sence though not so naturally gathered from this Scripture 2. That he was laid at his gate full of sores These words hold forth the distempers of believers saying He was full of sores which may signifie the many troubles temptations persecutions and afflictions in body and spirit which they meet withal while they are in the world but also the entertainment they finde at the hands of those ungodly ones who live upon the earth Whereas it is said He was laid at his gate full of sores Mark He was laid at his gate not in his house that was thought too good for him But he was laid at his gate full of sores From whence observe That the ungodly world do not desire to entertain and receive the poor Saints of God into their houses If they must needs be somewhere near unto them yet they shall not come into their houses shut them out of doors if they will needs be near us let them be at the gate And he was laid at the gate full of sores 2. Observe that the world are not at all touched with the afflictions of Gods children for all they are full of sores a despised afflicted tempted persecuted people the world doth not pitty no but rather labour to aggravate their trouble by shutting them out of doors sink or swim what cares the world they are resolved to disown them they will give them no entertainment if the lying in the streets will do them any good if hard usage will do them any good if to be disowned rejected and shut out of doors by the world will do them any good they shall have enough of that but otherwise no refreshment no comfort from the world And he was laid at his gate full of sores Verse 21. Verse 21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans table the dogs came also and licked his sores BY these words our Lord Jesus doth shew us the frame of a Christians heart and also the heart and carriage of worldly men toward the Saints of the Lord the Christians heart is held forth by this that any thing will content him while he is on this side glory And he desired to be fed with the crumbs the dogs meat any thing I say a Christian will be content with any thing if he have but to keep life and soul together as we use to say He is content he is satisfied he hath learned if he hath learned to be a Christian to be content with any thing as Paul saith Phil. 4.21 I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content He learns in all conditions to study to love God to walk with God to give up himself to God and if the crumbs that fall from a rich mans table will but satisfie nature and give him bodily strength that thereby he may be the more able to walk in the way of God he is contented And he desired to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich mans table But mark he had them not you do not finde that he had so much as a crumb or a scrap allowed unto him No then the dogs will be beguild that must be preserved for the dogs From whence observe that the ungodly world do love their dogs better then the children of God You will say that 's strange It is so indeed yet it is true as will be clearly manifested as for instance How many pounds do some men spend in a year on their dogs when in the mean while the poor Saints of God may starve for hunger They will build houses for their dogs when the Saints must be glad to wander and lodge in dens and caves of the earth and if they be in any of their houses for the hire thereâ—f they will warn them out or eject them or pull down the house over their heads rather then not rid themselves of such Tenants Again some men cannot go half a mile from home but they must have their dogs at their heels but they can very willingly go half a score miles without the society of a Christian Nay if when they are busie with their dogs they should chance to meet a Christian they would willingly shift him if they could They will go on the other side of the hedge or the way rather then they will have any society with him and if at any time a child of God should come into an house where there are but two or three ungodly wretches they do commonly wish either themselves or the Saint out of doors and why so Because they cannot down with the society of a Christian though if there come in at the same time a dog or a drunken swearing wretch which is worse then a dog they will make him welcome he shall sit down with them and partake of their dainties And now tell me you that love your sins and your pleasures had you not rather keep company with a drunkard a swearer a strumpet a thief nay a dog as I said before then with an honest hearteâ— Christian If you say no. What meaâ—â— your sowre carriage to the people of God Why do you look on them as if you would eat them up yet at the very same time if you can but meet your dog or a drunken companion you can fawn upon them take acquaintance with them to the Tavern or Ale-house with them if it be two or three times in a week but if the Saints of God meet together pray together and labour to edifie one another you will stay till doomes-day as they call it before you will look into the house where they are Ah friends when all comes to all you will be found to love drunkards strumpets dogs any thing nay to serve the devil rather then to have loving and friendly society with the Saints of God Moreover The dogs came and licked his sores Here again you may see not onely the afflicted state of the Saints of God in this world but also that even dogs themselves according to their kind are more favourable to the Saints then the sinful world though the ungodly will have no mercy on the Saints yet it is ordered so that these creatures dogs lions c. will Though the rich man would not entertain hiâ— into his house yet his dogs will come and do him the best good they can even to lick his running sores It was thus with Daniel when the world was mad against him and would have him thrown to the lions to be devoured the lions shut their mouthes at him or rather the Lord did shut them up so that there was not that hurt befell to him as was desired by the adversaries Dan. 6. And this I am perswaded of that would the creatures do as some men would have them the Saints of God should not walk so quietly up and down the streets and other places as they do And as I said before so I say again I am perswaded that at
that that Christ told the Jews would befall them in Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping c. when you shall see Abraham your father and Isaac and Jacob together with your brethren the Prophets in the kingdom of heaven and your selves thrust out Nay saith he There shall come from the East and from the West that is those that thou didst never see in all thy life before and they shall sit down with thy friends and thy neighbours thy wife and thy children in the kingdom of heaven and thou for thy sins and disobediencc shalt be shut nay thrust out O wonderfull torment 5. Again thou shalt have none but a company of damned souls with an innumerable company of huge devils to keep company with thee While thou art in this world the very thoughts of the devils appearing to thee makes thy flesh to tremble and thine hair ready to stand upright on thy head But O what wilt thou do when not onely the supposition of the devils appearing but the reall society of all the devils in hell to be with thee howling and roaring screeching and yelling in such a hideous manner that thou wilt be even at thy wits end and be ready to run stark madde again for anguish and torment 6. Again that thou mightest be tormenteâ— to purpose the mighty God of heaven will lay as great wrath and vengeance upon thee as ever he can by the might of his glorious power As I said before Thou shalt have his wrath not by drops no but by whole showres shall it come thunder thunder upon thy body and soul so fast and so thick that thou shalt be tormented out of measure And so saith the Scripture 2. Thes 1.9 speaking of the wicked Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when the Saints shall be admiring his gooodness and glory Again this thou shalt have as I said before without any intermission thou shalt not have any ease so long as while a man may turn himself round thou shalt have it alwayes every hour day and night for their worm never dies but alwayes gnaws and their fire is never quenched As it is written in Mark 9. 7. Again in this condition thou must be for ever and that is as sad as all the rest For if a man were to have all his sins laid to his charge and communion with the devils and as much wrath as the great God of heaven can inflict upon them I say if it were but for a time even ten thousand years if then it might have an end there would be ground of comfort and hopes of deliverance but here is thy misery this is thy state for ever here thou must be for ever when thou lookest about thee and seest what an innumerable company of howling devils thou art amongst thou shalt think this again this is my portion for ever When thou hast been in hell so many thousand years as there are stars in the firmament or drops in the sea or sands on the sea shore yet thou hast to lie there for ever O this one word ever how will it torment thy soul O friends I have onely given a very short touch of the torments of hell O! I am set I am set and am not able to utter what my minde conceives of the torments of hell Yet this let me say to thee accept of Gods mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ lest thou feel that with thy conscience which I cannot expresse with my tongue and say I am sorely tormented in this flame And seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome When the damned are in this pittiful state surrounded with fears with terrors with torment and vengeance one thing they shall have which is this they shall see the happy and blessed state of Gods children he seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome which as I said before is the happy state of the Saints when this life is ended This now shall be so far from being an ease unto them that it shall most wonderfully aggravate or heighten their torment as I said before There shall be weeping or cause of lamentation when they shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven and themselves thrust out 2. Observe those that die in their sins are far from going to heaven He seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome And indeed it is just with God to deal with them that die in their sins according to what they have done and to make them who are far from righteousness now to stand far from heaven to all eternity Hearken to this ye stout hearted that are far from righteousness and that are resolved to go on in your sins when you die you will be far from heaven you will see Lazarus but it will be afar off Again he seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome These are some of the things that the damned do behold so soon as they come into torment Mark And he seeth Lazarus in Abrahams bosome Lazarus who was he Why even he that was so flighted so disregaded so undervalued by this ungodly one while he was in the world he seeth Lazarus in his bosome From whence observe That those who live and the die enemies of the Saints of God let them be never so great or stout let them bear never so much sway while they are in the world let them brag and boast never so much while they are here they shall in spight of their teeths see the Saints yea the poor Saints even the Lazarus's or the ragged ones that belong to Jesus to be in a better condition then themselves O who do you think was in the best condition or who do you think saw themselves in the best condition he that was in hell or he that was in heaven He that was in darkness or he that was in light He that was in everlasting joy or he that was in everlasting torments The one with God Christ Saints Angels the other in tormenting flames under the curse of Gods eternal hatred with the devils and their angels together with an innumerable company of howling roaring cursing ever burning reprobates Certainly this observation will be easily proved to be true here in this world by him that looks upon it with an understanding heart and will clear it self to be true in the world to come by such as shall go either to heaven or to hell 2. The second observation from these words And seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome is this They that are the persecutours of the Saints of the Lord now in this world shall see the Lords persecuted ones to be they that are so highly esteemed by the Lord as to sit or to be in Abrahams bosome in everlasting glory though they the enemies to the children of God and the practice of the Saints did so lightly esteem them that they scorn to let
them gather up the dogs meat that falls under their table this is also verified and held forth plainly by this Parable And therefore be not grieved O you that are the tempted persecuted afflicted sighing praying Saints of the Lord though your adversaries look upon you now with a disdainful surly rugged proud and haughty countenance yet the time shall come when they shall spie you in Abrahams bosome I might enlarge upon these things but shall leave them to the Spirit of the Lord which can better by ten thousand degrees enlarge them on thy heart and conscience then I can upon a piece of paper Therefore leaving these to the blessing of the Lord I shall come to the next verse and shall be brief in speaking to that also and so pass to the rest Verse 24. Verse 24. And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy upon me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame YOu know I told you the 22. verse is a discovery of the departure of the godly and the ungodly out of this life where he saith The beggar died and the rich man also died The 23. verse is a discovery of the proper places both of the godly and the ungodly after death one being in Abrahams bosome or in glory the other in hell Now this 24. verse is a discovery of part of the too late repentance of the ungodly when they are dropt down into hell And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy upon me From these words and he cried we may observe first what a change the ungodly will have when they come into hell Where he saith he cried it is like he was laughing jesting jearing drinking mocking swearing cursing prating persecuting of the godly in his prosperity among his filthy companions but now the case is otherwise now he is inanother frame now his proud stout currish carriage is come down as is clearly signified by these words And he cried Therefore by these words you may secondy observe that the laughter of the ungodly will not last alwayes but will be sure to end in a cry O no my friends consider you must have a change either here or in hell If you be not new creatures regenerate persons new born babes in this world before you go hence your note will be changed you conditions will be changed for if you come into hell you must cry O did but the singing drunkards when they are making merry on the Alebench think on this that if they drop into hell they must cry it would make them change their note and cry What shall I do whither shal I go when I die But as I said before the devil as he labors to get poor souls to follow their sins so he labors also to keep the thoughts of eternal damnation out of their mindes and indeed these two things are so nearly linked together that the devil cannot well get the soul to go on in sin with delight unless he can keep the thougths of that terrible after-clap out of their mindes But let them know that it shall not alwayes be thus with them for if when they depart they drop down into eternal destruction they shall have such a sence of their sins and the punishment due to the same that it shall make them to cry And he cried O what an alteration will there be among the ungodly when they go out of this world it may be a fortnight or a moneth before their departure they were light stout surly drinking themselves drunk slighting Gods people mocking at goodness and delighting in sin following the world seeking after riches faring deliciously keeping company with the bravest but now they are dropt down into hell they cry A little while ago they were painting their faces feeding their lusts following their whores robbing their neighbours telling of lies following of playes and sports to pass away the time but now they are in hell they do cry It may be last year they heard some good sermons was invited to receive heaven was told their sins should be pardoned if they closed in with Jesus but refusing his profers and slighting the grace that was once tendered they are now in hell and do cry Before they had so much time they thought that they could not tell how to spend it unless it were in hunting and whoring in dancing and playing and spending whole hours yea dayes nay weeks in the lusts of the flesh but when they depart into another place and begin to lift up their eyes in hell and consider their miserable and irrecoverable condition they will cry O what a condition wilt thou fall into when thou dost depart this world if thou depart unconverted and not born again thou hadst better have been smothered the first hour thou wast born thou hadst better have been plucked one limb from another thou hadst better have been made a dog a toad a serpent nay any other creature in the visible world then to die unconverted and this thou wilt finde to be true when in hell thou dost lifâ— up thine eyes and dost cry Here then before we go any further you may see that it is not without good ground that these words are here spoken by our Lord That when any of the ungodly do depart into hell they will will cry Cry why so 1. They will cry to think that they should be cut off from the Land of the living never more to have any footing therein 2. They will cry to think that the Gospel of Christ should be so often profered them and yet they are not profited by it 3. They will cry to think that now though they would never so willingly repent and be saved yet they are past all recovery 4. They will cry to think that they should be so foolish as to follow their pleasures when others were following of Christ 5. They will cry to think that they must be separated from God Christ and the kingdom of heaven and that for ever 6. To think that their crying will now do them no good 7. To think that at the day of judgement they must stand at the left hand of Christ among an innumerable company of damned ones 8. They will cry to think that Lazarus whom once they slighted must be of them that must sit with Christ to judge or together with Christ to pass a sentence of condemnation on their souls for ever and ever 1 Corinthians 6.2 3. 9. Cry to think that when the judgement is over and others are taken into the everlasting kingdom of glory then thou must depart back again into that dungeon of darkness from whence thou camest our to appear before that terrible tribunal where thou shalt be tormented so long as eternity lasts without the least intermission or ease How sayest thou O thou wanton proud swearing lying ungodly wretch whether this be to be slighted and made a mock
Siloe fell were sinners above others I tell you nay for except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish So here Nay Father Abraham c. By this vvord nay therefore is signified a rejecting the first ansvver Novv observe I pray you the reason vvhy he sayes nay is because God doth put over all those that vvill be saved to observe and receive the truth contained in Scripture and believe that To have high esteem of them and to love and search them as Christ saith Search the Scriptures for they are they which testifie of me Joh. 5.39 But the damned say Nay as if he had said It is true the Scriptures are truth and every curse contained in and held forth by them shall be fulfilled and have its time to be executed on them vvho live and die in unbelief as novv I feel by vvoful experience for I svvim novv in the curses and vvrath vvhich once they told me I should partake of But this is the thing to be short my brethren are unbelievers and do not regard the word of God I know it by my self for when I was in the world it was so with me 'T is true many a good Sermon did I hear many a time was I admonished desired intreated beseeched threatned forewarned of what I now suffer But alas I was ignorant self-conceited surly obstinate and rebellious 'T is true many a time the preacher told me hell would be my portion the devill would wreck his malice on me God would pour on me his sore displeasure but he had as good have preached to the stock to the post to the stones I trod on 'T is true his words rang in mine ears but I kept them from my heart I remember he alledged many a Scripture but those I valued not the Scriptures thought I what are they a dead letter a little ink and paper of three or four shillings price Alas what is the Scripture give me a Ballad a News-book George on horseback or Bevis of Southhampton give me some book that teaches curious arts that tells of old fables but for the holy Scriptures I cared not And as it was with me then so it is with my brethren now we were all of one spirit loved all the same sins slighted all the same counsels promises incouragements and threatnings of the Scriptures and they are still as I left them still in unbelief still provoking God and rejecting good counsel so hardned in their wayes so bent to follow sin that let the Scriptures be shewed to them daily let the messengers of Christ preach till their hearts ake till they fall down dead with preaching they will rather trampleit under foot and swine like rent them than close in with those gentle and blessed profers of the Gospel Thus therefore these words Nay Father Abraham but if one should rise from the dead they would repent are to be understood That the world of ungodly men will not regard the Scriptures seriously Though they have Moses and the Prophets the Scriptures they will not repent or heartily close in with Jesus Christ though the Scriptures do witness against them If therefore there be any good done to them they must have it another way I think saith he it would work much on them if one should rise from the dead And this truth indeed is so evident that ungodly ones have a light esteem of the Scriptures that it needs not many strong arguments to prove it being so evidently manifested by their every dayes practice both in words and actions almost in all things they say and do Yet for the satisfaction to the Reader I shall shew you by a Scripture or two though I might shew many that this was and is true with thâ— geâ—erality of the world See the words of Nehemiah in his 9. Chapter concerning the children of Israel who though the Lord afforded them mercy upon mercy as it is from ver 19. to ver 25. yet ver 26. saith he Nevertheless they were disobedient for all thy goodness toward them and rebelled against thee but how and cast thy law behind their back And was that all No for they slew the Prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee and they wrought great provocations Observe 1. They sinned against mercy And then 2. they slighted the law or word of God 3. They slew the Prophets that declared it unto them 4. The Lord câ—unts it a great provocation See Heb. 3. from ver 10. to ver 19. And see Zach. 7.11 12. But they refusâ—d to hearken saith he there of the wicked and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear the law Yea they made their hearts hard as an adament stone lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts sent unto them by his spirit in the former Prophets c. Mark I pray you here is also First a refusing to hearken namely to the words of the Propehts 2. That they might so do they stopped their cares 3. If any thing was to be done they pulled away their shoulder 4. To effect this they labor to make their hearts hard as an adament stone 5. And all this lest they should hear and close in with Jesus and live and be delivered from the wrath to come all which things do hold out an unwillingness to submit to and embrace the words of God and so Jesus Christ which is testified of by them Many other Scriptures I might bring in for confirmation of the thing as that in Amos 7.12 13. also 2 Sam. 2.24 25. 2 Chron. 25.15 16. Jer. 7.23 24 25 26 27. and Chap 16 12. Read also seriously that saying in 2 Chron. 36.15 where he saith And the Lord God of their Fathers sent unto them How by his messengers rising up betimes because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place And did they make them welcome No But mocked them the messengers of God and despised his words And was that all No they misused his Prophets How long untill the wrath of the Lord arose against them In how high a measure Till there was no remedy See also Jer. 29.19 Chap. 25.3 4 5 6 7. Luk. 11.49 But alas we need not be so earnest in quoting the Scriptures so plentifully seeing any one or two places are enough And besides the conversation of almost all men doth bear witness to the same both religious and profane persons in that they daily neglect reject and turn their backs upon the plain testimony of the Scriptures As 1. Take the threatnings laid down in holy writ and how are they disregarded there are but a few places in the Bible but there are threatnings against one sinner or other against drunkards swearers liars proud persons strumpets whoremonger covetous railers extortioners theeves lazy persons In a word all manner of sins are reproved and without faith in the Lord Jesus there is a sore punishment to be executed on the committers
for he laid the sins of thousands and ten thousands and thousands of thousands of sinners to his charge Esay 53. And caused him to drink the terrible cup that was due to them all and not onely so but did delight in so doing For it pleased the Lord to bruise him God dealt indeed with his Son as Abraham would have dealt with Isaac I and more terribly by ten thousand parts for he did not onely tear his body like a lion but made his soul an offering for sin And this was not done fainedly but really for justice called for it he standing in the room of sinners witness that horrible and unspeakable agony that fell on him suddenly in the Garden as if all the vials of Gods unspeakable scalding vengeance had been cast upon him all at once and all the devils in hell had been broken loose from thence at once to destroy him and that for ever insomuch that the very pangs of death seized upon him the same hour For saith he My soul is exceeding sorrowful and amazed even unto death Mark 14.33 34. Witness also that strange kinde of sweat that trickled down his most blessed face where it is said And he sweat as it were great mark I beseech you great drops or clodders of blood trickling down to the ground O Lord Jesus what a load didst thou carry what a burthen didst thou bear of the sins of the world and the wrath of God! O thou didst not onely bleed at nose and mouth with the pressure that lay upon thee but thou wast so pressed so loaden that the pure blood gushed through the flesh and skin and so ran trickling down to the ground And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood trickling or falling down to the ground Luke 22.44 Canst thou read this O thou wicked sinner and yet go in sin Canst thou think of this and defer repentance one hour longer O heart of flint yea harder O miserable wretch what place in hell will be hot enough for thee to have thy soul put into if thou shalt persist or go on still to adde iniquity to iniquity Besides his soul went down to hell Psal 16.10 Acts 2.31 and his body to the bars of the grave And had hell death or the grave been strong enough to hold him then he had suffered the vengeance of eternal fire to all eternity But O blessed Jesus how didst thou discover thy love to man in thy thus suffering And O God the Father how didst thou also declare thy purity and exactness of thy justice in that though it was thine onely holy innocent harmless and undefiled Son Jesus that did take on him our nature and represent our persons answering for our sins instead of our selves thou didst so wonderfully pour out thy wrath upon him to the making of him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And O Lord Jesus what a glorious conquest hast thou made over the enemies of our souls even wrath sin death hell and devils in that thou didst wring thy self from under the power of them all and not onely so but hast led them captive which would have led us captive and also hast received for us that glorious and unspeakable inheritance That eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive And also hast given thine some discovery thereof through thy Spirit And now sinner together with this consider Fourthly That though Jesus Christ hath done all these things for sinners yet the devils make it their whole work and continual study how they may keep thee and others from enjoying of these blessed priviledges that have been thus obtained for sinners by this sweet Jesus He labours I say first to keep thee ignorant of thy state by nature Secondly to harden thy heart against the wayes of God Thirdly to inflame thy heart with love to sin and the wayes of darkness And fourthly to get thee to continue herein For that is the way he knows to get thee to be a partaker with him of the flaming hell fire even the same that he himself is fallen into together with the rest of the wicked world by reason of sin Look to it therefore But now in the next place a word of incouragement to you that are the Saints of the Lord. 1. Consider what an happy state thou art in that hast gotten the faith of the Lord Jesus into thy soul But be sure thou have it I say how safe how sure how happy art thou For when others go to hell thou must go to heaven when others go to the devil thou must go to God when as others go to prison thou must be set at liberty at ease and at freedom when others must roar for sorrow of heart then thou shalt also sing for the joy of heart Secondly consider thou must have all thy well spent life to follow thee instead of all thy sins and the glorious blessings of the Gospel instead of the dreadful curses and condemnations of the Law The blessing of the Father instead of a fiery sentence from the Judge Thirdly let dissolution come when it will it can do thee no harm for it will be but onely a passage out of a prison into a palace out of a sea of troubles into an haven of rest out of a croud of enemies to an innumerable company of true loving and faithful friends out of shame reproach and contempt into exceeding great and eternal glory For death shall not hurt thee with his sting nor bite thee with his soul-murthering teeth but shall be a welcome guest to thee even to thy soul in that it is sent to free thee from thy troubles which thou art in whiles here in this world dwelling in the tabernacle of clay Fourthly consider how ever it goes with friends and relations yet it will go well with thee Ecclesiastes 8.12 However it goes with the wicked yet I know Mark yet I know saith he that it shall go well with them that fear the Lord that fear before him And therefore let this in the first place cause thee chearfully to exercise thy patience under all the calamities crosses troubles and afflictions that may come upon thee and by patient continuance in well doing to commit both thy self and thine affairs and actions into the hands of God through Jesus Christ as to a faithful Creatour who is true in his word and loveth to give unto thee whatsoever he hath promised to thee And therefore to incourage thee while thou art here with comfort to hold on for all thy crosses in this thy journey be much in considering the place that thou must go into so soon as dissolution comes It must be into heaven to God the Judge of all to an innumerable company of Angels to the spirits of just men made perfect to the general Assembly and Church of the first born whose names are written in heaven and to Jesus too the
in the day time Psal 42.7 8. And after a little while being tossed too and fro in these boisterous waves they shall arrive at the heavenly haven this world being not their resting place but there remains one for them Heb. 4.9 Thirdly let the faith and hopes of a glorious deliverance get thy heart up above thy present sufferings that thou mayest glory in tribulation who hast ground of rejoycing in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 3. For whatsoever thy present grievances are whether outward afflictions or inward temptations this may be thy consolation that a few dayes will rid thee of them when thou shalt sigh no more complain no more but these shall be turned into praises thou hast if I may so call it all thy hell here let thy life be expired and thy misery is ended thy happiness begins where wicked mens end and when thine is once begun it shall have no more end Reader I have an Advertisement to thee concerning the following Discourse and the Authour of it Thou hast in the Discourse many things of choice consideration presented to thee in much plainness evidence and authority the explications are full the applications are natural be not offended at his plain and down-right language it is for the discharge of the Authours conscience and thy profit besides the subject necessarily leads him to it It is a mercy to be dealt thorowly and plainly with in the matters of thy soul we have too many that sowe pillows under mens elbows and too few who dealing plainly divide to every man his portion Read it not to pick quarrels with it but to profit by it and let not prejudice either against the Authour or manner of delivery cause thee to stumble and fall at the truth prejudice will both blinde the eyes that it shall not see the truth and close it in with it and make them too quick sighted either to make faults where there is none or to greaten them where they are and so cause the Reader to turn the edge against the Authour or his Work that should be turned upon his own heart It is marvellous to see how the truth is quarrelled at that comes from one that would be easily received if it did drop from another and I doubt not if this Book had some other hand at it there is scarce any expression that may be now carpt at by some but would have been swallowed without straining We are now fallen into such an age the good Lord help us that truth upon its own account can challenge but little acceptance except the Authour be liked or his lines painted with his own wit But certainly truth is of so excellent a nature of such singular advantage and of so royal a descent that it deserves entertainment for it self and that not in our houses or heads onely but in our hearts too whatsoever the hand is that brings it or the form that it appears in men account gold worth receiving whatsoever the messenger is that brings it or the vessel that holds it If thou meetest Reader with any passage that seems doubtful unto thee let love that thinks no evil put the best construction upon it and do not hastily condemn what thou canst not presently yield to or if any expression thou meetest with may haply offend thee do not throw aside the whole and resolve to read of it no more for though some one may offend thee yet others I hope may affect thee or if there be that which some may call Tautology be not displeased at it for that word that may not fasten upon thy heart in one page may in another and although it may be grievous to thy eye if thou beest nice and curious yet bear with it if it may be profitable to thy soul Concerning the Authour whatsoever the censures and reports of many are I have this to say That I verily believe God hath counted him faithful and put him into the Ministery and though his outward condition and former employment was mâ—an and his hamane learning small yet is he one that hath acquaintance with God and taught by his Spirit and hath been used in his hand to do souls good for to my knowledge there are divers who have felt the power of the word delivered by him and I doubt not but that many more may if the Lord continue him in his work he is not like unto your drones that will suck the sweet but do no work For he hath laid forth himself to the utmost of his strength taking all advantages to make known to others what he himself hath received of God and I fear this is one reason why the Archers have shot so soarly at him for by his and others industry in their Masters work their slothfulness hath been reproved and the eyes of many have been opened to see a difference between those that are sent of God and those that run before they are sent And that he is none of those light fanatick spirits that our age abounds withal this following discourse together with his former that have been brought to publique view will testifie for among other things that may bear record to him herein you shall find him magnifying and exalting the holy Scriptures and largely shewing the worth excelleny and usefulness of them And surely if thou shalt notwithstanding this stumble at his meanness and want of humane learning thou wilt declare thine unacquaintance with Gods declared method who to perfect his own praise and to still the enemy and avenger Makes choice of Babes and Suâ—klings and in their mouthes ordaineth strength Psal 8.2 Though men that have a great designe do and must make use of those that in reason are most likely to effect it yet must the Lord do so too then instruâ—ents not himself would carry away the praise but that no flesh should glory in his presence he hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wife and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. Cast thine eye back to the beginning of the Gospel dispensation which surely if at any time should have come forth in the wisdom and glory of the world and thou shalt see what method the Lord did take at the first to exalt his Son Jesus he goes not amongst the Jewish Rabbi's nor to the schools of learning to fetch out his Gospel Preachers but to the trades and those most contemptible too yet let not any from hence conceive that I undervalue the gifts and graces of such who have been or now are endued with them nor yet speak against Learnnig being kept in its place but my meaning is that those that are learned should not despise those that are not or those that are not should not despise those that are who are faithful in the Lords work and therefore being about to leave thee I shall leave with thee two Scriptures to be considered of The one
thy soul at the judgement day Friend I have no more to say to thee now it may be shortly thou mayest hear from me again in a discourse touching the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace it had been with thee now had opportunity been afforded me but being busie here and there among the saints and sinners though I can do but little good I have not had that conveniencie nor leasure that I could wish I had to present it in right form for truth and edification to thee Now if thou dost love me pray for me that my God would not forsake me nor take his holy Spirit from me and that God would fit me to do and suffer what shall be from the world or devil inflicted upon me I must tell thee the world rages they stamp and shake their heads and fain they would be doing the Lord help me to take all they shall do with patience and when they smite the one cheek to turn the other to them that I may do as Christ hath bidden me for then the Spirit of God and of glory shall rest upon me Farewel I am thine if thou be not ashamed to own me because of my low and contemptible descent in the world John Bunyan A FEW Sighs from Hell OR The Groans of a damned Soul OR An Exposition of those words in the 19 th of Luke ver 19. c. 19 THere was a certain rich man which was cloathed in purple and fine linnen and fared sumptuously every day 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of fores 21 And desiring to be fed with the the crumbs which fâ—ll from the rich mans tablâ— moreover the dogs came and licked his sores 22 And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome the rich man also dyed and was buried 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome 24 And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame 25 But Abraham said Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evill things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented 26 And besides all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence 27 Then he said I pray thee therefore father that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house 28 For I have five Brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment 29 Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them 30 And he said Nay father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent 31 And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Propets neither will â—hey be perswaded though one rose from the dead THis Scripture was not spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ Verse 19. to shew you the state of two single persons onely as some through their ignorance of the drift of Christ in his Parables do dream but to shew you the state of the godly and ungodly to the worlds end as is clear to him that is of an understanding heart For he spake them to the end that after generations should take notice thereof and fear lest they also fell into the same condition Now in my discourse upon these words I shall not be tedious but as briefly as I may I shall pass through the several Verses and lay you down some of the several truths contained therein and the Lord grant that they may be profitable and of great advantage to those that read them or hear them read The 19 and 20 verses also I shall not spend much time upon onely give you three or four short hints and so pass to the next verses for they are the words I do intend most especially to insist upon The 19 20 and 21 verses run thus There was a certain rich man which was cloathed in purple and fine linnen and fared deliciously or sumptuously every day And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of sores c. 1. If these verses had been spoken by Jesus Christ and no more all the world would have gone near to have cast a wrong interpretation on them I say if Jesus had said onely thus much There was a certain rich man that fared sumptuously daily and a certain beggar laid at his gate full of sores The world would have made this conclusion of them the rich man was the happy man For at the first view it doth represent such a thing But take all together that is read the whole Parable and you shall finde that there is no man in a worse condition then he as I shall clearly hold forth afterward 2. Again if a man would judge of men according to outward appearance he shall oft-times take his mark amiss Here is a man to outward appearance appears the onely blessed man better by half then the beggar in as much as he is rich the beggar poor he is well cloathed but peradventure the beggar is naked he hath good food but the beggar would be glad of dogs meat And he desired to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich mans table the rich man fares well every day but the beggar must be glad of a bit when he can gâ—t it Oh! who would not be in the rich mans state A wealthy man sorts of new suits and dainty dishes every day enough to make one who mindes nothing but his belly and his back his lusts to say Oh that I were in that mans condition Oh that I had about me as that man had Then I should live a life indeed then should I have hearts ease good store then I should live pleasantly and might say to my soul Soul be of good chear eat drink and be merry thou hast every thing plenty and art in most blessed condition I say this might be I and is the conclusion with them that judgâ— according to outward appâ—arance But if the whole Parable be well considered you will see that that which is had in high estimation with men is an abomination in the sight of God And again that condition that is the saddest condition according to outward appearance is oft times tâ—e most excellent for the beggar had tâ—n thousand degrees the best of it though to outward appearance his state was the saddest from we shall observe thus much 1 That those who judge according to outward appearance do for the most part judge amiss 2. That they who look upon their outward enjoyments to be tokens of Gods special grace unto them are
also deceived for as it is here in the Parable a man of wealth and a childe of the devil may make but one person or thus a man may have abundance of outward enjoyments and yet be carried by the devils into eternal burnings But this is the trap in which the devil hath caught many thousands of poor souls namely by getting them to judge according to outward appearance Do but ask a poor carnal covetous wretch how we should know a man to be in a happy estate and he will answer Those that God blesseth and giveth abundance of this world unto when for the most part they are they that are the the cursed men Alas poor men they are so ignorant as to think that because a man is increased in outward things and that by a small stock therefore God doth love that man with a special love or else he would never do so much for him never bless him so and prosper the work of his hands Ah! poor soul it is the rich man that goes to hell And the rich man died and in hell mark in hell he lift up his eyes c. Methinks to see how the great ones of the world will go strutting up and down the streets sometimes it makes me wonder Surely they look upon themselves to be the onely happy men but it is because they judge according to outward appearance they look upon themselves to be the onely blessed men when the Lord knows the generality are left out of that blessed condition Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 Ah! did they that do now so brag that no body dare scarce look on them but believe this it would make thâ—m hang down their heads and cry O give me a Lazarus portion I might here enlarge very much but I shall not onely thus much I shall say to you that have much of this world Have a care that you have not your portion in this world take heed that it be not said to you hereafter when you would very willingly have heaven Remember in your life time you had your good things in your life time you had your porâ—â—on Psalm 17.14 And Friend thou that seekest after this world and desirest riches let me ask this question wouldest thou be content that God should put thee off with a portion in this life Wouldest thou be glad to be kept out of heaven with a back well cloathed and a belly well filled with the dainties of this world Wouldest thou be glad to have all thy good things in thy life time to have thy heaven to last no longer then while thou dost live in this world Wouldest thou be willing to be deprived of eternal happiness and felicity If you say no then have a care of the world and thy sins have a care of desiring to be a rich man lest thy table be made a snare unto thee lest the wealth in this world do bar thee out of glory For as the Apostle saith They that wâ—ll be rich do fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 Thus much in general but now more particularly These two men here spoken of as I said do hold forth to us the state of the godly and ungodly the beggar holdeth forth the godly and the rich man the ungodly There was a certain rich man c. But â—hy are the ungodly held forth under the notion of a rich man 1. Because Christ would no have them look too high as I said before but that those who have riches should have a care that they be not all their portion 2. Because rich men are most liable to the devils temptations are most ready to be puft up with pride stoutness cares of this world in which things they spend most of their time in lusts drunkenness wantonness idleness together with the other works of the flesh For which things sake the wrath of God comith upon the children of disobedience Col. 3.6 3. Because he would comfort the hearts of his own which are most commonly of the poorer sort But God hath chosen the poor despised and base things of this world 1 Cor. 1.26 Should God have set the â—ich man in the blessâ—d state his children would have concluded being poor that they had no share in the life to come And again had not God given such a discovery of the sad condition of those that are for the most part rich men we should have had men conclude absolutely that the rich are the blessed men Nay albeit the Lord himself doth so evidently declare that the rich ones of the world are for the most part in the saddest condition yet they through unbelief or else presumption do harden themselves and seek for the glory of this world as though the Lord Jesus Christ did not mean as he said or else that he will say more then shall assuredly come to pass but let them know that the Lord hath a time to fulfil that he had a time to declare for the Scripture cannot be bâ—oken But again the Lord by this word doth not mean those are ungodly who aâ—e rich in the world and no other for then must all those that are poor yet graceless and vain men be saved and delivered from eternal vengeance which w uld be contrary to the word of God which saith That together with the kings of the earth and the great men and the chief captains and the mighty men there are bond-men or servants and slaves that cry out at the appearance of the Almighty God and his Son Jesus Christ to Judgement Rev. 6.15 So that though Christ doth say There was a certain rich man yet you must understand he meaneth all the ungodly riâ—â— or poor Nay if you will not understand it so now you shall be made to understand it to be so meant at the day of Christs second comming when all that are ungodly shall stand at the left hand of Christ with pale faces and guilty consciences with the vials of the Almighties wrath ready to be powred out upon them Thus much in brief touching the 19. verse I might have observed other things from it but now I forbear having other things to speak of at this time Verse 20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of sores Verse 20. THis verse doth chiefly hold forth these things 1. That the Saints of God are a poor contemptible people There was a certain beggar If you understand the word beggar to hold forth outward poverty or scarcity in outward things the Saints of the Lord for they are for the most part a poor despised contemptible people But if you allegorize it and interpret it â—â—us They are such as beg earnestly for heavenly food this is also the spirit of the Children of God and it may be and is a truth in this
sin against him while the Saints were a praying thou wert a cursing while they were speaking good of the name of God thou wert speaking evil of the saints of God O then thou shalt have a scalding hot remembrance of all thy sinful thoughts words and actions from the very first to the last of them that ever thou didst commit in all thy life time Then thou wilt find that Scripture to be a truth Deut. 28.65 66 67. The Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee and thou shalt fear day and night and shalt have none assurance of thy life In the morning thou shalt say would God it were even and at even thou shalt say would God it were morning for the fear of thine heare wherewith thou shalt fear and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see Nay thou wilt find worse things to thy woe then this Scripture doth manifest For indeed there is no tongue able to express the horrour terrour torment and eternal misery that those poor souls shall undergo without the least mitigation oâ— ease and a very great part of it shall flow or come from that quick full and continual remembrance that they shall have And therefore there is much weight in these words Son remember that thou in thy life time hadst thy good things That is all thou art like to have From these words you see this is to be observed that the ungodly shall remember or have in remembrance the mispending their lives and that I gather from these words Remember that in thy life time thou hadst thy good things You may take these words good things either simply for the things of this world which in themselves are called and may be called good things or else with these words namely the things of this life all the pleasures delights profits and vanities which the ignorant people of the world do count their good things and do very much cheer themselves therewith Soul soul eat drink and be merry for thou hast much goods laid up for many years Luke 12.20 Now I say God according to his glorious power and wisdome will make poor creatures have alwayes in their minds a fresh and clear remembrance of their ill spent life he will say unto them Remember remember that in thy life time it was thus and thus with thee and in thy life time thy carriage was so and so It is like that if sinners might have their choice they would not have their sins and transgressions so much in remembrance as is evident by their carriages here in this world for here they will not endure to entertain a serious thought of their filthy life but will labour by all means to put the thought of it out of their mind but there they shall be made to remember to a purpose and to think continually of their ungodly deeds And therefore it is said that when our Lord Jesus comes to judgement it will be to convince the ungodly world of their wicked and ungodly deeds Mark To convince them Jude 14 15. It is like they will not willingly take notice of them But they shall be convinced of them in spite of their teeth And also between this and them these that die out of Christ shall be made to see acknowledge and confess do what they can when they lift up their eyes in hell and to remember their transgressions God will be a swift witness against them Mat. 3.5 and will say Remember what thou didst in thy life time how thou didst live in thy life time Ha friend if thou dost not in these dayes of light remember the dayes of darkness Eccles 11.8 the dayes of death hell and judgement thou shalt be made in the dayes of darkness death hell and at the judgement too to remember the dayes of the Gospel and how thou didst disregard them too to thy own destruction and everlasting misery Remember that in thy life time thou hadst thy good things The great God in stead of giving the ungodly any ease will even aggravate their torments first by slighting their perplexities Secondly by telling of them what they must be thinking of Remember saith he O ye lost souls that you had your joy in your life time your peace in your life time your comforts delights ease wealth health your heaven your happiness and your portion in your life time O miserable state Thou will then be in a sad condition indeed when thou shalt see that thou hast had thy good things thy best things thy pleasent things for that is clearly signified by these words Remember that thou in thy life time hadst thy good things or all the good things thou art like to have From whence take notice of another truth though it be a dreadful one to them that fall under the sentence of it which is this there are many poor creatures who have all their good sweet and comfortable things in this life or while they are alive in this world remember saith he that in thy life time thou hadst thy good thiâ—gs Psal 17.14 2. Observe That the wickeds good things will shortly have an end they will last no longer with them then this life or their life time That Scripture was not written in vain It is like the crackling of thorns under a pot make a litle blaze for a sudden a little heat for a while but come and consider them by and by and instead of a comfortable heat you will find nothing but a few dead ashes and instead of a flaming fire nothing but a smell of smoak 3. Again observe that there is a time coming that the ungodly would be glad of a better portion when they shall see the vanity of this that is when they shall see what a poor thing it is for a man to have his portion in this world 'T is true while they are here on this side hell they think there is nothing to be compared with riches honours and pleasures in this world which makes them cry out Who will shew us any good that is comparable to the pleasures profits and glory of this world but then they will see there is another thing that is better and of more value then ten thousand worlds And seriously friends will it not grieve you trouble perplex and torment you when you shall see that you lost heaven for a little pleasure and profits in your life time certainly it will grieve you and perplex you exceedingly to see what a blessed heaven you left for a dunghill world Oh! that you did but believe this that you did but consider this and say within your selves What shall I be contented with my portion in this world what shall I lose heaven for this world I say consider it while you have day-light and Gospel-light while the Son of God doth hold out termes of reconciliation to you least you be made to hear
did neglect the precious mercy and goodness of God you did turn your back on the Son of God that came into the world to save sinners you made a mock of preaching the Gospel you was admonished over and over to close in with the loving kindness of the Lord in his Son Jesus Christ The Lord let you live 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. years all which time you instead of spending it to make your calling and election sure did spend it in making of eternal damnation sure to thy soul And also Lazarus he in his life time did make it his business to accept of my grace and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ When thou wast in the Alehouse he frequented the word preached when thou wert jearing at goodness he was sighing for the sins of the times while thou wert swearing he was praying in a word while thou wert making sure of eternal ruine he by faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ was making sure of eternal salvation Therefore Now he is comforted and thou art tormented Here then yoâ—â—ay see that as the righteous shall 〈◊〉 be alwaies void of comfort and blessedness so neither shall the ungodly go alwayes without their punishment No as sure as God is in heaven it will be thus they must have their several portions And therefore you that are the Saints of the Lord follow on be not dismayed forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. last ver your portion is eternal glory And you that are so loath now to close in with Jesus Christ Verse 26. and to leave your sins to follow him your day is coming in which you shall know that your sweet morsells of sin that you do so easily take down now and it scarce troubles you will have a time so to work within you to your eternal ruine that you will be in a worse condition than if you had ten thousand devils tormenting of you nay you had better have been plucked limb from limb a thousand times if it could be than to be partakers of this torment that will assuredly without mercy lie upon you if you lose the mercy of God in Jesus Christ in this your life time Ver. 26. And beâ—â—â—es all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would go from hence to you cannot neither can they come to us that would come from thence THese words are still part of that answer that the souls in hell shall have for all their sobbings sighings grievous cries tears and desires that they have be released out of those intollerable pains they fell and are perplexed with And O methinks the words at the first view if rightly considered are enough to make any heard-hearted sinner in the world to fall down dead The verse I last spake to was and is a very terrible one and aggravates the torments of poor sinners wonderfully Where he saith Remember that thou in thy ife time hadst thy good things and Lazarus his evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented I say these words are very terrible to those poor souls that die out of Christ But these latter words do much more hold out their sorrow They were spoken as to the present condition then upon the sinner these do not onely back the former but do yet further aggravate their misery holding forth that which will be more intollerable the former verse is enough to smite any sinner into a swound but this to make him fall down dead Where he saith And besides all this there is still something to aggravate thy misery yet far more abundantly I shall briefly speak to the words as they have relation to the terrour spoken of in the verses before As if he had said Thou thinkest thy present state unsupportable it makes thee sob and sigh it makes thee to rue the time that ever thou wert borne Now thou findest the want of mercy now thou wouldst leap at the least dram of it now thou feelest what it is to slight the tenders of the grace of God now it makes the to sobbe sigh and roar exceedingly for the anguish that thou art in But besides all this I have other things to tell thee of that will break thine heart indeed As if he should say O t is true thou art now deprived of a being in the world thou art deprived of hearing the Gospel the devil hath been too hard for thee and hath made thee miss of heaven thou art now in hell among an innumerable company of devils and all thy sins beset thee round thou art all over wrapped in flames and canst not have one drop of water to give theâ— any ease thou cryest in vain for nothing will be granted thou seest the Saints in heaven which is no small trouble to thy damned soul thou seest that neither God nor Christ takes any care to ease thee or to speak any comfort unto thee But besides all this there thou art and there thou art like to lie never think of any ease never look for any comfort repentance now will do thee no good the time is past and can never be called again look what thou hast now thou must have for ever 'T is true I speak enough before to break thine heart asu der But besides all this there lie and swim in flame for ever these words Besides all this are terrible words indeed I will give you the scope of them in a similitude Set case you should take a man and tie him to a stake and with red hot Pincers pinch off his flesh by little pieces for two or three years together and at last when the poor man cryes out for ease and help the tormentors answer Nay but besides all this you must be handled worse We will serve you thus these 20. years together and after that we will fill your mangled body full of scalding lead and run you through with a red hot spit would not this be lamentable yet this is but a flea-biting to the sorrows of these that go to hell for if a man were served so there would ere it were long be an end of him But he that goes to hell shall suffer ten thousand times worse torments then these and yet shall never be quite dead under them There they shall be ever whining pining weeping mourning ever tormented without ease and yet never dissolved into nothing if the biggest devil in hell might pull thee all to pieces and rend thee small as dust and dissolve thee into nothing thou wouldst count this a mercy But here thou mayest lie and fry scorch and broil and burn for ever For ever that is a long while yet it must be so long Depart from me saith Christ into everlasting fire or into the fire that burns for ever prepared for the devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Oh thou that wert loath to foul thy foot if it were but durty
the dead what need have they of such a thing Have they not Moses and the Prophets hath not Moses told them the danger of living in sin Deut. 27. from ver 15. to ver 26. And chap. 28.15 16 17 18 19 20. c. to the end of the chapter also ch 29.18 19 20 21. hath he not there told them what a sad state these persons are in that deceive themselves with the deceit of their hearts saying They shall have peace though they follow their sins in these words And when he heareth the words of this curse he bless himself in his heart saying I shâ—ll have peace though I go on or walk in the imagination of my heart to adde drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare that man but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against him and all the curses that are written in this book shall lye upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven Agâ—in did not Moses write of the Saviour that was to come afterwards into the world Deut. 18.18 Nay have not all the Prophets from Samuel with all those that follow after prophesied and foretold these things therefore what need â—ave they that I should work such a miracle as to send one from the dead unto them They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them From whence observe again That God doth honour the writings of Moses and the Prophets as much nay more then if one should rise from the dead Should not a people seek unto their God what seek for seek for the living among the dead To the Law and to the testimonies saith â—od if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8 19 20. And let me tell you plainly I do believe that the devil knows this full well which makes him labour to beget in the hearts of his disciples and followers light thoughts of them and doth perswade them that even a motion from their own beguiled conscience or from his own wicked Spirit is to be observed and obeyed before them when the very Apostle of Jesus Christ though he heard a voice from the excellent glory saying This is my beloved Son c. Yet writing to the Churches and telling them he heard such a voice he commends the writings of the Prophets before it saying We have also a more sure word of the Prophets unto which ye do well to take heed c. 2 Pet. 1 17 18 19. Now if thou doubtest whether that place be meant the Scriptures the words of the Prophets or no read but the next verse where he addeth for a certain confirmation thereof these words Knowing this first that there is no prophecy of the Scriptures Mark it is the prophecy of the Scriptures There is no prophecy of the Scriptures of any private interpretation for prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And therefore O what a sad thing is it with those that go about to disown the Scriptures I tell you however you may slight them now yet when they come into hell and in bitterness of soul cry out Oh that one might go to forewarn my companions of their folly lest they come into this place of torment God doth and will answer them with these words they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them Again it is very observable who they are that are so tossed to and fro with the several winds of doctrine that have been broached in these dayes They are such for the most part as have had a light esteem of the Scriptures for the ground of errour as Christ saith is because they know not them Mark 12.24 And indeed it is just with God to give them over to follow their own dark blinded consciences to be led into errours that they might be damned into hell who did not believe that the things contained in the Scripture were the truth that they might be saved and go to heaven I cannot well tell how to have done speaking for and on the Scriptures side onely this I consider Verse 30. A word is enough to the wise and therefore I shall commit these things into the hands of them that are of God and as for the rest if they convert not to Jesus Christ I shall say to them rather then God will save them from hell with the breach of his holy word if they had a thousand souls a piece God would destroy them all for the Scriptures cannot be broken Joh. 10.35 Ver. 30. And he said nay Father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they would repent THe verse before you know as I told you it was part of an answer to such as lose their souls so it is a vindication of the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets where he saith They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them as if he had said they should have closed in with the tenders of mercy held out by Moses Samuel David Isaiah Jeremiah together with the rest of the glorious certain truths that I moved them to utter and hold forth in their generation to the world and also which they have left on record both for the warning comfort and reproof of them who in after ages should come into the world both by holding forth the state of man by nature how miserable it was and by holding out the mercy and grace of God and how large that was and also how free God is and ever was to save them that did come the right way to him namely by Christ together with the lamentable and sad state that those were and are and shall be in that did turne their backs on what they did then speak and afterwards leave on record for the good of succeeding generations if they vvould or v ill be blessed that are yet alive let them ovvn them cloâ—e in vvith that vvhich is held forth by them namely the Mesias or Jesus that came from heaven to earth on purpose to lay dovvn his life for the rebellious as I said before Novv this verse is an ansvver to the former and such an one as hath in it a kind of rejectâ—on of the former ansvver Nay Father Abraham Nay saith he do not say so do not put them off vvith this send one from the dead and then there vvill be some hopes 'T is true thou speakest of the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets and sayest let them hear them but these things are not so vvell as I could vvish I had rather thou wouldst send one from the dead In these vvords therefore Nay Father Abraham there is a repulse given Nay let it not be so Nay I do not like of that ansvver Hear Moses and the Prophets nay The same expression is used by Christ Luk. 13.2 3. Think you that they upon whom the tower of
of them and all this made mention of in the Scriptures But for all this how thick and by heaps do these wretches walk up and down our streets Do but go into the Alehouses you shall see almost every room besprinkled with them so foming out their own shame that it is enough to make the heart of a Saint to tremble in so much that they would not be bound to have society with them any long while for all the world For as the wayes of the godly are not liked of by the wicked even so the wayes of the wicked are an abomination to the just Prov. 29.27 Psal 120.5 6. As now to particularize some things The Scriptures say Cursed is the man that trusteth in man that maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Jer. 17 5. And yet how many poor souls are there in the world that stand in so much aw and dread of man and do so highly esteem their favour that they will rather venture their souls in the hands of the devil with their favour then they will fly to Jesus Christ for the salvation of their soul if they must lose their favour and have their frownes and displeasure for the same Nay though they be convinced in their souls that the way is the way of God yet how do they labour to stisle convictions and turn their ears away from the truth and all because they will not lose the favour of an opposite neighbour Oh! I dare not for my Master my Brother my Landlord I shall lose his favour his house of work and so decay my calling O saith another I would willingly go in this way but for my Father he chides and tells me he will not stand my friend when I come to wants I shall never enjoy a penyworth of his goods he will disinherit me And I dare not saith another for my Husband for he will be a railing and tells me he will turn me out of doors he will beat me and cut off my legs But I tell you if any of these or any other things be so prevalent with thee now as to keep thee from seeking after Christ in his wayes they will also be so prevalent with God against thee as to make him cast off thy soul because thou didst rather trust man then God and delight in the imbracings of man rather than in the favour of the Lord. 2. Again the Scripture saith He that being often reproved heardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Prov. 29.1 Yet many are so far from turning though they have been convinced of their wretched state an hundred times that when convictions or trouble for sin comes on their consciences they go on still in the same manner resisting and choaking the same though remediless destruction be hard at their heels 3. Again thou hast heard say Vnless a man be borne again he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven Joh. 3.3 5 7. And yet thou goest on in a natural state an unregenerate condition nay thou dost resolve never to turn nor be changed though hell be appointed on purpose to swallow up such Isa 14.9 Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God 4. Again the Scriptures saith plainly That he that loveth and maketh a lie shall have his part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 27. And yet thou art so far from dreading it that it is thy delight to jeast and jeer and lye for a penny or two pence or six pence gain And also if thou canst make the rest of thy companions merry by telling things that are false of them that are better then thy self thou dost not care a straw Or if thou hearest a lie from or of another thou wilt tell it and swear to the truth of it O miserable 5. Thou hast heard and read That he that believes not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 And that all men have not faith 2 Thess 3.2 and yet thou dost so much disregard these things that it is like thou didst scarce ever so much as examine seriously whether thou wert in the faith or no but dost content thy self with the hypocrites hope which at the last God will cut off and count it no better then the spiders web Job 8.13 14. or the house that is builded on the sands Luk. 6.49 Nay thou peradventure dost flatter thy self thinkest that thy faith is as good as the best of them all when alas poor soul thou mayest have no saving faith at all which thou hast not if thou be not borne again and made a new creature 2 Cor. 2.17 6. Thou hast heard That he that neglects Gods great salvation shall never escape his great damnation Heb. 2.3 compared with Luke 14.24 and Rev. 14.19 20. And yet when thou art invited intreated and beseeched to come in Luk. 14.17 18. 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Rom. 12.1 thou wilt make any excuse to serve the turn Nay thou wilt be so wicked as to put off Christ time after time notwithstanding he is so freely proferred to thee a little ground a few oxen a farme a wife a two penny matter a play nay the fear of a mock a scoffe or a jeer to be of greater weight to draw thee back than the salvation of thy soul to draw thee forward 7. And thou hast heard that Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God Jam 4.4 But thou regardest not these things but contrariwise rather then thou wilt be out of the friendship and favour of this world thou wilt sinne against thine own conscience and get thy self into favour by fawning and flattering of the world Yea rather then thou wilt go without it thou wilt dissemble lye backbite thy neighbour and an hundred other tricks thou wilt have O sad 8. You have heard that the day of judgement is near in which you and I all of us muâ—t appear before the tribunal of Jesus Christ and there be made to give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead even of all that ever we did yea of all our sins in thought and word and deed and shall certainly be damned for them too if we close not in with our Lord Jesus Christ and what he hath done and suffered for eternal life and that not notionally or contradictionally but really savingly in the power and by operation of the spirit through faith Eccles 11.9 12 14. Heb. 9 27. Acts 10.42 Acts 17.30 31. 2 Cor. 5.10 Rev 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books There is the book of the Creatures the book of Conscience the book of the Lords Remembrance the book of the Law the book of the Gospel Rom. 1.20 compare with Rom.
2.12 15. Rev. 16. ver 19. Joh. 12.48 Then shall he separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats and shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left Matth. 25.30 31 32. And shall say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed ver 34. But to the other go or depart ye cursed ver 41. Yet notwithstanding the Scriptures do so plainly and plentifully speak of these things alas who is there that is so weaned from the world and from their sins and pleasures as to fly from the wrath to come Mat. 3.7 notwithstanding the Scripture saith also That heaven and earth shall pass away rather than one jot or one tittle of the word shall fail till all be fulfilled they are so certain Luke 21.37 But leaving the threatnings let us come to the promises and speak somewhat of them and you may see how light men make of them and how little they set by them notwithstanding the mouth of the Lord hath spoken them As first Turn ye fools ye scorners ye simple ones at my reproof and behold I will pour out my spirit upon you Prov. 1.24 And yet persons had rather be in their foolishness and scorning still and had rather embrace some filthy lust then the holy undefiled and blessed Spirit of Christ thorow the promise though by it as many as receive it are sealed unto the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 And although he that lives and dies without it is none of Christs Rom. 8.9 2. God hath said If thou do but come to him in Christ though your sins be as red as scarlet they shall be as white as snow and he will by no means cast thee away compare Isa 1.18 with Job 6.37 And yet poor souls will not come to Christ that they might have life Joh. 5.41 but rather after their hardness and impenitent heart treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2.4 5 6. 3. Christ Jesus hath said in the word of truth That if any man will serve and follow him Where he is there shall also his servant be Joh. 12.26 but yet poor souls choose rather to follow sin Satan and the world though their companions be the devills and damned souls for ever Mat. 25.41 4. He hath also said Luke 12.31 Seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added But let whoso will seek after the kingdom of heaven in the first place for them For they will take time while time serves to get the things of this life for them and their seed while it is to be had And if it be so that they must needs seek after heaven or else be damned in hell they will stay till they have more leisure till they can better attend to it till they have other things handsome about them till they are older when they have little else to do or when they come to be sick and to die Then Lord have mercy upon them though it be ten thousand to one but they perish for ever For commonly the Lord hath this way to deal with such sinners who put him off when he is striving with them tenders his Son his Gospel to them either to laugh at their calamity and mock when their fear cometh Prov. 1 26.27 28. or else send them to the gods they have served which are the devils Judg. 10.13 14. Go to the gods you have served and let them deliver you saith he compare this with Joh. 8.44 5. He hath said There is no man that forsaketh father or mother wife or children or lands for his sake and the Gospels but shall have an hundred fold in this world with persecution and in the world to come life everlasting Mark 10.29 30. But men for the most part are so far off from believing the certainty of this that the will scarce lose the earning of a penny to hear the word of God the Gospel of salvation Nay they will neither go themselves nor suffer others to go if they can help it without threatning to do them a mischief if it lie in their way Nay further many are so far from parting from any worldly gain for Christs sake and the Gospels that they are still striving by hook and by crook as we say by swearing lying cousening stealing covetousness extortion oppression forgery bribery flattery or any other way to get more though they get together with these worldly gains death wrath damnation hell the devil and all the plagues that God can powr upon them Now if any do not run with them to the same excess of riot but rather for all their threats will be so bold and careless as they call it as to follow the wayes of God if they can do no more yet they will whet their tongues like a sword to wound them and do them the greatest mischief they can both in speaking against them to neighbours to wives to husbands to landlords and raising false reports of them But let such take heed lest they be in such a state and woful condition as he was in who said in vexation and anguish of soul One drop of cold water to cool my tongue Thus might I adde many things out the holy Writ both threatnings and promises besides those heavenly counsels loving reproofs free invitations to all sorts of sinners both old and young rich and poor bond and free wise and unwise All which have been now are and it is to be feared as long as this world lasts will be trampled under the feet of those swine I call them not men who will continue in the same But take a review of some of them 1. Counsel What heavenly counsel is that where Christ saith Buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white rayment that thou mayest be clothed that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear Rev. 3.17 18. Also that Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters Yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa 55.1 Hear and your souls shall live ver 3. Lay hold of my strength that you may make peace with me and you shall make peace with me Isa 27.5 2. Instruction What instruction is here Hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not Why what is it Blessed is the man that heareth me saith Christ watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors For who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8.32 33 34 35. Take heed that no man deceive you by any means Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that which endureth unto everlasting life Joh. 6.27 Strive to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13.24 Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.31 Believe not every spirit but try the spirits Quench not the spirit Lay hold on eternal life
verse one line nay one word of holy Scriptures make in his heart so that he cannot eat sleep work keep company with his former companions and all because he is afraid that the damnation spoken of in Scripture will fall to his share Like Balaam who said I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord so long as he had something of the word of the Lord with authority severity and power on his heart but at another time he could teach Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel Rev. 2.14 3. Because the carnal Priests do tickle the ears of their hearers with vain Philosophy and deceit and thereby harden their hearts against the simplicity of the Gospel and word of God which things the Apostle admonished those that have a mind to close in with Christ to avoid Col. 2.8 saying Bewarâ—â—est any man be he what he will spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men and rudiments of the world and not after Christ And you who nuzzle up your people in ignorance with Aristotle Plato and the rest of the heathenish Philosophers and preach little if any thing of Christ rightly I say unto you that you will find that you have sinned against God and beguiled your hearers when God shall in the judgement-day lay the cause of the damnation of many thousands of souls to your charge and say He will require their blood at your hands Ezek. 33.6 4. Another reason why the carnal unbelieving world do so slight the Scriptures and word of God is because the judgement spoken of in the Scripture is not presently executed on the transgressors Because sentence against an evil act is not speedily executed therefore the hearts of the sons of men are wholly set in them to do evil Eccles 8.11 Because God doth not presently strike the poor wretch as soon as he sins but waits and forbears and is patient Therefore the world judging God to be unfaithful go to it agaiâ— and again and every time grow harder and harder till at last God is forced either to stretch out his mighty power to turne them or else send death with the devil and hell to fetch them Thou thoughtest saith God that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thy face Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50.20 21. 5. Another reason why the blind world do slight the authority of Scripture is because they give ear to the devil who through his subtilty casteth false evasions and corrupt interpretations on them rendring them not so point blank the minde of God and a rule for direction to poor souls perswading them that they must give ear and way to something else besides and beyond that or else he labours to render it vile and contemptible by perswading them that it is a dead letter when indeed they know not what they say nor whereof they affirme For the Scripture is not so dead but that the knowledge of it is able to make any man wise unto salvation through faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 And is profitable for instruction reproof and correction in righteousness that the man of God may be throughly furnished to all good works ver 17. And where it is said the letter killeth he meaneth the law as it is the ministration of damnation or a covenant of works and so indeed it doth kill and must do so because it is just forasmuch as the party that is under the same is not able to yield to it a compleat and continual obedience But otherwise I will call Paul and Peter to witness that the Scriptures are of a very glorious concernment in as much as in them is held forth to us the way of life and also in that they do administer good ground of hope to us Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written a foretime Mark whatsoever were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture mâ—ght have hope And again Rom. 16.25 26. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mistery which was kept hid since the world began but now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith And therefore whosoever they be that slight the Scriptures they slight that which is no less then the word of God and they who slight that slight him that spake it and they that do so let them look to themselves for God will be revenged on such Much more might be said to this thing but I would not be tedious A word or two more and so I have done with this Consider the dangers of slighting the words of the Prophets or Apostles whether they be correction reproof admonition forewarning or the blessed invitations and promises contained in them 1. Such souls do provoke God to anger and to execute his vengeance on them They refused to hearken they pulled away their shoulder they stopped their ears lest they should hear the law and they made their hearts adament stone that they might not hear the law and the words that were spoken to them by his spirit in the former prophets Therefore came a great wrath upon them Zach. 7.11 12. 2. God will not regard in their calamity Because I called and ye refused I stretched out my hand no man regarded but set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamities and mock when your fear cometh When their fear cometh as desolation and their destruction like a whirlewind Then shall they call but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Proverbs 1.25 26 27. 3. God doth commonly give up such men to delusions to believe lies Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they all might be damned 2 Thess 2.11 12. 4. In a word they that do continue to reject and slight the word of God they are such for the most part as are ordained to be damned Old Eli his sons not hearkenning to the voice of their father reproving them for their sins but disobeying his voice it is said It was because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2.15 Again see in 2 Chron. 25.15 16. Amaziah having sinned against the Lord he sends to him a prophet to reprove him But Amaziah sayes Forbear wherefore shouldst thou be smitten he did not hearken to the word of God Then the Prophet forbare saying I know that God hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast not hearkened to my counsel Read therefore
Verse 31. and the Lord give thee understanding For a miserable end will those have that go on sinning against God rejecting his word Other things might have been observed from this verse which at this time I shall pass by partly because the sum of them hath been touched already and may be more clearly hinted at in the following verse and therefore I shall speak a few words to the next verse and to draw towards a conclusion Ver. 31. And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rise from the dead ANd he said That is and God made answer to the words spoken in the verse before And he said unto him If they hear not Moses c. As if he had said Moses was a man of great renown A man of worthy note A man that talked with God face to face as a man speaketh to his friend The words that Moses spake were such as I commanded him to speak Let who will question them I will own them credit them bless them that close in with them and curse those that reject them I my self sent the prophets they did not run of their own heads I gave them commission I thrust them out and told them what they should say In a word they have told the world what my mind is to do both to sinners and to saints They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them Therefore he that shall reject and turn his back either upon the threatnings counsels admonitions invitations promises or whatsoever else I have commanded them to speak as to salvation and life and to directions therein shall be sure to have a share in the many curses that they have spoken and the destruction that is pronounced by them Again if they hear not Moses and the Prophets c. As if he had said thou wouldest have me send one from the dead unto them what needs that They have my mind already I have declared unto them what I intend to stand to both for saving them that believe and damning them that do not That therefore which I have said I will make good whether they hear or forbear And as for this desire of yours you had as good desire me to make a new Bible and so to revoke my first sayings by the mouth of my prophets But I am God and not man and my word is immutable unchangeable and shall stand as fast as my decrees can make it Heaven and earth shall pass away but one jot or tittle of my word shall not pass If thou hadst ten thousand brethren and every one in danger of losing his soul if they did not close in with what is contained and recorded in the Scriptures of truth they must even every one of them perish and be for ever damned in hell for the Scriptures cannot be broken I did not send them so unadvisedly to recall it again by another consideration No for I speak it righteousness and judgement Isa 63.1 2 3. and in much wisdom and counsel It being therefore gone out of my mouth in this manner it shall not return in vain until it hath accomplished the thing whereto I have sent it But again thou supposest that miracles and wonders will work more on them which makes thee say send one from the dead But herein thou art mistaken for I have proved them with that once and again by more then one or two or three of my servants How many miracles did my servant Moses work by commandment from me in the land of Egypt at the red sea and in the wilderness yet they of that generation were never the sooner converted for that but notwithstanding rebelled lusted and in their hearts turned back into Egypt Acts 7. How many miracles did Samuel David Elias Elisha Daniel and the Prophets together with my Sonne who raised the dead cast out devils made them to see that were borne blind gave and restored limbs yet for all this as I said before they hated him they crucified him I raised him again from the dead and he appeared to his disciples who were called and chosen and faithful and he gave them commandment and commission to go and testifie the truth of this to the world and to confirme the same he inabled them to speak with divers tongues and to work miracles most plentifully yet there was great persecution raised against them insomuch that but a few of them died in their beds And therefore though thou thinkest that a miracle will do so much with the world yet I say No. For if they will not believe Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one should rise from the dead From these words therefore take notice of this truth namely that those who reject and believe not Moses and the Prophets are a very hard-hearted people that will not be perswaded though one rise from the dead Again they that regard not the holy Scriptures to turn to God finding them to testifie of his goodness and mercie there is but little hopes of their salvation for they will not Mark They will not be perswaded though one should rise from the dead This truth is confirmed by Jesus Christ himself If you read Joh. 5. where the Lord is speaking of himself that he is the very Christ he brings in four or five witnesses to back what he said First John Baptist. 2 The works that his Father gave him to do 3. His Father speaking from heaven 4. The testimony of the Scriptures when all this was done seeing yet they would not believe he layes the fault upon one of these two things 1. Their regarding an esteem among men 2. Their not believing of the Prophets writings even Moses and the rest For had ye believed Moses saith he ye would have believed me why For he wrote of me But if ye believe not his writings how can ye believe my words Now I say he that shall slight the Scriptures and the testimonie of the prophets in them concerning Jesus Christ must needs be in great danger of losing his soul if he abide in this condition because he that slights the testimony doth also slight the thing that is testified of let him say what he will and say the contrary never so often For as Jesus Christ hath here laid down the reason of mens not receiving him so the Apostle in another place layes down the reason again with an high and mighty aggravation 1 Joh. 5.10 saying He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself he that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he believeth not the Record Mark the Record that God gave of his Son The record you will say what is that Even the testimony that God gave of him by the mouth of all the holy Prophets since the world began Acts 3.20 That is God sending his holy Spirit into the hearts of his servants the Prophets and Apostles he by