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
the Lord Jesus Christ and make much of his glorious mercy and invite also thy companions to close in with the same Lord Jesus Christ lest one of you do go to hell before hand and expect with grief of heart your companions to come after And in the mean time with anguish of spirit do sigh and say O send him to my companions and let him testifie to them lest they also come into this place of torment Again I might observe from these words that though men in their life time are so proud and stout that they will not hear nor regard the poor people of God and their exhortations I say in their life time yet the time is coming that they would be glad that the very meanest of all the servants of God should not onely administer comfort to them but also when once they are departed this life that even those whom once they slighted should go and testifie the certainty of eternal damnation to those their companions Vers 29. and that at home at their houses in all plainness amd simplicity of soul But I pass by enlarging upon it as having touched on it already Ver. 29. Abraham said unto him they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them IN the verses foregoing you see there is a discovery of the lamentable state of the poor soul that dies out of Christ and the special favour of God And also how little the glorious God of heaven doth regard and take notice of their most miserable condition that he will not so much as afford them one drop of cold water that is the least ease or comfort Now in this verse the Lord doth magnifie the word which was spoken to the people by the Prophets and Apostles where he saith They have Moses and the Prophets let them here them As if he should say thou askest me that I should send Lazarus back again into the world to preach to them that live there that they might escape that doleful place that thou art in what needs that have they not Moses and the Prophets have they not had my Ministers and servants sent unto them and coming as from me I sent Enoch and Noah Moses and Samuel I sent David Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea and the rest of the Prophets together with Peter Paul John Matthew James Jude with the rest Let them hear them As if he should say again what they have spoken by divine inspiration I will own whether it be for the damnation of those that reject or the saving of them that receive their doctrine And therefore what need have they that one should be sent unto them in another way Seeing they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them let them receive their word close in with the doctrine declared by them let them hear them I shall not at this time speak any thing to that word Abraham having touched upon it already but shall tell you what is to be understood by these words They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them The things that I shall observe from hence are these 1. That the Scriptures spoken by the holy men of God are a sufficient rule to instruct to salvation them that do assuredly believe and close in with what they hold forth They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them That is if they would escape that doleful place and be saved indeed from the intollerable pains of hell fire as they desire they have that which is sufficient to counsel them for their going aside from that They have Moses and the Prophets let them be instructed by them be admonished by them let them hear them 2 Tim. 3.16.17 for all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness why that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to every good work Do but mark the words All Scripture is profitable Mark All take it where you will and in what place you will profitable for what That the man of God or he that is bound for heaven and would instruct others in their progress thither It is profitable to instruct him in case he be ignorant to reprove him in case he transgress to correct him if he hath need of it to confirme him if he be wavering It is profitable for doctrine all this in a very righteous way that the poor soul may not onely be helped but throughly furnished not onely to some but to all good works And when Paul would counsel Timothy to stick close to the things that are sound sure presently he puts him upon the Scriptures saying Thou hast from a child known the Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 through faith which is in Christ Jesus The Scriptures holds forth Gods mind and will of his love and mercy towards man and also the creatures carriage towards him from first to last so if thou wouldst know the love of God in Christ to sinners Joh. 5.39 Then search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of him Would thou know what thou art and what is in thy heart then search the Scriptures and see what 's written in them Rom. 3. from 9. to 18. Rom 1.19.30 31 32. Jer. 17.9 Gen. 6.5 ch 8.21 Eph. 4.18 with many others The Scriptures I say they are able to give a man perfect instruction into any of the things of God necessary to faith and godliness if he have but an honest heart seriously to weigh and ponder the several things contained in them As to instance in things more particular for the further clearing up of this And first if we come to the creation of the world Wouldest thou know somewhat concerning that then read Gen. 1. and 2. chap. and compare them with Psal 33. at the 6. Also Isaiah 66.2 Prov. 8. toward the end Wouldest thou know whether he made them of something or nothing read Heb. 11.3 Wouldest thou know whether he put forth any labour in making them as we do in making things read Psal 33.9 If thou wouldest know whether man was made by God corrupt or upright read Eccles 7 26. Gen. 1.10 18 25 31. Wouldst thou know where God did place man after he had made him read Gen. 2.15 Wouldst thou know whether that man did live there all his time or not then read Gen. 3.23 24. If thou wouldest know whether man be still in that state by nature that God did place him in then read Eccles 7.26 and compare it with Rom. 5.16 and Eph. 2.1 2 3. God made man upright but he hath sought out many inventions If thou wouldest know whether the man were first beguiled or the woman that God made an help meet for him read Gen. 3.6 com it with 1 Tim. 2.14 Wouldest thou know whether God looked upon Adams eating of the forbidden tree to be sin or no read Rom. 5.12 13
his Spirit in them did bear witness or record to the truth of salvation by his Son Jesus both before and after his comming And thus is that place also to be understood which saith There are three that bear record in earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood That is the Spirit in the Apostles which preached him to the world as is clear if you read seriously 1 Thess 4.8 The Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ and obedience to God through him saith thus Now he that despiseth despiseth not us No who then Why God But it is you that speak True but it is by and through the Spirit He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who also hath given us of his holy Spirit This is therefore a mighty confirmation of this truth that he that slights the record or testimony that God by his spirit in his Prophets and Apostles hath testified unto us slights the testimony of the spirit who moved them to speak these things and if so then I would fain know how any man can be saved by Jesus Christ that slights the testimony concerning Christ yea the testimony of his own spirit concerning his own self 'T is true men may pretend to have the testimony of the Spirit and from that conceit set a low esteem on the holy Scriptures But that spirit that dwelleth in them and teacheth them so to do it is no better then the spirit of Satan though it calls it self by the name of the spirit of Christ To the law therefore and to the testimony Try them by that If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them The Apostle Peter when he speaks of the glorious voice that he had from the excellent Majesty saying of Christ This is my beloved Son hear him saith thus to them whom he wrote unto You have also a more sure word of prophecy or of the prophets for so you may read it unto which you do well that you take heed That is though we tell you that we had his excellent testimony from his own mouth evidently yet you have the prophets we tell you this and you need not doubt of the truth of it but if you should yet you may not must not ought not to question them Search therefore unto them until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts That is until by the same spirit that gave forth the Scripture you find the truth confirmed to your souls which you have recorded in the Scriptures That this word of prophecy or of the prophets is the Scriptures read on For saith he knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation c. 2 Pet. 1.18 19 20. But you will say What needs all this ado and why is all this time and pains spent in speaking to this that is surely believed already This is a thing received by all that they believe the Scriptures to be the word of God that sure word of prophecy and therefore you need not spend your time in proving these things and the truth of them seeing we grant and confess the truth of it before you begin to speak your judgement of them Answ The truths of God cannot be borne witness unto too often you may as well say You need not preach Jesus Christ so much seeing he hath been and is received for the true Messias already 2. Though many may suppose that they do believe the Scriptures yet if they were but well examined you would find them either by word of mouth or else by conversation to deny reject and slight the holy Scriptures 'T is true there is a notional and historicall assent in the head I say In the head of many or most to the truth contained in Scripture but try them I say and you shall find but a little if any of the faith of the operation of God in the hearts of poor men to believe the Scriptures and things contained in them 'T is true many yea most men believe the Scriptures as they believe a fable a story a tale of which there is no certainty but alas there are but few do intend and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the very word of God But you will say this seems strange to me Answ And it seems as true to me and I doubt not but to make it manifest and plainly to appear that there are but few yea very few that do effectually for that I aim at believe the Scriptures and the truths contained in and spoken of by them But to make this appear and that to purpose if God will I shall lay you down the several operations that the Scriptures have on them who do effectually believe the things contained in them 1. He that doth effectually believe the Scriptures hath in the first place been killed I say killed by the authoirty of the holy Scriptures struck stark dead in a spiritual sense by the holy Scripture being set home by that spirit which gave them forth upon the soul The letter killeth the letter strikes men dead 2 Cor. 3.6 and this Paul witnessed and found before he could say I believe all that the prophets have spoken Where he saith I was alive without the Law once That is in my natural state before the Law was set on my heart with power But when the commandement came sinne revived and I died Rom. 7.9 and that law that was ordained to life I found to be unto death For sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me and thereby stew me v. 10. Now that which is called the Letter in Cor. is called the Law in Rom. 7. which by its power and operation as it is wielded by the Spirit of God doth in the first place kill and slay all those that are enabled to believe the Scriptures I kill saith God That is with my law I pierce I wound I prick men into the very heart by shewing them their sins against my law Acts 2.36 37. And he that is ignorant of this is also ignorant of and doth not really and effectually believe the Scripture But you will say how doth the law kill and strike dead the poor creature Answ First the letter or law do kill thus It is set home upon the soul and discovers to the soul its transgressions against the law and shews the soul also that it cannot compleatly satisfie the justice of God for the breach of his law therefore it is condemned Joh. 3.19 Mark He that believes not is condemned already To wit by the law that is the law doth condemn him yea it hath condemned him already for his sins against it as it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.10 Now all men as they come into the world are in this condition that is condemned by the law Yet not believing that their condemnation by
the law really they do not also believe really and effectually the law that doth condemn them For as men have but a notion of the one that is their condemnation because of sins against the law Verse 3 so they have but a notion of the condemning killing and destroying power of the law for as the one is so in these things alwayes is the other there is no man that doth really believe the law or Gospel further then they do feel the power and authority of them in their hearts Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Now this letter or law is not to be taken in the largest sense but is strictly to be tyed to the ten Commandments whose proper work is onely by shewing the soul its sins against this law to kill and there leaves him stark dead not giving him the least life or support or comfort but leaves the soul in an helpless and hopeless condition as from it self or any other meer creature 'T is true the law hath laid all men for dead as they come into the world but all men do not see themselves dead untill they see that law that struck them dead sticking in their souls and having struck them that fatall blow As a man that is fast asleep in an house and that on fire about his ears and he not knowing of it because he is asleep even so because poor souls are asleep in sin though the wrath of God Verse 31. the curse of his law and the flames of hell have beset them round about yet they do not believe it because they are asleep in sin Now he that is awakened and sees this sees that through this he is a dead man Even so they that do see their state by nature being such a sad condition do also see themselves by that law to be dead men naturally But now when didst thou feel the power of this first part of the Scripture the law so mighty as to strike thee dead if not thou dost not so much as verily believe that part of Scripture that doth contain the law in it to be the truth of God Yet if thou shouldest have felt something I say something of the killing power of the law of God in thine heart this is not an argument to prove that thou believest all the things contained in Scripture for there is Gospel as well as Law and therefore I shall speak to that also That is whether thou hast felt the power of the Gospel as well as something of the power of the Law 2. Then if thou hast found the power of the Gospel and so believed it thou hast found it thus with thy soul 1. Thou hast been shewed by the word or truth of the Gospel in the light of the Spirit of Christ that by nature thou wert without the true faith of the Son of God in thy soul For when He the Spirit is come he shall shew men that they believe not in me saith Christ Joh. 16.9 For mark though thou hast as I said before felt somewhat of the power of the Law Letter or ten Commandments yet if thou hast not been brought to this to see by the spirit in the Gospel that thou art without faith by nature thou hast not yet tasted much less believed any part of the Gospel For the Gospel and the Law are two distinct covenants as I have before shewed And they that are under the law maybe convinced by it and so believe the law or first covenant and yet in the mean time to be a stranger to the covenant of promise that is the Gospel so have no hope in them Eph. 2.12 There is not any promise that can be savingly believed untill the soul be by the Gospel converted to Jesus Christ For though men do think never so much that they believe the things of the Gospel or the word of the Gospel of our salvation yet unless they have the work of grace in their souls they do not cannot rightly believe the things contained in the Scriptures Again as the law killeth those that believe it even so the promises contained in the Gospel do through faith administer comfort to those that believe it aright My words saith Christ my words they are spirit and they Mark and they are life Joh. 6.63 As if he had said The words contained in in the law as a covenant of works they wound they kill they strike dead those that are under them But as for me the words that I speake unto you they are spirit and they are life That is whosoever doth receive them believingly shall find them full of operation to comfort quicken and revive their soul For as I did not come into the world to destroy mens lives so the words that I speak as I am sent to preach the Gospel they have no such tendency unto those that believe them The promises that are in the Gospel Oh how do they comfort them such a promise and such a promise O how sweet is it O how comfortable to those that believe them Alas there are many poor souls that think they believe the Scriptures that they believe the word of God and yet poor souls that they are they never enjoyed any thing of the life and power of the promises to comfort them after they were killed by the law For mark If thy comfort be indeed by the promises they come in upon thy heart to quicken to revive thee to raise thee from the sentence of death that is passed on thee by the law And through the faith that is wrought in thy soul by the operation of Gods holy Spirit though once killed by the Law or Letter thou art made alive in the Lord Jesus Christ presented to thy soul in the promises 3. Dost thou indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the word of God then the things contained in them especially the things of the Gospel are very excellent to thy soul as the birth of Christ the death resurrection intercession and second coming of Christ O how precious and excellent are they to thy soul insomuch that thou regardest nothing in comparison of them O! it is Christs birth death blood resurrection c. according to the Scriptures that thou doest rejoyce in exceedingly and abundantly desire after 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6. compare with Phil. 3.6 7 8. 4. Doest thou believe the Scriptures to be the word of God Then thou standest in aw of and dost much reverence them Why they are the word of God the true sayings of God they are the counsel of God they are his promises and his threatnings 'T is like poor souls are apt to think If I could hear God speak to me from heaven with an audible voice then sure say they I should be serious and sure I should believe it But truly if God should speak to thee from heaven except thou wert converted thou wouldest not regard nor really believe him But if thou
doest believe the Scriptures thou seest that they are the truth as really as if God should speak to thee from heaven through the clouds and therefore never flatter thy self foolishly thinking that if it were so and so then thou couldest believe I tell thee saith Christ If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead But 5. Doest thou believe the Scripture to be the word of God Then through faith in Christ thou endeavourest to have thy life squareed according to the Scriptures both in word and practice Nay this I say thou mayest have though thou do not believe them all My meaning is that if thou believe none but the ten Commandments thy life may be according to them a legal holy life and if thou do believe the Gospel too then thy life will be the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ that is either thou wilt live in the blessed and holy enjoyment of what is testified in the Scripture concerning the glorious things of the Lord Jesus Christ or else thou wilt be exceedingly panting after them For the Scriptures carry such a blessed beauty in them to that soul that hath faith in the things contained in them that they do take the heart and captivate the soul of him that believeth them into the love and liking of them 6. He that believes the Scriptures to be the word of God if he do but suppose that any one place of the Scripture doth exclude him and shut him out of and from a share in the promises contained in them O it will trouble him grieve him perplex him yea he will not be satisfied until he be resolved and thâ— contrary sealed to his soul for he knowâ— that the Scriptures are the word oâ— God all truth and therefore he knowâ— that if any one sentence doth excludeâ— or bar out him for want of this or the other qualification he knows also that not the word alone shuts him out but he that speaks it even God himself and therefore he cannot will not dare not be contented untill he find his soul and Scripture together with the things contained therein to embrace each other and a sweet correspondency and agreement be between them For you must know that to him that believes the Scriptures aright the promises or threatnings are of more power to comfort or cast down then all the promises or threatnings of all the men in the world And this was the cause why the Martyrs of Jesus did so slight both the promises of their adversaries when they would have overcome them with profering the great things of this world unto them and also their threatnings when they told them they would rack them hang them burn them none of these things could prevail upon them or against them because they did most really believe the Scriptures the things contained in them as is cleerly found and to be seen in Heb. 11. and also in Mr. Fox his records of their brethren 7. He that believeth the Scriptures to be the word of God believeth that men must be borne again and have that faith which is of the operation of God or else they cannot be saved And he that believeth this believeth also that if he be not borne again and also be partakers of that faith which is of the operation of God according as he hath read and believed he must and shall be damned And he that believeth this aright will not be contented until according as it is written he do partake of and enjoy the new birth and until he do find through grace that faith that is wrought by the operation of God in his soul For this is the cause why men do satisfie themselves with so slender a conceited hope that their state is good when it is nothing so namely because they do not credit the Scripture for did they they would look into their own hearts and examine seriously whether that faith that hope that grace which they think they have be of that nature and wrought by that spirit and power that the Scripture speaketh of I speak this of an effectual believing without which all other is nothing unto salvation Now then because I would not be too tedious I shall at this time lay down no more discoveries of such an one as doth savingly believe the Scriptures and the things contained in them but shall speak a few words of examination containing the things already mentioned As 1. Thou sayest thou dost indeed and in truth effectually believe the Scriptures I ask therefore wast thou ever killed stark dead by the law of works contained in the Scriptures To be killed and to be struck dead you will say what is that Why to be killed by the law or letter is by the power thereof to be made to see thy sins against it and to be left in an helpless condition by that law for I say the proper work of the law is to slay the soul and to leave it dead in a helpless state For it doth neither give the soul any comfort it self when it comes nor doth it shew the soul where comfort is to be had and therefore it is called the ministration of condemnation as in 2 Cor. 3.9 Yea in plain termes the ministration of death 2 Cor. 3.7 For though men may have a notion of the blessed word of God as as the children had yet before they be converted it may truly be said of to them Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Mark 12.24 2. You say you do believe the Scriptures to be the word of God I say again examine wast thou ever quickened from a dead state by the power of the Spirit of Christ through the other part of the Scripture That is to say by the power of God in his Sonne Jesus Christ through the covenant of promise I tell thee from the Lord if thou hast thou hast felt such a quickning power in the words of Christ Joh. 6. that thou hast been lifted out of that dead condition that thou before wast in and that when thou wast under the guilt of sin the curse of the law and the power of the devil and the justice of the great God that thou hast been inabled by the power of God in Christ revealed to thee by the Spirit through and by the Scripture to look sin death hell the devil and the law and all things that are at enmity with thee for thy sins with boldness and comfort in the face through the blood death righteousness resurrection and intercession of Christ made mention of in the Scriptures And thirdly on this account O how excellent are the Scriptures to thy soul O how much virtue dost thou see in such a promise in such an invitation O sayest thou there are some promises in the book of God that I have had nourishment from and through Christ in them O they are so large they say Christ will in no
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
his life time he enjoyed his good things and at the hour of death legions of devils will beset him innumerable evils will befall him and then shall he pay full dear for all the pleasures of sin that have carried away his heart from closing with and following the Lord in the day of his prosperity Ungodly men because they feel no changes now they fear none hereafter but flatter themselves with dying as the godly though their life is consumed in wickedness and their strength in providing for and satisfying the lusts of the flesh but as it fared with wicked Balaam so shall it fare with these and their vain hopes will prove a feeding upon ashes through their deceived heart that hath turned them aside Isaiah 44.20 For they that sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption Galat. 6.8 And they that plow iniquity and sow wickedness shall reap the same Job 4.8 Hosea 8.7 But they that sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Say ye then to the righteous it shall go well with him however it goes with him now a few dayes will produce a happy change It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord Eccles 8.12 Go on then O soul thou that hast set thy face towards heaven though the east-wind beats upon thee and thou finde trouble and sorrow these shall endure but for a night joy will undoubtedly come in the morning besides those sweet visits thou shalt have from thy precious Saviour in this thy day of darkness wait but a while and thy darkness shall be turned into light When the light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire wherewith he warmed himself shall not shine Job 18.5 Grudge not to see the wicked prosper and their steps washed with butter but rather put on bowels of mercy and pitty as the elect of God knowing that they are set in slippery places Psal 73.18 And their day is coming when fearful horrour shall suprize them and hell be opened to receive them nor yet be disquieted in thy minde that troubles and afflictions do beset thee round for as a worser thing is reserved for them so a better is prepared for thee Do they drink wine in bowls and dost thou mingle thy tears with thy drink Do they live in pleasures and spend their dayes in wealth and dost thou sigh and mourn in secret Well there is a cup for them in the hand of the Lord the wine whereof is red and full of mixture which they must drink up the dregs Psal 75.8 And the Lord hath a bottle for thy tears Psal 56.8 And a book foâ— thy secret sighs and ere long thy brinâ—sh tears shal be turned into the sweetest wine which thou shalt drink new in the kingdom of the Father and thy secret sighs into glorious praises when thy mouth shall be filled with laughter and thy eyes see the King in his glory Now considering that these lines may be brought to the sight both of the one sort and the other I shall lay a few things before the thought of each and first to the worser sort First consider what an ill bargain thou wilt make to sell thy precious soul for a short continuance in thy sins and pleasures if that man drives but an ill trade who to gain the world should lose his soul Matth. 16.26 then certainly thou a far worse that sells thy soul for a very trifle Oh 't is pitty that so precious a thing should be parted withall to be made a prey for the devouring lion for that which is worse then nothing if they were branded for desperate wretches that caused their children to pass through the fire to Molech surely thou much more that gives thy soul to devouring flames to be fewel for the everlasting fire upon so easie tearms what meanest thou O man to truck with the devils Is there no better merchandize to trade in then what comes from hell or out of the bowels of the earth and to be had upon no lower rates then thy immortal soul Yes surely the merchandize of wisdom which is better then the merechandize of silver and the gain thereof then fine gold Prov. 3.14 Prov. 8.19 is exposed to sale Rev. 3.18 And to be had without money or price and if thou shouldest part with any thing for it it is such that it is better to part withal then to keep The wise Merchant that sought a goodly pearl having found one sold all that he had not himself not his soul and all that he sold was in it self not worth a farthing and yet obtained the Pearl Mat. 13.45 46. Paul made the like exchange when he threw away his own righteousness which was but rags yea filthy rags Isaiah 64.6 And put on the garment of salvation and cast away to the dunghil that which was once his gain and won Christ Phil. 3.8 Thou needest not cast away thy soul for puddle pleasures behold the fountain of living water is set open and thou invited to it to take and drink thy belly thy soul full without price or money Isaiah 55.1 2 ly Take a short yet let it not be a slight view of the best of the things men prize so high that for the love of they lose their souls what are they Even painted nothings promising vanities like the apples of Sodom fair to the eye but being touched turn to dust or like our Mother Eve's that had a beautiful look but being tasted brings forth death which for the most part have proved snares to the owners and alwayes miserable comforters at the parting they cannot satisfie in life for the more of these things are had the more with a disquieted spirit are they reached after and what comes in serves but to whet up the greedy unsatisfied appetite after more The world passeth away and the lust thereof 1 John 2.17 Though most men content themselves with these yet it is not in these to satisfie them and had they but one glimpse of the world to come one cranny of light to discern the riches of Christ and the least taste of the pleasures that are at the right hand of God Psal 16.11 They would be as little satisfied without a share in them as they are now with what of worldly things they enjoy much less can they ease from pain at death clap a bag of gold as one once did to thy sinking spirit pained body and tormented conscience and it can neither chear up the one nor appease the other least of all can they deliver from or yield comfort after death those cannot serve as a bribe to death to pass thee by nor yet bring comfort to thy soul when thou art gone the rich fools large crop and great increase could not procure one nights respite nor one moments comfort Besides God regards them so little that frequently he gives the largest share of them to whom he hateth most Psal 17.14 And the least to
that they were sent to do is then to be done their souls Christ eternity was scarce thought on before but now when mercilesse death begins to gripe them then do they begin to bethink themselves of those things which they should have got in readiness before and that is the reason why we so often hear many that lie upon their death beds to cry out for a little longer time and no wonder for they have the salvation of their souls to seek Oh sad case to have their work to do when the night is come and a Christ to seek when death hath found them take therefore the counsel of the holy Ghost Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts Mark it is the Spirits counsel true the devil and thine own heart will tell thee another tale and be ready to whisper in thine ears thou mayest have time enough hereafter what need of so much haste another day may serve as well let thy soul be filled with pleasure a little longer and thy bags filled a little more thou mayest have time for this and that too Oh but this is the suggestion of an enemy that would cause thee to deferre so long that thy heart may grow too hard and thine ear too heavy to hear at all but certainly this being thy greatest business challengeth the first and greatest care Mat. 6.33 And let this be done then if thou shalt either have so much time to spare or a heart to do it take thy time for the other Sixthly this day of thy mercy and Christs importunity will not last long it is but a day and that a day of visitation indeed it is rich grace that there should be a day but dally not because it is but a day Jerusalem had her day but because therein she did not know the things of her peace a pitch night did overtake Luke 19.42.43 It is a day of patience and if thou despisest the riches of Gods goodness patience and long-suffering towards thee and art not thereby lead to repentance Rom. 2.5 A short time will make it a day of vengeance though now Christ calls because he is willing to save sinners yet he will not alwayes call see then that thou refuse not him that speaks from heaven in this Gospel-day Heb. 12.25 But seek him while he may be found and call upon him while he is near Isa 55.6 lest thou criest after him hereafter and he refuse thee It is not crying Lord Lord when the day of grace is past that will procure the least crumb of mercy Matth. 7.21 No if thou comest not when called but stayest while supper is ended thou shalt not taste thereof Luke 14.24 though a bit would save thy life thy soul if thou drinkest not of the fountain while it is opened thou shalt not when it is shut though thou beggest with tears of blood for one drop to cool thy scoarching flaming heart thou that mightest have had thy vessel full and wellcome shalt not now have so much as will hang on the tip of a finger Oh remember the axe is laid to the root of the tree Matth. 3.10 And although three years time may be granted through the Vine-dressers importunity that will soon be expired and then the axe that is now laid shall cut up the tree by its roots if it bring not forth good fruit Seest thou not that many of late have been snatched away on each side of thee by that hand that hath been stretched out and is so still and though thou mayst escape a while yet hast thou no assurance that the destroying Angel will long pass by thy door Oh then neglect thy soul no longer but consider time is short and uncertain eternity long thy work great thy soul immortal this world vanishing Christ precious hell hot and heaven desirable And if thou beest a Christian to whom this may come that hast not onely had a price in thy hand but wisdom given thee from above to make use of it and art one who whilst others are seeking to make this world and hell together sure to themselves spendest thy time and makest it thy onely business to make sure of the one thing necessary and heaven to thy soul I shall lay two or three things before thy thoughts First walk with a fixed eye upon the world to come Look not at the things which are seen that are temporal but at the things which are not seen that are eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 A Christians eye should be upon his journeys end as our Lord Jesus who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross Heb. 12.2 When the stones fled about Stephens ears His eyes were lifted up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God Acts 7.55 56. What though thou at present mayest lie at the rich mans gates yet a few dayes will translate thee into Abrahams bosome Though Israel had a sharp voyage through the wilderness yet Caleb and Joshua men of excellent spirits had their eye upon the good Land they were going to though graceless souls are too dull fighted to see a far off 2 Pet. 1.9 yet thou that hast received the unction from above dost in some measure know what is the hope of thy calling and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Secondly be satisfied with thy present condition though it be afflictive for it shall not last alwayes thy sorrows shall be short and thy joyes long roul thy self upon the Lord for there is a heaven will pay for all Christ first endured the cross before he wore the crown David before he was a King was a shepherd The poor man spoken of in this ensuing Treatise before he was carried into heaven had experiences of sorrow and sufferings on earth Let the flesh be silent in passing judgement on the dispensations of God towards thee and the men of this world in this present life David by prying too far herein with his own wisdom had almost caught a fall Psal 73. Though Gods judgements may be too deep for our reason to dive into yet are they alwayes righteous and his paths mercy and truth to those that keep his Covenants Psal 25.10 When Jeremiah would debate with the Lord concerning his judgements in the wickeds prosperity he would lay this down as an indubitable truth that his judgements were righteous Jer. 12.1 And his end was not to charge God but to learn understanding of him in the way of his judgements and although the wayes of his providence may be dark to his people that they cannot discern his footsteps yet are they alwayes consistent with his everlasting covenant and the results of the favour he bears to them If the wicked flourish like the grass it is that they should be destroyed for ever Psal 92.7 And if the godly have many a wave beating upon them yet will the Lord command his loving kindness
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
is John 13.20 Verily verily I say unto you he that receiveth whomsoever I send mark whomsoever receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me The other is Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despisest you despisest me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me I. G. The Authour to the READER FRiend because it is a dangerous thing to be walking towards the place of darkness and anguish and again because it is notwithstanding the journey that most of the poor souls in the world are taking and that with delight and gladness as if there was the onely happiness to be found I have therefore thought it my duty being made sensible of the danger that will befall those that walk therein for the preventing of thee O thou poor man or woman to tell thee by opening this Parable what sad success those souls have had and are also like to have that have been or shall be found persevering therein We use to count him a friend that will forewarn his neighbour of the danger when he knoweth thereof and doth also see that the way that his his neighbour is walking in doth lead right thereto especially when we think that our neighbour may be either ignorant or carelesse of his way Why Friend it may be nay twenty to one but thou hast been ever since thou didst come into the world with thy back towards heaven and thy face towards hell and thou it may be either through ignorance or carelesnesse which is as bad if not worse hast been running full hastily that way ever since Why Friend I beseech thee put a little sâ—op to thy earnest race and tâ—ke a view of what entertainment thou art like to have if thou do indeed and in truth persist in this thy course Friend â—hy way leads down to death and thy steps take hold on hell * Prov 5.5 It may be the path indeed is pleasant to the flesh but the end thereof will be bitter to thy soul Hark dost thou hear the bitter cries of them that are but newly gone before saying Let him dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue that is so tormented in this flame * Luke 16. Dost thou not hear them say Send one from the dead to prevent my father my brother and my fathers house from comming into this place of torment Shall not then these mournfull groans pierce thy flinty heart Wilt thou stop thine ears and shut thy eyes and wilt thou not regard take warning and stop thy journey before it be too late Wilt thou be like the silly flie that is not quiet unlâ—ss she be either intangled in the spiders web or burned in the candle Wilt thou be like the bird that hasteth to the sâ—are of the Fowler Wilt thou he like that simple one named in the 7. of Proverbs That wilt be drawn to the slaughter by the cord of a silly lust O sinner sinner there is better things then hell to be had and at a cheaper rate by the thousand part then that O there is no comparison there is heaven theâ—e is God there is Christ there is communion with innumerable company of Saints and Angels hear the message then that God doth send that Christ doth send that Saints do bring nay that the dead do send unto thee How long ye simple ones will you love simplicity and ye scorners delight in scorning and ye fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof and behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you I say hear this voice O silly one and turn and live thou sinful soul lest he make thee hear that other saying But because I have called and you have refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh O poor soul if God and Christ did wish thee for thine harm it would be another matter then if thou didst refuse thou mightest have some excuse to make some fault to finde and some ground to make delayes O but this is for thy profit for thy advantage for the pardoning of thy sins the salvation of thy soul the delivering of thee from hell fire from the wrath to come from everlasting burnings into favor with God Christ and communion with all happiness that is so indeed But it may be thou wilt say all that hath been spoken to in this discourse is but a Parable and Parables are no realities I could put thee off with this answer that though it be a Parable yet it is a truth and not a lie and thou shalt finde it so too to thy cost if thou shalt be found a slighter of God Christ and the salvation of thy own soul But secondly know for certain that the things signified by Parables are wonderful realities O what a glorious reality was there signified by that Parable The kingdom of heaven is like to a net that is cast into the sea c. Signifying that sinners of all sorts of all Nations should be brought into Gods kingdom by the net of the Gospel And O how real a thing shall the other part thereof be when it s fulfilled which saith And when it was full they drew it to shore and put the good into vessels but threw the bad away signifying the mansions of glory that the Saints should have and also the rejection that God will give to the ungodly and to sinners And also that Parable what a glorious reality is there in it which saith Except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it doth bring forth much fruit To signifie that unless Jesus Christ did indeed spill his blood and die the cursed death he should abide alone that is have never a soul into glory with him but if he died he should bring forth much fruit that is save many sinners And also how real a truth there was in that Parable concerning the Jews putting of Christ to death which the poor dispersed Jews can best experience to their cost for they have been almost ever since a banished people and such as have had Gods sore displeasure wonderfully manifested against them according to the truth of the Parable * Mat. 21. v. 33. to 41 O therefore for Jesus Christs sake do not slâ—ght the truth because it is discovered in a Parable for by this argument thou mayest also nay thou wilt slight almost all the things that our Lord Jesus Christ did speak for he spake them for the most part if not all in parable Why should it be said of thee as it is said of some These things are spoken to them that are without in parables that seeing they might not see and that hearing they might not understand Luke 8.10 I say take heed of being a quarreller against Christ parables lest Christ also objecteth against the salvation of
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
Ah Friends if you were but your selves you would have a care of your souls if you did but regard you would see how mad they are that slight the salvation of their souls O what will it profit thy soul to have pleasure in this life and torments in hell thou hadst better part with all thy sins and pleasures and companions or whatsoever thou delightest in then to have soul and body to be cast into hell O then do not now neglect our Lord Jesus Christ lest thou drop down to hell Consider would it not wound thee to thine heart to come upon thy death-bed and instead of having the comfort of a well-spent life and the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ together with the comforts of his glorious Spirit to have first the sight of an ill-spent life thy sins flying in thy face thy conscience uttering it self with thunder-claps against thee the thoughts of God terrifying of thee death with his merciless paw seizing upon thee the devils standing ready to scramble for thy soul and hell enlarging her self and ready to swallow thee up and eternity of misery and torment attending upon thee from which there will be no release For mark death doth not come alone to an unconverted soul but with such company as wert thou but sensible of it would make thee tremble I pray consider that Scripture Rev. 6.8 And I looked and beheld a pale hoâ—se and his name that saâ— on him was Death and hell followed with him Mark death doth not come alone to the ungodly no but hell goeth with â—im O miserable comforters O miserable society here comes death and hell unto thee Death goeth into thy body and separates body and soul asunder hell stands without as I may say to embrace or rather to crush thy soul between its everlasting grinders Then thy mirth thy joy thy sinful delights will be ceased when this comes to pass lo it will come Blessed are all those that through Christ Jesus his merits by faith do escape these soul-murthering companions And in hell he lift up his eyes The third thing you know that we did observe from these words was this That some are so fast asleep and secure in their sins that they scarce know where they are untill they come into hell And that you know I told you I gather by these words In hell he lift up his eyes Mark it was in hell that he lift up his eyes Now some do understand by these words that he came to himself or began to consider with himself or to think with himself in what an estate he was and what he was deprived of which is still a confirmation of the thing laid down by me There it is that they come to themselves that is there they are sensible where they are indeed thus it fares with some men that they scarce know where they are till they lift up their eyes in hell It is with these people as with those that fall down in a swoun you know if a man do fall down in a swoun in one room though you take him up and carry him into another yet he is not sensible where he is till he cometh unto himself and lifteth up his eyes Truly thus it is to be feared it is with many poor souls they are so senseless so hard so seared in their conscience that they are very ignorant of their state and when death comes it strikes them as it were into a swoun especially if they die suddenly and so they are hurried away and scarce know where they are till in hell they lift up their eyes Of this sort are they spoken of in Psalm 73. where he saith There are no bonds in their death but their strength is firm They are not troubled as other folk neither are they plagued like other men And again they spend their dayes in wealth and in a moment mark in a moment before they are aware they go down to the grave Job 21.17 Indeed this is too much known by woful and daily experience sometimes when we go to visit them that are sick in the towns and places where we live Oh how senceless how seared in their consciences are they they are neither sensible of heaven nor of hell of sin nor a Saviour speak to them of their condition and the state of their souls and you shall finde them as ignorant as if they had no souls to regard Others though they lie ready to die yet they are busying themselves about their outward affairs as though they should certainly live here even to live and enjoy the same for ever Again come to others speak to them about the state of their souls though they have no more experience of the new birth then a beast yet will they speak as confidently of their eternal state and the welfare of their souls as if they had the most excellent experience of any man or woman in the world When as I said even now the Lord knows they are as ignorant of the new birth of the nature and operation of faith of the witness of the Spirit as if there were no new birth no faith no witness of the Spirit of Christ in any of the Saints in the world Nay thus many of them are even an hour or less before their departure Ah poor souls though they may go away here like a lamb as the world sayes yet if you could but follow them a little to stand and listen soon after their departure It is to be feared you should hear them roar like a lion at their first entrance into hell Now by this one thing doth the devil take great advantage on the hearts of the ignorant suggesting unto them that because the party deceased departed so quietly without all doubt they are gone to rest and joy when alas it is to be feared the reason why they went away so quietly was rather because they were senseless and hardened in their consciences yea dead before in sins and trespasses For had they had but some awakenings on their death beds as some have had they would have made all the town to ring of their doleful condition But because they are seared and ignorant and so depart quietly therefore the world takes heart at grass as we use to say and make no great matter of living and dying they cannot well tell how But let them look to themselves for if they have not an interest in the Lord Jesus now while they live in the world they will whether they die raging or still go unto the same place and lift up their eyes in hell O my friends did you but know what a miserable condition they are in that go out of this world without an interest in the Son of God it would make you smite upon your thigh and in the bitterness of your souls cry out Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved And not onely so but thou wouldest not be comforted until thou didst finde a rest for
at And again tell me now if it be not better to leave sin and to close in with Christ Jesus notwithstanding that reproach thou shalt meet with for so doing then to live a little while in this world in pleasures and feeding thy lusts in neglecting the welfare of thy soul and refusing to be justified by Jesus and in a moment to drop down to hell and to cry O consider I say consider betimes and put not off the the tenders of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ lest you lift up your eyes in hell and cry for anguish of spirit And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy upon me and send Lazarus c. These words do not onely hold forth the lamentable condition of the damned and their lamentable howling and crying out under their anguish of spirit but also they do signifie to us as I said before their too late repentance and also that they would very willingly if they might be set at liberty from that everlasting misery that by their sins they have plunged themselves into I say these words do hold forth a desire that the damned have to be delivered from those torments that they now are in O Father Abraham saith he have mercy upon 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 These words Father Abraham may have some difficulty in them It is possible that some may think them to be meant of Abraham and those or him that crieth out here to be the Jews Or it may be some may understand it to be God or Jesus Christ his Son which I rather suppose it may be that is here cried out unto because you finde the same cry to him as it were uttered by the ungodly in other places of the Scripture as in Luke 13. verse 25 26. Then shall they say Lord Lord we have eat and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets Nay more In thy Name have we cast out devils and in thy Name done many wonderfull works This was just at their rejection And again in Mat. 25.11 They cry again to him even to Jesus Lord Lord open to us And he there again gives them a repulse as also in this Parable But however or whosoever Abraham is yet these truths may be observed from the words 1. That the damned when in an irrecoverable estate will seek for or desire deliverance from the wrath that they are and shall be in for eternity 2. That they will pray if I may so call it earnestly for deliverance from their miserable estate These two things are clear from the words For mark He not onely said Father Abraham have mercy upon me But he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me From whence take a third observation and that is There is a time comming wherein though men shall both cry and pray yet they are like to have no mercy at the hands of God for so was this man served as I shall further shew by and by when I come to it Some people are so deluded by the devil as to think that God is so merciful as to own or regard any thing for prayer they think any thing will go for currant and good satisfaction while they are here in this world through ignorance of the true nature of the mercy of God and the knowledge in what way God is satisfied for sinners Now I say through ignorance they think that if they do but mutter over some form of prayers though they know not what they say nor what they request yet God is satisfied yea very well satisfied with their doings when alas there is nothing lesse O friends I beseech you to look about you and seek in good earnest for the Spirit of Christ so to help you now to strive and pray and to enable you to lay hold of Christ that your souls may be saved lest the time come that though you cry and pray and wish also that you had laid hold on the Lord Jesus yet you must and shall be damned Then again you may see that though God be willing to save sinners at some time yet this time doth not alwayes last No he that can finde in his heart to turn his back upon Jesus Christ now shall have the back turned upon him hereafter when he may cry and pray for mercy and yet go without it God will have a time to meet with them that now do seek after him they shall have a time yea time enough hereafter to repent their folly and to befool themselves for turning their backs upon the Lord Jesus Christ Again this should admonish us to take time while it is profered lest we repent us of our unbelief and rebellion when we are deprived of it Ah friends time is precious an hours time to hear a sermon is precious I have sometimes thought thus with my self Set the case the Lord should send two or three of his servants the Ministers of the Gospel to hell among the damned with this Commission Go ye to Hell and preach my grace to those that are there let your Sermon be an hour long and hold forth the merits of my Sons birth righteousness death resurrection ascension and intercession with all my love in him and proffer it to them telling them that now once more and but once do I profer the means of reconciliation to them They who are now roaring being past hope would then leap at the least proffer of mercy Oh they that could spend whole dayes weeks nay years in rejecting the Son of God would now be glad of one tender of that mercy Father saith he have mercy on me Again from these words you may observe that mercy will be welcome when souls are under judgement now his soul is in the fire now he is under the wrath of God now he is in Hell there to be tormented now he is with the devills and damned spirits now he feels the vengeance of God now Oh now have mercy on me Here you may see again that mercy is prized by them that are in Hell they would be glad if they could have it Father have mercy on me For my poor souls sake send me a little mercy And send Lazarus that he may dip thâ— tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue These words do not onely hold forth that the ungodly have a desire of mercy but what those mercies are that these poor creatures would be glad of As first To have the company of a Lazarus granted to them Father Abraham have mercy upon me and send Lazarus Now Lazarus was he that was beloved of God and also he that was hated of him Therefore 2. Observe that those Saints that the world in their life-time could not indure now they are departed they would be glad to have society with them O now send Lazarus though the time was when I cared not for
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
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
Redeemer who is the Mediatour of the new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things for thee then Abels did for Cain Hebrews 12.22 23 24. 3. Consider that when the time of the dead that they shall be raised is come then shall thy body be raised out of the grave and be glorified and be made like to Jesus Christ Phil. 3.21 O excellent condition 4. When Jesus Christ shall sit on the throne of his glory you also shall sit with him even when he shall sit on the throne of his glory O Will not this be glorious that when thousands and thousands of thousands shall be arreigned before the judgement-seat of Christ then for them to sit with him upon the throne together with him to pass the sentence upon the ungodly 1. Cor. 6.2 3. Will it not be glorious to enjoy those things that eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceive Will it not be glorious to have this sentence Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world Will it not be glorious to enter then with the Angels and Saints into that glorious kingdom Will it not be glorious for thee to be in glory with them while others are in unutterable torments O then how will it comfort thee to see thou hast not lost that glory to think that the devil hath not got thy soul that thy soul should be saved and that not from a little but from an exceeding danger not with a little but a great salvation O therefore let the Saints be joyful in glory let them triumph over all their enemies Let them begin to sing heaven upon earth triumph before they come to glory salvation even when they are in the midst of their enemies For this honour shall all his Saints have Psal 149.6 7 8 9. But secondly for the latter part of the Parable touching the Scriptures and the certainty of them Seeing they are so certain so sure so irrevocable and firm and seeing the saving faith of the things contained therein is to reform the soul and bring it over into the things of God really conforming to the things contained therein both to the point of Justification and also an impracticall walking and giving up the soul and body to a conformity to all the commands counsels instructions and exhortations contained therein This then will learn us how to judge of those who give up themselves to walk in the imaginations of their own hearts who slight and lay aside the Scriptures counting them but empty and uncertain things and will live every day in open contradiction to what is contained commanded and forbidden therein As first this will shew us that all your Drunkards Whoremasters Liars Thieves Swearers Back-biters Slanderers Scoffers at goodness c. I say we may see by this that they that live in such things have not the faith of the things contained in their hearts seeing they delight to practise those things that are forbidden by and in them And so they continuing living and dying in this state we may conclude without fear that such portions of holy Scripture belong unto them and shall for certain be fulfilled upon them He that believes not shall be damned Mark 16. 16. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1. Corinthians 6.9 10. But the abominable the unbeleiving the whoremongers and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Revelation 21.8 Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels Mâ—tthew 25.41 Depart that is as if he should say Depart from me for I will not save you Depart for my blood shall not at all wash you Depart for you shall not set one foot into the kingdom of heaven Depart ye cursed that is ye are cursed of God cursed of his Law cursed of me cursed by the Saints and cursed by the Angels cursed all over nothing but cursed and therefore depart from me and whither Into everlasting fire fire that will scald scorch burn and flame to a purpose fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9. fire that will last to all eternity And must we be all alone No you shall have company store of company with you Namely all thâ— raging roaring devils together with an innumerable company of fellow damned sinâ—ers men women and children And if the Scriptures be true as they will one day wonderfully appear to be then this must and shall be thy portion if thou live and die in this state and of all them who continue in sinning against the truths contained in Scriptures As first Dost thou delight to sin against plain commands thou art gone Secondly Dost thou slight and scorn the counsels contained in Scriptures and continue in so doing then thou art gone Thirdly Dost thou continually neglect to come to Christ and usest arguments in thine own heart to satisfie thy soul with so doing then thou art gone Luke 14.17 18. compared with verse 24. and Hebrews 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation How shall we escape that is tâ—ere is no way to escape First because God hath said we shall not Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth that was Moses much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven 2. Because he hath not onely said they shall not but also hath bound it with an oath saying So I sware in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest Hebrews 3.11 But you will say To whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest Ans er To them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief verse 18 19. Secondly this will teach us what to think and conclude of such who though they do not so openly discover their folly by open and grosse sins against the Law yet will give more heed to their own spir t s and the movings thereof though they be neither commanded nor commended for the same in Scripture nay though the Scripture command and commend the contrary Isaiah 8.20 then they will to the holy and revealed will of God I say such men are in as bad a state as the other to the full being disobedient to Gods will revealed in his word as well as they though in a different manner the one openly transgressing against the plain and well known truths revealed in it the other though more close and hidden yet secretly rejecting and slighting them giving more heed to their own spirits and the motion thereof although not warranted by the Scriptures A few words more and so I shall conclude And first take heed that you content not your self with a bare notion of the Scriptures in your heads by which you may go far even so far as to be able
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
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
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