A few sighs from hell, or, The groans of a damned soul. Or, An exposition of those words in the sixteenth of Luke, concerning the rich man and the beggar : wherein is discovered the lamentable state of the damned : their cries, their desires in their distresses, with the determination of God upon them. A good warning word to sinners, both old and young, to take into consideration betimes, and to seek by faith in Jesus Christ to avoid, lest they come into the same place of torment. Also a brief discourse touching the profitableness of the Scriptures for our instruction in the way of righteousness, according to the tendancy of the said parable. / By that poor and contemptible servant of Jesus Christ, John Bunyan.

Ver. 30. And he said, nay Father A∣braham, 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 vin∣dication 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 in∣to 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: toge∣ther 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 ge∣nerations; if they vvould, or v ill be blessed that are yet alive, let them ovvn them, clo••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 reject••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. 'Tis true;

thou speakest of the Scriptures of Mo∣ses 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 tow∣er of 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, there∣fore is signified a rejecting the first an∣svver. Novv observe, I pray you, the reason vvhy he sayes nay, is, because God doth put over all those that vvill be sa∣ved 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 cur∣ses and vvrath vvhich once they told me I should partake of. But this is the thing to be short, my brethren are un∣believers, 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. 'Tis 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. 'Tis 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. 'Tis 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 let∣ter, 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 fa∣bles; 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, promi∣ses, 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 fol∣low sin, that let the Scriptures be shew∣ed 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 ungod∣ly 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 Je∣sus

Christ, though the Scriptures do wit∣ness 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 in∣deed is so evident, that ungodly ones have a light esteem of the Scriptures, that it needs not many strong argu∣ments to prove it, being so evidently manifested by their every dayes pra∣ctice, 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 th•• ge••erality of the world. See the words of Nehemiah in his 9. Chapter, concerning the children of Is∣rael, 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 a∣gainst 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. Ob∣serve.

1. They sinned against mercy. And then. 2. they slighted the law, or word of God 3. They slew the Pro∣phets that declared it unto them. 4. The Lord c••unts it a great provocation. See Heb. 3. from ver 10. to ver. 19. And see Zach. 7.11, 12. But they refus••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, name∣ly to the words of the Propehts.

2. That they might so do, they stop∣ped 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 unwilling∣ness 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 A∣mos 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 se∣riously 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, see∣ing 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 testimo∣ny of the Scriptures.

As 1. Take the threatnings laid down in holy writ, and how are they disre∣garded; there are but a few places in the Bible, but there are threatnings a∣gainst one sinner or other; against drunkards, swearers, liars, proud per∣sons, strumpets, whoremonger, covet∣ous 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 of them: and all this made mention of in the Scriptures.

But for all this, how thick, and by heaps, do these wretches walk up and down our streets? Do but go into the Alehouses & you shall see almost every room besprinkled with them, so foming out their own shame, that it is enough to make the heart of a Saint to tremble, in so much that they would not be bound to have society with them any long while for all the world. For as the wayes of the godly are not liked of by the wicked, even so the wayes of the wicked are an abomination to the just, Prov. 29.27. Psal. 120.5, 6.

As now to particularize some things.

The Scriptures say, Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, that maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Jer. 17, 5.

And yet how many poor souls are there in the world, that stand in so much aw, and dread of man, and do so highly esteem their favour, that they will rather venture their souls in the hands of the devil, with their favour, then they will fly to Jesus Christ for the salvation of their soul, if they must lose their favour, and have their frownes and displeasure for the same. Nay, though they be convinced in their souls that the way is the way of God; yet how do they labour to stisle convictions, and turn their ears away from the truth, and all because they will not lose the fa∣vour of an opposite neighbour. Oh! I dare not for my Master, my Brother, my Landlord, I shall lose his favour, his house of work, and so decay my calling. O saith another, I would willingly go in this way, but for my Father, he chides and tells me, he will not stand my friend when I come to wants; I shall never enjoy a penyworth of his goods, he will disinherit me. And I dare not,

saith another, for my Husband, for he will be a railing, and tells me, he will turn me out of doors, he will beat me, and cut off my legs. But I tell you, if any of these, or any other things be so prevalent with thee now, as to keep thee from seeking after Christ in his wayes; they will also be so prevalent with God against thee, as to make him cast off thy soul, because thou didst rather trust man then God; and delight in the imbracings of man, rather than in the favour of the Lord.

2. Again, the Scripture saith, He that being often reproved heardneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without re∣medy, Prov. 29.1. Yet many are so far from turning, though they have been convinced of their wretched state an hundred times; that when convictions or trouble for sin comes on their conscien∣ces, they go on still in the same manner resisting and choaking the same, though remediless destruction be hard at their heels.

3. Again, thou hast heard say, Ʋnless a man be borne again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Joh. 3.3, 5, 7. And yet thou goest on in a natural

state, an unregenerate condition, nay, thou dost resolve never to turn nor be changed, though hell be appointed on purpose to swallow up such, Isa. 14.9. Psal. 9.17. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

4. Again the Scriptures saith plainly, That he that loveth and maketh a lie, shall have his part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. Rev. 21.8, 27. And yet thou art so far from dreading it, that it is thy delight to jeast and jeer, and lye for a penny or two pence or six pence gain. And also if thou canst make the rest of thy companions merry, by telling things that are false of them that are better then thy self, thou dost not care a straw. Or if thou hearest a lie from, or of another, thou wilt tell it, and swear to the truth of it. O mise∣rable!

5. Thou hast heard and read, That he that believes not, shall be damned. Mar. 16.16. And that all men have not faith. 2 Thess. 3.2. and yet thou dost so much disregard these things, that it is like thou didst scarce ever so much as examine seriously whether thou wert

in the faith or no; but dost content thy self with the hypocrites hope, which at the last God will cut off, and count it no better then the spiders web. Job 8.13, 14. or the house that is builded on the sands, Luk. 6.49. Nay, thou peradven∣ture dost flatter thy self, & thinkest that thy faith is as good as the best of them all, when alas poor soul, thou mayest have no saving faith at all; which thou hast not, if thou be not borne again and made a new creature. 2 Cor. 2.17.

6. Thou hast heard, That he that neg∣lects Gods great salvation, shall never escape his great damnation. Heb. 2.3. compared with Luke 14.24. and Rev. 14.19, 20. And yet when thou art in∣vited, intreated, and beseeched to come in, (Luk. 14.17, 18. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. Rom. 12.1.) thou wilt make any excuse to serve the turn. Nay, thou wilt be so wicked, as to put off Christ time after time, notwithstanding he is so freely proferred to thee: a little ground, a few oxen, a farme, a wife, a two penny matter, a play, nay, the fear of a mock, a scoffe, or a jeer, to be of greater weight to draw thee back, than the salvation of thy soul to draw thee forward.

7. And thou hast heard that, Who∣soever will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God. Jam, 4.4. But thou regar∣dest not these things, but contrariwise, rather then thou wilt be out of the friendship and favour of this world, thou wilt sinne against thine own con∣science, and get thy self into favour by fawning and flattering of the world. Yea, rather then thou wilt go without it, thou wilt dissemble, lye, backbite thy neighbour, and an hundred other tricks thou wilt have. O sad!

8. You have heard that the day of judgement is near, in which you and I all of us mu••t appear before the tribunal of Jesus Christ, and there be made to give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead; even of all that ever we did, yea, of all our sins in thought, and word, and deed, and shall certainly be damned for them too, if we close not in with our Lord Jesus Christ, and what he hath done and suf∣fered for eternal life, and that not noti∣onally or contradictionally, but really & savingly in the power and by opera∣tion of the spirit, through faith (Eccles. 11.9, 12, 14. Heb. 9, 27. Acts 10.42.

Acts 17.30, 31. 2 Cor. 5.10. Rev, 20.12.) And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things that were writ∣ten in the books. There is the book of the Creatures, the book of Conscience, the book of the Lords Remembrance, the book of the Law, the book of the Gospel. (Rom. 1.20. compare, with Rom. 2.12, 15. Rev. 16. ver. 19. Joh. 12.48.) Then shall he separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, and shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. (Matth. 25.30, 31, 32.) And shall say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed, ver. 34. But to the other go, or depart ye cursed, (ver. 41.) Yet notwithstanding the Scriptures do so plainly and plenti∣fully speak of these things, alas! who is there that is so weaned from the world and from their sins and pleasures, as to fly from the wrath to come, (Mat. 3.7.) notwithstanding the Scripture saith also, That heaven and earth shall pass away, rather than one jot or one tittle of the word shall fail, till all be fulfilled, they

are so certain, Luke 21.37.

But leaving the threatnings, let us come to the promises, and speak some∣what of them, and you may see how light men make of them, and how little they set by them, notwithstanding the mouth of the Lord hath spoken them.

As first, Turn ye fools, ye scorners, ye simple ones at my reproof; and behold I will pour out my spirit upon you. Prov. 1.24. And yet persons had rather be in their foolishness and scorning still, and had rather embrace some filthy lust then the holy, undefiled, and blessed Spirit of Christ thorow the promise, though by it, as many as receive it, are sealed unto the day of redemption, Eph. 4.30. And al∣though he that lives and dies without it, is none of Christs, Rom. 8.9.

2. God hath said, If thou do but come to him in Christ, though your sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: and he will by no means cast thee away, (compare Isa. 1.18. with Job 6.37.) And yet poor souls will not come to Christ that they might have life. (Joh. 5.41.) but rather after their hardness and impenitent heart, treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath,

and revelation of the righteous judgement of God. Rom. 2.4, 5, 6.

3. Christ Jesus hath said in the word of truth, That if any man will serve and follow him, Where he is, there shall also his servant be, Joh. 12.26. but yet poor souls choose rather to follow sin, Satan, and the world, though their companions be the devills and damned souls for ever. Mat. 25.41.

4. He hath also said, Seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added. But let whoso will seek after the kingdom of heaven, in the first place, for them; For they will take time while time serves to get the things of this life for them and their seed, while it is to be had: And if it be so that they must needs seek after heaven, or else be damned in hell, they will stay till they have more leisure, till they can better attend to it; till they have other things handsome about them; till they are old∣er; when they have little else to do; or when they come to be sick, and to die. Then Lord have mercy upon them; though it be ten thousand to one but they perish for ever.

For commonly the Lord hath this

way to deal with such sinners who put him off when he is striving with them, & tenders his Son & his Gospel to them, either to laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh, (Prov. 1, 26.27, 28.) or else send them to the gods they have served, which are the devils, Judg. 10.13, 14. (Go to the gods you have ser∣ved, and let them deliver you, saith he,) compare this with Joh. 8.44.

5. He hath said, There is no man that forsaketh father, or mother, wife or chil∣dren, or lands for his sake, and the Gospels, but shall have an hundred fold in this world, with persecution, and in the world to come, life everlasting. Mark 10.29, 30.

But men for the most part are so far off from believing the certainty of this, that the will scarce lose the earning of a pen∣ny to hear the word of God, the Gospel of salvation. Nay, they will neither go themselves nor suffer others to go, (if they can help it) without threatning to do them a mischief, if it lie in their way: Nay further, many are so far from parting from any worldly gain, for Christs sake and the Gospels, that they are still striving, by hook and by crook, as we say, by swearing, lying, cousen∣ing,

stealing, covetousness, extortion, oppression, forgery, bribery, flattery, or any other way, to get more, though they get together with these worldly gains, death, wrath, damnation, hell, the devil, and all the plagues that God can powr upon them. Now if any do not run with them to the same excess of riot, but rather for all their threats, will be so bold, and careless (as they call it) as to follow the wayes of God; if they can do no more, yet they will whet their tongues like a sword to wound them, and do them the greatest mischief they can, both in speaking a∣gainst them to neighbours, to wives, to husbands, to landlords and raising false reports of them. But let such take heed lest they be in such a state and woful condition, as he was in, who said in vexation and anguish of soul, One drop of cold water to cool my tongue.

Thus might I adde many things out the holy Writ, both threatnings and pro∣mises, besides those heavenly counsels, loving reproofs, free invitations to all sorts of sinners, both old and young, rich and poor, bond and free, wise and unwise. All which have been, now are,

and it is to be feared as long as this world lasts, will be trampled under the feet of those swine. (I call them not men) who will continue in the same. But take a review of some of them.

1. Counsel.

What heavenly counsel is that where Christ saith, Buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white ray∣ment that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear. Rev. 3.17, 18. Also that, Ho every one that thirsteth, come to the waters: Yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price, Isa. 55.1. Hear, and your souls shall live. ver. 3. Lay hold of my strength that you may make peace with me, and you shall make peace with me. Isa. 27.5.

2. Instruction. What instruction is here.

Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. Why, what is it? Blessed is the man that heareth me, (saith Christ) watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors: For who so findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8.32, 33, 34, 35. Take heed that no man deceive you by any means. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which

endureth unto everlasting life. Joh. 6.27. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, Luke 13.24. Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved. Act. 16.31. Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits. Quench not the spirit. Lay hold on eternal life. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven. Mat. 5.16. Take heed and beware of hypocrisie; watch and be so∣ber. Learn of me (saith Christ.) Come unto me.

3. Forewarning. What forewarning is here.

Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroak, then a great ransome cannot deliver thee, Job 36.18. Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong, for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption even determined on the whole earth. Isa. 28.22. Beware there∣fore lest that come upon you that is written: Behold ye dispisers, and wonder and perish. For behold I work a work in your dayes which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you, Act. 13.40, 41. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor. 10.12. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation, Luke 22.40.

Let us fear therefore, lest a promise being made, or left us, of entring into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Heb. 4.1. I will therefore put you in remem∣brance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord having saved the people out of Aegypt, afterward destroyed them that be∣lieved not. Jude 5. Hold fast that thou hast, let no man take thy Crown, Rev. 3.11.

4. Comfort. What comfort is here.

He that commeth unto me, I will in no wise cast out. Joh. 6. ver. 37. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat. 11.28. Be of good chear, thy sins are forgiven thee. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, (for) I have loved thee with an ever∣lasting love. Jer. 31.3. I lay down my life for my sheep; I lay down my life, that they might have life. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee. 2 Cor. 6.2. Though their sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be as crimson, they shall be as wool. For I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud

thy sins; return unto me, for I have re∣deemed thee, Isa. 44.22.

5. Grief to those that fall short. O sad grief.

How have I hated instruction, and mine heart despised reproof, and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor enclined mine ear to them that instructed me, Prov. 7.11, 12, 13. They shall curse their king and their God, and look upwards. And they shall look to the earth, and behold trouble and darkness, and dimness of anguish: and they shall be driven into darkness, Isa. 8. ver. 21, 22. He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever.—The wicked shall see it, and be grieved, he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wick∣ed shall perish, Psal. 112.9, 10.

There shall be weeping when ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of heaven, and your selves thrust out. Luke 13.26, 27, 28. all which things are slighted by the world.

Thus much in short touching this; that ungodly men undervalue the Scriptures, and give no credit to them, when the truth that is contained in

them; is held forth in simplicity unto them, but rather cry out, nay, but if one should rise from the dead, then they think something might be done: when alas, though signes and wonders were wrought by the hands of those that preach the Gospel, these poor creatures would never the sooner convert, though they suppose they should, as is evident by the carriages of their forerunners, who, albeit the Lord Jesus Christ himself did confirme his doctrine by miracles, as opening blind eyes, casting out of de∣vils, and raising the dead, they were so far from receiving either him, or his do∣ctrine, that they put him to death for his pains. But to pass this I shall lay down some of the grounds of their re∣jecting and undervaluing ••he Scriptures, and so pass on.

1. Because they do not believe that they are the word of God, but rather suppose them to be the inventions of men, written by some politicians, on purpose to make poor ignorant people to submit to some religion and govern∣ment. Though men do not say this with their mouthes, yet their practices testifie the same; as he that when he heares the

words of the curse, yet blesseth him∣self in his heart, and saith, he shall have peace, though God saith he shall have none. And this must needs be, for did but men believe this that it is the word of God, then they must believe that he that spake it is true, and that; because he that spake it is true, therefore shall every word and tittle be fulfilled. And if they come once to this, unless they be stark mad, they will have a care how they do throw themselves under the lash of eternal vengeance. For the rea∣son why the Thessalonians received the word, was, because they believed it was the word of God, and not the word of man, 1 Thess. 2.13, 14.

When ye received the word which ye heard of us (saith he) ye received it, not as the word of man, but as it is indeed the word of God; which effectually worketh in you that believe. So that did a man but receive it in hearing, or reading, or meditating, as it is the word of God, they would be converted. But the word preached doth not profit, not being mixed with faith in them that hear it. Heb. 4.1, 2.

2. Because they do not indeed see themselves by nature heirs of that ex∣ceeding

wrath and vengeance that the Scriptures testifie of. For did they but consider what God intends to do with those that live and die in a natural state, it would either sink them into despair, or make them fly for refuge to the hope that is set before them. But if there be never such sins committed, and never so great wrath denounced, and the time of execution be never so near; yet if the party that is guilty be senseless and altogether ignorant thereof, he will be careless and regard it nothing at all. And that man by nature is in this condi∣tion it is evident. For take the same man that is senseless and ignorant of that misery he is in by nature, I say, take him at another time, when he is a little awakened, and then you shall hear him roar, & cry out so long as trouble is up∣on him, and a sense of the wrath of God hanging over his head: Good sirs, what must I do to be saved? Though the same man at another time (when his consci∣ence is fallen a sleep, and grown hard) will lie like the Smiths dog at the foot of the anvil though the fire-sparks fly in in his face. But as I said before, when any one is a little awakened, O! what work will one 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 compa∣nions; 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 chil∣dren of Israel. Rev. 2.14.

3. Because the carnal Priests do tickle the ears of their hearers with vain Philo∣sophy 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, Bewar•• ••est any man (be he what he will) spoil you, through Phi∣losophy 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 Aristo∣tle, 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 Scri∣ptures, and word of God, is, because the judgement spoken of in the Scri∣pture is not presently executed on the transgressors. Because sentence against an evil act is not speedily executed, there∣fore the hearts of the sons of men are wholly set in them to do evil. Eccles. 8.11. Be∣cause 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 unfaith∣ful, go to it agai•• 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 Scri∣pture, is, because they give ear to the de∣vil, who through his subtilty casteth false evasions, and corrupt interpretati∣ons on them, rendring them not so point blank the minde of God, and a rule for direction to poor souls, per∣swading them, that they must give ear and way to something else besides, and beyond that: or else he labours to ren∣der it vile and contemptible, by per∣swading 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 righteous∣ness; 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 ministra∣tion

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 al∣so, 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 m••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 obe∣dience of faith. And therefore who∣soever 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 an∣ger, and to execute his vengeance on them. They refused to hearken, they pul∣led 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 cala∣mity. 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. A∣maziah 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, and the Lord give thee understanding. For a misera∣ble end will those have that go on sin∣ning against God, rejecting his word.

Other things might have been obser∣ved 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.

Notes

• Luke 12.31.
• Heb. 6.18.
• Verse 31.