Soul of Jesus Christ being separated from the Body did go and Preach to some of the Fathers of the Old Testament that were not as they say yet admitted into Heaven but were reserved in some out-rooms of Hell where they felt no pain but did not yet see the Glorious Face of God nor enjoy his Blessed Presence But this cannot be the true genuine sense of the words For 1. If Spirit signifies here the Soul of Christ and quickned imports his Resurrection then Jesus Christ must Preach to these Spirits not while his Body was dead but after his Resurrection which the Papists themselves will not own or admit 2. Spirit in the 18th Verse signifies Christ's Divine Nature and it was not in this or by this that he preached to the Spirits of the Old Testament after their Souls were separated from their Bodies 3. Those that Christ preached to lived and were disobedient in the days of Noah it is not said they did Repent of or break off from their sins but were hardned in their Unbelief and dyed in their Iniquities they went down uncircumcised in Heart into the Pit and so Eternal Death was their Wages and Hell was their own Place Now even Papists dare not say that Christ preached to the Damned their state is remediless the Sentence irrevocable their Loss irrecoverable there is no Year of Jubilee no Goal-delivery for imprisoned Spirits confined to and shut up in Hell Jesus Christ would not Preach to those that God had cast off for ever and doomed to Eternal Misery for their continued and obstinate Disobedience they whose Nature was not changed on Earth their Condition could not be altered in Hell 4. If the Soul of Christ had preached to Souls in the Prison of Hell what Reason can be assigned why he should Preach rather to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah than to those that were disobedient in the days of Abraham Moses or in the after-times of the Prophets This one Argument may shame this Notion and confute this ungrounded Exposition of the words that the Soul of Christ went down to Hell to Preach to Spirits there Before I come to the main Doctrines that the words afford I shall observe several other great Truths that the words do offer to us 1. That the Scripture is a most Excellent and Divine Book in that it gives us such a true Account and such sure Notions about a future and eternal state after Death As it tells us what is the Condition of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Holy Prophets that they are in the Palaces and Kingdom of God Luke 13.28 so it informs us what is become of the Sinners of the Old World that these are cast into the Prison of God He that appoints Portion in the Paradice above and assigns places in the Prison below and adjudges to each of these by an irrevocable Sentence can best tell what is become of Saints and Sinners now they are departed out of the World 2. This Evidences the Immortality of the Soul that the Spirits of wicked Men are said to subsist after Death and to abide in God's Prison though their Garments of Flesh were pluckt off their Houses of Clay thrown down to the Dust yet their Souls did not expire or sleep as a Man can live though his Garments are put off or his House be demolished or drop down So the Soul hath no such necessary dependance on the Body but can exist though this Garment be put off this House be pulled down This Candle will burn though taken out of the Lanthorn of the Flesh Death doth not blow out only it removes this Light into another World 3. We may observe the Mercy and Goodness of God that though he had threatned a Flood and adjudged all the World besides eight Persons to be drowned by it yet the Son of God Preaches to this degenerate and wicked World before he destroys them though God designed Severity against their Bodies yet he offers Mercy to their Souls that though they could not avoid the first yet that they might decline the second Death and though their baser part were cast away yet that their Souls might swim to and Land safely on the Shoars of a blessed Eternity and God's means do not use to be totally ineffectual and in vain The Word is seldom if ever preached but that some are to be drawn out of the dead Sea and called out of their Graves by it Peter seems to tell us that the Word was not wholly lost on the Old World but that some received saving Benefit by it 1 Pet. 4.6 For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that were dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit This may be Vid. Piscal in locum and is expounded to relate to and point at the state of the Old World the Gospel was preached to them that though they were judged were drowned and perished in the Eye of Men as to their Flesh yet they might live to and with God in their Spirits Though God proclaimed War against their Bodies yet he tendred Peace to their Souls 4. We may further Observe that even those that the Son of God Preaches to may stop their Ears close their Eyes harden their Hearts and for their Unbelief and Impenitency may be cast into God's Prison and perish everlastingly The Gospel is to some the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.16 They did shut Christ out of their Souls and for this are shut up under the wrath of God and are the Subjects of Eternal Vengeance 5. We may Observe what a hainous Evil Sin is and what a terrible Adversary God is He did not only sweep away the sinners of the World and drown their Bodies in a Flood of Waters but he imprisoned and punished their Souls God drowned their Spirits in Destruction and Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 Sin is committed against an Infinite Majesty and cannot be sufficiently punished or satisfied for in a Finite Time by a Finite Creature It is an Axiom in the Civil Law Accusatio rei morte finitat An Accusation is finished by the death of the guilty Person all Process and Proceedings then cease against the Delinquent But it is otherwise here God's Accusation is not let fall his Actions are not withdrawn his Controversie doth not cease when sinners dye he pursues and overtakes them in another World there he meets them as one bereaved of his Authority Honour and Glory by them he resents the wrongs done to him he pours out the full Vials of his Wrath on them and fights against them for ever They are that they may be Miserables a bare Stock of Being is continued that God may graft Misery and Eternal Torments on it The words afford us two Doctrines First That the Son of God did Preach before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his
Depart from us Job 12.14 15. they would not suffer such Thoughts to break in upon them to lodg or stay with them because they begin their Hell and anticipate their Torments before the time yet tho it be so greivous to sinners to remember God to have their Thoughts fixed to have their Minds dwell on God yet they must behold they must Converse with this Angry God for ever O! what a doleful dreadful Prison will it be when a guilty Creature and an angry God shall be alone together Sinners now have their divertisements they drink deep draughts of the Pleasures of Sin of the Wine of Sensual Delights that they may forget their Misery and shake off the thoughts of a Final Account of a Righteous Condemnation and of an Everlasting Destruction but in this Prison they can no more steep their Souls in Pleasures nor soak them in Sensual Delights all the Comforts of the World are gone but sin remains guilt abides Conscience can never be Charmed Silenced or suppressed When sinners lye down among Thorns of Terrours and in Sheets of Flames when they make their Bed in Hell Behold God is there Psal 139.3 This is an awakening a dreadful Behold O think on it behold God is in Hell There he meets Sinners with a frowning Face with a punishing Hand behold God is there to remember Iniquity against men to bind the yoke of their Transgressions on them This will most surprise and astonish this will most dismay sink overwhelm the Damned to meet with a God they have so wearied so grieved so vexed so burdened with their Iniquities Behold God is there but it is still to fill their Cup of wrath to deal out blows and give wounds to them by his Almighty Power Behold God is there and doth unveil his rowning Face to scorch them and make bare his glorious Arm to destroy them The second thing that I proposed to speak to is That the Spirits of Sinners when they go out of the Body shall be cast into and shut up in Gods Prison The Scripture confirms this truth in several places The rich man is said to die and in Hell he lifted up his Eyes being in Torments Luke 16.22 23. No sooner was his Soul out of the Tabernacle of the Body but it was in the Prison of Hell So Judas is said to go to his own place when he passed into the Regions of Darkness and of Misery Acts 25. The filthy Sodomites after their Bodies were burnt with a Temporal Fire their Souls were Tormented in Eternal Fames Judes Epistle 7. He that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the Congregation of the Dead in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies Giants some have thought that Hell is called the Congregation of the Giants there were Giants before the Flood Gen 6.4 as they were of High Stature in Body so they were no Dwarss in Sin and Wickedness their Iniquities grew to so great a Height that God was provoked to send a destroying Flood these Giants were not only drowned in the Waters but also swallowed up of Eternal Death These were such heinous Sinners that they seem to be presented as chief Proprietors and Principal Possessors and Inhabitants of Hell I shall endeavour to Demonstrate to you that it must needs be so That the Souls of wicked Men when they go out of the Body do pass into a Prison For 1. Here in this World they do cast off all restraints they are all for Carnal Liberty they exempt themselves from Gods Jurisdiction they count their Hearts their own they will Love and Lust as they please Heb. 9.10 Their Abominations were according as they Loved Sinners reckon their Tongues to be their own Psal 12.4 Our Lips are our own Who is Lord over us Therefore they will Talk and speak as they please The ten Tribes are called Aholah Ezek. 23.4 as much as to say her Tent because that Israel like an Adulterous Wife left the House of God her Lawful Husband forsook him and repaired to her own Tent Idolatrous Israel built high places set up Temples in Dan and Bethel these were the Israelites own Tents they did break off from Gods Temple they thought it Bondage and Slavery to be tied to Worship in Gods House they would Offer their Sacrifice in their own Tent. The Prodigal thought himself not a Freeman while he was under his Fathers Eye and Government he would not depend on him for Maintenance or be controuled by his Authority or Subject to his Commands he would have his Portion in his own Hands and Live of himself so he gathered together all that his Father gave him and departed into a far Country Luke 15.12 13 14. There he lived according to his own Lusts and liking he wastes his Fathers Goods keeps bad Company and indulgeth his vile affectiones to the height So Sinners carry it as if they were not under Gods Eye or Subject to his Authority Jer. 5.5 It is said of the great Men That they altogether broke the Yoke and burst the Bonds So Psal 2.23 The Kings of the Earth did set themselves and take Counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying let us break their Bands asunder and cast away their Cords from us Tho Jesus Christ came as a Redeemer to ransom and as a Deliverer to rescue Souls from Slavery yet they took up such wrong Notions such hard Thoughts of him as if he came to chain and fetter them to yoke and enslave them to spoil them of the Pleasure and deprive them of the liberty of their lives Hose tells us that the Princes of Judah were like those that remove the bound Hos 5.10 Sinners will not be restrained and limited by Gods Bounds or be held by his Bonds or bare his yoke Our first Parents affected inordinate Liberty to cast off all restraints to remove all bounds to be lawless and independent tho this indeed be Monstrous to have the limited Nature of a Creature and yet the boundless unlimited will of God Our first Parents thought to change their Tenure and of Tenants to become absolute Lords They denied God that little Quit Rent that he reserved to himself and invaded the Fruit of that Tree that he restrained them from that Carnal Liberty that Sinners so much hunt after and aspire to is a stream from this Poysoned Fountain and pernitious Fruit from this corrupt root their degenerate Children have all like sheep gone astray and have turned aside into their own way Isa 53.6 yea they love to wander Jer. 14.18 They choose their own ways and their Soul delights in their Abominations Isa 66.3 They think God a poor Master that can do little for them Job 22.14 15. Job 22.17 What can the Almighty do for them They account him a hard Master that requires too much of them Matt. 25.24 I knew thou wast a hard Man Reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast
not strowed Men affect a broad way a wide Gate tho it tend to Destruction Matt. 7.13 They cannot Endure the Girdle of Gods Covenant or the Bond of his Laws and therefore how just a Punishment is it that those should be cast into Gods Prison that have cast off his Yoke How Righteous is God in punishing sinful Carnal Liberty with Eternal Bondage and Confinement 2. Sinners are Criminals and Debtors and in both respects do deserve a Prison 1. Wicked Men are Criminals they rob God they withold his due they usurp his Rights It is said of Jesus Christ that he restored what he took not away This was prophesied and spoken of our Surety Psal 66.4 If he did not take away from God who did it Surely sinful Man did take away from God he robb'd God of his Trust of his Love of his Religious Worship He alienated himself from God he withdrew and estranged all the Creatures from God Men should have been first Fruits devoted to God and as living Sacrifices offered to him In this respect God may charge the whole World as of Old he did charge the whole Nation of the Jews Mal. 3.1 Ye have robbed me in Tyths and Offerings O how many Thieves are there in the World that rob God both of the Seventh of their Time in profaning of his Sabbath and of the Tenth of their Goods They care not how little they expend to maintain God's Service and to uphold his Worship in the World do they not daily rob God of their precious thoughts and of their choicest affections They set up their own ends and exalt their own Wills and do not make God's Will their Sovereign Law his Glory their Supream End How many Families rob God of his Worship every day There is no praying to him no calling upon him Psal 14.4 Jer. 10. last All their Life is the sowing of Mammon the pleasing themselves the gratifying their own Lusts and Vile Affections Is it scandalous to steal from Men and is it not more heinous to rob God 2. Men are Enemies to and rebel against God Col. 21. You that were Strangers and Enemies in your minds through wicked works Sinners are Strangers to God they do nothing to oblige him they are Enemies to God they do much to provoke him they are Enemies against God in their minds it is an hearty a deep rooted Enmity their Minds are still intent on Evil Works The Apostle seems to me to glance at and have respect to those words of God recorded by Moses Gen. 16.5 the Lord saw that the Imaginations of the Thoughts of Man's Heart were only evil continually And Men express their Enmity to God by their Rebellion against God Hear how God accuseth Israel and complaineth against them Isa 1.2 Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me God calls in the whole Creation summons all the Creatures to give in Evidence and to be Witnesses against them the Sun Moon and Stars did run their Race and afford Light and Influences continually to them the Earth did bear them and bring forth Fruit to supply their Wants and continue their Lives God made so many Servants above and below to minister to Man yet this proud ungrateful Creature withdraws his Service from God denies Obedience to his Maker Oh hear and be astonished both Heaven and Earth that Israel that I have adopted the Jews that I have nourished taught educated as my Children yet have made void my Laws and rebelled against me Princes have Prisons for Thieves and Rebels against them and shall not the King of the whole World have a Prison for those that rob him and rebel against him Rebellion against God is far worse than a Rebellion against any Earthly King for God is an Infinite and an Eternal Being he gave us Life Breath and all things his Laws are all righteous his Commands are holy they ask but for the Rights of a God They are just they demand but what we owe our Neighbour they are good for our selves in the keeping of them is great reward Psal 19.11 The Apostle commends the Law and saith the Command is Holy Just and Good These are Three weighty comprehensive Epithites When we yeild God his Right we reap Benefit to our selves just as the Trees that serve us in bringing forth Fruit do also serve themselves in bringing forth a Stone or Kernel to continue their own Kind Obedience to God is grounded on our very Nature and founded in our very Being Those that have received a Being from God's Hand surely ought to receive a Law from his Mouth Rebellion against God therefore must needs be an heinous Crime and deserve an Eternal Prison Those that serve their own Lusts and do Satan's Will in time are worthy to suffer God's Will to Eternity 3. Sinners are guilty of Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery Psal 73.27 Thou hast destroyed such as go a whoring from thee Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know you not that the Friendship of this World is Enmity with God James 4.14 As a Rebellious Son was by God's Law to be stoned to Death Deut. 21.20 21. so a Woman guilty of Adultery and the Adulterer were both to be put to death by God's Command Levit. 20.10 Judah gave Sentence against Tamar for her Whoredom Let her be brought forth and burnt Gen. 38.24 If the Rebellion of a Son against an Earthly Father was Capital if bodily Adultery was punished with Death what then doth Soul-Adultery deserve God is our Lawful Husband Isa 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband Yet have not sinful Souls affected the Bed of a Stranger have they not turned from God after Creatures As Christ admonishes and accuseth the Woman of Samaria for living in Adultery or at least in Fornication John 4.18 He that thou now hast is not thy Husband so God may charge unconverted Men and Women that they live in Spiritual Adultery that the object they most love and doat on is not their Lawful Embraces the Creatures were not made to be Idols to Entice us from God but are bestowed as Love tokens to allure our Hearts to God yet the Hearts of Covetous Sinners do go after their Covetousness Ezek. 33.31 And the Hearts of Idolaters do walk after the Heart of their detestable things Ezek. 11.21 tho this was a great cheat to think that Dead Idols or false Gods had a heart to retaliate their Love or to Requite them for their Worship on this Account God is the only Lawful Husband and meer object of our Love because he hath a Heart to Love us again Prov. 8.17 I love those that love me Idols or Creatures cannot say so Dead Idols and Dead Creatures have no Heart to love us O! consider then what a horrid Crime Spiritual Adultery is hereby we defile the Creatures do offer Violence to them and put a Rape on them they call and invite us to the Love of God they entice us
said to remain and so wrath doth abide Repentance in Hell will be without any Fruit their Grief without Relief their Groans Cries Petitions will not prevail can obtain nothing at the Hand of God sinners were deaf to God in time and he will be deaf to them in eternity Their Hearts were hardned and his Bowels will be shut The Fewel of Gods Anger will be everlasting therefore the Fire will be eternal an Immortal Death an ever dying Misery and endless Torments will be the Portion of the Damned The suffering Jews complain and say that God had hedged them about and they could not get out Lam. 3.7 so the damned in Hell are so hedged in by their own guilt and the just wrath of God that they can never get out Their Destruction will be everlasting their Ruin irrecoverable God will not Release them and they cannot Rescue themselves 5. This heightens the Misery of departed Souls that their Prison is a place of Torments as well as of Restraint Dives complains he was tormented in that Flame Luke 16.24 and would have his Brethren warned that they might not come into that place of Torments Luke 16.25 God will exact his debts of and execute his threatnings on sinners He will tread them in the Wine-press and press out all that is sweet grateful and pleasant and leave only a dry Husk of Being the Damned seem to be called Carcases Isaiah 66. last Ye shall go forth and see the carcases of the men that transgressed against me The Expression is Elegant Significant and Emphatical Christ will command his Enemies that would not have him to reign over them to be brought before him he will sentence them to be slain in his presence when they are slain when all the Peace Joy Comfort of their Souls is destroyed what will remain but a meer Carcase of Being When men shall be only to be miserable to endure vengeance to suffer Torments this may well be stiled a Carcase of Being Bullinger de Triumph tells us that the day that an Emperour Triumphed the Prisoners were led in Chains and exposed as an open spectacle to the Eyes of the Spectators and that when the Chariot of him that Triumphed turned to go up to the Capitol then the Prisoners were led away to the Prison and the Triumpher staid in the Capitol till news was brought him that the Prisoners or some one of them was put to death in the Prison the Prison this day was a place of Execution among the Romans Gods Prison will be a place of Eternal Execution and Torments Dives begged that Lazarus might but dip the Tip of his Finger in Water and let fall a few drope to cool his Tongue Luke 16.24 his Request seems very modest he did not desire that Lazarus should dip his whole Hand no not his whole Finger but only the Tip of his Finger this was a very small Petition yet it is not granted but rejected and decried Sinners in Hell shall not obtain the least ease refreshment or mitigation of their Torments God will deal with sinners as they did with Jesus Christ he cried out I Thirst John 19.28 but did he receive any thing to refresh or ease him no his Enemies only filled a Sponge with Vinegar and put it to his Mouth John 19.30 this was to Torment rather than Relieve him As Christ obtained nothing from men to refresh him so sinners shall get nothing from God to ease them when once they are shut up in his Prison as the wicked Jews Priests and Scribes upbraided Christ with his words and works Mat. 27.40 41 42 43. that he said he would build the Temple that he asserted himself to be the Son of God that he saved others so a Righteous God and an Awakened Conscience will upbraid Sinners with their evil words and their sinful actions to eternity the iniquity of their Heels will compass them about the reward of their Hand will be given to them Isaiah 3.10 they shall feed on the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own inventions Prov. 1.31 They that glory in their wisdoms and applauded themselves in their inventions as of they had found out the true and chief Good as if they had discovered the true Pleasures the true Liberty the true Happiness shall smart for their Inventions and feel the woful effects of them for ever 6. This renders the Condition of those that are in Gods Prison terrible that they are under the fear and dread of future evils and of a more severe punishment As the thoughts of the Affizes are bitter and terrible to Malefactors they know that then their Crimes will be remembred accusations will be formed Witnesses will appear against them they will be Condemned and Executed So sinners in Hell may dread the appearing of Jesus Christ and the Judgment of the Great Day Sinners are not yet at the bottom of their Pit they are not yet fallen under the heaviest hottest fullest expressions of the Wrath of God they do not yet see the worst of their Condition It is said that Death and Hell shall be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone this is the second death Revel 20.14 What is intended and meant by Death and Hell I suppose by Death here is meant the Body that died and so fell under the power of Death and Hell here signifies the Souls of the Damned that were cast into Hell The Continent is put for the thing Contained the Bodies of the wicked were held under death and their Souls were shut up in Hell but the Bodies of the Wicked shall not still sleep in the Grave they shall awake and rise be joined to and united with their Bodies but this resurrection will not be a benefit but a hurt to them it will not be a priviledge but a punishment their Bodies shall rise that they may fall into the Lake of Fire that they may feel Torments that they be obnoxious to punishment from the Revenging Hand of God those that are now in Hell do know that this will be that their Souls and Bodies must meet again that as they joined in sin so they may be Companions in misery this conjunction they dread they would rather their Bodies should dwell in the Grave for ever than that Soul and Body both should be united to be drowned in a Lake of Fire to be swallowed up of the second Death 7. Sinners shall have the misery of their Prison heightned by these two aggravations 1. They that remember what Mercy was once offered to them and was rejected by them 2. They that behold what happiness others enjoy and they are eternally deprived of 1. Sinners shall call to mind what means of Grace they once enjoyed what tenders of Salvation were made to them the Son of God preached to the old World he called them to Repentance he warned them to fly from the Wrath to come yet their Understandings were darkned their Consciences stupified their Hearts hardned their
Heart of Stone to a fleshy Table he can soften and melt the Heart and make it pliable and flexible Isa 51.4 Hearken unto me my People and give ear unto me O my Nation for a Law shall proceed from me and I will make my Judgment to rest for a light of the People When may the Son of God be said to make his Judgment to rest I Answer when he engrafts his Word and causes it to joyn unite and close with the Stock of the Heart James 1.21 When the Seed is turned into a new and Divine Nature when in this Noble Effect of it it dwelleth and abideth in the Soul for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 When it is mixed with Faith Heb. 4.3 when it molds and fashions the Soul into a Conformity to God and a compliance with his Will then it may be said truly to rest and abide A Graft that is not implanted into the Stock a Stone that is not joyned to the Foundation may be spurned to and fro but when the Graft is united with the Stock and the Stone is laid into the Building then it hath rest None can give a Rest in this sense to to the Doctrine of the Gospel but the Son of God and how weak soever Instruments are yet he can produce mighty Effects when he speaks in them and by them * 2 Cor. 13.3 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklicks he ordains strength Psal 8.2 The Disciples of Christ were but as Babes and Sucklings they were not trained up in the Schools of Philosophers or Rhetoricians but were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 4.13 Men unlearned and ignorant in the Eyes of their Adversaries the word translated Ignorant is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideots and those by the Graecians are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideots that have a very low Talent of Reason a scanty measure of Understanding at utmost fitting them to manage their own Private Affairs and small Concerns but disabling them from being employed in any Great High and Publick Affairs How Observable is it then that the Son of God should choose and employ Men of such mean Parts in the most high weighty and important Matters of his Kingdom and accomplish such great and Noble things by them The Son of God did speak in them 2 Cor. 13.3 and work with them Mark 16.20 so that they proselyted a world of Enemies and discipled Barbarous Nations to the Faith of Christ They famished the Heathen Gods of the Earth Zeph. 2.11 They drew away their Worshippers and deprived them of their Sacrifices The Hands of these Husbandmen cultivated and manured a barren and horrid Wilderness and reduced it to be a Spiritual Paradise and Garden of God The word of the Cross signified by the Living Water that came out from the side of the Altar Ezek. 47.1 2. flowing out into the salt and dead Sea of the World did heal these brackish unpleasant and unwholsom Waters O how wonderful was the Son of God in this that a little stream of Doctrine concerning Christ crucified should heal and make fresh the Waters of the great Sea of this corrupt and degenerate World How strange and surprizing is this that such few and weak Hands should pull down Satan's Kingdom should build the Ruines of many Generations and wrest the Captives from the Srong and the Prey from the Mighty The Arrows that the Son of God did shoot by his Ministers did hit right pierce deep and cause sinners to fall under them 2. If we consider the Office the Son of God doth sustain and is invested with this fits him to Preach to a sinful and lost World He is styled a Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 If he had not undertaken to satisfie Justice and make Peace God would have kept silence as to any gracious or comfortable speaking to the World Had not he interposed between guilty Creatures and an angry God we could have heard nothing else from Heaven but denunciations of Vengeance threatnings of Punishment and messages of Death But now lively Oracles come from the Mercy-seat sprinkled with the Blood of the Mediator He that hath made a Testament and sealed it with his own Blood is fittest to open publish and declare it He that was intimate with God and acquainted with all his deep Designs and Bosom-Secrets was fittest to bring them forth and make them known to the World He that was to execute God's Purposes was meetest to reveal them God had Designs of Grace Counsels of Peace Purposes of Redemption and Salvation that were conceived in his Mind and formed in his Heart from Eternity But these could not step forth into execution but by the Interposition and Sufferings of Jesus Christ The pleasure of the Lord was to prosper in his hand Isa 53.10 And what his Hand was to accomplish his Mouth was to reveal He that satisfied Justice was fittest to discover Grace and Mercy The Lord Jesus is styled the High-Priest and Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 What he merited as an High-Priest that he is meetest to reveal and declare as an Apostle We may see infinite Wisdom in this He that makes Peace by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1.20 He speaks Peace Zech. 9.10 He preaches Peace Ephes 2.17 He that paid the Ransom Matth. 20.28 He preaches Deliverance to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61.1 He that was taken from Prison and Judgment himself Isa 53.8 He calls Prisoners to come forth Isa 49.9 He bids those that are in Darkness to shew themselves in the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Glorious Presence of God He that was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief he is the Consolation of Israel and comforts those that mourn Isa 53.3 with Isa 61.2 He that became the Father's Servant himself Isa 42.1 Proclaims the Acceptable Year of the Lord publishes a Spiritual Jubilee to us for the release of our Souls from the Servitude of Sin from the Bondage of Satan Man being fallen under the Wrath of God the Curse of the Law the Sentence of Death none but a Mediator that was made Sin and a Curse for us could bring us any good News could publish any glad Tidings that might be a Foundation for our Faith and Hope relieve and revive our fainting and sinking Souls He that is the Wisdom of God and knows all was fittest to be the Word of the Father to reveal all 2dly I shall now consider what it is that the Son of God Preaches 1. Jesus Christ Preaches the Doctrine of Faith and calls Men to believe it He Preaches good Tidings and that to the Poor Luke 4.18 The Law promises Life and publishes good Tidings only to those that are Rich in Habitual Righteousness and perfect Active Obedience But Jesus Christ Preaches good Tidings to those that are exceeding Poor to such as have no good dwelling in them Rom. 7.18 or good done by them Rom. 3.12 Compare those two Expressions Paul saith In me even in
not to the sinful and inordinate love of themselves It is mens Lust that is active in this Adultery the Creature is only Passive it groans under this Force put on it but cannot decline and avoid it the Creature is innocent but it is a Mans Unchast and Filthy Heart that is guilty For this Spiritual Whoredom men deserve to be cast into Gods Prison if God be broken by their whorish Heart Ezek 6.9 then surely they are worthy to be wounded and broken for it 2. Men are debtors to God every sin is a Debt Matt. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors we primarily owe to God a Debt of Love and Obedience but for default in the Payment of this Debt there arises another Debut we owe God Glory to be raised out of our Sufferings Eternal Misery and Torments all Creatures must bow to God and some way or other serve him Isa 45.32 Either as Vessels of Honour or as Vessels for Dishonour God must have glory either by his Mercy or our Misery it is but just that God should enter his Action against his Debtors that he should Sue Arrest and Imprison them If those that owe Mony to Men and do not pay it are cast into Prison much more those that owe Service and Obedience to God and not render it are to be thrown into an Eternal Prison 3. Sinners are now already in Prison they are called Prisoners Isa 24.6 Isa 49.9 they are Styled Captives Isa 61.1 they are said to be taken Captive by the Devil at his will and to be held in his Snare they are in the Bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 The Sins of Men do take them and their iniquities do hold them Prov. 5.22 we read that Paul and Silas were cast into the inner Prison Acts 16.24 This Expression of the Inner Prison implies the Prison was divided into two parts there was an outer and an inner Prison so I may distinguish God hath an outer and inner Prison his outer Prison is in this World his inner Prison is in Hell here sinners are in the outer Prison they are bound Isa 61.1 they are held Rom. 7.6 They are taken captive 2 Tim. 2 last They are shut up under sin Gal. 3.22 Loaden with Dead Works Heb. 9.14 Guilty before God Rom. 3.19 And Condemned John 3.18 He that believes not is Condemned already and if men stay and continue in the outer-Prison and Death finds them here how just is it that God should cast them into his inner Prison and shut them up and hold them there for ever 4. Jesus Christ himself when he was a surety for Sinners and stood in their room and stead was made a Prisoner was under a restraint and confinement Isa 53.8 It is said He was taken from Prison and Judgment Jesus Christ could not have been taken out of Prison if he had not first been in Prison But how was Jesus Christ in Prison I answer 1. The great sorrow that was in the amazing fear that was on Christs Spirit was as a Prison about his Soul Matt. 36.37 38. he was sorrowful and very heavy he said My Soul is sorrowful to the Death He was sore amaz'd Mark 14.33 taking a prospect of the dreadful storm that did hang over him the deep and bitter Cup reach'd out to him the vast Ocean of Sorrows and Sufferings that were before him yet he was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 This implies that he was under fear yet he was deliver'd from it that it did not sink him or overwhelm him 2. Jesus fell into the hands of his Enemies they seized on him led him him away to Annas and Caiaphas they held him under their power for several hours till they Condemned and Executed him John 18.12 13. the Captain and band of Soldiers took Christ bound him and led him away as a Prisoner 3. Jesus was buried he was laid in the dust and shut up as a captive of Death in the prison of the grave but such was the dignity of his person the value of his Blood the satisfactory nature of his Suffering that his Captivity was short his Imprisonment lasted but a little while yet this confinement and prison of Christ doth teach us what sinners deserve doth instruct us what they must expect if they are not washed from their Sins in Christs Blood and reconciled to God by his Death his Person being infinite and his Sufferings satisfactory his Prison could only be temporary and short but the nature of Sinners being Finite and their sufferings not able to expiate their sins their Prison must needs be Everlasting 5. God threatens sinners with this Prison and he must needs be just to himself and true to his word the Lightening of Gods Threatning is not without a Thunderbolt of Execution and Vengeance Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God God hath not only said it but also sworn it That he will never forget any of the deeds of impenitent Sinners Amos 8.7 the Lord hath Sworn by the Excellency of Jacob that is by himself that is Jacobs Excellency surely I will never forget any of their Works Tho men forget God and his Laws yet he will not forget their Crimes and Iniquities Gods Threatning must stand therefore sinners must fall into the Bottomless Pit Gods word must take hold of them Zack 1.5 6. therefore they will be cast into the Eternal Prison If we confirm not Gods Command by doing it Deut. 27. last God will confirm his threatning by executing it Dan. 9.12 6. The Spirits of Sinners departed out of the Body must be shut up in Gods Prison for God hath mighty Officers of Justice he hath powerful Bayliffs and Serjeants to Arrest to Seize on to carry away departing Souls Luke 12.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall require and demand thy Soul of thee they that shall require it will not be denied will not be rejected and sent empty away they will take hold of guilty Creatures drag them to the highest Tribunal and present them to the Sovereign Judg of Heaven and Earth good or bad Angels seize on dislodging and removing Souls I have been credible informed concerning a wicked man that I knew my self That when he was on the brink of the Pit and on the Borders of Eternity Something in the likeness of a Crow appeared in his Chamber and sate on the Testar of his Bed and could not be driven away till the sick man gave up the Ghost and then it suddenly Vanished away The Antient Rabbins have talked of the Angel of Death that did appear to Sick and Dying Men and was very Terrible to them by this Angel of Death they seem to mean some good or bad Angel sent to fetch the Soul to God's Tribunal to give its Account and to receive its final Sentence God doth not want Means or Messengers to attach and apprehend guilty Souls and to Conduct them into his Terrible and glorious
presence The 3d. thing I proposed to speak to was to shew you how dreadful this Prison is and that I shall open to you in these following particulars 1. This Prison is a very dark Prison the Scripture calls the darkness of it outer darkness Matt. 8.12 The Children of the Kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness so the unprofitable servant is sentenced to and sent into outer darkness Matt. 25.30 Sinners now are in darkness yea they are said to be darkness Ephes 5.8 but this expression points at the inward darkness of the minds of Sinners there is a Cataract on the Eye of the Soul a Veil on the Understanding but there is besides this inward darkness an outer darkness when sinners shall be removed at the greatest distance from God the Father of Lights James 1.17 They shall be eternally separated and cut off from the Communion with God In his light Saints shall see light Psal 36.9 In the light of his Countenance they shall see the light of Life but wicked men shall go to the generation of their ungodly Fathers they shall never see the Light Psal 49.9 The mist of darkness is their portion 2 Pet. 2.17 yea the blackness of Darkness is reserved for them as an eternal inheritance Judes Epist the 13th v. what Terrour is there in this expression The blackness of darkness Neither Creatures that Shine as a Candle to them nor God as a Sun shall arise on them Luke paints out the sadness of Pauls State and of those that were in the Ship with him Acts. 17.20 That no small Tempest laid on them and that neither the Sun nor the Stars for many days appeared to them Thus it shall be with the Damned in Hell a dreadful Tempest of the wrath of God will lye upon them and he will never appear as a Sun to chear them nor suffer Creatures as Stars to shine for their Comfort they will be shut out from Gods gracious presence and also shut up from the Creatures they shall neither have Beams from Heaven nor Lamps from Earth they shall leave all their Idols behind them in the world they shall loose all their sensual pleasures and delights God will give them no joy and Creatures will lend them no comfort therefore blackness of darkness must needs follow Thick darkness that might be felt was one of the plagues of Egypt Exod. 21.22 23. but this lasted but three days but here is Eternal Darkness 2. This prison is a strong prison there is no breaking out of it no Filing off the Chains of the Damned or Forcing open the doors the Judg himself by the arm of his own Omnisciency is the Keeper of this Prison the Eye of his Omnisciency still watches over the Prisoners that there is no flying or escaping God challengeth all creatures who shall deliver out of my hand Deut. 32.39 if he do tare in pieces and deliver up the body to the first and the Soul to the Second Death there will be none to rescue or deliver Ps 50.22 when God shuts up there is no opening Job 12.14 Tho there may be millions of Prisoners in Hell yet this Evidences their weakness and evinces Gods strength that this huge and vast multitude cannot wrest themselves ouâ— of the Hand of the Judg or break his Prison God that cast them thither will hold and secure them there 3. Gods Prison is a close Prison there will be no Addressing to Visiting or Releiving of his Prisoners Luke 16.26 consider what Abraham there speaks to Dives And besides all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they that would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence There is a great gulf that cannot be filled up or passed over and this gulf is Fixed it shall remain and continue for ever Gods Decree is Stable it cannot be changed revoked or repealed there is an unalterable an eternal separation between the blessed and the damned it is not to be thought that any of the Saints will pity the Damned will relent towards them or melt over them Saints that be perfected and even swallowed up in the Love of God they shall fully acquiess in his will and rejoyce that his Justice is Magnified and his Power Glorified in the Eternal Destruction of the Wicked but Abraham makes only a supposition if any such thing were possible if Saints could sympathise with the Damned if their Bowels did yearn towards them if they were willing to relieve them or to carry over any supplies to them if they did endeavour to case their Pains or mitigate their Torments all such desires would be in vain all such endeavours would be frustrated and inefiectual they could not get to the Damned their Kindness could not reach them or affect them all Communicatition with them is obstructed all passages are shut up these tormented Creatures are inaccessible Saints can carry no water to cool their Tongues can bring them no Cordials to revive their Souls the Damned cannot come forth nor others come in to them to succour or ease them 4. It is an Eternal Prison there will be no Goal-delivery no dismission or releasing of these Prisoners We read in Isa 24 21.22 of some that should be gathered together and shut up in Prisons but after many days they should be Visited Piscator understands this of Kings and Princes that should be Conquered by the King of Babylon and held in Bondage for many years but these oppressed men should at last be Visited and releived by the gracious Kingdom of Jeâ—â—s Christ that should give liberty to their Souls freedom to their Consciences But those that God apprehends and shuts up in his Prison shall never be visited and recover their Liberty Jeremiah was by the Fury of his Adversaries cast into a deep and miery Dungeon but God rais'd him up Friends Ebed-melech and others did let down Cords into his Dungeon drew him up and saved his life Jer. 38.10 11 12 13. But no Beam of Hope shall shine no Cord of a Promise shall be let down to the Damned to draw them up out of their Dungeon It was an Act of Oppression Cruelty and Tyranny in the King of Babylon that he opened not the House of his Prisoners Isaiah 14.17 but this is an Act of Pure and High Justice in God that he will never open the House of his Prisoners they that sinned without Dread of his Justice shall suffer without Relief from his Mercy There is now a Wall of Partition between God and sinners in this Life but this may possibly be broken down but there is a Gulf fixed in Hell that can never be passed over This is dreadful to consider that God executes sinners and yet they continue his Prisoners to feel more Wrath and suffer more Vengeance the guilt of sin still cleaves to them and the wrath of God will still abide on them John 9. last John 3. last sin is