all eyes dry here is the eye of the world weeps it self blind to see this dissolution Is man bereft of compassion for whom the Sun it self undergoes this passion think on those times when darkness that may be felt shall spread over all the earth how should plants but whither or beasts of the field but waste how should men but die when they stumble at noon-day their eyes shall fail them the light forsake them miserable men the Sun shill not shine on them because God will judg them But this not all Then shall the moon not give her light Matth. 24.29 as the day and night are both alike with God so the day and night shall be alike with man the Sun will not lend his lustre nor can the Moon borrow any more light but what strange warr makes this confusion of nature the Sun shall look black Ioel 2.31 and the Moon be turned into bloud Here is a new Moon and such a change as before was never seen there is no encrease no full no wane Gen. 1.14 but all the light is at once exstinguished unhappy creatures that depend upon her influence how should they live when she her self wades in bloud God made these Lights for signes and for seasons for daies and for years but now signs are out seasons past daies are done years abolished The Angels hath sworn by him that lives for ever that time shall be no longer Rev. 10.6 Who will not believe that hears this sacred oath was it a man no an Angel did he say it no he swore it how by himself no it was by him that lives for ever and what that time must be little nay it must be no longer time shall be no more How shall it be any more the Sun is disfigured the Moon disrobed both eclipsed But this not all Then shall the stars be shaken the powers of Heaven shall move and the Lamps of Heaven shall tremble these were Gods threats against the Babylonians Esay 13.10 Esay 13.10 For the stars of Heaven and the Planets thereof shall not give their light Against the Egyptians Ezek. 32.7 Ezek. 32.7 I will cover the heaven and make the stars dark over thee Against all his enemies Ioel 3.15 Joel 3.15 The Sun and Moon shall be darkned but not they alone for and the starrs themselves shall withdraw their shining But what speak we of darkness or the starrs not shining they shall not onely dimme Mark 13.15 but down In those days saith our Saviour after that tribulation the Sun and Moon shall darken and the stars of heaven shall fall Tymne c. how fall so thick say Expositors that the Firmament shall seem to be without all light I cannot say these signs shall be reall whether it is by substraction of their light or the conceit of brain-troubled sinners or the fall of some inflamed vapours or the Apostacy of some enlightned persons for certain to speak literally there shall be some change in the whole order of Nature Sun and Moon Starrs and Planets all must lose their lights and by all likely-hood it is the glory of the Judge that will dazel those Candles Neither is this all Then shall the Elements melt the fire shall fall down from heaven the air turn it self into vapours the Sea swell above all Clouds the earth be full of yawning Cliffes and violent tremblings 2 Pet. 3.18 Elementaris subtiliando terrestris consumendo infernalis puniendo Ioh. de Combis A fire shall first usher the Judge and such a fire as shall have the property of all fires that fire in its sphear this fire on earth the fearfull fire which torments in hell all shall meet in one and according to their severall qualities produce their severall effects the just shall be refined by one the wicked shall be tormented by another the earth be consumed by a third There is no creature but it must be fuell for this fire as the first world was destroyed with water to quench the heate of their lust so must this be destroyed with fire to warm the cold of our charity But not the fire alone Then shall the aire breed wonders what shall be seen but lightnings whirle-winds coruscations blazing starrs flashing thunders here a Comet runns round in a circuit there a Crown compaseth that Comet near them a fiery Dragon fums in flames every where appears a shooting fire as if all above us were nothing but inflamed ayr Yet not the air alone Then shall the waters roare Rivers shall wax dry Luke 21.25 the Sea froth and foame and fume those that dwell near shall wonder at the swelling tides others a far off shall tremble at the roaring noise what threats are those which the Surges murmur war is proclaimed by noise set on by blasts continued by storms the floods and tides shall run over all the plaines the the Sea and waves shall mount up to the very skyes now would they warr with Heaven then overwhelme the earth anone will they sinke to hell and thus shall they rove and rage as if they would threat all the world with a second inundation Nay yet again Then shall the earth be shaken in divers places saith Matthew in all places saith Joel for all the earth shall tremble before him here is an Earth-quake indeed Matth. 24.7 Joel 1.10 not some part of the land by reason of some cloystered wind but the Rocks Mountains Castles Cities Countreys some shall remove others be ruined thus all the earth shall be as a swallowing gulf that all things here situated may be then devoured What can I more Then shall Plants cease their growth Beasts want their sence men loose their reason were this but little you may wonder more The Sibylls could affirm that Nature should both cease and change her being the Trees in stead of growth should sweat out blood the Beasts should bellow up down the fields then want their sence Men should have disfigured faces astonished hearts affrighted looks then lose their reason nay what marvail then if at the worlds end they be at their wits end O fearful signes enough to move flintie stones if this be the Term what is the Suit the Bill the Doom the Execution a Trump shall summon Death will arrest God must have appearance and Then is the day Then he shall reward every man according to his works What a Chaos is here when the world must be thus turned topsie torvie the Sun the Moon the Starrs come yet lower the Fire the Air the Sea the Earth nay Trees and Beasts and Men all must be out of order in the whole course of Nature Vse 1 Who can read or hear this Prognostication of Dooms-day and not wonder at the signes which shall hang over our heads we see by experience when any out-ragious storm happens on Sea or Land how wonderfully men are dismayed how strangely astonished now then when the Heavens the Earth the Sea the
the sentence follows which is to reward every man according to his works This reward is nothing in effect but a retaliation if we live well here God will then crown his own gifts but if we sinne without repentance we may not escape without punishment There is a God that sits and sees and anon will reward us But to unfold this Reward there lies in it a Doom and Execution God speaks it in the first effects it in the second he gives it in our doom and we receive it in the execution The doom is of two sorts according to the parties that receive it One is an absolution which is the doom of Saints the other is a condemnation which is the doom of reprobates there is a reward on the right hand bestowed on the blessed and an heavie judgement which falls on the left hand upon the heads of the wicked To begin with that in our meditation which our Saviour begins with in action Imagine what a blessed day will this be to the godly when standing on the right hand of the Judge they shall hear the heavenly musick of their happy sentence Come ye blessed of my Father Matth. 25.34 inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world In which gracious speech we may observe four gradations First a gentle invitation Come Secondly a sweet benediction Ye blessed of my Father Thirdly heavens possession inherit the Kingdome Fourthly a glorious ordination to felicitie prepared for you from the beginning of the world First you have Come It is the sweet voice of Christ inviting the Saints before and now giving their welcome to his heavenly Canaan he hath called often Come all that labour Come all that travell Matth. 11.28 Rev. 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst Come Thus he calls all men to his grace but onely the elect to his glory now he desires every man to Come but the righteous alone shall have this Wel-come O how leaps that soul with joy that hears this voice of her sweet Saviour all the musick of Angels cannot so ravish the mind as this voice of our Saviour glads the soul now are the gates of heaven open and the Judge who is Master of the feast bids the guests Come and Wel-come But who are they Ye blessed of my Father a word able to make them blessed when pronounced Down on your knees rebellious sonnes and so long as you live on earth beg pray sue for the blessing of your Father in heaven They that are Gods servants are no lesse his sonns therefore every morn night and noon ask blessing boldly and God will bestow it liberally The first Sermon that ever Christ preached was full of blessings Matth. 5. Matth. 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit Blessed are they that mourn Blessed are the meek Blessed are the mercifull And as he begun so he concludes Come ye blessed ye blessed of my Father Must they come for what to inherit the kingdome Of all tenures inheritance is best of all inheritances a kingdome is most excellent Sic aeterna sine successione distributa sine diminutione communis sine invidia beata sine omni miseria but that all shall inherit and that there is no scantling this is heavens wonder and the Angels blisse An heavenly inheritance sure that is cintinued without succession divided without diminution common without envie for ever happy and without all misery This is the inheritance of the just the possession whereof makes every Saint no lesse glorious then a King Kings are they indeed whose dominions are not limited nor their borders bounded nor their people numbred nor the time of their reigne prescribed Such glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Is this your inheritance but upon what right it is prepared for you from the beginning of the world Had the Lord such care to provide for his children before they were how may his sonnes triumph born to such dignitie God will so certain their salvation that he hath prepared it for them from before the foundation of the world O blessed souls if you be Gods servants though a while you suffer sorrow and tribulation yet here is the hope of Saints Luke 12.32 it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdome Heaven is prepared of old there is the place of Gods majestie and there the Saints of God shall receive the crown the reward of victory Vse I cannot expresse what this joy affords to the one half of it Come blessed souls bathed in repenting tears here is a sentence able to revive the dead much more the afflicted Are you now sorrowing for your sinnes leave it a while and meditate with me on this ensuing melodie Hear yonder a quire of Angels a song of Sion an heavenly consort sounding to the Judge whilest he is pronouncing of thy sentence Blessed souls how pant you dances at the uttering of each syllable Come saith our Saviour and if he but say Come joy happinesse glory felicity all come on heaps into the indeared soul Ye blessed saith our Saviour and if he but say Blessed the Angels Archangels Cherubims Seraphims all joy at the injoying of this blessed company Inherit the kingdome saith our Saviour and if he but say inherit crowns scepters garlands diadems all these are the inheritance of Gods adopted children Prepared for you saith our Saviour and if he but say Prepared the love mercy election compassion of our Lord will shine forth to the soul to her everlasting comfort O ravishing voice Cantic 5.8 I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem if you find my welbeloved thâ—â— you tell him I am sick of love What else you that are Gods servants are no lesse his spouse your soul is the bride and when the day is come this day of doom God give you joy the joy of heaven for ever and ever But I must turn to the left hand and shew you another crew prepared for another sentence And what a terrible sentence will that be which at first hearing will make all ears glow and tingle His lips saith the Prophet are full of indignation and his tongue like a consuming fire Matt. 4.25 41. Esay 30.27 Esa 30.27 What fire so hot as that fierie sentence Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels Here is every particular full of horrour gradually inhancing their judgement First a grievous refusall Depart Secondly the losse of salvation from me Thirdly that deserved malediction ye cursed Fourthly the horrour of pains into everlasting fire Fifthly the preordinance of their torments prepared for the devil and his angels First they must depart This seems nothing to the wicked now depart why they are contented to be gone much more delight have they in sinne then in Gods service But as when a gracious Prince opening his long locked up treasury bids
done so we must be sentenced for then he shall reward every man according to his works Thus you have heard the sentence of the just and wicked and now is the Judge rising from his glorious seat the Saints that were invited guard him along and the sentenced prisoners are delivered to the Jaylers to be bound in burning Steel and Iron the reward of Execution The sentence being past in all prescribed order the Execution must needs follow but as there is a double sentence so a double retribution first for the wicked who immediately after the sentence shall be chased into hell the Execution being speedily and fearfully done upon them with all horrour and haste by the Angels O what a scriech of horrour will be heard what woes and lamentations will be uttered when Devils and Reprobates and all the damned crew of hell shall be driven into hell whereunto they shall be thrust with violence never to return again How desperate is their case when none will comfort them the Saints deride them Angels mock them their own friends scoffe them devils hate them the earth groans under them and hell will swallow them Down they go howling and shrieking and gnashing their teeth the effect of a most impatient fury The world leavs them the earth forsakes them hell entertains them there must they live and die and yet not live nor die but dying live and living die death in life life in death miserable ever If the drowning of the old world swallowing up of Korah and his complices burning up of Sodom with brimstone were attended with such terrours and hideous out-cryes how infinitely transcendent to all possibilitie of conceit expression or belief will the confusions and tremblings of that red-dread-fiery day be It is not a few but many nor many onely but all the wicked of the earth being many millions of men shall be dragged down with all the Devils of hell to torments without end or ease or past imagination then to speak it again that I may the deeper imprint it in your minds and memories sure there was horrible shrieking when those five filthy Cities first felt fire and brimstone drop down upon their heads when those Rebels saw the ground cleave asunder and themselves and all theirs Go down quick into the pit Num. 16.33 when all the sonnes and daughters of Adam found the floud rising and ready to over-flow them all at once But the most horrid cry that ever was heard or ever shall be heard in Heaven or in Earth in this world or in the world to come will be then when all the forlorn condemned reprobates upon sentence given shall be violently and unresistably haled down to hel neither shall any tears or prayers or promises or suits or cryes or yellings or calling upon Rocks and Mountains or wishes never to have been or now to be made nothing be then heard or prevail in their behalf nay yet more to encrease their torments there is not one in Earth or Heaven that will speak one word in their behalf but without mercy without stay without any farewell at all they shall be immediately and irrecoverably cast down into the bottomless pit of easeless endless and remediless torments Oh! what then will be the gnawings of the never-dying worm what rage of guilty consciences what furious despair what horrour of mind what distractions and fears what tearing their hair and gnashing of teeth In a word what wailing weeping roaring yelling filling heaven and earth and hell O miserable Caitiffs catcht and wrapt in the snares of Sathan What need we more this is the Judges charge the Sheriffs Commission Matth. 22.13 the sinners execution Take them away cast them into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth A darknesse indeed that must ever be debarred from the sight of heaven no sunne-shine ever peeps within those Walls no light no fire no candle alas nothing is there but Clouds and darknesse thick smoak and fierie sulphure and such is the portion of sinners the Reward of the wicked Vse What faith or fear have the wicked that go dancing and leaping to this fire as it were to a Banquet or like Solomons fool that runneth and swiftly runneth to the stocks Prov. 7.22 is this our pleasure to sinne a while and burn for ever for one small spark of silly joy to suffer universall and perpetuall pains Who buyes at so dear a rate Fear and the pit and the snare are upon thee O inhabitant of the Earth and he that fleeth from the noyse of the fear shall fall into the pit and he that cometh up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare for the windows from an high are open and the foundations of the earth do shake the earth is utterly broken down the earth is clean dissolved the earth is moved exceedingly the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunken man and shall be removed like a Tent and the iniquity thereof shall be heavy upon it so that it shall fall and rise no more Esay 24.17 Esay 24.17 18 19 20 22. O miserable fear to the wicked If the Earth fall how shall the sinners stand Nay They shall be gathered together as prisoners in the pit and they shall be shut up in the prison never more to be visited released or comforted Be forewarn'd then beloved least you also come into this place of torment Luke 16.28 It is a fearfull prison and God give us grace so to arraigne judge cast and condemne our selves here that we may escape this execution of the damned hereafter I have no will to end with terrour Then to sweeten your thoughts with the joy of Saints look upwards and you may see a blessed company After the wicked are cast down into hell Christ and the blessed Saints ascend into heaven From the Tribunall Seat of Judgement Christ shall arise and with all the glorious companie of Heaven march towards the Heaven of Heavens O what comely march is this what songs of triumph are here sung and warbled The voice of thy Watchmen shall be heard they shall lift up their voice and shout together for they shall see eie to eie when the Lord shall bring again Zion Esay 52.8 Esay 52.8 Here is a victorie indeed the souldiers in arrayed order both Marching and Triumphing Christ leads the way the Cherubims attend the Seraphims burn in love Angels Archangels Principalities Powers Patriarchs Prophets Priests Evangelists Martyrs Professours and Confessours of Gods Law and Gospel following attend the Judge and King of glory singing with melody as never ear hath heard shining with Majestie as never eye hath seen rejoycing without measure as never heart conceived O blessed train of souldiers goodly troop of Captains each one doth bear a palm of victory in his hands each one must wear a Crown of glory on his head the Church Militant is now Triumphant with a finall overthrow have they conquered Devills and now must
Beza in loc Tert. ad Mar. l. 5. to bring man from nothing Exinanivit se hath made himself nothing or of no reputation Phil. 2.7 Phil. 2.7 How nothing yes saith Beza He that was all in all hath reduced himself to that which is nothing at all and Tertullian little less Exhausit se He hath emptied himself or as our translation gives it He hath made himself not of little but of no reputation Lo here those steps the Scripture lighting us all the way by which our Saviour descended he that is God for us became an Angell a man a Serving-man a poor man a sheep a lamb a worm a nothing in esteem a man of no reputation Vse 1 Let every soul learn his duty from hence what should we do for him who hath done all this for us There is a crew of unbelievers that hear and heed not all the sufferings of our Saviour cannot move them a jot either towards God or from sin and is not this a wofull lamentable case I remember a passage in Cyprian how he brings in the Devill triumphing over Christ in this manner As for my followers I never dyed for them as Christ did for his I never promised them so great a reward as Christ hath done to his and yet I have more followers then he and they do more for me then his doe for him hear O heaven and hearken O earth Was ever the like phrensie The Devill like a roaring Lion seeks ever and anon to devour our souls and how many thousands and millions of souls yield themselves to his service though he never died for them nor will ever do for them the poorest favour whatsoever but pay them everlastingly with pains and pangs death and damnation On the other side see our Saviour God Almighty take on him the nature of a man a poor man a sheep a lamh a worm a nothing in esteem and why all this but onely to save our souls and to give them heaven and salvation yet such is the condition of a stubborn heart that to choose it will spurn at heavens crown and run upon hell and be a slave to Satan and scoffe at Christs suffering yea and let out his bloud and pull out his heart and bring him a degree lower then very beelzebub himself rather then it will submit to his will and march under his banner to the kingdome of heaven Hence it is that the Devill so triumphs over Christ As for my followers saith he I never died for them as Christ did for his no Devill thou never diedst for them but thou will put them to a death without all ease or end Think of this yee unbelievers me thinks like a thunderbolt it might shake all your hearts and dash them into pieces But a word more to you of whom I hope better things let me exhort the Saints that you for your parts will ever love and serve and honour and obey and praise the Lord of glory for this so wonderfull a mercy I pray have you not cause had your Saviour onely sent his creatures to serve you or some Prophets to advise you in the way of salvation had he onely sent his Angels to attend you and to minister unto you or had he come down in his glory like a King that would not onely send to the prison but come himself to the dungeon and ask saying Is such a man here or had he onely come and wept over you saying Oh that you had never sinned all these had been great mercies But that Christ himself should come and strive with you in mercy and patience that he should be so fond of a company of Rebels and Hel-hounds and yet we are not at the lowest that he would for us become a man a mean man a lamb a worm a nothing in esteem O all ye stubborn hearts too much stubborn are we all if judgement and the hammer cannot break your hearts yet let this mercy break you and let every one say O Iesu hast thou done all this for me certainly I will love thee and praise thee and serve thee and obey thee as long as I live Say so and the Lord say Amen to the good desires of your hearts To whet this on the more remember still it is you that should have suffered but to prevent this it is he that was humbled it is he that was crucified it is he that was purged what needs more John 18.5 I am he said Christ to the Iews when they apprehended him He what he I know not what but be he what he will he it is our Saviour Redeemer Physician Patient VVho had by himself purged our sinnes Thus far we have measured his steps downwards and should we go up again the same stairs we might bring him as high as vve have placed him lovv but his asscent belongs rather to the words following my Text for after he had purged then he sate down on Gods right hand on high Come we then to the next words and as you have seen the Person so let us look for a companion This may in miserie yield some comfort if but any society bears a share in his misery But me thinks I hear you say to me as the Athenians said 〈◊〉 32. to Paul We wil hear thee again of this matter another time By himself THe Time and Physician have prepared a Purge but who is the Patient to receive it it is man is sick and it is man must purge or otherwise he dies without all remedie or recoverie but alas what Purge what Purgatory must that be which can evacuate sinne Should man take all the virtue of herbs and mineralls and distill them into one sublime and purest quintessence yet impossible were it to wash away sinne or the least dregs of its corruption Not Galen nor Hippocrates nor all the Artists or Naturalists that ever lived on earth could find out or invent any remedie for sinne this must be a work of Grace and not of Nature yea and such a grace as neither man nor Angel could afford Behold then who it is that both administers and takes the receipt prepared it is man that sinned and God is become man that so being both he might administer it as God and receive it as man the same Person being Physician and Patient Compounder and Purger But what a wonder is this Are we a-dying and must he purge for it can Physick given to the sound heal the party that is sick It was the saying of our Saviour Matth. 9.12 The whole need not the Physician but they that are sick and Christ Jesus for his part is whole indeed No fault in this man saith Pilate Luke 23.14 Matth. 27.19 and he is a just man said Pilates wife of him to what end then should he purge that is whole and we escape it that are sick O this is to manifest the dearest love of our Soul-Physician our endeared Saviour the whole indeed need not the
grones and suddain cryes the fire slakes not the worm dies not the chains loose not the links wear not revenge tyres not but for ever are the torments fresh and the fetters on fire as they came first from their Forge What a strange kind of torture falls upon the wicked they are bound to fiery pillars and Devils lash at them with their fiery whips Is there any part of man scapes free in such a fray the flesh shall fâ—â— the blood boil the veins be scorcht the sinews rackt Serpents shall eat the body furies tear the soul this is that wofull plight of Tares which he bound in Hell The sick man at Sea may go from his ship to his boat and from his boat to his ship again the sick man in his bed may tumble from his right side to his left and from his left to his right again onely the Tares are tied hand and foot bound limme and joynt their feet walk not their fingers move not their eyes must no more wander as before loe all his bound O these manacles that rot the flesh and pierce the inward parts O unmatchable torments yet most fit for Tares sin made them furious hell must tame their Phrensie the Judge thus commands and the Executioners must dispatch fetter them fire them Bind them in bundles to burn them I have lead you through the Dungeon let this fight serve for a terrour that you never come nearer To that purpose for exhortation consider Alas all hangs on life ther 's but a twine thread betwixt the soul of a sinner and the scorching flames who then would so live as to run his soul into hazard the Judge threatens us Devils hate us the bonds exspect us it is onely our conscience must clear us or condemn us Search then thy waies and stir up thy remembrance to her Items hast thou dishonoured God blasphemed his name decayed his image subduing thy soul to sin that was created for heaven repent these courses ask God forgiveness and he will turn away thy punishments I know your sins are grievous and my soul grieves at the knowledge many evills have possessed too many drunkenness and oathes and malice and revenge are not these guests entertained into all houses banish them your hearts that the King of glory may come in Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Would God bestow mercy and should we refuse his bounty as you love heaven your souls your selves leave your sins Vse 2 And then here is a word of consolation the penitent needs not fear hell Gods servant is freed from bonds yea if we love him who hath first loved us Ephes 5.2 all the chains and pains of hell can neither hold nor hurt us Vse 3 O then ye Sons of Adam suffer a reproof what do ye that ye do not repent you of your sins is it not a madness above admiration that men who are reasonable creatures having eyes in their heads hearts in their bodies understanding like the Angels and consciences capable of unspeakable horrour never will be warned untill the fire of that infernall Lake flash and flame about their eares Let the Angels blush heaven and earth be amazed all the Creatures stand astonished at it I am sure a time wil come when the Tares shal feel what now they may justly fear you hear enough such weed must be bound thus straight is the Lords command Binde them in bundles to burn them But all is not done Chains have their links and we must bring all together Sinners are coupled in hell as Tares in Bundles But of these when we next meet in the mean while let this we have heard Binde us all to our duties that we hear attentively remember carefully practice conscionably that so God may reward accordingly and at last crown us with his glory The tares must be bound up in bundles but Lord make us free in Heaven to sit with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in thy blessed kingdome In bundles THe command is out what Bind whom them how in bundles The tares must on heaps which gives us a double observation Generall Speciall In the generall it intimates these two points the gathering of the weed and its severing from the wheat both are bound in bundles but the wheat by it self and the tares by themselves as at that doom when all the world must be gathered and severed some stand at the right hand others at the left so at this execution some are for the fire and others for the barn they are bundled together yet according to the difference of the severall parties each from the other Observ 1 First the tares must together Woe is me saith David that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech Psal 120.4 and if David think it wofull to converse with his living enemies then what punishment have the wicked whom the Devill and damned the black angels and everlasting horrour must accompany for ever The tares must be gathered and bundled and the more bundles the more and more miseries Company yields no comfort in hell fire nay what greater discomfort then to see thy friends in flames thy fellowes in torments the fiends with flaming whips revenging each others malice on thy self and enemy It was the rich mans last petition when he had so many repulses for his own ease to make one suit for his living brethren he knew their company would encrease his torment to prevent which he cries out I pray thee father Abraham Luk. 16.27 28. that thou wouldest send Lazarus to my fathers house for I have five brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment Why it may be God will hear him for them especially making such a reasonable request as this was that Lazarus might onely warn his brethren of future judgment no but to teach you if you sell your souls to sin to leave a rich posterity on earth you shall not onely your selves without all remorse and pity be damned in hell but your posterity shall be a torment to you whilest they live and a greater torment if they come to you when they are dead To converse with Devils is fearfull but altogether to accompany each other is a plague fit for tares In this life they flourished amongst the wheat Let them grow both together corn and tares untill the harvest But the harvest come God will now separate them both asunder and as in heaven there are none but Saints so in hell there are none but reprobates to encrease this torment as they grow together so all their conference is to curse each other Moab shall cry against Moab father against son son against father what comfort in this company The Devill that was authour of such mischiefs appears in most grisly forms his angels the black guard of hell torture poor souls in flames there live swearers
Ayr shall be wholly distempered and disordered when the Sun shall threaten with mourning the Moon with blood the Stars with their falling yea when all the heavens shall shrink and pass away as a paper scroule who then dares eat or drink or sleep or take a minutes rest Be sure these dayes shall come and the signes shall pass Ioel 1.5 13 15. Awake yee Drunkards and weep all ye drinkers of Wine because of the new wine for it shall be pulled from your mouthes Gird your selves and lament ye Priests howle ye Ministers of the Altar alas for the day for the day of the Lord is at hand and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come What are ye insensible of these signes the imprisoned thiefe fears at the news of the assize and is the sinner so impudent that he fears nothing The day shall come when the men of earth shall fear and be full of fear every sign shall breed a wonder and ever sight shall breed a wondrous terrour men shall hide themselves in the caves of beasts and the beasts seek shall to save themselves in the houses of men where then shal the wicked stand when all the world shal be thus in uprore Vse 2 Yet a word for us all we have all warning and we had best to provide yet the weather is fair we may frame an Ark to save us from the flood yet are the Angels at the gates of Sodom yet is Jonas in the streets of Nineveh yet the Prophet wooes Hos 6.4 O Iudah how should I entreat thee yet the Apostle prayes nay we pray you in Christs stead that yee will be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5.20 to conclude yet the Bride-groom stayes the Virgins leisure Lord that they would make speed seeing the joyes of heaven tarry for them This Tearm is at hand and is it not time to petition to the Judg of heaven what a dangerous course is it never to call to minde that Time of Times until we see the Earth flaming the Heavens melting the Iudgment hastning the Iudg with all his Angels comming in the Clouds to denounce the last doom upon all flesh which shall be unto some Woe woe when they shall call to the mountains to cover them and for shame of their sins hide themselves if it were possible in hell fire if we have any fear this should move fear if we have any care this should move us all to be carefull indeed We have not two souls that we may hazard one neither have we two lives that we may trust to another but as thy last day leaves thee so will this Doomes-day finde thee Who would not but axcept the fatherly fore-warning of Christ our Saviour See you not how many signes as the Heralds and fore runners of his glorious comming Matth. 24.7 12. The abounding of iniquity the waxing cold of charity the rising up of Nation against Nation Was there ever lesse love was there ever more hatred Where is that Jonathan that loves David as his own soul nay where is not that Joab that can imbrace friendly but carryes a malicious heart towards Abner sure we are near the end indeed when charity is grown thus cold You then that would have the comfort of the day take these signs for warnings provide for him who hath thus long waited for you 2 Pet. 3.14 and seeing you look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamless Who would indanger their souls for a little sin busie Clients heed nothing but their cause and if you would recover heaven be sure that ye mark this Tearm The time draws on now the Writs are out anon comes the Iudge and Then is the day Then he shall reward every man according to his work You see the Tearm and now you may exspect to view the Judge the Tearm is Then the Judge is He. Stay a while and the next time you shall see him in his judgment seat He. HE who if you look at the fore-going words you may see who he is The son of man shall come in the glory of his father and it is he that shall reward us according to our works hoc facit ut ad infimam se sortem hominum abjiciat Musculus in Matth. cap. 8. Psal 8.4 This title of the Son of man denotes unto us the humility of the Son of God what is the Son of man but man and this tels us how humble he was for us that being God was made man or the Son of Man which is as all one according to that Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of man that visitest him It is true God is the Judg of all Heb. 12.23 Heb. 12.23 and yet it is as true this God is man Acts 17.31 Acts 17.31 God saith Paul will judge the world but it is by that man whom he hath ordained God hath the power but God as man hath onely the Commission He who is God hath given him Authority to execute judgment And would you know the reason it is onely because he is the Son of man Joh 5.27 Iohn 5.27 In a word God shall judg the whole Trinity by prescription Christ onely in execution the Father judgeth but by the Son or as the Evangelist John the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Iohn 5.22 Iohn 5.22 But because as man there appears in him a double form as humbled as glorified wee 'l discusse these questions which resolve all doubts 1. Whether Christ as man shall appear unto us when he will reward us 2. Whether man as glorified shall appear unto us when he will reward us To the first we say that onely as man he will appear our judge who as man appeared when himself was judged what better reason to express the benefit of our redemption then so to judg us as he did redeem us Tunc manifestus veniet inter justos judicaturus qui occultè venerat judicandus ab injustis August de civit dei was he not man that suffered died and was buried and is he not man that one day shall come to judg both the quick and dead he that came obscurely to be judged by the unjust shall then appear openly to judg all the just the same man who is God and man shall be our judge in his humane nature by his divine power Thus we say God who is the ancient of daies hath the power originall but man who is the Son of God hath the power traduced and therefore saith Daniel One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the ancient of days and they brought him here before him Dan. 7.13 14. and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdome Vse Consider this yee that are going to the Bar what a sight will this be to the faithless
with their flaming tongues usurers with talent hands drunkards with scorched throats all these tares like fiery faggots burning together in hell flames this is the first punishment all the tares must meet they are bundled together Observ 2 Secondly as the tares must together so they must together by themselves thus are they bundled and severed bundled all together but from the wheat all asunder Quia damni poenam infert Basil Ascer in c. 2. p. 255. Chrysost in Matth. Hom. 24. Bern. de inter domo cap. 38. Hell is called damnation Because it brings Heavens losse and this by consent of most Divines is the more horrible part of hell so Basil To be alienated or separated from the presence of God his Saints and Angels is farre more grievous then the pains of hell So Chrysostome The pain of hell is intolerable indeed yet a thousand hels are nothing to the losse of that most glorious kingdome So Bernard It is a pain far surpassing all the tortures in hel not to see God and those joyes immortall which are prepared for his children O then what hels are in hell when besides the pains of sense there is a pain of losse the losse of God losse of Saints losse of Angels losse of Heaven losse of that beatificall vision of the most Sovereigne Good our ever-blessed Maker Consider with your selves if at the parting of the soul and body there be such pangs and gripes and stings and sorrows what grief then will it be to be severed for ever from the Highest and supreamest Good Suppose your bodies as some Martyrs have been used should be torn in sunder and that wild horses driven contrary wayes should rack and pul your arms and legs and heart and bowels one piece froÌ„ another what an horrible kind of death would this be think you and yet a thousand rentings of this member from that or of the soul from the body are infinitely lesse then this one separation of the soul from God When Jacob got rhe blessing from his brother Esau Gen. 27.31 it is said in the Text that he roared with a great cry and bitter saying to his father Hast thou not reserved one blessing for me also Imagine then when the wheat must have the blessing how will the tares figured in Esau roar and crie and yell and howl again and yet notwithstanding this unspeakable rage all the tears of hell shall never be sufficient to bewail the losse of heaven Hence breeds that worm that is alwayes gnawing at the conscience a worâ—â— saith our Saviour that dies not Mark 9.44 Mark 9.44 It shall lie day and night biting and gnawing and feeding upon the bowels of the damned persons O the stings of this worm no sooner shall the damned consider the cause of their miserie to wit the mis-spending of their time the greatnesse of their sinne the many oportunities lost when they might have gotten Heaven for a tear or a sigh or groan from a penitent heart but this worm or remorse shall at every consideration give them a deadly bite and then shall they roar it out Miserable wretch what have I done I had a time to have wrought out the salvation of my soul many a powerfull searching Sermon have I heard any one passage whereof had I not wickedly and wilfully forsook mine own mercie might have been unto me the beginning of the new birth but those golden dayes are gone and for want of a little sorrow a little repentance a little faith now am I burning in hell fire O precious time O dayes moneths years how are ye vanished that you will never come again And have I thus miserably undone my self Come Furies tear me into as many pieces as there are moats in the Sun rip up my breast dig into my bowels pull out my heart leave me not an hair on my head but let all burn in these flames till I moulder into nothing O madnesse of men that never think on this all the dayes of your visitation and then when the bottomlesse pit hath shut her self upon you thus will this worm gnaw your hearts with unconceivable griefs Be amazed O ye Heavens tremble thou Earth let all creatures stand astonished whilst the Tares are thus sentenced Bundle them and burn them Thus farre of the word in generall but if we look on it with a more narrow eye it gives to our hands this speciall observation The tares must have chains proportionable to their sinns Observ Bind them in bundles saith my Text not in one but in many faggots an Adulterer with an Adulteresse a Drunkard with a Drunkard a Traytor with a Traytor as there be severall sins so severall Bundles all are punished in the same fire but all are not punished in the same degree some have heavier chains and some have lighter but all in just weight and measure The Proud shall be trod under foot the Glutton suffer inestimable hunger the Drunkard feel a burning thirst the Covetous pine in wants the Adulterer lie with Serpents Dragons Scorpions Give me leave to bind these in bundles and so leave them for the fire they are first bundled then burned Where is Lady Pride and her followers see them piled for the furnace Esay 3. you that jet it with your bals and bracelets tyres and tablets rings and jewels and changeable suits think but what a change will come when all you like birds of a feather must together to be bound in bundles What then will your pride avail or your riches profit or your gold do good or your treasures help Job 20.26 when you must be constrained to vomit up again your riches the increase of your house departing away and a fire not blown utterly consuming you and them The rich man in the Gospel could for a time go richly fare sumptuously and that not onely on Sabbaths or Holy-dayes but as the text every day yet no sooner had death seized on his body but he was fain to alter both his suit and diet hear him how he begs for water that had plentie of wines and see him that was cloathed in purple now apparrelled in another suit yet of the same colour too even in purple flames O that his delicate morsels must want a drop of water and that his fine apparrell must cost him so dear as the high price of his soul why rich man is it come to this the time was that purple and fine linnen was thy usuall apparrell that banquets of sumptuous dishes were thy ordinarie fare but now not the poorest beggar even Lazarus himself that would change estate with thee Change said I marrie no Remember saith old Abraham that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Luke 16.25 Luke 16.25 But there are other Bundles where is Gluttonie and her surfetters Do we not see how the earth is plowed the sea furrowed and all to
furnish one Epicures table Sivill sends fruit Canary sugars Moluques spices Egypt balsamum Candy oyls Spain sweet meats France wines our own land cannot satisfie but forrein kingdomes and countreys must needs be sacrificed to our belly-gods but what dainties have such Nabals when they come to hell there is a black banquet prepared for devils and reprobates the first dish is weeping the second gnashing of teeth and what mirth is there where these two courses must last all the feast The lazie Friar sweating at 〈◊〉 long meats and meals Heu quantum patimur cries he alas how much do we suffer which are Friars but alas how much must you suffer at this supper where the meat is poyson the attendants furies the musick grones and time without end the sauce of every dish See here the provision for the damned their chains loose not their fire cools not their worm dies not their woes end not such gall and vinegar bitters every morsell God hath proportioned this punishment for these sheaves they are sent from surfets to an emptie dungeon that sent away beggars empty from their doors But more Bundles yet where is Drunkennesse with her rioters Lo they are trodden under foot saith the Prophet Esay 28.3 they whose tables were full of vomit and filthinesse are now driven to that scarcitie and want that not a cup of wine nor a draught of beer nor a drop of water can be got in all hell for them Sinne must have its punishment in a just proportion the tongue of that rich man that had turned down so many â—uns of wine cannot procure in hell one pot of water to cool it in his tongue he sinned in his tongue he is tormented fiery heats breed a scorching thirst yet because he denied Lazarus a crum of bread Lazarus must not bring him a drop of water how a drop of water alas what are ten thousand rivers or the whole sea of water unto that infinite world of fire here is a poor suit indeed what begs he but a cup of water an handfull of water a drop of water nay were it but a wet finger to cool the tip of his scorched tongue Hearken ye drunkards and fear these flames that one day must parch your tongues Here you may recreate your selves by sleep when you have too much or by idle company when you would have more but hereafter you shall find no means to qualifie these pains sleep there is none though it be nothing but an everlasting night friends there be none though all could professe their everlasting loves you may indeed commerce with some company but who are they save devils and reprobates miserable comforters in the same condemnation Who is not sober that knows what portion must befall these reprobates their mouthes drie as dust their tongues red as fire their throats parcht as coals all their bowels clung together as the burning parchment He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity the drunkard that abuseth so much wine must there want a little water his tongue shall cleave to the roof of his mouth and goblets of boyling lead runne down his throat as the pleasure so the pain he was comforted and is tormented And yet more Bundles where is Covetousnes and her gripers O the iron age we live in was there ever lesse love ever more dissembling the covetous hoardeth holdeth oppresseth or it may be puts out to usury but never without sureties pledges morgages bills or bonds Think of those bonds ye covetous that must hind you in bundles had you then ten thousand worlds and were they all composed of purest gold and brim-full with richest jewels yet would you call them all at the foot of some Lazarus for one drop of water or one puff of wind to cool any part or piece of your tormented members See the cruell effect of sinne he that hath no pity shall not be pitied no he shall have jâ—dâ—ement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy James 2.13 Jam. 2.13 Thus to pay the covetous in his own coin coffers and chests shall be brought before him there shall devils ring him a peal of this damned coin of pounds of shillings of pence these accounts shall sound through his ears and to satisfie his heart melted gold shall be poured down his throat yea he shall be served too with his meat in plâ—â—â— and plate and meat all boil together to his loathed supper thus hath God satisfied him that could never satisfie himself his gold now wants no weight his silver is not scarce mountains and loads are prepared for him to his greater torments Yet again more Bundles where is Adultery with her minions Lo ugly fiends do embrace them and the furies of hell be as their bosome concubines I have read somewhere but I will not deliver it as a truth that a voluptuous man dying and going to this place of torment he was there saluted in this fearfull manner First Lucifer commands to fetch him a chair and forthwith an iron chair red-hot with sparkling fire was brought and he set thereon this done Lucifer commands again to fetch him drink and a drink of melted lead was brought in a cup which they straightway pouring into his open mouth anon it came running out of all his members this done Lucifer commands again that according to his use they should fetch him musitians to make him merry and a sort of musitians came with hot glowing trumpets and sounding them at his ears whereto they laid them anon there come sparks of fire leaping out of his mouth his eyes and nostrils all about him this done Lucifer commands again that according to his wonted manner he should have his Concubines and upon this they bring him to a bed of fire where Furies give him kisses fiery Serpents hug about his neck and the gnawing worm sucks bloud from his heart and breasts for ever and ever Howsoever in this story it may be altogether truth was not brought a bed yet imagine what a welcome shall be to the damned souls their eyes shall startle their ears glow their nostrils suck up flames their mouthes taste bitternesse and for the sense of feeling according to the measure of their sin they are wrapped in the grisly embracements of stinging and stinking flames where now are those daintie delights sweet musick merrie companie are all left behind and is there no recreation in those smokie vaults Unhappie dungeon where there is no order but horrour no singing but houling no ditties but their woes no consorts but shrieks no beautie but blacknesse and no perfumes or odour but pitch and sulphur Let the heat of this fire cool the heat of your lust pleasure ends with pain In as much saith God as the harlot glorified her self and lived in pleasure so much give ye to her torment and sorrow Rev. 18.7 Rev. 18.7 You see now Beloved what Tares are in bundles the Proud Gluttons Drunkards Covetous Adulterers these and such others are bundled by the