Evil Things in this Life and their Good in the next Short Misery on Earth and long Felicity in Heaven Some live and die possest of a good Estate and in a State of Grace These have their Good Things here and better hereafter Now some Earnest then actual Possession It is better to live and die in the Depths of Poverty and have the Soul Everlastingly saved than in the Heigths of Prosperity and the Soul Eternally lost The worst Condition of a Child of God be it never so bad is better than the best Condition of a Wicked Man be it never so good In the Words of the Text Five Things may be observed 1. The Passage of a Believer to the Place of his Eternal Abode He is carried or transported to it 2. What of the Believer is carried to that Place or State And that is the Soul He was carried his Soul not then his Body His Soul was transported his Body was left behind The Soul is carried at his Dissolution the Body not till the Resurrection 3. Whither was the Soul carried what was the Place or State to which it was transported Into Abraham 's Bosom 4. When As soon as he died that Minute it was separated from the Body it began its Journey to its Eternal Home 5. By whom By the Angels he was carried into Abraham 's Bosom Not by one but many Angels Several great Articles of Faith affording great Support and Comfort to Believers are taught by Christ in these Words 1. Observation That the Soul doth exist after its Separation from the Body Otherwise it would not be capable to be carried to another State of Blessedness and Glory In Man's Mortal Body there is an Immortal Soul Death turns the Soul out of the Body and the Man out of this World Death deprives the Body of Life and leave it a Lump or Mass of Breathless Clay but in Death the Soul escapeth Death Death that conquereth all Mens Bodies kills no Man's Soul The Life and Being of the Soul cannot be destroyed either by Outward Violence by Inward Principles First Not by Outward Violence No Finite Power can make the Soul to cease to be The most Powerful Cruel and Enraged Persecutors who may torture kill or burn the Body cannot touch nor reach the Soul Mat. 10. 28. Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Tho' they had a Will to kill the Soul yet they want Power If they would they are not able They can neither kill it nor damn it Luke 12. 4. I say unto you my Friends be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do When they have taken away the Life of the Body they have done their worst their most their all so that there is no more that they can do for the Soul escapes their Fury and their malicious Rage And as Creatures cannot so we are assured that God will not cause the Soul to cease to be and this we know 1. From the Promises he hath made to sincere Believers to give to them Eternal Life Joh 3. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life That they shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. That they shall be Eternally Saved Heb. 5. 9. That they shall have a Crown incorruptible that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1. 4 5. If these Eternal Things shall be enjoyed by Believers then their Souls must exist to all Eternity for that which is nothing can enjoy nothing 2. From the Threatnings of God recorded in his Word of the Everlasting Punishment they shall be tormented with in the other World to all Eternity that leave this World in a State of Sin Rev. 14. 10. The same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without Mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and they shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the the Presence of the Holy Angels and in the Presence of the Lamb. V. 11. And the Smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest Day nor Night If Souls shall lie under the Punishment of Sense for ever they must exist for ever for that which is nothing by ceasing to be can have no Sense of Punishment Secondly The Soul cannot die or cease to be by any Internal Principles such as contrary Qualities in the Body which after Conflicts and one consumed by the other cause the Death of the Body as Fire in the Lamp licking up all the Oyl causeth the Lamp to go out or if too much Oyl be poured in and overflows the Fire it also is extinguished Neither can the Soul dye with old Age as the Body will for time is not the measure of the Duration of the Soul as it is of the Body but Eviternity and Beings measured thereby tho' they have a Beginning yet shall have no Ending Let this awaken all to provide a Lodging for their Souls against the Hour they shall be separated from their Bodies Now our Souls dwell in Houses of Clay and these have their Foundation in the Dust and will shortly fall and the Soul be dispossessed and turned out of this House in which it is a Tenant at Will of the great Landlord of all the World who might Seal a Lease of Ejectment at his Pleasure when you cannot remove from one House to another in the same Parish in the same City or in the same Nation no nor yet in the same World but will be such a Remove as never yet you made from one World to another Since then the Soul after Death will be in Being it must be some where for that which is no where is nothing but where shall it be There are but Two Places in the other World where Souls shall be Heaven or Hell Do you know in which Or do not you think nor care in which your Soul shall live and lodge for ever If in Hell your Lodging will be so uneasy that in it you cannot rest A Bed of Flames a Lodging in boiling Lead or Oyl or burning Brimstone will cause you to cry out I am uneasy I am uneasy in my Lodging I cannot rest upon this Bed I cannot take one wink of Sleep May I not change my Lodging I am weary of being here May I not go back again from whence I came I thought my sick Bed was uneasy but this is worse inconceivably worse beyond Expression more painful and uneasy But if I may not go back to my old Lodgings in that World from whence I came Let me seek a cooler Lodging where I am Let me rove from one side of Hell unto the other if I might find some easy Corner where I may a while be free from
am come from those to them My Friends are mourning because they have lost me and these tormenting Devils are glad that they have found me Men on Earth are not in such haste to carry my Body to the Grave as these Devils are to carry me to Hell Oh Cursed Caitiff that I am What Difference hath one Hour made What a miserable deceived Wretch was I when in the Body and how convinced of my Self-deceiving Flattery as soon as separated from my Body When in the Body I did think all would be well as soon as cut of the Body I am sure woe is me all will be woe When in the Body I was amongst my Friends as soon as out of the Body I am amongst mine Enemies When in the Body I did dream of being Happy as soon as out of the Body I saw it was but a Dream When in the Body I did hope and till I parted from my Body I would not I did not part from my Hope that I should be carried into Heaven but as soon as I parted from my Body I parted from my Hope and my Hope from me for these infernal Spirits are carrying me to Hell and I cannot fain I would but cannot any longer hope for Heaven When in the Body the Devil and Sin did blind mine Eyes that I could not see the sandy Foundation on which I built my Expectation of Happiness in the Highest Heavens but as soon as Death and Friends had closed the Eyes of my Body then the Eyes of my Mind were opened to see all my Building on that rotten Foundation is gone to Ruine and I am going in this Company to the Lowest Hell Such-like bitter Cries such self-lamenting Groans we may conceive the separated sinful Soul to utter as it is on its way in the Company of Devils to the Place of Outer-darkness where there shall be Weeping and Wailing for Ever Yet if we consider the Circumstances that will farther aggravate the Sorrow of the Soul in its Journey to the Lake of Brimstone arising from the Company of unclean Spirits that are dragging it along to the Place of Torment which the distressed unsanctified Soul shall be apprehensive and sensible of it will pass our Thoughts to conceive and our Words to express how great its Horror will be and what Fear and Trembling it will be filled with when it shall find these Carriers of it to Hell to be 1. Exceeding Powerful and Strong that the seized Soul is not able so to resist as to rescue it self out of their Hands Their Strength is signified by their Names being called Principalities and Powers Eph. 6. 12. and known by the Effects which they have done in such as have been possessed as we read of one Mar. 5. 3 4. That no Man could bind him no not with Chains because that he had been often bound with Fetters and Chains and the Chains had been plucked asunder by him and the Fetters broken in pieces Neither could any Man tame him How then will this add to the Misery of the Soul seized by them when tho' it struggle it cannot get free tho' it strive it is to no purpose tho' it resist it cannot prevail O Miserable Wretch that I am when I was in the Body I should have resisted their Temptations and might now I would their Power but cannot I should have withstood their enticing Persuasions but did not I could but would not now I would withstand their Force and Violence but I cannot fain I wou'd but woe is me I cannot I must along with these dragging Devils I would not but I must for they are stronger than I. 2. This will aggravate the Evil of his Passage in that the Company of Devils is so Numerous A Legion of unclean Spirits possessed one Man's Body Mar. 5. 9. and will not a Legion of them be as ready to seize one Soul Which when the separated Soul perceives enquires Why so many Why so many to one Why so many so strong to one so weak Are all of one Mind Are ye all agreed to hurry me to Hell Is there not one amongst you all will stand my Friend Not one to take my Part to be on my Side Alas for me Tho' they are many they are as one How strange is this that a Legion of Devils should be so unanimous in my Ruine that all are called by one Name as if many were one As the Devil that possessed a Man being asked what is thy Name he answered saying My Name is Legion for we are many Never was a poor Debter on Earth carried to Prison by the Joint-consent and One-will of many Serjeants as I poor Debter am carried to the Prison and Dungeon of Hell by the Joint-consent and One-will of many Devils 3. This will aggravate the Sorrow the Soul in its Passage to its long and doleful Home will be filled with That these Carriers are so swift and active in their Motion which will increase the Horror of the Soul in its way upon these Accounts First Because by flight it cannot escape from them When we cannot resist an Enemy by the Strength of our Arm yet we may escape by the Swiftness of our Feet When we cannot get the Victory by Fighting we might prevent our Captivity by Running But this will give no Relief to the separated sinful Soul because evil Spirits are such agile swift and active Creatures that move so fast that the Soul cannot be more speedy than they Tho' Holy Angels as they are stronger so they are swifter than Apostate Spirits being more able ready and speedy to protect and defend us than Fallen Angels are to hurt and destroy us and therefore the Good are said to have Wings which as I remember is not spoken of the Bad yet these Infernal Spirits are so much speedier in their Motion than the Soul that it can have no Hope of preventing their transporting of it from the dying Bed to its Lodging in the Flames of Hell Secondly Because by them it will be brought so soon to the Place of Torment Men on Earth sin so much swear so fast and run in the Ways of Wickedness as tho' they could not get to Hell sure enough nor soon enough But when they have done sinning upon Earth and are on their Way to their Eternal Miserable State they will think Devils put them on too fast and carry them with too much speed to that Place where their Entertainment will be so bad We may imagine the separated Soul in the Devil's Arms to lament it self saying What! Is my Journey like to be so short when my Journey 's End will be so bad Am I going whither I would not and yet do these Carriers make such haste must I thus be posted to such grievous Torments whence I shall never be delivered Tho' the Way be so uncomfortable yet the Place will be so much more when I come thither therefore let me move more slowly to it Tho' I have an
by that Power they are indued with from God but also by Commission and Assistance from him and therefore when we read of any Fight and Conflict between the Bad and Holy Angels the Good always overcame because Christ who is that Michael is the Lord General of the Heavenly Host and they fight under his Banner and he that is the Captain of our Salvation is the Captain Leader and Commander in Chief of this Heavenly Army Rev. 12. 7 8. And there was War in Heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was there Place sound any more in Heaven 9. And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole World he was cast out into the Earth and his Angels were cast out with him Rev. 20. 1. I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the Bottomless Pit and a great Chain in his Hand 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him a Thousand Years 3. And cast him into the bottomless Pit and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more Thus the Holy Angels are celebrated for their Power being mighty Angels 2 Thes 1. 7. and do excel in Strength Psal 103. 20. Their Power under God is the Soul's Safety on its Way from Earth to Heaven Secondly The Soul by this Convoy is safe because conducted by such knowing Angels Evil Angels though they have lost all that Holiness they were at first created with yet they retain great Measures of Knowledge therefore we read of the Subtilty of the Stratagems and Devices of the Devil yet the Holy Holy Angels are more knowing than they for when Devils are cast out the good Angels do always behold the Face of God in Heaven Mat. 18. 10. So that God revealing his Will to them about any Matter Message or Person they readily know and as readily execute what he reveals to them to be his Will to be done by them As to our present Purpose by God's Revelation to them 1. They know those that are sincerely Holy for they rejoice at their Conversion 2. They know when any Believer is dissolved by Death and when his Soul is separated from his Body else how should they know when to come for it 3. They know where any Believer dies at home or abroad on his Bed or in the Field by Land or Sea else how should they know where to come for it 4. They know the Soul separated which is the Soul of a sanctified Man and which of one unholy else how should they know which to take and which to leave which to carry to Heaven and which to leave to Devils to be carried to Hell and here thro' Divine Revelation they never make any Mistake 5. They know the Way from any part of this World to the blessed World above by their often coming and going and never miss their Way All which laid together shews the Safety of Believers Souls wherever they live wherever they die whoever they be that there is no fear that they should not be found by the ministring Angels or that finding them at Death they should lose their Way to Heaven So that the separated Soul at the first Appearance of Angels to it will see the Love and Care of God concerning it and with admiring Thoughts thereof may say hath God made known to you the Place where I did leave my Body and the very Moment when I parted from it and that I was sincere in Heart to God and gave you charge to come and guide me in my Way unto his Glorious Presence how chearfully will I go with you knowing that by your Power under God I shall not be seized by evil Spirits and by your Skill I shall not lose my Way Thirdly The separated Soul by Angels Ministration is safe because convoyed by such faithful Angels that are always true to their Trust If a Man be on a Journey in Company that is able to protect him and skilful to direct him yet if any in the Company be unfaithful they may betray him but here can be no Danger nor Ground of Fear in respect of this Convoy 1. Else Holy Angels would not be faithful to God the Father in betraying any one Soul chosen by him to Eternal Life 2. Nor to God the Son in losing any whom he hath redeemed and purchased by his most precious Blood 3. Nor to the Holy Spirit of God by dropping any by the Way which by the special Operation of his powerful Grace he hath prepared and made meet for Glory and had given to them the Pledge and Earnest thereof 4. Nor to the Soul committed to their Charge to bring to Heaven for wherein could greater Unfaithfulness to it be shewn than in what concerns its Eternal State 5. Nor to their own Office or Commission to them without fail to conduct such an one to the Happiness of Heaven Such Unfaithfulness is inconsistent with the Perfection and spotless Purity of Holy Angels which being confirmed cannot at any time fall into the least Error or Miscarriage for then would they cease to be Holy Angels What Joy then is this to the separated Soul that hath such a Convoy sent for it as shall not indanger it by Weakness or want of Power by Ignorance or want of Skill in the Way or by Unfaithfulness or want of Fidelity to their Trust O how happy am I on my Way to Happiness How sure am I my Way will be prosperous How certain is it I shall get safely thither Fourthly The gracious separated Soul will be safe because transported by such zealous Angels therefore called Seraphims because they have a burning Zeal in executing all that God gives them a Charge to do Devils are furious envious and malicious and are bent to destroy devour and damn as many as they can by watching by walking to and fro throughout the Earth by tempting and at last by dragging Souls to Hell when separated from their Bodies The Holy Angels are more for God's Glory the Interest of Christ the Good of Souls than Devils are against them for I suppose the Holy Angels do more exceed in Goodness than evil Angels as bad as they are are filled with Wickedness For in Devils there is something Materially Good besides their Being tho' it may be Formally or Circumstantially Evil as much of their Knowledge but in Holy Angels there is nothing that is Materially or Circumstantially Evil. Therefore the Holy separated Soul received into the Company of Holy Angels on its Way to Heaven may delight it self and say While in the Body I was assaulted with Satans Temptations Devils did endeavour to persuade me to sin but whatsoever Violence they may now assault me with they shall no more with any Hopes entice me from my God and the good Company I