A serious and pathetical description of heaven and hell according to the pencil of the Holy Ghost, and the best expositors: sufficient (with the blessing of God) to make the worst of men hate sin, and love holiness. Being five chapters taken out of a book entituled, The whole duty of a Christian: composed by R. Younge, late of Roxwell in Essex, florilegus.

CHAP. XXIII.

Sect. 2. SEcondly, Are the Joys of Heaven so unspeakable and glorious? How then should we admire the love and bounty of God, and bless his Name, who for the performance of so small a work, hath propo∣sed so great a Reward? And for the obtaining of such an happy state, hath imposed such an easie Task. Yea more, is Heaven so unspeakably sweet and delectable, is Hell so unutterably doleful? Then let nothing be thought too much that we can either do or suffer for Christ, who hath freed us from the one, and purchased for us the other. Though indeed, no∣thing that we are able to do or suffer here, can be compared with those woes we have deserved in Hell, or those joys we are reserved to in Hea∣ven. And indeed, that we are now out of Hell, there to fry in flames of fire and brimstone, never to be freed; that we have the free offer of Grace here, and everlasting glory hereafter in Heaven, we are only behold∣ing to him. We are all by nature, as Traytors, condemned to suffer eternal torments in Hell-fire, being only reprieved for a time: But from this ex∣tremity, and eternity of torment, Jesus hath freed and delivered us.

O think then! yea, be ever thinking of it, how rich the mercy of our Redeemer was in freeing us; and that by laying down his own life to redeem us. Yea, how can we be thankful enough for so great a blessing? It was a mercy bestowed, and a way found out, that may a∣stonish all the sons of men on Earth, and Angels in Heaven. Which be∣ing

so, let us study to be as thankful as we can. Hath Christ done so much for us, and shall we deny him any thing he requireth of us? Nor can any one in common reason meditate so unbottomed a love, and not study and strive for an answerable and thankful demeanour. If a Friend had given us but a thousandth part of what God and Christ hath, we should heartily love him all our lives, and think no thanks sufficient: What price then should we set upon Jesus Christ, who is the Life of our lives, and the Soul of our Souls? Do we then for Christs sake, what we would do for a Friends sake. Yea, let us abhor our selves for our former un∣thankfulness, and our wonderful provoking of him. Hearken we unto Christs voice, in all that he saith unto us, without being swayed one way or another, as the most are? Let us whom Christ hath redeemed, express our thankfulness, by obeying all that he saith unto us, whatever it costs us, since nothing can be too much to endure for those pleasures which shall endure for ever. As, Who would not obtain Heaven at any rate, at any cost or trouble whatsoever?

In Heaven is a Crown laid up for all such as suffer for Righteousness, even a Crown without cares, without rivals, without envy, without end; And is not this reward enough for all that Men or Devils can do against us? Who would not serve a short Apprenticeship in Gods service here, to be made for ever free in glory? Yea, who would not be a Philpot for a month, or a Lazarus for a day, or a Stephen for an hour, that he might be in Abrahams bosome for ever? Nothing can be too much to en∣dure, for those pleasures that endure for ever. Yea, what pain can we think too much to suffer? What little enough to do, to obtain eter∣nity? For this incorruptible Crown of Glory in Heaven? 1 Pet. 5. 4. where we shall have all tears wiped from our eyes; where we shall cease to sorrow, cease to suffer, cease to sin, where God shall turn all the wa∣ter of our afflictions, into the pure wine of endless and unexpressible comfort.

You shall sometimes see an hired servant, venture his life for his new Master, that will scarce pay him his wages at the years end; and can we suffer too much for our Lord and Master, who giveth every one that ser∣veth him, not Fields and Vineyards, as Saul pretended, 1 Sam. 22. 7. &c. nor Towns and Cities, as Cicero is pleased to boast of Caesar, but even an hundred-fold more than we part withal here in this life, and eternal Man∣sions in Heaven hereafter, John 14. 2.

St. Paul saith, Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, causeth us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17, 18. Where note the incomparable and infinite difference, between the Work and the Wages; light affliction, receiving a weight of Glory; and momen∣tany affliction eternal glory. Suitable to the reward of the wicked, whose empty delights live and die in a moment; but their unsufferable punishment is interminable and endless. Their pleasure is short, their pain everlasting; our Pain is short, our Joy eternal. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tryed, he shall receive the Crown of life, James 1. 12.

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folly is it then, or rather madness, for the small pleasure of some base lust, some paltry profit, or fleeting vanity (which passeth away in the very act, at the taste of a pleasant drink dieth so soon as it is down) to bring upon our selves in another world, torments without end, and beyond all compass of con∣ceit?

Fourthly, Is it so? that God hath set before us life and death, heaven and hell, as a reward of good and evil; leaving us as it were to our choice, Whether we will be compleatly and everlastingly happy or miserable: with what resolution and zeal should we strive, to make our calling and ele∣ction sure? not making our greatest business, our least and last care. I know well, thou hadst rather when thou diest, go to reign with Christ in his Kingdom for evermore, than be confined to a perpetual prison or Furnace of fire and brimstone, there to be tormented with the Devil and his An∣gels: If so, provoke not the Lord, who is great and terrible, of most glori∣ous Majesty, and of infinite purity: and who hath equally promised sal∣vation unto those which keep his Commandments, and threatned eternal death and dest••uction to those who break them. For as he is to all repentant sinners a most merciful God, Exod. 34. 6. so to all wilful and impenitent sin∣ners, he is a consuming fire, and a jeaious God, Heb. 12. 29. Deut. 4. 24.

There was a King, who having no Issue to succeed him, espied one day a well favoured and towardly Youth, he took him to the Court, and com∣mitted him to Tutors to instruct him, providing by his Will, that if he proved sit for Government, he should be Crowned King; if not, he should be kept in Chains, and he made a Galley slave. The Youth was misled, and neglected both his Tutors good Counsel, and his Book, so as his Master corre∣cted him, and said, O that thou knewest what honour is prepared for thee! and what thou art like to lose by this thy idle and loose carriage! Well, thou wilt afterwards, When 'tis too late, sorely rue this. And when he grew to years, the King died, whose Council and Executors perceiving him to be utterly unfit for State Government, called him before them, and decla∣red the Kings will and pleasure, which was accordingly performed; for they caused him to be fettered, and committed to the Galleys, there to toil, and tug at the Oar perpetually, where he was whipt and lasht, if he remitted his stroke never so little; where he had leisure to consider with himself, that now he was chained, who might have walked at li∣berty; now he was a slave, who might, if he would, have been a King; now he was over-ruied by Turks, who might have ruled over Christians. The thought whereof could not but double his misery, and make him bewail his sorrow with tears of blood. Now this hereafter will be the case of all careless persons, save that this comes as short of that, as Earth comes short of Heaven, and temporary misery of eternal. Wherefore if thou wouldst have this this to become thy very case, go on in thy wilful and perverse impenitency; but if not, bethink thy self, and do there∣after, and that without delaying one minute: For there is no redemption from Hell, if once thou comest there: And there thou mayst be (for ought thou knowest) this very day, yea before thou canst swallow thy spittle, if thou diest this day in thy natural condition.

Many men take liberty to sin, and continue in a trade of sin, because God is merciful: but they will one day find that he is just as well as merciful. There is mercy with God (saith the Psalmist) that he may be feared, not that he may be despised, blasphemed, &c. Psalm 130. 4. Yea, know this, and write it in the Table book of thy memory, and upon the ta∣ble of thy heart. That if Gods bountifulness and long suffering towards thee; does not lead thee to repentance, it will double thy doom, and encrease the pile of thy torments. And that every day which does not abate of thy reckon∣ing, will encrease it: And that thou by thy hardness and impenitency, shalt but treasure up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and the De∣claration of the just judgment of God, Rom. 2. 4, 5, 6.

Now this Judge hath told us, that we must give an account for every idle word we speak, Mat. 12. 36. much more then for our wicked acti∣ons; therefore beware what thou dost against him.

Men may dream of too much strictness in holy courses, but they do not consider the power, the purity, and strictness of the Judge. He who brings even idle words to judgment, and forgets not a thought of diso∣bedience, how will he spare our gross negligence and presumption? how our formality and irreverence in his service, much more our flagi∣tious wickedness, Heb. 12. 29.

Sect. 3. Wherefore, as you ever expect or hope for Heaven and Salva∣tion, as you would escape the tormenting flames of Hell-fire, cease to do e∣vil, learn to do well. For Sanctification is the way to Glorification, Ho∣liness to eternal happiness. If we would have God to glorifie our bodies in Heaven, we also must glorifie God in our bodies here on Earth.

And now for conclusion: Are the Joys of Heaven so unspeakable and glorious? the torments of Hell so woful and dolorous? Then it behoves all Parents and Governours of Families, to see to their Childrens and Ser∣vants souls, and that they miscarry not through their neglect. As tell me, Will not their blood be required at your hands, if they perish through your neglect? Will it not be sad to have Children and Servants rise up in judgment against you, and to bring in Evidence at the great Tribu∣nal of Christ? saying, Lord, my Father never minded me, my Master never regarded me; I might sin, he never reproved me; I might go to Hell, it was all one to him. Will not this be sad?

Secondly, If it be so, let Children and Servants consider, that 'tis bet∣ter to have lust restrained, than satisfied: 'tis better to be held in, and re∣strained from sin, than to have a wicked liberty. Be not angry with those who will not see you damn your souls, and let you alone: they are your best Friends. Fear the strokes of Gods anger, be they spiritual or eternal, more than the strokes of men. What's a Fetter to a Dungeon? a Gallows to Hell-fire?

Give not way to imaginary, speculative, heart-sins: Murther in the heart, uncleanness in the eye, and thoughts given way to, will come to actu∣al murther, and bodily uncleanness at last. Keep Satan at a Distance; if he get but in, he will be too hard for you. And let so much serve to have been s••oken of Heaven and Hell.

Upon the one I have stood the longer, that so I might, if God so please, be a means to save some with fear, plucking them out of the fire of Gods wrath, under which, without repentance, they must lye everlastingly.

And for the other, I have, like the Searchers of Canaan, brought you a cluster of Grapes, to give the Reader a taste thereby, of the plentiful vintage we may expect, and look for in the heavenly Canaan.

Now if any would truly know themselves, and how it ••ill fare with them in the end, let them read the whole Book, out of which this is taken, viz. The whole duty of a Christian. Which Book is Licensed by John Dewname and Thomas Gataker.