be crownd with glory happinesse in the highest heauens In regard wherof Justus dum per mortem e vita tollitur non exciditur sed in vberius solum transfertur Fran. Luc. Brugiens in locum wheÌ„ by Death he is taken out of this life he cannot be said to be hewen down but rather transplanted into a more fruitful soile On the other side the vngodly man that bringeth not forth good fruit but is barren in all goodnesse and only fruitfull in the daÌ„nable works of darknes he shal die but a death far different froÌ„ that of the righteous for being besotted with the pleasures of sinne and hauing his affections fast glewed to the things of this world when Death arresteth his Body his Soule wil depart out of it like sawdust grated out of the belly of an hard Oke with much labour and striuing so vnwilling and loth it will be to breake vp house and bid farewell vnto the world Yea for as much as he neuer endeuoured to keep a good Conscience toward God and man therefore his guiltie Conscience like the euill Spirit which vexed Saul 1 Sam. 16.14 shall most fearefully wracke and torture him and a wounded spirit who can beare Prou. 18.14 saith the Prouerbialist and thus in the anguish and bitternesse of his Soule he shal be broken like a tree Iob 24.20 the Axe of Death shall cleaue rent his soule and body asunder with all violence and terror he shall bee hewen downe saith my Text. But is this all shall this Tree thus fell'd there lie and rest and rot where it falleth I meane shall his soule and body thus parted so perish as that he shall cease euer to haue a being any more and consequently a feeling of any further misery Certainly though sinful man be like vnto the beasts that perish yet he doth not perish like the beasts whose bodies are turned into ashes and their spirits vanish as soft ayre and are no more No his soule is an immortall substance and his body though in the eye of a carnall Sadducee it seemeth so to perish as that it shall neuer haue a being any more yet it shall at the last day by the power of God be restored to its iust proportion for after Death there must come a Iudgment particular of the Soule when it departeth from the body generall of Soule and body at the generall resurrection So that this fearfull hewing downe is but as the Prologue to a more tragicall feareful Scene it is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning of sorrowes the forerunner of more fearefull torments For after the axe of Death hath with all violence cleft and rent his Soule and Body in sunder after that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee is thus hewen downe it followeth in the next place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee is cast into the fire hee is throwen headlong into the flames of Hell And this second penaltie his exastion The second pâ—naltie an Exastion is indeed principally that which causeth his dissolution to be so comfortles full of terrour For when the hand of God lyeth heauy vpon him to hew him downe by death it is not the separation of his soule body that doth so much trouble him nor the leauing his beloued world that doth so much afflict him no nor the cruel gnawings of his guilty conscience that doe so wrack torture him otherwise then ioyned with the present apprehension of being cast into this fire which he then foreseeth will most certainly befal him afâ—er his dissolution And no maruell if the apprehension thereof strike such a dread terror into his departing soule Et hic â— c. 9. for what Aristotle that heathen oracle of learning said of the naturall death of the Body as one who saw no farther then the twilight of Nature would giue him leane may more truelâ— be auerred of this second penalty that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most terrible of terribles As Zeuxis that excelleÌ„t painter desiring to draw Junocs picture exactly viewed al the Agrigentine Virgins with a curious eye pickt out fiue of the choycest Pieces Nature did afford amongst them out of which for the composition of her picture he abstracted and expressed with his pencill what he apprehended more accurate and excellent either for proportion or beauty So the liueliest resemblance can be framed of this fearfull penalty is by presenting vnto our fantasie all the torments that euer seized vpon the sons of Adam in this vally of misery and out of them to make choice of such as are most exquisite acrimonious and intolerable and out of these if it were possible to extract a Quintessence and to inflict this quintessence of tormeÌ„t vpon one man and yet when we haue done all this this all is as nothing we shaâ—l haue framed but a dull a weake Idea of this penalty For the Eie hath not seen the Eare heard nor hath it entred into the Heart of Man 1 Cor. 2.9 as what ioyes God hath prepar'd for those that loue him so what sorrowes he hath laid vp for those that leaue him And therfore as the Painter presenting the sorrow of the father of Iphigenia when she was to be sacrificed drew him with his face couered as confessing his Art insufficient to expresse in his visage a griefe of that degree so being at this time according to my propounded Method to present so terrible fearfull a penaltie as to be cast into hell fire my best course I coÌ„fesse were to cast ouer it the vaile of silence as being best coÌ„scious of my own insufficiency for a task of such transcendeÌ„cy Yet vnwilling my particular weaknes should frustrate the generall expectation of so Honourable an Audience And fearing my silence in a point of such importance may occasion some to sleight their owne ruine and neglect their speedy reformation For such is naturally our slauish disposition that notwithstanding all the gracâ—ous and glorious promises of the Gospell vnlesse the terrors of the Law be punctually propounded vnto the vnderstanding and so reflect and beate vpon the Conscience wee walke without either feare or wit in the wayes of vngodâ—inesse and as if wee had taken a liberall Dosis of Opium are cast into a Spirituall Lethargie and fall into Hell before we so much as dreame of Damnation Therefore a word or two more particularly for the description of the fearefulnesse of this particular penaltie For I intend not though the case might iustly require it to entertaine you with a particular discourse of the seuerall punishments wherein all the powers and parts of each damned Wretch to his greater terror shall haue their share as those Positiue of intollerable cold the Worme that neuer dyeth palpable darkenesse the horrid aspect of the Deuils and infinite moe the least of all which is most horrible Pectori generoso non tam molestuÌ„ est rerum angugustia premi quam
more sober honest and tractable temper to be scourged lashed with tearmes of disgrace for let a man out of a holy reuerence vnto the sacred Maiesty of God make conscience of an Oath let him out of a sincere heart bee carefull to sanctifie the Sabbath of the Lord in all holy and religious exercises let him vow himselfe to all sobrietie and temperance and be zealous for the Lord of Hosts in reproouing vngodlinesse In a word let him heartily desire and accordingly truely endeuour to keepe a good conscience in all things both toward God and man Actes 24.16 not partaking in the sinful courses of these wicked times but laboring so far forth as in him lyeth according to that measure of grace hee hath receiued to liue within the limits and compasse of an holy profession it is reputed but precisenesse he is ordinarily derided vnder the name of a Catharist or Puritan and of the most hated and detested as much if not more then a treacherous bloody Papist or damnable Atheist Thus the seeming Saints of our age by their ouer-hasty running after Christ for sinister respects haue cast the true Nathaneels of our Israel behind hand in their iust credit and estimation Iohn 1.47 the world measuring the feet of all professors by the Last of these false professors And not onely doth counterfeit pietie Hypocrisie thus flourish to the great contempt reproach of sincere professors but in the third place we may obserue that all vngodlinesse hath aduanced it selfe and taken heart Iniquity hath put on a brow of brasse and Impiety like a shamelesse strumpet attended by Impudency hath taken vp her standing in euery street and corner of Court City and Countrey Ambition base flattery perfidie drunkennesse couetousnesse prodigalitie pride lechery luxury injustice theft murther adultery feareful swearing and periury contempt of the Manna and Ministers of Gods holy Word and what seldom heard-of crimes in former ages are not the familiar minions and darlings of these Times It is a tedious taske and would prooue but an irkesome discourse to trouble your eares with a particular enumeration of all the sinnes that roost yea raigne in this Land for it may be truly said of it as the Poet in his Epigramme vnto Caesar concerning his Theater Martial Quicquid fama canit donat arena tibi There is almost no sinne so peculiar to any forraigne Countrey which is not presented to the life vpon the stage of this Land and there is almost no person of what place or fashion soeuer that doth not act his part in them more or lesse Thus vngodlinesse is become an Epidemicall disease like a Contagious leprosie it hath infected and runne ouer the whole Body of this Land and no part more then this Citie in so much that it may truely be said of vs as the Prophet of the Iewes Esa 1.4.5.6 We are a sinnefull Nation a people laden with iniquitie The whole head is sicke the whole heart is heauy from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head there is nothing whole therein but wounds and swellings and sores full of corruption And which doth consummate our iniquitie though wee are so desperately sicke of sinne that wee lye euen at the doore of death and there bee scarce so much as a thresh-hold betweene vs and eternall destruction yet who is there that with patience wil suffer the Preacher Gods Deputy-Physician for the good of his soule so much as to lay his finger vpon those his cankred sores of sin which suffered to run on their course will vncurably corrupt and irrecouerably cast away the whole man both body and soule Sinne especially that which ordinarily thrusteth it selfe into the seruice of any calling and like the siluer Shrines of Diana Acts 19.24 bringeth in any emolument or reuenew must haue a Protection must not bee touched The corrupt courses of those which appertaine to Courts of Iustice the sacrilegious practise of Church-robbers fraudulent and vnconscionable dealing in priuate commerce these and the rest of your bosome and best beloued sinnes proue but vnplausible but harsh Themes for a Preachers inuectiue Sure I am wee may speake it feelingly wee are sensible of no lesse for deale we ingeniously faithfully in reprouing the corruptions of the time do we lay open your beloued sins vnto the life our labours are entertained with laughter and our fidelity requited with a world of neglect and iniury Are not these the fruits that call this our land their mother soyle I would to God they did not I dare presume yee will all passe your words that I haue deliuered nothing but truth and I may safely add nothing to that which might haue beene deliuered for truth for like those whom Moses sent to spie out the land of Canaan Numb 13.23 I haue cut downe but a Branch with a Cluster of the Grapes that grow in this our Eschol and haue brought with mee but a Sample of that cursed fruit this land in great plenty affordeth O that we who haue so liberally participated of the superabundant loue and bounty of God should thus aboue measure abound in iniquity The time was O that we had the grace seriously to consider it the time was when we were without Christ Ephe. 2.12 13 and were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and were Strangers from the Couenants of Promise and had no hope and were without God in the world but now through the Mercy of the Almightie wee who were once a farre off are made neere by the Blood of Christ that so we might be no more strangers and Forraigners but Citizens with the Saints and of the Householde of God Againe Jam tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet whereas other Nations doe ride euen vp vnto their horsebridles in blood haue their Corne-fieldes depopulated their Townes vnpeopled their neerest kindred and dearest acquaintance most cruelly butchered and their whole countrey exposed to the iniury of Armes Wee through the great Goodnesse of God sit euery man vnder his owne Vine in peace The Lord of his mercie continue it long amongst vs whereas other Nations suffer the famine of the Word or at least haue it serued out vnto them mingled with the Cockle and Darnell of Popish errors and traditions Wee God be thanked haue the Word most plentifully and purely preached among vs yea such plenty of the word we enioy that like the Israelites we are crop sicke and loth that heauenly Manna which our forefathers in the time of Popery persecution so much longed after I pray God this bring not a scarcitie of spirituall Bread amongst vs. Whereas others haue been straitned for the ordinary sustenance of nature and wasted with misery hanging vp their harps vpon the trees and translating the sorrowes of their soules into mournefull ditties and so ending their miserable liues Psal 144 13.14 Our Garners on the contrary haue beene full and plenteous with
Supererogatiue workes vnder his Holinesse locke and key can serue the sinners turne in that day for the Wise Virgins could not lend any Oyle Math. 25.6 lest they should lacke for themselues It is not any mans Potency can be his Protection for the most powerfull Monarch is but as a Potters vessell easily broken into sheards and shiuers with the least touch of Gods yron rod. Reuel 2.27 It is not the subtill pate of the deepest Politician can preuaile for any man For the wisedome of the World is but foolishnesse with God 1 Cor. 1.20 Esay 29.14 I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and will cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent saith the Lord. No course can be taken to disappoynt God of his reuenging purposes for as the Prophet hath it Amos 2.14 15 6. The flight shall perish from the swift and the strong shall not strengthen his force neither shal the mightie saue his life nor hee that handleth the bowe shall stand and hee that is swift of foot shall not escape neither shall hee that rideth the horse saue his life And he that is of a mightie courage among the strong men shall flee away naked in that day saith the Lord. Omnis sine personâ—rum exceptione sin excusationum algatione sine alicuius cuosione Gorth in locuÌ„ So that without any personall exception without any excusiue allegation without any particular ones euasion Euery tree euery man not bringing foorth good fruit the fruits of holinâ—sse and sanctification shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire Euery tree not bringing forth Good fruit Many in their own account passe for current Christians and are perswaded they shall go for no lesse with God when they are called to giue vp their accounts vnto him if they do not bring forth bad fruit Luke 18 11. if like the proud Pharise they can but plead for themselues Not guiltie as other men Extortioners vnjust adulterers If they can say We are no Drunkards no Swearers no spend thrifts no grinders of the Poore and the like If like Saint Iohns Herbe which as Cookes report being put into the pot procureth nor good nor hurt to the pottage so if they doe no hurt though they neuer do any good if they be honest harmlesse men as they are commonly stiled such as neither meddle nor make with others but liue quietly it is no matter for religiously among their Neighbours all is well they hope in God to goe to Heauen as sure as the best Alas poore miserable wretches how palpably how grossely they deceiue themselues Ixion-like embracing a Cloud instead of Iuno like Camelions feeding vpon the ayerie hope of that happinesse they shall neuer find Indeed Not to doe euill is commendable but not to doe good is culpable is condemnable Cast the vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenesse Math. 25.30 there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And here in my text Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire Luke 16. Wee doe not reade that the Rich man in the Gospell dispoyled Lazarus of any thing whereof he was possessed yet because he did not open vnto him the bowells of compassion and cause to be tendered vnto him wherewith to sustaine him in his want therefore Hell mouth was opened to swallow him vp vnto euerlasting torments Now the reason is this 1. Iohn 3.4 wee read in Iohn that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sinne is the transgression of the Law and the transgression of the Law is Sinne and the wages of Sinne is Death Rom 6.23 Now the Lords Mandates are as well Affirmatiue for the ensuing of Good as Negatiue for the eschewing of Euill and the Affirmatiue as well as the Negatiue vnder the Curse require exact obedience So that He is no lesse lyable vnto the Laws malediction Qui omittit facienda which omitteth things to be done then Qui facit omittenda He which doth things to bee omitted The last and great Assises will fully and plainely resolue this case determine this point Matt. 25.41 for Then shall the Sonne of man say vnto the Goates on the left hand Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting Fire prepared for the Diuels and his Angels Here is the Curse Heare wee the Cause It followeth For I was an hungred and yee gaue me no meate I thirsted and yee gaue me no drinke I was naked and yee clothed me not Sicke and in prison and yee visited me not Where we may see the bare omission of the good works of mercie the procuring cause of perpetuall miserie ratifying the Position in my Text that euery Tree not bringing forth good fruit shall be hewen down and cast into the fire Now if Euery Tree not bringing forth forth good fruit shall be thus serued how fearefully shall it fare with those trees that do not onely not bring foorth good fruit but also bring forth bad fruite Dionystâ—â— Carthusianus in locâ— Si sola omissio aternoigne punitur vitiosa actio quid meretur If the bare omission and neglect of a pious office bee punishable with euerlasting fire what doth a vicious action deserue Si sterilitas condemnatur continuata impietas foeda delectatio affectuosa peccati prosecutio quam dirè torquebitur If sterilitie and barrennesse be condemned how direfully shall continued impietie wallowing with delight in the stinking puddle of iniquitie an affected prosecution of all vngodlinesse euen with greedinesse bee tortured and tormented Non minoris est criminis habeÌ„ i tollere quà cum possit habes indigenâ—ibus denegare Ambr. in quedam Ser. If those shall bee thrust into Hell that haue not relieued the poore and needy in their want and miserie what shall be come of such as lay violent hands vpon their Patrimony If such as neglect the performance of Religious duties whether towards God or Man are guiltie of euerlasting damnation How shall they escape the dreadfull iudgement of God which like the vnrighteous Iudge feare nor God nor man Luke 18 4. but liue in the wilfull breach of their Makers Lawes If such shall most certainely be condemned as are onely barren in goodnesse what shall be come of those that are also fruitfull in the damnable workes of darkenesse If the Figge tree for not bringing forth good fruit must bee cursed Math. 21.19 how shall the Vines of Sodome and Gomorrha escape which bring foorth bad fruite Deut. 32.32 3â— fruite bitter as Gall Deadly as the poison of Dragons O Consider this all yee that forget your God Psal 50. â—2 that forget your owne good in being strangers from the life of God least the Lord in his wrath hew you downe and there bee none to deliuer you For if God spared not his blessed Angells nor his beloued Israel when they brought forth the cursed fruit of rebellion and disobedience how shall hee spare vs that are but dust and