short Joys linked together â—ur seven years of plenty are past no mentiâ— no memory remaineth of them your â—â—ry is vanish'd your felicity is swallow-up in the Sea of Sorrow your Pleaâ—es are turn'd into Serpents in your â—â—es into Bellows which blow up the â—e to torment you And altho' this Fire be of one only sort â—t doth it not in one sort torment the â—mned but yieldeth to every Sinner a deâ—ee of Punishment answerable to the deâ—ee of his Transgression even as when â—ny stand under the scorching Sun all are â—t vexed with Heat alike but as their Boâ—es are differently disposed so doth one â—mplain above another and therefore that which is a property of our material Fire by reason of diversity of Bodies is proper also to the Fire of Hell by reason of diversity of Sins for as the same material Fire burneth not Straw Wood and Iron a like so the same Hell fire perplexeth different sinners in a different sort because not so much the Persons as the Sins of Men are the proper subject of this burning the eternal Fuel of these Flames But this Pain of Sense is far surmounted as Divines hold Opinion by another Pain which they term the Pain of Loss because that which the Damned do feel in Hell iâ— nothing comparable to that which they forego and that is to be deprived both oâ— the Society and Sight of God wherein consisteth the Essential Glory of the Saints for the more good a thing is the greater Pain and Grief doth it cause in being either not attained or lost And therefore seeing that God is infinitely good noâ— only comprehending but exceeding the perfection of all things and therewith the last end of our desires and the perfect Rest of a reasonable Soul it followed that all the other Torments of Hell do noâ— so much afflict the Soul as to be deprived for ever of him It cannot be expressed it cannot be conceived as how excellent and glorious is the â—ight and enjoyment of God so what Punishment it is to be deprived thereof Mâ—â—y are so weak in judgment that they deâ—ire no more than to escape Hell but there â—s a far greater Torment than the Torment of Hell it is a greater Torment to be shut â—ut of Heaven than to be perpetually imprisoned in Hell Hell is intolerable but â—uch more intolerable than to be depriv'd â—f the Glory of Heaven than to be hated â—f Christ than to have him turn away his â—oul-satisfying Countenance than to shut is amiable Eyes than to say unto us Dâ—â—art from me ye cursed I know ye not O â—weet Jesus suffer us not I beseech thee â— taste of these Torments suffer us not seâ—ure Souls lightly to esteem it at least sufâ—er us not with a high pace to hasten unto â— So much as thy Glory and Beauty doth â—â—ceed the Torments of Hell so much is â—e Torment greater to be deprived of the â—â—e than to be possessed with the other And besides these common Torments â—â—ery Offender shall have his particular â—ains according to the difference of his â—ns either in quality or kind The Proud shall be abased and beaten under foot the Covetous shall be crushed with the weight of their want the Gluttonous shall be devoured with ravenous hunger the Drunkard shall be dried up with scorching thirst the Lascivious and Unchaste shall be wrapt up in the Embrace of stinking stinging and scorching Flames they that regarded not the Poor crying tâ— them for a crumb of Bread shall becomâ— there both endless and successless Beggaâ— for a drop of Water they that would noâ— in this Lifeonce think on these Pains therâ— by to bridle their Affections shall there bâ— reason of their extensive sense of them bâ— able to think upon nothing else and in liâ—â— manner the rest by weight and measure so that according to the Glory and Plesure they did enjoy Misery and Tormeâ— shall be proportioned to them whereâ— as well the Beauty and Order of God's â—stice as also both the manner of their Eâ—cess and the measure of it shall perfectâ— appear All this doth the Scripture in diveâ— places declare in that it saith In Hell Hunger and Thirst wailing and gnashiâ— of Teeth Two-edg'd Swords Wornâ— Serpents Scorpions Hammers Worâ— wood Water mingled with Gall tempestuous Spirits and Spirits created for Revenge By all which Expressions as well the greatness as also the multitude and variety of Torments are signified which the damned shall for ever endure Finally then shall be poured upon the damned the full Flood of God's Wrath which he hath gathered together upon all the Sins that have been committed since the beginning of the World and all the Torments that possibly can be imagined shall then be heaped upon their Heads Nay all the Torments which in this Life either have been invented or can be imagined do stand in no comparison whether for sharpness or continuance with the Torments of that place which altho' they shall be common to many yet they shall be most heavy upon those that have had the best Means and Opportunities to avoid them And not only all these Pains but any one of them shall be so grievous and so intolerable as that it is impossible for the Wit of Man either to express or imagine for so much as the least Torment of Hell â—hat can be conceived is more than we can possibly conceive and yet shall no Creaâ—ure be griev'd for them and endure they must be without any hope First of Intermission And Secondly of Abatement Thirdly of Change without which things not only painful and indifferent but thingâ— pleasant as appeareth by the Manna God sent down to the Children of Israel become insupportable Fourthly of the pooâ— Comfort of Calamity Pity but on the contrary the Devils shall upbraid them the Damned curse them and the Saintâ— deride them Lastly of End for nothing is perfectly great which hath anâ— End If there might be any End of these Torments altho' it should be after so many millions of Years as there are drops of Water in the Sea as there are Motes of Duâ— upon the Earth as there hath been Moments of time since time began it woulâ— be some comfort to those that do enduâ— them but Eternity is intolerable untâ— them infinite Eternity breaketh theâ— Hearts Eternity is the very Hell of Helâ— If all the Punishments in Hell were nâ— greater than the stinging of Ants or â—â— Fleas Eternity is enough to make them in tolerable the present sense of Pain is no so grievous to the Damned as it is grievoâ—â— to think that after many Millions of Agâ— they shall be as far either from End or Ease as they were at the first day of their beginning It is certain that a thousand Pleasures make no satisfaction for one exquisite torment because the torment is without ease and pleasures are not without Composition and Allay and if they do not make satisfaction for one Torment much less infinite
of this Sacrifice of Thanks giving for thy great Mercy in appearing so wonderfully for me to my great Ease and Comfort in that dreadful and painful Hour of Child-bearing that thou hast been pleased safely to deliver me from the Perils of it and to lengthen out my Days in the Land of the Living and to see the Fruit of my hard Labour and Travail Lord grant that it may prosper and grow up in thy Fear to thy Glory and both our Comforts And grant Lord that I may live worthy of this Mercy and make thee some grateful Returns for all thy Mercies Pardon and forgive me all my Sins and preserve me from sining against thee any more And all I beg upon the account of thy dear Son To whom with the O Father and with the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Christian Vertues as Love Faith Hope and Charity c. O Lord Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations bless me with all thy Spiritual Blessings and Heavenly Graces make me rich in Love strong in Faith full in Assurance of Hope and abound in all Charitable Actions according to that Sufficiency thou hast been pleâ—sed to bless and entrust me with that I may have nothing to answer for at that great and terrible Day wherein the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened and every one rewarded according to their Doings Lord grant that thy Graces may all flourish in me as the Bay-Tree that so by my good Example others may return to thee their Lord and Saviour and so have cause to sing Praises to thy Great Name for all thy Wondrous Works Lord keep me from Insolence and Pride and grant me true Humility and Zealousness of Mind and give me a true Consideration of my own Vileness that so I may tremble and stand in Awe before thee as a sinful Man having always a better esteem of others than my self Gracious Lord when the Devil shall accuse my own Conscience bear Witness against me and the whole World forsake me for my Sins do thou be my Strength my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence against these potent Enemies of my Soul Enflame my Dead Heart with the Heavenly Affection of an unseign'd Love that I may love and adore thee above all and my Neighbour as my self Grant me a good Mind to help and succour all to my Ability to forbear and forgive all that ever any did against me Let not the least Spark of Envy or Wrath lodge within my Breast nor never let the Sun go down upon my Anger but let me be satisfied that Vengeance is thine and that thou art so just that thou wilt send it upon the Heads of those that fear thee not and call not upon thee but that live in Envy and Malice and Implacableness of Spirit against thy Children Give me Grace O Lord to follow the Example of all good Men and keep me from that hateful Sin of Sloath and Iâ—leness which is the High-way to Want and Beggary Grant me a contented mind and moderate my Desâ—res towards the Things of this World and Lord be with me at the Hour of Death and when I go hence and be no more seen I may be admitted into thy Kingdom of Glory that I may eternally sing Hallelujah's to thy great Name Grant this O God and whatever else I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Earthly Blessings O Lord God Eternal which causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Unjust satisfie the Desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we cannot but must humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of thy Favours but that it is of thy Eternal Goodness we are living Monuments of thy mercy all this Day Lord do thou supply our daily Necessities and give us this Day and every Day our daily Bread Bless the manuring of our Ground prosper 〈◊〉 Corn and bless the Seed-time with the Former and Latter Rain in their due Seasons Keep our Fruits while they be upon the Earth from Haâ—l and Thunder from excessive Droughts over much Raâ—o and Mildews and send us a joyful Harvest O Lord bless and increase our Cattle and keep them from those Casualties they are obnoxious to amd bless our â—â—skeâ— and our Store and keep our Granaries Barns and Store Houses from Fire and boisterous Winds Thieves aâ—d sudden Inundations Prosper all our Undertakiâ—gs whether by Sea or Land Be thou a present Hâ—lp in time of Trouble and turn our Dearâ—â—s into Cheapness and Scarcity into Pleâ—ty And Lord open the Hearts of those to whom thou hast dealt liberally that as thou hast been to them they may be to their poor Fellow-Creatures that are in Want Help us O Lord in all our Straits and oppress us not with too much Poverty neither let us be puffed up in the Day of Prosperity but keep us in Evenness of Temper in either extreme that we may live in thy Fear and die in thy Favour And all this we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Graces before and after Meat Grace before Meat O Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who hast created â—ll things for the use and service of Men Bless these thy Creatures which thou hast provided for us and set before us at this time that they may strengthen our Bodies so that thereby we may be the better able to live to thy Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat ALmighty God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite Goodness hast most plentifully fed us for which and all other Mercies we return thee hearty Thanks begging of thee so to direct and guide us as that we may in some measure live answerable to thy Goodness to us All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be Praise Honour and Glory henceforth and for evermore Grace before Meat MOst Gracious Father we crave thy Blessing upon these good Creatures that thou by thy good hand of Providence hast bestowed upon us grant that they may give Nourishment to these our mortal Bodies and sanctifie them so unto us as that we may live to thy Praise to thy Honour and to thy Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Grace after Meat MOst Bountiful and Gracious Lord God whose Goodness is extended to the uttermost Parts of the Earth what cause have we to praise and magnifie thy holy Name for this great and singular mercy of daily taking care for us and plentifully feeding of us with the best and choicest of thy Creatures As thou hast filled our Bodies with them so fill
thou visitest him with Everlasting Loving kindness anâ— thou givest thy Angels charge over him and thou wilt not suffer any harm to come unto him thou aâ—t with him in his distress and when he weeps thou holdest a Bottle under to catch his Tears thou bindest up his Wounds and healest all his Sores thou watchest over him and thy Ears are open to his Prayers and his Groans are not hiâ— from thee his Peace is made with thee so here they that truly fear and serve thee are free from all slavish fears nothing but Love rules in their Hearts which makes their Yoak easie and their Burthen light and the Narrow way full of delight and satisfaction they have peace of Conscâ—ence a peace which passeth all understanding so that the Devil can make no War against them to do them any harm he may raise a Storm and lay a Siege but he cannot overthrow for he that is for them is stronger than he that is against them he may set their House on fire but he cannot consume them and rain Brimstone upon them but they have a Tower to flee to a Place of Refuge and Defence Who is a strong Towâ—r in the day of distress and the Righteous â—lee unto it and are safe Ah Lord these are great and glorious Priviledges that â—hy chosen ones are made Partakers of O Lord make me one of these and â—uide me by thy Counsel until thou shalt â—ing me unto Glory â—ome Considerations of the Glory of the Saints in Heaven THis Felicity is represented to us by many Names but most especially Two taken from Two things in this World which we affect most that is Life and a Kingdom First Life Luke 10. 15. Master who shall I do to inherit eternal Life And Secondly A Kingdom Matt. 22. 3â— Mark 12. 28. Luke 2. 32. Fear not littâ—â— Flock for it is your Father's pleasure to giâ—â— you a Kingdom The Nature of Life is so sweet to all Meâ— because naturally we desire to preserve oâ— Being even in this mortal Life which 〈◊〉 fast chained not only to infinite change oâ— Calamities but to many Dangers and fâ—nally to Death it self but that Life whicâ— is the blessed State of those who have a fuâ—fruition of God is a true lively and perfect Life a pure Life a holy Life a securâ—â— Life a Life free from Molestation frâ—â— from Change a most happy Life as weâ— for the Glory thereof as for the Eternity In this Glory there may be degrees 〈◊〉 there can â—e no defect altho' like Sâ—aâ—â— one Saint shall differ from another yet aâ—â—hall shine altho' like Vessels one sâ—aâ—â—â— hold more than another yet all shall 〈◊〉 full Neither shall this difference cause â—ny to complain First Because in theâ—selves they shall find no want And â—â—condly Because the Glory of others shaâ—â— be as their own And yet this Glory could not make Life â—appy if it were not also perpetual The â—ore glorious it is to be enjoyed the more â—â—ievous it would be to determine the â—ery Thoughts of Ending wou'd much â—bate the pleasures of Enjoying but Eterâ—ity addeth so much to Contentment in â—his Glorious Life as it addeth to contiâ—uance it maketh the Pleasures of this â—ife even like it self no less than infinite Likewise a Kingdom is of such Estimaâ—â—on among Men that for it they will venâ—ure their Estates their Lives their Souls â—ay they will surmount all difficulties and â—angers they will make their way thro' â—lood through Wounds through Death 〈◊〉 self to attain it altho' it be but a small Corner-Kingdom upon Earth incident to â—numerable Casualties and Care But his Kingdom is a Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 â—ternal Kingdom a most blessed Kingdâ—◠〈◊〉 Tim. 4. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Luke 〈…〉 â—at 23. 34. a Heavenly Kingdom 〈…〉 â—â—ove the tempestuous Troubles of this 〈◊〉 â—â—riour World an eternal Kingdom subâ—â—ct neither to declination nor change a â—lessed Kingdom furnished with all Feliâ—â—ties without any mixture of Misery or â—rief the Excellency whereof may be consider'd in two principal Points Largâ—ness and Magnificence which may not bâ— obscurely conjectured For if it be true which all Authors aâ—firm That many Stars do far exceed thâ— whole Body of the Earth in greatness seeing these Stars bear so small a Proportion in regard of that Heaven whereoâ— they are fixed the Face whereof is opeâ— to our View how little is the compass â— all the Kingdoms upon the Earth in coâ—parison to the Celestial Kingdom which 〈◊〉 above the Starry Heaven and in unknowâ— dimensions exceedeth that Sphear Be astonish'd O my Soul and altogether wrap from thy bodily Senses upon consideration both of the Greatness of this Kingdom and the unspeakable Goodness â—â— the King thereof who hath said unto the â—â—ncerning the same as once he said unt◠〈◊〉 of the Land of Canaan Lift ◠〈…〉 â—yes now and look from the Place whâ—◠〈◊〉 art for all the Land which thou seest â—â—â—â—â—ve unto thee for ever Gen. 13. 14 15. Proceed also to consider the Beauty anâ— Majesty of that Kingdom even by thâ— Rule which the Apostle hath taught Roâ— 1. 20. In esteeming the invisible Works â— God by those that are visible If then God hath provided for these our base Bodies and sinful Souls such excellent such abundant Pleasures from the Service of all Creatures in this World â—ow excellent how innumerable are those Pleasures which are prepared for those glorified Bodies and Souls which shall behold him Face to Face If the Delights â—e so great and various which he imparteth to the Evil as well as the Good to his Enemies as to his Friends what hath he reserved for his good best and choicest Friends If our Prison yield such fair contentments what will he do for us in his Royal Court If we find such Comfort in this stormy time of Tears what may we expect in the sweet Sun shine of Joy If this corruptible World which he set up for a small time as a Cottage or Out-house be so gorgeous so magnificent that many desire no other Heaven what Estimation shall we make of his principâ—l and Princely Palace His Eternal Habitation prepar'd before all Worlds to set forth his Majesty and Glory and for the uttermost declaration both of his Wisdom and Power It is very like that the Palace of Babylon was exceeding fair whereof Nebuâ—hadnezzar so much gloried Is not this great Babel which I have built for the Houâ— of the Kingdom for the Honour of my Majâ—sty But assuredly all this World of ouâ— which holdeth a middle state between Heâ—ven and Hell and in some sort participateâ— of both surpasseth and it surpasseth nâ— Hell so far in Beauty and Glory as it surpassed by the Royal Court of Heaveâ— which being framed fit for the Majesty greeable to the Estate of Almighty God no less gorgeous and great than his Wiâ—dom could contrive and his Power pâ—â—form and that is above all compass of coâ—parison Infinite Ps 84. 11. O! how