The Efficacy of the Fear of Hell to Restrain Men from Sin, Sermon – Epigraph

The Efficacy of the Fear of Hell to Restrain Men from Sin · Sermon – Epigraph

The EFFICACY Of the fear of HELL, To reſtrain Men from SIN. Shewed in a SERMON Before the Inferiour COURT in NORTHAMPTON, Decem. 3d, 1712. Together with the Benefit of the Goſpel, to thoſe that are wounded in Spirit. Shewed in ſeveral SERMONS, from Luke 4th. 18, 19. On the Occaſion of a more than Ordinary pouring out of the Spirit of GOD.

By Solomon Stoddard, Paſtor of Northampton.

BOSTON in New-England: Printed by Thomas Fleet, for Samuel Phillips, at the Three Bibles and Crown in King-Street, 1713.

p. 3THE EFFICACY Of the Fear of HELL, To reſtrain Men from SIN.

Job 31.23.

Deſtruction from God was a Terrour to me.

IN the foregoing Verſes Job makes a ſolemn Proteſtation of his Innocency: And Ver. 22. utters a terrible Imprecation againſt himſelf in caſe he was guilty. Then let mine Arm fall from my Shoulder-blade, and mine Arm be broken from the Bone. And in this Verſe he gives the reaſon p. 4why he did not carry himſelf Wickedly. Deſtruction from God was a Terrour to me.

In the Words mind, 1. How Job was affected. Terrour notes great Fear: Deſtruction from God was Terrible to him. 2. With what he was affected. Deſtruction from God: Heb. of God. The Genitive Caſe noting the Efficient, not the Subject.

Q. How came Job to be afraid of Deſtruction from God, ſeeing he was not only a good Man, but, as appears by many Paſſages of this Book, had the aſſurance of his Salvation?

A. There be Temporal Deſtructions that good Men are in danger of. The Deſtruction of their Eſtates, of their Children, and of their Lives. If they carry it Rebelliouſly, they have no ſecurity that ſuch Deſtruction ſhall not come upon them. 2. Godly Men have reaſon to be afraid of Hell. Only here diſtinguiſh there is a Slaviſh fear of Hell, riſing from a ſence that Men are in a ſtate of Condemnation. Thus they ſhould not fear Hell. And there is a Cautious fear of Hell: That makes them to avoid thoſe Paths that lead to Hell. This ought to be in godly Men, that conditional Propoſition is true of godly Men. Rom. 8.13. If you live after the p. 5Fleſh, you ſhall die. And therefore godly Men ſhould have an Awful fear of Hell, and a due care to avoid it. Mat. 10.28. Fear Him that can caſt both Soul and Body into Hell: It is a laudable Thing for godly Men to fear Hell.

Doctr. The fear of Hell is a powerful Reſtraint from Sin. There are ſuch ſtrong Inclinations in Men to Sin, and ſo many Temptations, that the World would be more wicked than the old World, were there not ſomething that had conſiderable power to reſtrain Men, and a principal Thing to reſtrain Men is the fear of Hell. There be ſeveral other Things that are of uſe to reſtrain Men, as the fear of the diſpleaſure of Parents, of the juſtice of Rulers, of Divine Vengeance in this World, but the fear of Hell is much more powerful than theſe. The miſery of many Men is, that they do not fear Hell, they are not ſenſible of the dreadfulneſs or danger of Damnation, and ſo they take a great liberty to Sin: But if they were afraid of Hell, they would be afraid of Sin. When their Luſts were as Spurs to ſtir them up to Sin, this fear would be as a Bridle to curb them in. Men are informed in the Scriptures of the p. 6Miſeries of Hell on purpoſe to debar them from Sin; Mat. 5.29, 30. If thy right Eye offend thee pluck it out, and caſt it from thee, for it is profitable for thee, that one of thy Members ſhould Periſh, and not that thy whole Body ſhould be caſt into Hell. And if Men be throughly afraid of Hell, it will have that effect upon them, to reſtrain them from Sin.

Q. How is the fear of Hell a powerful Reſtraint?

A. The fear of Hell diſcovers the dangerous Nature of Sin. Hell is threatned in the Scripture as the puniſhment of Sin; Mat. 13.41, 42. They ſhall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them that do Iniquity, and caſt them into a Furnace of Fire. Sinful carriages bring Deſtruction; hence the Man is afraid of Sin, as that which will ſink him into Hell. Men are afraid of Poyſon and the Plague, becauſe they think they will kill them; ſo they dread Sin, as that which will deſtroy them: Though they love it, yet they dare not practiſe it, becauſe of the doleful Conſequence of it. They ſay they ſhall bring a Curſe upon themſelves: They ſee Death in it; hereby they ſee an unanſwerable Argument againſt p. 7Sin. A Man ſaith as he, If I ſhould Sin, I ſhould work falſhood againſt my own Life. 2. Sam. 18.13, This makes the Temptations to Sin to looſe their Power. Men are urged to Sin for their Profit; but they ſay, what Profit ſhall I have if I be Damned? Math. 16.26. What is a Man profited if he gain the whole World and looſe his own Soul? They are urged to Sin for their Pleaſure; but they ſay, we ſhall have Pain inſtead of Pleaſure. Prov. 5.4, 5. Her end is bitter as Wormwood, ſharp as a two-edged Sword. Her Feet go down to Death, her ſteps take hold of Hell. They are urged to Sin for their Honour; but they ſay, This is the way to bring our ſelves to Shame. Dan. 12.2. Some ſhall riſe to Shame and everlaſting Contempt.

2. The fear of Hell helps Men to ſee ſomewhat of the baſeneſs of Sin. When Men are afraid of Hell, they are thereby made ſenſible of the terrible Anger of God for Sin; and may rationally conclude that Sin is an exceeding great Evil. If it were not, God would not be ſo angry as to ſend Men to Hell on that account. Would God inflict eternal Puniſhment for it, if the Evil of it were not exceeding great? There is a great deal of Light in Hell-Fire, diſcovering that p. 8Sin muſt needs be an abominable Thing, if we ſhould ſee Perſons burnt at a Stake under a righteous Government, we ſhould conclude that they had been guilty of horrible Crimes. So in this Caſe; Beſides when Men are afraid of Hell, that leads them to conſider the Nature of Sin; it brings them into a ponderous frame of Spirit, and makes them to weigh Things more Judiciouſly, and when they do ſo, though they have only natural Conſcience, yet they may perceive a great deal of Filthineſs in evil Carriages. They can eaſily diſcern that there is in their ſinful Carriages a great deal of Folley, much corrupt Affection and Filthineſs, and baſeneſs againſt the light of Nature, Natural Conſcience doth condemn many Sins, Rom. 2.15.

3. The fear of Hell helps Men to ſee what Practices are Sinful. When Men are not afraid of Hell, many times they don't ſuſpect many of their ſinful Practices; and if they be told that they are Evil, they ſtand up in the Juſtification of them, and have a great deal to plead for them. It is almoſt impoſſible to convince them, but if the terrour of Hell take hold upon them, they will eaſily fall under Conviction, that many p. 9things are amiſs, which formerly they ſaw no Evil in. Conſcience is enlightned, and they are ſenſible of their danger; Now the Word is as a ſharp two-edged Sword, Heb. 4.12. They dare not give way to a cavilling Spirit as before, they conſider the rule more Impartially than they did; they know that Figleaves and ſorry Pretences and Excuſes will not ſerve their turn when God ſhall judge them, and they condemn ſuch things as they juſtified before.

1 USE. See the Reaſon why there is ſo little Reformation in this Land. This Work of Reformation has been mightily clogged, and a very little Matter has been effected; the Countrey hath been proſperous in other Deſigns: There hath been an indeavour to promote Cloathing, and it hath been proſpered; ſo there has been a deſign to promote Learning and Merchandize, and there hath been Succeſs; but there have been great endeavours to promote Reformation; Laws have been enacted, Sermons have been preached, Covenants have been made, but all endeavours have had a miſcarrying Womb; there has not been one Sin generally reformed theſe twenty Years. Inſtead of growing better and better, the Country p. 10grows worſe and worſe. Many ſeem to be Incorrigible and Obſtinate in their Pride and Luxury and Profaneſs: The reaſon of it is, they are not afraid of Hell; they are afraid of Poverty, and afraid of Sickneſs, but not afraid of Hell; that would reſtrain them from ſinful Practices, Deſtruction from God would be a Terrour to them.

1. Fear of Puniſhment from Men, will not make the Land Reform. The fear of Man is of conſiderable Uſe: Were it not for this, the World would be far more wicked than it is: They that don't love Vertue, fear Puniſhment: Rulers are a Terrour to Evil doers, Rom. 13.4. The benefit of Government in this reſpect is very great, but will not make the Land Reform, for abundance of the Sins that bring down the Wrath of God upon the Land, don't fall under the Cognizance of Authority. There is a great deal of Pride and Murmuring and Worldlineſs, and prophaning of the Sabbath, that is not puniſhable by Law. The Laws of Men reach more groſs Iniquities; but there are many Tranſgreſſions that are breaches of the Laws of Men. Parents may fail extreamly of their Duty, ſo may Officers in the Church and Commonwealth, p. 11yet no Law take hold of them; there may be abundance of Iniquity found by God among a People, who are yet Innocent in the eye of the Law.

2. Experience of publick Judgments will not make them to Reform. Publick Judgments are monitors of Obedience; God ſpeaks audibly and ſenſibly in them; and ſometimes they have an Efficacy on the Conſciences of Men. Pſal. 78.34, 35. When He ſlew them, then they ſought Him, &c. But many times the Phyſick is not ſtrong enough for the Diſeaſe: Judgments deſtroy their outward Comforts, but don't deſtroy their Sins. Cleanneſs of Teeth won't cleanſe away their Sins. Am. 4.6. The Barrenneſs of the Land won't make them Fruitful, V. 9. The Peſtilence won't cure the Plague of their Hearts, V. 10. When they were ſcorched with Fire from Heaven, their Conſciences were ſeared, V. 11. Ten Plagues were not ſufficient to work upon Pharoah. Judgments won't deliver a People from their hard Hearts. Jer. 5.3. Thou haſt ſtricken them, but they have refuſed to receive Inſtructions; they have made their Faces harder than a Rock, they have refuſed to Return. Sometimes Judgments make People worſe; many times p. 12Men are not convinced what Judgments come for, and when they are paſt, they are ſoon forgotten: Men had rather bear a pretty deal than part with their Sins.

3. Fear of Shame among Men will not make them Reform. Sinful Carriages are a Shame to Men. When Men Sin, they degrade themſelves, and act beneath the dignity of their Nature. Sin is unreaſonable, and ſhews a baſeneſs of Spirit; it brings a Reproach upon a People, Prov. 14.34. And hence ſome particular Perſons are affected with it, and ſcorn to make themſelves a Reproach. They are not willing to be as the Fools in Iſrael, and ſo avoid thoſe Sins that bring Ignominy. But when a People are become Corrupt, many ſinful Practices are not counted Shameful. Many things that are Provocations to God are vindicated; the commonneſs of a Practice makes it to be accounted Lawful. Men may practiſe things that are provoking to God, yet live in Reputation among Men; they may be accounted Saints, they may be advanced to places of Honour, yea ſometimes among a corrupt People, that which is indeed a Shame, is counted an Honour, and they glory therein. Phil. 3.19. Whoſe Glory is in their Shame.

p. 134. Senſe of Mercies and Deliverances will not. A corrupt People are wont to have much Mercy mingled with Judgment, and ſometimes God gives great Deliverances to them: Theſe things ſhould lead Men to Repentance, and ſometimes they are much affected with the goodneſs of God. God's Mercies melt their Hearts, and they promiſe to amend their Ways; but ſuch things ſeldom make a People Reform. After a while the Pang is over, and they forget the goodneſs of God. Pſal. 106.12, 13. They ſang his Praiſe, but ſoon forgot his Works. V. 21. They forgot God their Saviour, that had done great things for them. The thoughts of the Deliverance grow a ſtale thing after a while, and they looſe the ſenſe of God's Mercies; yea the Mercies that God beſtows upon them prove a Snare to them. If God beſtows Plenty on them, they grow more Coveteous, and the more they have the more they crave; he that loveth Silver will not be ſatisfied with Silver, and they ſwell with Pride, and forget their dependance upon God, and think much to be controuled. Prov. 30.9. Leſt I be full and deny thee, and ſay, Who is the Lord? And many times they grow Voluptuous, and p. 14live the lives of Epicures. Am. 6.4, 5, 6. They lie upon Beds of Ivory, and ſtretch themſelves upon their Couches, they eat the Lambs out of the Flock, and Calves out of the midſt of the Stall; they chant to the Sound of the Viol, and invent to themſelves Inſtruments of Muſick, like David; they drink Wine in Bowls, and Anoint themſelves with the chief Ointments.

2. We ſee hence, it would be a great benefit to many Men, if they had more of the fear of Hell. It is worthy our Obſervation, That of all the Preachers that we Read of in the Scriptures, none was ſo frequent in warning the People to avoid Hell, as JESUS CHRIST; He was often telling them of their Danger, and perſwading them, if it were poſſible, to avoid Damnation. Sometimes He tells them, That the Chaffe ſhall be burnt up with unquenchable Fire; Sometimes that it is better to enter into Life with one Eye, man having two Eyes to be caſt into Hell-Fire: Sometimes of their being caſt into a Furnace of Fire, where there is Wailing and gnaſhing of Teeth. Sometimes he asks the Scribes how they could eſcape the Damnation of Hell? Sometimes He minds His hearers of the Sentence that ſhall be pronounced p. 15on the Wicked at laſt, viz. Depart from me ye Curſed into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. From hence we may learn, That the Conſideration of the Pains of Hell, is ſingularly Uſeful for the promoting of Holineſs, and it would be greatly beneficial to carnal Men, if they had more of the fear of Hell; it would make them more Solemn, more Prayerful, more looſe from worldly Enjoyments, and more cautious how they did behave themſelves. And it would be a great benefit to godly Men, if they had more of the fear of Hell; it would help them againſt a Lukewarm and Slumbering Spirit, and ſtrengthen their Hearts againſt many Temptations that they are wont to be outbid by. Job 31.33. Deſtruction from God was a Terrour to me.

1. It would be a great benefit to Parents. One of the great Miſeries of the Land is, That Children are not well educated; they are bred up to Work, but are not well inſtructed: Parents don't teach them, warn them, govern them, give good Examples to them: Hence many Children are Ignorent, and Rude, and Prophane. This Unfaithfulneſs brings many Parents to eternal p. 16Ruine, and their Indulgence is the cauſe of the Damnation of their Children. Eli's Indulgence had an influence into the Deſtruction of Hophni and Phineas. If Parents were more careful that they might not go to Hell themſelves, they would be more Laborious in teaching their Children, and in bringing them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; and if they were more careful that their Children might not go to Hell, they would not connive at their Sins, and countenance them in their Worldlineſs and Pride; they would warn them more ſolemnly, reſtrain and govern them more throughly. Prov. 23.14. Thou ſhalt beat him with the Rod, and deliver his Soul from Hell.

2. It would be a great benefit to Miniſters. Miniſters may fail of their Duty many ways, in not convincing Men of their Sins, not ſetting ſufficient Light before them for their Conviction; in not bearing a due Teſtimony againſt their Iniquities; in not ſearching Men throughly whether they be in Jeſus Chriſt, ſuffering them to deceive themſelves with falſe Imaginations of Peace with God, by complying with the Sins of the Land, by Preaching like the Scribes p. 17without Authority. But if they had a ſenſe of the dreadfulneſs of Damnation, and a due care of their own Salvation, and the Salvation of their People, they would be more thorow in their Work. Paul urges Timothy by this Conſideration: 1 Tim. 4.16. Take heed to thy ſelf and to thy Doctrines, continue in them, for in ſo doing, thou ſhalt both ſave thy ſelf, and thoſe that hear thee. A ſenſe of the Terrour of the Lord would be a great help to them. 2 Cor. 5.11. Knowing the Terrours of the Lord, we perſwade Men. The ſolemn Thoughts of this would make them careful of their Preaching, and their Example. 1 Cor. 9.27. Leſt by any means when I have Preached to others, I my ſelf ſhould be a Caſt-away.

3. It would be a great benefit to Rulers. It is a rare thing that God is provoked with a People, but the Rulers have ſome Hand in it. Rulers may miſs it many ways: When in their private Converſation they are not good Examples, that emboldens other Men to Tranſgreſs. They may miſs it by being backward to promote Religion, when they are Gallio like, Not caring for thoſe things. When they don't ſtrengthen the Hands of Under-Officers, by not making p. 18uſe of their Information, ſuffering things to drop without due Examination. They may be very Faulty by not puniſhing Vice duly, having an indulgent Spirit towards thoſe that are guilty of Miſdemeaners; by not ſtating the Caſe right unto the Jury, ſpeaking in favour of thoſe whoſe Caſe is naught, by not cutting of the occaſions of Sin. Where there is much Temptation, there will be much Provocation, by being intimate with Men of vicious Converſation: This is a diſcredit to them, a way to harden diſſolute Perſons. It is very profitable for Rulers to have a cautious fear of Hell. They that Judge others muſt be judged: They that ſit upon the Bench muſt ſtand at the Bar; all acts of Judgment muſt be called over again, and have a ſecond Hearing. It is good for them that ſit in Judgment to remember the Day, wherein they muſt appear before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt: It is good for them to ask that Queſtion, Job 31.14. What ſhall I do when God riſeth up? and when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him?

4. It would be a great benefit to Under-Officers. The Work of ſome Under-Officers is, To inform themſelves of the breaches p. 19of Law, and to give Information to Rulers. They may fail of their Duty by neglecting to get Knowledge, leſt they ſhould be counted Buſie-bodies; and by neglecting to give Information, either from Friendſhip or from Fear, or to prevent Trouble. There be other Under-Officers who are to judge in Cauſes Civil and Criminal. Their Work is to give a Verdict; a Verdict is Verumdictum, a true Sentence: And though they are under a neceſſity to bring in a Verdict, yet they are in no Snare, to act againſt their Conſciences. If they be all of a Mind, their way is fair; if they can't be all of a Mind, they muſt in Civil Caſes bring in for the Defendant: In Criminal they muſt bring in Not Guilty, for thoſe are Negative Verdicts: The meaning is, They can't agree to give the Caſe to the Plantiff, or to Condemn the Priſoner. But theſe Men may fail much, when ſome for quietneſs do comply with the Judgment of others againſt their own Light: So likewiſe when they bring in a wrong Verdict, from Friendſhip or Bribery, or Credulity, depending on the Infallibility of the Lawyer that Pleads the Caſe, it would be very Serviceable for theſe Men to remember the Judgment p. 20of the laſt Day, and the Puniſhment that will be inflicted on ungodly Men. Under-Officers may bring a Wo upon themſelves, Iſa. 10.1. Under-Officers may prevent much Injuſtice, Joh. 7.46.

5. It would be a great benefit to Buyers and Sellers. There is abundance of Iniquity in Sellers; as when they put off that which is not Merchantable. Am. 8.6. They ſell the refuſe of the Wheat. So when they take advantage on the Ignorance and Neceſſities of Men, to exact unreaſonably from them, when they go beyond the bounds of Truth, in commending what they would Sell, or in telling what it ſtands them in. There is alſo abundance of Iniquity in Buyers, in running down the worth of what they would Purchaſe, in telling that they have bought much Cheaper, and that they know they ſhall looſe by it. Prov. 20.14. It is naught, it is naught, ſaith the Buyer: but when he goeth away, he Boaſteth. Some not paying faithfully: Sometimes they promiſe what they cannot ſee their way to perform. Sometimes they neglect to Pay when they could, becauſe they can make advantage of their Money, they defraud their Creditours. Equivocation is interwoven p. 21in the very act of Trading. If theſe Men were afraid of Hell, they would quickly leave off ſuch Methods: Were they ſenſible what it is to be Damned, they would not lie upon the Catch, and be ſo injurious one unto another. They ſhould remember, That their Gains will eat their Fleſh as Fire, Jam. 5.3.

6. It would be a great Benefit to young Perſons. Many young Perſons take a licentious Liberty; ſome of them give way to a wanton Spirit; they addict themſelves to dalliance, don't attend Family Orders, ſpend the Sabbath in a Prophane way; they are devoted to their Pride, give themſelves up to Mirth and Jollitry, and neglect the opportunities of Salvation. The Counſels of Parents, and warnings of Teachers don't ſink into their Hearts; they hate to live a Moping Melancholy Life, to be confeſſing their Sins, and crying to God for Pardon; but if they were afraid of Hell, that would make a mighty change in their Carriage, a ſenſe of Hell-Fire would ſoon ſcare them out of thoſe Humours; they would not dare to do what now they are bold to do; they would have no Heart to proſecute their carnal Deſigns; they would p. 22be deaf to Temptations; no Arguments would prevail with them, they would as ſoon be perſwaded to handle an Iron burning hot, as to practiſe their former Ways: They would be ſoon weaned from the World, and take up the Practice of Religion. Ecl. 11.9. Rejoyce, O young Man in thy Youth, and let thy Heart cheer thee in the Days of thy Youth, and walk in the ways of thy Heart, and in the ſight of thine Eyes, but know thou, that for all theſe things God will bring thee into Judgment.

3 USE. Of Exhortation, to be afraid of Hell. Man is a frightful Creature, apt to be afraid of many little Evils, yet by reaſon of Sin, Men are ſo hard-hearted, that they are not much afraid of Hell. Chriſt Jeſus directs us to be afraid of Hell, Mat. 10.28. Fear him that can caſt both Body and Soul into Hell. Eſpecially thoſe that are in a natural Eſtate, have reaſon to be afraid of Hell. Iſa. 33.14. Sinners in Zion are afraid, Trembling takes hold of Hypocrites: who among us can dwell with devouring Fire? who among us can dwell with everlaſting Burnings? Some Men are much to blame, that they put away the fear of Hell; they ſhun and avoid it what they can, but conſider ſeriouſly, p. 23whether you have not abundant cauſe to fear Hell.

Conſider two Things. 1. The Miſeries of Hell will be exceeding great. The Miſeries that have been indured by ſome in this World, have been amazing: It is hard to grapple with the hearing of them, and it muſt be much harder to bear them; but the Miſeries of Hell are far greater. Heb. 10.31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God. The Appoſtle ſpeaking of the Glory of Heaven, calls it, A far more Exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory, 1 Cor. 4.17. So we may ſay of the Miſery of Hell, it is, A far more Exceeding and Eternal weight of Miſery.

Mind here theſe three things.

1. The Perſons will be in Diſtreſs, they reſt not Day nor Night; their Miſery will be overbearing to them; there will be no room for any Comforts; they will have no eaſe to Comfort them; they will have no hope to Comfort them; they will have no peace of Conſcience to Comfort them; they will wiſh they had not been, they will wiſh they could ceaſe to be; their former Enjoyments will be no Refreſhment to them; their Companions in Miſery will be no Refreſhing; p. 24they muſt endure ſutable Revenges for all their Rebellions, and the Contempt that they have caſt upon God, they will be ſtanding Monuments of the Vengeance of Heaven. Rom. 2.8, 9. God will render Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguiſh. If their Strength were the Strength of Stones, or their Fleſh of Braſs, they could not endure their Miſery. They will have Anguiſh of Spirit, not know what in the World to do; there will be dreadful Wailing, Mat. 13.42. They will lament their Sins, they will bewail the loſs of Opportunities; they will condemn their Folly, they will curſe themſelves, they will wiſh they had never ſeen ſuch things as now their Hearts dote upon; their cry will go up to Heaven; they will wiſh they had no Senſes; their Hearing and Seeing and Feeling will be their Miſery, their Memory, their Underſtanding, their Conſcience will be their Torment; they will wiſh they had no Bodies, and wiſh they had no Souls, their Bodies and Souls will be Veſſels of Wrath.

2. Theſe Miſeries are ſet forth by doleful Compariſons. No Compariſon can fully ſet forth the Miſeries of Hell, becauſe thoſe Miſeries do exceed all others; but ſome p. 25other Miſeries may in an affecting manner repreſent to us, ſomewhat of the Miſeries of Hell. Hell is compared to a Dark Dungeon, Mat. 8.12. The Children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt into outer Darkneſs. So Jud. 13. we read, That the Blackneſs of Darkneſs is reſerved for ungodly Men. Jeremiah the Prophet was in a ſorrowful Condition, when caſt into the Dungeon: It was a dark miry Hole, for he ſunk in the Mire, Jer. 38.6. When Perſons are in a Dungeon, they are confined, and have no Liberty; it is always dark and black Night, they are cut of from all pleaſant Enjoyments, they dwell in the ſhadow of Death. A Dungeon is next to a Grave; there the Light is as Darkneſs. Again, it is compared to Sodom, when it was all on a light Fire. Rev. 21.8. They ſhall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond Death. The People were in a miſerable Condition, when ſtreams of Fire and Brimſtone fell from Heaven upon their Houſes, and upon their Ground, and upon their Bodies, Men, Women, Children, all like light Torches, their Bodies blazed, how did they Scream out and Roar in that Extremity? So Hell is compared to the p. 26Valley of the Son of Hinnom, where they burnt their Children to Moleck. Hence Hell is called Gehenna, the Land of Hinnom. Mat. 5.29. So it is ſet forth by Tophet, Iſa. 30.33. which was the ſame Place. There they burnt them as Sacrifices to the Devil, and made a noiſe with Trumpets and other Inſtruments, that they might drown the noiſe of the Cryes of the poor Children, they could not bear their Roarings. Hell is worſe than all theſe.

3. Whatever the Miſeries in Hell be, they will be Eternal. Theſe Miſeries will never have an End: Life will have an End, this and that Kingdom will have an End; the Captivity of Babylon had an End; the Rejection of the Jews will have an End, and the World will have an End. Mat. 25.36. Theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting Puniſhment. Mar. 9.44. There the Worm dyeth not, there the Fire is not quenched. The duration of their Miſery cannot be meaſured: We may meaſure the breadth of the Earth, and the circuit of the Heaven, but can't meaſure Eternity. Add Thouſands to Thouſands, and multiply Millions by Millions; fill Quires of Paper with Numbers, and you can't meaſure Eternity: It cannot be p. 27divided into Days, or Years, or Ages; make never ſo many Parts of it, one will be Eternal: When Men have ſuffered never ſo long, there is an Eternity remaining: It don't grow ſhorter and ſhorter. This makes every part of their Miſery Infinite, their Pain will be Infinite, the Terrour Infinite. If Miſeries End, there is an opporttunity for Comfort afterwards; but Eternity cuts off opportunities for Comfort: Men may well ſay, Who can dwell with everlaſting Burnings?

2. Conſider, It is a difficult thing to eſcape Hell. It may be avoided, and there be a number of Men that do eſcape it, but they are but few. It is a difficult thing to bear Damnation, and a difficult thing to attain Salvation. God has made a way to eſcape, but very few will comply with it. It is very croſs to Nature; it ſuits the Glory of God, but it don't ſuit Men's Humours. Math. 7.14. Few there be that find it.

1. Many that take Pains to eſcape it do not. Many Men make attempts to eſcape it, but are not ſucceſsful. Men are like Priſoners bound with Chains and cannot make their eſcape themſelves. Many went out of Egypt that never reached Canaan. Some that endeavour p. 28to eſcape, meet with Diſappointments and Difficulties, and are diſcouraged; they are ſcared with the Anakims and high Walls, and grow Heartleſs. Some of them get into a wrong way, they get a dead Faith and Hope, that that will ſerve their turn: They have ſamewhat like Converſion, and take it to be Converſion; it paſſes among Men, and they hope it will ſtand when they appear before God. They have got a Righteouſneſs, but it doth not exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees. Some others there be, that after they have put away their Sins, and reformed their Lives, do return to their Vomit again, and ſome go on ſeeking till they are ſurprized with Death. Death comes upon them before they have got through their Work: There is great odds in the number of them that ſeek, and of them that find. Luk. 13.24. Many ſeek, and are not able to enter.

2. Many that think they have eſcaped it, will not. Many Men are Ignorant, Raſh and Fooliſh, and ſo not very capable to paſs Judgment on themſelves; their Judgment is worth very little in an hundred other Caſes: But indeed wiſe Men may eaſily be p. 29deceived; partly becauſe of the ſimilitude that is between falſe Grace and true. I have read of a Painter, that pictured Grapes ſo exactly, that the Birds were deceived by them, and took them for real Grapes. There is indeed a great difference between true Grace and falſe; but there is alſo ſuch a ſimilitude, that wiſe Men may be miſtaken. Men are frequently miſtaken in Silver and in Jewels, ſo if they look upon Perſons at a diſtance, they are eaſily miſtaken in them; ſo eſpecially when they look upon religious Actions that have been performed formerly. One great thing that expoſes Men to judge amiſs is, That they are ſome way or other Prejudicate; partly from Pride, partly from Fear, partly from love of Eaſe, partly from a dependance on the Opinion of others, and many are deceived. Prov. 30.12. There is a Generation that are pure in their own Eyes, yet are not cleanſed from their Filthineſs. Rev. 3.17. Thou ſayeſt thou art Rich, and increaſed in Goods, and haſt need of nothing, and knoweſt not that thou art Poor, and Miſerable, and Wretched, and Blind, and Naked.

3. Many whom the World bleſſes, as if they would eſcape it, will not. Men are not competant p. 30Judges of others: Men may have Foundation enough for a judgment of Charity, but they have no Foundation for a judgment of Certainty. Men may be very Cenſorious of real Saints, as Job's Friends were; they may judge hardly of Saints, becauſe of their Infirmities, and becauſe of their own Prejudices. So many have the Reputation of Saints, that are not Saints. Rev. 3.1. Thou haſt a Name that thou liveſt, and art dead. Men have nothing but External things to judge by, which are ſeperable from Grace. Sometimes they take Gifts for Grace; but many have the Gift of Prayer, that have not the Spirit of Prayer. Sometimes Men take Common Grace for Special. Zeal and Affection may be in Men deſtitute of Grace. Sometimes they take a Religious Converſation for an Holy Converſation: All that they judge by, are but probable Signs, and twenty Probabilities will not make a thing Certain. Probabilities may make a thing legally Certain, but not Infallibly ſo. Where there be but Probabilities, there is a poſſibility of the contrary. Many Probabilities make a thing more Probable, but they do not amount to a Demonſtration. Some of the wiſeſt of p. 31Men have been miſtaken: David was miſtaken in Ahitophel, the Diſciples in Judas, the Church of Jeruſalem in Nicholas of Antioch; No Man can look into the Heart of another, and ſee there a Spirit of Love and Faith. 1 Sam. 16.7. Man looketh on the outward Appearance, but the Lord looketh on the Heart.

p. 32Luke 4.18, 19.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becauſe he hath anointed me to Preach the Goſpel to the Poor, he hath ſent me to heal the Broken-hearted, to Preach Deliverance to the Captives, and recovering of Sight to the Blind, to ſet at liberty them that are Bruiſed, to Preach the acceptable Year of the Lord.