doest believe the Scriptures thou seest that they are the truth as really as if God should speak to thee from heaven through the clouds and therefore never flatter thy self foolishly thinking that if it were so and so then thou couldest believe I tell thee saith Christ If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead But 5. Doest thou believe the Scripture to be the word of God Then through faith in Christ thou endeavourest to have thy life squareed according to the Scriptures both in word and practice Nay this I say thou mayest have though thou do not believe them all My meaning is that if thou believe none but the ten Commandments thy life may be according to them a legal holy life and if thou do believe the Gospel too then thy life will be the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ that is either thou wilt live in the blessed and holy enjoyment of what is testified in the Scripture concerning the glorious things of the Lord Jesus Christ or else thou wilt be exceedingly panting after them For the Scriptures carry such a blessed beauty in them to that soul that hath faith in the things contained in them that they do take the heart and captivate the soul of him that believeth them into the love and liking of them 6. He that believes the Scriptures to be the word of God if he do but suppose that any one place of the Scripture doth exclude him and shut him out of and from a share in the promises contained in them O it will trouble him grieve him perplex him yea he will not be satisfied until he be resolved and thâ— contrary sealed to his soul for he knowâ— that the Scriptures are the word oâ— God all truth and therefore he knowâ— that if any one sentence doth excludeâ— or bar out him for want of this or the other qualification he knows also that not the word alone shuts him out but he that speaks it even God himself and therefore he cannot will not dare not be contented untill he find his soul and Scripture together with the things contained therein to embrace each other and a sweet correspondency and agreement be between them For you must know that to him that believes the Scriptures aright the promises or threatnings are of more power to comfort or cast down then all the promises or threatnings of all the men in the world And this was the cause why the Martyrs of Jesus did so slight both the promises of their adversaries when they would have overcome them with profering the great things of this world unto them and also their threatnings when they told them they would rack them hang them burn them none of these things could prevail upon them or against them because they did most really believe the Scriptures the things contained in them as is cleerly found and to be seen in Heb. 11. and also in Mr. Fox his records of their brethren 7. He that believeth the Scriptures to be the word of God believeth that men must be borne again and have that faith which is of the operation of God or else they cannot be saved And he that believeth this believeth also that if he be not borne again and also be partakers of that faith which is of the operation of God according as he hath read and believed he must and shall be damned And he that believeth this aright will not be contented until according as it is written he do partake of and enjoy the new birth and until he do find through grace that faith that is wrought by the operation of God in his soul For this is the cause why men do satisfie themselves with so slender a conceited hope that their state is good when it is nothing so namely because they do not credit the Scripture for did they they would look into their own hearts and examine seriously whether that faith that hope that grace which they think they have be of that nature and wrought by that spirit and power that the Scripture speaketh of I speak this of an effectual believing without which all other is nothing unto salvation Now then because I would not be too tedious I shall at this time lay down no more discoveries of such an one as doth savingly believe the Scriptures and the things contained in them but shall speak a few words of examination containing the things already mentioned As 1. Thou sayest thou dost indeed and in truth effectually believe the Scriptures I ask therefore wast thou ever killed stark dead by the law of works contained in the Scriptures To be killed and to be struck dead you will say what is that Why to be killed by the law or letter is by the power thereof to be made to see thy sins against it and to be left in an helpless condition by that law for I say the proper work of the law is to slay the soul and to leave it dead in a helpless state For it doth neither give the soul any comfort it self when it comes nor doth it shew the soul where comfort is to be had and therefore it is called the ministration of condemnation as in 2 Cor. 3.9 Yea in plain termes the ministration of death 2 Cor. 3.7 For though men may have a notion of the blessed word of God as as the children had yet before they be converted it may truly be said of to them Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Mark 12.24 2. You say you do believe the Scriptures to be the word of God I say again examine wast thou ever quickened from a dead state by the power of the Spirit of Christ through the other part of the Scripture That is to say by the power of God in his Sonne Jesus Christ through the covenant of promise I tell thee from the Lord if thou hast thou hast felt such a quickning power in the words of Christ Joh. 6. that thou hast been lifted out of that dead condition that thou before wast in and that when thou wast under the guilt of sin the curse of the law and the power of the devil and the justice of the great God that thou hast been inabled by the power of God in Christ revealed to thee by the Spirit through and by the Scripture to look sin death hell the devil and the law and all things that are at enmity with thee for thy sins with boldness and comfort in the face through the blood death righteousness resurrection and intercession of Christ made mention of in the Scriptures And thirdly on this account O how excellent are the Scriptures to thy soul O how much virtue dost thou see in such a promise in such an invitation O sayest thou there are some promises in the book of God that I have had nourishment from and through Christ in them O they are so large they say Christ will in no
verse one line nay one word of holy Scriptures make in his heart so that he cannot eat sleep work keep company with his former companions and all because he is afraid that the damnation spoken of in Scripture will fall to his share Like Balaam who said I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord so long as he had something of the word of the Lord with authority severity and power on his heart but at another time he could teach Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel Rev. 2.14 3. Because the carnal Priests do tickle the ears of their hearers with vain Philosophy and deceit and thereby harden their hearts against the simplicity of the Gospel and word of God which things the Apostle admonished those that have a mind to close in with Christ to avoid Col. 2.8 saying Bewarâ—â—est any man be he what he will spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men and rudiments of the world and not after Christ And you who nuzzle up your people in ignorance with Aristotle Plato and the rest of the heathenish Philosophers and preach little if any thing of Christ rightly I say unto you that you will find that you have sinned against God and beguiled your hearers when God shall in the judgement-day lay the cause of the damnation of many thousands of souls to your charge and say He will require their blood at your hands Ezek. 33.6 4. Another reason why the carnal unbelieving world do so slight the Scriptures and word of God is because the judgement spoken of in the Scripture is not presently executed on the transgressors Because sentence against an evil act is not speedily executed therefore the hearts of the sons of men are wholly set in them to do evil Eccles 8.11 Because God doth not presently strike the poor wretch as soon as he sins but waits and forbears and is patient Therefore the world judging God to be unfaithful go to it agaiâ— and again and every time grow harder and harder till at last God is forced either to stretch out his mighty power to turne them or else send death with the devil and hell to fetch them Thou thoughtest saith God that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thy face Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50.20 21. 5. Another reason why the blind world do slight the authority of Scripture is because they give ear to the devil who through his subtilty casteth false evasions and corrupt interpretations on them rendring them not so point blank the minde of God and a rule for direction to poor souls perswading them that they must give ear and way to something else besides and beyond that or else he labours to render it vile and contemptible by perswading them that it is a dead letter when indeed they know not what they say nor whereof they affirme For the Scripture is not so dead but that the knowledge of it is able to make any man wise unto salvation through faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 And is profitable for instruction reproof and correction in righteousness that the man of God may be throughly furnished to all good works ver 17. And where it is said the letter killeth he meaneth the law as it is the ministration of damnation or a covenant of works and so indeed it doth kill and must do so because it is just forasmuch as the party that is under the same is not able to yield to it a compleat and continual obedience But otherwise I will call Paul and Peter to witness that the Scriptures are of a very glorious concernment in as much as in them is held forth to us the way of life and also in that they do administer good ground of hope to us Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written a foretime Mark whatsoever were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture mâ—ght have hope And again Rom. 16.25 26. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mistery which was kept hid since the world began but now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith And therefore whosoever they be that slight the Scriptures they slight that which is no less then the word of God and they who slight that slight him that spake it and they that do so let them look to themselves for God will be revenged on such Much more might be said to this thing but I would not be tedious A word or two more and so I have done with this Consider the dangers of slighting the words of the Prophets or Apostles whether they be correction reproof admonition forewarning or the blessed invitations and promises contained in them 1. Such souls do provoke God to anger and to execute his vengeance on them They refused to hearken they pulled away their shoulder they stopped their ears lest they should hear the law and they made their hearts adament stone that they might not hear the law and the words that were spoken to them by his spirit in the former prophets Therefore came a great wrath upon them Zach. 7.11 12. 2. God will not regard in their calamity Because I called and ye refused I stretched out my hand no man regarded but set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamities and mock when your fear cometh When their fear cometh as desolation and their destruction like a whirlewind Then shall they call but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Proverbs 1.25 26 27. 3. God doth commonly give up such men to delusions to believe lies Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they all might be damned 2 Thess 2.11 12. 4. In a word they that do continue to reject and slight the word of God they are such for the most part as are ordained to be damned Old Eli his sons not hearkenning to the voice of their father reproving them for their sins but disobeying his voice it is said It was because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2.15 Again see in 2 Chron. 25.15 16. Amaziah having sinned against the Lord he sends to him a prophet to reprove him But Amaziah sayes Forbear wherefore shouldst thou be smitten he did not hearken to the word of God Then the Prophet forbare saying I know that God hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast not hearkened to my counsel Read therefore
his Spirit in them did bear witness or record to the truth of salvation by his Son Jesus both before and after his comming And thus is that place also to be understood which saith There are three that bear record in earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood That is the Spirit in the Apostles which preached him to the world as is clear if you read seriously 1 Thess 4.8 The Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ and obedience to God through him saith thus Now he that despiseth despiseth not us No who then Why God But it is you that speak True but it is by and through the Spirit He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who also hath given us of his holy Spirit This is therefore a mighty confirmation of this truth that he that slights the record or testimony that God by his spirit in his Prophets and Apostles hath testified unto us slights the testimony of the spirit who moved them to speak these things and if so then I would fain know how any man can be saved by Jesus Christ that slights the testimony concerning Christ yea the testimony of his own spirit concerning his own self 'T is true men may pretend to have the testimony of the Spirit and from that conceit set a low esteem on the holy Scriptures But that spirit that dwelleth in them and teacheth them so to do it is no better then the spirit of Satan though it calls it self by the name of the spirit of Christ To the law therefore and to the testimony Try them by that If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them The Apostle Peter when he speaks of the glorious voice that he had from the excellent Majesty saying of Christ This is my beloved Son hear him saith thus to them whom he wrote unto You have also a more sure word of prophecy or of the prophets for so you may read it unto which you do well that you take heed That is though we tell you that we had his excellent testimony from his own mouth evidently yet you have the prophets we tell you this and you need not doubt of the truth of it but if you should yet you may not must not ought not to question them Search therefore unto them until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts That is until by the same spirit that gave forth the Scripture you find the truth confirmed to your souls which you have recorded in the Scriptures That this word of prophecy or of the prophets is the Scriptures read on For saith he knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation c. 2 Pet. 1.18 19 20. But you will say What needs all this ado and why is all this time and pains spent in speaking to this that is surely believed already This is a thing received by all that they believe the Scriptures to be the word of God that sure word of prophecy and therefore you need not spend your time in proving these things and the truth of them seeing we grant and confess the truth of it before you begin to speak your judgement of them Answ The truths of God cannot be borne witness unto too often you may as well say You need not preach Jesus Christ so much seeing he hath been and is received for the true Messias already 2. Though many may suppose that they do believe the Scriptures yet if they were but well examined you would find them either by word of mouth or else by conversation to deny reject and slight the holy Scriptures 'T is true there is a notional and historicall assent in the head I say In the head of many or most to the truth contained in Scripture but try them I say and you shall find but a little if any of the faith of the operation of God in the hearts of poor men to believe the Scriptures and things contained in them 'T is true many yea most men believe the Scriptures as they believe a fable a story a tale of which there is no certainty but alas there are but few do intend and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the very word of God But you will say this seems strange to me Answ And it seems as true to me and I doubt not but to make it manifest and plainly to appear that there are but few yea very few that do effectually for that I aim at believe the Scriptures and the truths contained in and spoken of by them But to make this appear and that to purpose if God will I shall lay you down the several operations that the Scriptures have on them who do effectually believe the things contained in them 1. He that doth effectually believe the Scriptures hath in the first place been killed I say killed by the authoirty of the holy Scriptures struck stark dead in a spiritual sense by the holy Scripture being set home by that spirit which gave them forth upon the soul The letter killeth the letter strikes men dead 2 Cor. 3.6 and this Paul witnessed and found before he could say I believe all that the prophets have spoken Where he saith I was alive without the Law once That is in my natural state before the Law was set on my heart with power But when the commandement came sinne revived and I died Rom. 7.9 and that law that was ordained to life I found to be unto death For sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me and thereby stew me v. 10. Now that which is called the Letter in Cor. is called the Law in Rom. 7. which by its power and operation as it is wielded by the Spirit of God doth in the first place kill and slay all those that are enabled to believe the Scriptures I kill saith God That is with my law I pierce I wound I prick men into the very heart by shewing them their sins against my law Acts 2.36 37. And he that is ignorant of this is also ignorant of and doth not really and effectually believe the Scripture But you will say how doth the law kill and strike dead the poor creature Answ First the letter or law do kill thus It is set home upon the soul and discovers to the soul its transgressions against the law and shews the soul also that it cannot compleatly satisfie the justice of God for the breach of his law therefore it is condemned Joh. 3.19 Mark He that believes not is condemned already To wit by the law that is the law doth condemn him yea it hath condemned him already for his sins against it as it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.10 Now all men as they come into the world are in this condition that is condemned by the law Yet not believing that their condemnation by
the law really they do not also believe really and effectually the law that doth condemn them For as men have but a notion of the one that is their condemnation because of sins against the law Verse 3 so they have but a notion of the condemning killing and destroying power of the law for as the one is so in these things alwayes is the other there is no man that doth really believe the law or Gospel further then they do feel the power and authority of them in their hearts Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Now this letter or law is not to be taken in the largest sense but is strictly to be tyed to the ten Commandments whose proper work is onely by shewing the soul its sins against this law to kill and there leaves him stark dead not giving him the least life or support or comfort but leaves the soul in an helpless and hopeless condition as from it self or any other meer creature 'T is true the law hath laid all men for dead as they come into the world but all men do not see themselves dead untill they see that law that struck them dead sticking in their souls and having struck them that fatall blow As a man that is fast asleep in an house and that on fire about his ears and he not knowing of it because he is asleep even so because poor souls are asleep in sin though the wrath of God Verse 31. the curse of his law and the flames of hell have beset them round about yet they do not believe it because they are asleep in sin Now he that is awakened and sees this sees that through this he is a dead man Even so they that do see their state by nature being such a sad condition do also see themselves by that law to be dead men naturally But now when didst thou feel the power of this first part of the Scripture the law so mighty as to strike thee dead if not thou dost not so much as verily believe that part of Scripture that doth contain the law in it to be the truth of God Yet if thou shouldest have felt something I say something of the killing power of the law of God in thine heart this is not an argument to prove that thou believest all the things contained in Scripture for there is Gospel as well as Law and therefore I shall speak to that also That is whether thou hast felt the power of the Gospel as well as something of the power of the Law 2. Then if thou hast found the power of the Gospel and so believed it thou hast found it thus with thy soul 1. Thou hast been shewed by the word or truth of the Gospel in the light of the Spirit of Christ that by nature thou wert without the true faith of the Son of God in thy soul For when He the Spirit is come he shall shew men that they believe not in me saith Christ Joh. 16.9 For mark though thou hast as I said before felt somewhat of the power of the Law Letter or ten Commandments yet if thou hast not been brought to this to see by the spirit in the Gospel that thou art without faith by nature thou hast not yet tasted much less believed any part of the Gospel For the Gospel and the Law are two distinct covenants as I have before shewed And they that are under the law maybe convinced by it and so believe the law or first covenant and yet in the mean time to be a stranger to the covenant of promise that is the Gospel so have no hope in them Eph. 2.12 There is not any promise that can be savingly believed untill the soul be by the Gospel converted to Jesus Christ For though men do think never so much that they believe the things of the Gospel or the word of the Gospel of our salvation yet unless they have the work of grace in their souls they do not cannot rightly believe the things contained in the Scriptures Again as the law killeth those that believe it even so the promises contained in the Gospel do through faith administer comfort to those that believe it aright My words saith Christ my words they are spirit and they Mark and they are life Joh. 6.63 As if he had said The words contained in in the law as a covenant of works they wound they kill they strike dead those that are under them But as for me the words that I speake unto you they are spirit and they are life That is whosoever doth receive them believingly shall find them full of operation to comfort quicken and revive their soul For as I did not come into the world to destroy mens lives so the words that I speak as I am sent to preach the Gospel they have no such tendency unto those that believe them The promises that are in the Gospel Oh how do they comfort them such a promise and such a promise O how sweet is it O how comfortable to those that believe them Alas there are many poor souls that think they believe the Scriptures that they believe the word of God and yet poor souls that they are they never enjoyed any thing of the life and power of the promises to comfort them after they were killed by the law For mark If thy comfort be indeed by the promises they come in upon thy heart to quicken to revive thee to raise thee from the sentence of death that is passed on thee by the law And through the faith that is wrought in thy soul by the operation of Gods holy Spirit though once killed by the Law or Letter thou art made alive in the Lord Jesus Christ presented to thy soul in the promises 3. Dost thou indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the word of God then the things contained in them especially the things of the Gospel are very excellent to thy soul as the birth of Christ the death resurrection intercession and second coming of Christ O how precious and excellent are they to thy soul insomuch that thou regardest nothing in comparison of them O! it is Christs birth death blood resurrection c. according to the Scriptures that thou doest rejoyce in exceedingly and abundantly desire after 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6. compare with Phil. 3.6 7 8. 4. Doest thou believe the Scriptures to be the word of God Then thou standest in aw of and dost much reverence them Why they are the word of God the true sayings of God they are the counsel of God they are his promises and his threatnings 'T is like poor souls are apt to think If I could hear God speak to me from heaven with an audible voice then sure say they I should be serious and sure I should believe it But truly if God should speak to thee from heaven except thou wert converted thou wouldest not regard nor really believe him But if thou
A FEW Sighs from Hell OR The Groans of a damned Soul OR An Exposition of those Words in the sixteenth of Luke Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar Wherein is discovered the Lamentable State of the damned their cries their desires in their distresses with the determination of God upon them A good warning Word to Sinners both Old and Young to take into Consideration betimes and to seek by Faith in Jesus Christ to avoid lest they come into the same place of torment ALSO A brief Discourse touching the profitableness of the Scriptures for our Instruction in the way of Righteousness according to the tendancy of the said Parable By that Poor and Contemptible Servant of Jesus Christ JOHN BUNYAN The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God Psal 9.17 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire Revel 20.15 London Printed by Ralph Wood for M. Wright at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey 1658. To the Reader IT is sad to see how the most of men neglect their precious souls turning their backs upon the glorious Gospel and little minding a crucified Jesus when in the mean while their bodies are well provided for their estates much regarded and the things of this present life are highly prized as if the darling was of less value then a clod of earth an immortal soul then a perishing body a precious Savior then unsatisfying creatures Yea though they have been often wooed with gracious intreaties glorious promises and fresh bleeding wounds to make choice of the better part that shall never be taken from them yet alas such influence hath this world and the pleasures of it and such is the blindness of their understandings that they continue still to hunt after those things which cannot profit nor be a help to them in the worst hour yea that will prove no better then poyson to their souls and refuse that would be if embraced their happiness here and their glory hereafter such a strange stupidity hath seized upon the hearts of men that they will venture the loss of their immortall souls for a few dying comforts and will expose themselves to endless misery for a moments mirth and short-liv'd pleasures But certainly a barn well fraught a bag well fill'd a back well cloathed and a body well fed will prove but poor comforts when men come to dye when death shall not onely separate their souls from their bodies but both from their comforts What will it then avail them that they have gained much Or what will they give in exchange for their souls Be wise then O Reader to whose sight this may come before it be too late and thou repent when repentance shall be hid from thine eyes else it will be as a dagger to thine heart one day to remember what a Christ what a soul what a heaven thou hast lost for a few pleasures a little mirth a short enjoyment of this present world yea and that after many warnings against many reproofs and notwithstanding the many tenders of a full Christ instead of those empty vanities which thy soul closed with hunted after and would by no means be perswaded to part withall No but thou wouldest take thy time and swim in this worlds delights though thy soul thereby was drowned in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 True few there are that will be perswaded that this course they take though their daily conversations do bear witness to it for how much time is spent and how much care is the hearts of men fill'd withall after attaining keeping and increasing these things And how seldom do they trouble their heads to have their mindes taken up with thoughts of the better Cumbring themselves with many things but wholly neglecting the one thing necessary yea whereby do they measure their own or other mens happiness but by the large incomes of this worlds good accounting this the greatest if not the onely blessedness to have their corn wine and oyl increase in abundance and reckoning those that are most serious about and earnest after the world to come men of foolish spirits giddy brains and worthy to be branded in the forehead for simple deluded ones But surely he is the most fool that will be one at last and he that God calls so Luke 12.20 will pass for one in the end yea within a short time they themselves shall change their notes Ask the rich man spoken of in the ensuing Treatise who was the fool he or Lazarus and he will soon resolve the question that he now sees and by wofull experience finds whatsoever his former thoughts were that he not Lazarus was the silly deluded one for he fool like preferred the worse things before the better and refused that which once might have been had but now he hath slipt the time it cannot be gained when this poor man knowing the day of his visitation was making sure of that glory which he now enjoyes and shall enjoy for evermore So that in this Parable if I may so call it thou shalt finde that Scripture confirmed That the triumphing of the wicked is short Job 20.5 Together with that That the temptations or afflictions of the righteous which cause heaviness are but for a season 1 Pet. 1.6 And in this treatise both of those are largely opened and explained Behold here a rich man cloathed in silks fed with delicates and faring deliciously every day but look a little further and so this man cloathed with vengeance roaring under torments and earnestly begging for a drop of water to cool his tongue a sad change On the other hand here thou shalt see a poor but a gracious man with a pinched belly naked back and running soars beging at the rich mans gate for a morsell to feed his belly a sad state yet but short for look again and behold this beggar gloriously carried as in a Chariot of triumph by the Angels into Abrahams bosome shining in glory cloathed with beautiful garments and his soul sat down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the Father his rags are gone his soars healed and his soul filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory the one carried not his costly fare and his gorgeous apparel with him into hell nor the other his course diet mouldy bread filthy rags and ulcerous body into heaven but the happiness of the one and the misery of the other took their leaves at the grave the worldly mans portion was but for his life and the godly mans afflictions lasted no longer For mark the perfect and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace but the end of the wicked shall be cut off Psal 37.37 38. His present comforts his future hopes and his cursed soul together yea though he lives many dayes and rejoyces in them all yet the dayes of darkness will overtake him and his eye shall see no more good in
his life time he enjoyed his good things and at the hour of death legions of devils will beset him innumerable evils will befall him and then shall he pay full dear for all the pleasures of sin that have carried away his heart from closing with and following the Lord in the day of his prosperity Ungodly men because they feel no changes now they fear none hereafter but flatter themselves with dying as the godly though their life is consumed in wickedness and their strength in providing for and satisfying the lusts of the flesh but as it fared with wicked Balaam so shall it fare with these and their vain hopes will prove a feeding upon ashes through their deceived heart that hath turned them aside Isaiah 44.20 For they that sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption Galat. 6.8 And they that plow iniquity and sow wickedness shall reap the same Job 4.8 Hosea 8.7 But they that sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Say ye then to the righteous it shall go well with him however it goes with him now a few dayes will produce a happy change It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord Eccles 8.12 Go on then O soul thou that hast set thy face towards heaven though the east-wind beats upon thee and thou finde trouble and sorrow these shall endure but for a night joy will undoubtedly come in the morning besides those sweet visits thou shalt have from thy precious Saviour in this thy day of darkness wait but a while and thy darkness shall be turned into light When the light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire wherewith he warmed himself shall not shine Job 18.5 Grudge not to see the wicked prosper and their steps washed with butter but rather put on bowels of mercy and pitty as the elect of God knowing that they are set in slippery places Psal 73.18 And their day is coming when fearful horrour shall suprize them and hell be opened to receive them nor yet be disquieted in thy minde that troubles and afflictions do beset thee round for as a worser thing is reserved for them so a better is prepared for thee Do they drink wine in bowls and dost thou mingle thy tears with thy drink Do they live in pleasures and spend their dayes in wealth and dost thou sigh and mourn in secret Well there is a cup for them in the hand of the Lord the wine whereof is red and full of mixture which they must drink up the dregs Psal 75.8 And the Lord hath a bottle for thy tears Psal 56.8 And a book foâ— thy secret sighs and ere long thy brinâ—sh tears shal be turned into the sweetest wine which thou shalt drink new in the kingdom of the Father and thy secret sighs into glorious praises when thy mouth shall be filled with laughter and thy eyes see the King in his glory Now considering that these lines may be brought to the sight both of the one sort and the other I shall lay a few things before the thought of each and first to the worser sort First consider what an ill bargain thou wilt make to sell thy precious soul for a short continuance in thy sins and pleasures if that man drives but an ill trade who to gain the world should lose his soul Matth. 16.26 then certainly thou a far worse that sells thy soul for a very trifle Oh 't is pitty that so precious a thing should be parted withall to be made a prey for the devouring lion for that which is worse then nothing if they were branded for desperate wretches that caused their children to pass through the fire to Molech surely thou much more that gives thy soul to devouring flames to be fewel for the everlasting fire upon so easie tearms what meanest thou O man to truck with the devils Is there no better merchandize to trade in then what comes from hell or out of the bowels of the earth and to be had upon no lower rates then thy immortal soul Yes surely the merchandize of wisdom which is better then the merechandize of silver and the gain thereof then fine gold Prov. 3.14 Prov. 8.19 is exposed to sale Rev. 3.18 And to be had without money or price and if thou shouldest part with any thing for it it is such that it is better to part withal then to keep The wise Merchant that sought a goodly pearl having found one sold all that he had not himself not his soul and all that he sold was in it self not worth a farthing and yet obtained the Pearl Mat. 13.45 46. Paul made the like exchange when he threw away his own righteousness which was but rags yea filthy rags Isaiah 64.6 And put on the garment of salvation and cast away to the dunghil that which was once his gain and won Christ Phil. 3.8 Thou needest not cast away thy soul for puddle pleasures behold the fountain of living water is set open and thou invited to it to take and drink thy belly thy soul full without price or money Isaiah 55.1 2 ly Take a short yet let it not be a slight view of the best of the things men prize so high that for the love of they lose their souls what are they Even painted nothings promising vanities like the apples of Sodom fair to the eye but being touched turn to dust or like our Mother Eve's that had a beautiful look but being tasted brings forth death which for the most part have proved snares to the owners and alwayes miserable comforters at the parting they cannot satisfie in life for the more of these things are had the more with a disquieted spirit are they reached after and what comes in serves but to whet up the greedy unsatisfied appetite after more The world passeth away and the lust thereof 1 John 2.17 Though most men content themselves with these yet it is not in these to satisfie them and had they but one glimpse of the world to come one cranny of light to discern the riches of Christ and the least taste of the pleasures that are at the right hand of God Psal 16.11 They would be as little satisfied without a share in them as they are now with what of worldly things they enjoy much less can they ease from pain at death clap a bag of gold as one once did to thy sinking spirit pained body and tormented conscience and it can neither chear up the one nor appease the other least of all can they deliver from or yield comfort after death those cannot serve as a bribe to death to pass thee by nor yet bring comfort to thy soul when thou art gone the rich fools large crop and great increase could not procure one nights respite nor one moments comfort Besides God regards them so little that frequently he gives the largest share of them to whom he hateth most Psal 17.14 And the least to
them who are the excellent in the earth in whom his soul delights although he hath made them heirs of the Kingdom Jam. 2.5 Yet doth he bestow but a small portion of these worldly things upon them hereby declaring to all how little he sets by those things which most set so much by and to draw up our hearts mindes and affections to the things above yea His own Son that he appointed heir of all things Heb. 1.2 shall come forth neither of rich kindred nor attended with gallants nor yet accoutred with the worlds glory but in a low mean and abject condition at whose birth a manger received him and through his life sorrows wants and sufferings did attend and at the end a shameful death in the worlds esteem befals him and by all this he shews his contempt of the worldly mans darling Cast not away thy soul then O man in seeking after solacing thy self in and contenting thy self with this present world for though thou mayest make gold thy hope and put thy confidence in thy wealth yet when this thy hope shall fail and thy confidence slip from thee as sure it will ere long glad wouldest thou be of the least drop of the water of life and the least filing of that precious gold that thou art now called upon to drink of and to buy for thy self but alas they shall not be had then O then what profit will thy treasures of wickedness yield thee and whereto will thy thick clay that thou hast hoorded up and thy carnal pleasures which thou hast drunk down as the fish drinks down water whereto I say will they serve unless to weigh thee the deeper into hell and increase the fire when it shall be kindled upon thee Thirdly look upon thy loss too which is such that ten thousand worlds cannot repair thy soul thy body thy comforts thy hopes thy share in a crucified Jesus the crown of life and everlasting Communion with the Father Son and Spirit blessed Angels and glorified Saints and a soul-satisfying soul-saving Christ who came from the bosome of love and gave himself to open a way to everlasting glory by the sacrifice of himself to whom thou art called invited and perswaded to come whose heart is open arms spread and who hath room enough in his bosome to receive thee grace enough to pardon thee blood enough to justifie thee treasures enough to enrich thee pleasures enough to delight thee Psal 36.8 And glory enough to crown thee In whom it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Colos 1.19 to make them perfectly blessed that come to him so that there is no need to seek happiness among the creatures which most do and thereby lose true happiness and their souls too turn in hither and thou shalt eat of his bread and drink of the wine which he hath mingled Prov. 9.4 5. Wouldest thou fare deliciously every day and have thy soul delight it self in fatness Isa 55.2 Hearken diligently and come to the wedding the oxen and fatlings are killed and all things are ready Mat. 22.5 I tell thee whatsoever food thou feedest upon else will prove no better to thee then the Prodigals husks Luke 15.16 That will starve thee whilest thou feedest on them if thou drinkest of other wine it will prove as a cup of wine mixed with poison which though it be pleasant to the taste it will be the death of thy soul Wilt thou then lose this Christ this food this pleasure this heaven this happiness for a thing of nought Wilt thou drink out of a puddle a broken Cistern which leaks out the water and holds nothing but mud and refuse the fountain of living water which whosoever tastes of shall live for ever Fourthly beware of perswading thy self into a conceit of the poor mans end if thou livest the rich mans life and dyest his death It is strange to see how many run swiftly the very way to hell yet are full of confidence of going to heaven though Scripture every where shuts them out and Christ at last will certainly shut them out for ever hereafter living and dying in their present state let none therefore deceive you neither deceive your selves for none such can enter into the kingdom of heaven But for these things sake cometh the wrath of God on the children of disobedience 1 Cor. 6.9 Ephes 5.5 6. And how sad will thy disappointment be that goest on securely fearing nothing being fully yet falsely perswaded of eternal life at last and then drop down into the bottomless pit Like wicked Haman that dreamed of greater honour but behold a gallows or our mother Eve who conceited to be as God but became a cursed creature Though the devil may perswade thee thou mayest live as in hell here yet in heaven hereafter believe him not for he endeavours to keep thee in his snares that he may drag thee to hell with him and the better to effect his devilish design upon thee he will present and through his cursed subtlety knows how to do it thy sins and this world in as lovely and taking a guise as may be but will hide the evil consequences from thine eyes that thou mightest be inveigled by gazing on the one and not be afrighted by beholding the other his bait shall be pleasant but his hook hid like the strumpet in Proverbs 7. That intices the simple with fair words but conceals that the way to her house leads to the chambers of death nothing appears but a bed richly furnished and a promise of solacing him with loves but he that followeth after her goeth as an ox to the slaughter and as a fool to the correction of the stocks Fifthly this is thy day to prevent the loss of the one and to get an interest in the other this is the day of salvation the accepted day of the Lord 2 Cor. 6.2 Let the sun of this day be set before this work be done and an everlasting night of darkness will close thee in wherein thou thou shalt have time enough indeed to bemoan thy folly but none to learn to grow wiser It is a sad thing especially in soul concernments to be wise too late and to cry out when time is past Oh that I had improved it when it was present then will the Remembrance of thy former mispent time and thy despair of ever gaining more be like poisoned arrows drinking up thy spirit Amongst all the talents God hath entrusted man withal this is not the least because on it depends eternity and according to the use we make of this will our eternal condition be though the most of men live at such a rate as if it was given them to no other end then to waste in wickedness and consume in pleasures what means else their spending dayes weeks moneths years yea their whole life in whoring swearing playing coveting and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh so that when they come to die the great work
that they were sent to do is then to be done their souls Christ eternity was scarce thought on before but now when mercilesse death begins to gripe them then do they begin to bethink themselves of those things which they should have got in readiness before and that is the reason why we so often hear many that lie upon their death beds to cry out for a little longer time and no wonder for they have the salvation of their souls to seek Oh sad case to have their work to do when the night is come and a Christ to seek when death hath found them take therefore the counsel of the holy Ghost Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts Mark it is the Spirits counsel true the devil and thine own heart will tell thee another tale and be ready to whisper in thine ears thou mayest have time enough hereafter what need of so much haste another day may serve as well let thy soul be filled with pleasure a little longer and thy bags filled a little more thou mayest have time for this and that too Oh but this is the suggestion of an enemy that would cause thee to deferre so long that thy heart may grow too hard and thine ear too heavy to hear at all but certainly this being thy greatest business challengeth the first and greatest care Mat. 6.33 And let this be done then if thou shalt either have so much time to spare or a heart to do it take thy time for the other Sixthly this day of thy mercy and Christs importunity will not last long it is but a day and that a day of visitation indeed it is rich grace that there should be a day but dally not because it is but a day Jerusalem had her day but because therein she did not know the things of her peace a pitch night did overtake Luke 19.42.43 It is a day of patience and if thou despisest the riches of Gods goodness patience and long-suffering towards thee and art not thereby lead to repentance Rom. 2.5 A short time will make it a day of vengeance though now Christ calls because he is willing to save sinners yet he will not alwayes call see then that thou refuse not him that speaks from heaven in this Gospel-day Heb. 12.25 But seek him while he may be found and call upon him while he is near Isa 55.6 lest thou criest after him hereafter and he refuse thee It is not crying Lord Lord when the day of grace is past that will procure the least crumb of mercy Matth. 7.21 No if thou comest not when called but stayest while supper is ended thou shalt not taste thereof Luke 14.24 though a bit would save thy life thy soul if thou drinkest not of the fountain while it is opened thou shalt not when it is shut though thou beggest with tears of blood for one drop to cool thy scoarching flaming heart thou that mightest have had thy vessel full and wellcome shalt not now have so much as will hang on the tip of a finger Oh remember the axe is laid to the root of the tree Matth. 3.10 And although three years time may be granted through the Vine-dressers importunity that will soon be expired and then the axe that is now laid shall cut up the tree by its roots if it bring not forth good fruit Seest thou not that many of late have been snatched away on each side of thee by that hand that hath been stretched out and is so still and though thou mayst escape a while yet hast thou no assurance that the destroying Angel will long pass by thy door Oh then neglect thy soul no longer but consider time is short and uncertain eternity long thy work great thy soul immortal this world vanishing Christ precious hell hot and heaven desirable And if thou beest a Christian to whom this may come that hast not onely had a price in thy hand but wisdom given thee from above to make use of it and art one who whilst others are seeking to make this world and hell together sure to themselves spendest thy time and makest it thy onely business to make sure of the one thing necessary and heaven to thy soul I shall lay two or three things before thy thoughts First walk with a fixed eye upon the world to come Look not at the things which are seen that are temporal but at the things which are not seen that are eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 A Christians eye should be upon his journeys end as our Lord Jesus who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross Heb. 12.2 When the stones fled about Stephens ears His eyes were lifted up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God Acts 7.55 56. What though thou at present mayest lie at the rich mans gates yet a few dayes will translate thee into Abrahams bosome Though Israel had a sharp voyage through the wilderness yet Caleb and Joshua men of excellent spirits had their eye upon the good Land they were going to though graceless souls are too dull fighted to see a far off 2 Pet. 1.9 yet thou that hast received the unction from above dost in some measure know what is the hope of thy calling and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Secondly be satisfied with thy present condition though it be afflictive for it shall not last alwayes thy sorrows shall be short and thy joyes long roul thy self upon the Lord for there is a heaven will pay for all Christ first endured the cross before he wore the crown David before he was a King was a shepherd The poor man spoken of in this ensuing Treatise before he was carried into heaven had experiences of sorrow and sufferings on earth Let the flesh be silent in passing judgement on the dispensations of God towards thee and the men of this world in this present life David by prying too far herein with his own wisdom had almost caught a fall Psal 73. Though Gods judgements may be too deep for our reason to dive into yet are they alwayes righteous and his paths mercy and truth to those that keep his Covenants Psal 25.10 When Jeremiah would debate with the Lord concerning his judgements in the wickeds prosperity he would lay this down as an indubitable truth that his judgements were righteous Jer. 12.1 And his end was not to charge God but to learn understanding of him in the way of his judgements and although the wayes of his providence may be dark to his people that they cannot discern his footsteps yet are they alwayes consistent with his everlasting covenant and the results of the favour he bears to them If the wicked flourish like the grass it is that they should be destroyed for ever Psal 92.7 And if the godly have many a wave beating upon them yet will the Lord command his loving kindness
is John 13.20 Verily verily I say unto you he that receiveth whomsoever I send mark whomsoever receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me The other is Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despisest you despisest me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me I. G. The Authour to the READER FRiend because it is a dangerous thing to be walking towards the place of darkness and anguish and again because it is notwithstanding the journey that most of the poor souls in the world are taking and that with delight and gladness as if there was the onely happiness to be found I have therefore thought it my duty being made sensible of the danger that will befall those that walk therein for the preventing of thee O thou poor man or woman to tell thee by opening this Parable what sad success those souls have had and are also like to have that have been or shall be found persevering therein We use to count him a friend that will forewarn his neighbour of the danger when he knoweth thereof and doth also see that the way that his his neighbour is walking in doth lead right thereto especially when we think that our neighbour may be either ignorant or carelesse of his way Why Friend it may be nay twenty to one but thou hast been ever since thou didst come into the world with thy back towards heaven and thy face towards hell and thou it may be either through ignorance or carelesnesse which is as bad if not worse hast been running full hastily that way ever since Why Friend I beseech thee put a little sâ—op to thy earnest race and tâ—ke a view of what entertainment thou art like to have if thou do indeed and in truth persist in this thy course Friend â—hy way leads down to death and thy steps take hold on hell * Prov 5.5 It may be the path indeed is pleasant to the flesh but the end thereof will be bitter to thy soul Hark dost thou hear the bitter cries of them that are but newly gone before saying Let him dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue that is so tormented in this flame * Luke 16. Dost thou not hear them say Send one from the dead to prevent my father my brother and my fathers house from comming into this place of torment Shall not then these mournfull groans pierce thy flinty heart Wilt thou stop thine ears and shut thy eyes and wilt thou not regard take warning and stop thy journey before it be too late Wilt thou be like the silly flie that is not quiet unlâ—ss she be either intangled in the spiders web or burned in the candle Wilt thou be like the bird that hasteth to the sâ—are of the Fowler Wilt thou he like that simple one named in the 7. of Proverbs That wilt be drawn to the slaughter by the cord of a silly lust O sinner sinner there is better things then hell to be had and at a cheaper rate by the thousand part then that O there is no comparison there is heaven theâ—e is God there is Christ there is communion with innumerable company of Saints and Angels hear the message then that God doth send that Christ doth send that Saints do bring nay that the dead do send unto thee How long ye simple ones will you love simplicity and ye scorners delight in scorning and ye fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof and behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you I say hear this voice O silly one and turn and live thou sinful soul lest he make thee hear that other saying But because I have called and you have refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh O poor soul if God and Christ did wish thee for thine harm it would be another matter then if thou didst refuse thou mightest have some excuse to make some fault to finde and some ground to make delayes O but this is for thy profit for thy advantage for the pardoning of thy sins the salvation of thy soul the delivering of thee from hell fire from the wrath to come from everlasting burnings into favor with God Christ and communion with all happiness that is so indeed But it may be thou wilt say all that hath been spoken to in this discourse is but a Parable and Parables are no realities I could put thee off with this answer that though it be a Parable yet it is a truth and not a lie and thou shalt finde it so too to thy cost if thou shalt be found a slighter of God Christ and the salvation of thy own soul But secondly know for certain that the things signified by Parables are wonderful realities O what a glorious reality was there signified by that Parable The kingdom of heaven is like to a net that is cast into the sea c. Signifying that sinners of all sorts of all Nations should be brought into Gods kingdom by the net of the Gospel And O how real a thing shall the other part thereof be when it s fulfilled which saith And when it was full they drew it to shore and put the good into vessels but threw the bad away signifying the mansions of glory that the Saints should have and also the rejection that God will give to the ungodly and to sinners And also that Parable what a glorious reality is there in it which saith Except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it doth bring forth much fruit To signifie that unless Jesus Christ did indeed spill his blood and die the cursed death he should abide alone that is have never a soul into glory with him but if he died he should bring forth much fruit that is save many sinners And also how real a truth there was in that Parable concerning the Jews putting of Christ to death which the poor dispersed Jews can best experience to their cost for they have been almost ever since a banished people and such as have had Gods sore displeasure wonderfully manifested against them according to the truth of the Parable * Mat. 21. v. 33. to 41 O therefore for Jesus Christs sake do not slâ—ght the truth because it is discovered in a Parable for by this argument thou mayest also nay thou wilt slight almost all the things that our Lord Jesus Christ did speak for he spake them for the most part if not all in parable Why should it be said of thee as it is said of some These things are spoken to them that are without in parables that seeing they might not see and that hearing they might not understand Luke 8.10 I say take heed of being a quarreller against Christ parables lest Christ also objecteth against the salvation of
the day of judgement many mens conditions and carriages will be so laid open that it will evidently appear they have been very merciless and mad against the children of God insomuch that when the providence of God did fall out so as to cross their expectations Verse 22. they have been very much offended thereat as is very evidently seen in them who set themselves to study how to bring the Saints into bondage and to thrust them into corners as in these late years And because God hath in his goodness ordered things otâ—erwise they have gnashed their teeth thereat Hence then let the Saints learn not to commit themselves to their enemies they are very merciless men and will not so much favour you if they can help it as you may suppose they may Nay unless the over-ruling hand of God in goodness do order things contrary to their naturall inclination they will not favour you so much as a dog Verse 22. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome the rich man also died and was buried THe former verses do briefly hold forth the carriage of of the ungodly in this life toward the Saints Now this Verse doth hold forth the departure both of the godly and the ungodly out of this life Where he saith And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried into Abrahams bosome and the rich man died also The beggar died that represents the godly and the rich man died that represents the ungodly from whence observe Neither godly â—or ungodly must live alwayes without a change either by death or judgement the good man died and the bad man died that Scripture also doth back this truth that good and bad must die marvellous well where it is said And it is appointed to men once to die and after that the judgement Heb. 9.27 Mark he doth not say it is so that men by chance may die which might beget in the hearts of the ungodly especially some hope to scape the bitterness of it but he saith It is a thing most certain it is appointed Mark it is appointed for men once to die and after that the judgement God hath decreed it that since men have fallen from that happy estate that God at the first did set them in they shall die now when it is said the beggar died and the rich man died part of the meaning is they ceased to be any more in this world I say partly the meaning but not altogether Though it be altogether the meaning when some of the creatures die yet it is but in part the meaning when it is said that men women or children die for there is to them something else to be said more then barely a going out of the world For if when unregeneraâ—e men and women die there were an end of them not onely in this world but also in the world to come they would as I may say be happy over they will be now for when ungodly men and women die there is that to come after death if they die unregenerate that will be very terrible to them namely to be carried by the Angels of darkness from their death-beds to hell there to be reserved to the judgement of the great day when both body and soul shall meet and be united together again and made capable to undergo the uttermost vengeance of the Almighty to all eternity This is that I say which doth follow a man that is not born again after death as is clear from that in 1 Pet. 3.18 19. Where before speaking of Christ being raised again by the power of his eternal spirit he saith by which that is by that spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison but what is the meaning of this Why thus much that those souls who were once alive in the world in the time or dayes in which Noah lived being disobedient in their times to the calls of God by his Spirit in Noah for so I understand it was according to that which was foretold by that Preacher deprived of life and overcome by the flood and are now in prison Mark he preached to the spirits in Prison he doth not say who were in Prison but to them in that is now in Prison under chains of daâ—kness reserved or kept there in that prison in which now they are ready like villains in the jayl to be brought before the judgement seat of Christ at the great day but of this I shall speak further by and by Now if this one truth that men must die and depart this world â—nd either enter into joy or else into prison to be reserved to the day of judgement were believed we should not have so many wantons walk up and down the streeets as there do at least it would put a mighty check to their filthy carriages so that they would not could not walk so basely and sinfully as they do Belshazzer notwithstanding he was so far from the fear of God so long as he was senseless of the Lords hand against him yet when he did but see that God was offended and threatned him for his wickedness it made him hang down his head and knock his knees together Dan. 5.5 6. If you read the verses before you will finde he was careless and satisfying his lusts in drinking and playing the wanton with his Concubines But so soon as he did but perceive the finger of an hand writing then saith the Scripture the Kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joynts of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another And when Paul told Felix of Righteousness Acts 24.25 Temperance and Judgement to come it made him rremble And let me tell thee Soul whosoever thou art that if thou didst but verily believe that thou must die and come into the judgement it would make thee turn over a new leaf as we say But this is the misery the devil doth labour by all means as to keep out other things that are good so to keep out of the heart as much as in him lies the thoughts of passing from this life into another world for he knows if he can but keep them from the serious thoughts of death he shall the more easily keep them in their sins and so from closing with Jesus Christ as Job saith Their houses are safe from fear Job 21.9 neither is the rod of God upon them Which makes them say to God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes verse 14. Because there is no fear of death and judgement to come therefore they do put off God and his wayes and spend their dayes in their sins and in a moment that is before they are aware go down to the grave ver 17. And thus it sared also with the man spoken of in Luke 12.20 the man instead of thinking of death he thought how he
might make his barns bigger but in the midst of his business in the world he lost his soul before he was aware supposing that death had been many years off But God said unto him Thou fool thou troublest thy self aboâ—t things of this life thou puttest off the thoughts of departing this world when this night thy soul shall be taken from thee Or this night they that is the devil will fetch away thy soul from thee And here it comes to pass mens not being exercised with the thoughts of departing this life that they are so unexpected to themselves and their neighbours taken away from the pleasures and profits yea all the enjoyments they busie themselves withall while they live in this world And hence it is again that you have some in your towns and cities that are so suddenly taken away some from haunting the Ale-house others from haunting the Whore-houses others from playing and gaming others from the cares and covetous desires after this world unlooked for as by themselves or their companions Hence it is also that men do so wonder at such tidings as this there is such an one dead such an one is departed it is because they do so little consider both the transitoriness of themselves and their neighbours for had they but their thoughts well exercised about the shortness of this life and the danger that will befall such as do miss of the Lord Jesus Christ it would make them more wary and sober and spend more time in the service of God and be more delighted and diligent in enquiring after the Lord Jesus who is the deliverer from wrath to come For as I said before it is evident that they who live after the flesh in the lusts thereof do not really and seriously think on death and the judgement that doth follow after neither do they indeed endeavour so to do for did they it would make them say with holy Job Job 14.14 All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come And as I said before that not onely the wicked but also the godly have their time to depart this life And the beggar died The Saints of the Lord they must be deprived of this life also they must yield up the Ghost into the hands of the Lord their God they must also be separated from their wives children husbands friends goods and all that they have in the world For God hath decreed it It is appointed namely by the Lord for men once to die and we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ As it is 2 Corinth 5.10 11. But it may be objected if the godly do die as well as the wicked and if the saints must appear before the judgement seat as well as the sinners then what advantage have the godly more then the ungodly and how can the Saints be in a better condition then the wicked Answ Read the 22 th verse over again and you shall finde a marvellous difference between them as much as is between heaven and hell everlasting joy and everlasting torment for you finde that when the beggar died which represents the godly He was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome or into everlasting joy * Psal 1. but the ungodly are not so but are hurried by the devils into the bottomless pit for he saith And in hell he lift up his eyes When the ungodly do die their misery beginneth for then appear the devils like so many lions waiting every moment till the soul depart from the body Sometimes they are very visible to the dying party but sometimes more invisible but alwayes this is certain they never miss of the soul if it do die out of the Lord Jesus Christ but do hale it away to the prison as I said before there to be tormented and reserved until that great and general day of judgement at which day they must body and soul receive a final sentence from the righteous Judge and from that time be shut out from the presence of God into everlasting woe and distress But the godly when the time of their departure is at hand then also are the Angels of the Lord at hand yea they are ready waiting upon the soul to conduct it safely into Abrahams bosom I do not say but the devils are oft times very busie doubtless and attending the Saints in their sicknesse I and no question but they would willingly deprive the soul of glory But here is the comfort as the devils come from hell to devour the soul if it be possible at its departure so the Angels of the Lord come from heaven to watch over and conduct the soul in spite of the devil safe into Abrahams bosome David had the comfort of this and speaks it forth for the comfort of his Brethren Psalm 34.7 saying The Angels of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Mark the Angels of the Lord encampeth round about his children to deliver them From what From their enemies of which the devil is not the least This is an excellent comfort at any time to have the holy Angels of God to attend a poor man or woman but especially it is comfortable in the time of distress at the time of death when the devils beset the soul with all the power that hell can afford them But now it may be that the glorious Angels of God do not appear at the first to the view of the soul nay rather it may be hell stands before it and the devils ready as if they would carry it thither But this is the comfort the Angels do alwayes appear at the last and will not fail the soul but will carry it safe into Abrahams bosome Ah Friends consider here is an ungodly man upon his death bed and he hath none to speak for him none to speak comfort unto him but it is not so with the children of God for they have the Spirit to comfort them Here is the ungodly and they have no Christ to pray for their safe conduct to glory but the Saints have an Intercessour John 17. Here is the world when they die they have none of the Angels of God to attend upon them but the Saints have their company In a word the unconverted person when he dieth he sinks into the bottomless pit But the Saints when they die do ascend with and by the Angels into Abrahams bosom or into unto unspeakable glory Again it is said that the rich man when he died was buried or put into the earth but when the beggar died he was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom The one is a very excellent stile where he saith he was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome it denotes the excellent condition of the Saints of God as I said before and not onely so but also the preciousness of the death of the Saints in the eyes of the Lord that after generations may see how precious in the
Ah Friends if you were but your selves you would have a care of your souls if you did but regard you would see how mad they are that slight the salvation of their souls O what will it profit thy soul to have pleasure in this life and torments in hell thou hadst better part with all thy sins and pleasures and companions or whatsoever thou delightest in then to have soul and body to be cast into hell O then do not now neglect our Lord Jesus Christ lest thou drop down to hell Consider would it not wound thee to thine heart to come upon thy death-bed and instead of having the comfort of a well-spent life and the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ together with the comforts of his glorious Spirit to have first the sight of an ill-spent life thy sins flying in thy face thy conscience uttering it self with thunder-claps against thee the thoughts of God terrifying of thee death with his merciless paw seizing upon thee the devils standing ready to scramble for thy soul and hell enlarging her self and ready to swallow thee up and eternity of misery and torment attending upon thee from which there will be no release For mark death doth not come alone to an unconverted soul but with such company as wert thou but sensible of it would make thee tremble I pray consider that Scripture Rev. 6.8 And I looked and beheld a pale hoâ—se and his name that saâ— on him was Death and hell followed with him Mark death doth not come alone to the ungodly no but hell goeth with â—im O miserable comforters O miserable society here comes death and hell unto thee Death goeth into thy body and separates body and soul asunder hell stands without as I may say to embrace or rather to crush thy soul between its everlasting grinders Then thy mirth thy joy thy sinful delights will be ceased when this comes to pass lo it will come Blessed are all those that through Christ Jesus his merits by faith do escape these soul-murthering companions And in hell he lift up his eyes The third thing you know that we did observe from these words was this That some are so fast asleep and secure in their sins that they scarce know where they are untill they come into hell And that you know I told you I gather by these words In hell he lift up his eyes Mark it was in hell that he lift up his eyes Now some do understand by these words that he came to himself or began to consider with himself or to think with himself in what an estate he was and what he was deprived of which is still a confirmation of the thing laid down by me There it is that they come to themselves that is there they are sensible where they are indeed thus it fares with some men that they scarce know where they are till they lift up their eyes in hell It is with these people as with those that fall down in a swoun you know if a man do fall down in a swoun in one room though you take him up and carry him into another yet he is not sensible where he is till he cometh unto himself and lifteth up his eyes Truly thus it is to be feared it is with many poor souls they are so senseless so hard so seared in their conscience that they are very ignorant of their state and when death comes it strikes them as it were into a swoun especially if they die suddenly and so they are hurried away and scarce know where they are till in hell they lift up their eyes Of this sort are they spoken of in Psalm 73. where he saith There are no bonds in their death but their strength is firm They are not troubled as other folk neither are they plagued like other men And again they spend their dayes in wealth and in a moment mark in a moment before they are aware they go down to the grave Job 21.17 Indeed this is too much known by woful and daily experience sometimes when we go to visit them that are sick in the towns and places where we live Oh how senceless how seared in their consciences are they they are neither sensible of heaven nor of hell of sin nor a Saviour speak to them of their condition and the state of their souls and you shall finde them as ignorant as if they had no souls to regard Others though they lie ready to die yet they are busying themselves about their outward affairs as though they should certainly live here even to live and enjoy the same for ever Again come to others speak to them about the state of their souls though they have no more experience of the new birth then a beast yet will they speak as confidently of their eternal state and the welfare of their souls as if they had the most excellent experience of any man or woman in the world When as I said even now the Lord knows they are as ignorant of the new birth of the nature and operation of faith of the witness of the Spirit as if there were no new birth no faith no witness of the Spirit of Christ in any of the Saints in the world Nay thus many of them are even an hour or less before their departure Ah poor souls though they may go away here like a lamb as the world sayes yet if you could but follow them a little to stand and listen soon after their departure It is to be feared you should hear them roar like a lion at their first entrance into hell Now by this one thing doth the devil take great advantage on the hearts of the ignorant suggesting unto them that because the party deceased departed so quietly without all doubt they are gone to rest and joy when alas it is to be feared the reason why they went away so quietly was rather because they were senseless and hardened in their consciences yea dead before in sins and trespasses For had they had but some awakenings on their death beds as some have had they would have made all the town to ring of their doleful condition But because they are seared and ignorant and so depart quietly therefore the world takes heart at grass as we use to say and make no great matter of living and dying they cannot well tell how But let them look to themselves for if they have not an interest in the Lord Jesus now while they live in the world they will whether they die raging or still go unto the same place and lift up their eyes in hell O my friends did you but know what a miserable condition they are in that go out of this world without an interest in the Son of God it would make you smite upon your thigh and in the bitterness of your souls cry out Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved And not onely so but thou wouldest not be comforted until thou didst finde a rest for
such a voice as this is Son remember that in thy life time thou hadst thy good things thy comforts thy joyes thy ease thy peace and all the heaven thou art like to have thou hadst all thy good things in thy life time O poor heaven O short pleasures what a pitiful thing it is to be left in such a case Soul consider is it not miserable to lose heaven for twenty thirty or forty years sinning against God Consider when thy life is done thy heaven is also done when death comes to separate thy soul and body in that day also thou must have thy heaven and happiness separated from thee and thou from that Consider these things therefore betimes lest thou have thy portion in thy life time For if in this life onely we have our portion we are of all people the most miserable Again consider that when other men the Saints are to receive their good things then thou hast had thine when others are to enter into joy then thou art to leave and depart from thy joy when others are to go to God thou must go to the devil Oh miserable thou hadst better thou hadst never been born then to be an heir of such a portion therefore I say have a care it be not thy condition Remember that thou hadst thy good things and Lazarus evil things These words do not onely hold forth the misery of the wicked in this life or world to come but also great consolalâ—tion to the Saints where he saith And Lazarus evil things That is Lazarus had his evil things in his life time or when he was in the world From whence observe 1. That the life of the Saints so long as they are in this world is attended with many evils or afflictions which may be discovered to be of divers natures as saith the Scripture Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all 2. Take notice that the afflictions or evils that accompany the Saints may continue with them their life time so long as they live in this vale of tears yea and they may be divers that is of several sorts some outward some inward and that as long as they shall continue here below as hath been the experience of all Saints in all ages and this might be proved at large but I onely hint in these things although I might enlarge much upon them 3. The evils that do accompany the Saints will continue with them no longer then their life time and here indeed lies the comfort of Believers the Lazarus's the Saints they must have all their bitter cup wrung out to them in their life time here must be all their trouble here must be all their grief Behold saith Christ the world shall rejoyce but you shall lament but your mourning shall mark it shall be turned into joy you shall lament you shall be sorrowful you shall weep in you life time but your sorrow shall be tur-turned into joy and your joy no man let him be what he will no man shall take away from you Now if you think when I say the Saints have all their evil things in their life time that I mean they have nothing else but trouble in this their life time this is your mistake for let me tell you that though the Saints have all their evil things in their life time yet even in their life time they have also joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet 1.6 7 8. while they look not at the things that are seen but at the things which are not seen The joy that the Saints have sometimes in their hearts by a believing consideration of the good things to come when this life is ended doth fill them fuller of joy then all the crosses troubles temptations and evils that accompany them in this life can fill them with grief 2 Corinth 4. But some Saint may say my troubles are such as are ready to overcome me Answ Yet be of good comfort they shall last no longer than thy life time But my trouble is I am perplexed with an heart full of corruption sin so that I am much hindred in walking with God Answ 'T is like so but thou shalt have these troubles no longer then thy life time But I have a cross husband and that 's a great grief to mee It is like so but thou shalt be troubled with him no longer than thy life time and therefore be not dismaid be not discomforted thou shalt have no trouble longer than this life time Art thou troubled with cross children cross relations cross neighbours they shall trouble thee no longer then this life time Art thou troubled with a cunning devil with unbelief yea let it be what it will thou shalt take thy farewel of them all if thou be a believer after thy life time is ended O excellent O sweet that there should be an end put to all our troubles after this life is ended this priviledge have all the Saints But now on the contrary if thou be not a right and sound believer if thou be noâ— indeed effectual converted to the Lord Jesus Christ then though thou shouldst live a thousand years in this world and meet with sore afflictions every day yet these afflictions be they never so great and grievous they are nothing to that torment that will come upon thee both in soul in body after this life is ended I say be what thou wilt if thou be found in unbelief or under the first covenant thou art sure to smart for it at the time when thou dost depart this world But the thing to be lamented is this For all this is so sad a condition to be fallen into yet poor souls are for the most part senseless of it yea so senseless at sometimes as though there was no such misery to come hereafter Because the Lord doth not immediately strike with his sword but doth bear long with his creature waiting that he might be gracious therefore I say the hearts of some of the sonnes of men are wholly set upon it to do mischief Eccles And that forbearance and goodness of God that one would think should lead them to repentance the devil hardening of them by their continuing in sin and by blinding their eyes as to the end of Gods forbearance toward them Rom 2.1 they are led away with a very hardened and senseless heart even until they drop into eternal destruction But poor hearts as they are they must have a time in which they must be made sensible of their former behaviours when the just judgements of the Lord shall flame abouâ— their ears insomuch that they shall be made to cry out again with anguish I am sorely tormented in this flame But now he is comforted and thou art tormented As if he should say Now hath God recompenced both Lazarus and you according to what you sought after while you were in this world as for your pâ—rt you
practices of this world and the lusts thereof Oh! that some body would stop them from coming lest they also come into this place of torment and be damned as I am how will it torment me For the reason as I said before why some mens condemnations are more intollerable then others is sometimes because they have not onely damned themselves by their sins but their ungodly carriages have been stumbling-blocks to others causing them also to stumble and fall at that for which thou thy self art damned Balaam could not be contented to be damned himself but also he must by his wickedness cause others to stumble and fall Rev. 2.14 The Scribes and Pharisees could not be converted to keep out of heaven themselves but they must labour to keep out others too The deceived cannot be content to be deceived himself but he must labour to deceive others also The drunkard cannot be contented to go to hell for his own sins but he must labour to cause others to fall into the same furnace with him O friends look to your selves for here will be damnation upon damnation damned for thy own sins and damned for thy being a partaker with others in their sins and damned for being guilty of the damnation of others O how will the drunkard cry for leading their neighbours into drunkenness How will the covetous person howle for setting his neighbour his friend his brother his children and relations so wicked an example by which he hath not onely wronged his own soul but also the souls of others The liar by lying learned others to lie the swearer learned others to swear the whoremonger learns others to whore Now all these with others of the like sort will be guilty not onely of their own damnation but also of the damnation of others I tell you that some men have been so much the authors of the damnation of others that I am ready to think that the damnation of them will trouble them as much as their own damnation Some men it is to be feared at the day of judgement will be found to be the author of destroying whole nations How many souls do you think Balaam with his deceit will have to answer for How many Mahomet How many the Pharisees that hired the souldiers to say the Disciples stole away Jesus and by that means stumbled their brethren to this day and was one means of hindering them from believing the things of God and Jesus Christ and so the cause of the damnation of their brethren to this very day How many souls hath Bonner to answer for think you and several filthy blind Priests How many souls have they been the means of destroying by their ignorance and corrupt doctrine preaching that that was no better to their souls than Rats-bane to the body for filthy lucres sake * O ye Priests this word is for you They shall see that they many of them it is to be feared will have whole towns to answer for whole cities to answer for Ah Friend I tell thee thou that hast taken in hand to preach to the people it may be thou hast taken in hand thou canst not tell what Will it not grieve thee to see thy whole parish come bellowing after thee to hell crying out this we may thank thee for this is long of thee thou didst not teach us the truth thou didst lead us away with fables thou wast afraid to tell us of our sins lest we should not put meat fast enough in thy mouth ☞ O cursed wretch that ever thou shouldest beguile us thus deceive us thus flatter us thus We would have gone out to hear the word abroad but that thou didst reprove us and also tell us that that which we see now is the way of God was Heresie and a deceivable doctrine and wast not contented blind Guide as thou wert to fall into the dich thy self but hast also lead us thither with thee I say look to thy self lest thou cry out when it is too late O send Lazarus to my people my friends my children my congregation to whom I preached and beguiled through my folly Send him to the town in which I did prâ—ach last lest I be the cause of their damnation Send him to my friends from whence I came lest I be made to answer for their soul and mine own too Ezek. 33.1.2 3 4 5 6. O send him therefore and let him tell them and testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment Consider this ye that live in the world while you are in the land of the living lest you fall into this condition Set case thou shouldest by thy carriage destroy but a soul but one poor soul by one of thy carriages or actions by thy sinful works consider it now I say lest thou be forced to cry I pray thee therefore that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house for I have five brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment If so then I shall not onely say to the blind guides look you to your selves and shut out others no but this doth reach in all those that do not onely keep souls from heaven by preaching and the like but this doth also speak forth the doom of those that shall any wayes be instrumental to hinder others for closing in with Jesus Christ O what red lines will those be against all these rich ungodly Landlords that so keep under their poor Tenants that they dare not go out to hear the word for fear their Rent should be raised or they turned out of their houses What sayest thou Landlord will it not cut thy soul when thou shalt see that thou couldest not be content to miss of heaven thy self but thou must labour to hinder others also Will it not give thee an eternal wound in thy heart both at death and judgement to be accused of the ruine of thy neighbours soul thy servants soul thy wives soul together with the ruine of thy own Think on this you drunken proud rich and scornful Landlords think on this you mad-brain'd blasphemous Husbands that are against the godly and chaste conversation of your Wives also you that hold your Servants so hard to it that you will not spare them time to hear the word unless it be where and when your lusts will let you O if you love your own souls your Tenants souls your Wives souls your Servants souls your Children souls if you would not cry if you would not howl if you would not bear the burden of the ruine of others for ever then I beseech you to consider this doleful story and labour to avoid the soul-killing torment that this poor wretch groaneth under when he saith I pray thee therefore that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house For I have five brethren that he may testifie Mark that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment These
for he laid the sins of thousands and ten thousands and thousands of thousands of sinners to his charge Esay 53. And caused him to drink the terrible cup that was due to them all and not onely so but did delight in so doing For it pleased the Lord to bruise him God dealt indeed with his Son as Abraham would have dealt with Isaac I and more terribly by ten thousand parts for he did not onely tear his body like a lion but made his soul an offering for sin And this was not done fainedly but really for justice called for it he standing in the room of sinners witness that horrible and unspeakable agony that fell on him suddenly in the Garden as if all the vials of Gods unspeakable scalding vengeance had been cast upon him all at once and all the devils in hell had been broken loose from thence at once to destroy him and that for ever insomuch that the very pangs of death seized upon him the same hour For saith he My soul is exceeding sorrowful and amazed even unto death Mark 14.33 34. Witness also that strange kinde of sweat that trickled down his most blessed face where it is said And he sweat as it were great mark I beseech you great drops or clodders of blood trickling down to the ground O Lord Jesus what a load didst thou carry what a burthen didst thou bear of the sins of the world and the wrath of God! O thou didst not onely bleed at nose and mouth with the pressure that lay upon thee but thou wast so pressed so loaden that the pure blood gushed through the flesh and skin and so ran trickling down to the ground And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood trickling or falling down to the ground Luke 22.44 Canst thou read this O thou wicked sinner and yet go in sin Canst thou think of this and defer repentance one hour longer O heart of flint yea harder O miserable wretch what place in hell will be hot enough for thee to have thy soul put into if thou shalt persist or go on still to adde iniquity to iniquity Besides his soul went down to hell Psal 16.10 Acts 2.31 and his body to the bars of the grave And had hell death or the grave been strong enough to hold him then he had suffered the vengeance of eternal fire to all eternity But O blessed Jesus how didst thou discover thy love to man in thy thus suffering And O God the Father how didst thou also declare thy purity and exactness of thy justice in that though it was thine onely holy innocent harmless and undefiled Son Jesus that did take on him our nature and represent our persons answering for our sins instead of our selves thou didst so wonderfully pour out thy wrath upon him to the making of him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And O Lord Jesus what a glorious conquest hast thou made over the enemies of our souls even wrath sin death hell and devils in that thou didst wring thy self from under the power of them all and not onely so but hast led them captive which would have led us captive and also hast received for us that glorious and unspeakable inheritance That eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive And also hast given thine some discovery thereof through thy Spirit And now sinner together with this consider Fourthly That though Jesus Christ hath done all these things for sinners yet the devils make it their whole work and continual study how they may keep thee and others from enjoying of these blessed priviledges that have been thus obtained for sinners by this sweet Jesus He labours I say first to keep thee ignorant of thy state by nature Secondly to harden thy heart against the wayes of God Thirdly to inflame thy heart with love to sin and the wayes of darkness And fourthly to get thee to continue herein For that is the way he knows to get thee to be a partaker with him of the flaming hell fire even the same that he himself is fallen into together with the rest of the wicked world by reason of sin Look to it therefore But now in the next place a word of incouragement to you that are the Saints of the Lord. 1. Consider what an happy state thou art in that hast gotten the faith of the Lord Jesus into thy soul But be sure thou have it I say how safe how sure how happy art thou For when others go to hell thou must go to heaven when others go to the devil thou must go to God when as others go to prison thou must be set at liberty at ease and at freedom when others must roar for sorrow of heart then thou shalt also sing for the joy of heart Secondly consider thou must have all thy well spent life to follow thee instead of all thy sins and the glorious blessings of the Gospel instead of the dreadful curses and condemnations of the Law The blessing of the Father instead of a fiery sentence from the Judge Thirdly let dissolution come when it will it can do thee no harm for it will be but onely a passage out of a prison into a palace out of a sea of troubles into an haven of rest out of a croud of enemies to an innumerable company of true loving and faithful friends out of shame reproach and contempt into exceeding great and eternal glory For death shall not hurt thee with his sting nor bite thee with his soul-murthering teeth but shall be a welcome guest to thee even to thy soul in that it is sent to free thee from thy troubles which thou art in whiles here in this world dwelling in the tabernacle of clay Fourthly consider how ever it goes with friends and relations yet it will go well with thee Ecclesiastes 8.12 However it goes with the wicked yet I know Mark yet I know saith he that it shall go well with them that fear the Lord that fear before him And therefore let this in the first place cause thee chearfully to exercise thy patience under all the calamities crosses troubles and afflictions that may come upon thee and by patient continuance in well doing to commit both thy self and thine affairs and actions into the hands of God through Jesus Christ as to a faithful Creatour who is true in his word and loveth to give unto thee whatsoever he hath promised to thee And therefore to incourage thee while thou art here with comfort to hold on for all thy crosses in this thy journey be much in considering the place that thou must go into so soon as dissolution comes It must be into heaven to God the Judge of all to an innumerable company of Angels to the spirits of just men made perfect to the general Assembly and Church of the first born whose names are written in heaven and to Jesus too the
sight of the Lord the death of his Saints is when he saith they are carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome Thus many times the Lord adorneth the death and departure of his Saints to hold forth unto after generations how excellent they are in his eyes It is said of Enoch that God took him of Abraham that he died in a good old age of Moses that the Lord buried him of Elijah that he was taken up into heaven that the Saints sleep in Jesus that they die in the Lord that they rest from their labour that their works follow them that they are under the Altar that they are with Christ that they are in light that they are to come with the Lord Jesus to judge the world All which sayings signifie thus much That to die â— Saint is very great honour and dignity But the ungodly are not so The rich or ungodly die and are buried he is carried from his dwelling to the grave and there he is buried hid in the dust and his body doth not so fast molder and come to nought there but his name doth stink as fast in the world as saith the holy Scripture The name of the wicked shall rot And indeed the names of the godly are not in so much honour after their departure but the wicked and their names do as much rot What a dishonour to posterity was the death of Balaam Agag Achitophel Haman Judas Herod with the rest of their companions So that though the wicked have their names written in the earth and they do perish and rot yet the name of the Saints do cast forth a dainty savour to following generations and that the Lord Jesus doth signifie where he saith The godly are carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome And that the wicked are nothing worth where he saith The ungodly die and are buried Verse 23. And in hell he lift up his â—â—es being in torment and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome THe former verse speaks onely of the departure of the ungodly out of this life together with the glorious conduct that the godly have into the kingdome of their Father Now our Lord doth shew in this verse partly what doth and shall befall to the reprobate after this life is ended where he saith And in hell he lift up his eyes That is the ungodly after they depart this life do lift up their eyes in hell From these words may be observed these things 1. That there is an hell for souls to be tormented in when this life is ended Mark after he was dead and buried In hell he lift up his eyes 2. That all that are ungodly and do live and die in their sins so soon as ever they die they go into hell he died and was buried And in hell he lift up his eyes 3. That some are so fast asleep and secure in their sins that they scarce know well where they are till they come into hell and that I gather from these words In hell he lift up his eyes He was asleep before but hell makes him lift up his eyes As I said before it is evident that there is an hell for souls yea and bodies too to be tormented in after they depart this life as is clear First because the Lord Jesus Christ that cannot lie did say that after the sinner was dead and buried In hell he lift up his eyes Now if it be objected that hell is here meant the grave that I plainly deny First because there the body is not sensible of torment or ease but in that hell into which the spirits of the damned depart they are sensible of torment and would be very willingly freed from it to enjoy ease which they are sensible of the want of as is clearly discovered in this Parable Send Lazarus that he may dip c. 2. It is not meant the grave but some other place because the bodies so long as they lie there are not capable of lifting up their eyes to set the glorious condition of the children of God as the souls of the damned do In hell he lift up his eyes 3. It cannot be the grave for then it must follow that the soul was buried there with the body which cannot stand with such a dead state as is here mentioned for he saith The rich man died that is his soul was separated from his body And in Hell he lift up his eyes If it be again objected that there is no hell but in this life that I do also deny as I said before after he was dead and buried In hell he lift up his eyes And let me tell thee O soul whoever thou art that if thou close not in savingly with the Lord Jesus Christ and lay hold on what he hath done and is doing in his own person for sinners thou wilt finde such an hell after this life is ended that thou wilt not get out of again for ever and ever And thou that art wanton and doest make but a mock at the servants of the Lord when they tell thee of the torments of hell thou wilt finde that when thou departest out of this life that hell even the hell which is after this life will meet thee in thy journey thither and will with its hellish crew give thee such a sad salutation that thou wilt not forget it to all eternity when that Scripture comes to be fulfilled on thy soul in Isa 14.9 where it is said Hell from beneath it moved for thee to meet thee at thy comming it stirreth up the dead for thee even all the chief ones of the earth it hath raised from their thrones all the kings of the nations All they that is that are in hell shall say Art thou become weak as we art thou become like unto us O sometimes when I have had but thoughts of going to hell and considered the everlastingness of their ruine that fall in thither it hath stirred me up rather to seek to the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver me from thence then to slight it and make a mock at it And in hell he lift up his eyes The second thing I told you was this That all the ungodly that live and die in their sins so soon as ever they depart this life do descend into hell This is also verified by the words in this parable where Christ saith He died and was buried and in hell he lift up his eyes As the tree falls so it shall lie whether it be to heaven or hell And as Christ said to the thief on the Cross This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Even so the devil in the like manner may say unto thy soul To morrow shalt thou be with me in hell See then what a miserable case he that dies in an unregenerate state is in he departs from a long sickness to a longer hell from the gripings of death to the everlasting torments of hell And in hell he lift up his eyes