A Prospect of Eternity, Chapter 19

A Prospect of Eternity · Chapter 19

p. 319CHAP. XIX.

Ʋſe 2. of Terrour.AND if our future condition be eternall, What terrour ſhould it ſtrike into the hearts of all wicked men? What do ye mean fond ſinners? Can ye hang in fiery chains for ever? Remember your everlaſting Mat. 3 12.Matt 3:12condition, your eternity, the unquenchable fire. Can ye undergoe a fit of the ſtone for a thouſand years? Or lie upon the wracke for a million of ages? Can ye lie upon the points of needles for more ages then there are atomes in the Sun, or drops in the Sea? Can ye ſuffer ſcalding lead in your wounds, in the raw gaſhes of your conſciences for ſuch a duration? And what is this cold picture of miſery to the damneds eternity? Look with amazement Eph. 3. 17.Eph 3:17on your future calamity, unleſſe by faith you hide your ſouls in the p. 320Mat. 25. 41.Matt 25:41wounds of Chriſt. Pray conſider, how dolefully will thae diſmall voice ſound, Go ye curſed into everlaſting fire▪ The Martyrs fire turned them into Quam triſtis▪ vox eſt, judex cum dixerit, Ite!aſhes, but the damneds ſhall not, they ſhall be ſcorcht with everlaſting flames, be ever in the act of execution. Can O aeternitas, aeternitas, tu ſola ultra omnem modum ſupplicia damnatorum exaggeras.ye endure, ye delicate, ſoft, effeminated ſinners, who now cannot endure the buffeting of gentle blaſt of wind; I ſay, can ye endure to be ſtung with Serpents for as many ages as there are haires on your heads; or to drinke the poyſon of Aſpes, for as many centuries as there are ſands on the ſhoar, if ye can goe on in your licentious vanities. Tell Quis dicere valeat, quae impiis, & male viventibus tormenta ſunt praeparata. Caſſianus.me ſinner, when thou haſt ſpent millions of yeares in torment, what an agony will it be to recollect thou haſt not ſpent a moment? Shouldeſt thou lie to eternity on a bed of down, how tedious, how weariſome would it be, how then canſt thou lie on a bed of flames? How wretched ſinner canſt thou hear the dolefull knell of an Adeſſe intolerabile, Abeſſe impoſſibile.everlaſting funerall? And will thoſe tranſient glances of ſin and pleaſure thou haſt enjoyed here, make eternity p. 321ſpend the more delightfully; ſhall thy enjoyments, the bed and the banquet, thy luſt and luxury, in rumination of them be any paſtime in hell? Remember if thou art Chriſtleſſe, thou art to be preſt to death for ever, for ever. And therefore awaken, ye drowſy and ſecure ſinners, leſt ſuddenly ye fall into infinite death. Is it not more noble and plauſible to ſwimme in tears, then melt in flames? The Saints under Potior eſt p…nitentia, quam poena.the Altar cry, How long Lord, holy and true, Rev. 6. 10, 11. But they ſhall wear white garments; but how dolefully ſhall the damned cry, how long? Nec qui torquet, aliquando fatigatur, nec qui torquetur, aliquando moritur. Bern.Their tragedy ſhall never be acted, their painfull wounds ſhall increaſe as faſt as they are made. Let thoſe voluptuous ſinners, who pleaſe themſelves with varieties of muſicks and harmonies here, and as the Prophet ſpeaks, who chant to the ſound of the Viall, and invent to themſelves inſtruments of muſick, Amos 6. 5. aske themſelves the queſtion, Whether they can heare the ſcrietchings, roarings, and curſed blaſphemies of a damned crew for ever.

Now to proſecute this particular p. 322uſe, I ſhall handle it under two generall heads:

1. I ſhall open the extremity.

2. The eternity of the damneds torment.

For the extremity of the ſinners future miſery, it will be demonſtrated, if ye will caſt your thoughts on theſe five things conſiderable.

1Conſider the univerſality of the damneds miſery, and that under a Duplex damnatorum poena est in gehenna, nam & mentem urit triſtitia, & corpus flamma. Bern.double notion. There is a twofold univerſality in the Reprobates calamity.

1 An univerſality of the Patient; every part of the damned ſhall undergoe inſupportable torment, every artery, and vein in their bodies, every faculty and power in the ſoul, ſhall be excoriated, and tortured with the pincers of Gods wrath.

2. The ſouls of the reprobate which have been chief in ſinning, ſhall be chief in ſuffering; and as the joyes of the ſoul ſurpaſſe the pleaſures of the body, ſo ſhall the miſery of the ſoul, the calamity of the body. But let me give you a more particular anatomie of the ſouls torment.

p. 3231. The underſtanding ſhall be cruciated Poenae damnatis ſecundum corpus & ſecundum animam infligentur. Corpus poenis variis quoad omnes ſenſus afficietur, anima ſecundum omnes ſuas potentias cruciabitur. Gerſon.and wrackt, in that now it more clearly ſees its vanity, obſerves the ſweetneſſe of Goſpel-mercy, and the pretiouſneſſe of the offers of grace. Now the underſtanding obſerves too late, how dreggiſh and droſſie thoſe luſtfull embraces, ſinfull dalliancies, worldly profits and delicacies were, he hath loſt heaven and the ſoul for. Now it ſees more clearly how beautifull Chriſt was, how tender his bowels and melting his compaſſion, againſt which he ſpurned with ſo much refractory ſtubborneſſe. Now it animadverts how much of hell was wrapt up in the pill of the moſt plauſible ſin, too late it obſerves the hand of the Devill in every temptation; and God in wrath ſhall wipe all duſt away from the glaſſe of the Reprobates underſtanding. And what Scorpions will ſuch animadverſions be to the perplexed and pained underſtanding?

2. The Will too ſhall be upon the invill of miſery; how will it then macerate the wils of the damned, that now it hath no pleaſure to feed upon? p. 324No ſinnes to cheriſh or purſue, no grace or favour to abuſe or withſtand.

The will of the Reprobate that here was too free in its embraces of ſin and vanity, in hell, in eternity ſhall be fettered and chained to a neceſſity of deſpaire and blaſphemy. The damned ſhall will nothing but ſelf-deſtruction and murder (which yet ſhall be impoſſible) and God-provocation, how to un throne Chriſt, crucifie the Angels, and if poſſible drown the Saints triumphant in the ſame deluge of horrour and confuſion with themſelves. The wils of the Reprobates ſhall be as ſo many vultures to make every thing a prey.

3. The affections of the reprobates ſhall be tormented even in this, in having Affectus, animae pedes.nothing deſirable, and they which have been the feet of the ſoul, ſhall be the fiends and furies of it. And although here they bathed themſelves in the ſweets of ſin, and the creature (For ah! How did Ammon 2 Sam. 13.2 Sam 13love his Tamar, Judas the bag, and 2 Sam. 16. 1, 2.2 Sam 16:12 Sam 16:2Abſalon the crown?) yet theſe very deſires in eternall miſery ſhall be the p. 325vermine, the plague, the horſeleeches of the ſoul. With what horrour ſhall the underſtanding behold its curſed and viperous affections, which drinke up the poyſon, that now cauſeth ſo much ſmart?

4. And the memories of the damned, thoſe wofull treaſuries of all opportunities loſt, all mercies ſlighted, time miſpent, ſins committed, favours abuſed, Infandum reginajubes renovare dolorem. Virg.ſhall be ſcorcht and wrackt with the wrath of God; thoſe diſmall regiſters and records of Gods juſtice, and the ſouls owne folly, ſhall keep freſh, vigorous, and lively, the torments of the damned in a conſtant reviewing of the cauſes of them. And then all things acted in the fleſh ſhall come into mind, and fall within the hold of this curſed repoſitory, the memory. Nay thoſe very ſinnes that on courſe, without ſtudy or artifice had been forgotten by the ſinner here.

5. So the conſcience ſhall not only be a thouſand witneſſes, but a thouſand Devils to the damned, ſhall be a perpetuall worme, corroding lacerating, Mark. 9. 48.Mark 9:48and branding the reprobate; p. 326then its wounds, and checkes, and ſcrietches ſhall be ſcrued to the height. It ſhall in eternity be awakened from 2 Tim. 4. 2.2 Tim 4:2all its ſearedneſſe, ſtupidity, and Continuus erit conſcientiae remorſus, & aſſidua peccatorum perpetratorum ruminatio in anima. Chemn.ſwoones, and ſhall feed its own torments, it ſhall not ſleep in hell. All thoſe artifices, and wiles that the unconſcionable ſinner hath uſed to bribe, flatter, and ſmother conſcience, ſhall ceaſe and faile in eternity. There the pangs, agonies, convulſion fits, and Dan. 3. 19.Dan 3:19perplexities of conſcience, which here as firebrands were a preſent hell to the ghaſtly ſinner, ſhall as Nebuchadnezzars furnace, be turned into a hotter flame. In the everlaſting condition of the damned conſcience ſhall neither be gagged nor charmed, but ſhall be Vermis rodens eſt morſus conſcientiae perpetuus & continuus ex peccatorum recordatione or tus, rabida quaedam diſplicentia, & infructuoſa poenitentia, angor cordis maximus, & nunquam interruptus. Ger.an ever-killing Baſiliske to the reprobate, and its tempeſts ſhall never be blown over, as earthquakes never ceaſe. The ſinner which ſinned away all conſcience here, and ſeared it by habituall and conſtant wickedneſſes, ſhall finde it in hell, and it ſhall be ſenſible and tender enough, and the wounds of it ſhall be ever kept open to receive the impreſſions of divine wrath. It ſhall reverberate… p. 327all the ſins of the damned upon the raw ſoul.

And now here I am enforced neceſſarily to dilate my ſelf ſomething, and to open to you, what a corroding, painfull worme the conſcience ſhall be to the tormented reprobate. I ſhall only paraphraſe a little upon this morſus conſcientiae, aking, tearing, gnawing, biting of conſcience, and delineate this rigorous diſeaſe in ſome few particulars.

1Conſcience in hell, it ſhall remember all its ſins, thoſe thouſands and millions of evils, which here it may Omnia mala in memoriam recipiet conſcientia. Orig.be never fell within the glance or eye of our ſtricteſt obſervation, thoſe thouſands of ranks of guilt ſhall appear; not only thoſe internall corruptions, thoſe vipers which lodged in our breaſts here and never broak the priſons, but thoſe extrinſecall abominations, deeds of darkneſſe which clouded the ſun it ſelf. All then ſhall arraign the ſoul at the bar of a tortured Luk. 8. 17.Luke 8:17conſcience. Here the caitiffe miſcreant is ſometimes eaſed by oblivion, but then all his vanity and violence ſhall ſtand as ſo many ghoſts before p. 328him. Conſcience ſhall be but as the clear glaſſe to ſee all his deformities. One ſin ſhall not be behind the curtain, ſhall not be annihilated or concealed; the Damned ſinner ſhall not do to his ſins, as Rachel did to her Gen. 31. 34.Gen 31:34Gods, hide them with a lying excuſe. No, conſcience in eternity ſhall give up all, the whole beadroll of ſinne. Thoſe numberleſſe numbers of evils, which would ſilence all Arithmetick to give the totall ſum of them, ſhall particularly and ſingly not only be obſerved and animadverted by conſcience, but give freſh and everlaſting wounds to the tortured miſcreant. Every wanton glance, proud look, looſe geſture, vain thought, unprofitable word, every tranſient if unholy imagination, ſhall not only be within the ſad proſpect of conſcience, but be continuall tortures to it.

2Conſcience, in the damneds eternity, ſhall remember all its ſins in their greateſt aggravations. Then conſcience ſhall Luk. 19. 42.Luke 19:42feel what it was to refuſe Chriſt, to neglect heaven, to pride the body, and loſe the ſoul. Every extravagant p. 329thought in ordinances, thoſe Terme times for the ſoul, every miſpent minute ſhall be ſcrued to the higheſt. Then wil come in, what funſhines, what Heb. 2. 3.Heb 2:3ſhowrs, what offers, what means, what manna the prodigal and frantick ſinner hath trampled upon. The conſcience ſhall ſee all its guilt in bloudy colours, in their juſt amplifications; not as here they are palliated by Satan, and miſrepreſented Gen. 3. 5.Gen 3:5by the world, curiouſly and cunningly extenuated by the ſinner ſelf. Every ſin… …ll then be known to the conſcience to be able to damne the ſoul, diſhonour the infinite God, and ſhut men out of glory; and ſin ſhall then be aggravated with two dreadfull examples.

1. Of Satans Angels, how ſin, and for ought we know, but … ſin, diſcoloured their glory, and ſanke them into perpetuall contempt and miſery, and this will laſh the conſcience with Scorpions.

2. Of the miſery of eating one apple by Adam, and that it ſhould ingulf all poſterity in one common deſolation, this likewiſe will fetch bloud from conſcience.

p. 330Then indeed ſhall all ſins againſt Scholaſtici docent morſum vermis, longe ſuperare uſtionem ignis. Ger.mercy, means, menaces, light, love, checkes, chidings, prayers, proteſtations, appeare in their genuine colours to the ſacrificed and tortured conſcience.

3The Conſcience, viz. in eternity, ſhall remember all its ſins as mixt with Gods wrath. All the ſins of the Reprobate ſhall be as Samſons foxes having Jud. 15. 4, 5, &c.Judg 15:4Judg 15:5firebrands at their tailes. Here the ſinner remembers ſin notionally, and God ſeems to conniv… them, but in eternity every ſin ſhal… … remembred, and it ſhall be big with vengeance. Every ſin ſhall fall on and ſtorme conſcience fired with Gods indignation, ſhall be a granado, a fireball in the ſoul. All recollected ſins, (as all the ſins of …e damned ſhall be recollected) ſhall be envenomed with puniſhment; every vain thought ſhall have its ſting, its bullet in it, and every idle word edged with Gods wrath ſhall excoriate the ſoul.

4Then conſcience ſhall remember every ſin as unpardonable, as being for ever incapable of forgiveneſſe and remiſſion. Conſcience ſhall then look upon every p. 331ſin as died in grain, that ſhall never Vermis conſcientiae tripliciter lacer abit, affiget memoria; ſera turbabit poenitentia, & to quebit anguſtia. Innoc.loſe its colour, its blackneſſe, its bloudineſſe, as that guilt which ſhall never be entombed in oblivion. Of all the ſins the conſciences of the damned ſhall be burdened with, not one, the leaſt of them ſhall either fall out of the remembrance, or the revenge of the Lord. The maſſacred conſcience ſhall look upon all its guilt, as unremoveable for ever. Not one ſin of ignorance ſhall ever be overpaſſed; the cloſe venereall ſin ſhall never loſe its poyſon; but the conſcience ſhall ſee its ſelf ever to be tortured with the vultures of its own ſins. Here indeed in this life, the awakening of conſcience is a ſingular mercy, and a rich priviledge, and it doth accelerate and haſten the ſinner to flie to the City of refuge, Phil. 3. 9.Phil 3:9the bloud of Chriſt, whereby he may be freed from his ſtinging Serpents, his ſins, and cured of the intolerable wounds of conſcience; but the awakened conſcience in the eternity of miſery ſhall look on the deluge of its guilt, as that not one prop of it ſhall fall, or ever be dried up.

p. 332But I cannot yet put a ſtop to my Contemplation on this ſubject, viz. What a worme conſcience will be in Animus aeger, & …ale ſibi conſci…s ſemper eſt …nfernus. Luth. …i diabolus non …aberet malam conſcientiam …ſſet in coelo. Id.hell? and the rather, becauſe it may be the diſcuſſion of the wofull miſery of the conſcience of the damned in eternity, may awaken the Conſcience of ſome Reader here.

Further to amplifie the miſery of the tormenting conſcience of the Reprobates, let be conſidered,

1The intimacy of theſe gripes. The ſoul ſhall be put into an everlaſting agony. Conſcience is a boſome friend, Erinnys Et quantum ſpiritualia bona excedunt corporalia, tantum & ſpiritualia mala.in corde, a flame in the ſpirit. It is the fury in the cloſet. Oftentimes here the conſcience is on the wracke, when none but God is the ſpectatour of that miſery; but in eternity conſcience ſhall be fire in the inward man, a ſoul torment; it is not ſupplicium carnis, but ſupplicium cordis, not the puniſhment of the skin, but of the ſoul. And this aggravates the torment of conſcience, it ſhall cruciate, feſter, and wrack the more noble, more ſpirituall, more capable, more ſenſible and apprehenſive part of Man; the ſoul can drink p. 133in more puniſhment and more fully feel the burden and weight of it. Its capacities are more extenſive, which is eaſily diſcernible in that it can enjoy the beatificall preſence of God himſelf. Ah! what meaſures of torture can this ſublime piece of immortality take in?

2The conſcience of the damned is to be conſidered in the continuedneſse of its torment. No ſleeping moment. Nec mo…ur vermis, nec m… ratur, ſed ſemper corrodit peccatorem.It ſhall be an ever awaking Lyon, alwayes devouring, yet never killing. No reſt, no eaſe, no ſlumber, no pauſe ſhall mitigate the pain of conſcience in miſerable eternity. Theſe Scorpions of ſin and guilt ſhall be ever tormenting the conſcience. No intermediate quiet; the ſtorme is perpetuall, no vacation. In hell there ſhall be darkneſſe, Quocun que aſpicias obviabit peccatum. Baſil.but no ſleep. Conſcience ſhall be alwayes a flaming torch.

3The conſcience is to be conſidered in the juſtneſſe of its torment. Ah faith conſcience, I might have been in glory, inſtalled in eternall beatitude, but my ſins have righteouſly cruſht me into theſe flames. And this will be the very poyſon of conſcience it ſelf. p. 334The ſinner ſuffers not as a Martyr, but as a malefactour; he is burnt in the hand as a thief. The Martyrs though they were the ſacrifices of the cruelty and tyranny of men, yet how ſerene and calme, how full of peace and joy were their conſciences? they were as cryſtall ſeas within them; and the reaſon was, becauſe they dyed not for their ſins, but their ſanctity, as the witneſſes of Gods truth, and not as Act. 24. 16.Acts 24:16the ſtaines of Chriſts Goſpell; but this ſhall be the ſting in the worme of conſcience to the damned, they reap the miſerable fruits of their own ſinfull deſerts. This will inflame the reckoning the loſſe of offered grace: And now the winde ſhall ever blow contrary, they die juſtly, as the priſoners of Gods wrath, and not as the heralds of their owne innocency.

4The torments of the conſcience of the damned are to be conſidered in the infiniteneſſe of them. The ſoul ſhall be laſht with ſin and guilt, which is all venome and rancour. Sin is the ſharpeſt ſword when edged with Gods wrath; the fire indeed ſcorches ſorely, p. 335but it is a creature, there is ſomething Conſcientia mala, non ſolum recordationem, & ſcientiam perpetratiſceleris & maleficia ob oculós ponit; ſed etiam dolorem & anxietatem comitem habet. Chemn.of good in it, but ſin is all deformity, all miſchief, as the conſciences of the damned ſhall be laſht with a ſcourge made up of the cords of innumerable ſins. Ah! who knowes the torment that one ſin ſets home by the anger of the Lord, can create in the ſoul? How ſmarting the laſh of one crime? What paleneſſe of face, anguiſh of ſpirit, trembling of knees, terrour of heart did the hand-writing on the Dan. 5. 2, 3, 4, &c.Dan 5:2Dan 5:3Dan 5:4wall, the repercuſſion of an evill conſcience caſt Princely Belſhazzar into? Ne que ullum erit peccatum quod non proprium ſuum ibi habeat cruciatum. Ger.what furies will the reflexions of conſcience be, when awakened in everlaſting and irrecoverable miſery?

5The conſcience of the damned may be conſidered in the innumerableneſſe of its torments, when every ſin ſhall fetch bloud at the ſoul. Compute the evils of one day, how many thouſands it is ſtained with, and what then are the ſins of mans life? and yet every ſin ſhall have its full blow, (as before was hinted). Every ſin in ſpecie, in the kind of it, Pride, Exceſſe, Covetouſneſſe, Rom. 2. 9.Rom 2:9Formality, &c. and every ſin in individuo, individually conſidered, p. 336every act, ebullition, nay conceiving of Pride, Vanity, Hypocrifie, &c. ſhall ſtrike upon the hot iron of conſcience, and there ſhall be no warding of any one blow, the ſoul ſhall be naked to it, and God ſhall ſee the execution done.

6The conſciences of the damned are to be conſidered in that torment which their envy ſhall produce; that ſhall likewiſe put conſcience on the wrack. The Fathers make much mention of Livor damnatorum, the envy of the damned, to ſee the Saints crownd and themſelves wrackt, the Saints living in the embraces of Chriſt, and themſelves lying under the wrath of the Lambe, and it may be both lived under Mat. 8. 11, 12.Matt 8:11Matt 8:12the ſame means, enjoyed the ſame mercies, were wet with the ſame Goſpell ſhowres; this likewiſe ſhall keep open the wound, that when others are arrived at the harbour, they are ſhipwrackt upon a wofull eternity.

7The torments of the damneds conſciences may be conſidered and inhanced upon this account, in the conſideration of their own madneſſe and folly, p. 337to come to be tortured by ſo many vultures, and for what? to pleaſe a Mat. 16. 20.Matt 16:20piece of clay, for the ſpending of a few moments, and thoſe interrupted by manifold afflictions, and imbittered with various troubles; the greateſt jollities of this world are ſowred and overtaken with many diſturbances; our ſweeteſt muſicks jar, all delights below have their diſtaſtfull pauſes; Prov. 13. 14.Prov 13:14and how will this torture conſcience to undergoe the frowns of a God, the loſſe of a Crown, the periſhing of a ſoul, the divorce of a Chriſt, the malice of legions of devils, and the executions of eternity, and all for the paint of a few ſpecious, but fallacious, but fugacious ſatisfactions, and accommodatious?

And thus you ſee what thoſe torments are, which ſhall torture the conſciences of the damned to eternity.

2And as the ſouls of the damned in all their faculties ſhall ever be upon the wrack; ſo likewiſe the bodies of the reprobates in all their parts, ſhall be ſcorcht in the flames of eternall vengeance. Could I, as a skilfull Anatomiſt p. 338by a rare diſſection open every conſiderable Patietur etiam corpus, non qua ſentire quid ſine carne non poteſt anima, ſed qua neceſſe eſt, illam etiam carne ſentire. Tertul.particular in the body, I might then fully deſcribe the univerſality of its torments. There is not a vein, not an artery, not a muſcle, not the leaſt and moſt latent part of the bodies of the damned, but ſhall be torne with intolerable torments and anguiſh. Thoſe curious pieces of workemanſhip, the bodies of the damned, (for ſo they were in point of formation) which the Pſalmiſt looked upon as Pſal. 139. 26.Ps 139:26the ſubject of admiration and wonder, ſhall after their reſurrection be but the common ſlaughter-houſes of pain and puniſhment.

1. The heads of the damned ſhall then be fuller of pains, then here they were of plots, thoſe forges of covetouſneſſe, Ad patiendum ſocietatem carnis expoſtulat anima ut tam plene per eam pati poſſit, quam ſine ea plene agere non potuit. Idem.luſt, ambition, &c. which oftentimes in this life were tortured to beat out and accompliſh wicked and facinorous deſignes, ſhall feel the inexpreſſible ſurpriſals of Gods everlaſting diſpleaſure, and their ſinfull impoſtume which they laboured with here, ſhall break into eternall pain and agony. And all the paint of that enſnaring beauty, their faces were comely p. 339with, ſhall melt away in inextinguiſhable flames.

2. And ſo the hands of the damned, which it may be, here muſt not be Mat. 3. 12.Matt 3:12beſmeared or ſullied with any ſoil, but muſt be ſweetned with the perfumed glove, and enriched with the ſparkling diamond, which here could not think to graſpe corruption, ſhall be burnt with the hot iron of Gods eternall indignation. Thoſe hands of the wicked, Iſa. 33. 14.Isa 33:14which here were the boyſterous executours of Will and Paſſion, the common receivers of bribes and uſury, the manuall inſtruments of manifold wickedneſſe, ſhall feel the corroding pain of eternall flames.

3. The feet of the reprobate, which here have been ſwift in running to miſchief, as the wiſeman ſaith; which Prov. 6. 18.Prov 6:18have chaunted after the viall, as the Prophet ſpeaks; which have often Amos. 6. 4.Amos 6:4poſted to execute the commands of the inordinate will and ſinfull affections, which have pleaſed the wanton ſoul in its meaſures and dances, ſhall in eternity be fettered with the burning irons, and bear the ſhackles of everflaming wrath, and be copartners with p. 340the reſt of the body in a common execution.

4. The heart of the reprobate, which here hath been deſperately wicked, hereafter in eternity ſhall be intolerably tormented. Here it hath been the cage of uncleanneſſe, and hereafter it Jer. 17. 9.Jer 17:9ſhall be the furnace of miſery, and every luſt it hath harboured, ſhall be Jer. 5. 27.Jer 5:27turned into a Scorpion, an Aſpe, a Mat. 15. 19.Matt 15:19Fury; here it was the ſink of all thoſe venemous principles the ſinner acted by; and hereafter it ſhall be the Sodome which ſhall be ever conſuming Gen. 19. per tot.Gen 19with fire and brimſtone, and thoſe very corruptions which here checkered the ſinner, ſhall hereafter cruciate him; and what here was his pleaſure, ſhall in hell be his torture. And ſo all parts of the body ſhall be wrackt in a perpetuall conflagration. Then all the haughty looks of a ſinner ſhall be taken down. How little will the flames of hell reſpect the lovelineſſe and beauty of thoſe bodies which here they were painted with? but as death and the wormes did not reverence the feature of their delicate bodies, ſo neither will the flames of eternity ſpare p. 341their comelineſſe. And let theſe three things be ſubjoyned to this Argument.

1All the parts, nerves, arteries, every parcell and member of the body of the damned after the reſurrection, ſhall be all tortured together, not by way of ſucceſſion, of priority or poſteriority. Here indeed diſeaſes run from one part of the body to another, and as ſome parts are full of, ſo others are free from pain: But no part of the bodies of the reprobate ſhall eſcape the ſeiſure of Gods wrath, and hell flames; the vengeance of God ſhall be ſearching, Mat. 25. 41.Matt 25:41and tear every vein of the damned. In ignem aeternum eſt totaliter, non tantum corpus, ſed & totum corporis.All the members ſhall ſuffer in a common deſtruction. There ſhall not be one ſinew unſtretcht, it ſhall not be with the members of the body, as with the ſentinels, that one ſhould relieve another; but as there ſhall be no relaxation, ſo no exemption.

All the parts of the body ſhall be tortured with the extremest pain. Indeed happily here ſome parts of the body have been more forward and froward in ſin then others, but in eternity every part ſhall be pullied up, p. 342and ſcrued with the extreameſt rigour, and in the moſt inſufferable perplexity. As the Father ſpeaks, Adeſſe erit intolerabile. The moſt choiſe, tender, delicate parts of the body, which here, it may be, ſhould not ſuffer the diſcourteſie of a gentle blaſt, ſhall in hell Nunquam dei oculos, memoriam, manus, effugere poſſet pecator. Theoph.be excoriated and unbowelled by unſpeakable and inexorable ſeverity. Thoſe ſoſt and curious parts of the body which the mimick Dames and proud Gallants of the world have indulged, and enſhrined in ſo much bravery, ſhall in eternity ſuffer the moſt bloudy, tragicall and everlaſting execution; nor ſhall the Ladies vail, or the Curtizans maske ſecure their beauty, when they ſhall have no other looking-glaſſe to ſee themſelves in, but the glaſſe of Gods ſevere and eternall wrath, but the bodies of the moſt diſſolved and effeminated ſinners ſhall be wrackt with a generall torture. Here age and diſeaſes can wrinckle their lovelineſſe, and in eternity wrath and vengeance ſhall take away all eaſe and mitigation.

3All the parts and members of the bodies of the damned ſhall be tortured, p. 343without the leaſt conſumption of them: Miſeries ſhall not waſt them, ſhall corrode them, but not conſume them. Here diſeaſes do not only tire the ſpirits, but waſte the body; the face loſeth its colour, the ſtomach its appetite, the knees tremble with feebleneſſe, and the fleſh melts away. But though every part of the body in eternity ſhall be parched and ſcorcht with conſuming fire, yet nothing of its Heb. 12. 29.Heb 12:29ſtrength, or capacity to endure torment ſhall for ever be abated; for could the parts of the body ſinke, and gradually conſume, the whole in time would fall into an extinction, which is a felicity, God will never give the grant of to the damned reprobate.

3And as all the parts of the bodies, and faculties of the ſouls of the damned, ſhall be tortured with miſery for ever: ſo all the ſenſes ſhall bear their part in the inexpreſſible doom. Thoſe galleries which men ſo delightfully walke in here, thoſe windowes and perſpectives of the ſoul, through which the ſinner often eſpies the Bathſheba whoſe beauty enthrals him; thoſe ſenſes p. 344which ſinners have ſo ſtudied to bribe and gratifie, Eſau his taſt, Gen. 25. 30. Herod his eare, Act. 12. 23. Ammon his eye, 2 Sam. 13. 6. &c. I ſay, theſe ſenſes, which have been the inlets of ſin, the eye of Pride, the taſt of drunkenneſſe, the hearing of curioſity, vanity and errour, &c. Thoſe ſenſes which have been the ſpies of temptation to finde out the bait, the panders of the heart to gratifie its luſts and ambitions; the Nihil eſt in intellectu, quod non prins fuit in ſenſu. Ariſt. & alii.falſe and treacherous ſentinels of the ſoul, ſhall in the dungeon of eternity not only be impriſoned from their pleaſant liberty, and recreative ſatisfactions they here enjoyed; but be filled and fed with thoſe miſeries and diſtaſts which are moſt noyſome and abominable to their ſuſceptible capacities: as more particularly,

1. The ſight ſhall be cruciated and afflicted with many ghaſtly and diſtaſtfull objects, Nihil niſi tremendum, Oculi cruciabuntur Daemonum aſpectu. Ger.nihil niſi horrendum, nihil niſi eavendum, objectum erit viſus. Nothing but tragedies and tragicall executions, the wounds and waſts, the torments and tribulations and terrous of themſelves p. 345and others, ſhall be the everlaſting object of the damneds view. The rowling Quoad viſum, eſt ibi luminis privatio, quod delectabile eſt oculis videre. Gerſon.eye of the wanton ſinner, which often fed it ſelf here with beautifull objects, whether complexioned in a face, or painted in the rareſt proſpects of the creature, ſhall ſee nothing but what ſhall be the fountain of horrour and amazement. And the bloudſhot eye, which diſeaſed, hath looked upon every object with malignity and envy, ſhall ſee nothing but the perpetuall ſlaughters of doomed malefactours. And

2. The hearing of the damned, which Quoad auditum, eſt ibi ſonus horribilis, gemitus miſerabilis, & blaſphemia execrabilis. Id.it may be here, was often raiſed and raviſhed with exquiſite muſickes, and pleaſing harmonies, which oftentimes committed ſenſuall idolatry with the the Viall and Lute; or happily the receptive of errours, and blaſphemies, or other perturbant affaires, for which ſoul-work was laid aſide, ſhall be everlaſtingly tortured with the groans, frights, cries, moanes, ſcrietches, revilings and blaſphemies of a damned ſociety. That delicate eare which was ſo curious in its muſicall apprehenſions, will then take up Jeremiahs wiſh, p. 346Jer. 9. 2. that it were in a wilderneſſe to hear nothing but the ruffling of a few leaves, or the murmuration of a few ſtreames. How dolefully will thoſe ſelf-curſing accents of the reprobate crew ſound? How mournfully the pitifull, yet fruitleſſe lamentation of the caſt and condemned ſinner? How tragicall the roarings which ſhall be drawn from their inexpreſſible torture? And

3. The ſmell of the Reprobates which here was ſo choyce in ſingling out its fragrancies, and oftentimes the noſegay was laid in the boſome; I ſay, that Rev. 14. 10.Rev 14:10ſmell which ſometimes perfumed it ſelf in an odoriferous bed of flowers and roſes, ſhall everlaſtingly be offended with the ſent of ſulphur and brimſtone, and that diſtaſtfull and noyſome ſmell which the impriſoned reprobates ſhall evaporate. Heliogabalus that Sardanapalus Petrod' Mexia in Imper. Hiſt.of Rome, who here could not bathe himſelf but in waters ſweetned with perfumes; ſhall have nothing in eternity to refreſh that ſenſe, but the ſtench of Gods eternall wrath. And

4. So for the taſte, the criticall palat p. 347of ſinners which here was ſo rare in its inventions, how to pleaſe and Quoad guſtum, ab ſynthium, amarus cibus, Item fel draconum potus, uva illorum uva fellis, & potus amariſſimus fel draconum, vinum eorum, & venenum aſpidum inſanabile.intoxicate it ſelf, which often hath been non-pluſt which diſh in the feaſt, which dainty in the banquet to ſeize and prey upon; which ſometimes hath been at a controverſie, whether it hath pleaſed the Drunkard or the Glutton moſt, ſhall in eternity drink and taſte nothing but the cup of trembling, the vials of Gods wrath, the poyſon of Aſpes, the vomit of Serpents, and the ſpirits of Satans malice. And

5. The touch which here was gratified with ſoftneſſe and effeminacy, and was indulged with the fineſt coverlets, which could not endure the ſmart of a wound, the unkindneſſe of a ſtorme or the intolerableneſſe of a ſpark, ſhall be tormented with the moſt penetrative Mar. 9. 48.Mark 9:48and wracking torments, with Quoad tactum ibi eſt ignis urens, vermis corrodens, aeſtus inſuperabilis, & frigor intolerabilis, Gerſ.flames which have intolerable heat, but no light, and with all thoſe tortures which with moſt exquiſiteneſſe can afflict that ſenſe. That ſenſe which the Philoſophers call the moſt common, ſhall in the eternity of the damned be the common capacity of p. 348inſupportable miſery. And thus for the firſt univerſality, that of the Patient.

But further to draw this Map of miſery, I ſhall unfold and fall upon a ſecond univerſality, viz. That of Puniſhnent. Not only every artery of the body, every faculty of the ſoul, (I ſpeak in reference to the damned) every exertion of the ſenſe, ſhall live in an everlaſting execution and Martyrdome, (if I may uſe the word) But every imaginable miſery, omnigenous, De poenis excogitari non poteſt quod ibi non erit. Greg.multifarious, innumerable calamities ſhall ſeiſe upon every particular. The ſoul in its full capacities ſhall drink in all ſoul-torment, and the body all corporeall tortures. Every diviſion of both (if the ſoul may be parcelled) ſhall lie under multitudinous extremities. Ah! Conſider this Pſal. 10. 22.Ps 10:22all ye that forget God.

But not to traverſe only univerſals, Non mihi ſi linguae centum eſſent, oraque centum, Omnia poenarum percurrere nomina poſſem. Virg.and to glance only at the torments of the damned in generall; the uſuall allotment and diviſion of theſe pains are caſt by Divines into three heads:

p. 3491. The puniſhment of loſſe.

2. The puniſhment of ſenſe.

3. The puniſhment of ſeparation.

But the firſt and the laſt, may ſeem to be coincident.

1The puniſhment of loſſe, conſiſts in the deprivall that the damned undergoe, Mille gehennas ponai, & nihil tale eſt, quale eſt excludi a gloria dei, & odio haberi a deo. Chryſoſt.in regard of the preſence of God, and the unſpeakable joys of heaven; and this Divines have called the worſt puniſhment, and ſo indeed it muſt be, becauſe the good the reprobates are deprived of, is infinitely Abſentia Chriſti quoad viſionem, omnia alia tormenta ſuperat, & omnibus poenis intolerabilior eſt. Aug.more valuable, then the paines the damned undergoe can be conſiderable. The loſſe of God is infinite, in reference to the object; but the torments cannot be infinite, becauſe a finite creature undergoes them. But only to touch on this ſad particular, beſides the loſſe of God, the damned ſhall loſe,

1The bleſſed ſociety of Angels, thoſe firſt eſſayes of creating power, the maſterpieces of the whole fabrick of Ʋbi non habet locum dei gratia, ibi nec obtinet gratioſa Angelorum praeſentia. Luth.the world; thoſe pieces of purity which never were deflowred with a ſin, The Courtiers of heaven, Dan. 7. 10. The comforters of Chriſt himſelf, p. 350Mat. 4. 11. The miniſtring Spirits who Sicut fumus apes, & faetor columbas abigit, ſic Angelos foreign. Baſil.wait on the Saints here, as the Spouſe of the Lord Jeſus. And this is intolerable miſery; and one particular of the damneds calamity. As the Angel was not here their miniſtration, ſo not in eternity ſhall he be their companion. Here the Angell did not officiate to them, nor hereafter ſhall he aſſociate with them.

2The rare and rich ſociety of the glorified Saints. The damned ſhall not Mat. 8. 12.Matt 8:12be bleſſed with that glorious aſſociation▪ Mat. 22. 13.Matt 22:13The joyes, perfections and perſons Juſti in manu Dei erunt, peccatores in loco Diaboli, juſti cum Deo, peccatores cum Satana. Cyril. Alex.of the glorious Saints ſhall not yeild a happineſſe to the impriſoned reprobates. The glorified Saints which here were the deriſions; ſhall not in eternity be the companions of the wicked, which here was their ſcorne, ſhall not then be their ſociety. Thoſe pieces of immaculate perfection ſhall not be overſhadowed with the ſight, much more with the communion of one reprobate miſcreant. The ſinner that here avoided, ſhall not in eternity be bleſſed with the company of the Saints.

3The joyes, reſt and quietneſſe of heaven, all thoſe felicities which beſpangle p. 351glory it ſelf; whatever bleſſedneſſe arches heaven, they ſhall be excluded Mat. 21. 13.Matt 21:13the feaſt, turned out of the Court, expelled the bride-chamber, ſhut out of Mat. 25. 12.Matt 25:12Paradiſe; and the skreen of Gods Job 20. 26.Job 20:26wrath ſhall ſtand everlaſtingly between them and the feſtivities of glory. The reprobates ſhall never ſee Paradiſe in Nec ſol, nec luna, nec ſtella videbitur una. Leon.the Landskip of a ſingle glance, unleſſe it be to accumulate their infelicity. Their ſouls ſhall not be refreſhed with the dewes of celeſtiall happineſſe. God in the full paſſage of eternity ſhall not once draw the curtain to refreſh the damned with a tranſient view of that glory, which ſhall for ever encompaſſe his Saints.

4I might here ſuperadd, their exile and baniſhment from the harmonies and hallelujahs of heaven, thoſe ſeraphicall muſicks which are the everlaſting redundancies of the Angels obedience, and the Saints joy. And

5I might likewiſe take notice of the damneds excluſion from the refreſhment of common pitty and commiſeration. The reprobates in eternity ſhall not Prov. 1. 26.Prov 1:26have the Levits courteſie, the refreſhment of a compaſſionate look; they p. 352ſhall eternally be baniſht all moaning Pſal. 92. 8.Ps 92:8language, they ſhall never hear the Ipſimet damnati ſeſe invicem odio proſequentur, ac miſeriis ſuis mutuo inſultabunt. Ger.ſounding of the bowels of man, nor be indulged with the compaſſions of God. I ſay, theſe things might be enlarged, but this puniſhment of loſſe, which the damned ſhall be afflicted with, will more clearly appear, when the gain, the felicities of heaven ſhall come into debate and diſcuſſion.

I now fall upon the puniſhment of ſenſe, conſiſting in all thoſe actuall torments which the damned ſhall undergoe, which as David ſpeaks of Gods works, Pſal. 40. 5. Many O Lord my God, foreign. Hom.are thy wonderfull works. And as Neſtor ſpake of the miſeries they endured at the ſiege of Troy, ſo I may ſay of thoſe calamities, they are not more grievous for their nature, then numerous for the account. As the Father compriſed all in one ſhort ſentence, Ibi nihil aderit boni, nihil aberit mali: But I ſhall compriſe thoſe chief puniſhments which ſhall conſume and torment the damned under theſe few heads.

1They ſhall be tortured with the ſcorching heat of fire, mentioned in many places of Scripture, Mat. 18. 9. p. 353Mat. 3. 12. Mar. 9. 48. Luke 16. 24. &c.

Now for the handling of this particular, I ſhall diſpatch it in theſe three things;

1. Queſt. Whether this infernall fire be materiall or no?

Anſw. Anſw. There are many who ſeem to affirme it, and uſe many arguments Gehenna illa, quae etiam ſtagnum ignis & ſulphuris dicta eſt, corporeus ignis erit, & cruciabit corpora damnatorum. Aug. de civ. dei.for the aſſertion. As

1. In the articles of faith, we are to adhere to the letter, unleſſe evident and neceſſary occaſion draw us from a literall interpretation. Now theſe miſeries are often called fire Mat. 15. 41, &c. And

2. To this fire is aſcribed ſulphur, flames, wood, Iſa. 30. 33. Now the Word would not give ſuch properties to immateriall fire.

3. The bodies of men cannot be more exquiſitely tormented, then with fire: one ſpark is exceeding dolorous. And Nebuchadnezzars furnace, was but a type of hell, and therefore there is no reaſon to recede from their opinion.

And then on the contrary part, it is urged,

p. 3541. That corporeall fire can make no impreſſions on a ſpirit, as the Devils and the ſouls of men are. All agents, Daemonas & animas …ationales, non aliter cruciari igne corporeo quidam aſſerunt, contra ſuam voluntatem quam quod in eo detineantur tanquam in perpetuo carcere. Thom.as Philoſophers obſerve, doe act on a capable object; now ſpirituall ſubſtances are not ſo to materiall agents.

Now to this it is anſwered,

1 Our ſouls here are often afflicted in corporeall diſtempers, Et corpore afflicto anima ipſa dolet.

2. Although coporeall fire doe not act on the ſoul by a phyſicall and naturall power; yet God can infuſe a power into fire as the inſtrument of his wrath and vengeance, even to ſcorch and ſinge the ſouls of the damned. Though fire cannot do it, as Divines obſerve, Virtute phyſica, tamen virtute hyperphyſica. And it is a good obſervatio… a learned man, that Talis eſt cujuſque rei natura, & actio, qualem Deus creator Omnipotens eam vult eſſe; ſi corpora damnatorum urantur, & non conſumantur, nonne illud eſt miraculum? Et quomodo dicitur ignis contra naturam agere, cum agat voluntate Dei? that is, The nature and the action of every thing is ſuch as the Almighty creator will have it, p. 355and commands it to be; if the bodies Alii dicunt, ſi ignis infernalis eſſet materialis, tum extingui poſſet; ſed reſp. ſicut corpora damnatorum etſi comburuntur, tamen non conſumuntur, ſic & ignis inferni, etſi ſe exerit in damnatorum poena, tamen non extinguitur: Ʋtrum que ergo eſt per miraculam.of the damned are burned and not conſumed, is not this a miracle? as the buſh, Exod. 3. in the beginning. And then how can that fire be ſaid to act againſt its own nature, that acts according to the will of the God of nature? and therefore it may be aſſerted, that the fire of hell may reach the ſouls of the damned if God give it a command, or impoſe on it a quality and power ſo to do.

Now to clear the whole in a word, The infernall fire may be conſidered two wayes;

1. Ratione ſui, in reference to it ſelf, and ſo it cannot have any power on a ſpirituall ſubſtance.

2. Ratione agentis principalis cujus eſt instrumentum, in regard of the principall agent whoſe inſtrument it is: and ſo it can act upon ſpirituall beings, and make the ſame painfull impreſſions, as it would do upon corporall. But not further to amplifie the controverſie, that ſaying of St. Auguſtine is Auguſt.remarkable, Cujuſmodi ignis infernalis eſt, hominem ſcire arbitror neminem, niſi forte cui Spiritus divinus oſtendit; (i. e.) None p. 356can know what this fire is, of what kind, of what power, unleſſe extraordinarily the Spirit of God reveal it to him. And another piouſly, Let us earneſtly importune the Lord, that this knowledge whether the fire of hell be materiall or not, be never manifeſted to us by experience.

Queſt. 2 And it would not be any great digreſſion, if we ſhould examine the difference between our fire and infernall fire, wherein the vaſt diverſity lies.

1Our fire can be extinguiſht; the hotteſt flames can be put out by the greateſt ſtreames; the holy fire of the heart, love, cannot be quenched, no not by many waters, Cant. 8. 7. but Job 20. 26.Job 20:26the fire of the hearth can be extinguiſhed, Deut. 32. 22.Deut 32:22the greateſt conflagrations will either die of themſelves, or be quenched by an exterior power. But the fire of hell is an everlaſting flame, tears cannot quench it, bloud cannot allay it. Could the damned weep an Ocean, they could not extinguiſh one ſparke of this fire.

2Our fire muſt be maintained by continuall ſupplies of fuell; take away p. 357the pile of wood and the fire goes out; but the fire of hell ſhall not be Iſa. 30. 33.Isa 30:33fed with wood, but with wrath, Gods indignation ſhall be an everlaſting ſupply to hels conflagration; the breath of his mouth ſhall be both bellowes and fuell to the infernall fire.

3Our fire it conſumes and kils the body, and cauſeth the life of the patient to evaporate with its own ſmoakes; It turns fleſh into aſhes, and incinerates the Martys body; but infernall fire, urit & cruciat, ſed non extinguit, it ſhal burn but not bury, afflict but not annihilate, or change the nature of the bodies of the damned. Thoſe flames as they ſhall be preſerved by a miracle, ſo ſhall the bodies they torment not conſume, nor ſmoak choak thed amned. Hic ignis nec extinguit, nec extinguitur; as he ſaid.

4Our fire cum vi foreign, with its burning and afflicting power, ſheds and caſts a light and illumination. Our flames are but burning torches, and ſcorching candles; they be objectivum Viſus, as well as Tactus, the object of ſight as well as feeling; the fire hath p. 358its beams as well as the ſun, though it enlightens lumine tenebricoſiore, with darker rayes. But the infernall fire Mat. 25. 30.Matt 25:30is void of all light or brightneſſe, Comburentur damnati igne urente, ſed non lucente.there is utter darkneſſe. And the reaſon is; for light would be the womb of comfort, it brandiſheth pleaſure, to the beholder, how do we admire the Moon though it ſhines with a borrowed light? and with what wonder do we Eccleſ. 11. 7.Eccl 11:7gaze on the ſtars thoſe illuminated diamonds, as being the bright tapers of heaven. Now could the tormenting flames of hell be radiant, and ſcatter that darkneſſe the damned ſhall be thruſt into, they would procure more happineſſe then the reprobate ſhall ever enjoy: light is a bleſſing that ſhall never viſit the infernall coaſts.

5Our fire alwayes burns ad eundem modum, according to the quantity of the ſupply and the fuel it ſeeds upon; but the infernall fire ſhall burn diverſimode, after a different kind according to the demerits of the reprobate, It ſhall be more tolerable for Sodome and Gomorrah Mat. 10. 15.Matt 10:15then, &c.

p. 3596Our fire differs from the infernall in the exquiſiteneſſe of the heat: Noſter ignis eſt eſt ignis pictus ad magnum. ignem Polyc.were all the combuſtibles of the whole creation turned into one flame and fire, they would not containe ſo much vehemency and ſervour Ʋna ſcintill… ignis infernalis magis affligit, quam ſi parturient mulier mille annos in ſuis continuaret cruciatibus. Bern.in them, as one ſparke of infernall fire: and the reaſon is, our fire is fed and increaſed by the ſupply of inanimate creatures, wood, oyle, flax, pitch, &c. but the fire of hell is fed by the wrath of the living Almighty and eternall God. As fire in the chafindiſh, is not to be compared to fire in the furnace.

7Our fire may be uſefull for heat, for comfort, for the preparing of food, &c. but the infernall fire ſhall Act. 28. 1, 2.Acts 28:1Acts 28:2be purely, totally, everlastingly tormenting. And to diſtinguiſh between our fire and the fire of hell, the Scripture alwayes addes ſome epithet and title to hell fire when it is mentioned; as ſometimes it is called hell fire, Non propter pe…o…s comburentes, ſed propter eorum immortalitatem in igne. Iſid.Mat. 5. 22. ſometimes a furnace of fire, Mat. 13. 42. and ſometimes it is reſembled to the Babyloniſh furnace, Dan. 3. not for the perſons that p. 360were in it, for they were holy and pretious, but for the immortality of thoſe who were caſt into it. Sometimes hell fire is called a lake of fire, Rev. 19. 20. where the abundance of it is denoted. So that the Scripture diſtinguiſheth our fire from the infernall alwayes by ſome attribute or other. But

Queſt. 3 Suppoſing this infernall fire ſhould not be materiall, but metaphoricall, yet the phraſe would import thus much:

1To ſhew the exquiſiteneſſe of the torments of the Reprobates: nothing more intolerable then fire, we cannot endure one ſparke of it. If Martyrs have endured the flames not only with patience but eaſe, as it is reported Baynham and others did, this hath been miraculous. In fire every ſparke is a ſingle torment, and one flame is but a multiplied miſery. The height of Gods wrath is compared to fire; to torment with Heb. 12. 29.Heb 12:29fire, is the extremity of mans malice. And ſo the Marian perſecution was the moſt cruell, becauſe it was fiery; We in our Land burne p. 361Wives which deſtroy their Husbands, that being one of the higheſt impieties. The rage of Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3. per tot.Dan 3was proſecuted with a fiery furnace that was prepared as the moſt tragicall inſtrument to purſue his diſpleaſure.

2To ſhew the conſumptiveneſſe of this miſery. Fire is a devouring element, turnes the moſt beautifull fuell into aſhes in a moment; ſo the torments of hell ſhall eate, corrode, and conſume, but yet never diſpatch. They ſhall conſume the hopes, the happineſſe, the joyes and the very perſons of the damned, yet not ſo as to kill, its conſumptions ſhall be repaired again, as the wound in the fleſh is ſtopt up when heald.

3To ſhew the unnaturalneſſe of the miſery. Fire how many wayes uſefull, it is an element that is abſolutely neceſſary, one of the ſupports of the world. How uſefull was fire to the Iſraelites, Exod. 13. 21. when God went before them in a pillar of it? The Spirit it ſelfe is called fire, Luk. 3. 16. Fire is an antidote againſt the killing invaſions of the ſharpe Winter. p. 362It makes the dead fleſh of the creatures, which otherwiſe would be noyſomneſſe to us, and not our food, to be genuine and ſavory dyet for man, and yet hels miſery is called fire: here the ſervant becomes indeed the tyrant, the ſlave becomes executioner, what was for help is now for torment.

4To ſhew the penetrativeneſſe of the miſery. Fire is of a penetrating nature, Lam. 1. 13.Lam 1:13pierceth and windeth it ſelf into the narroweſt chinkes, and ſo theſe pains ſhall pierce uſ que ad ipſius animae eſſentiam, to the very nature and eſſence of the ſoul.

5To ſhew the ſutebleneſſe of the miſery, the in…ernall fire of hell anſwering the internall fire of luſt, theſe flames thoſe fires. The wicked man Retaliatio eſt poenae ad formam culpae.here hath burnt with ambition, laſciviouſneſſe, inſatiable deſires after the world and the creature, and there he Job. 4. 8.Job 4:8ſhall burne in everlasting miſeries, in miſeries which are called fire.

And thus much for the firſt torment, which ſhall ſeiſe on the Damned, ſhall be caſt into inextinguiſhable fire, Mat. 3. 12.

p. 3632I now fall upon the ſecond great torment, which ſhall cruciate and afflict the damned, and that is, The Mat. 8. 12, 13.Matt 8:12Matt 8:13extremity of cold. Strange it is, yet moſt Mat. 13. 50.Matt 13:50infallibly, Scripturally true, That the damned ſhould be puniſhed not only with diverſities, with contrarieties of pains, is it not, becauſe as Phyſitians obſerve, the pain is greater in the Antiperiſtaſis; that as they ſay, when contrary humours meet and ſtruggle together in the body as two meeting torrents, then the pain is moſt intolerable. Surely this is one great reaſon, Mat. 25. 30. There Chriſt ſaith, In hell there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth; weeping from heat, the pain of fire; and gnaſhing of teeth, from the extremity of cold; ſo Haymo, Remigius, Hierome, and others.

Obj. But here it may be objected, That cold ſhould be a mitigation of the former pains, cold being a remedy againſt heat; Luk. 16. Dives petitions no more, Luk. 16.Luke 16no better cure for his torment in the flame, then that Lazarus ſhould dip the tip of his finger in water and touch his tongue to cool it.

Anſw. But as for this, it is a parable, and p. 364therefore according to the rule in the Poenae damnatorum erunt acerbiſſimae, & intolerabiles; erit ibi poena ignis, & ſecunda eſt vermis, tertia foetor, & quarta maximum frigus. Bonav.Schools, not argumentative, being ſtretcht beyond its ſcope and end. And to the other Aquinas anſwers, That it ſhall be no mitigation at all of the pain of the damned, in regard it ſhall not be by the changing and the tranſmutation of the body from its former diſpoſition and paſſion, but by bringing a new paſſion upon it, the old remaining, which it doth, ſaith he, per actionem ſpiritualem, by a ſpirituall action; for by its naturall action, being contrary to heat, it quenches it and mitigates the pain of it, but by its ſpirituall action, which it hath from the principall agent, Gods juſtice, whereof it is the inſtrument, and whereby it doth act and prey upon the body, it doth not; ſo that learned and acute Schoolman. Indeed this ſhall be a great additionall to the Reprobates miſery, they ſhall ever be parched in intolerable heat, and yet ſpend an eternall winter; and the miſery of chilneſſe and coldneſſe is inſupportable. Cold here how doth it benumme the joynts, dead the ſpirits, ſhrivell up the body? how p. 365doth it caſt the body into an univerſall ſwoon, it pains the members, and if rigorous, endangers the life; as in ſome Northerly nations in the world, the cold is a common diſtraction; and how ſhall the froſts of hell disjoynt and torture the bodies of the damned for ever?

3The third intolerable puniſhment of the reprobates ſhall be famine and Luk. 6. 25.Luke 6:25hunger, a moſt inſufferable miſery▪ Quinta poena damnatorum erit fames maxima, in inferno nam que eſt tanta inopia, ut ne que guitam aquae damnati poterunt habere. Bonav.In the 24. of Jeremiah there are three great plagues mentioned, foreign, Famine, Peſtilence, and the Sword; Famine is enumerated as one of thoſe ſoareſt calamities. And ſo Ezek. 14. 21. it is reckoned one of the four judgments there. Famine it waſts the ſtrength, enfeebles the knees, ſoyles the beauty, alters the frame of nature; it makes the child look wrinckled, and furrowes the cleareſt complexion, it makes man a walking ghoſt, the picture of miſery, the monſter of deformity, and this is one cord in the overflowing, and everflowing Iſa. 28. 15.Isa 28:15ſcourge that ſhall ſcarifie and torment the damned. David, 2 Sam. 24. 13. p. 366when he was put to that ſad choiſe, what puniſhment and rod to lie under, he rather caſteth himſelf upon the diſpatching deſtruction of the Plague, then the lingring calamity of Famine. Famine makes man his Lam. 4. 9.Lam 4:9own homicide, aſſaſinate and vulture. Mat. 23. 27.Matt 23:27What our Saviour called the Phariſees, foreign. Hom. Od.is moſt true of thoſe whom famine hath ſurpriſed, they are but whited Sepulchers. And this is one of thoſe vialls of wrath the damned ſhall be ever drinking of. Hunger and thirſt like to wilde horſes ſhall be alwayes tearing in pieces the tortured reprobates. Then ſhall they cry, ah for a drop of water, for one of thoſe ſpare diſhes that our nauſeated ſtomachs did diſdaine the ſight of.

4The fourth inſufferable torment, ſhall be bonds and impriſonment, Mat. Impii in ſingulis membris igneis conſtringentur catenis.12. 13. And this puniſhment is not fuller of pain then ſhame, not more branded with anguiſh then reproach. The damned ſhall alwayes be the priſoners of Gods wrath, roaring in their fetters, crying in their ſhackles, begging mercy with a fruiteleſſe importunity p. 367out of the grate of their eternall dungeons. Diogenes being asked what was the beſt thing in a mans life, anſwered liberty. And he in the Comedy, compares a Captive to a bird in a cage. Now the damned ſhall be deprived of that glorious priviledge liberty; they ſhall be chained to, and in their torments for ever. No Act. 12. 4.Acts 12:4Angell ſhall open the iron gate for them, they ſhall live or rather die Vincula illa non ex ferro, ſed ex igne ſunt inextinguibili. Chryſoſt.the perpetuall ſlaves of Gods wrath. Here they abuſed their liberty, hereafter they ſhall not enjoy it; their freedome in ſin here, ſhall fetter them to miſery herafter; there ſhall be no liberty, either for comfort or eſcape. Here they were chained to their luſts, and in eternity they ſhall be to their loſſes. They ſhall be bound hand and Luk. 16.Luke 16foot: to omit the piercing torment of Catenis reprobi conſtringentur, foreign ad bene operandum demonſtrare.their ſtraightneſſe, they ſhall be everlaſtingly incapable to helpe themſelves, or break their loathſome priſon. The juſtice and wrath of God ſhall pinion them to the ſtake of execution for ever.

5The fifth puniſhment ſhall be, that intolerable ſtench which ſhall for ever p. 368offend and afflict the damned, thoſe ſulphureous fumes and diſtaſtfull Rev. 19. 20.Rev 19:20ſmoake which ſhall ariſe from the lake of fire, how ſhall they render the miſeries of the damned, exquitely more miſerable? Paradiſe it ſelf was not more odoriferous in all the varieties of its fragrant plants, eſpecially when refreſhed with the ſweet waters of heavenly dew, (for before Adams fall, the dew was but pearly perfume) then the dungeon of hell that darke cage of the damned miſcreauts, ſhall be intolerably ſuliginous, and it ſhall be the ſinke of all offenſive ſents and ejections, the common dunghill of putrid evaporations.

6The ſixth puniſhment is darkneſſe, that obſcurity the damned ſhall for Job 20. 26.Job 20:26ever be buried alive in, they ſhall be Tunc coacti in tenebras exteriores mittentur, qui nunc interioribus voluntarie delectantur. Greg.overwhelmed with the ſhadowes of an eternall night; they ſhall not ſee againe that Sun which here they clouded with their ſins; their deeds of darkneſſe ſhall turn into the doom of darkneſſe. The Egyptian darkneſſe mentioned Exod. 10. 22. and the Cimmerian darkneſſe ſo famed by antient p. 369writers are but the dark hieroglyphckes of infernall darkneſſe; they ſhall lie, I mean the reprobates, in palpable darkneſſe.

In a word, the damned ſhall be puniſhed with a threefold darkneſſe.

1. Tenebris privationis. They ſhall never ſee a glimpſe, either of the light of the Creature, or of the brightneſſe of glory▪ or of the irradiations of God himſelf; the curtain ſhall be drawn between them and the leaſt dawning of light for ever. No ſtar Diabolus princeps tenebrarum, infernum qui eſt regnum tenebrarum tanta obfuſcat caligine, ut luci naturali ad eum non pateat aditus. Ger.ſhall ariſe or cloud break to ſhed any luſtre; no gloworme light ſhall appear, they ſhall not be bleſt with the dreadfull aſpect of an eclipſe.

2. Principe tenebrarum. The Prince of darkneſſe ſhall be their everlaſting companion. He who hath traded in the dark, aſſaulted with dark temptations, who leads to darkneſſe, who dwels in the dark and abominates all light, ſhall for ever be a fury to the damned. And

3. Tenebris interioribus, with the darkneſſe of mind. The reprobates ſhall enjoy no more knowledge then p. 370what ſhall amplifie their torment, they ſhall be curſed with a blindneſſe of mind, an ignorance of God, a ſpirituall miſt and cloud. The Sun of righteouſneſſe ſhall not riſe upon them, nor bleſſe them with one beam. No pleaſing knowledge ſhall be ſet up in their minds. No ſavoring diſcoveries or light. Damnati in extrema falutaris Damnati erunt merae tenebrae.foreign inopia verſabuntur, deſtituentur luce cognitionis divinae. They ſhall not ſparkle with any divine knowledge. Here their underſtandings were filled with errataes, and in eternity they ſhall be filled with blots.

I ſhould further mention the horrours and griefs that ſhall perplex the damned for ever; but I will no further wade in theſe bitter waters, nor ſtretch the argument to a further terrour, but will leave theſe few beacons fired, to be a ſerious and an epidemicall caution to all prurient and unawakened ſinners.

There is yet a third univerſality to amplifie the damneds miſery, and that is, the univerſality of the perſons tormenting. And thoſe are,

p. 3711God, who ſhall ſcourge the Reprobates by immediate executions. He ſhall in reference to the damned, not only lay claime to revenge, and ſay, Vengeance is mine, but repay himſelf Heb. 10. 30.Heb 10:30the intereſt of all his patience and longſuffering. He ſhall be a conſuming fire, Heb. 12. 29. Non tantum inſtrumentaliter, not only by employing inſtruments, but ſhall ſtrike with his own ſword. More particularly, God ſhall torment the damned,

1. By masking his own face, and drawing the curtain between them and the beatificall viſion; after the Cant. 3. 1.Song 3:1ſentence of death is paſt in the damned, they ſhall never ſee Jeſus Chriſt more.

2. By ſhutting the door againſt them: they ſhall not only be deprived of the ſight of the bridegroom, but they ſhall not enter into the bridechamber; the door of all happineſſe Mat. 25. 12.Matt 25:12ſhall be lockt everlaſtingly againſt them, they ſhall never be made happy with the ſight of an Angel, of a glorified Saint, it may be, one that here was fleſh of their fleſh, and bone of their bone.

p. 3723. By powring contempt upon them; God ſhall deride their tears, Prov. 1. 26.Prov 1:26reproach their cries, neglect their lamentations; he ſhall laugh at their calamity, and deſpiſe their trembling feares; their moans ſhall be his muſick, and their groanes his delight: he bids them farewell with a Goye curſed, Mat. 25. 41. and that ſhall be the language they ſhall have for ever.

4. By emptying the Vials of his ſevere vengeance upon them for ever. Wrath is terrible, but vengeance is implacable. God ſhall be powring out divine, unmixt, juſt yet dreadfull, intolerable wrath upon them Rev. 14. 10.Rev 14:10for ever; wrath not allayed with any pity, or mercy, ſuſpence or mitigation, the leaſt ſparke of which could turn the whole world into a common flame.

2Satan ſhall torment the damned; he that hath been their paraſite, their pander, their Angell of light, who hath ſo often allured, courted, bribed and ſolicited them, by ſoft and gainfull, frequent and vigorous temptations, ſhall be their everlaſting Jaoler and executioner; he ſhall make and p. 373keep open their wounds for ever. And this is reward, he ſhall compenſate them, for rejecting the commands of God, forſaking Chriſt, and ſlighting their ſouls, and it may be, at the ſuit of his temptations.

And Satan ſhall be to the Reprobates,

1. A malicious enemy, their pain ſhall be Satans pleaſure, their lamentation his ſatisfaction, (if he is capable of any.)

2. A powerfull enemy, who can fetch bloud at every ſtroake, he is a fallen Angel. And one Angel could deſtroy 185. thouſand in a night, and Satans power for miſchief is not abated.

3. An implacable enemy, whom neither Heu, heu quales ſunt Angeli infligendis poenis deſtinati, quam immites, & truculenti! Cyr. Alex.teares nor bloud can reconcile, who hath no pity, no bowels, no relenting; whom no rhetorick can ſoften.

And 4. An eternall enemy, who will never be wearied with managing his executions.

In Satan Silla and Caeſar meet, choſe famous Romans; the one was …alled the bloudy, the other the perpetuall Dictatour; Satan ſhall be p. 374a bloudy and a perpetuall tormentour.

3The damned ſhall be their own tormentours. What paſſion, rage and frenſie ſhall they expreſſe againſt themſelves! how ſhall they tear their own wounds! In what miſerable deſpair ſhall they curſe their own vanity, neglect, ſinfulneſſe, their wicked hearts and licentious companions, and madneſs in refuſing Chriſt and a Crown offered! how ſhall they turn Devils, Judaſes and Sauls to themſelves! How ſhall they abominate and loath themſelves as the ſpawn of folly and fanaticall frenſie! Then ſhall their conſciences laſh and torture them, their underſtandings burden them, their memories cruciate them, in gathering up all the parcels of their ſinfull precipitancy. They ſhall breath out revenge againſt none more then their own ſelves; and with what thirſt ſhall they deſire to maſſacre their own ſouls!

4The damned ſhall be tormented by their companions in miſery; thei… ſcrietches, and cries, and execrations how dolefully ſhall they ſound! We p. 375cannot here endure the groanes of a tormented patient, whoſe diſeaſe wrings from him bitter lamentations; how ſhall the Reprobates undergoe the bloudy blaſphemies of the tortured miſcreants! The damned Homo homini lupus, et homo homini daemon.ſhall be as Wolves and Devils one to another. Job in the middeſt of his calamity curſeth the day of his birth. Job 3. 1.Job 3:1Blaſphemy, yelling and curſing, ſhall be all the muſick of hell; Shimei 2 Sam. 16. 7.2 Sam 16:7ſhall finde curſing enough there. The tender and delicate ſinner, which here could not endure the cry of an infant, or the moan of an afflicted Saint, in eternity ſhall be ſaluted with nothing but groans and terrible ſchricks to eternity.

And now I have done with the firſt part …f the extremity of the damneds torment, viz. the univerſality of it. I now fall upon the ſecond part, the hight and exquiſiteneſse of it.

And this I ſhall demonſtrate,

1. Comparatively.

2. Poſitively.

For the firſt, The Scripture hath emblematiſed and painted out the miſeries p. 376of the reprobate, by many ſad, but full compariſons, I ſhal only glance at ſome few. And

I. Sometimes the Scriptures compare the pain and torment of the damned, to the pain of a woman with child. And this pain is the moſt 1 Theſſ. 5. 3.1 Thess 5:3intolerable, what ſcrietches, and Gravis eſt poena damnatorum, propter tormenti acerbitatem, gravior propter dolorum diverſitatem, graviſſima propter ſuppliciorum aeternitatem. Carthuſ.tears, and cries doth it wring from the travailing patient. It is moſt exquiſite,

1. In the the Originall of it; It was the firſt curſe of the female ſex, Gen. 3. 16. Gerard cals theſe pains Dolores acutiſſimos, the moſt cutting pains. Nay

2. When the Lord would expreſſe the ſoareſt paines and miſeries, he compares them to the torment of this travell, Pſal. 48. 6. Iſa. 13. 8. God by this pain, would give us an inſtance, and a map of the ſoareſt miſery. And obſerve this pain,

3. In the ſuddenneſſe of it; it ſeiſeth on the pregnant woman unexpectedly, ſometimes before time, ſometimes after time, ſometi…es in the middeſt of affaires, and the greater the miſery is, by how much the more ſuddain it is in the ſurpriſall.

p. 3774. Conſider this pain, in the extremity of it, unſpeakable; what ſtrange roarings and cries it fetches from the Patient?

5. In the dangers of it, what diſeaſes Gen. 35. 18.Gen 35:18and deaths it brings forth? It Ʋna gehenna ſcintilla magis cruciat damnatos, quam ſi faemina in dolore, & partu, mille annos continuo perduraret.was the ſaying of Hecuba, Mallem decies in acie ſtare, quam ſemel parere, She had rather ſtand ten times in the middeſt of a battell, then bring forth once; ſo great are the dangers this pain caſts the patient on. But

II. Sometimes the Scripture compares the miſeries of the damned to Torments, ſo Luk. 16. 23. a word full of horrour and amazement, a phraſe which implies all miſery boyled to the height; the wound in the pain of it, wrancled and feſtered calamities; this word torments ſeems to leave a piece of the ſword in the open wound; they are miſery ſcrued and pullied to the higheſt ſeverity. But

III. Sometimes the Scriptures compare the miſeries of the damned, foreign, Rev. 22. 18. to Luk. 12. 48.Luke 12:48plagues and ſtripes. Stripes the puniſhment of a Slave. The moſt inconſiderable p. 378drudges and priſoners lie under the Strapado, ſtripes and ſcourgings; this is Non domini ſed ſervi caſtigatio, not the puniſhment of the Prince but the Vaſſall.

2. The moſt exquiſite torment, when every ſingle ſtripe make the ſucceeding more tormenting: and ſo likewiſe plagues, not diſeaſes, but the fruit of Gods ſudden and ſaddeſt wrath.

There are many other compariſons the Scriptures are fruitfull in, in which the miſeries of the reprobate are lively depainted, which I purpoſely omit.

2But now, the exquiſiteneſſe of theſe torments will further appear, if we conſider them Poſitively. And here could we reckon up all thoſe extremities of torture, that cruell Tyrants and the enraged enemy have executed upon thoſe whom they have attached, and brought into their power; all thoſe miſeries were but the burning with a cold iron, if parallel'd with the damneds calamity. Should we peruſe the Hiſtories of the ten primitive perſecutions, which were bloudied with ſo p. 379many deaths and tortures, they were a calm report to thoſe executions the reprobates ſhall be overwhelmed with. Theſe lingring deaths which barbarous Tyrants inflicted on the magnanimous Martyrs, when they did wiredraw their pains and extremities, and did embrue their ravine and malice in the tedious martyrdoms of thoſe Sainted Angels, were but a rude draught and imperfect map of the woes that ſhall cruſh the damned to eternity. All thoſe tragedies were but like the painting of a bloudy fight in a lively picture.

Let us but a little particulariſe the births of mans cruelty as they have been wreaked on their fellow creatures, and it may ſomething delineate the torment of the reprobate. Should we mention how ſome in this life have been wrackt upon a wheel, and beaten with ſoar ſtripes, as Machabeus was; obſerve the conjunction of the miſery. Others bound about a Globe, and their skin flead off, as Machir was. Others broken in a morter. Others fryed in a pan. Others roſted. Others hanged and fleaed. Others their tongues p. 380cut out. Others ſowed up in the skins Sic in Neronis perſecutione.of wild beaſts, and then worried to death with dogs. Others throwne to Lyons, and beares and Tygers. Others caſt into a hot lime-kilne, and afterwards throwne into a ſcalding bath, as Phocas Biſhop of Pontus was. Others hung by the haire of the head, and Heb. 11. 37.Heb 11:37then ſcourged. Others preſt, and Which is a catalogue of miſeries, a ſhort book of Martyrs and Martyrdomes.others ſtoned to death. Others throwne from rockes and broken in pieces. Others ſtarved. Others choaked with ſmoake. Others their fleſh torn with the clawes of wild beaſts. Should we 2 Cor. 11. per initium.2 Cor 11mention Lawrences gridiron, Paul and Peters Crucifixion, Iſaiahs ſawing in There is a map of Pauls calamities.ſunder; or take notice of the impaling which the Turkes uſe, the lingring poyſons which the Italians uſe, the ſcarpins and breaking on the wheele which the French uſe, the ſmothering and ſtrangling, a forme and barbarous cuſtome among us. Should we mention Ravilliackes torments; which Du Serres obſerves, came nearreſt to Du Serresthe miſeries of hell; this intolerable torment of ſome corporall diſeaſes, the Stone, the Strangury, &c. yet all theſe ſummed up p. 381in a totall ſumme, were but a cold repreſentation of the damneds extremities.

And there are foure Reaſons for it;

1. They are tortured by an infinite Heb. 12. 29.Heb 12:29agent, by God.Omnipotentis juſtitia futurorum praeſcia, a mundi origine ignem inferni creavit. Greg.

2. They are puniſhed for an infinite guilt.

3. They ſhall be tormented for an infinite duration.

And 4. They ſhall have no comfort to allay, no hope to extenuate, no eaſe to mitigate their miſeries.

And thus much for the ſecond thing, viz. the height and exquiſiteneſſe of the torments of the damned.

3And that which in the next place may amplifie the extremity of the reprobates Illis ululatus & planctus, gemitus & mugitus continue ſonant, ſimul que clamor ubi que confuſus attollitur, quem dira vis tormentorum exagitat, & incendii arſura extorquet. Caſſianus.torments, may be the continuedneſſe of them. In hell there ſhall be no intermiſſion, no reſt, no pauſe; the iron ſhall alwayes burn, the fit ſhall alwayes be on the reprobate; the execution ſhall neither be reprieved nor interrupted. The wrath of God ſhall be a ſtream, Iſa. 33. 30. There was ſome intermiſſion in the ſinnes of the …icked here, but there ſhall be none p. 382in their ſufferings. The painfull wound ſhall be everlaſtingly renewed. There ſhall be no abatement, or ſuſpending, mitigation in the diſeaſe that ſhall wracke the reprobate, (as was hinted before concerning conſcience in particular). The furnace of their miſerie ſhall alwayes burn with an equall heat. Gods wrath ſhall not in the leaſt be pacified, nor Satan wearied, nay the damned ſhall not be tired in curſing and crucifying their own ſouls. They ſhall never be ſo happy as to ſay, we thank God we have now a little eaſe. But I ſhall dilate no further, only let this be conſidered. It is impoſſible it ſhould be otherwiſe, when only the ſmile of God, and the bloud of Chriſt can alleviate and extinguiſh thoſe flames, which the damned ſhall be everlaſting ſtrangers unto.

4That which further amplifies theſe infernall miſeries, is the efficient cauſe of them, which is the Almighty, upon the enforcement of ſin. And how doth this multiply the pain, that God which is ſo gracious and ſweet,

1. In his name, which is ſpelle… p. 383Exod. 34. 6.Exod 34:6with the golden letter of mercy and compaſſion, who is known by the title of Gracious, Longſuffering, Mercifull, Numb. 14. 17.Num 14:17&c.

2. So mild and good in his Attributes. Ʋbi not andum Deum irae ſuae terminum ponere, Miſericordiae nullum. Riv. in Exod.Only one attribute of juſtice among all the reſt; he hath wiſdome to contrive, Love to appoint, Power to perform, and faithfulneſſe to renew happineſſe to the creature that waits on him. His attributes all ſmile, unleſſe juſtice provoked; the juſtice of God is among his attributes, as the tree of knowledge of Good and Evill, Gen. 3. ivit.Gen 3was among the trees of Paradiſe, which if ye touch not that one property to excite it, all the reſt will yeeld pleaſant and ſavory viands; all the reſt ſhall be the delight of the ſoul; there is but one ſword, one rod among all the tutelary and beatificall properties.

3. So good in his nature. God is eſſentially good. Love and goodneſſe is not his qualification but his nature, as the Apoſtle, 1 Joh. 4. 16. God is love. Compaſſion and mercy are not ſo much the effects of God, as Dei ratio formalis, his eſſence.

p. 3844. So ſweet his workes foreign Every work of the Creation, every particular action, every ſingle determination was filled with righteouſneſſe and goodneſſes. God is eſſentially and communicatively good, ratione ſui, ratione effectus, as one obſerves. And

5. How gracious is the Lord in his Son, who ſacrificed himſelf for us, and Rom. 5. 10.Rom 5:10bled love at every vein, who was mankinds Martyr, the common ſalvation of believers, and whether his affections to us, or ſorrowes he underwent for us were more numerous, is very queſtionable! And

6. How ſweet is God in his Spirit, who is, foreign, the Advocate, Joh. 14. 16.John 14:16the Comforter, the Subſtitute of Chriſt, whoſe graces beautifie, Joh. 16. 7.John 16:7influences purifie, ſupports ſtrengthen, joyes refreſh, and teſtimonies rejoyce the believing ſoul, and whoſe internall confirmation and atteſts cauſe the court of heaven to begin here.

Now all theſe particulars being ſummed up, and digeſted together, how intolerable will the miſeries of p. 385the damned appeare to be, and all their calamities ſhall ſpring from this God provoked, and ſhall be the repercuſſion of his inflamed juſtice. A. It is the Lord to whom goodneſſe and mercy is not only habituall but naturall, who, being incenſed ſhall wreak his wrath in the blood of the Reprobate for ever.

And now having thus paraphraſed upon the extremity of the Infernall torments, I now caſt my eye upon their Eternity.

Obj. Obj. But here the ſinfull caltiffe objects. He cannot apprehend that the bowels of the Lord ſhould be everlaſtingly reſtrained, ſo as never to ſound again, God hath not created them, eternally to deſtroy them. God will at laſt be entreated, They cannot fancy their miſeries never to be ſhut up, and put out, they cannot ſee to the further end of them. Joſeph though he Gen. 45. ….Gen 45may for a while refrain his love, yet at laſt he muſt break out, and weep upon the necks of his brethren; and ſurely God is Dum ſatagunt Deum perhibere miſericordem, non verentur praedicare fallacem. Greg. Mor.infinitely more compaſſionate and affectionate then Joſeph could be, and therefore he cannot alwayes brand and torment his poor creatures with ſhame and confuſion; He will at laſt remember that they p. 386are but duſt, weak and frail. He will conſider their ſouls are his own breath, 2 Gen. 7. and their fleſh is not braſſe nor their bones iron, God will ſurely remember his ancient loves at laſt.

Anſ. Now to reply to this vain and frivolous objection, which the Miſericordians, as ſome call them, flatter and deceive themſelves with; I ſhall though it be fully and learnedly performed by others, give this ſhort and brief anſwer, if poſsibly by it undeceive theſe poor deluded Miſcreants.

But firſt I muſt inform you, that theſe Objectours fortify themſelves with many arguments, to indulge thoſe hopes they conceive of a ſtop to their future miſeries.

Arg. 1 They argue and reaſon from the greatneſſe of Gods love, who, as he is infinite in power, ſo likewiſe in goodneſſe; and Infinite love cannot deſtroy the poore creature for ever.

Anſ. 1. I reply with Auguſtine; this Jam. 2. 13.Jas 2:13goodneſſe doth belong ad vaſa miſericordia Objecta divinae miſericordiae is futuro ſeculo non ſunt damnati ſed beati. Ger.non irae, to the veſſels of mercy, not wrath. God is infinitely good, but this goodneſſe ſhall be only extended to the ſons of promiſe: Gods juſtice and his mercy muſt be harmonious, and not interfere; Mercy muſt be given to them, to whom it p. 387belongs, and judgement to whom it belongs. 2. Arg. 2 It was this Infinite love wicked men deſpiſed.

God makes degrees of puniſhment, 12 Luk. 48. ſome ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes, others with few. Anſ. It is true, our Saviour in this place, aſſerts a diverſity of puniſhments in hell, but he doth not ſubvert the eternity of hell; though there may be degrees in reference to the meaſure, yet there ſhall be no diverſity Illud (pancis) non ſinem, ſed diverſitatem ſupplicii declarat. Baſil.in regard of the duration. 2. As ſome anſwer, this is ſpoken non abſolute, not abſolutely, but comparatively, in reference to the Chriſt-rejecting, Ordinance-deſpiſing, Grace-ſlighting ſinner; Every ſinner ſhall not drink equal draughts of Gods wrath, but all eternall.

The Objectour argues, Arg. 3 that his ſinnes and miſcarriages are pro tempore, not only ſmall, but tranſient, for a few moneths, a little time, a ſhorth breath'd life; not the tenth part of one day with the Lord, which is a thouſand yeares; as the Apoſtle obſerves, and therefore, ſaith the 2. Pet. 3. 8.2 Pet 3:8ſinner, to lie on the wrack for ever, for the tranſient glance of a little ſinfull pleaſure is ſuch injuſtice, God cannot be charged with.

p. 388Anſ. We are to conceive that crimes are not to be weighed according to the Non temporis longitudine, ſed impietatis magnitudino peccata ſunt punienda.time of the commiſſion, but according to the nature of the crime it ſelf, which is amplified or extenuated according to the quality of the perſon offended. Even in temporall and civill courts of Men, few crimes but they deſerve puniſhment of a longer continuance then the commiſſion of them; to think therefore that the puniſhment of ſinne ſhould be proportioned according to the time wherein it is perpetrated, what greater folly? Some faults deſerve Dic quae Dementia major Bapt. Vant.impriſonment, ſome proſcription and baniſhment; Now how ſhall the party peccant be exiled, and remain in durance no longer then the ſinne for which he was baniſhed was in perpetration? Murder is ſoon committed, ſhall the puniſhment in reſpect of time be accordingly? And to bring it nearer to our purpoſe,; what infinite, intolerable, Everlaſting calamities do ſo many thouſand ſinnes committed by a vaſſall, a ſubject, a worm, a graſhopper, a pure nothing, compared to God, againſt Almighty, Incomprehenſible, Infinite, Independent Majeſty deſerve? Eternity it ſelf is too ſhort a ſpace for God to revenge himſelf on ſinners, thoſe petulant p. 389and contumacious ſhadowes. But I ſhall no longer wreſtle with the vain cavils of fond ſinners, who, becauſe they cannot find Repoſe in the boſome of Chriſt; think to make their bed in a fancied indulgence, and build their hopes on a pleaſing dream: But I ſhall draw up my thoughts in aſſerting the truth, viz. that the damned muſt neceſſarily be tormented to Eternity, in a few conſiderations.

1The firſt confirmation ſhall be taken from the Scripture, 16. Luk. 26. And beſides all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, ſo that they which would come from hence to you cannot, neither Sed revocare gradum, En. Virg.can they paſſe to us that would come from thence, Here, in this ſcripture this truth is cleared; there is no ſhooting of the gulf to heaven, for the damned; there is no riſing of the ſunne in the Horizon of hell: that is an Everlaſting ſtoppage between the damned ſinners and the glorified ſaints.

2Let us conſider the gate of bleſſedneſſe is ever ſhut againſt the reprobate, as Mat. 25. 12. God ſhall never unlock to them. p. 39013. Luc. 25. Clauſae erunt portae; per quas, aut conſolatio, aut minima ſpes liberationis poſſit intrare.1. The gate of grace. 2. The gate of mercy and pitty. 3. The gate of indulgence. 4. The gate of repentance. 5. The gate of Hope, 6. The gate of Comfort. All eaſe, reſt or conſolation ſhall be barr'd up for Ever.

3Let us conſider the perfect oppoſition between the ſaints and the ſinners: Now the ſaints ſhall reſt for ever. 4. Heb. 9. and ſo the ſinners ſhall be on the wrack for Conſtat quod ſicut finis non est gaudio bonorum, ita nec tormento malorum. Greg. Dial.ever; the ſaints joyes and the ſinners groanes ſhall both be without period: the ſaints pleaſure and the ſinners pains ſhall never be ſhut up; neither ſhall death bury the one, nor extinction the other.

4Conſider how God hath coupled the damned with the fallen and ſinfull Angels. 25. Mat. 41. and their doom is eternall Jud. 6. Now as they ſhall make up one curſed company, and damned crew, ſo ſhall they for ever taſt the ſame wrath from the ſinne-revenging God: I ſhall not determine the meaſure, but aſſert the duration.

5Obſerve the ſinne of the damned cries for eternall vengeance, it is infinitae malitiae, of infinite evilneſſe, and therefore it merits eternall puniſhment. Now finne is infinitely evil many wayes.

p. 3911In regard it is an offence againſt an infinite God, to ſtrike an inferiour Man is matter of arreſt; to ſtrike the King matter of death: and how infinitely above a poor worm (as the greateſt Potentate is no more) is the great God? How infinitely is Majeſty above vanity? and ſo the ſupremeſt Magiſtrates are compared to Jehovah: Now every ſinne is a fighting againſt God, and it being not infinitely puniſhable, becauſe poor man cannot endure it, what is wanting in torment muſt be made up in time.

2In its privation, by ſinne the ſoul loſeth an infinite good; ſinne robs the ſoul 59. Iſa. 2. Christi meritum eſt infiniti valeris, ſi hoc perdit peccator.Isa 2of God himſelf, ſinne is the great thief, it ſhuts the ſoul out of the preſence of God; it ſteales away the heart of God from a ſinner, it makes him bankrupt of the moſt tranſcendent poſſeſſion, which is God in Jeſus Chriſt.

3In reference to the infinite enlargement of it, for the deſire of ſinning remaines Nunquam vellet peccare definire peccator, immo vivere vellei, u… ſemper poſſet. Bern.ſtill in the ſinner; Et ſi peccator in aeternum viveret in aeternum peccaret, the wicked man if he lived eternally, he would ſinne eternally: Now the deſire of ſinning is ſinne in Gods account, and therefore that being eternall, ſo muſt the puniſhment be. p. 392And as one obſerves, Homo ſemper peccavit in ſuo aeterno, ideò ſemper punietur in Dei aeterno. The ſinner alwayes ſinned in his eternity, therefore he ſhall be alwaies puniſhed in Gods eternity.

4Sinne is infinite in point of deſtruction, the ſinne of the ſinner deſtroys an immortall, an eternall ſoul; a ſoul created for eternity,, to be the Everlaſting companion of God himſelf; to be crown'd as well as indu'd wirh immortality: and upon that account the ſin ſhall be puniſhed eternally. The deſtructive power of ſinne is of everlaſting concernment and it therefore ſhall ſubject the ſinner to Everlaſting puniſhment.

5Wicked men muſt be puniſhed eternally, becauſe of the impenitence of the ſinner. If repentance never be made then releaſe can never be had: Penitence forerunneth pardon, the teares of the ſinner uſher in the ſmiles of the Saviour: now repentance cannot befall the ſinner in eternity.

1Becauſe Repentance turnes to a reconcileable God, looks on an embracing Saviour; The Prodigall, The penitents pattern, runnes to a meeting Father: but in eternity all poſſibility of reconciliation p. 393with God eſcapes the damned: their day Quando istinc exceſſum fuerit, nullus jam locus poenitentiae; hic Vita aut amittitur, aut tenetur, hic ſaluti aeterne providetur. Cypr. Ille judex ſc. Deus, nec gratia praevecitur, nec miſericordia flectitur, nec pecunia corrumpitur, nec poenitentiâ, aut ſatisfactione mittigatur. Auguſt.is paſt, their terme is ended, and now they muſt for ever behold with amazement God, as an angry Judge, but never again as a reconciled Father: Chriſt who only can betroth God and Man together, was rejected by the ſinner here; and he ſhall never offer himſelf again, after death hath ſhut up both the day of grace and nature together.

2. Repentance is a grace, Now all ſpiritual qualifications and habits, all grace is a ſtar that ſhall never ſhine in the darkneſs of of Hell, in the ſhades of the Reprobates eternity; the works of the Spirit ſhall not lie in the womb of miſery, that is impoſſible (as before was ſuggeſted.)

3. Sin in hell ſhall be aggravated, not crucified, ſhall be envenomed by a more violent blaſphemy, and not wounded and weakened by a ſerious and ſavory penitency. Now impenitency for ſin leaves the ſinner to eternity of miſery. For

1Sin is a wound, which if not cured is mortal,, or rather immortal, and will cauſe eternal death: the ſlighteſt wound if not healed, feſters and wranckles and kills, and ſo doth unrepented ſin for ever.

Sin is a Fall, in which if there be no riſing, p. 394it is perpetual; ſin caſteth the ſoul upon puniſhment, which if not removed, is everlaſting.

3Sin is a thief; It ſteals Gods love, Chriſts ſufferings, heavens joys from the ſoul, now if their be no reſtitution, and no pardon be acquired for the theft, it deſerves death; & that death for ſin muſt needs be perpetual, becauſe the guilt ſtill remains unſatisfied: Rom. 6. 13.Rom 6:13Now if the theft of a peice of money deſerves a temporal death; what death doth the theft of Gods glory demerit? Let us but caſt up the Account.

4Sin is a chain and a bond: And therefore we read of Captivity and ſlavery of ſin; of being led captive by luſt: now if 2 Pet. 3. 6.2 Pet 3:6the perſon that is bound be not looſed, he remains bound for ever: Can the chain Iſa 6. 18. Vincula inſoluta manens. Bern.Isa 6:18break it ſelf, or the cord untwiſt it ſelf, and ye know ſins are called the Cords of Vanity: Now onelyonly Repentance can file of theſe chains, which is impoſſible to the damned in eternity, (as before).

5Sin is a ſale; by ſin the ſoul ſels it ſelf to Hell, Satan and miſery: Ahab ſold himſelf to ſin, & ſin ſold Ahab to wrath: Now 1 King. 21. 20.1 Kgs 21:20if no ranſome be made, then the ſale remains for ever; and onelyonly Chriſt can pay this ranſome, in whoſe merits the Reprobate p. 395ſhall never intereſt himſelf. And though the ſale may be made in a moment; for how few ſinful dayes do the damned ſell themſelves, yet the force and the end of the ſale is for ever. Thus yee ſee, ſin muſt be eternally puniſhed, in reference to the impenitency of it.

6The ſinner muſt dy eternally, in reſpect of the ingratitude of ſin: the obligation of every ſinner is eternal; for as a creature he is obliged to ſerve God eternally; ſo God being the fountain of his being and ſuſtentation, all mans ſervice is but a ſmall retribution, for this life which ſtreams from God. Now every ſin breaketh this obligation, and there can be no reparation for this breach; but onelyonly in Chriſt, to whom the reprobate hath no title; Now therefore the obligation being forfeited, the puniſhment muſt be adequate to the obligation, which was eternal: And man once ſinning, and ſo breaking this obligation, he acts now no more as Gods creature, but as Gods enemy, and ſo all his actions being ſin, not duty, he is Everlaſtingly puniſhable.

7The ſinner ſhall not onelyonly be everlaſtingly puniſhed upon the account of his own ſin, but in regard of God too.

p. 3961. In regard of the diſhonour, that one, the leaſt ſin caſteth upon the glorious Name of God. Every ſin caſteth a treble diſhonour upon God: 1. In its malignity, as being moſt contrary to the pure, unſpotted, perfect nature of God; his juſtice, his righteouſnes, his holines. Sin is as contrary to the Nature of God, as light to darkneſs, hell to heaven, nay infinitely More. 2. In its obſtinacy, it oppoſeth the Commands of God, ſlights the will of God; contradicts the deſignes of God. And 3. principally in its choyce: the ſinner in ſinning, chooſeth a baſe luſt, a venomous ſin, a crooked Way, a ſordid corruption; before the glorious, precious, deſireable good; the Lord himſelf; who is ſummum bonum, & ſumma felicitas.

2. In regard of the Magnificence of God. Shall a poor worm, a painted ſepulcher, a gaudy nothing, Annullity dreſſed with fleſh, for ſo man is comparatively to the Almighty: I ſay, ſhall ſuch a pedantique dream as man is, kick and rebell againſt the moſt glorious, incomprehenſible God? the Great Soveraigne of the Univerſe? and doth not this faſten the ſinner to eternal torment?

3. In regard of the Juſtice of God, p. 397Pure Juſtice exacts and requires eternal puniſhment, and will pluck the ſinner by the throat for ever: and in the eternity of the wicked; there shall be ſummum jus. Juſtice with the ſowreſt looks, the moſt dreadful frown, and the sharpeſt edge; there shall be juſtice inexorable, implacable in its greateſt rigor, and ſeverity, ſuch as tears shall not mollifie, or blood ſatisfy.

8And laſtly the ſinner shall be punisht to eternity; for the pleaſure of the Saints, They shall be delighted to ſee the enemies of Chriſt overwhelmed with eternal Miſery: Gods juſtice in heaven shall be as Vide non indutum veste uuptiali ex ſponſali dome exemplum, & nemipro illo intercedentem; & ſic de decem talentū habente, & quinque ſtultis. virginibus. Cryſoſt. I…. 66. 24.pleaſing to them, as any other Artribute: They shall behold with delight decorem divinae juſticiae; the beauty of Gods juſtice. How would the Saints here rejoyce, to ſee the Turk, the Pope, the bloody implacable Enemies of the Goſpel buried in ruine and confuſion? much more when they shall be perfect, and lie in Chriſts boſome: And as Gregory obſerves; Although the juſt in glory, by the goodneſs of their nature be mercifull; yet being conjoyned to the juſtice of God, in ſuch a Cap. 20.rectitude, they cannot be moved with any compaſſion at all towards ſinners: They shall rather loath and abhorre them.