is a Death that has a Sting to hurt to twinge and wound the Sinner with even then when it has the utmost Mastery of him And this is the Death that the saved are delivered from not that which is natural for that is the end of them as of others but the second Death the Death in Hell for that is the Portion of the Damned and it is from that that the Saints have a Promise of deliverance He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death And again Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no Power It is this death then that hath the Chambers to hold each damned Soul in and Sin is the twining winding biting poysoning Sting of this Death or of these Chambers of Hell for Sinners to be stricken stung and pierced with The Sting of Death is Sin Sin in the general of it is the Sting of Hell for there would be no such thing as Torment even there were it not that Sin is there with Sinners for as I have hinted already the Fire of Hell the Indignation and Wrath of God can fasten and kindle upon nothing but for or because of Sin sin then as sin is the Sting and the Hell of Hells of the lowest and upmost Hells Sin I say in the Nature of it simply as it is concluded both by God and the Damned to be a breach of his Holy Law so it is the sting of the second Death which is the Worm of Hell But then as Sin is such a Sting in it self so it is heightned sharpned and made more keen and sharp by those Circumstances that as concomitants attend it in every act for there is not a Sin at any time committed by Man but there is some circumstance or other attends it that makes it when charged home by God's Law bigger and sharper and more venom and poysonous to the Soul than if it could be committed without them and this is the Sting of the Hornet the great Sting I sinned without a Cause to please a base Lust to gratify the Devil here is the Sting Again I preferred Sin before Holiness Death before Life Hell before Heaven the Devil before God and Damnation before a Saviour here is the Sting Again I preferred moments before everlastings temporals before eternals to be racked and always slaying before the Life that is blessed and endless here is the Sting Also this I did against light against Convictions against Conscience against perswasion of Friends Ministers and the godly Lives which I beheld in others here is the Sting Also this I did against warnings forewarnings yea though I saw others fall before my face by the mighty Hand of God for committing of the same here is the Sting Sinners would I could perswade you to hear me out A Man cannot commit a Sin but by the Commission of it he doth by some circumstance or other sharpen the Sting of Hell and that to pierce himself through and through and through with many sorrows Also the Sting of Hell to some will be that the Damnation of others stand upon their score for that by imitating of them by being deluded by them perswaded by them drawn in by them they perish in Hell for ever and hence it is That these principal Sinners must dye all these deaths in themselves that those damned ones that they have drawn into Hell are also to bear in their own Souls for ever And this God threatned to the Prince of Tyrus that capital Sinner because by his pride power practice and policy he cast down others into the Pit therefore saith God to him They shall bring thee down to the Pit and thou shalt die the Deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the Seas And again Thou shalt die the Deaths of the Vncircumcised by the Hand of Strangers for I have spoken it saith the Lord God Ah! this will be the Sting of them of those that are principal chief and as I may call them the Captain and Ring-leading Sinners Vipers will come out of other Mens â—â—e and flames and settle upon seize upon and for â—ver abide upon their Consciences and this will be the â—ting of Hell the great Sting of Hell to them I will yet add to all this How will the fairness of â—â—me for Heaven even the Thoughts of that Sting â—hem when they come to Hell It will not be so much â—heir fall into the Pit as from whence they fell inâ—o it that will be to them the buzzing noise and â—â—arpned sting of the great and terrible Hornet How â—t thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer there is the Sting thou that art exalted up to Heaven shalt â—â—e thrust down to Hell though thou hast made thy â—eâ—t among the Stars from thence will I fetch thee down there is a Sting To be pulled for and â—hrough love to some vain lust from the everlasting â—ates of Glory and caused to be swallowed up for 〈◊〉 in the Belly of Hell and made to lodge for ever in â—he dark some Chambers of death there is the pierâ—â—ing Sting But again as there is the Sting of Hell so there â—s the Strength of that Sting for a Sting though never so sharp or venom yet if it wanteth strength â—o force it to the designed Execution it doth but â—ittle hurt But this Sting has strength to cause it to pierce into the Soul The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law here then is the â—trength of the Sting of Hell it is the Law in the perfect Penalty of it for without the Law Sin is dead Yea again he saith Where no Law is there is â—o Transgression The Law then followeth in the executive part of it the Soul into Hell and there strengthneth Sin that Sting in Hell to pierce by itâ— unutterable charging of it on the Conscience the Soul for ever and ever nor can the Soul justly murmur or repine at God or at his Law for that then thâ— sharply apprehensive Soul will well discern the justâ—â—ness righteousness reasonableness and goodness oâ— the Law and that nothing is done by the Law unto it but that which is just and equal This therefore will put great strength and force into Sin to sting the Soul and to strike it with the Lashes of a Scorpion Add yet to these the abiding Life of God the Judge and God of this Law will never die When Princes die the Law may be altered by the which at present Transgressors are bound in Chains But oh here is also that which will make this Sting so sharp and keen the God that executes it will never die It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God FINIS a Ezek. 3. 18 19. b Luke 10. 62. c 2 Thes. 3 â— d Luke 16. 22 23. e Psal. 49. 8. f Prov. 23. 26. Mat. 15. 19.
ways and doings which is the terriblest Judgment under Heaven And this brings me to the third Thing the which I now will speak to 3. As the Soul receives detains entertains and willily worketh to bring Sin from the motion into act so it abhorreth to be controuled and taken off of this work My Soul loathed them says God and theâ—â— Soul also abhorred me My Soul loathed them because they were so bad and their Souls abhorred me because I am so good Sin then is the Cause of the Loss of the Soul because it hath set the Soul or rather because the Soul of love to sin hath set it self against God Wo unto their Souls for they have rewarded evil unto themselves That you may the better perceive that the Soul through sin has set it self against God I will propose and speak briefly to these two things I. The Law II. The Gospel 1. For the Law God has given it for a Rule of Life either as written in their Natures or as inserted in the Holy Scriptures I say for a Rule of Life to all the Children of Men but what have Men done or how have they carried it to this Law of their Creator let us see and that from the Mouth of God himself I. They have not hearkened unto my Law II. They have forsaken my Law III. They have forsaken me and not kept my Law IV. They have not walked in my Law nor in my Statutes V. Her Priests have violated my Law VI. And saith God I have written to him the great Thâ—ngs of my Law but they were counted as a strange Thing Now whence should all this disobedience arise â— not from the unreasonableness of the Commandment but from the Opposition that is lodged in the Soul against God and the Enmity that it entertains against goodness Hence the Apostle speaks of the Enmity and says That Men are enemies in their Minds their Souls as is manifest by wicked works This if Men went no further must needs be highly provoking to a just and holy God yea so highly offensive is it that to shew the heat of his anger he saith Indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every Soul of Man that doth evil and this is evil with a witness of the Jew first and also of the Gentile that doth evil that breaketh the Law for that evil he is crying out against now But 2. To speak of the Gospel and of the Carriage of sinful Souls towards God under that dispensation The Gospel is a Revelation of a sovereign Remedy provided by God through Christ for the Health and Salâ—ation of those that have made themselves objects of wrath by the Breach of the Law of Works This is manifest by all the Scripture But how doth the Soul carry it towards God when he offereth to deal with it under and by this dispensation of grace Why just as it carried it under the Law of Works they oppose they contradict they blaspheme and forbid that this Gospel be mentioned What higher affront or contempt can be offered to God and what greater disdain can be shewn against the Gospel Yet all this the poor Soul to its own wrong offereth against the way of its own salvation as it is said in the Word of Truth He that sinneth against me wrongs his own Soul all that hate me love death But further The Soul despiseth not the Gospel in that revelation of it only but the great and chief bringer thereof with the manner also of his bringing of it The Bringer the great Bringer of the Gospel is the good Lord Jesus Christ himself he came and preached Peace to them that the Law proclaimed War against he came and preached Peace to them that were far off and to them that were nigh And it is worth your observation to take notice how he came and that was and still is as he is set forth in the Word of the Gospel to wit First as making peace himself to God for us in and by the Blood of his Cross and then as bearing as set out by the Gospel the very Characters of his sufferings before our faces in every tender of the Gospel of his grace unto us And to touch a little upon the Dress in which by the Gospel Christ presenteth himself unto us while he offereth unto sinful Souls his peace by the Tenders thereof 1. He is set forth as born for us to save out Souls 2. He is set forth before us as bearing of our Sins for us and suffering God's Wrath for us 3. He is set forth before us as fulfilling the Law for us and as bringing of everlasting righteousness to us for our covering Again As to the manner of his working out the Salvation of Sinners for them that they might have Peace and Joy and Heaven and Glory for ever 1. He is set forth as sweating of Blood while he was in his Agony wrestling with the Thoughts of Death which he was to suffer for our Sins that he might save the Soul 2. He is set forth as crying weeping and mourning under the Lashes of Justice that he put himself under and was willing to bear for our Sins 3. He is set forth as betrayed apprehended condemned spit on scourged buffeted mocked crowned with Thorns crucified pierced with Nails and a Spear To save the Soul from being betrayed by the Devil and Sin to save it from being apprehended by Justice and condemned by the Law to save it from being spit on in a way of contempt by holiness To save it from being scourged with guilt of Sins as with Scorpions To save it from being continually buffeted by its own Conscience To save it from being mocked at by God To save it from being crowned with ignominy and shame for ever To save it from dying the second Death To save it from wounds and grief for ever Dost thou understand me sinful Soul He wrestled with Justice that thou mightest have rest he wept and mourned that thou mightest laugh and rejoyce he was beâ—rayed that thou mightest go free was apprehended that thou mightest escape he was condemned that thou mightest be justified and was killed that thou mightest live he wore a Crown of Thorns that thou mightest wear a Crown of Glory and was nailed to the Cross with his Arms wide open to shew with what freeness all his Merits shall be bestowed on the coming Soul and how heartily he will receive it into his bosom Further All this he did of meer good will and offereth the Benefit thereof unto thee freely yea he cometh unto thee in the Word of the Gospel with the Blood running down from his Head upon his Face with his Tears abiding upon his Cheeks with his holes as fresh in his hands and his feet and as with the Blood still bubling out of his side to pray thee to accept of the Benefit and to be reconciled to God thereby But that saith the
prosundity to dive into the mysterious depths of Hell Hell is a place and state utterly unknown to any in this visible World excepting the Souls of Men nor shall any for ever be capable of understanding the Miseries thereof save Souls and fallen Angels Now I think as the Joys of Heaven stand not only in speculation or in beholding of Glory but in a sensible Enjoyment and unspeakable Pleasure which these Glories will yield to the Soul So the Torments of Hell will not stand in the present lashes and stroaks which by the Flames of eternal Fire God will scourge the Ungodly with but the Torments of Hell stand much if not in the greatest part of them in those deep thoughts and apprehensions which Souls in the next World will have of the Nature and Occasions of Sin of God and of separation from him of the Eternity of those Miseries and of the utter Impossibility of their help ease or deliverance for ever O damned Souls will have thoughts that will clash with Glory clash with Justice clash with Law clash with it self clash with Hell and with the everlastingness of Misery but the Point the Edge and the Poison of all these thoughts will still be gauling and dropping and spuing out their stings into the Sore grieved wounded and fretted place which is the Conscience though not the Conscience only For I may say of the Souls in Hell that they all over are but one wound one sore Miseries as well as mercies sharpen and make quick the Apprehensions of the Soul Behold Spira in his Book Cain in his Guilt and Saul with the Witch of Endor and you shall see Men ripened Men inlarged and greatned in their fancies imaginations and apprehensions though not about God and Heaven and Glory yet about their Loss their Misery and their Woe and their Hells 10. Nor doth their ability to bear if it be proper to say they bear those dolors which there for ever they shall endure a little demonstrate their greatness Everlasting burning devouring fire perpetual pains gnawing worms utter darkness and the ireful words face and strokes of divine and infinite Justice will not cannot make this Soul extinct as I said before I think it is not so proper to say the Soul that is damned for Sin doth bear these things as to say it doth ever sink under them and therefore their place of torment is called the bottomless Pit because they are ever sinking and shall never come there where they will find any stay Yet they live under wrath but yet only so as to be sensible of it as to smart and be in perpetual anguish by reason of the intollerableness of their burthen But doth not their thus living abiding and retaining a Being or what you will call it demonstrate the greatness and might of the Soul Alas Heaven and Earth are short of this greatness for these though under less judgment by far do fade and wax old like a Moth-eaten Garment and in their time will vanish away to nothing Also we see how quickly the Body when the Soul is under a fear of the rebukes of Justice How soon I say it wastes molders away and crimbleth into the Grave but the Soul is yet strong and abides sensible to be dealt withal for Sin by everlasting burnings 11. The Soul by God's Ordinance while this world lasts has a time appointed it to forsake and leave the Body to be turned again to the Dust as it was and this separation is made by death Therefore the Body must cease for a time to have sense or life or motion and a little thing brings it now into this state But in the next World the wicked shall partake of none of this for the Body and the Soul being at the Resurrection rejoyned this death that once did rend them asunder is for ever overcome and extinct so that these two which lived in Sin must for ever be yoked together in Hell Now there the Soul being joyned to the Body and death which before did separate them being utterly taken away the Soul retains not only its own being but also continueth the Body to be and to suffer sensibly the Pains of Hell without those decays that it uses to sustain And the Reason why this death shall then be taken away is because Justice in its bestowing its rewards for transgressions may not be interrupted but that Body and Soul as they lived and acted in sin together might be destroyed for sin in Hell together Destroyed I say but with such a Destruction which though it is everlasting will not put a Period to their sensible suffering the vengeance of eternal Fire This death therefore though that also be the Wages of Sin would now were it suffered to continue be an hindrance to the making known of the Wrath of God and also of the created Power and Might of the Soul 1. It would hinder the making known of the Wrath of God for it would take the Body out of the way and make it uncapable of sensible suffering for sin and so removing one of the Objects of Vengeance the Power of God's Wrath would be so far undiscovered 2. It would also hinder the Manifestation of the Power and Might of the Soul which is discovered much by its abiding to reâ—in its own being while the Wrath of God is grapâ—ng with it and more by its continuing to the Body 〈◊〉 sensible being with it self Death therefore must now be removed that the â—oul may be made the Object of Wrath without â—olestation or interruption That the Soul did I â—y yea that Soul and Body both might be so Death â—ould now be a Favour though once the Fruit of â—in and also the Wages thereof might it now be â—uffered to continue because it would case the Soul â—f some of its burthen For a tormented Body canâ—ot but be a burthen to a Spirit and so the wise Man â—nsmuates when he says The Spirit of a Man will â—stain his infirmity that is bear up under it but â—et so as that it feels it a Burthen We see that â—ecause of the Sympathy that is between Body and â—oul how one is burthened if the other be grieved A sick Body is a Burthen to the Soul and a wounded Spirit is a Burthen to the Body A wounded Spirit who â—an bear but death must not remove this burthen but the Soul must have the Body for a Burthen and the Body must have the Soul for a Burthen and both must have the Wrath of God for a Burthen O therefore here will be burthen upon burthen and all upon the Soul for the Soul will be the chief Seat of this burthen But thus much to shew you the Greatness of the Soul I shall now come to the second Thing which was propounded to be spoken to and that is to shew you what we are to understand by losing of the Soul or what the Loss of the Soul is What