the day of judgement many mens conditions and carriages will be so laid open that it will evidently appear they have been very merciless and mad against the children of God insomuch that when the providence of God did fall out so as to cross their expectations Verse 22. they have been very much offended thereat as is very evidently seen in them who set themselves to study how to bring the Saints into bondage and to thrust them into corners as in these late years And because God hath in his goodness ordered things otâ—erwise they have gnashed their teeth thereat Hence then let the Saints learn not to commit themselves to their enemies they are very merciless men and will not so much favour you if they can help it as you may suppose they may Nay unless the over-ruling hand of God in goodness do order things contrary to their naturall inclination they will not favour you so much as a dog Verse 22. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome the rich man also died and was buried THe former verses do briefly hold forth the carriage of of the ungodly in this life toward the Saints Now this Verse doth hold forth the departure both of the godly and the ungodly out of this life Where he saith And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried into Abrahams bosome and the rich man died also The beggar died that represents the godly and the rich man died that represents the ungodly from whence observe Neither godly â—or ungodly must live alwayes without a change either by death or judgement the good man died and the bad man died that Scripture also doth back this truth that good and bad must die marvellous well where it is said And it is appointed to men once to die and after that the judgement Heb. 9.27 Mark he doth not say it is so that men by chance may die which might beget in the hearts of the ungodly especially some hope to scape the bitterness of it but he saith It is a thing most certain it is appointed Mark it is appointed for men once to die and after that the judgement God hath decreed it that since men have fallen from that happy estate that God at the first did set them in they shall die now when it is said the beggar died and the rich man died part of the meaning is they ceased to be any more in this world I say partly the meaning but not altogether Though it be altogether the meaning when some of the creatures die yet it is but in part the meaning when it is said that men women or children die for there is to them something else to be said more then barely a going out of the world For if when unregeneraâ—e men and women die there were an end of them not onely in this world but also in the world to come they would as I may say be happy over they will be now for when ungodly men and women die there is that to come after death if they die unregenerate that will be very terrible to them namely to be carried by the Angels of darkness from their death-beds to hell there to be reserved to the judgement of the great day when both body and soul shall meet and be united together again and made capable to undergo the uttermost vengeance of the Almighty to all eternity This is that I say which doth follow a man that is not born again after death as is clear from that in 1 Pet. 3.18 19. Where before speaking of Christ being raised again by the power of his eternal spirit he saith by which that is by that spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison but what is the meaning of this Why thus much that those souls who were once alive in the world in the time or dayes in which Noah lived being disobedient in their times to the calls of God by his Spirit in Noah for so I understand it was according to that which was foretold by that Preacher deprived of life and overcome by the flood and are now in prison Mark he preached to the spirits in Prison he doth not say who were in Prison but to them in that is now in Prison under chains of daâ—kness reserved or kept there in that prison in which now they are ready like villains in the jayl to be brought before the judgement seat of Christ at the great day but of this I shall speak further by and by Now if this one truth that men must die and depart this world â—nd either enter into joy or else into prison to be reserved to the day of judgement were believed we should not have so many wantons walk up and down the streeets as there do at least it would put a mighty check to their filthy carriages so that they would not could not walk so basely and sinfully as they do Belshazzer notwithstanding he was so far from the fear of God so long as he was senseless of the Lords hand against him yet when he did but see that God was offended and threatned him for his wickedness it made him hang down his head and knock his knees together Dan. 5.5 6. If you read the verses before you will finde he was careless and satisfying his lusts in drinking and playing the wanton with his Concubines But so soon as he did but perceive the finger of an hand writing then saith the Scripture the Kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joynts of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another And when Paul told Felix of Righteousness Acts 24.25 Temperance and Judgement to come it made him rremble And let me tell thee Soul whosoever thou art that if thou didst but verily believe that thou must die and come into the judgement it would make thee turn over a new leaf as we say But this is the misery the devil doth labour by all means as to keep out other things that are good so to keep out of the heart as much as in him lies the thoughts of passing from this life into another world for he knows if he can but keep them from the serious thoughts of death he shall the more easily keep them in their sins and so from closing with Jesus Christ as Job saith Their houses are safe from fear Job 21.9 neither is the rod of God upon them Which makes them say to God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes verse 14. Because there is no fear of death and judgement to come therefore they do put off God and his wayes and spend their dayes in their sins and in a moment that is before they are aware go down to the grave ver 17. And thus it sared also with the man spoken of in Luke 12.20 the man instead of thinking of death he thought how he
for he laid the sins of thousands and ten thousands and thousands of thousands of sinners to his charge Esay 53. And caused him to drink the terrible cup that was due to them all and not onely so but did delight in so doing For it pleased the Lord to bruise him God dealt indeed with his Son as Abraham would have dealt with Isaac I and more terribly by ten thousand parts for he did not onely tear his body like a lion but made his soul an offering for sin And this was not done fainedly but really for justice called for it he standing in the room of sinners witness that horrible and unspeakable agony that fell on him suddenly in the Garden as if all the vials of Gods unspeakable scalding vengeance had been cast upon him all at once and all the devils in hell had been broken loose from thence at once to destroy him and that for ever insomuch that the very pangs of death seized upon him the same hour For saith he My soul is exceeding sorrowful and amazed even unto death Mark 14.33 34. Witness also that strange kinde of sweat that trickled down his most blessed face where it is said And he sweat as it were great mark I beseech you great drops or clodders of blood trickling down to the ground O Lord Jesus what a load didst thou carry what a burthen didst thou bear of the sins of the world and the wrath of God! O thou didst not onely bleed at nose and mouth with the pressure that lay upon thee but thou wast so pressed so loaden that the pure blood gushed through the flesh and skin and so ran trickling down to the ground And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood trickling or falling down to the ground Luke 22.44 Canst thou read this O thou wicked sinner and yet go in sin Canst thou think of this and defer repentance one hour longer O heart of flint yea harder O miserable wretch what place in hell will be hot enough for thee to have thy soul put into if thou shalt persist or go on still to adde iniquity to iniquity Besides his soul went down to hell Psal 16.10 Acts 2.31 and his body to the bars of the grave And had hell death or the grave been strong enough to hold him then he had suffered the vengeance of eternal fire to all eternity But O blessed Jesus how didst thou discover thy love to man in thy thus suffering And O God the Father how didst thou also declare thy purity and exactness of thy justice in that though it was thine onely holy innocent harmless and undefiled Son Jesus that did take on him our nature and represent our persons answering for our sins instead of our selves thou didst so wonderfully pour out thy wrath upon him to the making of him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And O Lord Jesus what a glorious conquest hast thou made over the enemies of our souls even wrath sin death hell and devils in that thou didst wring thy self from under the power of them all and not onely so but hast led them captive which would have led us captive and also hast received for us that glorious and unspeakable inheritance That eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive And also hast given thine some discovery thereof through thy Spirit And now sinner together with this consider Fourthly That though Jesus Christ hath done all these things for sinners yet the devils make it their whole work and continual study how they may keep thee and others from enjoying of these blessed priviledges that have been thus obtained for sinners by this sweet Jesus He labours I say first to keep thee ignorant of thy state by nature Secondly to harden thy heart against the wayes of God Thirdly to inflame thy heart with love to sin and the wayes of darkness And fourthly to get thee to continue herein For that is the way he knows to get thee to be a partaker with him of the flaming hell fire even the same that he himself is fallen into together with the rest of the wicked world by reason of sin Look to it therefore But now in the next place a word of incouragement to you that are the Saints of the Lord. 1. Consider what an happy state thou art in that hast gotten the faith of the Lord Jesus into thy soul But be sure thou have it I say how safe how sure how happy art thou For when others go to hell thou must go to heaven when others go to the devil thou must go to God when as others go to prison thou must be set at liberty at ease and at freedom when others must roar for sorrow of heart then thou shalt also sing for the joy of heart Secondly consider thou must have all thy well spent life to follow thee instead of all thy sins and the glorious blessings of the Gospel instead of the dreadful curses and condemnations of the Law The blessing of the Father instead of a fiery sentence from the Judge Thirdly let dissolution come when it will it can do thee no harm for it will be but onely a passage out of a prison into a palace out of a sea of troubles into an haven of rest out of a croud of enemies to an innumerable company of true loving and faithful friends out of shame reproach and contempt into exceeding great and eternal glory For death shall not hurt thee with his sting nor bite thee with his soul-murthering teeth but shall be a welcome guest to thee even to thy soul in that it is sent to free thee from thy troubles which thou art in whiles here in this world dwelling in the tabernacle of clay Fourthly consider how ever it goes with friends and relations yet it will go well with thee Ecclesiastes 8.12 However it goes with the wicked yet I know Mark yet I know saith he that it shall go well with them that fear the Lord that fear before him And therefore let this in the first place cause thee chearfully to exercise thy patience under all the calamities crosses troubles and afflictions that may come upon thee and by patient continuance in well doing to commit both thy self and thine affairs and actions into the hands of God through Jesus Christ as to a faithful Creatour who is true in his word and loveth to give unto thee whatsoever he hath promised to thee And therefore to incourage thee while thou art here with comfort to hold on for all thy crosses in this thy journey be much in considering the place that thou must go into so soon as dissolution comes It must be into heaven to God the Judge of all to an innumerable company of Angels to the spirits of just men made perfect to the general Assembly and Church of the first born whose names are written in heaven and to Jesus too the
his life time he enjoyed his good things and at the hour of death legions of devils will beset him innumerable evils will befall him and then shall he pay full dear for all the pleasures of sin that have carried away his heart from closing with and following the Lord in the day of his prosperity Ungodly men because they feel no changes now they fear none hereafter but flatter themselves with dying as the godly though their life is consumed in wickedness and their strength in providing for and satisfying the lusts of the flesh but as it fared with wicked Balaam so shall it fare with these and their vain hopes will prove a feeding upon ashes through their deceived heart that hath turned them aside Isaiah 44.20 For they that sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption Galat. 6.8 And they that plow iniquity and sow wickedness shall reap the same Job 4.8 Hosea 8.7 But they that sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Say ye then to the righteous it shall go well with him however it goes with him now a few dayes will produce a happy change It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord Eccles 8.12 Go on then O soul thou that hast set thy face towards heaven though the east-wind beats upon thee and thou finde trouble and sorrow these shall endure but for a night joy will undoubtedly come in the morning besides those sweet visits thou shalt have from thy precious Saviour in this thy day of darkness wait but a while and thy darkness shall be turned into light When the light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire wherewith he warmed himself shall not shine Job 18.5 Grudge not to see the wicked prosper and their steps washed with butter but rather put on bowels of mercy and pitty as the elect of God knowing that they are set in slippery places Psal 73.18 And their day is coming when fearful horrour shall suprize them and hell be opened to receive them nor yet be disquieted in thy minde that troubles and afflictions do beset thee round for as a worser thing is reserved for them so a better is prepared for thee Do they drink wine in bowls and dost thou mingle thy tears with thy drink Do they live in pleasures and spend their dayes in wealth and dost thou sigh and mourn in secret Well there is a cup for them in the hand of the Lord the wine whereof is red and full of mixture which they must drink up the dregs Psal 75.8 And the Lord hath a bottle for thy tears Psal 56.8 And a book foâ— thy secret sighs and ere long thy brinâ—sh tears shal be turned into the sweetest wine which thou shalt drink new in the kingdom of the Father and thy secret sighs into glorious praises when thy mouth shall be filled with laughter and thy eyes see the King in his glory Now considering that these lines may be brought to the sight both of the one sort and the other I shall lay a few things before the thought of each and first to the worser sort First consider what an ill bargain thou wilt make to sell thy precious soul for a short continuance in thy sins and pleasures if that man drives but an ill trade who to gain the world should lose his soul Matth. 16.26 then certainly thou a far worse that sells thy soul for a very trifle Oh 't is pitty that so precious a thing should be parted withall to be made a prey for the devouring lion for that which is worse then nothing if they were branded for desperate wretches that caused their children to pass through the fire to Molech surely thou much more that gives thy soul to devouring flames to be fewel for the everlasting fire upon so easie tearms what meanest thou O man to truck with the devils Is there no better merchandize to trade in then what comes from hell or out of the bowels of the earth and to be had upon no lower rates then thy immortal soul Yes surely the merchandize of wisdom which is better then the merechandize of silver and the gain thereof then fine gold Prov. 3.14 Prov. 8.19 is exposed to sale Rev. 3.18 And to be had without money or price and if thou shouldest part with any thing for it it is such that it is better to part withal then to keep The wise Merchant that sought a goodly pearl having found one sold all that he had not himself not his soul and all that he sold was in it self not worth a farthing and yet obtained the Pearl Mat. 13.45 46. Paul made the like exchange when he threw away his own righteousness which was but rags yea filthy rags Isaiah 64.6 And put on the garment of salvation and cast away to the dunghil that which was once his gain and won Christ Phil. 3.8 Thou needest not cast away thy soul for puddle pleasures behold the fountain of living water is set open and thou invited to it to take and drink thy belly thy soul full without price or money Isaiah 55.1 2 ly Take a short yet let it not be a slight view of the best of the things men prize so high that for the love of they lose their souls what are they Even painted nothings promising vanities like the apples of Sodom fair to the eye but being touched turn to dust or like our Mother Eve's that had a beautiful look but being tasted brings forth death which for the most part have proved snares to the owners and alwayes miserable comforters at the parting they cannot satisfie in life for the more of these things are had the more with a disquieted spirit are they reached after and what comes in serves but to whet up the greedy unsatisfied appetite after more The world passeth away and the lust thereof 1 John 2.17 Though most men content themselves with these yet it is not in these to satisfie them and had they but one glimpse of the world to come one cranny of light to discern the riches of Christ and the least taste of the pleasures that are at the right hand of God Psal 16.11 They would be as little satisfied without a share in them as they are now with what of worldly things they enjoy much less can they ease from pain at death clap a bag of gold as one once did to thy sinking spirit pained body and tormented conscience and it can neither chear up the one nor appease the other least of all can they deliver from or yield comfort after death those cannot serve as a bribe to death to pass thee by nor yet bring comfort to thy soul when thou art gone the rich fools large crop and great increase could not procure one nights respite nor one moments comfort Besides God regards them so little that frequently he gives the largest share of them to whom he hateth most Psal 17.14 And the least to
14 15 and compare it with Gen. 3.17 Wouldest thou know whether it were the devil who beguiled them or whether it was a natural Serpent such as do haunt the desolate places read Gen. 3.12 with Rev. 20.1 2 3. Wouldest thou know whether that sin be imputed to us read Rom. 5.12.13 14 15. and compare it with Eph. 2.2 Wouldest thou know whether man were cursed for his sin read Gal. 3.10 Rom. 5.15 Wouldest thou know whether the curse did fall on man or on the whole creation with him compare Gen 3.17 with Rom. 8.20 21 22. Wouldest thou know whether man be defiled in every part of him by the sin he hath committed then read Isa 1.6 Wouldest thou know mans inclination so soon as he is borne read Ps 58.3 The wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they be borne Wouldest thou know whether man once fallen from God by transgression can recover himself by all he can do then read Rom 3.20 23. Wouldest thou know whether it be the desire of the heart of man by nature to follow God in his own way or no compare Gen. 6.5 and Gen. 8.21 with Hos 11.7 Wouldest thou know how Gods heart stood affected towards man before the world began compare Eph. 1.4 with 1 Tim. 1.9 Woudest thou know whether sin were sufficient to draw Gods love from his creatures compare Jer. 3.7 and Micah 7.18 with Rom. 5.6 7 8. Wouldest thou know whether Gods love did still abide towards his creatures for any thing they could do to make him amends then read Deut. 11.5 6 7 8. Wouldest thou know how God could still love his creature and do his justice no wrong read Rom. 3.24 25 26. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for sin through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus That is God having his justice satisfied in the blood and righteousness and death of his own Sonne Jesus Christ for the sins of poor sinners he can now save them that come to him though never so great sinners and do his justice no wrong because it hath had a full and compleat satisfaction given it by that blood 1 Joh. 1.7 8. Wouldest thou know who he was and what he was that did out of his love die for sinners then compare Joh. 3.16 17. Rom. 5 8. with Isa 9.6 Wouldest thou know whether this Saviour had a body of flesh and bones before the world was or took it from the Virgin Mary then read Gal. 4.4 Wouldest thou know whether he did in that body bear all our sins and where then read 1 Pet. 2.21 Who bare our sins in his own body on the tree Wouldest thou know whether he did rise again after he was crucified with the very same body then read Luk. 24. at ver 38 39 40 41. Wouldest thou know whether he did eat or drink with his disciples after he arose out of the grave then read Luke 24.42 and Acts. 10.41 If thou wouldest be perswaded of the truth of this that that very body is now above the clouds and stars read Acts 1.9.10 11. and Luk. 24. toward the end If thou wouldest know that the Quakers hold an errour that say the body of Christ is within them consider the same Scripture Wouldest thou know what that Christ that died for sinners is doing in that place whither he is gone then read Heb. 7.24 Wouldest thou know who shall have life by him read 1 Tim. 1.14 15. and Rom. 5.6 7 8. which say Christ died for sinners for the ungodly Wouldest thou know whether they that live and die in their sins shall go to heaven or not then read 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Rev. 21.8 27. which saith They shall have their part in the like that burns with fire and brimstone Wouldest thou know whether mans obedience will obtain that Christ should die for them or save them then read Mark 2.17 Rom. 5.7 Wouldest thou know whether right Justification and Sanctification doth come through the virtue of Christs blood compare Rom. 5.9 with Heb. 13.12 Wouldest thou know whether natural man can abstain from the outward act of sin against the law meerly by a principle of nâ—ture then compare well Rom. 2.14 â—ith Phil. 3.6 Wouldest thou know whether a man by nature may know something of the invisible things of God compare seriously Rom. 1.20 21. with Rom 2.14 â—5 Wouldest thou know how far a man may go on in a profession of the Gospel and yet fall away then read Heb. 6.4 5 6. They may taste the good word of God and the powers of the world to come They may taste the heavenly gift and be partakers of the holy Ghost and yet so fall as never to be recovered or renewed again unto repentance see also Luk. 13. Wouldest thou know how hard it is to go to heaven read Mat. 7.13 14. Luk. 13.24 Wouldest thou know whether a man by nature be a friend to God or an enemy then read Rom. 5.11 Col. 1.21 Wouldest thou know what or who they are that shall go to heaven then read Joh. 3.3 5 7. and 2 Cor. 5.17 Also wouldest thou know what a sad thing it is for any to turn their backs upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ then read Heb. 10.28 29. and Mark 16.16 Wouldest thou know what is the wages of sin then read Rom. 6.23 Wouldest thou know whither those do go that die unconverted to the faith of Christ then read Ps 9.17 and Isa 14.9 Reader here might I spend many sheets of paper yea I might upon this subject write a very great book but I shall now forbear desiring thee to be very conversant in the Scriptures for they are they that will testifie of Jesus Christ Joh. 5.39 The Bereans were counted noble upon this account These were more noble then those of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily c. But here let me give thee one caution that is have a care that thou do not satisfie thy self with a bare search of them without a real application of him whom they testifie of to thy soul lest instead of faring the better for thy doing this work thou dost fare a great deal the worse and thy condemnation be very much heightened in that though thou didst read so often the sad state of those that die in sin and the glorious estate of them that close in with Christ thou thy self shouldst be such a fool as to lose Jesus Christ notwithstanding thy hearing and reading so plentifully of him They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them As if he should say What need have they that one should be sent to them from
A FEW Sighs from Hell OR The Groans of a damned Soul OR An Exposition of those Words in the sixteenth of Luke Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar Wherein is discovered the Lamentable State of the damned their cries their desires in their distresses with the determination of God upon them A good warning Word to Sinners both Old and Young to take into Consideration betimes and to seek by Faith in Jesus Christ to avoid lest they come into the same place of torment ALSO A brief Discourse touching the profitableness of the Scriptures for our Instruction in the way of Righteousness according to the tendancy of the said Parable By that Poor and Contemptible Servant of Jesus Christ JOHN BUNYAN The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God Psal 9.17 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire Revel 20.15 London Printed by Ralph Wood for M. Wright at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey 1658. To the Reader IT is sad to see how the most of men neglect their precious souls turning their backs upon the glorious Gospel and little minding a crucified Jesus when in the mean while their bodies are well provided for their estates much regarded and the things of this present life are highly prized as if the darling was of less value then a clod of earth an immortal soul then a perishing body a precious Savior then unsatisfying creatures Yea though they have been often wooed with gracious intreaties glorious promises and fresh bleeding wounds to make choice of the better part that shall never be taken from them yet alas such influence hath this world and the pleasures of it and such is the blindness of their understandings that they continue still to hunt after those things which cannot profit nor be a help to them in the worst hour yea that will prove no better then poyson to their souls and refuse that would be if embraced their happiness here and their glory hereafter such a strange stupidity hath seized upon the hearts of men that they will venture the loss of their immortall souls for a few dying comforts and will expose themselves to endless misery for a moments mirth and short-liv'd pleasures But certainly a barn well fraught a bag well fill'd a back well cloathed and a body well fed will prove but poor comforts when men come to dye when death shall not onely separate their souls from their bodies but both from their comforts What will it then avail them that they have gained much Or what will they give in exchange for their souls Be wise then O Reader to whose sight this may come before it be too late and thou repent when repentance shall be hid from thine eyes else it will be as a dagger to thine heart one day to remember what a Christ what a soul what a heaven thou hast lost for a few pleasures a little mirth a short enjoyment of this present world yea and that after many warnings against many reproofs and notwithstanding the many tenders of a full Christ instead of those empty vanities which thy soul closed with hunted after and would by no means be perswaded to part withall No but thou wouldest take thy time and swim in this worlds delights though thy soul thereby was drowned in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 True few there are that will be perswaded that this course they take though their daily conversations do bear witness to it for how much time is spent and how much care is the hearts of men fill'd withall after attaining keeping and increasing these things And how seldom do they trouble their heads to have their mindes taken up with thoughts of the better Cumbring themselves with many things but wholly neglecting the one thing necessary yea whereby do they measure their own or other mens happiness but by the large incomes of this worlds good accounting this the greatest if not the onely blessedness to have their corn wine and oyl increase in abundance and reckoning those that are most serious about and earnest after the world to come men of foolish spirits giddy brains and worthy to be branded in the forehead for simple deluded ones But surely he is the most fool that will be one at last and he that God calls so Luke 12.20 will pass for one in the end yea within a short time they themselves shall change their notes Ask the rich man spoken of in the ensuing Treatise who was the fool he or Lazarus and he will soon resolve the question that he now sees and by wofull experience finds whatsoever his former thoughts were that he not Lazarus was the silly deluded one for he fool like preferred the worse things before the better and refused that which once might have been had but now he hath slipt the time it cannot be gained when this poor man knowing the day of his visitation was making sure of that glory which he now enjoyes and shall enjoy for evermore So that in this Parable if I may so call it thou shalt finde that Scripture confirmed That the triumphing of the wicked is short Job 20.5 Together with that That the temptations or afflictions of the righteous which cause heaviness are but for a season 1 Pet. 1.6 And in this treatise both of those are largely opened and explained Behold here a rich man cloathed in silks fed with delicates and faring deliciously every day but look a little further and so this man cloathed with vengeance roaring under torments and earnestly begging for a drop of water to cool his tongue a sad change On the other hand here thou shalt see a poor but a gracious man with a pinched belly naked back and running soars beging at the rich mans gate for a morsell to feed his belly a sad state yet but short for look again and behold this beggar gloriously carried as in a Chariot of triumph by the Angels into Abrahams bosome shining in glory cloathed with beautiful garments and his soul sat down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the Father his rags are gone his soars healed and his soul filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory the one carried not his costly fare and his gorgeous apparel with him into hell nor the other his course diet mouldy bread filthy rags and ulcerous body into heaven but the happiness of the one and the misery of the other took their leaves at the grave the worldly mans portion was but for his life and the godly mans afflictions lasted no longer For mark the perfect and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace but the end of the wicked shall be cut off Psal 37.37 38. His present comforts his future hopes and his cursed soul together yea though he lives many dayes and rejoyces in them all yet the dayes of darkness will overtake him and his eye shall see no more good in
life to come He who by this man was so slighted as that he thought it a dishonour that he should eat with the dogs of his flock What shall I râ—gard Lazarus scrubbed beggarly Lazarus what shall I so far dishonour my fair sumptuous and gâ—y house with such a scabbed creep-hedge as he no I scorne he should be entertained under my roof Thus in his life-time while he was in his bravery but now he is come into another world now he is parted from his pleasures now he sees his fine house his dainty dishes his rich neighbours and companions and he are parted asunder now he finds instead of pleasures torments inâ— ead of joy heaviness instead of heaven hell instead of the pleasures of sin the horrour and guilt of sinne O now send Lazarus .. Lazarus it may be might have done him some good if he might have been entertained in time past It may be God might have used him as an instrument to do this ungodly wretch some good and might have perswaded him at least not to have gone on so grievously wicked but he slights him he will not regard him he is resolved to disown him though he lose his soul for so doing I but now send Lazarus if not to me yet to my father house and let him tell them from me that if they run on in sin as I have done they must and shall receive the same wages that I have received Take notice of this you that are despisers of the least of the Lazarus's of our Lord Jesus Christ it may be now you are loath to receive these little ones of his because they are not Gentlemen because they cannot with Pontius Pilate speak Hebrew Greek and Latine Nay they must not shall not speak to them admonish them and all because of this Though now a Gospel-Sermon of the Lord Jesus Christ may be preached to them in English freely and for nothing nay they are now desired to hear and receive it and they will do him that preacheth a courtesie I say though now they will not own regard or imbrace these Christian profers of the glorious truth of Jesus because they come out of some of the basest earthen vessels yet the time is coming when they will both sigh and cry sead him to my Fathers house I say remember this ye that despise the day of small things the time is coming when you would be glad if you might enjoy from God from Christ or his Saints one small drop of cold water though now you are unwilling to receive the glorious distilling drops of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Again see here the lamentable state they are in that go to hell from their Fathers Mothers Sisters Brothers c. Now while they are in this world men delight to set their children ill examples and also children love to follow the wicked steps of their ungodly parents but when they depart this life and drop down into hell and find themselves in irrecoverable misery then they cry Send some body to my fathers house to my brothers house O tell them my state is miserable tell them I am undone forever and tell them also that if they will be walking in these ungodly steps wherein I left them they will assuredly fall into this place of torments I pray thee send him to my fathers house Ah friends and neighbours it is like you little think of this that some of your friends and relations are crying out in hell Lord send some body to my fathers house to preach the Gospel to them lest they also come into these torments Here men while they live can willingly walk together in the way of sin and when they are parted by death they that are living seldome or never consider of the sad condition that they that are dead are descended into But ye ungodly fathers how are your ungodly children roaring now in hell and you ungodly children how are your ungodly parents that lived and died ungodly now in the pains of hell also and one drunkard it is like singing on the Ale-bench and another roaring under the wrath of God saying O that I was with him now how would I rebuke him and perswade him by all means to leave off these evil courses That he or they did but consider what I now suffer for pride covetousness drunkenness lying swearing stealing whoring and the like Oh! did they but feel the thousand part thereof it would make them look about them and not buy sin at so dear a rate as I have done even with the loss of my precious soul Send him to my fathers house Not to my father but to my fathers house It may be there 's ungodly children there 's ungodly servants wallowing in their ungodliness send him therefore to my fathâ—rs house It is like they are still the sâ—me that I left them I left them wicked and they are wicked still I left them slighters of â—he Gospel Saints and wayes of God and they do it still send him to my fathers house it is like there is but a little between them and the place where I am send him to day before to morrow lest they come into the same place of torment I pray thee that thou wouldst send him I beg it on my bended knee as it were with crying and with tears in the Agony of my soul It may be they will not consider if thou do not send him I left them sottish enough hardned as well as I they have the same devil to tempt them the same lusts and world to overcome them I pray thee therefore that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house make no delay lest they lose their souls lest they come hither if they do they are like never to return again Oh! little do they think how easily they may lose their souls they are apt to think their condition to be as good as the best as I once through ignorance did But send him send him without delay lest they come into this place of torment O that thou wouldest give him commission do thou send him thy self it is true the time was when I together with them slighted those that were sent of God and owned those that were sent of men yeâ— though we could not deny but he spâ—ke the word of God and was sent of him as our consciences told us yet we preferred the calls of men bâ—fore the calls of God for though they had the one yet because they had not the other in that Antichristian way which we thought meet we could not would not either hear him our selves nor yet give consent that others should But now a call from God is worth all Do thou therefore send him to my fathers house The time was when we did not like it except it might be preached in the Synagogue and Steeple-houses we thought it a low thing to preach and pray together in houses we were too high spirited too superstitious the Gospel would not down with
his Spirit in them did bear witness or record to the truth of salvation by his Son Jesus both before and after his comming And thus is that place also to be understood which saith There are three that bear record in earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood That is the Spirit in the Apostles which preached him to the world as is clear if you read seriously 1 Thess 4.8 The Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ and obedience to God through him saith thus Now he that despiseth despiseth not us No who then Why God But it is you that speak True but it is by and through the Spirit He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who also hath given us of his holy Spirit This is therefore a mighty confirmation of this truth that he that slights the record or testimony that God by his spirit in his Prophets and Apostles hath testified unto us slights the testimony of the spirit who moved them to speak these things and if so then I would fain know how any man can be saved by Jesus Christ that slights the testimony concerning Christ yea the testimony of his own spirit concerning his own self 'T is true men may pretend to have the testimony of the Spirit and from that conceit set a low esteem on the holy Scriptures But that spirit that dwelleth in them and teacheth them so to do it is no better then the spirit of Satan though it calls it self by the name of the spirit of Christ To the law therefore and to the testimony Try them by that If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them The Apostle Peter when he speaks of the glorious voice that he had from the excellent Majesty saying of Christ This is my beloved Son hear him saith thus to them whom he wrote unto You have also a more sure word of prophecy or of the prophets for so you may read it unto which you do well that you take heed That is though we tell you that we had his excellent testimony from his own mouth evidently yet you have the prophets we tell you this and you need not doubt of the truth of it but if you should yet you may not must not ought not to question them Search therefore unto them until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts That is until by the same spirit that gave forth the Scripture you find the truth confirmed to your souls which you have recorded in the Scriptures That this word of prophecy or of the prophets is the Scriptures read on For saith he knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation c. 2 Pet. 1.18 19 20. But you will say What needs all this ado and why is all this time and pains spent in speaking to this that is surely believed already This is a thing received by all that they believe the Scriptures to be the word of God that sure word of prophecy and therefore you need not spend your time in proving these things and the truth of them seeing we grant and confess the truth of it before you begin to speak your judgement of them Answ The truths of God cannot be borne witness unto too often you may as well say You need not preach Jesus Christ so much seeing he hath been and is received for the true Messias already 2. Though many may suppose that they do believe the Scriptures yet if they were but well examined you would find them either by word of mouth or else by conversation to deny reject and slight the holy Scriptures 'T is true there is a notional and historicall assent in the head I say In the head of many or most to the truth contained in Scripture but try them I say and you shall find but a little if any of the faith of the operation of God in the hearts of poor men to believe the Scriptures and things contained in them 'T is true many yea most men believe the Scriptures as they believe a fable a story a tale of which there is no certainty but alas there are but few do intend and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the very word of God But you will say this seems strange to me Answ And it seems as true to me and I doubt not but to make it manifest and plainly to appear that there are but few yea very few that do effectually for that I aim at believe the Scriptures and the truths contained in and spoken of by them But to make this appear and that to purpose if God will I shall lay you down the several operations that the Scriptures have on them who do effectually believe the things contained in them 1. He that doth effectually believe the Scriptures hath in the first place been killed I say killed by the authoirty of the holy Scriptures struck stark dead in a spiritual sense by the holy Scripture being set home by that spirit which gave them forth upon the soul The letter killeth the letter strikes men dead 2 Cor. 3.6 and this Paul witnessed and found before he could say I believe all that the prophets have spoken Where he saith I was alive without the Law once That is in my natural state before the Law was set on my heart with power But when the commandement came sinne revived and I died Rom. 7.9 and that law that was ordained to life I found to be unto death For sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me and thereby stew me v. 10. Now that which is called the Letter in Cor. is called the Law in Rom. 7. which by its power and operation as it is wielded by the Spirit of God doth in the first place kill and slay all those that are enabled to believe the Scriptures I kill saith God That is with my law I pierce I wound I prick men into the very heart by shewing them their sins against my law Acts 2.36 37. And he that is ignorant of this is also ignorant of and doth not really and effectually believe the Scripture But you will say how doth the law kill and strike dead the poor creature Answ First the letter or law do kill thus It is set home upon the soul and discovers to the soul its transgressions against the law and shews the soul also that it cannot compleatly satisfie the justice of God for the breach of his law therefore it is condemned Joh. 3.19 Mark He that believes not is condemned already To wit by the law that is the law doth condemn him yea it hath condemned him already for his sins against it as it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.10 Now all men as they come into the world are in this condition that is condemned by the law Yet not believing that their condemnation by
doest believe the Scriptures thou seest that they are the truth as really as if God should speak to thee from heaven through the clouds and therefore never flatter thy self foolishly thinking that if it were so and so then thou couldest believe I tell thee saith Christ If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead But 5. Doest thou believe the Scripture to be the word of God Then through faith in Christ thou endeavourest to have thy life squareed according to the Scriptures both in word and practice Nay this I say thou mayest have though thou do not believe them all My meaning is that if thou believe none but the ten Commandments thy life may be according to them a legal holy life and if thou do believe the Gospel too then thy life will be the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ that is either thou wilt live in the blessed and holy enjoyment of what is testified in the Scripture concerning the glorious things of the Lord Jesus Christ or else thou wilt be exceedingly panting after them For the Scriptures carry such a blessed beauty in them to that soul that hath faith in the things contained in them that they do take the heart and captivate the soul of him that believeth them into the love and liking of them 6. He that believes the Scriptures to be the word of God if he do but suppose that any one place of the Scripture doth exclude him and shut him out of and from a share in the promises contained in them O it will trouble him grieve him perplex him yea he will not be satisfied until he be resolved and thâ— contrary sealed to his soul for he knowâ— that the Scriptures are the word oâ— God all truth and therefore he knowâ— that if any one sentence doth excludeâ— or bar out him for want of this or the other qualification he knows also that not the word alone shuts him out but he that speaks it even God himself and therefore he cannot will not dare not be contented untill he find his soul and Scripture together with the things contained therein to embrace each other and a sweet correspondency and agreement be between them For you must know that to him that believes the Scriptures aright the promises or threatnings are of more power to comfort or cast down then all the promises or threatnings of all the men in the world And this was the cause why the Martyrs of Jesus did so slight both the promises of their adversaries when they would have overcome them with profering the great things of this world unto them and also their threatnings when they told them they would rack them hang them burn them none of these things could prevail upon them or against them because they did most really believe the Scriptures the things contained in them as is cleerly found and to be seen in Heb. 11. and also in Mr. Fox his records of their brethren 7. He that believeth the Scriptures to be the word of God believeth that men must be borne again and have that faith which is of the operation of God or else they cannot be saved And he that believeth this believeth also that if he be not borne again and also be partakers of that faith which is of the operation of God according as he hath read and believed he must and shall be damned And he that believeth this aright will not be contented until according as it is written he do partake of and enjoy the new birth and until he do find through grace that faith that is wrought by the operation of God in his soul For this is the cause why men do satisfie themselves with so slender a conceited hope that their state is good when it is nothing so namely because they do not credit the Scripture for did they they would look into their own hearts and examine seriously whether that faith that hope that grace which they think they have be of that nature and wrought by that spirit and power that the Scripture speaketh of I speak this of an effectual believing without which all other is nothing unto salvation Now then because I would not be too tedious I shall at this time lay down no more discoveries of such an one as doth savingly believe the Scriptures and the things contained in them but shall speak a few words of examination containing the things already mentioned As 1. Thou sayest thou dost indeed and in truth effectually believe the Scriptures I ask therefore wast thou ever killed stark dead by the law of works contained in the Scriptures To be killed and to be struck dead you will say what is that Why to be killed by the law or letter is by the power thereof to be made to see thy sins against it and to be left in an helpless condition by that law for I say the proper work of the law is to slay the soul and to leave it dead in a helpless state For it doth neither give the soul any comfort it self when it comes nor doth it shew the soul where comfort is to be had and therefore it is called the ministration of condemnation as in 2 Cor. 3.9 Yea in plain termes the ministration of death 2 Cor. 3.7 For though men may have a notion of the blessed word of God as as the children had yet before they be converted it may truly be said of to them Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Mark 12.24 2. You say you do believe the Scriptures to be the word of God I say again examine wast thou ever quickened from a dead state by the power of the Spirit of Christ through the other part of the Scripture That is to say by the power of God in his Sonne Jesus Christ through the covenant of promise I tell thee from the Lord if thou hast thou hast felt such a quickning power in the words of Christ Joh. 6. that thou hast been lifted out of that dead condition that thou before wast in and that when thou wast under the guilt of sin the curse of the law and the power of the devil and the justice of the great God that thou hast been inabled by the power of God in Christ revealed to thee by the Spirit through and by the Scripture to look sin death hell the devil and the law and all things that are at enmity with thee for thy sins with boldness and comfort in the face through the blood death righteousness resurrection and intercession of Christ made mention of in the Scriptures And thirdly on this account O how excellent are the Scriptures to thy soul O how much virtue dost thou see in such a promise in such an invitation O sayest thou there are some promises in the book of God that I have had nourishment from and through Christ in them O they are so large they say Christ will in no
wise cast me out My crimson sins shall be white as snow I tell thee friend there are some promises that the Lord hath helped me to lay hold of Jesus Christ through and by that I would not have out of the Bible for as much Gold and Silver as can lie between York and London piled up to the stars And why so O because through them Christ is pleased by his Spirit to convey comfort to my soul O I say when the law curses when the Devil tempts when hell-fire flames in my conscience my sins with the guilt of them tearing of me then is Christ revealed so sweetly to my poor soul through the promises that all is forced to fly and leave off to accuse my soul So also when the world frowns when the enemies rage and threaten to knock me in the head then also the precious yea the exceeding great and precious promises do weigh down all and comfort the soul against all This is the effect of believing the Scriptures savingly for they that do so have by and through the Scriptures good comfort and also ground of hope Rom. 15.4 believing those things to be its own which the Scriptures hold forth 4. Examine dost thou stand in aw of sinning against God because he hath in the Scriptures commanded thee to abstain from it Dost thou give diligence to make thy calling and election sure because God commandeth it in Scripture Dost thou examine thy self whether thou be in the faith or no having a command in Scripture so to do Or dost thou notwithstanding what thou readest in the Scripture follow the world delight in sin neglect coming to Jesus Christ speak evil of the Saints slight and make a mock at the ordinances of God delight in wicked company and the like Then know that it is because thou dost not indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures effectually For as I said before if a man do believe them and that savingly O then he stands in aw he looks to his steps he turns his feet from evil and endeavours to follow that which is good which God hath commanded in the Scriptures of truth yet not from a legal or natural principle that is to seek for life by doing that good thing but knowing that salvation is already obtained for him by the blood of that man Christ Jesus on the Cross because he believes the Scriptures therefore mark I pray therefore I say he labours to walk with his God in all well pleasing and godliness because the sweet power of the loves of Christ which he feels in his soul by the Spirit according to the Scriptures constrain him so to do 2 Cor. 5.14 5. Examine again dost thou labour after those qualifications that the Scriptures do describe a child of God by that is faith yea the right faith the most holy faith the faith of the operation of God And also dost thou examine whether there is a real growth of grace in thy soul as love zeal self-denial and a seeking by all means to attain if possible to the resurrection of the dead that is not to satisfie thy self until thou be dissolved rid of this body of death and be transformed into that glory that the Saints shall be in after the resurrection day and in the mean time dost labour and take all opportunities to walk as near as may be to the pitch though thou know thou canst not attain it perfectly yet I say thou doest aim at it seek after it press towards it and to hold on in thy race thou shunnest that which may any way hinder thee and also close in with what may any way further the same knowing that that must be or desiring that it should be thine eternal frame and therefore out of love and liking to it thou dost desire and long after it as being the thing that doth much please thy soul Or how is it with thy soul Art thou such an one as regards not these things but rather busie thy thoughts about the things here below following those things that have no sent of divine glory upon them if so look to thy self for it is high time for thee so to do for thou art an unbeliever and so under the wrath of God and wilt for certain fall into the same place of torment that thy fellows have fallen into before thee to the grief of thy own soul and everlasting destruction both of soul and body Consider and regard these things and lay them to thy heart before it be too late to recover thy self by repenting of the one and desiring to close in with the other O I say regard regard for hell is hot Gods hand is up the Law is resolved to discharge against thy soul the judgement-day is at hand the graves are ready to fly open the trumpet is near the sounding the sentence will ere long be past and then you and I cannot call time again Now then from what hath been spoken there might many things be spoken by way of Use and Application But I shall be very brief and but touch some things and so wind up And first I shall begin with the sad condition of those that die out of Christ and speak something to that Secondly to the latter end of the parable which more evidently concerns the Scripture and speak somewhat to that 1. Therefore you see that the former part of the parable contains a sad declaration of the state of one living and dying out of Christ how that they lose heaven for hell God for the devil light for darkness joy for sorrow 2. How that they have not so much as the least comfort from God who in the time they live here below neglect coming to him for mercy not so much as one drop of cold water 3. That such souls will repent of their folly when repentance will do them no good or when they shall be past recovery 4. That all the comfort such souls are like to have they have it in this world 5. That all their groanings and sighs will not move God to mitigate in the least his heavy hand of vengeance that is upon them for the transgressions they have committed against him 6. That their sad state is irrecoverable or they must never mark never come out of that condition 7. There desires will not be heard for their ungodly neighbours From these things then I pray you consider the state of those that die out of Christ Jesus yea I say consider their miserable state and think thus with thy self Well if I neglect coming to Christ I must go to the devil and he will not neglect to fetch me away into those intollerable torments Think thus with thy self What shall I lose a long heaven for short pleasure shall I buy the pleasures of this world at so dear a rate as to lose my soul for the obtaining of that Shall I content my self with a heaven that will last no longer then my life time What advantage
will these be to me when the Lord shall separate soul and body asunder and send one to the grave the other to hell and at the judgement-day the final sentence of eternal ruine must be past upon me 6. Consider that the profits pleasures and vanities of this world will not last ever but the time is coming yea just at the doors when they will give thee the slip and leave thee in the suds and in the brambles of all that thou hast done And therefore to prevent this thy dismal state think thus with thy self 'T is true I do love my sins my lusts and pleasures but what good will they do me at the day of death and of judgement Will my sins do me good then will they be able to help me when I come to fetch my last breath What good will my profits do me and what good will my vanities do when death sayes he will have no nay What good will all my companions fellow jesters jeerers liars drunkards and all my wantons do me will they help to ease the pains of hell will these help â—o turn the hand of God from inflicting his fierce anger upon me Nay will not they rather cause God to shew me no mercy to give me no comfort but rather to thrust me down in into the hottest place in hell where I may swim in fire and brimstone 3. Consider thus with thy self Would I be glad to have all every one of my sins to come in against me to inflame the justice of God against me would I be glad to be bound up in them as the three Children were bound in their clothes and to be as really thrown into the fiery furnace of the wrath of almighty God as they were into Nebuchadnezzars fiery furnace 4. Consider thus Would I be glad to have all and every one of the ten Commandments to discharge themselves against my soul The first saying damne him for he hath broken me The second saying damne him for he hath broken me c. Consider how terrible this will be yea more terrible then if thou shouldest have ten of the biggest peeces of Ordnance in England to be discharged against thy body thunder thunder one after another Nay this would not be comparable to the reports that the law for the breach thereof will give against thy soul For those can but kill the body but these will kill both body and soul and that not for an hour a day a month or a year but they will condemn thee for ever Mark it is for ever for ever It is into everlasting damnation eternal destruction eternal wrath and displeasure from God eternal gnawings of conscience eternal continuance with devils O consider it may be the thoughts of seeing the devil doth now make thine hair to stand right up on the head O but this to be damned to be among all the devils and that not onely for a time as I said before but for ever to all eternity This is wonderfully miserable even miserable that no tongue of man no nor of Angels is able to express it 5. Consider thus with thy self not onely my sins against the law will be laid to my charge but also the sins I have committed in slighting the gospel the glorious Gospel these also must come with a voice against me As thus Nay he is worthy to be damned for he rejected the Gospel he undervalued the Gospel he slighted the free grace of God tendred in the Gospel How many times wast thou damned wretch invited intreated beseeched to come to Christ to accept of mercy that thou mightest have heaven thy sins pardoned thy soul saved and body and soul glorified and all this for nothing but the acceptance and through faith forsaking those imps of Satan which by their embracements have drawn thee downward toward the gulf of Gods eternal displeasure How often didst thou read the promises yea the free promises of the common salvation How oft didst thou read the sweet counsels and admontions of the Gospel to accept of the grace of God but thou wouldst not thou regardest it not thou didst slight all 2. As I would have thee to consider the sad and woful state of those that die out of Christ and are past all recovery so would I have thee consider the many mercies and priviledges thou enjoyest above some peradventure of thy companions that are departed to their proper place As first consider thou hast still the thread of thy life lengthened which for thy sins might seaven years ago or more have been cut asunder and thou have dropped down among the flames 2. Consider the termes of reconciliation by faith in Christ is still profered unto thee and thou invited yea intreated to accept of it 3. Consider the termes of reconciliation is but bear with me though I say but onely to believe in Jesus Christ with that faith that purifies the heart and enables thy soul to feed on him effectually and be saved from this sad state 4. Consider the time of thy departure is at hand and the time is uncertain and also that for ought thou knowest the day of grace may be be past to thee before thou â—iest not lasting so long as thy uncertain life in this world And if so then know for certain that thou art as sure to be damned as if thou wert in hell alreadâ— if thou convert not in the mean while 5. Consider it may be some of thy friends are giving all dilligence to make their calling and election sure being resolved for heaven and thou thy self endeavourest as fast to make sure of hell as if resolved to have it and together with this consider how it will grieve thee that while thou wert making sure of hell thy friends were making sure of heaven but more of this by and by 6. Consider what a sad reflection this will have on thy soul to see thy friends in heaven and thy self in hell thy Father in heaven and thou in hell thy Mother in heaven and thou in hell thy Brother thy Sister thy Children in heaven and thou in hell As Christ said to the Jews of their relations according the flesh so may I say to thee concerning thy friends There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see your Fathers and Mothers Brethren and Sisters Husbands and Wives Children and Kinsfolk with your Friends and neighbours in the kingdom of heaven and thou thy self thrust out Luke 13 27 28 29. But again because I would not onely tell thee of the damnable state of those that die out of Christ but also perswade thee to take hold of life and go to heaven take notice of these following things 1. Consider that what ever thou canst do as to thy acceptance with God is not worth the dirt of thy shoes but is all as menstruous rags Isa 64.6 2. Consider that all the conditions of the new covenant as to salvation are and have been compleatly fulfilled by the