A Few Sighs from Hell, Exposition · Verse 25
Verſe 25. But Abraham ſaid, Son, remember, that thou in thy life time hadſt thy good things, and likewiſe Lazarus evill things, now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
THeſe words are a diſcovery of the anſwer to the requeſt of the damned, ſuch as did or ſhall depart this life unconverted. The verſe before (as I told you) is a diſcovery of the deſires they have after they depart this world. Here is the anſwer, Son, Remember, &c.
The anſwer ſignifies thus much, that in ſtead of having any relief or eaſe, they are hereby the more tormented, and that by freſh recollections, or by bringing afreſh their former ill ſpent life, while in the world, into their remembrance: Son, Remember, thou hadſt good things in thy life time, as much as if he had ſaid,Verſe 24. thou art now ſenſible what it is to loſe thy ſoul, thou art now ſenſible what it is to put off repentance; thou art now ſenſible that thou haſt befooled thy ſelf in that thou didſt ſpend that time in ſeeking after outward, momentary, earthly things, which thou ſhouldeſt have ſpent in ſeeking to make Jeſus Chriſt ſure to thy ſoul; and now through thy anguiſh of ſpirit, in the pains of hell thou wouldeſt enjoy that which in former time thou didſt make light of, but alas thou art here beguiled and altogether diſappointed, thy crying will now avail thee nothing at all. This is not the acceptable time. 2 Cor. 6.2. This is not a time to anſwer the deſires of damned reprobates; If thou hadſt cryed out in good earneſt while grace was offered, much might have been, but then thou wert careleſs, and didſt turne the forbearance and goodneſs of God into wantonneſs: wert thou not told that theſe who would not hear the Lord when he did call, ſhould not be heard (if they turned away from him) when they did call, Prov. 1.24. to 28. But contrariwiſe he would laugh at their calamity and mock when their fear did come. Now therefore inſtead of expecting the leaſt drop of mercy and favour, call into thy mind how thou didſt ſpend thoſe dayes which God did permit thee to live, I ſay, remember that in thy life time thou didſt behave thy ſelf rebelliouſly againſt the Lord in that thou wert careleſs of his word and ordinances, yea, and of the welfare of thine own ſoul alſo; therefore, now I ſay, in ſtead of expecting or hoping for any relief thou muſt be forced to call to remembrance thy filthy wayes and feed upon them to thine everlaſting aſtoniſhment and conſuſion.
From theſe words therefore which ſay, Remember that thou in thy life time hadſt thy good things. There are theſe things to be taken notice of.
1. They that by putting off repentance and living in their ſins loſe their ſouls, ſhall inſtead of having the leaſt meaſure of comfort, when they come into hell, have their ill ſpent life alwaies very freſh in their remembrance. While they live here they can ſin and forget it, but when they depart they ſhall have their ill ſpent life before them, they ſhall have a remembrance, or their memory notably enlighrened and a clearer,Verſe 25. and a continual fight of all their wicked practices, that they wrought and did while they were in the world. Son, remember ſaith he, then you will be made to remember. 1. How you were born in ſin, and brought up in the ſame.
2. How thou hadſt many a time the Goſpel preached to thee for taking away of the ſame, by him, whom the Goſpel doth hold forth.
3. That out of love to thy ſins and luſts, thou didſt turne thy back on the tenders of the ſame Goſpel of good tidings and peace.
4. Then thou ſhalt ſee clearly, that the reaſon why thou didſt loſe thy ſoul was, becauſe thou didſt not cloſe in with free grace, and the tenders of a loving and free-hearted Jeſus Chriſt.
5. Thou ſhalt remember how near thou waſt to turning at ſuch and ſuch a time, onelyonly thou waſt willing to give way to thy luſts when they wrought, to drunkards when they called, to pleaſures when they proffered themſelves, to the cares and incumbrances of the world, which like ſo many thornes did choak that or thoſe convictions that were ſet on thy heart.
6. How willing thou waſt to ſatisfie thy ſelf with an hypocrites hope, and with a notion of the things of God without the real power and life of the ſame.
7. Thou ſhalt remember how thou, when thou wert admoniſhed to turn, didſt put off turning and repenting till another time.
8. How thou didſt diſſemble at ſuch a time, lie at ſuch a time, cheat thy neighbour at ſuch a time, mock, flout, ſcoff, taunt, hate, perſecute the people of God at ſuch a time, in ſuch a place, among ſuch company.
9. Thou ſhalt remember that while others were met together in the fear of the Lord to ſeek him, thou waſt met with a company of vain companions to ſin againſt him; while the Saints were a praying thou wert a curſing; while they were ſpeaking good of the name of God, thou wert ſpeaking evil of the ſaints of God. O then thou ſhalt have a ſcalding hot remembrance of all thy ſinful thoughts, words and actions, from the very firſt to the laſt of them that ever thou didſt commit in all thy life time: Then thou wilt find that Scripture to be a truth, (Deut. 28.65, 66, 67.) The Lord ſhall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and ſorrow of mind. And thy life ſhall hang in doubt before thee, and thou ſhalt fear day and night, and ſhalt have none aſſurance of thy life. In the morning thou ſhalt ſay, would God it were even: and at even thou ſhalt ſay, would God it were morning; for the fear of thine heare wherewith thou ſhalt fear, and for the ſight of thine eyes which thou ſhalt ſee. Nay thou wilt find worſe things to thy woe then this Scripture doth manifeſt. For indeed there is no tongue able to expreſs the horrour, terrour, torment and eternal miſery, that thoſe poor ſouls ſhall undergo, without the leaſt mitigation o… eaſe, and a very great part of it ſhall flow, or come from that quick, full, and continual remembrance that they ſhall have. And therefore there is much weight in theſe words. Son, remember that thou in thy life time hadſt thy good things. That is, all thou art like to have.
From theſe words you ſee this is to be obſerved, that the ungodly ſhall remember, or have in remembrance the miſpending their lives, and that I gather from theſe words, Remember that in thy life time thou hadſt thy good things. You may take theſe words good things either ſimply, for the things of this world, which in themſelves are called and may be called good things, or elſe with theſe words, namely, (the things of this life) all the pleaſures, delights, profits, and vanities, which the ignorant people of the world do count their good things, and do very much cheer themſelves therewith. Soul, ſoul, eat, drink and be merry, for thou haſt much goods laid up for many years. Luke 12.20. Now I ſay, God according to his glorious power and wiſdome will make poor creatures have alwayes in their minds a freſh and clear remembrance of their ill ſpent life; he will ſay unto them, Remember, remember that in thy life time, it was thus and thus with thee, and in thy life time thy carriage was ſo and ſo.
It is like that if ſinners might have their choice, they would not have their ſins and tranſgreſſions ſo much in remembrance; as is evident by their carriages here in this world: for here they will not endure to entertain a ſerious thought of their filthy life, but will labour by all means to put the thought of it out of their mind: but there they ſhall be made to remember to a purpoſe, and to think continually of their ungodly deeds. And therefore it is ſaid that when our Lord Jeſus comes to judgement, it will be to convince the ungodly world of their wicked and ungodly deeds. Mark, To convince them. Jude 14, 15. It is like they will not willingly take notice of them: But they ſhall be convinced of them in ſpite of their teeth. And alſo between this and them, theſe that die out of Chriſt ſhall be made to ſee, acknowledge, and confeſs, do what they can, when they lift up their eyes in hell, and to remember their tranſgreſſions. God will be a ſwift witneſs againſt them. Mat. 3.5. and will ſay, Remember what thou didſt in thy life time, how thou didſt live in thy life time. Ha friend! if thou doſt not in theſe dayes of light remember the dayes of darkneſs, Eccleſ, 11.8. (the dayes of death, hell, and judgement) thou ſhalt be made in the dayes of darkneſs, death, hell, and at the judgement too, to remember the dayes of the Goſpel, and how thou didſt diſregard them too, to thy own deſtruction and everlaſting miſery.
Remember that in thy life time thou hadſt thy good things.
The great God in ſtead of giving the ungodly any eaſe, will even aggravate their torments, firſt, by ſlighting their perplexities. Secondly, by telling of them what they muſt be thinking of; Remember, ſaith he, O ye loſt ſouls, that you had your joy in your life time, your peace in your life time, your comforts, delights, eaſe, wealth, health, your heaven, your happineſs, and your portion in your life time.
O miſerable ſtate! Thou will then be in a ſad condition indeed, when thou ſhalt ſee that thou haſt had thy good things, thy beſt things, thy pleaſent things, for that is clearly ſignified by theſe words, Remember that thou in thy life time hadſt thy good things, or all the good things thou art like to have. From whence take notice of another truth, (though it be a dreadful one to them that fall under the ſentence of it) which is this; there are many poor creatures, who have all their good, ſweet, and comfortable things in this life, or while they are alive in this world: remember, ſaith he, that in thy life time thou hadſt thy good thi…gs, Pſal. 17.14.
2. Obſerve, That the wickeds good things will ſhortly have an end: they will laſt no longer with them then this life, or their life time. That Scripture was not written in vain, It is like the crackling of thorns under a pot make a litle blaze for a ſudden, a little heat for a while, but come and conſider them by and by, and inſtead of a comfortable heat, you will find nothing but a few dead aſhes; and inſtead of a flaming fire, nothing but a ſmell of ſmoak.
3. Again obſerve that there is a time coming that the ungodly would be glad of a better portion, when they ſhall ſee the vanity of this; that is, when they ſhall ſee what a poor thing it is for a man to have his portion in this world. 'Tis true, while they are here on this ſide hell, they think there is nothing to be compared with riches, honours, and pleaſures in this world; which makes them cry out, Who will ſhew us any good, that is comparable to the pleaſures, profits, and glory of this world? but then they will ſee there is another thing that is better, and of more value then ten thouſand worlds. And ſeriouſly friends, will it not grieve you, trouble, perplex and torment you, when you ſhall ſee that you loſt heaven for a little pleaſure and profits in your life time▪ certainly it will grieve you and perplex you exceedingly to ſee what a bleſſed heaven you left for a dunghill world. Oh! that you did but believe this, that you did but conſider this, and ſay within your ſelves, What, ſhall I be contented with my portion in this world? what, ſhall I loſe heaven for this world? I ſay, conſider it while you have day-light, and Goſpel-light, while the Son of God doth hold out termes of reconciliation to you, leaſt you be made to hear ſuch a voice as this is, Son, remember, that in thy life time thou hadſt thy good things; thy comforts, thy joyes, thy eaſe, thy peace, and all the heaven thou art like to have: thou hadſt, all thy good things in thy life time. O poor heaven! O ſhort pleaſures! what a pitiful thing it is to be left in ſuch a caſe. Soul conſider, is it not miſerable to loſe heaven for twenty thirty or forty years ſinning againſt God. Conſider, when thy life is done thy heaven is alſo done; when death comes to ſeparate thy ſoul and body, in that day alſo thou muſt have thy heaven and happineſs ſeparated from thee and thou from that. Conſider theſe things therefore betimes, leſt thou have thy portion in thy life time. For if in this life onelyonly we have our portion, we are of all people the moſt miſerable. Again conſider, that when other men (the Saints) are to receive their good things, then thou haſt had thine: when others are to enter into joy, then thou art to leave and depart from thy joy: when others are to go to God, thou muſt go to the devil. Oh miſerable! thou hadſt better thou hadſt never been born then to be an heir of ſuch a portion, therefore I ſay have a care it be not thy condition.
Remember, that thou hadſt thy good things, and Lazarus evil things.
Theſe words do not onelyonly hold forth the miſery of the wicked in this life, or world to come, but alſo great conſolal…tion to the Saints, where he ſaith, And Lazarus evil things, That is, Lazarus had his evil things in his life time, or when he was in the world.
From whence obſerve. 1. That the life of the Saints ſo long as they are in this world, is attended with many evils or afflictions, which may be diſcovered to be of divers natures, as ſaith the Scripture. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all.
2. Take notice, that the afflictions, or evils, that accompany the Saints, may continue with them their life time, ſo long as they live in this vale of tears; yea, and they may be divers, that is, of ſeveral ſorts; ſome outward, ſome inward, and that as long as they ſhall continue here below, as hath been the experience of all Saints in all ages, and this might be proved at large, but I onelyonly hint in theſe things, although I might enlarge much upon them.
3. The evils that do accompany the Saints will continue with them no longer then their life time; and here indeed lies the comfort of Believers, the Lazarus's, the Saints, they muſt have all their bitter cup wrung out to them in their life time: here muſt be all their trouble, here muſt be all their grief. Behold, ſaith Chriſt, the world ſhall rejoyce, but you ſhall lament; but your mourning ſhall, mark, it ſhall be turned into joy; you ſhall lament, you ſhall be ſorrowful, you ſhall weep in you life time, but your ſorrow ſhall be tur-turned into joy, and your joy no man (let him be what he will, no man) ſhall take away from you. Now if you think, when I ſay the Saints have all their evil things in their life time, that I mean they have nothing elſe but trouble in this their life time, this is your miſtake: for let me tell you, that though the Saints have all their evil things in their life time, yet even in their life time they have alſo joy unſpeakable and full of glory,1 Pet 1.6, 7, 8. while they look not at the things that are ſeen, but at the things which are not ſeen. The joy that the Saints have ſometimes in their hearts by a believing conſideration of the good things to come when this life is ended, doth fill them fuller of joy then all the croſſes, troubles, temptations, and evils that accompany them in this life can fill them with grief, 2 Corinth. 4.
But ſome Saint may ſay, my troubles are ſuch as are ready to overcome me. Anſw. Yet be of good comfort, they ſhall laſt no longer than thy life time.
But my trouble is, I am perplexed with an heart full of corruption & ſin, ſo that I am much hindred in walking with God
Anſw. 'Tis like ſo, but thou ſhalt have theſe troubles no longer then thy life time. But I have a croſs husband and that's a great grief to mee.
It is like ſo, but thou ſhalt be troubled with him no longer than thy life time, and therefore be not diſmaid, be not diſcomforted, thou ſhalt have no trouble longer than this life time.
Art thou troubled with croſs children, croſs relations, croſs neighbours, they ſhall trouble thee no longer then this life time.
Art thou troubled with a cunning devil, with unbelief, yea, let it be what it will, thou ſhalt take thy farewel of them all (if thou be a believer) after thy life time is ended. O excellent! O ſweet! that there ſhould be an end put to all our troubles after this life is ended: this priviledge have all the Saints. But now on the contrary, if thou be not a right and ſound believer, if thou be no… indeed effectual converted to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, then though thou ſhouldſt live a thouſand years in this world, and meet with ſore afflictions every day, yet theſe afflictions be they never ſo great and grievous, they are nothing to that torment that will come upon thee both in ſoul & in body after this life is ended.
I ſay, be what thou wilt, if thou be found in unbelief, or under the firſt covenant thou art ſure to ſmart for it at the time when thou doſt depart this world? But the thing to be lamented is this: For all this is ſo ſad a condition to be fallen into, yet poor ſouls are for the moſt part ſenſeleſs of it, yea, ſo ſenſeleſs at ſometimes, as though there was no ſuch miſery to come hereafter. Becauſe the Lord doth not immediately ſtrike with his ſword, but doth bear long with his creature, waiting that he might be gracious, therefore I ſay the hearts of ſome of the ſonnes of men, are wholly ſet upon it to do miſchief:Eccleſ. And that forbearance and goodneſs of God, that one would think ſhould lead them to repentance; the devil hardening of them by their continuing in ſin, and by blinding their eyes, as to the end of Gods forbearance toward them,Rom 2.1. they are led away with a very hardened and ſenſeleſs heart, even until they drop into eternal deſtruction. But poor hearts as they are, they muſt have a time in which they muſt be made ſenſible of their former behaviours, when the juſt judgements of the Lord ſhall flame abou… their ears, inſomuch that they ſhall be made to cry out again with anguiſh, I am ſorely tormented in this flame.
But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
As if he ſhould ſay, Now hath God recompenced both Lazarus and you according to what you ſought after, while you were in this world; as for your p…rt, you did neglect the precious mercy and goodneſs of God, you did turn your back on the Son of God that came into the world to ſave ſinners: you made a mock of preaching the Goſpel; you was admoniſhed over and over to cloſe in with the loving kindneſs of the Lord in his Son Jeſus Chriſt. The Lord let you live 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. years, all which time you inſtead of ſpending it to make your calling and election ſure, did ſpend it in making of eternal damnation ſure to thy ſoul. And alſo Lazarus he in his life time did make it his buſineſs to accept of my grace and ſalvation in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. When thou waſt in the Alehouſe, he frequented the word preached; when thou wert jearing at goodneſs, he was ſighing for the ſins of the times; while thou wert ſwearing, he was praying; in a word, while thou wert making ſure of eternal ruine, he by faith in the blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was making ſure of eternal ſalvation. Therefore, Now he is comforted and thou art tormented.
Here then yo… …ay ſee, that as the righteous ſhall … be alwaies void of comfort and bleſſedneſs, ſo neither ſhall the ungodly go alwayes without their puniſhment. No, as ſure as God is in heaven, it will be thus; they muſt have their ſeveral portions. And therefore you that are the Saints of the Lord follow on, be not diſmayed foraſmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. laſt ver. your portion is eternal glory. And you that are ſo loath now to cloſe in with Jeſus Chriſt,Verſe 26. and to leave your ſins to follow him, your day is coming in which you ſhall know that your ſweet morſells of ſin that you do ſo eaſily take down now and it ſcarce troubles you, will have a time ſo to work within you to your eternal ruine, that you will be in a worſe condition than if you had ten thouſand devils tormenting of you; nay, you had better have been plucked limb from limb a thouſand times (if it could be) than to be partakers of this torment that will aſſuredly without mercy lie upon you, if you loſe the mercy of God in Jeſus Chriſt in this your life time.