The Great Assize, Sermon 4 – Title page 2

The Great Assize · Sermon 4 – Title page 2

p. 155The great Aſsize. THE FOVRTH SERMON.

REV. 20.14.15.

4 And death and hel were caſt into the lake of fire: this is the ſecond death.

5 And whoſoeuer was not found written in the booke of life, was caſt into the lake of fire.

IN the handling of this weighty poynt of Religion; the ſecond comning of CHRIST to Iudgement: wee hauehave learned from he mouth of God; Firſt, what p. 156maner of perſon the Iudge ſhal… be; namely, that he ſhall come like a mighty Prince, with great Power, Maieſtie, and Glorie, to the great comfort of all his poore members; & to the great terrour and dread of all his enemies.

Secondly, we hauehave ſeene who ſhall be iudged; Both great and ſmall.

Thirdly, the manner hovv iudgement ſhal proceed; namely, by the written Records of mens conſciences.

And now in the laſt place, we are to come to the execution of iudgement vponupon the wicked reprobates, and vngodly, in theſe two laſt verſes: for when iudgement is pronounced according to their workes, when CHRIST IESVS ſhall ſay vntounto them, Depart from me, &c. then immediately p. 157the execution of this ſen…ence ſhall follow; for ſo ſaith Saint Iohn here, And death and …ell were caſt into the lake of fire, …hat is the ſecond death.

Firſt, here we are to ſeeke the …rue meaning of the Text, be…auſe there is neuer a word that …s plaine, but may moue a quetion: For,

Firſt, what is Death that hee …hould bee caſt into Hell? Is Death any creature? Is Death …ubiect to paine and torment? Surely no. Death is no bodie, …t hath no ſenſe nor feeling; Death is no creature, but onelyonly …he depriuation of life. Againe, …hat a ſtrange ſpeech is this, …hat death ſhould be caſt into …ell; how can this be?

Secondly, what is meant by …he lake of Fire: Is hell a water, …r fire, like our fire?

p. 158And laſtly, wee are to conſider what is meant by the ſecōd death, into which al reprobates muſt be caſt.

Firſt, heere by death and hell is meant, not death it ſelfe, or hell it ſelfe: but the heires of death and hell, that is, all the Reprobates that ſhall bee caſt into hell fire, and there die for euermore. Thus then you ſee what is heere meant by death and hell; namely, the heires of death, and fire-brands of hell: All reprobates, all impenitent ſinners that liue and die in their ſinnes, all thoſe ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire.

Seeing the holy-Ghoſt giues theſe Titles and Names, to all wicked and vngodly ſinners, euen death and hell. Surely this ſhewes the wonderfull miſerie▪ and the curſed eſtate of thoſe p. 159that liue and die in their ſinnes without repentance. Alas, it is ſo woefull and damnable, that they be euen called death and hell it ſelfe.

Oh then let all ſinners that liue and delight in ſinne, Vſe. take heed vntounto themſelues. You do ſee the woefull miſerie of all impenitent ſinners; Namely, that they are no better then the veſſells of wrath, the heires of eternall death, and fire-brands of hell for euermore. O that all ſinners could forethinke of this wofull miſerie that hangs ouer their heades, What a ſtrange kinde of ſpeech is this, and of what force, when God calleth ſuch Reprobates euen death & hell it ſelfe? Ah poore wretches! Ah miſerable and wofull creatures, which are but death and hell it ſelfe. Oh would that p. 160the Drunkards, &c. could lay this to heart: That howſoeuer they ſee not their miſery, nor the woefull eſtate wherein they liue, but bleſſe themſelues in their ſinnefull wayes; yet they are no better, then the heires of vengeance, and wrath of God; nay indeed, very death and hell it ſelfe.

True it is, that many wicked men doe, as the people did in Eſay his time;Eſay 28.11Isa 28:11 though they liued in horrible ſinnes; yet they made a league with death, and were at an agreement with the Graue; they had taken a Leaſe of death and hell, to liue in ſin by Licence, without puniſhment. But the Lord tells them, he will breake their couenants, and diſannull their agreements: and although they hauehave liued a long time in ſinne, yet in the p. 161end death will knocke at their doores, and he will lay hold vponupon them, and they muſt pay full deare for their long Leaſe; euen the loſſe of bodie and ſoule for euer.

And is not this the practiſe of moſt men and women? Doe they not euen make a couenant with death? and do they not labour to be at agreement with hell? Men liue in ſwearing, lying, drunkenneſſe, &c. and yet they thinke they ſhal neuer die, they thinke they ſhall eſcape for all their ſinnes. But (poore ſoules) let them well know that death and hell will ſeize vppon them. Nay, if they liue and die in their ſinnes, without repentance; let them know, that they be not better then death and hel it ſelfe, and they muſt be caſt into the lake of fire.

p. 162True it is, you ſhall ſee many a notorious ſinner, contemner of the Word, a drunkard, &c. they think themſelues to be iolly fellowes, and who but they? Alas, alas, their caſe is feareful: poore ſoules, they doe not ſee they be the ſonnes of death, the heires of vengeance, and the wrath of God, the fire-brands of hell; nay, euen death and hell it ſelfe.

Vſe 2 Heere wee may ſee what a horrible and curſed thing ſinne is in the ſight of God; for ſinne maketh men become guiltie of eternal death, and firebrands of hell: as we ſee when the traitour is executed for treaſon, his ſon ſmarteth for his ſinne: Euen ſo ſinne, which is treaſon againſt the maieſty of God, when wee hauehave brought it foorth, it bringeth vsus to death and hell: For p. 163death and hell is the reward of ſinne.

And death and hell were caſt into the lake of fire.] Would you know what ſhall become of the profane wretches of the world? would you know what ſhall become of the blaſphemer? would you know what ſhall become of the adulterer, drunkard, idolater, ſwearer? &c. S. Iohn ſaith here in plaine termes, They ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire. Thus was the rich Glutton, Luke 16. for his gluttony, drunkenneſſe, want of pitty, &c. caſt into this wofull lake of fire. And thus ſhall all impenitent ſinners one day be caſt into this wofull Lake of fire.

Now, if a Blaſphemer, or an Adulterer, &c. ſhould hauehave but this puniſhment, to holde his little Finger in the flame of a p. 164candle one houre, how could hee endure it? But if a man ſhould bee roaſted on a Gridiron, or boyled in a Cauldron of molten lead, what miſerie were this? whoſe heart wold not quake, and melt, to thinke on it? O theſe are nothing, in compariſon of theſe moſt extreme and endleſſe torments in this lake of fire; when both body and ſoule, ſhall both burne and boyle, and as it were, fry in the ſcorching flames which cannot bee quenched. All men, almoſt, are afraid to commit Treaſon becauſe Traytors are ſo grieuouſly puniſhed: they are hanged, drawne, and quartered. But, alas; men be not afraid to commit Treaſon againſt the King of Heauen, though they muſt bee caſt into a lake of fire for euermore. Men are afraid p. 165to offend the Prince for feare of death: And yet our Sauiour bids vsus, Not feare them that can kill the body, and can do no more, but feare him that can caſt both body and ſoule into hell fire. And yet wee ſee that men and women bee more affraid to offend man, then God that can caſt both body and ſoule into hell fire.

If wee ſhould ſee a little child fall into the fire, and heare it cry pittifully, and the very Bowels ſhould bee burnt out: O how it would grieue vsus, and make our very hearts bleed within vsus; How much more then ſhould it grieue vsus, to ſee, not a childe, but euen our owne bodies and ſoules, caſt away for euer, by ſin, into the lake of fire that cannot be quenched? If a man ſhould come amongſt p. 166vsus and cry, fire, fire, thy houſe is all of a flaming fire, thy Corne, thy Cattell, thy Wife, and Children, and all that thou haſt were conſumed with fire: Oh how would this aſtoniſh vsus, that would make the very haire to ſtand vpright on our heads, and teares to guſh out of our eyes. Behold then, and ſee, the Spirit of God cries out vntounto vsus, Fire: euen the dreadfull fire of hell, gapeth ready to deuoure, not thy houſe, thy corne, or thy cattell, but thy poore ſoule, and that for euermore. Oh how ſhould this breake our hard and flintie hearts aſunder, and make our ſoules to bleed? if wee hauehave any ſparke of grace, any care of our ſoules, that they may not bee tormented in this Lake of Fire for euer.

I will leaue the further handling p. 167of this poynt, vntill I come vntounto the next verſe; where the holy-Ghoſt ſaith agayne, the better to make it ſinke into our verie hearts, That Whoſoeuer is not found written in the Booke of Life, ſhall be caſt into this lake of fire.

Now, the better to expreſſe what is meant by this Lake of Fire: Not a bodily death, nor a materiall fire, like to ours; But the holy-Ghoſt meaneth heere, euen the ſecond death; that is, not of the bodie onelie,Double death. but of eternall death and damnation both of bodie and ſoule for euermore. This is the ſecond death, and by this we may ſee there is a double death: there is the firſt death, and the ſecond death. The firſt death is, the ſeparation of the ſoule from the body, & this is common to all; p. 168the children of GOD doe die this death, aſwell as the wicked; yet there is a difference: For death is no curſe to the children of God, becauſe Chriſts death hath taken avvay the Sting of death, that it can not hurt the children of God: No, it is as a doore to let our ſoules into the Kingdome of Heauen: But the ſecond they neuer taſte of: No childe of God needes to feare the ſecond death;Rom. 8.1.Rom 8:1 For there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus. Wherein the ſecond death conſiſteth.Now, as the firſt death is onelyonly the ſeperation of the ſoule from the body; ſo the ſecond death is a totall, and finall ſeperation of both ſoule and bodie from God for euermore. And this ſecond death doth ſtand principally in theſe three points.

1Firſt, that all the wicked and p. 169vngodly ſinners that liue and die in their ſinnes, they ſhall be ſeuered from the glorious and bleſſed preſence of GOD for euer: Which ſhalbe puniſhed with euerlaſting perdition from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glorie of his power, 2. Theſ. 1.9. O what a wofull death is this, to be plucked and torne from the bleſſed and comfortable preſence of God: whereas our Sauiour CHRIST ſaith, Matth. 5.…8. that our happines, and all the ioy of GODS children, ſhall ſtand in the beholding of God, and being in his preſence for euermore. Then what miſerie and what woe will this be vntounto the wicked, to be caſt out of the glorious preſence of God for euer, ſeeing that he alone is the fountaine of Life and of happineſſe?

p. 1702Secondly, the ſecond death ſtands in this, that wicked men and women ſhall not onelie be ſeuered in body and ſoule from the bleſſed and glorious preſence of God for euer: but they ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire, and hauehave all their abode with the diuels, and all the damned ſpirits in hell, where ſhall be no ioy, nor comfort, nor eaſe, but weeping, and wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth. If a man ſhould be caſt into a deepe and darkeſome dungeon, full of Toades and Serpents: what comfort I pray could he hauehave but to wiſh for death? This is the death that all the impenitent ſinners muſt die. They muſt be caſt out of the ſweet and comfortable preſence of the Lord CHRIST IESVS, and bee throwne into a Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, p. 171there to be tormented for euermore.Mat. 25 41Matt 25:41

Thirdly, the third thing 3wherein this, ſecond death doth conſiſt, is, that all reprobates ſhall bee puniſhed with euerlaſting perdition; they ſhall bee tormented in body and ſoule with vnſpeakable torments: the wrath and vengeance of God ſhall ſeize vponupon them, and feed on them, as fire doth on pitch, or brimſtone; where they ſhall bee euer burning and boyling, and yet neuer conſumed; euer in paine and torment, and neuer hauehave eaſe. And to ſhew the wonderfull torment of hell, of this ſecond death, our Sauiour compareth it vntounto a furnace of fire.Mat. 13.24Matt 13:24 Now what a woefull torment is it, to bee caſt into a furnace of fire, and to lie many thouſand yeares therein? this p. 172is a torment that cannot be expreſſed. Againe, he ſaith, that Their worme ſh,ll not die, Eſay 66.24Isa 66:24and their fire ſhall not bee quenched. Now how ſhould a man doe if hee ſhould hauehave a worme alwayes crawling in his belly, gnawing alwaies at his heart? This is the eſtate of all wicked men and women: They ſhall alwaies hauehave a worme, euen griefe and anguiſh of heart, euer gnawing at their hearts, and biting at their conſciences: And this worme ſhall neuer die, nor kill them, but euer gnawing and wounding them. So then you ſee by this which hath been ſpoken, what this ſecond death is, and alſo wherein it doth conſiſt.

Now all the Queſtion will be, Who ſhall be caſt into this Lake of Fire? VVho are they p. 173that ſhall die this ſecond death,Who they bee that ſhall partake of the ſecond death. which is ſuch a miſerable and wofull death? For there is no man nor woman that liueth, I thinke, but they ſuppoſe that they ſhall eſcape this death: they hope that they ſhall be ſaued and ſo eſcape this flaming fire: And therefore now you ſhall ſee who they be, that ſhall be caſt into it. Looke, they are there marked out vntounto vsus, Reu. 21.8. The fearefull and vnbeleeuers, and abhominable, and murtherers, and whooremongers, and ſorcerers, and lyars, &c. ſhal hauehave their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone, which is the ſecond death: So then rhe holy-Ghoſt telleth vsus, that all impenitent ſinners ſhall bee damned,1 Cor. 6.101 Cor 6:10 ſhall be caſt into this lake of fire, which is the ſecond death.

p. 174Then what a ſtrange thing is this? The Holy-Ghoſt tells vsus who ſhall be damned, and caſt into the Lake of Fire; all impenitent ſinners; the Blaſphemer, the Drunkard, &c. and yet no man (almoſt) will beleeue this. Well, the Spirit of God cannot lie: He ſayth, That all the wicked and vngodlie ſinners ſhalbe caſt into the lake of Fire which is the ſecond death: now tell neuer ſo wicked a wretch of his ſinnes, of his ſwearing, &c. And what will they ſay? Tuſh, GOD is mercifull, I hope I ſhall be ſaued: Is not this, I pray, to giuegive the Holy-Ghoſt the lie? Tell the drunkard or the profaner of the Lords day, &c. they ſhall be damned; doe they beleeue this? Oh, no, no; For if they did beleeue it, how durſt they be ſo bold to liue in ſinne? p. 175Well, hovvſoeuer theſe vile wretches ſay, they hope to be ſaued aſwell as the beſt of them all; yet know, this is the truth of God; the holy-Ghoſt telleth vsus plainly, That all vnbeleeuers, and theeues, and murderers, &c. ſhall be caſt into the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond death.

But to you, whoſe hearts doe tremble for feare of theſe things, whoſe ſoules doe melt for feare of this ſecond death: now if you would know how to eſcape this Lake of Fire, and how to auoyde this ſecond death, which is th'eternall damnation and torment both of body and ſoule; you ſhall ſee how the Spirit of GOD doth not onelie ſhew you how to eſcape hell, but to come to heauen; not onelyonly to auoide damnation p. 176in this Lake of fire, but to obtaine ſaluation and ioy in the bleſſed and glorious preſence of Almightie God for euermore. Now ſee what the Holy-Ghoſt doth teach thee in the ſixth Verſe of this chapter, Bleſſed and holie is hee that hath his part in the firſt Reſurrection, for on ſuch the ſecond death ſhall hauehave no power: But they ſhall bee the Prieſts of God and of Chriſt, and ſhall raigne with him a thouſand yeares, that is, for euermore.

So then, would you know what manner of men and women ſhall eſcape the ſecond death, and eternall damnation in this lake of hell fire? why the holy-Ghoſt ſaith, They, and none but they, that hauehave their partes in the firſt Reſurrection. So then it is manifeſt, in theſe p. 177words, that there be two reſurrections, and alſo a double death. The Children of GOD, they hauehave a double reſurrection, and one death. But all wicked and vngodly ſinners, they hauehave one reſurrection, and a double death. So then let vsus ſee what is meant by this firſt reſurrection; namely, our riſing out of the graue of ſinne, to newneſſe of life. This is the firſt reſurrection,Epheſ 2.1.Eph 2:1 You that were dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes, hath hee quickned. Rom. 6.4.Rom 6:4And we are buried with Chriſt in Baptiſme, that like as he roſe againe to the glory of the Father: euen ſo wee ſhould walke in newneſſe of life.

So then, would you know, whether you ſhall eſcape eternall fire in hell, euen this ſecond death? then looke vntounto your owne ſoules. Are you dead to p. 178all your old ſins, and new ſins? Are you quickned in the inner man? Do you hate ſinne as well when it is committed by your ſelfe, as by others? Doe you labour to mortifie and to keepe vnderunder the workes of the fleſh, and walke in all holy duties and obedience both vntounto God and men?Rom. 8.1.Rom 8:1 For there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt, which walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit.

Bleſſed and holy are they that hauehave part in the firſt reſurrection; where he ſhews, that none ſhall be bleſſed, none ſhall hauehave part in the firſt reſurrection, and be freed from the ſecond death, but ſuch as be ſanctified to liue a godly life, that are partakers of the firſt reſurrection. And therefore, if you deſire to bee bleſſed, & to eſcape the ſecond p. 179death, which is the euerlaſting damnation both of bodie and ſoule, then labour heere to liue a godly life. For theſe two, Iuſtification and Sanctification, cannot be ſeuered.

And this is a very great comfort to all the true members of Chriſt, Vſe. that do repent and leaue their ſinnes, and liue a godlie life; though they be in miſerie, in pouertie, in want; and in the end, die the firſt death of the bodie; yet they ſhall bee freed from the ſecond death, that is, from eternall death: the gates of hell ſhal not preuaile againſt them. And therfore, as you louelove your ſoules, as you deſire to be bleſſed, and to eſcape eternall damnation, which is the ſecond death: Labour (I ſay) to hauehave a part in the firſt Reſurrection, to die vntounto ſinne, and p. 180to liue in newneſſe of life.

But as for wicked and vngodly ſinners that liue in ſinne, delight in ſin, that hauehave no part in the firſt reſurrection: their caſe is wofull, they be ſubiect to the ſecōd, that is, eternall death and damnation: for if ye liue after the fleſh, Rom. 6.8.Rom 6:8ye ſhall die.

And therefore deceiue not your ſelues, as many do, which thinke, if they come to Church, heare the word, receiue the Sacraments, all is well, they hope God will be mercifull to them, they hope they ſhall not bee damned. Well, marke what I ſay; thou maiſt come to church duly, thou maiſt heare the word of God as long as thou liueſt, thou maieſt receiue the Sacrament as often as thou wilt; but if thou hauehave not thy part in the firſt reſurrection, that is, vnleſſe p. 181thou liue a godly life, vnleſſe thou mortifie thy filthy ſinnes, and vngodly deſires, vnleſſe thou become a new creature; ſurely, ſurely, thy eſtate is lamē table, and thy part is in the lake of fire and brimſtone, which is the ſecond death. And therfore let no man deceiue himſelfe, and ſooth himſelfe, becauſe he heares the Word, profeſſes the Goſpel, receiues the Sacramēt, that therfore he is well enough. No, no: though thou heare neuer ſo much, if thou liue in ſin, in ſwearing, drunkenneſſe, &c. thy eſtate is as wofull as before, becauſe thou art not freed from the ſecond death.

And marke this difference, The children of God hauehave two reſurrections, and one death: they riſe from ſinne in this life, to newneſſe and holineſſe of p. 182life: and they riſe at the laſt day to eternall life in Heauen; and therefore truely bleſſed. But alas, graceleſſe and godleſſe ſinners, that hauehave two deaths▪ and but one reſurrection; they die in ſinne here, they are dead in ſin, and delight in ſinne heere: and ſo they die the firſt death of the body, and eternall death, the ſecond death of body and ſoule in hell. And as they neuer had part in the firſt reſurrection: ſo the ſecond reſurrection is onelie to iudgement, to death, and to damnation.

And therefore, if you would liue when you bee dead, you muſt die to ſin whiles you be aliue. Only the penitent ſinners ſhal liue for euer in eternal life; onelyonly thoſe which die to ſinne, ſhall eſcape the ſecond death: But the impenitent ſinner, that p. 183liues and delights in ſinne here, he ſhall die for his ſinnes eternally; nay, hee ſhall neuer taſte of the life to come. But as hee would not labour to hauehave his part in the firſt reſurrection; ſo he ſhall be ſure to hauehave his portion in the ſecond death: which is ſo fearefull a thing, that it might make euen flintie hearts to breake in peeces, to lie in fire burning for euer, without anie eaſe, or end. O let vsus looke vntounto it, and liue a godly life, and labour to hauehave part in the firſt reſurrection; and then ſhall the ſecond death doe vsus no harme; but wee ſhall liue for euer in heauen with God.

p. 18415 And whoſoeuer was not found written in the Book of life, was caſt into the lake of fire.

THE former verſe did ſhew to vsus, the execution of the laſt Iudgement vponupon all wicked and vngodly ſinners; and of that we ſpoke the laſt time. Now in this Verſe wee may obſerue the different eſtate of the children of God, and of the wicked: for as there bee but two ſortes of men, Good and Bad, Elect and Reprobate, Penitent and Impenitent, the children of GOD, and the limbes of Sathan: So there bee but two places, Heauen and Hell, Ioy and Paine, the Right hand and the left: and the reward ſhall be according, either Bleſſed or Curſed; for ſo Saint Iohn ſaith heere, The Elect ſhall hauehave p. 185eternall life: But they that be Reprobates ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire.

Firſt, concerning the Elect, and thoſe that be choſen in Ieſus Chriſt, and whoſe names be written in Heauen. As their liues do differ from the wicked and vngodly; ſo their eſtate after this life is farre different: for they ſhall be bleſſed for euer. And if you do aske, what is this Bleſſedneſſe that all the Elect ſhall hauehave? I anſwere with Paul, 1. Cor. 29.The eye of man neuer ſaw it, nor it neuer entred into the heart of man to conceiue the hundreth part of this happines: yet we may out of the word of God, gather ſome taſte of it, as it is deſcribed vntounto vsus in the word of God.

And firſt & formoſt, this bleſſed ſtate of the godly at the laſt day, ſtands in this; That God p. 186ſhall be all in all vntounto vsus: what good thing ſoeuer the heart of man can wiſh,1. Cor. 15.28.1 Cor 15:28 that will God be vntounto vsus. If thou deſire wealth, why GOD will be it vntounto thee. If honour, or pleaſure, why Almighty God wil be all in all vntounto vsus: nay, eueryevery childe of God ſhall hauehave a kingdome,Matth. 25.Matt 25 come yee bleſſed, &c.

Reue. 21.Rev 21Secondly, in the Kingdome of Heauen, there ſhall bee no wants: for wee ſhall bee freed from all ſinne, and all wants in body and ſoule ſhall be ſupplied. And though now wee ſee God but in part, yet then wee ſhall behold him face to face,1. Cor. 15.28.1 Cor 15:28 to our eternall comfort; we ſhal euermore liue in his bleſſed preſence,Iohn 17.3. Reuel. 21. Pſa. 17.15. Reu. 22.3.John 17:3Rev 21Ps 17:15Rev 22:3 and reigne with him for euer.

Thirdly, all the Elect ſhall be like vntounto Chriſt Ieſus: ſo p. 187ſaith Paul, Phil. 3.2.1.Phil 3:2Phil 3:1Hee ſhall change our vile bodies, & make them like his glorious body. Chriſt was moſt holy, pure, incorruptible, and glorious: euen ſo ſhall wee be; we ſhall be for euer freed from both ſinne, Sathan, death, and hell.

Fourthly, in heauen we ſhall reape endleſſe ioy and happineſſe,Pſal. 16.11Ps 16:11 and ſhall delight in prayſing of God for euer: ſo as wee ſhall keepe a perpetuall Sabboth, and reſt in the ſeruice and worſhip of God for euer. And this ſhall be done to all which feare GOD, and whoſe names bee vvritten in the Booke of Life.

O then, curſed be theſe men and women, which thinke, Vſe. and ſay,Matt. 3.14.Matt 3:14 It is in vaine to ſerue the LORD. O no: then men ſhall know, it is not in vaine to ſerue p. 188the Lord: Nay, God will put a difference betweene them that ſerue him, and ſerue him not. And this ſhould encourage all men to labour to abound in all holy duties; ſeeing God will reward euen the leaſt worke of faith. If thou giuegive but a cup of cold water in the name of Chriſt, verily thou ſhalt not looſe thy reward. Though our workes cannot merite, yet hee will in mercy, for Chriſts ſake, thus Crowne the good workes of his children.

And ſeeing a few ſhall be ſaued, ô let vsus labour to be of the little Flocke; let vsus, aboue all things, ſeeke this Kingdome of God: If thou winne this, thou art happy and bleſſed, though thou looſe all the world beſides. And if thou looſe it, thou art miſerable & wretched, though p. 189thou winne the whole world: O then what mad men are we, if we doe neuer ſeeke for this, or dreame of heauen till wee hauehave one foot in hell: let vsus not then thinke to gaine a kingdome ſo eaſily; we cannot go to heauen on beds of dowlne, but we muſt ſtriue to enter therein. And as life is ſweet, ioy, riches, honor, and pleaſures are ſweete: ſo to hauehave them for euer, without feare of looſing, this is a bleſſed thing: for ſo it is with them that bee in poſſeſſion of this Kingdome, they ſhall be out of feare to looſe it, but ſhall raigne with Chriſt for euermore.

Thus (in ſome ſort) you may conceiue the bleſſed, and moſt happy eſtate of all the elect and faithfull children of Almightie God, which ought to moue vsus to repent and turne to God.

p. 170But, what ſhall become of the reſt, the vngodly ſinners, of them whoſe names be not written in the Booke of Life? Alas poore wretches, poore ſoules! it grieues me to think of them, it would make a mans heart to melt, to thinke on their moſt wofull miſerie: And I quake to ſpeake, or to thinke what ſhall become of their ſoules for euer. The Holy-Ghoſt ſaith heere, They ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire. What ſhall become then of the ſwearer, drunkard? &c. They ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire:Matth. 25.Matt 25 for ſo ſaith Chriſt, Goe ye curſed, &c. This is their end, and this is their portion for euermore. Ah poore wretch, Ah vile creature, ah miſerable ſinner: it had beene good for them, if they had neuer beene borne, or beene made rather p. 171Toads, or Serpents, then Men. For beſides that, that they ſhall be caſt out of the glorious and comfortable preſence of God, and his holy Angels, they ſhal be caſt into this lake of fire for euer.

Concerning which Lake of fire, into which all impenitent and hard-hearted ſinners ſhall be caſt for euer; I will ſet downe three ſpeciall points.

Firſt, the perpetuitie of it.

Secondly, the extreamitie of it.

And thirdly, that it is remedileſſe.

All which conſidered; mee thinks it ſhould make the flinty hearts of ſinners to melt, and to breake in peeces, for feare they doe come into this place of torment, into this lake of fire.

And ſeeing the ſpirit of God p. 192doth repeate it againe and againe, that all reprobate ſinners ſhal be caſt into the lake of fire; it is to ſhew, that men doe little conſider of that, they doe not tremble at it. And therefore he beates vponupon it, to teach vsus, it is a ſpeciall poynt to bee thoght on, to mollifie our hard hearts.

And firſt, concerning this lake of fire: In that it is named heere A lake of fire, this noteth to vsus, the extremitie of the torment, that it is a place of endleſſe woe, vnſpeakeable paine. The Scripture giues it ſundrie names, to ſet forth the vnſpeakable torment thereof.Reu. 21.8.Rev 21:8 All wicked & impenitent ſinners ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire. For of all torments, none is ſo extreme as fire. And Chriſt ſaith, There ſhal be weeping, Luk. 13.28Luke 13:28wayling, &c. And it p. 193ſhalbe moſt hot, and yet moſt colde; ſtrangeneſſe of this fire, &c. Againe, Their worme ſhall neuer die, Marke chap. 9.44. That worme which ſhall gnaw their conſciences, euen the torment of their conſciences. O what a wofull thing is this, for a man or woman, to hauehave a worme continually to gnaw their bowels within, neuer to let them alone, or to giuegive them any reſt? Such ſhall the miſery be of the wicked. Againe, Tophet is prepared for the King, hee cannot eſcape, and it is deepe and large, and the burning therof is fire & much wood, and the breath of the Lord as a riuer of brimſtone ſhall kindle it, Eſay 30.33. So as the wrath of the Lord ſhall be as bellows to blow it, and as a riuer of brimſtone to maintaine it.

By this you may alittle conceiue p. 194the extreamitie of this wofull Lake of hel fire. But if I had the tongue of men or Angels, I could neuer expreſſe it to the full. For as the ioyes of heauen be vnſpeakeable, ſo the torments of hell can not be expreſſed, at what time the totall wrath of God ſhall ſeize vppon the reprobates, both body and ſoule, and ſhall feed vponupon them for euermore. Now, to the end you may the better conceiue the extreamitie of it, you muſt know, that the torments of hel, they be vniuerſal euen in all the parts of the bodie, and faculties of the ſoule at once; the mind, the wil, the conſcience, the affection, the head, the heart, &c. all at once ſhall be tormented. The paines in this life, they are (for the moſt part) particular in ſome part of the body: but in p. 195this fire, the ſinner ſhall be tormented in all parts at once: and yet we may ſee, that ſome pains there be, as is the ſtone, &c. which men would not willingly hauehave for a whole world. Alas, what a woefull thing will this be, to be thus tormented, euen in all and euerie member ſo extreamly? Let one example ſerue in this point. The rich Glutton cries out, Oh I am tormented in this flame! Luk. 16. The torment and heate was ſo great, that hee would hauehave giuen euen a whole world, if he had beene Lord of it, for ſo much water as would hauehave ſtucke to ones finger, to hauehave cooled his flaming tong: Tongue, tongue; Soule, ſoule: Thus you ſee, that this fire is moſt extreame and wofull, and yet men wil not beleeue it, they feare it not.

p. 196But let vsus thinke vppon the moſt wofull and extreme paine of this Lake of fire, and let vsus make that vſe which CHRIST teacheth vsus: If thy right hand or foote, that is, anie thing neuer ſo ſweete, neuer ſo profitable, neuer ſo deere or neere vntounto vsus; Let vsus cut them off and caſt them from vsus; that is, let vsus forgoe, and forſake them all: For it is better to goe poore to heauen, then rich to hell: It is better to goe naked to Heauen, then in coſtly apparell to Hell. O let all carnall men, all vngodly ſinners, that liue in pleaſures, ſports or paſtimes; yea let them know they ſhall pay full deerely for theſe things, euen the loſſe of their ſoules in hell for euermore.

Secondly, as the paines of Hell be eaſeleſſe and moſt extreame, p. 197ſo they be endleſſe and perpetuall, no end of them for euermore. So Abraham tels the rich Glutton; You that bee there cannot come hither, Luke 16. and ſo ſayth S. Iohn, Reuel. 21. It is a lake of fire & brimſtone that burneth for euer. So, Go ye curſed into euerlaſting fire, Mat. 25.41. It can neuer be quenched, when as damned ſinners ſhal lie therin many thouſand yeares, yea, as many as there be Starres in Heauen, and yet neuer to hauehave an end. If a man ſhould but once euerie thouſand yeares, take one ſpoonfull of water out of the Sea; how many thouſand thouſand yeares would be expired before he ſhould hauehave emptied the ſame?

O conſider this, you that forget GOD; Conſider this, you which contemne the Word of p. 198GOD, profane the Lords Sabboth, that make no conſcience at all of drunkenneſſe, &c. what a treaſure of plagues the Lord hath reſerued for the damned? Oh, let vsus thinke often of this, that theſe torments bee both endleſſe and eaſeleſſe? Oh what madde men and women, what fooles be wee, if wee will now enioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon, and then to lie in torments for euer? What ſhall it benefite or profite vsus to enioy a litle worldly pelfe, mony, lands or liuings heere, to liue in all pleaſures & delights, ſome ſixtie or eightie yeares, and then to be tormented in hell fire for euermore. And yet doe we ſee that ſuch is the extreame follie, and madnes of many men, that they will hauehave their penyworths heere, though they pay neuer p. 199ſo deare for it in the life which is to come.

Thirdly, theſe torments, as they be endleſſe and eaſeleſſe, ſo they be remedileſſe. This we may beholde in the Glutton in hell, who would hauehave giuen a world, if hee had beene owner of it, and yet for all that could he not hauehave it; it was then denied him. For there is no eaſe nor remedy: in hell no redemption after death; no ſiluer nor golde, no witte, nor policie, no appealing to another Iudge; but hee muſt lie by it for euermore euen in this cloſe priſon, till he hauehave paid the debt and vttermoſt farthing. For, if all the Saints and Angells in the Kingdome of heauen ſhould fall at the feete of Chriſt, to begge but for one ſoule, it could do him no good, CHRIST would deny them al, p. 200they muſt hauehave the repulſe.

O conſider this: this is it that ought to make all men to quake, and all hearts to tremble, that in hell is no eaſe, nor hope of redemption. This is that which makes the deuils and damned ſpirits to feare and to tremble, and yet it cannot moue flintie, and ſtonie-hearted ſinners once to be afraid. O I beſeech you let vsus thinke of theſe things now in theſe daies of merciemercy: now is remedie to bee had, now wee may auoide this woefull miſerie, now wee may eſcape this fearefull torment. If wee will now repent, if we will now leaue our ſinnes and begge pardon of almighty God for them, we may eſcape: but after death there is no time of merciemercy but iudgement and torment, p. 201but fire, and brimſtone, and the wrath of God for euermore. And therefore now let vsus repent, let vsus bewaile our ſinnes, and liue as the ſeruants of God, and not as the ſlaues of ſinne and Sathan, any longer; and then the gates of hell ſhall not preuaile againſt vsus.

Our Sauiour Chriſt tels vsus,Mat. 16.26Matt 16:26 that the ſoule of a poore begger is more worth then many thouſand worlds: And therefore the loſſe of a ſoule is greater then the loſſe of the whole world.

If a man ſhould looſe Houſe, Land, Wife, Childe, and all hee hath, yet it is nothing in compariſon of his ſoule: that is a loſſe of all loſſes, to bee ſeuered from God, and from Chriſt, and to bee in hell torments for euer. O then let vsus know what our ſoules bee worth; let vsus p. 202learne to prize them aboue the whole world. But alas, men can not ſo eſteeme of them. Oh no: men will for one penny, or an houres pleaſure, hazard loſſe of ſoule and bodie for euermore. Ah poore ſoule, thou didſt neuer yet know what thy ſoule is worth. Chriſt Ieſus ſayth, it is more worth then all the world. Oh let vsus ſo eſteeme of it, and value it, and account all riches, pleaſures, or profites, as dung, ſo that our ſoules, our poore ſoules may be ſaued in the day of our Lord.

The end of the fourth Sermon.

A FOLD FOR Chriſts Sheepe:

Deliuered in two Sermons vponupon the firſt Chapter of the CANTICLES, verſ. 6.7.

BY SAMVEL SMITH Miniſter of the Word of GOD, at Prittlewell in Eſſex.

ESAY 55.3.

Hearken, and your ſoule ſhall liue.

LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES. 1617.