A Few Sighs from Hell, Exposition · Verse 24
Verſe 24. Verſe 24.And he cried, and ſaid, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and ſend Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.
YOu know I told you the 22. verſe is a diſcovery of the departure of the godly and the ungodly out of this life; where he ſaith, The beggar died, and the rich man alſo died. The 23. verſe is a diſcovery of the proper places, both of the godly, and the ungodly after death; one being in Abrahams boſome, or in glory, the other in hell. Now this 24. verſe is a diſcovery of part of the too late repentance of the ungodly, when they are dropt down into hell. And he cried, and ſaid, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me.]
From theſe words, and he cried, we may obſerve, firſt, what a change the ungodly will have, when they come into hell. Where he ſaith, he cried; it is like he was laughing, jeſting, jearing, drinking, mocking, ſwearing, curſing, prating, perſecuting of the godly in his proſperity, among his filthy companions; but now the caſe is otherwiſe; now he is inanother frame; now his proud, ſtout, curriſh carriage is come down, as is clearly ſignified by theſe words, And he cried. Therefore by theſe words you may ſecondy obſerve, that the laughter of the ungodly will not laſt alwayes, but will be ſure to end in a cry. O no my friends, conſider, you muſt have a change either here or in hell. If you be not new creatures, regenerate perſons, new born babes in this world before you go hence, your note will be changed, you. conditions will be changed: for if you come into hell, you muſt cry. O did but the ſinging drunkards, when they are making merry on the Alebench think on this, that if they drop into hell they muſt cry, it would make them change their note, and cry, What ſhall I do, whither ſhal I go when I die? But as I ſaid before, the devil, as he labors to get poor ſouls to follow their ſins, ſo he labors alſo to keep the thoughts of eternal damnation out of their mindes; and indeed theſe two things are ſo nearly linked together, that the devil cannot well get the ſoul to go on in ſin with delight, unleſs he can keep the thougths of that terrible after-clap out of their mindes. But let them know that it ſhall not alwayes be thus with them; for if when they depart, they drop down into eternal deſtruction, they ſhall have ſuch a ſence of their ſins, and the puniſhment due to the ſame, that it ſhall make them to cry. And he cried. O what an alteration will there be among the ungodly, when they go out of this world! it may be a fortnight or a monethmonth before their departure, they were light, ſtout, ſurly, drinking themſelves drunk, ſlighting Gods people, mocking at goodneſs, and delighting in ſin; following the world, ſeeking after riches, faring deliciouſly, keeping company with the braveſt; but now they are dropt down into hell, they cry. A little while ago they were painting their faces, feeding their luſts, following their whores, robbing their neighbours, telling of lies, following of playes, and ſports to paſs away the time; but now they are in hell they do cry. It may be laſt year they heard ſome good ſermons, was invited to receive heaven, was told their ſins ſhould be pardoned, if they cloſed in with Jeſus; but refuſing his profers, and ſlighting the grace that was once tendered, they are now in hell, and do cry.
Before they had ſo much time (they thought) that they could not tell how to ſpend it, unleſs it were in hunting, and whoring, in dancing and playing, and ſpending whole hours; yea, dayes, nay weeks in the luſts of the fleſh, but when they depart into another place, and begin to lift up their eyes in hell, and conſider their miſerable, and irrecoverable condition they will cry.
O what a condition wilt thou fall into, when thou doſt depart this world, if thou depart unconverted, and not born again, thou hadſt better have been ſmothered the firſt hour thou waſt born; thou hadſt better have been plucked one limb from another; thou hadſt better have been made a dog, a toad, a ſerpent; nay, any other creature in the viſible world, then to die unconverted, and this thou wilt finde to be true, when in hell thou doſt lif… up thine eyes, and doſt cry.
Here then before we go any further you may ſee, that it is not without good ground that theſe words are here ſpoken by our Lord, That when any of the ungodly do depart into hell, they will will cry. Cry, why ſo?
1. They will cry to think, that they ſhould be cut off from the Land of the living, never more to have any footing therein.
2. They will cry to think, that the Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould be ſo often profered them, and yet they are not profited by it.
3. They will cry to think, that now though they would never ſo willingly repent and be ſaved, yet they are paſt all recovery.
4. They will cry to think, that they ſhould be ſo fooliſh as to follow their pleaſures, when others were following of Chriſt.
5. They will cry to think, that they muſt be ſeparated from God, Chriſt, and the kingdom of heaven, and that for ever.
6. To think, that their crying will now do them no good.
7. To think, that at the day of judgement they muſt ſtand at the left hand of Chriſt, among an innumerable company of damned ones.
8. They will cry to think, that Lazarus, whom once they ſlighted, muſt be of them that muſt ſit with Chriſt to judge, or together with Chriſt, to paſs a ſentence of condemnation on their ſouls for ever and ever, 1 Corinthians 6.2, 3.
9. Cry to think, that when the judgement is over, and others are taken into the everlaſting kingdom of glory, then thou muſt depart back again into that dungeon of darkneſs, from whence thou cameſt our, (to appear before that terrible tribunal) where thou ſhalt be tormented ſo long as eternity laſts, without the leaſt intermiſſion or eaſe. How ſayeſt thou, O thou wanton, proud, ſwearing, lying ungodly wretch, whether this be to be ſlighted, and made a mock at. And again, tell me now, if it be not better to leave ſin, and to cloſe in with Chriſt Jeſus, notwithſtanding that reproach thou ſhalt meet with for ſo doing; then to live a little while in this world in pleaſures, and feeding thy luſts, in neglecting the welfare of thy ſoul, and refuſing to be juſtified by Jeſus, and in a moment to drop down to hell, and to cry? O conſider, I ſay conſider betimes, and put not off the the tenders of the grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, leſt you lift up your eyes in hell, and cry for anguiſh of ſpirit.
And he cried, and ſaid, Father Abraham have mercy upon me, and ſend Lazarus, &c.
Theſe words do not onelyonly hold forth the lamentable condition of the damned, and their lamentable howling and crying out under their anguiſh of ſpirit, but alſo they do ſignifie to us (as I ſaid before) their too late repentance; and alſo that they would very willingly if they might, be ſet at liberty from that everlaſting miſery, that by their ſins they have plunged themſelves into. I ſay, theſe words do hold forth a deſire that the damned have to be delivered from thoſe torments that they now are in: O Father Abraham, ſaith he, have mercy upon me, and ſend Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. Theſe words, Father Abraham, may have ſome difficulty in them. It is poſſible, that ſome may think them to be meant of Abraham, and thoſe; or him that crieth out here, to be the Jews. Or it may be ſome may underſtand it to be God, or Jeſus Chriſt his Son, which I rather ſuppoſe it may be, that is here cried out unto, becauſe you finde the ſame cry to him, as it were uttered by the ungodly in other places of the Scripture, as in Luke 13. verſe 25, 26. Then ſhall they ſay, Lord, Lord, we have eat and drunk in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreets. Nay more, In thy Name have we caſt out devils, and in thy Name done many wonderfull works. This was juſt at their rejection. And again in Mat. 25.11. They cry again to him, even to Jeſus. Lord, Lord, open to us. And he there again gives them a repulſe, as alſo in this Parable. But however, or whoſoever Abraham is, yet theſe truths may be obſerved from the words.
1. That the damned, when in an irrecoverable eſtate, will ſeek for, or deſire deliverance from the wrath that they are, and ſhall be in for eternity.
2. That they will pray (if I may ſo call it) earneſtly for deliverance from their miſerable eſtate. Theſe two things are clear from the words. For mark, He not onelyonly ſaid, Father Abraham have mercy upon me. But he cried and ſaid, Father Abraham have mercy on me. From whence take a third obſervation, and that is, There is a time comming, wherein though men ſhall both cry and pray, yet they are like to have no mercy at the hands of God; for ſo was this man ſerved, as I ſhall further ſhew by and by when I come to it.
Some people are ſo deluded by the devil, as to think that God is ſo merciful, as to own or regard any thing for prayer; they think any thing will go for currant and good ſatisfaction, while they are here in this world, through ignorance of the true nature of the mercy of God, and the knowledge in what way God is ſatisfied for ſinners. Now I ſay, through ignorance they think, that if they do but mutter over ſome form of prayers, though they know not what they ſay, nor what they requeſt, yet God is ſatisfied, yea, very well ſatisfied with their doings; when alas! there is nothing leſſe. O friends, I beſeech you to look about you, and ſeek in good earneſt for the Spirit of Chriſt, ſo to help you now, to ſtrive and pray, and to enable you to lay hold of Chriſt, that your ſouls may be ſaved, leſt the time come, that though you cry and pray, and wiſh alſo that you had laid hold on the Lord Jeſus, yet you muſt, and ſhall be damned.
Then again, you may ſee that though God be willing to ſave ſinners at ſome time, yet this time doth not alwayes laſt: No, he that can finde in his heart to turn his back upon Jeſus Chriſt now, ſhall have the back turned upon him hereafter, when he may cry and pray for mercy, and yet go without it. God will have a time to meet with them that now do ſeek after him: they ſhall have a time, yea, time enough hereafter to repent their folly, and to befool themſelves for turning their backs upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Again, this ſhould admoniſh us to take time while it is profered, leſt we repent us of our unbelief and rebellion, when we are deprived of it. Ah friends! time is precious, an hours time to hear a ſermon is precious; I have ſometimes thought thus with my ſelf. Set the caſe the Lord ſhould ſend two or three of his ſervants the Miniſters of the Goſpel to hell among the damned with this Commiſſion; Go ye to Hell and preach my grace to thoſe that are there: let your Sermon be an hour long, and hold forth the merits of my Sons birth, righteouſneſs, death, reſurrection, aſcenſion, and interceſſion with all my love in him, and proffer it to them, telling them that now once more, and but once, do I profer the means of reconciliation to them. They who are now roaring, being paſt hope would then leap at the leaſt proffer of mercy: Oh they that could ſpend whole dayes, weeks, nay years, in rejecting the Son of God, would now be glad of one tender of that mercy. Father ſaith he, have mercy on me.
Again, from theſe words you may obſerve, that mercy will be welcome when ſouls are under judgement; now his ſoul is in the fire, now he is under the wrath of God, now he is in Hell, there to be tormented, now he is with the devills and damned ſpirits, now he feels the vengeance of God: now, Oh, now have mercy on me. Here you may ſee again that mercy is prized by them that are in Hell, they would be glad if they could have it. Father, have mercy on me. For my poor ſouls ſake ſend me a little mercy.
And ſend Lazarus, that he may dip th… tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue.
Theſe words do not onelyonly hold forth that the ungodly have a deſire of mercy, but what thoſe mercies are that theſe poor creatures would be glad of.
As firſt, To have the company of a Lazarus, granted to them. Father Abraham have mercy upon me, and ſend Lazarus. Now Lazarus was he that was beloved of God and alſo he that was hated of him. Therefore,
2. Obſerve, that thoſe Saints that the world in their life-time could not indure, now they are departed they would be glad to have ſociety with them. O now ſend Lazarus, though the time was when I cared not for him, yet now let me have ſome ſociety with him.
Though the world diſregard the ſociety of God children now, yet there is a time coming in which they would be glad to have the leaſt company with them. Nay do but obſerve, thoſe of the Saints that are now moſt rejected by them, even from them ſhall they be glad of comfort, if it might be. Send Lazarus; he that I ſlighted more then my dogs, he that I could not endure ſhould come into my houſe, but muſt lye at my gate, ſend him: Now Lazarus ſhall be welcome to me, now do I deſire ſome comfort from him; but he ſhall go without it.
From whence again obſerve, that there is a time coming, O ye ſurly dogged perſecutors of the Saints, that they ſhall ſlight you as much as ever you ſlighted them. You have given them many an hard word, told many a lie of them, given them many a blow: And now in your greateſt need and extremity they ſhall not pitty you.
Again, ſend Lazarus. From whence obſerve, that any of the Saints ſhall then be owned by you to be Saints. Now ye look upon them to be of the ſect with Hymeneus and Philetus, but then you ſhall ſee them to be the Lazarus's of God, even Gods dear children. Though now the Saints of the Lord will not be owned by you, becauſe they are beggerly, poor, low, contemptible among you here, yet the day is coming that you ſhall own them, deſire their company, and wiſh for the leaſt courteſie from them.
Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.
Thus ſhall the ſouls that abide in their ſins cry out in the bitterneſs of their ſpirits with wonderful anguiſh & torment of conſcience, without intermiſſion; that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. That he, namely, the man who before I ſcorned ſhould eat with the dogs of my flock, that before I ſlighted and had no regard of, that I ſhut out of door, ſend him, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. Now theſe words, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, &c. do hold forth the leaſt friendſhip, or favour; as much as if he ſhould have ſaid, Father now I would be glad of the leaſt merciemercy, now I would be glad of the l…ſt comfort, though it be but one drop of cold water on the tip of his finger. One would have thought that this had been a ſmall requeſt, a ſmall courteſie, one drop of water, what is that? Take a pail full of it, if that will do the any good. But mark, he is not permitted to have ſo much as one drop, not ſo much as a man may hold upon the tip of his finger. This ſignifies thus much, that they that fall ſhort of Chriſt, ſhall be night and day tormented from years end, to years end, as I may ſay, even as long as eternity laſteth, and ſhall not have ſo much as the leaſt eaſe, no not ſo long as while a man may turn himſelf round, not ſo much leave as to ſwallow his ſpittle, not a drop of cold water.
2. Again conſider, that though the rebels while they are in this world can turne their backs upon the greateſt mercy, namely the Grace of God in Chriſt; yet the time will come that they would be glad of the leaſt mercy even a drop of cold water.
3. Again obſerve, that thoſe who in their life time do turn their back upon the ſtreams of Gods grace and love, when they depart this life, they ſhall not have the priviledge of the leaſt mercy, though they would never ſo willingly. O that theſe things did take place in your hearts, how would it make you to ſeek after reſt for your ſouls before it be too late, before the ſun of the Goſpel be ſet upon you. Conſider, I ſay, the miſery of the ungodly that they ſhall be in, and avoid their vices by cloſing in with the tenders of mercy; leſt you partake of the ſame portion with them, and cry out in the bitterneſs of your ſouls, one drop of cold water and cool my tongue.
For I am tormented in this flame.
Theſe words hold forth the reaſon why the damned do ſo much requeſt there might be ſome pitty ſhewed to them; namely becauſe they are under ſore and ſad affliction; for I am tormented in this flame. Indeed the reaſon why the poor world do not ſo earneſtly deſire for mercy is, partly becauſe they do not ſo ſeriouſly conſider the torment that they muſt certainly fall into if they die out of Chriſt. For let me tell you, did but poor ſouls indeed conſider that wrath that doth by right fall to their ſhares becauſe of their ſins againſt God, they would make more haſte to God through Chriſt for mercy then they do. Then we ſhould have them ſay, it is good cloſing with Chriſt to day before we fall into ſuch diſtreſs.
But why is it ſaid, Let him dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue? Becauſe that as the ſeveral members in the bodie have their ſhare in ſin, and committing of that, ſo the ſeveral members and every member of the body, ſhall at that time be puniſhed for the ſame. Therefore when Chriſt is admoniſhing his deſciples, that they ſhould not turne aſide from him; and that they ſhould rather fear and dread the power of their God then any other power, he ſaith, Fear him therefore, that can caſt both body and ſoul into hell. And again; fear him that can deſtroy both ſoul and hody in hell. Here is not one member onelyonly, but all the body, the whole body, of which the hands, feet, eyes, eares, and tongue are members. And I am perſwaded, that though this may be judged carnal by ſome now, yet it will appear to be a truth then to the greater miſery of thoſe who ſhall be forced to undergo, that which God in his juſt judgement ſhall inflict upon them. O then they will cry, one dram of eaſe for my curſing, ſwearing, lying, jearing tongue. Some eaſe for my bragging, braving, flattering, threatning, diſſembling tongue, now men can let their tongues run at randome, as we uſe to ſay, now they will be apt to ſay our tongues are our own; who ſhall controle them? But then they will be in another mind. Then O that I might have a little eaſe for my deceitful tongue.
Methinks ſometimes to conſider how ſome men do let their tongues run at randome, they cannot tell well how, it makes me marvell. Surely, they do not think they ſhall be made to give an account for their offending with their tongue. Did they but think they ſhall be made to give an account to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead, ſurely they would be more wary of, and have more regard unto their tongue.
The tongue ſaith James is*Jam. 2. an unruly member full of deadly poiſon, it ſetteth on fire the whole frame of nature, and is ſet on fire of hell. The tongue, how much miſchief will it ſtir up in a very little time? How many blows and wounds doth it cauſe? How many times doth it (as James ſaith) curſe man? How oft is the tongue made the conveyer of that helliſh poyſon that is in the heart, both to the diſhonour of God, the hurt of its neighbours, and the utter ruine of its own ſoul? And do you think that the Lord will ſit ſtill (as I may ſay) and let thy tongue run as it liſts,Verſe 25. and yet never bring you to an account for the ſame? No ſtay; the Lord will not alwayes keep ſilence,Pſal. 50.21. but will reprove thee, and ſet thy ſinnes in order before thine eyes, O ſinner. Yea and thy tongue, together with the reſt of thy members, ſhall be tormented for ſinning. And I ſay, I am very confident, that though this be made light of now, yet the time is coming when many poor ſouls will rue the day that ever they did ſpeak with a tongue, will one ſay that I ſhould ſo diſregard my tongue. O that I when I ſaid ſo and ſo had before bitten off my tongue! that I had been born without a tongue! my tongue, my tongue, a little water to cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame; even that flame that my tongue, together with the reſt of my members, by ſinning have brought me to. Poor ſouls now will let their tongues ſay any thing for a little profit, for two pence or three-pence gain. But O what a grief will this be at that day when they together with their tongue muſt ſmart for that which they by their tongues have done while they were in this world. Then you that love your ſouls look to your tongues, leſt you bind your ſelves down ſo faſt to hell with the ſins of your tongues, that you will never be able to get looſe again to all eternity.Jam. 1.26. For by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned if thou have not a care of thy tongue.