I confesse 't is a very sad thing to see any that seemed Lights in the Firmament to prove Meteors and falling stars But though some fall yet through Grace many stand and continue faithful to the end There was a Judas among our Saviours own Disciples and yet it followes not from thence that any of the rest were such The fals of some professors should teach us not to be high-minded but continually jealous over our own hearts We should be exceeding humble and cease from trusting in our selves and put all our trust in God to be kept by his power through Faith unto Salvation The Devil aimes all he can to foil professors If he can but foil one of them he blurs their profession makes others shie of it and so advances his own Kingdom mightily Therefore the fall of some should not discourage us but make us more humble and watchful and cause us often to examine our hearts whether Gods Glory be our aim and end and whether we do in humility and integrity walk before him Obj. 8. God is merciful We see Mercy was afforded to the thief on the Crosse a little before his death Sol. 1. 'T is an example without a promise Here is an example of a late repentance but where have we a promise that God will give repentance at last to such as go on in a long course of sin 'T is not examples but the promises of God that is a foundation for Faith to build upon 2. This was an extraordinary time What if our Saviour on this extraordinary occasion was pleased by this rare Miracle of Mercy to honour his Crosse will this afford any ground of hope that he will do so ordinarily and especially to wilfull sinners 3. We do not find that this thief had ever known Christ before or had ever neglected or refused any offers of Grace made unto him Thou hast little reason to plead this who sittest daily under the calls and intreaties of the Gospel This case will minister little comfort to thee if thou goest on in thy sins I come now in the third place to give some Directions to such as are willing to be advised in this matter of so much concernment to them I Let them take heed of those things that usually undo young people Such are 1. Carelesnesse want of consideration and laying to heart the things that most concern them going on in a dissolute negligence without ever asking themselves what their state and condition to God ward is 2 An eager following youthful lusts and sensual pleasures Therefore the Apostle exhorts 2 Tim. 2.22 To flee youthful lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 As pilgrims and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul Let them consider that the feet of those lusts that have carried away and buried millions of other young persons in perdition stand ready to carry them the same way if preventing Grace come not in to deliver them 3. Pride of wit parts strength beauty c. 4. A headinesse and wilful obstinacy against good counsel Carnal reason flesh and blood are usually young mens counsellors and very bad Ones 5. Slighting religion and whatever is serious as too strict for them 6. Putting the day of death far from them and flattering themselves with hopes of long life 7. Ill company that great snare of the Devil 8. Comparing themselves with such as are worse than themselves thinking that an excuse for them that others are worse II. Let them be especially careful to be well grounded in the Principles of Christian Religion If there be a good foundation of saving knowledge laid in their minds betimes so that they throughly understand how the Religion they professe is grounded on the Scriptures they will not be like children easily tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine as too many now a daies are And for this purpose I refer them to the first Part of this Treatise containing the Principles of right Knowledges III. Let them labour to understand betimes wherein the chief happinesse of man consists namely in the pardon of his sins a gracious frame of heart and communion with God Every one naturally desires to be happy but people commonly mistake the way to it Therefore it highly concerns all young persons to be early acquainted and deeply possessed how they may steer a right course both to be happy here and hereafter IV. Let them acquaint themselves well with the Scriptures be much in secret prayer and self-reflexion keep close to the publick Ordinances and listen to the awakenings of Gods Spirit they shall meet with in them V. Let them take heed of sinning against Conscience When Conscience saies do it not let them listen to that voice let them labour to keep their Consciences tender VI. Let them decline such occasions and temptations as they foresee are like to ensnare them and especially ill company which hath ruin'd Thousands VII Let them acquaint themselves with serious sober minded and experienced Christians From such they may reap exceeding great benefit VIII And Lastly Let them take heed of Spiritual pride which hath thrown down many young professors from a great hopefulnesse Let them remember the Devil will attempt if it be possible to foil them by drawing them either into some erroneous Doctrines or some scandalous practices Let them therefore be sure to set the Glory of God before their eyes and endeavour to walk humbly with God suspecting themselves and leaning on his goodnesse to preserve them from falling Eccles 12.1 Remember now thy Creatour in the daies of thy youth while the evil daies come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Prov. 22.6 Train up a child in the way which he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it Psal 119.9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Tit. 2 6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 1 Kings 18.12 But I Obadiah thy servant fear the Lord from my youth 2 Chron. 34.3 For Josiah in the eighth year of his reign while he was yet young began to seek after the God of David his Father c. 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation 2 John v. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the Truth as we have received a Commandment from the Father Psal 32.9 Be ye not as the Horse or as the Mule which have no understanding whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle lest they come neer unto thee Jer. 22.21 I spake unto thee in thy prosperity but thou saidst I will not
do many delude themselves both in the nature of Repentance and Faith never rightly understanding what a repenting frame of heart means nor what it is savingly to beleeve in Christ I desire them therefore to read over once and again those two Chapters concerning Repentance and Faith which are the second and third in this part of the Treatise and to examine themselves thereby that so they may not think they are true penitents and true beleevers when indeed they are not And let them take heed of building their hopes of Heaven upon such deceiving foundations as these now mentioned VI. Ancient persons should redeem the time that yet remaines unto them for the working out of their salvation They have but a little while to stay here and they have a great deal of work to do to retract the sins of a long life and to secure their interest in Christ. They should not content themselves with a little formal devotion and the performance of some few religious duties as too many old people are apt to do They should rid themselves of worldly employments and businesses and the cares of this life as much as they can that so they may have the more time to bestow upon their soules Bernard saies Time were a good commodity in Hell if it were there to be bought Oh how much would the damned give for a little time wherein they might have liberty and power to recover themselves out of that woful state How much then should all of us both young and old prize and improve the time now allowed us to settle the great affairs of our soules before we go hence and be seen no more VII If they have not been well instructed before they shou'd think it no disparagement to apply themseâ—ves to their Minister or some faithfull spiritual guide to be shewed and taught what they must do to be saved If a traveller hath most part of the day been travelling out of his way though it may trouble and vex him at length to understand his errour and wandring yet there is no remedy for it he must enquire and labour to get into the right way at last Let old persons consider knowledge they must have or they will die in a sad condition And therefore let them not stand upon their terms and think instruction only belongs to young people If the old be ignorant the old must be instructed or they will die in their sins And therefore it will be wisdom in all ancient people to associate themselves with the most knowing and experienced Christians that they may thereby benefit their soules and daily grow both in knowledge and Grace VIII They should study to bring much honour and glory to God in their latter daies Tit. 2.1 2. But speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine That the aged men be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in patience 1. They should be exemplary in piety and goodness contrary to other trees bringing forth most fruit in their old age Psal 92.14 They shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing They should like old Noah be preachers of righteousness to the younger sort exhorting them earnestly to consecrate their youth and best daies to God Multitude of years should teach wisdom as t is Job 32.7 2. They should be very charitable according to the proportion of their estates And not as too many old covetous misers do grasp the world with a dying hand Dan. 4.27 Wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable unto thee break off thy sins by righteousness and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor c. Luke 11.41 But rather give almes of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you IX And Lastly They should be often meditating on the four last things and the life to come and make it their great businesse to prepare for their dissolution Tit. 2.1 But speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine V. 2. That the aged men be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in patience V. 3. The aged women likewise that they be in behaviour as becometh holinesse not false accusers nor given to much wine teachers of good things V. 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their children V. 5. To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Prov. 16.31 The hoary head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse Job 32.7 I said daies should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of Corn cometh in in his season Psal 71.9 Cast me not off in the time of old age forsake me not when my strength faileth V. 18. Now also when I am old and gray headed O God forsake me not c. Isa 46.3 Hearken unto me O House of Jacob and all the remnant of the House of Israel which are born by me from the belly which are carried from the womb V. 4. And even to your old age I am he and even to hoary hairs will I carry you I have made and I will bear even I will carry and will deliver you Job 20.11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth which shall lie down with him in the dust Psal 25.7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. Job 13 26. For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth 2 Sam. 19.35 I am this day fourscore years old and can I discern between good and evil can thy servant tast what I eat or what I drink can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden to my Lord the King Acts 21.16 There went with us also certain of the Disciples of Cesarea and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple with whom we should lodge Psal 92.14 They shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Isa 40.31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint 2 Tim. 4.6 For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand V. 7. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith V 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love
disposition in every man We are very prone to harden when the storm is over 3. Let them renew often upon their souls the remembrance of the sharpness and bitterness of their afflictions Let them call to mind their sad discourses and reasonings their fears and tremblings the mis-givings of heart and sad apprehensions they had in time of their distresse Let them remember their aptnesse to impatience and to hard thoughts of God Let them recall how happy they thought those that were free from their troubles and paines These remembrances kept alive will make them humble and thankful 4. Let them remember their vowes and promises made to God in time of their sicknesse and distresse Let them labour to be such out of sicknesse as they promised God themselves and possibly others they would be when they were in it The Emperor Sigismond demanded of King Alphonsus what was the directest course to be happy Perform saies he when thou art well what thou promisedst when thou wert sick 'T is very remarkable what is recorded of the mariners Jonah 1.15 16. And the Sea ceased from her raging then the men feared the Lord exceedingly and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord and made vowes Then when the Sea ceased here is the wonder Had they made vowes in the midst of the tempest the matter had not been great but now when the tempest was over then to make vowes is worthy of our observation and worthy of our imitation One vow made and kept after the tempest is worth a thousand promised in the same 5. Let them pity and pray for those that are under affliction Lord teach them as well as correct them that they may be blessed let them come forth out of affliction as Gold purified seven times let them lose nothing in that furnace but their drosse let them be purified from their sins and purged from their iniquities strengthen their Faith and Patience and in thy due time if it be for thy Glory and their good vouchsafe them a gracious deliverance Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy Word V. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Zach. 13. ult And I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as silver is refined and will try them as Gold is tried they shall call on my Name and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Heb. 12.11 Now no chastning for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous neverthelesse afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse unto them which are exercised thereby Prov. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small Rev. 13.10 Here is the patience and the Faith of the Saints Heb. 6.12 Be ye followers of them who through Faith and patience inherit the promises Psal 9.10 And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Lam. 3.26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. V. 27. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth Psal 146.5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Psal 56.3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. 2 Cor. 5.6 Therefore we are alwaies confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. V. 7. For we walk by Faith not by sight John 18.11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Luke 21.19 In your patience possesse ye your souls Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him 2 Chron. 16.12 And Asa in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign was diseased in his feet untill his disease was exceeding great yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Psal 107.17 Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted Neh. 9.33 Howbeit thou art just in all that thou hast brought upon us for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted me Micah 7.9 I will hear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Hab. 3.2 O Lord in wrath remember mercy Job 34.31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend thee any more Psa 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth Prov. 3.12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the son in whom he delighteth Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day V. 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Psal 41.1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble V. 3. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of his languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse 2 Chron. 32.24 In those daies Hezekiah was sick to the death and prayed unto the Lord and he spake unto him and he gave him a sign V. 25. But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem Jonah 2.6 Thou hast brought up my life from corruption O Lord my God V. 7. When my soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came in unto thee into thine holy Temple V. 9. I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving I will pay that that I have vowed salvation is of the Lord. Psal 50.14 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Psal 66.13 I will go into thy House with burnt offerings I will pay thee my vows V. 14. Which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble Psal 56.12 Thy vows are upon me O God I will render praises unto
is a Lyar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ He is Anti-Christ that denieth the Father and the Son V. 23. Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers And of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Amen Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God Acts 7.59 And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit V. 60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their Charge 2 Thess 2.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace V. 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work Concerning God the Holy Ghost Acts 5.3 But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost V. 4. Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God John 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever V. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 15.26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father Phil. 1.19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of Redemption 1 Cor. 2.13 Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost As your Fathers did so do ye 2 Pet. 1.21 For the 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 Rom 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered V. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Acts 13.2 As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have Called them Titus 3.5 Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3.6 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own Rom. 5.5 And hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Mat. 12.31 Wherefore I say unto you all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men V. 32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come Secondly His PROPERTIES or ATTRIBUTES God is Eternal or without any Beginning or End Omnipotent or Almighty Omnipresent or every where present Omniscient or All-knowing Infinitely Wise Holy Just Mercifull Eternall Psal 90.2 Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth or the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Deut. 33.27 The Eternal God is my refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Omnipotent Gen. 17.1 And when Abram was Ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Isa 40.17 All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing and vanity Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Rev. 19.6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings saying Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Omnipresent 1 Kings 8.27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Psal 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence V. 8. If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there If I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there V. 11. If I say surely the darknesse shall cover me even the night shall be Light about me V. 12. Yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee Omniscient 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts understandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever 1 King 8.39 Then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his ways whose heart thou knowest for thou even thou knowest the hearts of all the children of men Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 139.2 Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts afar off V. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my waies V. 4. For
unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate V. 16. Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shal be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee V. 17. And unto Adam he said because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life V. 18. Thornes also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eate the hearb of the field V. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return 1 Tim. 2.13 For Adam was first formed then Eve V. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression V. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety 2 Cor. 11.3 For I feare least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Gen. 5.3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty yeares and begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image and called his name Seth. Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 8.21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evill from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done Rom. 5.12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned V. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life V. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Job 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he which is borne of a woman that he should be righteous V. 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water Job 14.4 Who can bring a Clean thing out of an unclean Not one Rom. 3.9 What then are we better then they no in no wise for we have before proved both Jewes and Gentiles that they are all under sin V. 10. As it is written there is none righteous no not one V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me 2 Tim. 2.26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken Captive by him at his will Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 7. Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sin V. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not V. 23. But I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members V. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and Desperately wicked who can know it Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vaine The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins V. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Aire the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience V. 3. Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 5.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Hos 14.1 O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Eph. 4.22 That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts V. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God V. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him
Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Gen. 5.24 And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Heb. 11.5 By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and upright in his generation and Noah walked with God Prov. 5.20 And why wilt thou my Son be ravished with a strange woman and embrace the bosome of a stranger V 21. For the waies of a man are before the eies of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings Gen. 39.9 There is none greater in this house than I neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee because thou art his wife how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 42 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day this do and live for I fear God Job 34.21 For his eies are upon the waies of man and he sees all his goings V. 22. There is no darknesse nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 27.6 My righteousnesse I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Isa 38.3 And Hezekiah said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore 1 John 3.20 For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things V. 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the Grace of God we have had our conversation in the world but more abundantly to you-wards Psal 32.2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile Psal 78.34 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God V. 35. And they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer V. 36. Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth and they lied to him with their tongues V. 37. For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety yeares old and nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Eph. 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen Fifthly Labour daily to live by Faith Having given up and committed thy penitent Soule into the hands of Christ to have thy pardon and peace procur'd by his merits and intercession learn also daily to trust and depend on the goodnesse of God and his gracious promises for a supply of all such blessings both spiritual and temporal as thou standest in need of I shall shew thee what it is to live the life of Faith in these ten particulars 1. Seek unto the Lord and daily trust and depend on him for the assistance of his holy Spirit for Grace and strength effectually to enable thee to subdue thy corruptions and to mortifie all sinful vile affections in thee Luke 11.9 And I say unto you ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 10. For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened V. 11. If a Son shall ask bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a Serpent V. 12. Or if he ask an egge will he offer him a Scorpion V. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Jam. 4.5 Do ye think the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy V. 6. But he giveth more Grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble 2 Cor. 12 9. And he said unto me my Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me Rom. 6.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 2. Trust in him to enable thee to resist and overcome the temptations wherewith thou shalt be assaulted from the Devil or the world Mat. 6.13 Lead us not into temptation 2 Chron. 32.31 Howbeit in the businesse of the Ambassadours of the Princes of Babylon who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the Land God left him to try him that he might know all that was in his heart 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour V. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith Jam. 4.7 Resist the Devil and he will flee from you 1 John 2.15 Love not the world nor the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him V. 16. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life is not of the Father 1 John 5.4 Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith John 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil V. 20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word 3. Humbly depend on him to assist and enable thee to perform all the duties both of thy general and particular calling with sincerity diligence and delight 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me Psal 87.7 All my Springs are in thee 4. Trust in him to enable thee to bear all the afflictions he shall please to lay upon thee with patience affiance in his mercy and submission to his will Col. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but with the temptation will also make a way
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you 1 Cor. 7.35 This I speak for your own profit that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction Psal 119.49 Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 25.10 All the paths of the â—ord are mercy and truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Psal 89.33 Neverthelesse my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Psal 62.9 Surely men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lie to be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter than vanity 2 Chron. 14.8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and speares out of Judah three hundred thousand and out of Benjamin that bare shields and drew bowes two hundred and fourscore thousand all these were mighty men of valour V. 11. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God and said Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name we go against this multitude O Lord thou art our God let not man prevail against thee 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God! wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eies are upon thee Rom. 4.19 And being not weak in Faith he considered not his own body now dead when he was about one hundred years old neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb Psal 73.28 But it is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staied on thee because he trusteth in thee Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeieth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Psal 1â— 14 The poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the Fatherlesse Psal 62.5 My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him V. 6. He only is my rock and my salvation he is my defence I shall not be moved 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God by us Josh 21.45 There fail'd not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to passe Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Mat. 6 30. Wherefore if God so cloath the grasse of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the Oven shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little Faith Psal 34.9 O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him V. 10. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Psal 84.11 For the Lord is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Isa 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord. 2 Chron. 16.9 For the eies of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him John 11.40 Jesus saith unto her said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst believe thou shouldst see the Glory of God Sixthly Observe all the passages of his Providence towards thee whether of justice or mercy Take notice of every frown and every smile from God and that will much direct thee how to order thy services of praier and praise and teach thee submission to his holy will Many duties depend on the consideration and taking notice of Gods Providential dispensations How blame worthy then are they that do not care to observe or regard the works of God Certainly it is our duty to observe and acknowledge Gods soveraignty and dominion in the world and over all events here below not a sparrow not a hair fals to the ground without our Heavenly Father And where we cannot understand the waies of God let us with an humble reverence believe and admire the wisdome of them The deep and unsearcheable waies of God are not to be judged before the Tribunal of mans reason Labour therefore to get a firm belief of this great truth setled in thy soul that God governs all humane affairs and thou wilt find it of great efficacy against those damps and dejections of mind that in afflictions we are too prone unto and it will be a singular antidote against all murmurings and repinings How did this consideration quiet and compose the heart of old Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord. And David on the same account saies I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal 39.9 So when a sore and terrible affliction fell upon Aaron his two sons Nadab and Abihu being consumed by fire from Heaven all that the Scripture reports of his carriage and demeanour is this And Aaron held his peace Lev. 10.3 As therefore thou art dilgently to observe and mind Gods Providential dispensations towards thee so remember it is thy duty and ought to be the posture of thy Spirit that whatever he takes from thee or whatever he does unto thee perfectly and absolutely to submit to his will Remember there is no resisting the Almighty Shall a Grashopper contend with an Eagle Shall we that are wormes contend with our maker If we consider our sinfulnesse and guilt we have reason to admire he afflicts us no more If as the unjust steward in the Gospel for one hundred set down but fifty so if God for an hundred stripes due to us inflicts but fifty nay but ten have we not reason to be patient and to say He punisheth lesse than our iniquities deserve Labour therefore to be patient under his hand Murmuring and repining does but increase our guilt and provoke God to double our punishment The Parent takes up the child for whimpering and crying as well as for any other fault not patiently to let God have his will is the way to beg another
V. 14. Then thine heart be lifted up and thou forget the Lord thy God which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage V. 15. Who led thee through that great terrible wildernesse wherein were fiery Serpents and Scorpions and drought where there was no water who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint V. 16. Who fed thee in the wilderness with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at thy latter end V. 17. And thou say in thine heart my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth V. 18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his Covenant which he sware unto thy Fathers as it is this day Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Psal 75.5 Lift not up your horn on high speak not with a stiff neck V. 6. For promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West nor from the South V. 7. But God is the Judge he putteth down one and setteth up another Deut. 8.3 And he humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger and fed thee with Manna which thou knewest not neither did thy Fathers know that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live Prov. 16.9 A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Jam. 4.13 Go to now ye that say to day or to morrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain V. 14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow 1 Cor. 4.19 But I will come to you shortly if the Lord will c. Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain V. 2. It is in vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrowes for so he giveth his beloved sleep Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe V. 6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light and thy judgment as the noon day V. 7. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to passe V. 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked V. 23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way V. 24. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand V. 25. I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread V. 35. I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay-tree V. 36. Yet he passed away and Lo he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found V. 37. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace 1 Sam. 2.6 The Lord killeth and maketh alive he bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up V. 7. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich he bringeth low and lifteth up V. 8. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherit the Throne of Glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world upon them V. 9. He will keep the feet of his Saints and the wicked shall be silent in darkness for by strength shall no man prevail Phil 4.11 Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content V. 12. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need Seventhly Charge upon thy self with all seriousnesse that great and necessary duty of daily watchfulnesse Be not like those whose manner is to spend a little time in praier in the morning and then to take their leave as it were of God for all the day after but unto earnest and fervent praier adde serious watchfulnesse And for thy better direction herein I shall here first give thee a short draught or scheme of the several particulars I treat of under this head First There are foure things thou must watch over Namely 1. Thy Thoughts 2. Thy Affections 3. Thy Words 4. Thy Actions Secondly Six things thou must watch against Namely 1. Against those sins thou art most inclined to by temper and natural constitution 2. Against the sins thou art most obnoxious to by reason of thy particular calling condition state and course of life 3. Against the sins of the times and places wherein thou livest 4. Against all occasions and temptations that thou foreseest are likely to endanger thy soule 5. Against dishonouring God in the use of lawful things 6. Against Errour and seduction of mind Thirdly One thing thou must watch for Namely For opportunities to glorifie God to do good to others and to receive good to thy owne soule The Motives to quicken thee to this duty are these three 1. Most of the sins we commit we fall into through carelesnesse and want of watchfulnesse 2. The Devil the tempter is alwaies watchfull to betray us 3. The necessity of perseverance whereunto a concurrence of our care and diligence is required First The first thing I would advise thee carefully to watch over is thy thoughts Be very careful not to lodge or entertain any sinfull thoughts in thy mind Sinful thoughts are the Reubens the first-born of originall sin and the beginning of its strength They exceedingly defile the soul and are the first movers to evil and very abominable in the sight of God Oh what reason have we to be humbled for the vain wanton foolish proud wrathful covetous blasphemous idle useless unconcerning thoughts that do many times annoy us Let us therefore consider of some remedies against sinfull thoughts 1. Settle in thy mind a strong and deep apprehension of Gods Omni-presence and Omniscience and over-awe thy thoughts with this that they are all seen and observed and taken notice of by him 2. Remember that though in the worlds wicked proverb thoughts are free because man cannot discern them nor punish them yet they are not free from Gods observation nor from his Law which being spiritual blndes the thoughts of the heart as well as the outward man nor from his Justice which will call us to account for our sinful thoughts
immutable Lawes to his people doth first apply himself to them as Jewes rouzing their attention by inculcating the late signal mercies he had confer'd on them hereby to excite them to a more strict observation of what he was now to give them in charge so that though the introduction be proper to the Jewes yet the commandements have a larger extent and are spoken alike to all Now 't is very observable the Jewish or Saturday Sabbath or seventh from the creation is not in expresse terms commanded in the fourth Commandement That we shall perceive if we look over the Commandement 1. Remember thou sanctifie the Sabbath day The Sabbath day it is you see and not the seventh from the Creation Observe saies Zanchy God said not Remember thou sanctifie the seventh day but the day of rest that is the day that is consecrated to rest either immediatly by himself or mediately by the Church directed by the Holy Ghost whatsoever day it be So that the day must be of Divine Institution 2. God telleth us distinctly what Sabbath he here means viz. the weekly He saith Sanctifie the Sabbath in the singular number not Sabbaths in the plural The observation not of many festivals but of one onely is there enjoyned saith the learned Junius 3. The Sabbath must be sanctified but what day is appointed for it Six daies shalt thou labour Six daies are ours The seventh is the Sâ—bbath A seventh God will have But what seventh He saies not the seventh from the Creation He names no day as intending the day should change He saith only the seventh i. e. The seventh after six working daies 4. But is the determination of this one in seven in our power No for it must be the Sabbath of the Lord thy God i. e. which he hath already or should hereafter declare to his Church to be his Sabbath It must be Gods own choice Now that the fourth Commandement is moral will appear if we consider 1. Except it be moral there cannot be ten Commandements and yet so we find Deut. 10 4. And he wrote on the Tables according to the first writing the ten Commandements which the Lord spake unto you in the Mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the Assembly And the Lord gave them unto me To keep some time holy to the Lord and to keep that time which he should appoint is absolutely moral Now 't is plain a Sabbath God must have by the perpetual Ordinance of the fourth Commandement Remember thou sanctifie the Sabbath day i. e. That day which for the time being God hath marked out and appointed for his own And he hath declared his Will concerning the limitation of it Six daies shalt thou labour c. But the seventh is the Sabbath so that one in a week he must have If this Commandement enjoyn no particular and set time under the Gospel then are there but nine Commandements Why should the Sabbath be put among the moral Lawes of the Decalogue if it were only ceremonial And wherein does the designation or limitation of one day in a week for Gods service seem ceremonial It being a memorial of Gods creating the world in six daies and resting the seventh this being a benefit wheâ—ein all mankind intercommon the Jewes can claim no property therein several to themselves 2 If we look upon the Sabbath of the fourth Commandement we shall find it stript of all legal observances For those things which are urged as ceremonial and several of the Jewes touching the Sabbath are all post-scripts and by-laws not one emergent from the fourth precept As no fire to be kindled Exod. 16 23. No meat to be dressed Exod. 17 5. These were peculiar to the Jews We must distinguish therefore between those precepts of the Sabbath that occur elsewhere the fourth Commandement What is ceremonial touching the Sabbath we must apply to them what is moral we must restrain to this See Mr. Lestrang's learned Treatise of the Sabbath Thus we have seen how God had from the Creation to the Law from the Law to Christ a day appointed and that by himself to his own Worship And hath he lesse reason to require it under the Gospel Surely no. IIII. From Christs resurrection on the first day of the week very early in the morning Luke 24.1 John 20.1 The Sabbath was changed to that day in honour of our Saviour who that day rising from the dead finished the work of our Redemption The Jewish Sabbath slept its last in the grave with our Saviour though its shadow indeed walked a while after but it self the old Sabbath expired then and immediatly entred the Lords day From the resurrection of Christ immediatly when Christ himself was but newly up from that very day whereon he arose doth Augustine derive the beginning of the Evangelical Sabbath The Lords day saith he by the resurrection of Christ was declared to be the Christians day and from that very time of Christs resurrection it began to be celebrated as the Christian mans Festival Epist ad Jan. 19. c. 13. This was the first day of our Saviours appearing to his Disciples and the first Christian Sabbath he honoured with his beatifical presence Joh. 20.19 20 26. The next was the eighth day after V. Well our Saviour is ascended Let us now see what honour the holy Ghost whom he promised to send his Apostles hath conferred on this day The holy Ghost descendeth But on what day Why the first day of the week It was when Pentecost arrived and that fell that year on that day On this day the Apostles were solemnly though closely assembled in prayer and holy duties and the holy Ghost descended upon them Acts 2. VI. The next mention of Apostolical observation of this day occurreth Acts 20. v. 7. The first of the week the Disciples being come together to break bread i. e. The Sacramental or Eucharistical bread Paul preached to them That for his practise Now his precept for the day is plainly implied 1 Cor. 16.1 As I have ordained in the Churches of Galatia so do ye v. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gathering when I come He ordains their collections for the poor Saints and oblations should be on that day And why should that day be the Almes-day or Collection day rather than any other had it not been observed holy in those times and that the Congregation did use on that day to assemble The Collection therefore being enjoyned on that day the Lords day was consequently enjoyned VII About sixty years after as Calvisius out of Irenaeus computes we meet with this day apparrelled in a Christian Name not stil'd the first day but the Lords day which probably was then current among the Christians else the holy Ghost would not have used it Rev. 1.10 St. John saies he was in the Spirit on the Lords day
into their Masters joy As the tree falleth so it lieth There is no change to be wrought in man within those flames no purgation of his sins no sanctification of his Nature no justification of his person and therefore no salvation for him Without the mediation of Christ no man shall ever enter into Heaven And when he hath delivered up the Kingdom unto God even the Father then shall the office of the Mediator cease The condition then of the damned is unalterable their condemnation irreversible their torments remediless their miseries eternal See Mr. Manton's excellâ—nt Comment on Jude p. 430. The Reasons hereof are conceived by Divines to be these 1. Because of the greatnesse of the Majesty against whom they have sinned We are finite creatures and so not fit to judge of the nature of an offence against an infinite God The Law-giver best knowes the merit of sin which is the transgression of his Law 2. With man offences of a quick execution are judged to deserve a long punishment and the continuance of the penalty is not measured by the continuance of the Act of sinning therefore no wonder if it be so with God 3. The damned sinned here as long as they could if they had to eternity been allowed to live they would have improved it altogether in sin They would have dallied with God longer grieved his Spirit longer had they lived longer yea dispositively and in respect of their inclinations did so In Hell the desire of sinning is not extinguished nor mortified The damned have not their hearts there changed 4. They despised an eternal happinesse therefore do justly suffer an eternal torment 5. Their obligations to God are infinite and their punishment ariseth according to the greatnesse of their obligations against which they sin'd As the damned therefore shall not be taken from their punishment by annihilation or destruction of their persons so their punishment shall not be taken off from them by any compassion shewed unto them III. We come to consider the dreadfulnesse of the infernal torments Hell is set forth unto us in the Scriptures under sundry dreadful notions viz. By the worm that never dieth and the fire that never goeth out by a lake of fire and brimstone by outer darkness and blackness of darknesse for ever That which is most intelligible concerning the woful state of the damned I conceive may be reduced to these four Heads 1. They shall be tormented with the pain of losse in being for ever banished from the presence of God and the joyes of Heaven 2 Thes 2.9 Being punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2. With the pain of sense inflicted on them by the wrath of God which abideth on them represented to us by a lake of fire In this life if his anger be but kindled a little and a spark of it fly into the Conscience the poor creature is at his wits end But how dreadful will their portion be against whom he stirreth up his fierce wrath Who knowes the power of his anger Ps 90.11 We that cannot endure the gripes of the Cholick the paines of the stone or a violent tooth-ach how can we think of enduring the paines and torments of Hell 3. They shall be tormented with the worm of Conscience that is with a cutting reflexion upon and remembrance of their former enjoyments and by past pleasures Luke 16 2â— Son remember thou in thy life time hadst thy good things or when Conscience shall repeat over the passages of their lives past and set before them their precious time wasted and mispent opportunities of Grace sleighted the folly of their own choice their turning their backs upon eternal life offered in the Gospel their grosse neglect of their souls their eager pursuit of sensual satisfactions their disregarding admonitions stifling convictions quenching the motions of the Spirit of God hating to be reformed O these will be sad woful sad remembrances The scourges of Conscience we meet with here are too great a price for the short pleasure of a brutish lust O then what a raging pain will such reflections as these cause hereafter What will they do that are tormented day and night for ever and ever 4. As they will have a sharp sense and feeling of their present woful state and a bitter discontent and vexation that by their own folly they brought it upon themselves so they will be tormented with despair of ever coming out of it They will see they must continue for ever in this remediless condition under an everlasting pain of loss because there is no hope of Heaven under an eternal pain of sense because there is no meanes to appease the wrath of God which abideth on them And this despair of ever coming out is the very Hell of Hells O wo and alas 't is for ever for ever they must be tormented Drexellius a learned Authour writing upon this Argument hath this awakening passage If God saith he should speak thus to a damned soul let the whole world be filled with sand from the earth to the Empyrean Heaven and then let an Angel come every thousand year and fetch only one grain from that mighty sandy mountain and when that immeasurable heap is so spent and so many thousand years expired I will deliver thee out of Hell and those extream torments That most miserable forlorn wretch notwithstanding that he were to lie through that unconceiveable length of time in those intollerable hellish torments yet upon such a promise would infinitely rejoyce and deem himself not to be damned But alas when all those years are gone there are thousands upon thousands more to be endured even through all Eternity O sad and woful condition O Eternity Eternity Eternity This word ever breaks the heart O Lord to depart from thee for ever to lose the sight and fruition of thy pleased countenance to be hurled down among devils and damned fiends into a lake of fire and brimstone to be alwaies burning yet never consumed ever dying yet never dissolv'd alwaies gnawed upon by the worm of Conscience yet never devoured alwaies gnashing the teeth weeping howling vexing without any glimpse of hope or one drop of comfort What heart can think on these things without splitting in pieces O Lord whatever thou deniest me for this life whatever shall be my lot and portion here yet deny me not I humbly beseech thee the effectual assistance of thy Grace to enable me to work out my salvation to enable me unfeignedly to repent of all my sins and forsake them and to give up my soul to Christ Jesus for pardon and life that by him I may be justified and sanctified and saved from this dreadful wrath to come Even so let it be O Heavenly Father for thy rich mercy and my sweet Saviours merits sake I shall conclude this discourse of Hell with a few serious meditations Let us consider 1. How great how inexcusable