine, terrour and damnation now. No, but we will ſtand on Gods ſide in ſentencing of thee to that portion which the devils muſt be partakers of. O ſad! it is enough to make mountains tremble, and the rocks to rend in pieces, to hear this doleful ſound. Conſider theſe things, and if thou wouldeſt be loth to be in this condition, then have a care of living in ſin now. O conſider how loth thou wilt be to be thruſt away from the gates of heaven, and how lo… thou wilt be to be deprived of the …rcy of God.

2. How unwillingly will thou ſet foot forward towards the lake of fire. Never did Malefactour ſo unwillingly turn off the ladder, when the halter was about his neck, as thou wilt turn from God to the devil, from heaven to hell, when the ſentence is paſſed upon thy ſoul.

Oh how wilt thou ſigh and groan! Oh how willingly wouldeſt thou hide thy ſelf, and run away from Juſtice; but alas! as p. 229it is with them that are on the ladder ready to be executed, ſo it will be with thee. Alas, they would fain run away, but there are many Halberd-men to ſtay them: And ſo the powers of God will beſet thee round, I ſay, round on every ſide, ſo that thou mayeſt indeed look, but run thou canſt not; thou mayeſt wiſh thy ſelf under ſome great rock or mountain, but how to get under thou knoweſt not.

3 Oh how unwilling wilt thou be to let thy father go to heaven without thee, thy mother or friends, &c. go to heaven without thee? O how willingly wouldeſt thou hang on them, and not let them go! O Father, cannot you help me? O Mother, cannot you do me ſome good? O how loath am I to burn and fry in hell, while you are ſinging in Heaven! But alas, the father, mother, brother, ſiſter, ſon, daughter, or friend rejects them, ſlights them, and turn their backs upon them, ſaying, p. 230You would have none of heaven in your life time, therefore you ſhall have none of it now: you ſlighted our counſels then, and we ſlight your tears, cries, and condition now. What ſayeſt thou ſinner, will not this perſwade thine heart, nor make thee bethink thy ſelf? This is now before thou fall into that dreadful place, that fiery furnace. But O conſider how dreadful the place it ſelf, the devils themſelves, the fire it ſelf will be. And this at the end of all, here thou muſt lie for ever, here thou muſt fry for ever, and for ever. This will be more to thee, then any man with tongue can expreſs, or with pen can write; there is none that can, I ſay, by the ten thouſand part diſcover the ſtate and condition of ſuch a ſoul. O ſad.

And now I ſhall give thee a few conſiderations more, and they ſhall be thus, and ſo conclude.

1. Conſider, (for I would fain have thee come in ſinner) that there is way made by Jeſus Chriſt for them that are under the law of works, to come to this comfortable and bleſſed ſtate that I was p. 231ſpeaking of. See Epheſians 2.

2. Conſider, if thou never come, thy blood will be charged on thy own head; and ſo much the more, becauſe thou haſt been told of thy miſery and ſin: and alſo of the ſafety thou ſhalt be in, if thou do indeed come into this Lord Jeſus. Ezek. 33.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Then whoſoever heareth the ſound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning, if the ſword commeth, and taketh away any perſon, his blood ſhall be upon his own head. He heard the ſound of the trumpet, (that is, the good news of the Goſpel) and taketh not warning, that is, did not fly to Jeſus Chriſt for ſuccour, his blood ſhall be upon his own head.

3. Conſider, what pains Chriſt Jeſus took for the ranſoming of thy ſoul from all the curſes, thunder-claps, and tempeſts of the law; from all the intollerable flames of hell; from that ſoul ſinking appearance of thy perſon (on the left hand) before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt Jeſus, from everlaſting fellowſhip with innumerable companies of yelling, and ſoul-amazing devils. I ſay, conſider what pains the Lord Jeſus Chriſt took p. 232in bringing in redemption for ſinners from theſe things.

1. In that, Though he were rich, yet he became poor, that thou through his poverty might be made rich, 2 Cor. 8, 9. He laid aſide his glory, John 17. and became a ſervant, Phil. 2. He left the company of Angels, and incountred with the devil, Luke 4. Mat. 4. He left heavens eaſe for a time to lie upon hard mountains, John 8. In a word, he became poorer then they that go with flail and rake; yea, then the very birds or foxes; and all to do thee good. Beſides, conſider a little of theſe unſpeakable and intollerable ſlightings, and rejections, and the manifold abuſes that came from man upon him. How he was falſly accuſed, being a ſweet, harmleſs, and undefiled Lamb. How he was undervalued, ſo that a Murtherer was counted leſs worthy of condemnation then he. Beſides, how they mocked him, ſpat on him, beat him over the head with ſtaves, had the hair pluckt from his cheeks. I gave my back to the ſmiters, (ſaith he) and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting. p. 233His head crowned with thorns, his hands pierced with nails, and his ſide with a ſpear; together, with how they uſed him, ſcourging him, and ſo miſerably miſuſing him, that they had even ſpent him in a great meaſure before they did crucifie him. Inſomuch, that there was another fain for to carry his Croſſe.

Again, not onelyonly this, but lay to heart a little what he received from God his dear Father, though he were his dear and tender Son. Firſt, in that he did reckon him the greateſt ſinner, and rebell in the world: for he laid the ſins of thouſands, and ten thouſands, and thouſands of thouſands of ſinners to his charge, Eſay 53. And cauſed him to drink the terrible cup that was due to them all: and not onelyonly ſo, but did delight in ſo doing; For it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him. God dealt indeed with his Son, as Abraham would have dealt with Iſaac, I, and more terribly by ten thouſand parts: for he did not onelyonly tear his body like a lion, but made his ſoul an offering for ſin. And this was not done fainedly, but really (for juſtice p. 234called for it, he ſtanding in the room of ſinners) witneſs that horrible and unſpeakable agony that fell on him ſuddenly in the Garden, as if all the vials of Gods unſpeakable ſcalding vengeance had been caſt upon him all at once, and all the devils in hell had been broken looſe from thence at once to deſtroy him, and that for ever; inſomuch, that the very pangs of death ſeized upon him the ſame hour. For ſaith he, My ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful and amazed, even unto death, Mark 14.33, 34.

Witneſs alſo that ſtrange kinde of ſweat, that trickled down his moſt bleſſed face, where it is ſaid, And he ſweat, as it were, great, mark I beſeech you, great drops, or clodders of blood trickling down to the ground. O Lord Jeſus, what a load didſt thou carry! what a burthen didſt thou bear of the ſins of the world, and the wrath of God! O thou didſt not onelyonly bleed at noſe and mouth with the preſſure that lay upon thee, but thou waſt ſo preſſed, ſo loaden, that the pure blood guſhed through the fleſh and skin, and ſo ran trickling down to the ground, And his ſweat was, as it p. 235were, great drops of blood, trickling or falling down to the ground Luke 22.44. Canſt thou read this, O thou wicked ſinner, and yet go in ſin? Canſt thou think of this, and defer repentance one hour longer? O heart of flint! yea, harder. O miſerable wretch! what place in hell will be hot enough for thee to have thy ſoul put into, if thou ſhalt perſiſt, or go on ſtill to adde iniquity to iniquity?

Beſides, his ſoul went down to hell, Pſal. 16.10. Acts 2.31. and his body to the bars of the grave. And had hell, death, or the grave been ſtrong enough to hold him▪ then he had ſuffered the vengeance of eternal fire to all eternity. But O bleſſed Jeſus! how didſt thou diſcover thy love to man in thy thus ſuffering? And O God the Father! how didſt thou alſo declare thy purity and exactneſs of thy juſtice, in that, though it was thine onelyonly, holy, innocent, harmleſs, and undefiled Son Jeſus, that did take on him our nature, and repreſent our perſons, anſwering for our ſins inſtead of our ſelves: thou didſt ſo wonderfully pour out thy wrath upon p. 236him, to the making of him cry out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? And O Lord Jeſus! what a glorious conqueſt haſt thou made over the enemies of our ſouls, even wrath, ſin, death, hell, and devils in that thou didſt wring thy ſelf from under the power of them all? and not onelyonly ſo, but haſt led them captive, which would have led us captive; and alſo haſt received for us that glorious and unſpeakable inheritance, That eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive. And alſo haſt given thine ſome diſcovery thereof through thy Spirit.

And now ſinner, together with this conſider. Fourthly, That though Jeſus Chriſt hath done all theſe things for ſinners, yet the devils make it their whole work, and continual ſtudy how they may keep thee and others from enjoying of theſe bleſſed priviledges that have been thus obtained for ſinners by this ſweet Jeſus. He labours I ſay, firſt, to keep thee ignorant of thy ſtate by nature. Secondly, to harden thy heart againſt the wayes of God. Thirdly, to p. 237inflame thy heart with love to ſin and the wayes of darkneſs. And fourthly, to get thee to continue herein. For that is the way he knows to get thee to be a partaker with him of the flaming hell fire, even the ſame that he himſelf is fallen into; together with the reſt of the wicked world by reaſon of ſin. Look to it therefore.

But now in the next place a word of incouragement to you that are the Saints of the Lord.

1. Conſider, what an happy ſtate thou art in, that haſt gotten the faith of the Lord Jeſus into thy ſoul. (But be ſure thou have it) I ſay, how ſafe, how ſure, how happy art thou. For when others go to hell, thou muſt go to heaven; when others go to the devil, thou muſt go to God; when as others go to priſon, thou muſt be ſet at liberty, at eaſe, and at freedom; when others muſt roar for ſorrow of heart, then thou ſhalt alſo ſing for the joy of heart.

Secondly, conſider thou muſt have all thy well ſpent life to follow thee, inſtead of all thy ſins: and the glorious p. 238bleſſings of the Goſpel, inſtead of the dreadful curſes and condemnations of the Law. The bleſſing of the Father, inſtead of a fiery ſentence from the Judge.

Thirdly, let diſſolution come when it will, it can do thee no harm; for it will be but onelyonly a paſſage out of a priſon, into a palace; out of a ſea of troubles, into an haven of reſt; out of a croud of enemies, to an innumerable company of true, loving, and faithful friends; out of ſhame, reproach, and contempt, into exceeding great, and eternal glory. For death ſhall not hurt thee with his ſting, nor bite thee with his ſoul-murthering teeth, but ſhall be a welcome gueſt to thee, even to thy ſoul, in that it is ſent to free thee from thy troubles which thou art in whiles here, in this world, dwelling in the tabernacle of clay.

Fourthly, conſider, how ever it goes with friends and relations, yet it will go well with thee, Eccleſiaſtes 8.12 However it goes with the wicked, yet I know, Mark, yet I know (ſaith he) that it ſhall go well with them that fear p. 239the Lord, that fear before him. And therefore let this in the firſt place cauſe thee chearfully to exerciſe thy patience under all the calamities, croſſes, troubles and afflictions that may come upon thee: and by patient continuance in well doing, to commit both thy ſelf and thine affairs, and actions into the hands of God, through Jeſus Chriſt, as to a faithful Creatour, who is true in his word, and loveth to give unto thee whatſoever he hath promiſed to thee.

And therefore to incourage thee while thou art here with comfort, to hold on for all thy croſſes in this thy journey, be much in conſidering the place that thou muſt go into, ſo ſoon as diſſolution comes. It muſt be into heaven, to God the Judge of all, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, to the general Aſſembly, and Church of the firſt born, whoſe names are written in heaven, and to Jeſus (too the Redeemer) who is the Mediatour of the new covenant, and to the blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaks better things for thee, p. 240then Abels did for Cain, Hebrews 12.22, 23, 24.

3. Conſider, that when the time of the dead that they ſhall be raiſed is come then ſhall thy body be raiſed out of the grave, and be glorified, and be made like to Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 3.21. O excellent condition.

4. When Jeſus Chriſt ſhall ſit on the throne of his glory, you alſo ſhall ſit with him, even when he ſhall ſit on the throne of his glory. O Will not this be glorious, that when thouſands and thouſands of thouſands ſhall be arreigned before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, then for them to ſit with him upon the throne, together with him to paſs the ſentence upon the ungodly, 1. Cor. 6.2, 3. Will it not be glorious to enjoy thoſe things that eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceive.

Will it not be glorious to have this ſentence, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world. Will it not be glorious to enter then with the Angels and Saints into that glorious p. 241kingdom? Will it not be glorious for thee to be in glory with them, while others are in unutterable torments? O then! how will it comfort thee to ſee thou haſt not loſt that glory; to think that the devil hath not got thy ſoul; that thy ſoul ſhould be ſaved, and that not from a little, but from an exceeding danger; not with a little, but a great ſalvation. O therefore let the Saints be joyful in glory, let them triumph over all their enemies. Let them begin to ſing heaven upon earth, triumph before they come to glory, ſalvation, even when they are in the midſt of their enemies; For this honour ſhall all his Saints have, Pſal. 149.6, 7, 8, 9.

But ſecondly, for the latter part of the Parable, touching the Scriptures, and the certainty of them. Seeing they are ſo certain, ſo ſure, ſo irrevocable and firm; and ſeeing the ſaving faith of the things contained therein, is to reform the ſoul, and bring it over into the things of God, really conforming to the things contained therein, both to the point of Juſtification, and alſo p. 242an impracticall walking, and giving up the ſoul and body to a conformity to all the commands, counſels, inſtructions, and exhortations contained therein. This then will learn us how to judge of thoſe who give up themſelves to walk in the imaginations of their own hearts, who ſlight and lay aſide the Scriptures, counting them but empty and uncertain things, and will live every day in open contradiction to what is contained, commanded, and forbidden therein.

As firſt, this will ſhew us that all your Drunkards, Whoremaſters, Liars, Thieves, Swearers, Back-biters, Slanderers, Scoffers at goodneſs, &c. I ſay, we may ſee by this, that they that live in ſuch things, have not the faith of the things contained in their hearts; ſeeing they delight to practiſe thoſe things that are forbidden by, and in them. And ſo they continuing living and dying in this ſtate, we may conclude without fear, that ſuch portions of holy Scripture belong unto them, and ſhall for certain be fulfilled upon them. He that believes not, ſhall be damned, Mark. 16. p. 24316. The unrighteous ſhall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1. Corinthians 6.9, 10. But the abominable, the unbeleiving, the whoremongers, and all liars ſhall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone, Revelation 21.8. Depart ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, M…tthew 25.41. Depart, that is, as if he ſhould ſay, Depart from me, for I will not ſave you. Depart, for my blood ſhall not at all waſh you. Depart, for you ſhall not ſet one foot into the kingdom of heaven.

Depart ye curſed, that is, ye are curſed of God, curſed of his Law, curſed of me, curſed by the Saints, and curſed by the Angels, curſed all over, nothing but curſed, and therefore depart from me, and whither? Into everlaſting fire; fire that will ſcald, ſcorch, burn, and flame to a purpoſe; fire that never ſhall be quenched, Mark 9. fire that will laſt to all eternity. And muſt we be all alone? No, you ſhall have company, ſtore of company with you. Namely, all th… raging, roaring devils, together with an innumerable company of fellow p. 244damned ſin…ers, men, women, and children. And if the Scriptures be true, (as they will one day wonderfully appear to be) then this muſt, and ſhall be thy portion if thou live and die in this ſtate, and of all them who continue in ſinning againſt the truths contained in Scriptures.

As firſt, Doſt thou delight to ſin againſt plain commands, thou art gone?

Secondly, Doſt thou ſlight and ſcorn the counſels contained in Scriptures, and continue in ſo doing, then thou art gone.

Thirdly, Doſt thou continually neglect to come to Chriſt, and uſeſt arguments in thine own heart to ſatisfie thy ſoul with ſo doing, then thou art gone? Luke 14.17, 18. compared with verſe 24. and Hebrews 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? How ſhall we eſcape, that is, t…ere is no way to eſcape.

Firſt, becauſe God hath ſaid we ſhall not, Heb. 12.25. See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh, for if they eſcaped not who refuſed him that ſpake on earth (that p. 245was Moſes) much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from heaven.

2. Becauſe he hath not onelyonly ſaid, they ſhall not, but alſo hath bound it with an oath, ſaying, So I ſware in my wrath, they ſhall not enter into my reſt, Hebrews 3.11. But you will ſay, To whom did he ſwear that they ſhould not enter into his reſt? Anſ er. To them that believed not. So we ſee, they could not enter in, becauſe of unbelief. verſe 18, 19.

Secondly, this will teach us what to think and conclude of ſuch, who though they do not ſo openly diſcover their folly by open and groſſe ſins againſt the Law, yet will give more heed to their own ſpir ts, and the movings thereof, though they be neither commanded, nor commended for the ſame in Scripture; nay, though the Scripture command and commend the contrary, Iſaiah 8.20. then they will to the holy and revealed will of God▪ I ſay, ſuch men are in as bad a ſtate as the other to the full, being diſobedient to Gods will revealed in his word, as well p. 246as they, though in a different manner; the one openly tranſgreſſing againſt the plain and well known truths revealed in it; the other though more cloſe and hidden, yet ſecretly rejecting and ſlighting them, giving more heed to their own ſpirits, and the motion thereof, although not warranted by the Scriptures.

A few words more, and ſo I ſhall conclude.

And firſt, take heed that you content not your ſelf with a bare notion of the Scriptures in your heads, by which you may go far, even ſo far as to be able to diſpute for the truth, to preach the Goſpel, and labour to vindicate it in oppoſition to gain-ſayers, and yet be found at the left hand of Chriſt at the Judgement-day, foraſmuch as thou didſt content thy ſelf with a notion or a traditionall knowledge of them.

2. Have a care, that thou own the whole Scripture, and not own one part, and neglect another, or ſlight it, as thus. To own the law, and ſlight the Goſpel; or to think that thou muſt be p. 247ſaved by thy good doing and works, for that is all one, as if thou diddeſt thruſt Chriſt away from thee; or elſe ſo to own the Goſpel, as if by it thou wert exempted from all obedience to the ten Commandments, and conformity to the Law in life and converſation. For in ſo doing thou wilt for certain make ſure of eternall vengeance.

Thirdly, have a care that thou put not wrong names on the things contained in the Scriptures, as to call the Law Chriſt, and Chriſt the Law. For ſome having done ſo (in my knowledge) have ſo darkened to themſelves the glorious truths of the Goſpel, that in a very little time they have been reſolved to thwart and oppoſe them, and ſo have made room in their own ſouls for the Devil to inhabit, and obtained a place in hell for their own ſouls, to be tormented for ever and ever.

Againſt this danger therefore in reading and receiving the teſtimony of Scripture, learn to diſtinguiſh between the Law and the Goſpel, and to keep p. 248them clear aſunder, as to the ſalvation of thy ſoul, and that thou mayeſt ſo do. In the firſt place, beg of God, that he would ſhew thee the nature of the Goſpel, And ſet it home effectually with life and power upon thy ſoul by Faith. Which is this, That God would ſhew thee, that as thou being man haſt ſinned againſt God; ſo Chriſt being God Man hath bought thee again, and with his moſt precious blood ſet thee free from the bondage thou waſt fallen into by thy ſins; and that not upon condition, that thou wilt do thus and thus, this and the other good work, but rather, that thou being firſt juſtified freely by meer grace, through the blood of Jeſus, ſhouldeſt alſo receive thy ſtrength from him who hath bought thee, to walk before him in all well pleaſing, being inabled thereto by vertue of his Spirit, which hath revealed to thy ſoul, that thou art delivered already from wrath to come, by the obedience not of thee, but of another man, (viz.) Jeſus Chriſt.

p. 249Secondly, Then if the law thou readeſt of, tell thee in thy conſcience, thou muſt do this and the other good work of the Law, if ever thou wilt be ſaved. Then anſwer plainly, that for thy part thou art reſolved now not to work for life, but to believe in the vertue of that blood ſhed upon the Croſſe upon Mount Calvary, for the remiſſion of ſins: and yet, becauſe Chriſt hath juſtified thee freely by his Grace, thou wilt ſerve him in Holineſſe and Righteouſneſſe all the dayes of thy life, yet not in a legall Spirit, or in a covenant of Works, but mine obedience (ſay thou) I will endeavour to have it free, and chearful, out of love to my Lord Jeſus.

Thirdly, Have a care thou receive not this doctrine in the notion onelyonly, leſt thou bring a juſt damnation upon thy ſoul, by profeſſing thy ſelf to be freed by Chriſts blood from the guilt of ſin, while thou remaineſt ſtill a ſervant to the filth of ſin. For I muſt tell you, that unleſſe you have the true and ſaving work of the Faith and Grace of the Goſpel in your p. 250hearts, you will either go on in a legall Holineſs according to the tenour of the Law; or elſe through a notion of the Goſpel (the Devil bewitching, and beguiling thy underſtanding, will, and affections) thou wilt Ranter-like turn the Grace of God into wantonneſs, and bring upon thy ſoul double, if not treble damnation, in that thou couldeſt not be contented to be damned for thy ſins againſt the Law, but alſo to make ruine ſure to thy ſoul: thou wouldeſt diſhonour the Goſpel, and turn the Grace of God held forth, and diſcovered to man by that into licentiouſneſs.

But that thou mighteſt be ſure to eſcape theſe dangerous rocks on the right hand and on the left, ſee that thy faith be ſuch, as ſpoken of in Scripture: and that thou be not ſatisfied without that, which is a faith wrought by the mighty operation of God, revealing Chriſt to, and in thee, as having wholly freed thee from thy ſins by his moſt precious blood. Which faith if thou attain unto, will ſo work in thy heart, that firſt thou wilt ſee the nature of the p. 251Law, and alſo the nature of the Goſpel, and delighting in the glory of it; and alſo thou wilt finde an ingaging of thy heart and ſoul to Jeſus Chriſt, even to the giving up of thy whole man unto him, to be ruled and governed by him to his glory, and thy comfort, by the Faith of the ſame Lord Jeſus.

The End.

Errata.

Courteous Reader, before thou readeſt this Treatiſe, thou art deſired to correct theſe Faults with thy pen, which herea…ter followeth.

PAge 1. for Luke 19. read Luke 16 p. 6. l. 15. r. whence. p 44. l 18. for means 1. names. p. 54. l. 5. put out, and the practice of the Saints. p. 64. …. 15. after ſeek r. not p. 81. l 17. for them r. then. l 26. for friends r. friend. p. 92. l. 27. r. to be. p. 104. l. 6. for ſead r. ſend p. 120 l. 9. for converted r. contented. p. 129 l. 12. for the r. their. p. 144. l. 16. for 1 Tim. 1.9. r. 2 Tim. 1. 9. p. 145. l 27 for 1 Pet. 2.21. r. 1 Pet. 2.24. p. 166. l. 26. for contradiction r. traditional. p. 171. l 23 r. of. p. 194. l. 14. for intend r. indeed. p. 196. l. 24. leave out that. p. 229. l. 6. for powers r. angels.

Page 199. line 18. thou wilt finde theſe words, (as I ſaid before) which I deſire thee to leave ou…. The reaſon why I put th m in, was, becauſe at the firſt I thought to put out wi h this a Diſcourſe of the two Coven…s, which ſince I thought to put f…r h in a Piece by …t ſelf, and therefore ſhould have put ou… theſe words.

Bunyan's Sighs from Hell.

End of the text · John Bunyan, A Few Sighs from Hell (1658)