tremble they have both faith and feare whereas thou hast neither feare nor faith If you be Christians there is an hell in your Creed if there be an hell How dare you teare Heaven with your blaâ—phemies and bandie the dreadfull Name of God in your impure mouthes by your bloody oâ—thes and execrations How dare you exâ—rcise your saucy wits in prophane sâ—offes at religion and disgrace that blood whereof hereafter you would give a thousand worlds for one drop It is no light or sleight offence to contemne the brethren of the Son of God but thou fightest against the very graces of Gods Spirit where-ever they appeare and notwithstanding thou didst vow in thy baptisme to fight under Christs banner against the world the flâ—sh and the Devill and to continue his faithâ—ull souldier and servant unto thy lives end as good reason since he laid downe his life to redeeme thee and hath ever since protected and provided for thee for a very Dog will fight for his master that feeds him thou contrarily takest part with the world the flesh and the Devill his mortall enemies and takest up armes to fight against Christ. Againe if there be an hell and but a tithe of them Christians who call themselves so what meanes our grinding of faces like edged tooles and our spilling of blood like water What meanes our racking of rents our detention of wages our incredible cruelty to servants our inclosing of Commons ingrossing of commodities our griping exactions with streining the advantages of greatnesse our inequall levies of legal payments our spightfull suites griping usury our bouzing and quaffing our bribery perjury partiallity our sacriledge simonaicall contracts and soule-murther our scurrâ— prophanesse cousoning in bargaines breaking of promises perfidious underminings pride luxury wantonnesse contempt of Gods Messengers neglect of his Ordinances violation of his dayes c When if the Word of God be true we need no other ground of our last and heaviest doom than ye have not given ye have not visited c. Mat. 25.41 to 46 Certainely if the tythe of us be Christians which call our selvrs so there are abundance of Christians in hell For what eyes can but runne over to see for the most part what lives men leade There was a woman much spoken of in some parts of this Land that lived in a professed doubt of the Dâ—ity yea even after Illumination and Repentance she could hardly be comforted she often protested that the vicious and offencive life of a great learned man in the Towne where she dwelt did occasion those damned doubts in her minde And we reade that Linacre reading upon the New Testament the fifâ—h sixth and seaventh Chapters of Saint Matthews Gospell and comparing those rules with Christians lives hee threw downe the booke and burst forth into this protestation Either this is not God's Gospell or we are not Christians Let any man looke upon the lives of most men and then say whether the argument be not without all exceptions Or let any compare Christians that live now under Christian Governours with those that lived formerly under Heathan Persecutors and it will force them to confesse the same Athenagoras told the Emperor in the Primitive times that there was not one of the Christians evill manured unlesse it were such as dissembled themselves Christians for some by and sinister ends And Tertullian saith of the Christians in his time non aliunde noscibiles quam de emendatione vitiorum And Chrisostome speaketh of many in his daies whose lives were angelicall they so walked up to their principles It is the abstract of Religion to imitate him whom we worship neither are we worthy to be called Christians except wee be like him in workes Wee are not like Christ except we doe whatsoever God commands and suffer whatsoever he inflicts Now we are naught at doing but when it comes to suffering we are gone it is the happinesse of these cold times that wee are not put to the hot fire for tryall of our faith and love if the Wheele should turne which the mercy of God forbid how many would turne from Christ rather than burne for him Alasse the greatest number are like Orbilius the Grammarian who not onely forgot the Letters of his Book but even his own name for they not only forget what is written in Christ's Gospell but they forget also that they are Christians can be of any religioÌ„ for a need which shewes their hearts are truely of none True Gods seede is sowne but the Devills fruit comes up and like the Iewes we bring Christ Vinegar when he thirsts for Wine But what a shame What a prodigy is this We are bound to praise GOD above any Nation whatsoever for what Nation under Heaven inâ—oyes so much light or so many blessings as we above any creature for all the creatures were ordained for our sakes and yet Heaven Earth and Sea all the Elements all the Creatures obey the Word of God onely men for whom they were all made ingratefully rebell against it The which as it mightily aggravates our unthankfulnesse so when time comes it will gall our Consciences to death Yea when we shall consider that Christ hath removed so many evils from us and conferred so many good things upon us that they are beyond thought or imagination and that our recompence of his love hath been onely to do that which he hates and hate those whom he loves it will make us speechlesse like him in the Gospel who wanted his wedding Garment as neither expecting mercy nor daring to aske it for know this that thy own Conscience will once sting thee like an Adder to thinke what Christ hath given and what he would have forgiven thee if thou would'st but have repented to thinke how often thou hast been invited to Heaven how easily thou mightest have escaped Hell how often Christ by his Embassadours offered thee remission of sinnes and the Kingdom of Heaven freely if thou wouldest but believe and repent and how easily thou mightest have obtained mercy in those dayes how near thou wast many times to have repented and yet didst suffer the Devil and the World to keep thee still impenitent and how the day of mercy is then past and will never dawn again For the same Devil that now shuts your eyes and labours to keep you blinde during the presumption of your Life will open them in the desperation that shall wait on you at death or in Hell as it fared with the rich man who when he was in Hell lift up his eyes to Heaven but never before Luke 16.23 Those scorching flames opened them to purpose sinne shuts up mens eyes but punishment opens them Satan seldome lets us see our folly till we be plunged into some deep extremity but then he writes it in capital Letters and pines it on our foreheads like one riding to the Pillory especially on our death-beds hee shewes us all our sinnes in
eye-sore of our enemies and let envy looke herselfe blinde And so much of the first Cause SECT 59. Quest. WHat is the second Cause why ungodly men hate and persecute the religious Answ. Their ignorance of God of Christ and the Scriptures Quest. How is that proved Answ. By Testimonies Examples Reason and our own Experience 1. First by Testimonies They shall hate and persecute you yea they shall excommunicate and kill you for my Names sake saith our Saviour to his Disciples because they have not knowne the Father nor me John 16.2 3. and 15.21 And again they are an offence unto us because they understand not the things which are of God but the things which are of men Matth. 16.23 And are deceived because they know not the Scriptures neither the power of God Matth. 22.29 Luke 19.42 2. Secondly by Examples and Reason This the Apostle confesseth to have been the cause of his persecuting the Church 1 Tim. 1.13 Who so soon as he was inlightned with the saving knowledge of the truth changed his note with his name and preached that faith which before be persecuted It s worth the noting how he was no sooner informed but he was reformed Now if we looke upon him as Saul wee shall see what we are by generation if wee looke upon him as Paul we shall see what we are or should be by regeneration Neither is it strange that the world through ignorance should hate and persecute the members of Christ for upon the same ground they even crucified Christ himselfe Father forgive them saith he of his murtherers for they know not what they doe And why have the Kings of the earth in all ages banded themselves together against the Lord and against his Christ Psal. 22. But because they knew him not John 15.21 For if the Princes of this world had knowne they would not have crucified the Lord of glory as the holy Ghost speakes 1 Cor. 2.8 Alas poore ignorant soules they did but imitate Oedipus who killed his Father Laius King of Thebes and thought he had killed his enemy And what do the Cavaliers now in killing the Saints But as if one with his Hatchet should cut off the bough of a tree upon which hee standeth For they are beholding to the Religious for their very breath Neither is their great plot any other peece of policy then as if the Sodomites should make hast to turne out Lot and his Family that fire and brimstone may make hast to destroy them For as when Noah and his Family were once entred the Arke the Flood came and destroyed the first World Gen. 7.11 13. So the number of Christs Church being accomplished fire shal come down to destroy the second World at which time the Devill and all Reprobates shall be laid up in hell Oh the wickednesse and witlesnesse of our Malignants Methinkes the Parliament may justly twit their unnaturall Country as Themistocles once did his Athenians with these words Are yee weary of receiving so many benifits by one Assembly And certaynly if ever it shal be dissolved without their consent which God forbid it would faire with the causers of it mens eyes being opened as it did with the Authors of Socrates his death which I finde thus reported After that Socrates was put to death at Athens Arastophones rehearsed a Tragedy of his concerning Palamides at the hearing whereof the people were so moved that they presently fel upon the Authors of Socrates his death and drew them forth to punishment But to return to what we intend If we consider it rightly we shall find that ignorance is the cause of all sin Sin indeed at the first was the cause of ignorance but now ignorance is the cause of sin Swearing and lying and killing and stealing and whoring abound saith the Prophet because there is no knowledge of God in the land Hos. 4.1.2 It is a people that doe erre in their hearts saith God why because they have not knowne my wayes Psal. 95.10 SECT 60. 3 THirdly Experience proves that none are so farre transported with a mad and supertitious zeale against the religious as the rude rabble who can yeeld no other reason or confession of their faith if they be asked then this that they are no Puritans or that they hate a Puritan from their soules when as the devill himself who hates the Puritan they mean most of any can make as good a confession of his faith as this For who are the greatest censurers and the violentest opposers of goodnesse are not the ignorant fry who have more rage than reason and the more fottish still the more insolent As reprove one of them for swearing or drunkennesse or unjust dealing or for prophaning the Lords day for Atheisme and the like you are sure to be branded with the odious title of Puritane yea you are factious and schismaticall if ye will not be drunke and every whit as lewd as they are It is worth a large smile to observe what a clamour the blundering rabble will make against the people of God if one in their company but mention the word Puritane or tell them how scrupulous and precise such an one is O what a number of sharp and deadly arrows will each of them shoot both at the good and goodnesse maugre all admonition For each being stung with the Gad-slie of mis-governed zeale as Paul was before hee knew Christ they presume to affirm with incredible impudence accompanied with invincible ignorance that there are not worse men in the world then the religious Wherein it is hard to say whether ignorance or malice doe more abound whether it be more out of the strength of will or weaknesse of judgement It is the nature of ignorant and carnall men that walke after the flesh in the lusts of uncleannesse whom Saint Peter calls bruit beasts led with sensuality to speake evill of the things they understand not 2 Pet. 2.12 Especially in judging acts of zeale and piety their opinion still lights upon the worst sense like them in the sâ—cond of the Acts who mocked the Apostles when they were filled with the holy Ghost and hearing them speak languages which they understood not cried out These men are drunke with new wine Untill we be borne againe we are like Nicodemus who knew not what it was to be born again Iohn 3.4 Untill we become zealous our selves wee are like Festus who thought zeal madnesse Acts 26.24 Untill we be humble our selves we are like Michal who mocked David for his humility and thought him a foole for dancing before the Arke 2 Sam. 6.16 Yea to such as shall perish or are for the present in a perishing condition all religion seemes foolishnesse 1 Cor 1.18 And thus you see in grosse that Ignorance is a main cause of hatred and persecution Wee shall more clearly discerne how it comes to be so if we note The Root Ignorance The Stem Suspition or
out that sore judgement seven months and brought upon their god Dagon and the whole Countrey a very great destruction and perceived that all which were guilty of keeping and prophaning the Arke suffered in the judgement and onely they at last could bring forth this conclusion Peradventure it is God's hand that smote us yet it may bee it is but a chance that hath hapened unto us Ver. 9. Wherein it is evident they did half beleeve and no more Their consciences told their hearts there was a powerfull God to revenge the prophaning of his Arke but their hearts were very loth to give assent thereunto and so fares it with these when they wrong and persecute his Children Or they may be likened to those untoward Israelites Exod. 16. Who did in part beleeve God when hee told them If they reserved of the Manna untill morning it should stinke and that if they went to gather it on the Sabbath they should finde none who would have thought it foule scorne if one should have told them they beleeved no such thing for all they had seene so many Miracles yet t is apparent they did but halfe beleeve him for what else made them try whether hee spake true or no after they were flatly forbidden ver 20. or Lastly they are like the unbeleeving Iewes who considering the Oracles that CHRIST spake and the Miracles which he wrought were forced to testifie both these of him for all they hated him never man spake as this man doth and We never saw it on this fashion yet this have yee seen and beleeve not saith our SAVIOUR Iohn 6. 36. They saw they heard they wondered they were convinced yet they beleeved not therfore their own eyes in seeing their own eares in hearing their own hearts in wondring their own convicted reasons shall but witnesse against their unbeleefe Ioh. 16.9 And indeed if they did not in some part beleeve a Judgement to come they should be worse than the very Devills themselves there is no Hell Quis Daemonum hoc asseret What Devill will so affirme They know it and feele it Why say the Legion to Christ art thou come to torment us before the time Matth. 8.29 And shall not men tremble to deny what the Devils confesse sayes Chrysostome Wherefore beleeve it peremptorily â— ye fooles mad men yea believe it avoid it by beleeving to purpose ye shall avoyd it otherwise if ye will give more credit to your deceitful hearts than to what the Word speaks as Eve beleeved the word of the Serpent Adam the word of Eve both before the Word of God God will leave you to be confuted by fire brimston if you wil not beleive what is written you shall feele what is written SECT 70. Ob. BUT here it will be objected That the wickedest man that lives presumes upon Gods mercy in Christ and thinkes he shall be saved as well as the â—heife upon the Crosse yea hee will prove by Scripture that at what time soever hâ— repents his sinnes shall be pardoned Ezech. 18.21 22. Yea there is scarce a man on earth but hee thinkes to goe to Heaven Answ. True the flesh prophesies prosperity to sin yea life and salvation as the Pope promised the Powder Traytors â—nd to this the Devill sets his sâ—ale wheâ—â—upon while prosperity lasteth they can turne the grace of God into wantâ—nâ—esse and even apply Christ's Passion as a warrant for their licenciousnesse and take his death as a licence to sin his Crosse as a Letters Pattent to doe mischeife Yea the Devill and sinne so infatuates and besots them that they thinke to have part in that merit which in every paâ—t they have so abused to be purged by that blood which now they take al occasions to disgrace to be saved by the same wounds which they swear by and so often swear away to have Christ an Advocate for them in the next life when they are Advocates against Christ in this and that Heaven will meet them at their last hour when all their life long they have galloped in the beaten road toward Hell The Devil makes large promises and perswades his they shall have what they desire yet ever disappoints them of their hopes as he did our first Parents Diabolus mentitur ut fallet vitam pollicetur ut perimat saith Saint Cyprian But all one their carnall hearts shall be flint unto God wax to the Devil who blowes this presumption into them whereby they believe the promises let go the threatnings You shall die saith God is heard but You shall not die saith the Devil is believed as it fared with Eve when she eat the forbidden fruit Yea they believe the promises that they shall have them but they believe not the precepts to do them nor the threatnings that they shall suffer them for their not believing and disobedience which shewes that they truly believe neither Yea this makes it plain that either they believe there is no God at all or else that God is not just and true nor speakes as he meanes in his word which is worse or if they do believe that he is a just and true God they believe also that they shall be punished as he threatens for their provoking of him and they provoke him that they may be punished which is worst of all So that take them in the best sense they are but like David's fool which saith in his heart there is no God and lives thereafter which is never a whit strange for it is usuall with them to thinke there is no God for whom it would make that there were none what we would have to be we are apt to believe I confesse it is hard for men to believe their own unbelief in this case they that be most dangerously sicke are least sensible of their own sicknesse much more hard to make them confesse it for he whose heart speakes Atheisme will confesse with his tongue that he believes there is a God and that he is just and true and that every tittle of his Word is equally â—rue which being granted this must necessarily follow that God will as well punish the disobedient as reward the obedient which in another fit they are apt enough yea too forward to believe For it is Satan's method first to make men so senselesse as not to feel their sinnes at all and then so desperate that they feel them too much in the first fit men live as if there were no Hell in the last they die as if there were no Heaven for wicked men are altogether in extremes at first they make question whether this or that be a sin at last they apprehend it such a sin that they make question whether it can be forgiven either God is so mercifull that they may live how they list or so just that he will not pardon them upon their repentance SECT 71. BUt to prevent after claps let this point
as the chiefe Iewes told Paul in his time Acts 28.22 And that so soone as men become religious and conscionable they are made a by-word of the people Iob 17.6 A song of the drunkards Psal. 69.12 And generally hated of all Math. 10.22 Answer Know yee not saith St. Iames that the Amity of the World is the Enmity of God And that whosoever will be a friend of the World maketh himâ—elfe the enemy of God James 4.4 A wicked man saith Solomon is abomination to the just and be that is upright in his way is abomination to the wicked Pro. 29.27 There is a naturall Enmity and a spirituall Antipathy betweene the men of the World and the Children of God whence it is that the holy Ghost who can give most congruous Names to Natures useth in the Scripture Gods Dictionary not only to call wicked men Adders Alpes Cockatrices Serpents Dragons Lyons Tygers c. Psal. 10.9 74.13 80.13 140.3 Esay 14.29 Dan. 7. Zeph. 3. Math. 23.33 which are the mortallest Enemies to mankind that live but most frequently Wolves and the godly Sheep Behold saith our Saviour to his Apostles I send you forth as sheep in the midst of Wolves Mat. 10.16 between whom there is a strange contrariety and antipathy living and dead as both Naturalists and Lutinists observe It is an everlasting rule of the Apostles He that is borne after the Flesh will persecute him that is borne after the Spirit Gal. 4.29 not because he is evill but because hee is so much better then himselfe 1. Iohn 3.12 because his life is not like other mens his wayes are of another fashion Wis. 2.15 for therefore speak they evill of you because yee will no longer run with them to the same excess of ryot 1. Pet. 4.4 SECT 2. Quest. BVt are not many discouraged and others beaten off from being Religious through the daily scoffes and reproaches which in every place the Godly meet withall for refusing to do as others do with whom they are conversant Answ. Yea millions there being no such rub in the way to Heaven as that generall contempt which the Devill and the World have cast upon Religion and the practisers of Piety which makes our Saviour pronounce that man blessed that is not offended in him Math. 11.6 For hereby it is growne to that that men feare nothing more then to have a name that they feare God and are more ashamed to be holy then prophane because holiness is worse intreated then prophaneness with Peter we are apt to deny our Religion when we come in company with Christs Enemies and with David to dissemble our Faith when we are amongst Philistims Like those white-livered Rulers Iohn 12.42 who loved the praise of men more than the praise of God we choose to conceale our knowledge of and love to Christ lest we should be mockt have so many frownes and frumps and censures and scoffes be branded with that odious and stigmaticall name of an Hypocrite c. True with Nicodemus we owe God some good will but we dare not shew it because of this we would please him yet so as we might not displease others nor our selves Like the young man in the Gospell we will follow Christ so Christ propound no other conditions then what we like of but what will be the issue our Saviour saith expresly That he will be ashamed of such at the latter day who are now ashamed for his sake to beare a few scoffes and reproaches from the World Mark 8.38 A sad saying for all such which considered seriously would alter the case with many as it fared with Vstbazanes an old Noble man and a Christian that had been Sapores the King of Persias Governour in his minority Who when Sapores raised a great persecution against the Christians was so terrified that he left off the profession But sitting at the Court Gate when Simion an aged holy Bishop was led to Prison and rising up to salute him the good Bishop frowned upon him and turned away his face with indignation as being loth to look upon a man that had denied the faith whereupon Vsthazanes fell a weeping went into his Chamber put of his Courtly Garments and brake out into these words Ah! how shall I apeare before God and my Saviour whom I have denied when Simion a man will not indure to look upon me If he frown how will God behold me when I come before his Tribunall c. For this Phisick so wrought with him that he recovered not only health but such spirituall strength that he went boldly to the King profest himselfe a Christian and dyed a Martyr gloriously SECT 3. BVt secondly it so forestaleth such as are without with Prejudice against goodness and circumspect walking that they resolve never to be Religious so long as they live As how many not only stumble at Christ the living and chief corner stone elect of God and precious but quite fall as at a Rock of offence yea â—tterly disallow of the things that are excellent only through the contempt which is cast upon Religion 1 Pet. 2.7.8 What such mens thoughts are we may heare from the damned in Hell We fooles thought their lives madness c. Wisd. 5.3.4 And experience shewes that they will hate a man to the death though he have nothing to condemne him but his being holy Yea where Satan hath once set this his porter of Prejudice though Christ himselfe were on earth that soule would stumble and be offended at his very best actions as we see in the Scribes and Pharisees who made an evill construction of whatsoever he did or spake For when he wrought Miracles he was a Sorcerer When he cast out Devils it was by the power of Devils When he reproved sinners he was a seducer When he received sinners he was their favourer When he healed the sick he was a breaker of the Sabbath c. Iohn 8. Nor can the highest eloquence of the best Preacher ever reclaime such For first words are vagabonds where the admonâ—shed hath an evill opinion of the Admonisher Secondly they are resolved against yeelding Thirdly let them be convinc't by strength of argument the thought of those things presently passes away like the sound of a Bell that is rung O this is a difficult Devill to be cast out even like that which we read of Math. 17.16 For as all the Disciples could not cast out that Devill no more can all the Preachers this for the Cure of prejudice alone in one man is more then to cure the seaven deadly sins as the Papists tearme them in another Nay if I may speak it with reverence what meanes can God use that shall be able to convert such an one The nine plagues shall not prevaile with Pharaoh the graves opening the dead arising the vayle of the Temple renting the light of the Sun fayling the Centurion confessing c. will do no good upon the
persecutions as from God afflictions And well may hee work good by evill Instruments when every Prince or Magistrate hath the feat to make profitable Instruments aswell of evill persons as of good And each Physitian can make poyson medicinable SECT 10. Q. This rub being removed and the passage made cleere proceed in the wayes of your Text and shew me the time of this Enmity Ans. First I will make a distinction and then give the Answer The circumstance of time is twofold the time when it was proclaimed And the time that it is to continue 1. If wee consider the time when it was first proclaimed It was immediatly after the fall when Adam had newly sinned not long after the Creation even when time it self was not a week old as is probably conjectured by the learned 2. If we consider the time that this Enmity is to continue it is either generall or particular The generall time is here set downe in the Text indefinitly I will put Enmity between â—hee and the Woman and between they seed and her seed which being without limitation is to be understood largely and so signifies that it is perpetuall without end from the beginning of time to the end of all time when time saith one began this malice first began nor will it end but with the latest Man It is an everlasting Act of Parliament like a Statute in Magna Charta 3 If we consider the time more strictly then it signifies in the Subject possest of it the whole time of a wicked mans life or if in time he becomes the Womans seed by a new birth then it signifies that part of his life which went before Regeneration But in the Object of it for the whole time of a godly mans spirituall life after he is become the Womans seed even from the morning of his new birth to the evening of his departure hence without intermission which makes the Psalmist cry out for thy sake are we killed all the day long Psal. 44.22 Quest. What way wee gleane from hence Answ. Some comfort in that this War shall once have an end The Israellites shall not alwayes live under the Tyranny of Pharaoh or travells of the Wildernesse Nor the seed of the Woman alwayes under this heavy yoak of affliction and persecution for Death shall free us from our sorrowes aswell as from our sinnes yea as this is their time to persecute ours to suffer so their time will come to suffer ours to triumph let me rather feele their mallice then be wrapt up in their vengeance SECT II. Quest. WHat is their manner of venting this Enmity Answ. Sathan the Prince of Darknes and his adherents the wicked world do war against Christ and his Members two wayes by Persecutions and by Perswasions under which two Generalls are comprised divers and sundry particulars which I shall severally speak of when I come to the Properties of this Enmity In the meane time we are to take notice that all Sathans businesse was and is at and ever since the fall of Adam to slay Souleâ— 1 Peter 5.8 Iob. 1.7 Neither doth he want Instruments in all places to further and promote this his designe Quest. Now a word of the place where Answ. The circumstance of place is threefold 1. If we consider the place strictly in respect of the Subject in whom it resides then it is principally the heart of Man unsanctified 2. If we consider the place where it was proclaimed then it is Paradise or the Garden of Eden as verse 23. shewes 3. But if wee consider the place where they exercise this Enmity then it is the place of this miserable world where the Church is Militant indeed Revel 12.7 It is said there was warre in Heaven Michael and his Angells fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angells But this cannot fitly be construed of Heaven in Heaven but of Heaven on Earth For in Heaven the Church is triumphant and the Devill in the beginning was cast out of that Heaven 2. Peter 2.4 And there is no Warfare but all wellfare no Jarr but love and peace yea such a peace as passeth all understanding So that by Heaven there is meant the Church of God on Earth called in holy Scripture Heaven and holy Ierusalem above for that her chiefe treasure is in Heaven Math. 6.20 her affections in Heaven Colos. 3.2 her Conversation in Heaven Phil. 3.20 and for that the Lord of Heaven dwells in her heart by faith Ephes. 3.17 SECT 12. Quest. WHat is promised shall be the issue or effect of it and who shall get the victory Answ. The issue or effect is declared in these words He shall bruise thine head and thou shalt bruise his heele The meaning whereof is this 1. By bruising of the head is meant Sathans overthrow and finall Ruine and distruction by Christ in respect of his Power Dominion and Workes Iohn 12.31 and 1. Iohn 3.8 to which purpose the words of the Apostle are very significant Hee also himselfe tooke part of our flesh and blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divell Heb. 2.14 And he being overcome his seed are overcome and perish with him Revel 12.9 Iohn 14.13.30 and 12 31.32 And this is the first promise of grace and life made to Eve and all mankind now dead in sin and enemies to God Collos. 2.13 and 1.21 Neither is it only meant of Christ in his owne person but it implyes that all his Members by resisting the Devill stedfastly through faith in him shall have victory also 1 Corinth 15.57 given them by the God of peace who shall bruise Sathan under our feet shortly as the Apostle speaketh plainely Rom. 16.20 Faith in the Lamb shall put this roaring Lyon to flight They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb Reve. 12.11 Secondly by his heele bruising is meant 1. First Christs holy wayes which Sathan should by all means either of Temptations or Persecutions seek to suppresse 2. And secondly his humane Nature which Sathan should afflict all manner of wayes untill he brought upon him That Shamefull Death of the Crosse Gaâ— 3.13 That Painefull and Death of the Crosse Gaâ— 3.13 That Cursed Death of the Crosse Gaâ— 3.13 For then his heele was bruised when his Body was crucified And it was no more then the bruising of his heele his divine Nature being impassible and untouched where note that it was the politick malice of the Devill and the World that aymed by the death of the Generall to disband the Army So long as Christ lived on earth we read of no persecution against his Disciples Math. 9.15 But let him be once removed and then there is havock made of the Church Stephen is stoned Peter crucified Paul beheaded some strangled some burned some broyled some brained all but only St. Iohn murthered And Thirdly it is meant that all who beleeved in
but in the Iewes Gods owâ—e people who first moved those persecutions against Christ and his Members that having beheaded Iohn Baptist his Harbinger and crucified himselfe the Lord of life we read that of all the Twelve none dyed a naturall death save onely Saint Iohn and he also was banished by Domitian to Pathmos and at another time thrust into a Tun of seething Oyle at Rome as Tertullian and Saint Hierom do report See Acts 7.51 to 60. 12.1 to 5. Rom. 8.36 Iohn 21.18.19 Now all these besides many other of his Disciples suffered martyrdome meerely for professing the faith of Christ whereof some were stoned some crucified some beheaded some thrust thorow with Speares some burnt with fire with a multitude of other Beleevers for Ecclesiasticall History makes mention of two thousand which suffered the same day with Nicanor Acts and Monuments page 32. which makes Saint Paul cry out I think that God hath set forth us the last Apostles as men appointed to death 1 Corinth 4.9 SECT 18. 5. AFter the Apostles if we consider the residue of the ten Persecutions raysed by the Romans against the Christians which was for three hundred yeares till the comming of godly Constantine we find that under Dioclesian seaventeen thousand Christians were slaine in one month amongst whom also was Serena the Emperesse yea under him and nine other Emperors there was such an innumerable company of innocent Christians put to death and tormented that St. Hierome in his Epistle to Chromatius and Heliodorus saith There is no one day in the whole yeare unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs might not be ascribed except only the first day of Ianuary who were put to the most exquisite deaths and torments that ever the wit or malice of men or Devils could invent to inflict we read of no lesse then twenty nine severall deaths that they were put unto if no other be omitted SECT 19. 6 FRom the primitive times and infancy of the Church hitherto the Turk and the Pope have acted their parts in shedding the blood of the Saints as well as the Iewes and Roman Emperours touching which for brevities sake I referre you to the Book of Acts and Monuments Yet because a tast may please some I will insert what the Holy Ghost hath foretold in the Revelation touching the Pope who calls himselfe Christs Vicar and supreme Head of the Church the Angell speaking of the Whore of Babylon saith Shee was drunk with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus Revell 17.6 Which in part was fulfilled in England under the raigne of Queene Mary when in one yeare a hundred seventy six persons of good quality were burnt for Religion with many of the Common sort and in France for before these late bloody Massacres there were more then two hundred thousand which suffered Martyrdome about Transubstantiation For the chiefe persecutors of Christ and his followers are not Atheists or Turks or Iewes but such as hold great place in the Church Antichristians and Pseudochristians which makes our Saviour say they shall excommunicate you that is they shall blot out your names from among Gods people or cast you out from the visible outward communion of the Saints And indeed vertue hath ever suffered most from those which should and seeme to uphold her and instruders upon other mens right can indure any man how bad soever rather to live by them then the servants of him whom they intrude upon as you may see Mat. 21.33 to 39. where those Farmers of the Vineyard killed the servants who came to receive their Masters rent they did not kill the Theeves and Robbers and spoylers of the Vineyard but the servants yea and the Son too and the end of all was that they might take the inheritance Yea the godly have ever suffered most from such as professe the same Faith and Religion with them It hath been the complaint almost of all the Faâ—â—ers and Saints of God which have written that the faithfull in their several times were hated traduced calumniated slandered reproached accused persecuted and condemneâ— of such as professe the same Religion with them â—hough under oâ—her pretences yet only fo their auâ—ier and holy lives that they stucke close to the truth made conscience of their wayes and would not rush so boldly into sin as others Ecclesiasticall History lib. 6. Chap. 4.5.16 SECT 20. 7 TO come unto these present times wherein wee live Is the World mended with age Yea I would to God we did not find that as it is in the little world the older it grows the more diseased so in the great world the older the more vicious that the consummation of times and sins were not met together upon us But as commonly in a diseased body all the humours fall down into the Legs or feet and make an Issue there so the corruption of all ages hath sliden downe into this of ours as into the feete Many saith the Apostle walke that are enemies to the Crosse of Christ Phil. 3.18 If many in Saint Paules time more now for Satan who was then bound is now loosed again out of his prison and hath great wrath because he knows he hath but a short time Revel 12.12 To speake onely of the entertainment which piety finds among such as would be counted not only Christians but Protestants which principally I intend Is it possible for a man to live a conscionable and unreprovable life abstaine from drunkennesse swearing prophaning the Lords day separate himselfe from evill yea wicked company be zealous for the glory of God c. Without being traduced calumlumniated hated slandered and persecuted for the same No it is not possible for if our righteousnesse doe but exceed the righteousnesse of a swearer or a drunkard we are sure to be persecuted for our righteousnesse as Abel was persecuted of Caine because his Sacrifice was better than his If a man walk with God he is too precise if he will be more than almost a Christian he is curious phantastical factious and shall be mocked with the Spirit as if the spirit of God were a spirit of dishonour and shame How common a thing is it to wound all holinesse under the name of Puritan a name so full of the Serpents enmity as the egge of a Cockatrice is full of poyson What should I say The world is growne so much knave that 't is now a vice to be honest O the deplorable condition of these times Even the Devill himself durst not have been so impudent as to have scoft at holinesse in those ancient and purer times but now I could even sinke downe with shame to see Christianity every where so discountenanced our very names come into few mouths out of which they returne but with reproaches Amongst the rest of our sins O God be mercifull to the contempt of thy Servants True blessed be God and good laws we
as the precisest and so did those Iews Iohn 5. which persecuted Iesus and sought to slay him thinke they beleeved Moses writings but it is plain they did not by Christ's answer to them who knew their hearts better than themselves his words are Had ye beleeved Moses yee would have beleeved me for he wrote of me but if yee beleeve not his writings how should ye beleeve my words ver 46 47 And againe Ye have not my Fathers Word abiding in you for whom he hath sent him yee beleeve not Ver. 38 39. So bring these that persecute any of Gods Children for well doing to the tryal and their owne consciences shall testifie before God that they neither beleeve the Old Testament nor the New For did they beleeve that the godly are unto God as the Signet upon his right hand Jer. 22.24 Zach. 2.24 Yea as the Apple of his owne eye Zach. 2.8 and that whatsoever wrongs and contumelies are done to his Children he accounts as done to himselfe Psalm 44.22 and 69.7 and 74.4 10 18 22 23 and 83.2 5 6 and 89 50 51 and 139 20. Prov. 19.3 Rom. 1.30 and 9.20 Matth. 10.22 and 25.45 Luk. 21.17 1 Sam. 17.45 Esay 37.4.22 23.28 and 45.9 and 54 17. Act. 5.39 and 9.4 5. Iob 9.4 1 Thess 4.8 Iohn 15.18 20 21 23 24 25. Num. 16.11 1 Sam. 8.7 They durst not hate revile slander deride nicke-name and persecute them as they doe More particularly did they really and indeed beleive God when he saith in his word that whosoever shal offend one of those little ones that beleeve in him it were better for him rather that a Milston were hung about his neck that he wer cast into the sea Marke 9 42. That he will destroy them for ever and roote them out of the Land of the living whose tongues imagine mischeife and are like a sharpe Razer that cutteth deceitfully loving to speake evill more than good Psalm 52.2 to 5. That hee will confound such as persecute his Children and destroy them with a double destruction Jer. 17.18 Yea that he will render unto their enemies seaven fold into their bosome their reproach wherewith they have reproached the Lord Psalm 79.12 In fine that he will rayne upon them snares of five and brimston with storms and tempests Psal. 11.6 and after all cast them into a furnace of fire where shall be wailing and guashing of teeth for evermore when the just whom they now dispise shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father They durst not doe as they doe to the godly Yea if they did beleeve but that one place 2 Kings 2.24 Where God caused two and forty little Children to be devoured of wild Beares onely for nick-naming Elisha they durst not nick-name the religious as they doe Indeed God doth not alwaies nor often so eminently punish Persecutors in this life as here it fared with these children or as it did with Lucian who for barking against religion like a dog was by the just judgement of God devoured of dogges Or as it did with Nightiâ—gall parson of Crondall in Kent who was strook dead in the Pulpit while he was belching out his spleen against Religion and Goodnesse Or as it did with Stephen Gardiner who would not sit downe to dinner till the newes came of the good Bishops burnt at Oxford But then came out rejoycing and saying to the Duke of Norfolk Now let us goe to dinner but it was the last that ever he are for it Or as it fared with Arundal Arch-Bishop of Canterburys and Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester in their times who putting to silence both the word of God and those that purely preached it were themselves put to silence and so smitten in their tongues that they could not swallow their meat nor speak for a good space before they died True some flagitious persons God punisheth here least his providence but not all least his patience and promise of a generall judgement should bee called in question But alasse they are so farre from beleeving whaâ— God threatens in his word against these sinnes that they blesse themselves in their hearts saying we shall have peace we shall speed as well as the best although we walke according to the stubburnnesse of our own wills so adding drunkennesse to thirst Deut. 29.19 Yea they preferre their condition before other mens who are so abstemious and make Conscience of their wayes even thinking that their God deceiveth them with needlesse feares and scruples as once Rabshekab would have perswaded the Iewes touching their trust and considenec 2 Kings 18.22 25 30 32 33 35. Yea how â—'st possible that any wicked man should beleive what is written of God in the Scripture especially touching his justice and severity in punishing sin with eternall destruction of body and soule For did they really and indeed beleive God when he saith that his curse shall never depart from the house of the swearer Zac. 5. They durst not sweare yea and forsweare as they doe much lesse durst they take a pride inoathing of it resembling Ballio the baud in Plautus who was not ashamed but even proud of Carting Yea which is worse reprove a swearer and hee will sweare the more to spite you Which were not possible if beleeving God they did not what in them lies give themselves over to the Devill Againe did they beleeve that neither fornicacors nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor theeves nor murtherers nor drunkards nor swearers nor raylours nor lyers nor covetous persons nor extortioners nor unbelevers nor no unrighteous men shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven but shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 1 Cor. 6 9 10. Revel 21.8 they durst not continue in the practice of these sinnes without feare or remorse or care of amendment Did they beleeve that except their righteousnesse doe exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees they shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Matth. 5.20 And that without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 with many the like it were impossible they should live as they doe Yea if they did in good earnest beleeve that there is either God or Devill Heaven or Hell or that they have immortal soules which shall everlastingly live in blisse or wo and receive according to that they have done in their bodies whether it be good or evill 2 Cor. 5.10 they could not but live thereafter and make it their principall care how to be saved But alasse they beleeve what they see and feel and know they beleeve the Lawes of the Land that there are places and kindes of punishment here below and that they have bodies to suffer temporall smart if they transgresse and this makes them abstaine from murther felony and the like but they beleeve not things invisible and to come for if they did they would as well
be argued in the Court of thy Conscience say whether thou art guilty or not guilty He that believes the promises of God to be true believes also the commands and threatnings and thereupon feares God and makes conscience of sin otherwise if thou beest as it were a dead man continuing under the burthen of notorious crimes without sorrow or fear or remorse or care of amendment Ephes. 2 1. If thou art of a reprobate judgement touching actions and persons esteeming good evil and evil good if the Devil hath so bewitched thee that thou preferrest Hell to Heaven and blamest those that do otherwise if Ishmael-like thou mockest or Cham-like thou scoffest at the religious or usest bitter jests against them Psal. 1.1 Ephes. 5.4 If thou raisest slanders of them or furtherest them being raised Psal. 4.2 31.18 35.20 As the Red Dragon Rev. 12. cast a floud of water out of his mouth after the Woman when he could not reach her with his clawes verse 15. Or any way opposest them for the opposition of goodnesse gives thee the title of wickednesse which alone is the enemy thereof and shewes that thou art a Souldier of the great Dragon who goes out to make War with that blessed Seed which keep the Commandments of God Rev. 12.17 These or any one of these shew that thou hast neither part nor fellowship in the Christian beliefe that thou art an Infidell yea an Atheist which is a higher degree of infidelity and that thou doest no way differ from an Heathen but onely in the saying of a Pater noster a Creed and it may be the ten Commandments neither hast thou any more of a conscience than fear which fear also arises more from the power of the Magistrate than from the Omnipotency of a God But to make thy selfe confesse this examine thy beliefe by thy life for infidelity is the bitter root of all wickednesse and a lively Faith the true Mother of all goodnesse Indeed if pride swâ—aring prophaning of the Lords Day drunkennesse adultery contempt of Religion and all goodnesse were fruits of Faith then the World were full of Believers but Faith purifieth the Heart Acts 15.9 and worketh by love Gal 5.6 Consumes our natural unnatural corruptions and sanctifieth the whole man thâ—oughout 1 Thes. 5.23 Acts 26.18 So that our Faith to God is seen in our faithfulnesse to men Shew me thy faith by thy workes saith S. Iames that is thy invisible beliefe by thy visible life for the hand is the best Commentary of the heart What a man does I am sure he thinkes not alwayes what he speakes Men may say they believe the Word but certainly they would never speak as they speak thinke as they thinke do as they do if they thought that their thoughts words and deeds should ever come to judgement If men believed that Heaven were so sweet and Hell so intolerable as the word makes them they would be more obedient upon earth the voluptuous would not say with Esau Give me the pottage of pleasure take who will the Birth-right of grace here and glory hereafter the Covetous would not say Take you Heaven let us have money I le clear it by a similitude If a Physician should say unto his Patient here stands a Cordial which if you take will cure you but touch not this other Vial for that is deadly Poyson and he refuseth the Cordial to take the Poyson in this case who can chuse but conclude that either he believed not his Physician or preferred death before life But go on If men but believed that God alwayes beholds them they durst not sin No Thiefe was ever so impudent as to steale in the very face of the Judge O God let me see my selfe seen by thee and I shall not dare to offend thee Againe if men believed that there is a place of Darknesse they would fear the workes of Darknesse If Lot's sonnes-in-Law had believed their father when he told them the Citie should suddenly be destroyed with fire and brimstone and that by flying they might escape it they would have obeyed his counsel If the old World had believed that God would indeed and in good earnest bring such a Floud upon them as he threatned they would not have neglected the opportunity of entring the Arke before it was shut up and the windowes of Heaven opened much lesse would they have scofft and flouted at Noah while he was building it so if you did firmely believe what the Scripture speaks of Hell you would need no intreaties to avoid it yea cast but your eyes upon that fiery gulf with a full perswasion of it and sin if you dare You love your selves well enough to avoid a knowne paine wee know that there are Stocks and Bridewells and Goales and Dungeons and Racks and Gibbits for Malefactors and our very feare keeps us innocent were your hearts equally assured of those hellish torments ye could not yee durst not continue in those sinnes for which they are prepared yea if you did truly beleeve a hell there would bee more danger of your dispaire than of your security Yea had you but so much of an historicall faith as to beleeve the Scriptures touching what God hath already inflicted upon sinners as upon the Angells the old world Sodâ—me and Gomorrah Pharoah and the Egyptians Nadab and Abihu Chora Dâ—than and Abyram with their 250 Captaines and many thousands of the Children of Israel together with the whole Nation of the Iewes Hammon and Balaam Saul and Doeg Absolon and Achytophell Ahab and Iesabell Senacherib and Nebucâ—adnezar the two Captaines and their fifties Herod and Iudas Annanias and Saphirah with a world of others Much more if you did beleeve how severely he hath dealt with his owne Children when they sinned against him viz. with Moses Aaron and Eli which were in singular favour with him yea with David a man after his own heart and that after his sin was remitted it were impossible but you woulde feare to offend so Jealous a God for thus you woulde argue If God be so just and severe to his owne children who were so good and gracious how shall I a wicked and ungracious servant that never did him a peece of good service all my dayes looke to be dispensed withall If the godly suffer so many and grievous afflictions here what shall his adversaries suffer in hell If Sampson be thus punished shal the Philistims escape If the righteous shall scarcely be saved were shall the ungodly and sinner appeare as the Scripture speakes 1 Pet. 4.18 For thou canst not Imagine that he will deale after a new and extraordinary way with thee and so breake the Course of his so Just and so long continued proceedings SECT 72. WHerefore dally no longer with your owne soules Are ye Christians in earnest Doe yee beleeve the word or do you not if ye do not ye are worse than the Devill fâ—r the Devills belâ—eve and
as their hearts Well for the innocent that the wicked cannot keep their own councell They are forced to give us warning that wee may prevent them 15. They will undermine us in talke that they may betray us Their cunning in this case And dissimulation They have borrowed this craft from Satan who sets them on worke Bâ—ware we trust them not 16 They manifest their enmitie against the religious by their gestuâ—e As the tongue speaketh to the ear so the gesture speaketh to the eye 17 They will withstand and contrary the truth by us delivered They will cavill against the very word and oppose the messengers They fly the light A powerfull Minister most opposed Strong braines too wise to be saved An humble man will never be an hereâ—ique Nor will they be appeased They will hate us because they have hurt us They neither hear him themselves nor suffer others They adde to their own reputation by detâ—acting from others 18 They combine together and lay devilish plots to destroy the godly The manner of their consultations They will easily finde occasion For our serving of God shall be sufficient Or saving of soules They com not to be caught by a Minister but to catch him But are taken in the snare they spread for others 19 They are proane to imprison the godly Not for any crime But to prevent further dispute And other the like reasons 20 Their usuall way of confuting is with fists Their Arguments are all steel and iron 21 They will hurt maime the godly Their malice makes them like beasts or â—â—ocks 22 usuall with them to murther the Saints Instead of arguments they take up armes They are savage and bloody Of which five reasons 1 Reasoâ— 2 Reason 3 Reason 4 Reason 5 Reason Our Saviour suffered two twenty wayes of ungodly men 4 Mental Properties 11 verball Properties 7 Actuall Properties It was for his zaale purity and holinesse Severall uses of their enmity 1 Use. 2 Use. To informe us whether we be children of the devill or members of Christ. Comfort for such as suffer 3 Use. Let non look to fare better than Christ. 11 Causeâ— 1 The contrariety of their natures All true beleevers the children of God All natural men children of the Devill Impossible the good and bad should agree Naturall men can agree with any so they be not Religious Yea differ they in other thngs they will joyne against the Godly Many Wives Children and Servants hated for being religious Hatred foâ— religion the most bitter and implacable agreement in some points does but advance hatred the more We cannot anger them worse then to doe wel Wherein this contrariety consists They differ in their judgements 1 Touching Wisdome 2 Touching happinesse 3 touching fortitude 4 touching sin 5 touching holinesse Secondly they differ in their passions affections Thirdly they differ in their practice Wicked men persecute the godly for being better then they Of which many examples The same applyed Where Christ comes ther will be opposition Nothing more contemned then goodnesse Would we accompany them in evill their malice would cease We may appeale to themâ—elves who are the honester men They think not as they speak They asperse us out of policy To tax all for the faults of a few is only the art of a fool Most mâ—n fooles and beasts The Character of a malicious scoffer How strangely wicked men gull themselves Some of theâ— excuses Singularity our great and grevious crime To obey God rather than men great disorders Common protestants can be of any religion Yet none think better of them selves How Satan playes the Sâ—phister Discresion eates up devotion Goodmen may differ in many things yet agree in the main A vast difference between another discipline and another Doctrine That indifferent to one that is not so to another â—o be scrupulous 〈◊〉 ill signe In cases of a doubtfull nature we should take the surest side they woulâ—â—â—our us ouâ— of our faith And effect the same did not God support us To be a Christian requires fortitude Good men will hold their profession though they lose their lives If we cannot concoct evill words we would nevâ—r endure blowes To be scoft out of our goodnesse how rediculous The most will doe as he most to Satan gets more by subtilty than by violence Some will better abide a stake than others a mock Tongue-taunts in Gâ—ds account is perâ—ecution None but the desperately wicked wil malice an other for goodnesse 4 They are wroth with us becuâ—se we fare better then they Of which many examples The good mans honour the envious mans torment Application first to unhollowed Ministers They cry up practise to cry down preaching This sore will not endure rubbing Application thereof to the rabble A second cause is ignorance Proved 1. by testimonies 2 By examples Wicked beholding to the godly for their lives Malignants as witlesse as wicked 3 By experience The more ignorant the more malicious They allwaies make the worst construction of things ignorance causeth suâ—pition suâ—pition hatred c. Ob. That great scholers and wisemen doe the same answered Their actions prove them ignorant The first part of conversion is to love them that love God Many that have a depth of knowledge are not soule-wise Examples of many wise in the worlds esteem but fools in Gods account With God the greatest sinner is the greatest fool and he most wise that is most religious God regards not braine knowledge except it seize on the heart also Rightly a man knows no more then hee practiseth Saving knowledge described That the meanest beleever knows more then the profoundest naturian In what sense the word caâ— worldly men wisemen What knowledg is peculiar to the godly and what common to them with Hipocrits Naturall men want both the light of the spirit and the eye of faith No attaining supernatuaral kuowledg by any natural means Saving knowledg given to none but good men Of which many instances Divine assistance in time of tryall The same further amplified They that would have this talent must resolve to improve it The way to obtaine true wisdome Instruction from the premises 1. For all naturall men 2 For such as speake evill of the way of truth When they doe worst they think they doe well 3 For Gods people A fourth Use. A fifth use A sixt use A seventh use The third cause is unbeleefe Provâ—d 1 By testimonys 2. By examples Men think they beleeve but doe not Evidences of mens unbeleife The woful reward of Persecutors Why Persecutors are not punished here But they blesse themselves and think to speed as well as others Did men beleeve the word they durst not live as they doe Natural men feare visible powers but not the invisible God None so confirmed in Atheisme but feare in time of danger At least on their death beds they conâ—esse a God Vengance makes wiâ—e whom sin makes foolish Atheists on earth but none in hell To consider before it prove too late The most grounded Atheisme hâ—th a mâ—xture oâ— beleâ—fe Atheists would give all they have to be sure there were no hell They doe and yet do not beleive a God c. Their convicted consciences shal but witnesse against their unbeleefe Men may doubt but the devils beleeve a judgement to come Fire and bâ—imstone shall confute all Atheâ—sts They that beleeve not the threaâ—s can yet preâ—ume upon Gods mercy The devill and sin do infatuate and besot the wicked A carnall heart is flint to God wax to the Devil Carnall men believe the promises but not the precepts nor threats Hard for men to believe their own unbeliefe Wicked men either presume or despaire Notes of triall touching beliefe and unbeliefe Hâ—w men may examine themselves Men would never do as they do if they thought they shold be called to an account Most men beleive not an hell proved undeniably Did men beleeve what God hath already inflicted on the Angels old World Sodom c. they would not live as they doe Admonition to bewâ—r before it proves too late Fruits of Atheisme wherewith the land abounds If a tithe of us are Christians then there are milions of Christians in hell How far we come short of Primative Christians Most men can be of any religion which proves they are truly of none How Gods goodnesse aggravates our wickednesse Mens eyes will be opened on their death-beds or in hell Good councell for Scoffers eight other causes of hatred and persecution 1 Speaking of truth 2 misprision 3 Example of the multitude 4 seperation 5 The preaching of some Ministers 6 The scandalous lives of some professors 7 Flocking after sermons That they may have more company here in sin and hereafter in torment Conclusion