did run into But the Sodomits slight all Lot's sayings they deafen their ears against his reproofs and will be led by none of his example nothing prevails with them to repent The second aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was thâ—…ir Incorrigibleness As it was said of the Jews aftâ—…rward Ier. 5. 3. So it might have been said of the Sodomits then Though God had stricken them yet they did not grieve though God had consumed them yet they refused to receive correction They did not take warning by lesser judgements so as to be corrected and amended thereby They were smitten before their enemies their City not long before had been sackt their goods taken away and themselves were led into Captivity with their Wives and Children and yet they were insensible of their Sins the cause of all this evil that came upon them and were so far from being bettered hereby that they grew worse than they were before The third aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Ingratitude They were not only ungrateful unto Lot upon whose account Abraham did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies which not only laid an obligation of respect to Lot upon them as long as they liv'd but chiefly they were ungrateful unto God the Author of this deliverance by Abraham and who moreover had been very bountiful unto them in giving them such a place of plenty and pleasure for their habitation that it was like unto the Garden of the Lord for fruitfulness the greater Gods Mercy and Bounty to them the greater was their ingratitude and the more highly aggravated were their Sins The fourth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was the Universality of their Sins There were no righteous persons amongst them except it were Lot and his Family they were generally corrupt they were all dross and no Gold all Water and no Wine all wicked when Lot was departed As the Earth of old was filled with violence so Sodom then was filled with Filthiness which was very offensive unto the pure and Holy Eyes of God and provoked him to destroy them The fifth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Shamlesness What was spoken of Israel Ier. 6. 5. Might have been said of Sodom were they ashamed when they had committed abomination nay they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush When the Prophet would set forth the shamlesness of Iudah's Sins he compareth them unto Sodom Isa. 3. 9. The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them they declare their Sin like Sodom they hide it not None had more reason to blush and be ashamed than such filthy Sinners as they and yet none were so little ashamed instead of being ashamed of their Sins they gloried in their shame The sixth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Security They eat they drank they bought they solde they planted they builded until the the judgement did overtake them Luke 17. 28. They were generally secure though they had so greatly sinned and by their Sins so highly provoked the Lord to take vengeance upon them They put the evil day far from them Lot's Sons in Law although foretold and forewarn'd by their Father would not believe it was so near much lesse did the rest of the Sodomits believe any such thing who had no intimation thereof given unto them they little thought what a day would bring forth their impunity for a while did encrease their security and their security under the guilt of such Heaven-dareing Sins did aggravate their Sins exceedingly And now the lusts of the Sodomits having conceived and brought forth such Sins and their Sins so aggravated do arrive unto perfection and they bring forth death Their iniquities now are full and the Viols of Gods wrath also are full and he poureth them down upon their heads which leadeth unto the next particular to speak of the judgement it self inflicted upon Sodom and Gomorrah CHAP. IV. A particular description of Sodom and Gomorrah's burning by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven COncerning the judgement it self which was inflicted on Sodom and Gomorrah It was Fire and Brimstone which was rained down from Heaven upon those Cities The morning was clear when Lot went forth of Sodom and the Sun was risen upon the Earth when he entered into Zoar But then a strange darkness did quickly fill the face of the Heavens and hide the Sun from the view we may conceive that the fashion of the Heaven was altered and that the clouds which carried this horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone in their Bowels were of another shape than those which carry in them ordinary storms of Rain or Hail of Thunder and Lightning It was over Sodom and Gomorrah that these dreadful clouds were gathered which upon the command of the Lord brake asunder and it is likely with fearful lightening accompained with great cracks and amazing noise as if Heaven and Earth and Hell had been coming together let down these flaming showers which strangely turned the Air into Fire and with such irresistible violence beat upon the Houses of the Sodomits that they were foreed to yield unto the fury of these devouring flames This Rain probably was not in small drops like that which falling upon the tender Grass causeth it to spring forth and flourish but in great flakes of of scalding Sulphurious matter enkindled by the breath of God great sheets of Fire it is likely came down from Heaven like the Flying Roll spoken of Zach. 5. 2 3 4. the length whereof was twenty Cubits and the bredth thereof ten Cubits which entered into the House of the Thief and False-swearer and consumed the Timber thereof and the stones thereof So did these sheets and rolls of fire fly about the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and entered into the houses of the unjust and profane the filthy and unclean smiting and consuming Inhabitants with their Habitations This storm of Fire and Brimstone coming down with a commission from God to destroy the whole Place doth arm it self with unexpressible rage and fury and first smiting the heads and tops of all the houses in the City setteth them on fire together which mounting a great flame upward and that mingling with the sulphurious fire which came downward was exceedingly the more enraged and we may conceive that from thence came such horrid blazes to the eye and such dreadful roarings to the ear as awakened all the wicked Inhabitans of the City out of their sleep and security and filled them with unconceiveable horrour and perplexity when they saw inevitable ruine so near unto them Then the streets of the City were filled with flames and the Rain from Heaven likely did raise Floods and Streams of burning Brimstone which poured into the houses on every side such fire as no Water could quench no Stone Walls nor Iron Bars or Gates could resist or defend any of the Inhabitans from being devoured thereby thus Gods hand did find out all his enemies in these wicked Cities together
the Chief and most honourable of these Angels being the Son of God the Angel of the New-Covenant staying behind the other two Angels who went onwards towards Sodom revealeth unto Abraham what he was about to do unto Sodom giving him to understand that the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and their sins exceeding grievous and that now he was going down to visit them for their sins whether he revealed to him what manner of destruction he intended to bring upon them we have no mention but whatever it were Abraham is full of fears because of Lot and therefore interceeds with the Lord in the behalf of the place as wicked as it was to prevent if possible the ruine and destruction thereof which was threatned Abraham knew of one righteous person namely Lot which was there and he hoped that there might have been others besides him if not of the City yet in Lot's Family and therefore he maketh bold to plead with the Lord that he would not destroy the righteous with the wicked because this would 〈◊〉 â—…eem just and right for the Judge of all the Earth to do and first he prayeth that if fifty righteous persons were found in Sodom the place might be spared for their sakes the Lord being very gracious readily promiseth it should be according to his request Abraham having encoâ—…ragement from one grant and fearing what the number of righteous persons in Sodom might be entreateth further that if five were wanting of the fifty the place might not be destroyed and having obtained his request herein he doth not rest but proceeds to beg with expressions of low humility that if but forty and then if but thirty and then if but twenty and last of all if but ten righteous persons were found there that the Lord would spare the place for their sakes Abraham speeds in his whole desire the Lord assuring him that he would not destroy the place if he found so many as ten righteous persons therein and Abraham leaves off asking before the Lord giveth any denial unto his suit and though Abraham did not request it yet the Lord himself did resolve it that not one righteous person should be consumed in the iniquity of the City and therefore as he sent Angels thither to destroy the place so they had a commission to save righteous Lot and his Family as we may see in the 19th Chapter The two Angels were now come in the evening unto Sodom whilst Lot providentially was sitting in the gate who seeing them enter riseth up from his seat and meeteth them and bowing himself toward the ground entreateth the favour of them that they would be his guests that night through his importunate request they refusing at first he prevaileth with them and so bringeth them home to his house where he entertaineth them with a feast They had not been long in Lot's House before the House was beset by the Men of the City upon notice of two extraordinary persons that were there possibly the bodies which those Angels had assumed were very beautiful to the eye and full of sparkling lustre being inform'd by such glorious spirits and this might entice the beastly or rather worse than beastly lusts of the Sodomits and enflame them with burning desires of committing that filthy sin with them which is not fit to be nam'd these desires bring the chief part of the City old and young from every quarter unto Lot's house who when they were come they require him to bring forth those Men as they supposed them to be that they might satisfie their lusts upon them Lot looking upon this as a piece of inhumanity and abominable wickednesse to offer such injury unto strangers that he got forth of his door and with fair words endeavoureth to perswade them the forbearance of this wickedness yea he is so far transported with desire of saving his guests from the filthy lusts of the Sodomits that inconsiderately he endeavours to divert them by making proffer of both his Virgin-daughters to them to be used or mis-used by them as they pleased so that his guests might be spared But the Sodomits are fully bent upon their wickedness and deafning their ears against his proposal they press in upon Lot and threatning to deal worse with him than with them they attempt to break open his door The Angels seeing what danger Lot was in amongst the furious and lustful multitude put forth their hands and pull Lot into his house and withall putting forth the power the Lord had given them they smite the Sodomits with blindness so that they could not find the door which notwithstanding that judgement of blindness upon their bodies being pricked forward by their blind and impetuous lusts they still seek after And now the ruine of Sodom is not far off the Angels reveal unto Lot who they were and that they were sent by the Lord to destroy Sodom and the Neighbouring Cities because of the crying wickedness which was in them therefore inquiring concerning his relations in that City they bid him bring forth all that belonged to him accordingly Lot goeth forth and calleth upon his Sons in Law and giveth them to understand what he had heard of the Angels concerning the near destruction of the City and therefore warneth them with all expedition to hasten out of the place but Lot seemeth unto his Sons in Law as if he had mocked and they give heed to none of his words The day being come that Sodom and Gomorrah must be destroy'd the Angels in the top of the morning hasten Lot to come forth and whilst he lingereth they lay hold on his hands and the hands of his Wife and Daughters and the Lord being merciful unto them bring them forth bidding him flee to the Mountain and escape for his life and not look back lest he should be destroyed which his Wife offering notwithstanding the warning to do was turned into a Pillar of Salt Lot being full of fears entreateth for Zoar and for his sake the Lord spared that City that Lot might retire unto it whilst he brought destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the other Cities of the Plain CHAP. III. A general description of Sodoms Iudgement together with the efficient cause which was God and the meritorious cause Sodoms sins BEing thus led by the clew or 〈…〉 story we are at length come to 〈…〉 most tremendous and dreadful Judgâ—…ment 〈◊〉 God executed upon Sodom Gomorrah namely that horrible tempest of Fire and Brimstone which the Lord rained upon those wicked Cities for their sins the relation and description whereof we have Gen. 19. from the 23d Ver. to the 30th The Sun was risen upon the Earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah Brimstone and Fire from the Lord out of Heaven And he overthrew those Cities and all the Plain and all the Inhabitants of the Cities and that which grew upon the ground And Abraham gat up early in
the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the Land of the Plain and beheld and lo the â—…ke of the Countrey went up as the smoke of a â—…urnace And it came to passe when God destroyed the Cities of the Plain that God remembred Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the Cities wherein Lot dwelled In treating of this subject concerning the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone I shall speak First Of the cause of this Judgement Secondly Of the Judgement it self Thirdly Of persons on whom it was inflicted and how they were affâ—…cted Fourthly Of the persons that escaped Fifthly Of the Spectators Lastly Of the use and improvement which we may make of it Concerning the cause of this Iudgement The efficient cause was God The meritorious cause was Sodoms sins First The efficient cause of the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah was the Lord. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah Brimstone and Fire from the Lord out of Heaven Every judgement whereof there are second causes in nature is from the Lord but this judgement was miraculous and therefore the hand of the Lord was in it more immediately It was beyond the power of any second causes to effect this great thing and therefore the Lord doth put forth his own great power and stretcheth forth his mighty arm that he might take vengeance on the wicked Sodomits who had so highly provoked him by their sins It is said Deut. 29. 23. The Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim in his anger and in his wrath The Lord heard the cry of Sodom's sins and was wrath a fire of anger was kindled in his breast and fury came up into his face therefore girding himself with his irresistible power and clothing himself with flaming vengeance as with a garment he came done to plead with this ungodly and wicked people for their sins rendering his rebukes in such a way as never before was heard of It was the day of the Lords recompence the day of his wrath and fierce anger a day of trouble and distresse of wasting and desolation It was a day in which the Lord was revealed from Heaven in flaming Fire to take vengeance upon the Sodomits whom he punished with a most fearful destruction devouring those wicked Cities by the fire of his jealousie that he might make a speedy riddance of all the sinners which dwelled in them The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah Brimstone and Fire from the Lord out of Heaven By the Lord on Earth we are to understand the Son of God the second most glorious Person in the Trinity by the Lord in Heaven we are to understand the Father the first Person who hath committed all Judgement unto the Son Ioh. 5. 22. From whom he received power to execute the appointed vengeance on wicked Sodom Secondly The miritorious cause of the Judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah was the sins of those wicked Cities when the Lord ariseth from his place to take vengeance upon a Nation especially in some notable and remarkable judgement he is first exceedingly provoked hereunto by the sins of that people It is said Gen. 13. 13. that the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly They exceeded all other Nations in their sins and therefore they exceeded all other Nations in their punishment And Chap. 18. 20. We read the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and their sin was very grievous It was not their prayers which sent up such a cry unto Heaven no they were wholly irreligious and Ungodly but it was their sins like the blood of Abel which cryed from the ground for vengeance on him that shed it the cry of Sodoms sins was so loud that it came up into Gods ears and would give him no rest until he came down to punish Their sin was very grievous not only grievous unto righteous Lot who was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked 2 Pet. 2. 7. But it was most grievous unto the most Holy and Righteous God it was as a heavy load upon him grievous and hard to be boarn it grieved God as it were to the heart and therefore he doth ease himself of the burden of their Sin by suffering it to fall down with a heavy weight upon themselves so as to crush and destroy them together There are five sins of Sodom spoken of together Ezek. 16. 49 50. Behold this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom Pride fullness of Bread and abundance of Idleness was in her and in her Daughters that is her neighbour inferiour Cities neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy And they were haughty and committed abomination before me therefore I took them away as I saw good The Sins were First Pride and Haughtiness Secondly Fulness of Bread Thirdly Abundance of Idelness Fourthly Unmercifulness to the Poor Fifthly Abomination The first Sin of Sodom was Pride and Haughtiness Prov. 16. 18. Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall The Pride and haughtiness of the Sodomits did discover it self in their carriage towards Lot Gen. 19. 7 9. Lot is meek and humble he speaketh fairly and kindly I pray you Brethren do not so wickedly But they are high rough and very haughty in their answer And they said stand back and they said again this one fellow came in to sojourn and he will needs be a Iudge As if they should have said Pray who are you that take upon you to speak thus unto us do you know whom you speak to you are a bold and saucy fellow to tell us of wickedness Will you needs be our Iudge shall we indeed be judg'd by such a fellow as you pray stay untill we make choice of you and place you in that office shall we submit our selves to be judged by one so contemptible No no we will never endure it it is below our birth and breeding to be curb'd by any one especially by you who are a stranger and of such a low spirit as dare not join with us in the way and practice of our City We will deal worse with you than with them we will make you know that we are your betters and that we have power in our bands to bring you to your knees and to tread you under our feet that we can do both with you and yours what we please we have been often provoked by you before now we will forbear no longer but make you to feel as well as to see in what disdain we have taken all your reproofs of our conversation Pride was grown to a great heigth in Sodom it was monstrously great and big-bellied conceiving and bringing forth many Daughters such as Hatred Malice Envie Revenge Wrath Strife Contention Bitterness evil speaking Slanders Backbiting Whisperings Tumults Brawls Blood and the like these and many other â—…ins
his right hand did lay hold on them that hated him and took no heed to his Laws and making Sodom and Gomorrah as a fiery Oven in the time of his anger he swallowed up all the Sinners of those Places in his Wrath and devoured them with this unquenchable fire the Place now is like a fiery Oven or like a great fiery Furnace the smoke of whofe flame was so great that far and near it might be seen concerning the horror of the Sodomits when compassed about with Flames I shall speak more under the third particular only here add these things which were remarkable in in this judgement First The strangeness of it Secondly The suddenness and unexpectedness of it Thirdly The dreadfulness of it First This Judgement was very Strange It is the nature of Fire to ascend towards Heaven but here Fire and Brimstone together do descend from Heaven this is very strange the Sodomits had an unnatural Fire within them and they have an unnatural Fire sent upon them they lust after strange Flesh Iud. 7. And God punished them with strange Fire Iob 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked and a strange punishment unto the workers of Iniquity But of all strange punishments this is one of the most strange never such a thing was heard of before or hath been known since as I may apply what Moses speaketh on another occasion Deut. 4. 32. Aske now of the days which are past which were before since God Created Man upon the Earth and ask from one side of Heaven unto the other whether there hath been such a thing as this great thing or hath been like it that God should Rain Fire and Brimstone from Heaven to punish wicked Cities We read of Fire sent down from Heaven by the Lord upon the request of Elijah which consumed his Sacrifice although he had drenched it often and surrounded it with Water all which was licked up by the fire unto the wonder and astonishment of the People whereby the Lord discovered his power beyond Baal whose Priests could not by all their prayers and cutting themselves prevail with their God to effect any such thing 1 Kings 18. 26 28 37 38. And we read of Fire sent down from Heaven which destroyed two Captains and their fifty's upon the request of the same Prophet these things were exceeding strange but the rain of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven which consumed several Cities and all their Inbitants together was far more strange Fire hath come from Heaven but never so great Fire Fire hath come down from Heaven but never Fire mingled with Brimstone Fire and Brimstone hath come forth of the bowels of the Earth of which in the second discourse but never did Fire and Brimstone come down from Heaven either before or since Secondly This judgement was sudden and unexpected It was like the Flood to the old World which was drowned or like the coming of Christ to the Sinners on Earth which shall be damned when the greatest judgements are most near the Sinners which shall be destroyed thereby are most secure and thus it was with the Sinners of Sodom the day before there was no appearance of any such destruction near there was no sign in the Earth or in the Heavens of any such thing the night before also was like other nights no fire beginning in any place only the fire of lust which burned and raged in the hearts of that wicked people but they had no apprehension of danger from those flames when the morning was come it was like other mornings there were no fiery dews or fore-drops of the fiery rain to give them warning of what would follow The shaddows of the night were chased away by the beams of the morning Sun there was no appearance of the shaddows of the night of Death ready to stretch forth themselves upon all the Inhabitants of Sodom and Neighbour Cities together But so soon as Lot was entered into Zear the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah and brought such a sudden destruction upon them as they could not escape Even as it will be ere long with Babylon Rev. 18. 7 8. So it was with Sodom she lived deliciously and securely and in one day death and mourning came upon her and she was utterly burnt with Fire Could the Sodomits have foreseen and certainly foreknown what destruction would have befallen their City that day they would have hastened out of the place the day before at furthest they would have delayed no longer than that morning when Lot did depart they would have flocked about him old and young from every quarter and have departed with him they would not have vallued houses of goods so that they might have but sav'd their lives But the Sodomits did not in the least apprehend their destruction to be so near The Angels knew it but they discover the thing unto Lot only if they had made it know unto the Sodomits it is most likely they would not have believed it any more than Lot's Sons in Law did believe Lot when from their mouth he did declare it The Sodomits are jovial and secure as if their life and mirth should continue many a year when neither of them were a days standing longer Thirdly This judgement was most dreadful we read in the Scriptures and have seen with our eyes very great judgements but none so dreadful all things considered as this of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Indeed the Flood which devoured the whole old World together Noah and his Family excepted did strike the most universal dread upon the children of men of any judgement that ever hath been since the Worlds Creation yet the Fire and Brimstone from Heaven which devoured Sodom and Gomorrah with all their Inhabitants Lot only and his Family excepted had more of particular dread in it in as much as death by Fire is more painful than death by Water especially such Fire as came down from Heaven It was a terrible day to the old World when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened and Water to come forth from thence in such great abundance as to swell into a Flood and that so great a Flood as drowned all Man-kind which were not found in the Ark But it was a more terrible day to the Sodomits when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened and Fire to come forth from thence Fire mingled with Brimstone and Gods fiery indignation which falling upon their Houses and heads put all into flames this last judgement as it had more strangeness in it so it did strike more terrour into the hearts of those which did endure it When the ground clave asunder and the Earth opening her mouth swallowed up Corah Dathan and Abiram with all that appertained to them when they went thus down alive into the pit and the Earth closing upon them again they perished from the Congregation Num. 16. vers 32. 33. This was a very feaful judgement but the opening
eat her Flesh and burn her with Fre. And again Chap. 18. throwout we have the destruction and burning of Babylon or Rome set forth at large Ver. 2. Babylon the great is fallen is fallen Ver. 4. Come out of her my people that ye pertake not of her Plagues Ver. 7. As she hath glorifyed her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Ver. 8. Her plagues shall come in one day and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her The Kings of the Earth that committed Fornication with her and Merchants and Ship-masters shall bewail her when they see the smoke of her burning Ver. 9. But in Heaven there shall be joy The Lord will rejoice the Prophets and Apostles will rejoice and all the Saints will rejoice in the vengeance which shall then be taken upon Her Ver. 20. Rome was standing and did rejoice when London was burning and I hope London will be standing and much more rejoice when Rome is burning London was burnt but in part Rome shall be utterly burnt with Fire London after it's burning is rebuilt in a great measure but Rome shall never be rebuilt after this burning This Babylon when it falleth shall never rise more Ver. 21. And a mighty Angel took up a stone like a great Mile-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all As a great Mile-stone thrown into the midst of the Sea is overwhelmed with Water so shall Rome be overwhelmed with Fire and as a Mile-stone cannot be raised and drawn out of the Sea so Rome when burnt shall never be raised again out of it's ashes and ruines Dreadful will the destruction of Rome be when the time of her barning is come those which stand a far off for fear of her torment who have been friends to her shall lament what lamentâ—…tions then will there be by such as shall be found in the place it self when it shall be set on Fire about their eares when the Pope and Cardinals and the other Inhabitants of that Filthy and Abominably wicked City shall be consumed together as is likely in the midst of the flames O the hideous out-crys which then will be made in every street when they are surrounded with Fire on all sides and there is no way left for them to escape when their Houses and Wealth and Persons shall be consumed together by the devouring flames when God by such a dreadful fire on Earth shall convey them down to the more dreadful fire of Hell Then the Lord will avenge all the blood of his Saints which under the Anti-Christian tyranny hath been shed for so many generations then he will avenge all the Idolatry Pride Covetousness Oppression Blasphemy Filthiness Cruelty and Wickedness of Rome together When the Grape â— of this Vine are fully ripe the Angel with his sharp Sicle will cut it and throw it into the Winepress of Gods wrath where it shall be squiesed and crusht to pieces When their iniquities are full then their ruine shall come And surely the time is not far off I am much of the perswasion that this generation shall not passe away before God will accomplish what he hath threatn'd concerning Râ—…nes burning and destruction the last Sands of the hour of Gods Patience seem to be running the forty and two months seem to be expiring and the two witnesses civilly slain it may be are arising and then Rome will quickly be faâ—…ling CHAP. X. Concerning the burning of the World 2 BY the burning of Mount Aetna we may be minded also of the burning of the World I mean the last general conslagration of the World at the end thereof whether Aetna's burning be a Prognostick of Rome's burning is not so certain but that it is a Prognostic of the Worlds burning and dissolution by Fire may be proved from Scripture as Luke 21. 11. Where our Saviour foretelling his Disciples what the signs should be of his coming and the end of the World amongst Wars Pestilences Earth-quakes doth reckon up fearful sights as one Fore-runner and I verily think there hath not been a more fearful sight since the days of our Saviour then this of the Eruption of Firâ—… and Brimstone from this flaming Mountain the Inhabitant of the place expected a general conflagration then but we may well say that this fearful sight is a Fore-runner of it foretold by Christ and therefore should put us in mind of it The notice of this great and universal burning of the World we have not from reason but from the Scripture the clearest and fullest place to prove this is 2 Pet. 3. 5 6 7. By the Word of God the Heavens were of Old and the Earth standing out of the Water and in the Water Whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water perished But the Heavers and Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the day of Iudgement and perdition of Ungodly men And Ver. 10. The day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the Night in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Here Note First That as the World of old was drowned by Water so that the World that now is shall be consumed by Fire as certainly as the former was sâ—… certainly the later shall be and as dreadful as the Flood was to Sinners on that day so dreadful and much more dreadful will the Fire be to Sinners on the last day Secondly It is by the Word of the Lord that this general Conflagration shall be effected by the Word of the Lord the World was made and by the Word of the Lord the World was Drown'd and by the Word of the Lord the world shall be burn'd In his word he hath foretold it and by his Word he will effect it Thirdly The Heavens and Earth are said to be reserved in store for fire when the Old World was drowned it was only the Earth and Inhabitants thereof the Heavens were untouch'd and the Earth also did remain undissolved and the same Earth did appear afterwards when the Flood was drawn off by God but at the last day the Heavens and Earth too shall be dissolved by Fire not by subterranean Fire as some imagine and that as when the World was drowned the Fountains of the great deep were opened and the Waters kept before in Store-houses were brought forth which overwhelmed the Earth so that there are Fountains of Fire in the bowels of the Eatth and that there it is kept in Store-houses all which then shall be opened and that the fire shall break forth in a more dreadful flame then ever was seen at Mount Aetna and set the whole Fabrick of the World on â—…ire For as
help or relief refuge faileth them and there is no escaping no enduring of this pain and yet they must endure it until extremity of pain doth take away all sence of pain The terrour of the Sodomits through apprehensions of their present and unavoidable death before them was great but surely the way and manner of it namely by Fire from Heaven did cause greater terrour If it had been an ordinary Fire of which some natural cause might have been assigned it had not been so much but when it was a miraculous fire from Heaven created on purpose by the Lord to destroy those Cities surely their dread was extraordinary they could not chuse but see the more immediate hand of God in it and withall his frown and dreadful displeasure with the Fire â—… Brimstone which fell down from Heaven upon their houses and bodies they had scalding drops of Gods wrath â—…ch fell down upon their consciences we may think what impressions they had of the wrath of the Sin-revenging God on their spirits which caused a greatâ—… horror within than the bare apprehension of death in any shape could of it self effect when the guilt of so great Sins and the apprehensions of so great wrath did meet together in their consciences and they had no time nor way to get the guilt of Sin removed and the wrath of God appeased when conscience before asleep was awakened in the midst of flames when there was a Fire above the Sodomits the Fire of Gods anger Fire about and upon the Sodomits the fire which came down from Heaven Fire beneath the Sodomits the fire of Hell and fire within the Sodomits the fire kindled in their consciences O the horrour when Hell was already begun within them in the flashes and sparks of it words cannot utter the horrible anguish which then they had upon them CHAP. VI. Concerning the Persons that escaped 4 THe persons that escaped this dreadful judgement were Lot and his Family Like as it was in the Old World Noah was an upright man in his generation when the whole world besides were wicked and God provided an Ark wherein he saved Noah and his Family when all the kindreds and Nations of the world besides were drowned in the Deluge of Waters which was brought upon the Earth so also Lot being the only upright and righteous man in Sodom when all the City together with the neighbouring Cities were wicked God provided a Zoar for Lot whilst he brought a Deluge of fire upon those wicked Cities which consumed them and all the wicked together which dwelt in them 2 Pet. 2. 5 6 7 8. When the destroying Angels were sent unto Sodom God remembred righteous Lot and a mark for preservation was set upon his forehead because he did sigh and cry out for the abominations which were committed in the midst of the City And God remembred Abraham his Friend who had made intercession for Lot therefore he sent him out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the City wherein Lot dwelt CHAP. VII Concerning the Spectators of Sodom's burnings 5 COncerning the Spectators of this Judgement Abraham however remote his habitation was had a plain prospect of this Fire and burning of Sodom We read Gen. 19. 27 28. And Abraham gat up early in the morning unto the place where he stood before the Lord and he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the Land of the Plain and beheld and lo the smoke of the Countrey went up as the smoke of a Furnace Abrahams heart did misgive him that those wicked Cities would not escape destruction what ever conditional promise the Lord had made unto him of their preservation therefore it is likely he arose and came to this place that he might see what became of the Cities and quickly he 〈◊〉 them to be all in flames by the great smoke which mounted up from them what his thoughts were is not mentioned but it is likely he was more than ordinarily affected with this more than ordinary Judgement such an appearance of God in the World clothed with such wrath and vengeance might well make even Abraham himself whatever Interest he had in God to quake and be astonished When he looked up to Heaven he saw God all in flames of anger when he looked down to the Earth he saw Sodom and Gomorrah all in flames of Fire He knew that Lot did dwell there and he did not know it may be but that Lot with his Family might be burning there and this might cause him to lift up his voice and weep be sure he knew that the wickedness of the Sodomits was very great and that the righteous of the place were very few if any when the Lord had promised him to spare the whole City for the sake of Ten righteous persons could they there have been found Ah Lord thought he what a wicked place is Sodom that it should not yeild Ten righteous persons O what an evil thing and a bitter is it to Sin against God and hereby to provoke him unto anger and what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God when his anger is stirr'd up and doth burn thus like fire And if Abraham could so clearly discern the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah the Inhabitants of Zoar who dwelt so near might more clearly discern it An allarm they have in the morning which doth startle and awaken them they are called forth out of their houses to see this dreadful and tremendous sight The noise of Fire Fire Fire doth sound in their ear Fire from Heaven Fire in the Air Fire on the Earth Sodom on Fire Gomorrah on Fire Admah and Zeboim on Fire every place near them on Fire this they hear this they see the flames all about are very visible and very terrible O with what ruful countenances do they look upwards towards Heaven from whence the Fire did come and forwards towards Sodom and Gomorrah where the Fire was kindled they see all the Cities together in flames which being all cituated upon the Plain without any Mountain or Hill between they might in the Fields or on the tops of their houses have an easie prospect of And surely the Sinners of Zoar are now affraid and fearfulness doth exceedingly surprize the guiltâ—… surely their consciences now are awakened â—…nd do cause a trembling within them when they see God's vengeance executed in flaming fire upon their fellow-sinners before them Alas wo be to us who can endure such devouring fire who can bear such horrible burnings Hath Sodom and Gomorrah provoked God to destroy them with Fire from Heaven what then will become of us who have shared with them in the same guilt and have deserved the same punishment O whether can we flee to hide us from the wrath of God and shelter us from his fiery indignation Lot also who though he did not look back as his Wife did before he got into Zoar yet from thence no doubt
and ungodly here you that are righteous shall escape God will hide you in the day of his anger when a Deluge of Judgements shall break in upon the ungodly God will provide an Ark for you when God raineth a horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone upon the wicked he will provide a Zoar for you God will either keep you from the judgement it self which befalleth others or else he will keep you in it and from that fiery indignation which is mingled with it be sure you shall be kept from the horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone which shall beat upon the head of the wicked at last when the Heavens shall be on Fire and pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall be on Fire and melt with fervent hâ—…at and the Earth shall be on Fire and all things here below in flames when the wrath of the Sin-revenging God shall break forth like a Deluge upon the Ungodly World and they shall be cast together into the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone Heaven shall be youâ—… Ark your Zoar where you shall be in safety and made happy in the full enjoyment of God unto 〈◊〉 eternity Away then with fear and dread whatever the fâ—…owns and threatnings of men be though 〈◊〉 oâ—… the Ungodly may inveron you though the wrath of wicked men like fire be kindled against you yet being righteous you are safe since God is for you neither men nor Devils shall be permitted to do you real hurt God is your dwelling place and God is your hiding place you are under his wing whilst you remain here and you shall hereafter lye in his bosom for ever Fire and Brimstone from Earth in the burning of Aetna or Mount Gibel CHAP. I The Introduction THe History of Sodom and Gomorrah's flames and destruction by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven may seem incredible unto some who either are ignorant of the Infinite Power of God whereby he can do whatever he pleaseth as evidently appeareth in the mighty works thereof which could not be effected without the hand of Omnipotency and know not how feirce and hot his anger is which burneth in his breast against Sinners especially such Sinners as the Sodomits were which would quickly put the whole world into flames did not his infinite Patience restrain it for a while from breaking forth in it's rage and fury or whâ—… give no credit unto the Divine Authority of the Scriptures of whom there are too many in our age and Nation which doth relate this judgement on those wicked Cities which however being indeed the Word of God as might be proved by many unaswerable Arguments the record of them is undoubtedly true and may as firmly be believed as any thing may certainly be known which is the object of sence or demonstrable by reason Even as the future flames of Fire and Brimstone in Hell are discredited by such Atheists and Antiscripturists and little effectually believed of the most as appeareth by their secure walking in the broad way of Sin which leadeth to this place of most dreadful and eternal burning Therefore by way of Appendix unto Sodom's burning and by way of Introduction unto the burning of Hell I shall treat of Aetna or Mount Gibel's burning with Fire and Brimstone out of the bowels of the Earth especially in the eruption of it the last year which being a thing so late and so nâ—…ar and so attested by eye-witniss and so easily disproved yet not disproved as it would have been by this time had it been false I suppose will find credit with the most and may be of greater use than hath as yet been made of it from the relation we have had so barely of the thing without any mention made of the name of God or his hand or the end which he may have in such wonderful and stupendous burnings It is from the soul that the body hath it's life and motion it 's beauty and lustre when the soul is separated the body becomes a carkasse breathless lifeless ghaâ—…y and subject to putrefaction The whole world is full of God Praesentemque refert quaelibet herba Deum every pile of Grasse yea the meanest thing which is the object of our eye or any 〈◊〉 doth carry an Imprâ—…sse of God especially the greater works of Creation and Providence do bare large characters of the Deity and have Praise unto the Lord written more legibly upon them and although God be not the Soul of the World as some have affirm'd yet the whole Creation hath it's beauty from him and so far are any work truly admirable and great as God is taken notice of in them The Sun Moon and Stars and the whole frame of the Heavens are most great and illustrious as by their brightness and motion they declare the glory of the Lord their maker and ruler The Earth and Sea and all things in both as they set forth Gods infinite power and wisdom and goodness so far they are most worthy our observation and admiration All the good things we receive are onely so far truly good to us as we perceive them handed to us by God and Gods hand in afflictions also doth sweeten them to us when we are perswaded of the Author and God's love and design for our good in them To leave out God therefore in the consideration of any work is to leave out that which is chiefly remarkable without him we see but the carkasse without the Soul without the the life and beauty The design therefore of this Treatise concerning Aetna's late burning is to turn our eye upward towards God that we take notice of him and give him the glory of this work which is the wonder of all unto whom the notice thereof hath come There are six things under this subject which â—… shall briefly creat of First Concerning the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel in the general Secondly Concerning the Antecedents of the late Eruption of this Mountain Thirdly Corcerning the eruption of Fire and Brimstone it self from the Mountain Fourthly Concerning the concomitants of this eruption Fifthly Concerning the cause of this eruption Sixthly And lastly concerning the use and improvement which we should make of it CHAP. II. Concerning the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel in the general AETna is a Mountain in the Island of Sicily which Island is inviron'd round by the Tyrâ—… Sea but a small distance from Italy in one part of it up to which ancient Writers think it was joyned by an 〈◊〉 or neck of Land like as Pelepâ—…sus to Greece unto the continent of Italy but by the violent beating of the Sea upon that neck was devided asunder 〈◊〉 iâ—… so Iustin. lib. 4. cap. 1. and others are of the sâ—…me mind The heigth and bigness of this Aetna or Mount Gâ—…b is very great some 〈◊〉 it to be ten 〈◊〉 others fifteen mâ—…les distant from the head and top above to the foot and plain 〈◊〉 â—…nd perpendicular in a strait line to
any place or Town which was in it's way remains nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged stones which yeilding a noisom fume strick terrour and astonishment in all that behold it The first breaking forth of this burning Flood of Fire was on the Munday tâ—…e 11th of March which in it's progress devided it self into several lesser streams and filled the whole Countrey therebout with Fire and Brimstone in many places where these streams did come great flames were seen to arise together with thick smoke as from the moâ—…ths of so many great Furnaces After the Flood of Fire was come down the Mountain and towards the foot which is not so steep it did not move with that swiftness as before yet nothing could divert it's course but it overturned and consumed all where ever it came The first streams continued their course for twelve days together and after hopes that the fury was now spent on Fryday the 22d of March the Mountain Aetna roared and thundered smoked and flamed again most hideously at the mouth shook trembled throughout most dreadfully unto the very foundations and cast forth such heaps of scinders stones and ragged Rocks out of it's bosom and bowels at those breaches before made in it's sides that they grew together and were raised into two large and high Hills and this acccompanied with another stream of it's liquid melted matter which overtook the former currents and thrust them forward with great fury But on the 25th of March the Mountain bellowed with a greater noise than ever before and was shaken with such violence and force that a large part of the head and top fell into the breast aâ—…d bowels and that the depth of half a miâ—…e as some do judge And then issued forth fiery streams in so great abundance that joyning forces with the former they made great havock and desolation destroying the habitations of no lesse than seven and twenty thousand persons the Towns of La Guardia Malpassa Campo Rotundo La Potielli Antonino Pietro Mosterbianco Monpileri Falicchi Placchi were wholy consum'd and ruin'd Yea the Image of the blessed Lady of the Annunciata â—…o highly reverenced by the Superstitious Papists unto which many resorted in Pilgrimage from remote parts was not spared whatever power the Intercession of that Virgin Lady hath with her Son in Heaven for persons here upon the Earth as the Papists ridiculously fancy yet nothing could now avail to secure her Image from being swallowed up by this devouring fiery stream whereby all may see that there was no difference between the stones of that Image and those of the other buildings in that place which equally felt the foâ—…ce of the fire Other places were ruin'd in part as Maâ—…calucia Giovanni de Galermo with many other and at length the burning streams do approach near unto Gates and Walls of the City Calania in their course destroying Fields Gardens Orchards and Vineards about it which filled the Inhabitants with such fear that far the greatest part of them removed themselves and their goods out of the City Yet what ever the danger and fear was the Lord preserved the City from being swallowed up by these devouring streams part of these streams were congealed on the Land one of them emptied it self under the Wals of the Castle into the Sea in four fathom Water which held it's current in the Sea two fathom high above it and to the astonishment of all spectatours burned in the Sea it self for a great while and making progress into the Sea a mile in length and a mile in bredth was not quenched by the water of the Sea until having spent it self it did of it self congeal CHAP. V. Concerning the Concomitants of the Eruption and burning of Aetna WHilst the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel did thus vomit flames of fire at the top and streams of fire at the side accompained with such horrid noise and cracking in the Air such dreadful trembling and shaking of the Earth other things also were very observable at the same time such as the swelling of the Sea unto a great and unaccustomed height with great raging and roaring Waves the Floods of Water did seem to lift up their heads to see this dreadful spectacle of the Floods of fire and the Waves of the Sea did lift their voice in great tumult as being amazed at the horrid aspect of the Waves and Streams of Flames and Brimstone The Winds also which raised this Tempest in the Sea were high having broken loose from their habitation and with great noise and blustring whirled about the Land in fierce blasts beating upon the houses and unsheltred people in the Fields as if they would contend for force with the raging and irresistable fire The Clouds were gathered thick in the Sky and arrayed the Heavens with black attire hiding the comfortable and refreshing beams of the Sun from the sight which if sometimes it deed peep thorow the Clouds it was with a pale countenance as if it had been struck with fear and dared not to appear in such a dismal place Storms of rain often powred down from the Clouds which seemed in compassion to weep to weep Floods of tears endeavouring thereby to contribute some help for the extinguishing of the flames but all the Rain which fell was so far from quenching or allaying that it did but the more encrease and exasperate the fury of the Fire which hereby burned so much the more feircely In the City there was danger of the Houses overthrow by the Winds and Earth-quak or their being devoured and swallowed up by the Deluge of Fire In the Fields and Countreys there was danger of being destroyed by Thieves and Robbers who took advantage of the peoples confusions to set upon them murdering many and spoiling them of their choicest things which they had saved out of their ruin'd houses Great was the dread and terrour which now did possess the hearts of the people Our Saviour foretells Luke 21. 25 26. That on Earth there should be distresse of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the Waves roaring and menâ—… hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the Earth Such was the distresse and perplexity of these people It is said in the Relation That people ran with cryes and lamentations about the City and Countrey expecting nothing but to be swallowed up or consumed by the Fire having no other apprehensions buâ—… of death and a general Conflagration Had the Christian religion taken place there in the purity and power thereof it might have born up the spirits of the sincere and established Christians against overwhelming fear and amazement in all those storms and danger If of the vertuous Man much more may it be said of the truely Religions Si fracitus illabatur orbis impavidum ferient ruinae though the frame of the Earth and World should crack and be dissolved yet such a one would be undaunted under it's ruines
was said before we read nothing of this in the Scripture it is said that the Heavens and Earth are kept in store for Fire but it is not said that fire is kept in store for them Bâ—…sides how can we conceive that any Subterranean fire should have power to reach and dissolve the Heavens Fourthly The time of this burning of the World shall be at the day of Iudgement and perdition of the Ungodly called Ver. 10. The day of the Lord It will be at the day of Christ appearance to Judgement when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeance on the Ungodly World having first raised up the Righteous from the dead and gathered them together from the four Winds and called them up into the Clouds and openly acknowledged and acquitted them and set them in a place of safty for as Noah and his Family were hid from the Deluge of Water in the Ark so the Lord will hide all the Righteous under his wing from the Fire and having examined and Sentenced the wicked unto Eternal perdition then most probably will the time be of his setting the World on fire and that all the wicked of all Generations will remain in the midst of those flames until the whole be consumed except themselves who will be then cast into a place of more dreadful burning I mean the everlasting fire of Hell The time cannot be far off the Lord will come very shortly Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37. And the Lord will come suddenly as a Thief in the night Ver. 10. When the World is secure and doth no more expect it than the old World did the Flood or the Sodomits did the fire then the Lord will come Fifthly Here is a more particular description of the burning of the World It is said Ver. 10. The Heavens shall 〈◊〉 away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the the works that are therein shall be burnt up And Ver II. All these things than be dissolved The Heavens shall be in flames and the frame of them crack with a hideous noise far beyond whatever before did â—…ound in the ear of any mortal and like a great scroll they shall be rolled together and fly away out of sight all the Elements also shall feel the force of this fire and hereby be melted and consumed into nothing the Elementary fire and air and water shall all melt with this fervent heat and evaporate so as to be no more but especially the earth and works thereof shall be the subject of these burnings all the Buildings all the houses and Towns and Cities of the world shall be on fire together all the great and vast Mountains shall be in flames yea and the great Woods Plains and Fields and the whole Earth from the very bottom of it's foundation shall be on fire and be burnt up O what a dreadful fire will this be it will be dreadful to behold it how dreadful will it be then to feel it to be in the midst of it as the wicked shall be in their passage to the eternal flames of Hell when they shall see the Heavens on fire and the air on fire and the Water on fire and the Earth on fire Cities on fire and Fields on fire and themselves on fire Head Back Breast Belly Hands Arms Legs Feet every part on fire and that such a fire though it doth torment them yet that shall not be able to consume them when they see the Heavens which have endured so long to melt stones to be broken and the hardest mettals to be dissolved by the fervent heat of this fire and yet their bodies made so strong that their flesh shall not be consumed hereby O how fearful will this be tongue cannot utter thought cannot conceive the anguish of the wicked on this day and in this place of fire Mr. Doolittle in his Book of Rebukes doth Patheticplly set forth the wo of the Ungodly through this fire from page 297. to p. 305 See the inference which the Apostle doth draw from the consideration of these flames which shall burn the world 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Unto which add the 14th Vers. Wherefore be loved seeing ye look for these things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 1. Look to your state that you be Godly persons that you be regenerate and have the Image likeness of God upon you such will be safe and out of the reach of these flames at that day but wo be to the Ungodly they cannot escape 2. Look to your conversation that it be Holy that you be Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15. These great burnings and dissolution of all things should take off your heart from the World which ere long will be in flames and quicken you unto a holy and circumspect walking that when the Lord doth appear you may be found of him in paece without spot and blameless and then you shall be taken to inhabit the new Heavens and new Earth those glorious mansions which the Lord will prepare for his people where you shall have the presence of the Lord with you for evermore The third burning which will be is the burning of Hell of which in the next discourse Fire and Brimstone in Hell to Burn the Wicked Psal. 11. 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain Snares Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup. CHAP. I. The Introduction THe flames and fiery Streams which were rained down from Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah formerly and which issued forth from the Earth in the Eruptions of Mount Aetna lately are but shaddows of the future flames and like painted fire in comparison with the streams of Fire and Brimstone which in Hell shall burn the wicked eternally For as the Glory of Heaven whilst we are in the dark Vale of this World doth far exceed all conception and therefore cannot be set forth in full by any description but as one saith whoever attempts to speak of an Heavenly state while himself is upon the Earth his discourse of that must needs be like the dark Dreams and Imaginations of a Child concerning the affairs of this World while it self is yet swadled and cradled in the Womb and the Apostle Paul himself though he had been rapt up unto the third Heaven and had such discoveries made unto him there that he wanted words to utter what they were as 2 Cor. 12. 2 3 4. Yet acknowledgeth that he understood like a Child and had but daak views of this Glory even as thorow a glass 1 Cor. 13. 11 12. So also the torment of Hell through that Fire and
of the Heavens and it 's showring down Fire and Brimstone which swallowed up Sodom and Gomorrah with all the Sinners therein this judgement was far more fearful Death by the Sword and death by the Pestilence or by any other disease hath nothing of that dread in it as death by Fire especially by Fire from Heaven by Fire mingled with Brimstone No Fire have we ever seen that carried so much dread in it as the Fire that burnt down our City of London but London's Fire was nothing in comparison with Sodoms Fire this will appear if we compare them together First The Fire of London began only in one place which awakened all the Inhabitants about to prepare and secure themselves and their goods but the Fire of Sodom began in all piaces together there was fire without the City and fire within fire in every street and in every house at the same time the Sodomits were compassed about with fire on all sides Secondly The Fire of London consumed but a part although it were the greatest part of the City within the Walls but the Fire of Sodom consumed the whole City turned all into ashes and not one house therein did escape the fury of the flames Thirdly The Fire of London though it devoured the houses yet much of the wealth and the best goods of the City were preserved but Sodoms fire consumed all their Wealth their Gold and Silver was melted all their apparel and rich houshold furniture was burnt and what ever provisions they had made for their flesh what ever fuel they had laid up for their lusts became fuel for this Fire Fourthly The Fire of London though it burnt much of the goods as well as houses which could not so easily and quickly be removed yet few very few of the Inhabitants perished they had time and warning to withdraw themselves before the fire reached so far as their habitations but Sodom's Fire burnt persons as well as houses and not one person in the whole City escaped after the Fire was begun such as went forth of doors were consumed by the Fire from Heaven such as remained within were consumed by the Fire of their houses Fifthly The Fire of London was an Earthly fire although the contrivement of it might be first in Hell and hellish Instruments made use of in the beginning and carrying of it on but the Fire of Sodom and Gomorrah was from Heaven and if the one did expresse more of the wrath of the Devil and Devilish men the other did expresse more of the wrath of the Sin-revenging God which is ten thousand times more dreadful Sixthly The Fire of London at length was extinguished since which time the City is like to be rebuilt and doth now lift up it's head with more beauty and lustre than before it was turned into ashes but Sodom's Fire did make an desolation of that place and since the Conflagration of that City Sodom never was and never will be again rebuilt neither is the place capable now of having any building erected upon it inasmuch as the Mare mortuum the dead Sea doth now cover the place where once the Sodomits had their habitation CHAP. V. Concerning the Persons that were consumed and how they were affected 3 COncerning the Persons on which this judgement was inflicted and how they were affected The persons were all the wicked Inhabitants of the Cities of Sodom Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim Great was the horrour hinted before which we may imagine these persons were in when the Fire and Brimstone came down from Heaven upon them and there was no way for them to escape The noise and scorching heat of this dreadful Fire we may conclude did quickly awaken some out of their sleep of Intemperance and all out of their sleep of security What tongue can utter the horrible perplexity of the Sodomits on this day when they opened their doors and windows in the morning and looking up to Heaven saw them open and fire coming down thence to devour them when the Tempest of Fire and Brimstone beat upon them so sorely and suddenly when there was such a dreadful burning heat by the Fire and such a stinking noisom suffocating smoke by the Brimstone when there was a little kind of Hell in that place both for torment and Sin O the dread of the Sodomits O the confusion they were in when such an unthought of such an unheard of and such an unavoidable ruine was come upon them how were they amazed how were they distressed some it may be cursed the day of their birth wishing that they had been abortive issues that they had never liv'd to see the light of the Sun that so they might not have liv'd to see and feel the fire of this day others it may be cursed themselves and the Sinners of the place who had provoked God to send this dreadful judgement upon them others it may be cursed God because of the Fire and great heat like those Rev. 16. 8 9. Who being scorched with great heat blasphemed the name of God who had sent down the Fire upon them O what a horrible out-cry was there in Sodo when the City began to be in flames O what weeping and wailing and wringing of hands The men roar the woman shreek the children weep and cry and cling about their Parents yea all of them weep and cry out most hideously The Sodomits have tears now in abundance but none of their tears could quench the Flames about them or aswage the sorrow and anguish within them tears before for their Sins might have prevented these flames and their fruitless mourning in the midst of them but none more impenitent than they in the time of their prosperity and therefore their cries and tears are to no purpose in the time of their adversity they weep and God laughs at their calamity they are grieved and afflicted and God is comforted in the execution of his vengeance upon them for their Sins In this extremty the Sodomits know not what to do nor which way to turn they dare not go forth that they might consult one another because the air is all in a light fire abroad and there are streams of Fire and Brimstone which overflow in the streets all the shelter they have is for a little while in their houses but the Fire invadeth them there and hemmeth them in on all sides and very quickly the Fire creepeth in at their windows and breaketh thorow their doors nothing being able to withstand it's force We may conceive how the poor Sodomits when the Fire was coming into their houses did run from room to room being pursued where ever they went by the devouring flames and when the fire was come at their persons and the flames began to seise on them then they sweat and fry their hair is singed their cloths are set on fire about them their Sinneves shrink their hands and feet loose their use and they are in horrible pain all over without any
merciful and nothing more easie than to obtain a Pardon and if they call on his name and cry for mercy though at the last gasp what ever their wicked lives have been they shall be saved not considering that God is Holy and jealous just and righteous as well as merciful and gracious and that such as go on still in their trespasses have no share in his mercy or any of his promises Fourthly Others do lull themselves asleep upon the Bed of security because of their own and others impunity thus abusing Gods patience and long-suffering which should lead them to repentance to grow more hardned and impenitent hereby Rom. 2. 4 5. Because Sentence against their evil works is not speedily executed therefore their hearts are fully set in them to do evil and they are secure Eccles. 8. 11. Not considering that though God be long-suffering yet that he is not ever-suffering that patience long and much abused will at length break forth into fury not considering that Gods vengeance though it hath leaden heels yet it hath Iron hands and though the Fire of Gods anger be long kindling yet that it will be longer yea for ever burning Fifthly Others quiet themselves for the present and arm themselves against fears of Hell through their intention of after repentance and reformation however they indulge themselves for a while in their sinful course yet they resolve shortly to become new Men and Women to turn over a new leaf and lead a new life and to become as Holy and strict as the best not considering that repentance is not in their own power and how they provoke God hereby to deny the grace to them hereafter and to remove from the means of working it not remembring how many thousands have perished with such intentions which never have been put into execution Sixthly Others are quiet and secure through want of serious consideration what their guilt and danger is they fill and throng up their time so full with worldly business and secular employments that they leave themselves no room or leasure for to think of Sin and their near-approaching death and future wrath and the eternal burnings of Hell which they are in danger of The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches do choke their Meditations in the first springing forth of them that no fruit doth come from them to perfection Did but guilty Sinners sit down one quarter of an hour every day and look upward to the angry God who frowns upon them and down-ward to the flames of Hell which are preparing for them and forward to the last judgement when they will be sentenced by the Judge to dwell with devouring Fire and Inhabit everlasting burnings and were perswaded that if they continue in Sin they can by no means escape surely the could not be so secure Seventhly Others are secure though they are going on in the way of Sin which leadeth to Death and Hell because the most of the children of Men are going on in the same course and they hope they shall fare as well as others their Fore-Fathers trod in these steps and their neighbours are their companions in Sin and if they be punished at last in Hell they think they shall have company enough and bear it as well as others not considering how intollerable the wrath of God is by any and that their company in Hell will be so far from alleviating that it will exceedingly heighten and aggravate their pain and torment Eightly Others and the most are secure through their frequent practice of Sin custom in Sin hath taken away the sense of Sin their lusts have enthralled them and their lusts have stupifyed them however conscience did grumble at first especially when they first ventured upon some more notorious Sins yet now they have shut the mouth of conscience they have charm'd and feared it as with a hot Iron 1 Tim. 4. 2. Ninthly Others are quiet and secure under their danger of Hell because they are not so bad as others because they do not run with others unto the same excesse of riot and have escaped the more grosse pollutions which are in the World through Iusts especially if they carry some face of Religion too if they have a form of Godliness and employ themselves in all the ourward exercise of Devotion and withal have had some inward flashy affections and a counterfeit of all saving grace though they never were truely humbled for Sin emptied of themselves cut off the old stock and truely by Faith engrafted into Christ and from him draw vertue and spiritual influence which is proper to all those that are in Christ and are freed from condemnation through him Rom. 8. 1. Thus the Devil and the deceitful hearts of men do bewitch and befool the most some of these ways to sit still in peace and security until destruction come upon them suddenly and that without remedy and they are not awakened out of their spiritual slumber until they are awakened in the midst of the flames of Hell CHAP. VIII 3. Use of Reproof and Terrour for the awakening of the Wicked and Ungodly out of their carnal security HOw long will ye sleep O ye Sinners How long will ye slumber in such imminent danger ye Graceless and Christless persons what sleep under the light what sleep upon the brinks of the burning Lake and will nothing rouze you and awaken you out of this sleep are you resolved it shall prove the sleep of death shall it insensibly and effectually usher you to Hell before you are aware have you been called already so long so loud so frequently so fervently and yet do you deafen your ear have you been told so often of your guilt and danger and yet harden your â—…art yet will you hold fast your sins resolving not to let them go what ever they cost you have your hearts been like so many brazen walls beating back all the Arrows of reproof and threatnings which have been shot at you or are they like Cley and Mud which groweth the more hard and obdurate under the Sun and Light of the Gospel which hath shined upon you have no Heavenly dews and showers of the Word yet melted and softned you no Fire and Hammer new-moulded and framed you have you been threatned with Death and Wrath and Misery for ever and yet not startled yet stupid and senseless O that yet at length you might be awakened and by the Spirit of the Lord effectually perswaded â—…o lift up your eyes and look a little before you Younder Younder look Sinner younder is a horrible burning Tempest driving towards thee a dreadful burning Lake preparing for thee but canst not thou see it look thorow the perspective of Sodom's burnings when fire came down from Heaven and Aetna's burnings when Fire came forth of the Earth and this will discover something but the perspective of the word will show it plain if thou looâ—…est upwards with this perspective thou maist see
some glimâ—…s of the Glory of Heaven and if thoâ—… looâ—…est dowâ—…ward wâ—…th it thou maist see some glimps of the Fire of Hell Look doest thou not see a horrible deep and large pit filled with horribly burning Fire and that Fire filled with damned Men and Women Lay thy ear to the mouth of this pit and harâ—… what the dolorous complaints what the shreeks and yellings be of that cursed company and doest thou not perceive thy self hastning forward in the way to this place of burning and wilt thou go forward still or wilt thou suffer thy self to be carried on furiously by thy impetuous lusts until thou art fallen into this pit and there be no poâ—…sibility of ever getting forth again But more particularly I shall lay before you some considerations for the awakening of the secure First Think how doleful a day of trouble and adversity is like to be to you if you be then in danger of Hell where will the quiet and security which now you have appear on that day possibly it may last and abide with you so long as the warm Sun of prosperity doth shine upon you in the spring of youth and sensual delights whilst you thrive and flourish in the World whilst your friends and flatterers are about you your health and outward peace doth remain with you but you may live to see all your outward comforts lye dead before you and hid in the Grave from your sight for ever your Sun of prosperity may set at the noon-day of your lives and a black night of adversiry may come upon you stormy Winds and a bitter cold Winter of trouble and affliction may assault you wither all your sensual pleasures like the herb and Flower of the Field some unlooked-for-providence may blast your estate and your name bereave you of your dearest Friends and Relations and withdraw all the fewel and provisions which you have been storing and laying up for your flesh and sensual satisfactions how well and strong so ever you are for the present an unexpected Sickness and Death-threatning distemper may suddenly invade you and bring you down to the sides of the pit and fill you with such pain and grief as no outward enjoyments shall be able in the least to aswage And then think with your selves you that are in danger of Hell what dread is like then to seise upon you like an armed man which you will not be able to resist then your carnal security will fly away like a Bird or a Cloud and vanish like smoke in the Air then your false peace will be broken and torn to pieces like the Spider Webs by the feirce Winds as being utterly unable to resist the feirce blasts and rougher assaults of an adverse estate And oh how doleful and dismal is a day of trouble like to be to you when all outward stays and comfort and all nward quiet and peace shall fail together when there are storms abroad and worser storms at home great trouble without and greater trouble within when you shall fall under the scourge of outward affliction and under the lashes of an accusing conscience the fear of Hell and everlasting burnings is like to be more lively and afflictive in a day of trouble than when prosperity doth restrain conscience from doing it's Office Secondly Consider if you should escape the greater storms of outward affliction in your life yet you cannot escape the stroke of death and think how the apprehensions of future wrath and burnings are like to consume you with terrours at your later end Psal. 73. 19. Death hath a grim aspect and looks with a feirce countenance upon guilty Souls and when this enemy shall assault and wound you when your last sickness shall come prove mortal to you when the Phisitian shall give you over and leave you your friends shall mourn and stand weeping about you when death hath seised upon the extream parts of your body and the cold clammy sweats are upon you and then you apprehend the second death near yoâ—… which will immediately follow upon the first death when you think that whilst Friends are conveying your body to your Grave that Devils shall drag your Souls to Hell how are you then like to awake in horrour despair and utter confusion the dying sobs and Gâ—…oans of some guilty Sinners when awakened at their entrance in at the port of death are dreadful but the inward anguish of the heart is beyond all compass of conceit or expression of tongue Thirdly But think how fearful the seperation of your Souls and Bodies will be think with what dread your spirits will appear before God when your consciences shall furiously charge you with guilt of all the Sins which ever you committed and you have not one pardon to show nor one word to answer for your selves when being examined and accused and found guilty you shall be condemned unto eternal punishment think oh think what your horrour is like then to be Fourthly Think of the day of doom when the Lord Jesus shall come I mean when he shall come down from Heaven to judge the World when the Graves shall be opened and you called forth to appear before him and the Book of your conscience shall be opened and all your Sins made manifest to the whole World and having nothing to answer when you shall be Sentenced to everlasting Fire Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Dâ—…vil and his Angels and when the Lord shall then drive you out of his presence into Hell O what will you shreeks and out-cryes be at that day See my Book of Christ's certain and sudden appearance to Indgement Fifthly Think of the punishment of Hell it self which you will be condemned unto and that First What will there be taken from you Secondly What there will be denied unto you Thirdly What there will be inflicted upon you First Think what in Hell will be taken from you all your riches will be taken away riches will then take the wing and be gone and you shall never set your eye upon them any more you shall never buy and sell and get gain any more never purchase Houses and Lands and Inheritance more and not then have so much Land left as whereon to set the sole of your foot all your money and estate wlil perish with your selves and oh how poor and miserable will you perceive your selves then to bâ—… when you are deprived of all your riches and treasures on Earth and instead thereof are made to possess treasures of wrath your honour also will be taken away and everlasting shame and contempt shall be poured upon you Although you may be raised to a higher seat than the ordinary rank now then you must stand upon even ground with the meanest even such whom you would think scorn to set with the Dogs of your Flock or to employ in the meanest office about you the crown will then be pluckt from the Head and the