Of the foure last and greatest things: death, iudgement, heaven and hell.: The description of the happinesse of heaven, and misery of hell, by way of antithesis. With the way or means to passe through death, and judgement, into heaven, and to avoid hell. / By VVilliam Shepheard, Esquire.

Of the foure last and great things, Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell, and the things that concern the same.

Of Death. DOCTRINE.

All men must die; or, There is an unavoidable necessity of dying laid upon all men. Hebr. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die. Psal. ••9. 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death? not a man. Eccles. 6. 6. Doe not all go to one place. Job 30. 23. I know thou wi•••• bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

FOr the opening of this point, we must say something to these three things; First, what this death whereof we speak is: Se∣condly, What necessity there is that all men must die this death: Thirdly, Wherefore this necessity is imposed upon mankinde, and wherefore it is so.

For the first, By death here, we mean, not the privation of our commu∣nion with God, or the separation of soul and body from Gods favour in this world, which is caused by sin, and is called an alienation from the life of God: or, the second death, or spirituall death, Luke 1. 79. Ephes. 2. 1, 2, 4. 18. or the separation of the whole man from Gods heavenly presence and glory to be punished with everlasting fire in Hell called eternall death, or the perdition of soul and body in Hell, or the second death. And this is proper onely to wicked men, and cannot touch the godly, Rom. 6. 23. Revel. 20. 6. 4. Rom. 8. 6. 2 Thess. 1. 9. Matth. 10. 28. Rev. 2. 11.

But by death in this place we intend the privation of the life of the body, or the separation of the soul from the body for sin: or the change of this mor∣tall

for an immortall life. And this is called a bodily or worldly death, or the first death. And this death is common to all men good and bad, Heb. 9. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Gen. 5. 24. 35. This death is either naturall (i.) when a man liveth out his full daies and then dieth: or violent, (i.) when a mans death is hastened by some violent accident, that a man doth kill himself, or is killed by another. Also it is said to be common and ordinary, when it is by an ordi∣nary or usual means, or extraordinary when it is by some strange or unusuall m••ans, Numb. 16. 29.

〈◊〉〈◊〉, The necessity we here speak of is not absolute but limit••ed to 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. For he may if he please dispense with his own Law and the penal∣ty thereof, and exempt some men from this common lot of mankind, as once 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who is said to be translated that he did not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death, Hebr. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. so afterwards Eli••h, 2 Kings 2. 11. and as again, he will do with those which shall be a live at Christs comming to judgement, 1 Thess. 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 51. W•• shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. But in an or∣dinary way, God hath appointed to all men once to die; and to this law of the King of Kings must all men young and old, rich and poor without difference, of necessity submit.

For the third thing, 1. That it is so and must be so that all men must die, these reasons may be given for it. 1 God in his eternall counsell hath decreed it, Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die. And his counsell standeth fast for ever, and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations, Psal. 33. 11. Esay 46. 10. We read in ••say 28. 15. of some that had made a Covenant with death That it should not come ••igh the••. But God tels them, v. 18. That he would dis∣a••••ull their Covenant, for the Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to ••ought, and maketh the devises of the people of none ••ffect. 2. Mans sin hath deserved it. Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou ••••test thereof thou shalt surely die. Rom. 5 12. As by one man sin ••ntred into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned. Rom 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Ad••m all die, (i.) sin and death came upon all men. 3. Man in his nature is mortall and corrup∣table, as the Trees, as therefore these, however some of them, as Oaks and the like, live longer then others; yet do all of them in time by age wither and die, and none of them live for ever, because they are of a dying nature: so it is with men; though some of them live longer then others, yet experience shews u•• that they all dye at one time or other, Eccles. 6. 6. 7. Though ••e live a thousand year•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Do not all go to one place? 4. Unlesse the body die it cannot be capable of that state to which it is ordained. For the wicked man must have such a body as is fitted everlastingly to burn without consumption, and the godly man must have such a body as is capable of the everlasting enjoyment of the glory of heaven, which the present body cannot doe. As therefore the seed which is ••own is not quickened unlesse it die, so unlesse these bodies of the Saints die, they cannot have those new bodies prepared for them, which are bodies with new qualities. 1 Cor. 15. 37, 39, 40, &c. It is ••own in corruption, it is raised in incorruption, it is sow•• in dishonour, raised in glory, sown in weak∣nesse, raised in power, sown a naturall, raised a spirituall bodie. The bodies of the Saints shall be then sound, and of a nature that cannot corrupt, glorious and com••ly without any deformity: powerfull that is able to continue with∣out

the humane helps of meat, drink, and cloths, without which they cannot new be kept: they must put off their old ragged cloths of mortality if ever they mean to put on the princely ••obes of immortality and life. 2. And thus God will have it, and his providence hath disposed of it for the manifesta∣tion of his own glory; the glory of his Justice in the punishment of mans sin, the glory of his Truth in making good his word, and the glory of his power in the resurrection of the bodies of men. Io. 9. 3. 11. 39, 40.

It is needfull that we answer one objection, ere we go further. If death be [Object.] the wages of sin, and Christ hath given satisfaction for the sins of his people, how comes it to passe that they die?

To this we answer: 1. This objection may be made against all the affli∣ctions [Answer.] of Gods people▪ 2. Christ never promised by his Word, nor inten∣ded by his Death to free his people from afflictions and so from death, but f••om the evill and hurt thereof onely: and so he doth free his people from death insomuch as it is not now a curse but a blessing, a token of Gods love, and means of mans good. Christ as he took not away sin it self, but the guilt thereof, so he took not away death it self, but the sting thereof, Revel. 14. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Hebr. 12. verse 8. 10. Revel. 3. verse 19. 1 Corinth. 15 〈◊〉〈◊〉 56.

If any man shall ask now when he must die?

We must answer him that we know not when, for as there is nothing in * 1.1 the world more certain then death, so there is nothing more uncertain then the time when men shall die; this God hath kept in his owne hands. This only is certain that at the longest it will not be long, for mans age is but short. Psal. 9. 5. As a hand breadth, and as nothing before God. Iob 14. 1, 2. Man that is borne of a woman is of ••ew dayes &c. He commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe: He fleeth also as a shaddow and continueth not. Psal. 102. 11. 03. 15. 144. 4. Psal. 89 47. Remember how short my time is? Iob 7. 6, 7. 20. 16. 22. Iam. 4 14. Esay. 48 6. All flesh is grasse. Psal 90 10. Isa man li•••• to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. or by reason of strength to 80. yet is it soone cut of and we 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. And how much of this in thy life is spent already? But perhaps thou mayest not live out halfe thy dayes, for men like sheep die of all ages. Psalm 55. 23 and this doth commonly fall out that the longer men think to live the lesse while they have to live. 1 Thes. 5. 3. Luke 12. ••. 20.

This p••ynt being cleared let us now see what use may be made of it. [Ʋse. 1] And first it may serve us for exhortation to divers things, and this two wayes. First, as having reference to our owne death. Secondly, as having reference to the death of others. As having reference to our owne death, it doth serve to exhort and perswade us to these things. First to beleeve it: let us beleeve it, that we must die, and that of all this world of men, women and children now alive, there will not after a few yeares one be left. Scarcely will a man beleeve that seeth a great apple-tree thick of clusters that ever these will fall one by one; and yet being ripe how soone will they be all dropt downe and gone? So it is of men, one generation passeth and another com∣meth. Eccles. 1. 4. Secondly, to think of it: let us meditate and consider of this, that we must die. For however it may be thought a vaine and needlesse per∣swasion to perswade men to beleeve and think they shall die, and every man

will be ready to say he doth beleeve this and it is never out of his thought, and who doth not so? Yet it is more then manifest by most mens lives that they doe not so. For doth that man that taketh nothing about him to defend him against ••oule weather beleeve he shall meet with it in his journey? Doth he that makes no provision for a new, beleeve he shall shortly be put out of his old house? Doth he beleeve he must shortly put of his old, that makes no provision for new cloathes? Doth the Th••••fe or Murderer beleeve there is a Prison and Gall••wes for Thee••es and Murderers whilst he doth kill or steale? Or doth that Servant while he wasteth or spoileth his Masters goods, or abuseth his follow Servants thinke of his Masters comming to call him to an account? Nor doth he that neglecteth all the care of provision for ano∣ther life thinke of it that he must shortly goe out of this life. Can it be that the profane Scorner, cruell Oppressor, licentious Epicure or s••••••re Libertine should be perswaded that he must shortly die, and after death come to judge∣ment? Hath he not rather with them in Esay. 28. 15. made a Covenant with death that it shall not come nigh to him? And doth he not say with them in Amoz 9. 10. evill shall not overtake me? Albeit they see wise men die and likewise the foollish, is it not their thought that their houses shall continue for ever? Psal. 42. 11. It is certain this lesson no man can learne till God teach it him: otherwise Moses had not need in a time of mortallity when so many fell on his right hand and on his left hand to pray Psal. 90. 12. Lord teach us to number our dayes. It is a p••ant of Gods own planting in mans heart, sadly and seriously to thinke and be perswaded of the vanity and shortnesse of mans life, that it is but a Tale, a Shaddow, a Sleep, a Race, a Bubble, a Smoak, a Wind, a Flower, to think how many wayes and how easie a man may take his death, that our life is short and much of it past already, that the day of our death is at hand, that our Sun is about to set, that our Shaddow declineth and is ready to vanish, that it is certain we must die; but uncertain when we must die; these and such like thoughts as these Gods spirit only suggesteth, and the Devill with all his might opposeth. Esay. 28. 15. Luk 12. 19. Psal. 30. 4, 5. Let us then thinke of it that death is the common condition of mankind, and that our selves are mortall and may and must die shortly: and let us say with Barzillai. 2 Sam. 19. 37. How long have I to live? If it be asked, How we must thinke of it? We answer first daily and continually; not once a week, much lesse is once a moneth, or once a yeare sufficient to entertain this meditation of death. 1 Cor. 15. ••1. I die daily. 2 Cor. 21. 23. in deaths often. First, death hangeth over my head continually, and I doe incessantly prepare my self for it. Psal. 119. 109. Secondly, seriously and sadly, as of a thing that doth most of all concern us, not cursorily, scornfully or prophanely as * 1.2 the Gentles. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Esay. 22. 13. Let us eate and drinke for tomorrow we shall die. Thirdly, profitably so as to make some advantage thereby to our soules. Psalm 90. 12. Teach us so to number our dayes as to apply our hearts to wisdome. Fourthly, let us thinke of it as neere, and at the doores, and not with those in Amoz 6. 3 and the evill servant Mat. 24. 28. as farre of, as a thing delayed or prolonged. Ezek. 12. 22. 11. 11. Prov. 7. 19. To quicken us up to this duty let us consider these things. First, this meditation of death will keepe the heart in a good frame. First, in a repenting frame Jon. 3. 4. 5.

6. &c. Secondly, in a patient and a contented frame Job 1. 21. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Thirdly, in a sober frame towards the vain delights of this world; we shall not easily be intemperate in the use of that we looke upon as perishing in the using Eccles. 6 11. 12. chap. ••. ••, 2. chap. 5. 9, 10. 15. Fourthly, in an humble frame for we will not be lifted up with any thing we have or thinke we have whilst we are perswaded we must shortly leave it Gen. 18. 27. Acts 14, 15. 5. This will keep the heart in a watchfull and carefull temper. 2 Cor. 5. 6. 9. 2 Tim. 4 5. 6. Secondly, this meditation wil be a preservative unto us to keep us from doing evill, and a spurr to provoke us to good Amoz 6. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5 6, 7. 2. Pet. 1. 13, 14, 15. Thirdly, this meditation will make us to take care to provide for death and keep us from being surprised thereby unawares which will be dangerous to us. Mat. 24. 48, 49, 50. Helps. To help us in this meditation let us use these meanes. First, let us have our Coffins alwayes ready in our houses. Remember to die: Written in great Let∣ters before us: and (if we may) have our Sepulchers in our gardens Io••. 19. 41. Mat. 27. 57, 58, 59, 60. Secondly, let us read oft those Scriptures and Bookes that treat of mans mortallity. Thirdly, let us look often upon the examples of mortallity. Eccles. 7. 4. It is better to goe to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting, because this is the end of all men, and ••••e living will ••••y it to heart. Let us looke much on our dying and think much on our dead friends and say as David I shall goe to them. Fourthly, pray that God will mind us of it. Psal. 90. 12. Thirdly, the third main duty we are from hence to be exhorted to, is to prepare for death before it come; we use to provide for a great journey when we are to undertake it, a great while before: and before we go out of one house we use to take care where we may have another: And th•••• is great reason for this. 1. because it is a needfull care. 2. It is a wise care, it is a high point of holy wisdome so to do, and extreame folly to neglect it. Pro. 10. 5. 3. It is a glorious care, it will be much to the honour and praise of him that doth take it, and to the shame and reproach of him that doth neglect it. 4. It is a profitable care, for this will much joy the heart and a∣swage the evill of death when it comes. Fiftly, we if we be found unprepared for death when it comes are undone for ever. If you shall desire to know when this preparation must be made? We answer: this work of preparation for death (being the work of a beleever) must be set upon presently and * 1.3 without delay, and may not be put of to the morrow, much lesse to the time of old age, or of, or after mens death. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉, although it be certain that a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall ••••e, yet it is uncertain when he shall die. Secondly, no man knows what a day may bring forth; perhaps he may not have to morrows time to * 1.4 do it. Thirdly, he will be lesse ••it to morrow then he is to day. Fourthly, ••he latest preparation is never to late, but the late preparation is seldome true. Fifthly, it will be hard late to do any thing to it when death comes; for we shall be then most of all unfit for the work. Sixtly, old age is also a most unfit time for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eccles. 12. 1. 2. Seventhly, when we come to d•••• we shall find it enough to doe that work, it will therefore be our wisdome to have nothing else to do at that time but to die. Eightly, It will be too late to do any thing after death, for there is then no time of amendment of any thing; for as death leaves m••n, so judgment will find them. Ec. 9. 10. Ninthly, we read but

of one that did put of this care to the last and prospered in it: and this in∣stance is extraordinary. If now you shall ask how this preparation must be made? We answer, It hath respect to two times. First, to all the time of a∣mans life. Secondly, to the time a little before his death. First, all the time of a mans life. Generally a man is to labour to be a new Creature by faith and repentance, and to live a good life endeavouring to be better and better still, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be sure to do a good day•• work whilst he doth live, for he that lives well cannot do ami••s, and he that lives the life shall be sure to die the death of the righteous. 2 Pet. 16. 7. 11 &c. 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Gal. 6. 6. More especially we must labour for. First, peace with God in Christ, and peace in our own Consciences. Rom. 5. 1. 2 Pet, 3. 14. Secondly, the saving knowledge of God in Christ. Io••. 17. 3. 3. A life regulated by Gods spirit, * 1.5 and word. Rom. 8. 14. Phil. 4. 7. There are degrees of life eternall, and it is begun here, the resurrection out of sin to holynesse of life, is the beginning of eternall life. Rev. 20. 6. Col. 1. 13. Gal. 2. 20. More particularly let us doe these things. First, let us get unto Christ by faith and thereby make our peace with God and get an assurance of a better life when this is at an end Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord (i.) in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. (i.) As by Adam sin and death came over all, so by Christ grace and life came to all beleevers. 2 Pet. 3. 14. ••uke 2. 28, 29. Now let thy ••ervant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy Salvation. (i.) I doe willing∣ly and chearfully leave this present life. Heb. 11. 13. Ioh. 8. 24. He is the ••••tter to leave his old when he knowes where to have a new and a be••••r dwelling. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. &c. Secondly, let us pray continually that God will fit us for death, say with Moses Psal. 9. 12. Lord teach me to number my dayes, so as to apply my heart to wisedome. Thirdly, let us labour to mortifie our sinnes daily, for here in lyeth the strength of death. 1 Cor. 15. 56. For this purpose let us confesse it, be humbled for it, cry to God for p••rdon of and power against it: and effectually apply by faith the death of Christ against it, so shall we be sure that God will redeeme our souls from the power of * 1.6 the grave and receive us. Psal. 19. 15. Fourthly, let us enure our selves to die by little and little (that is) not only live every houre as if we were dying, but by our afflictions as lesser deaths prepare for our great death. 1 Cor. 15. 3••. I die daily. (i.) I am not only in danger of death daily, but I doe there∣by enure and prepare myself to die daily. By undergoing a lesser, we shall be prepared to undergoe a greater burden; so men that are to run a large race prepare themselves for it by the running of a shorter race. For this cause did Bilney the Martyr oft times before his burning put his little finger in the candle, thereby the better to be prepared to suffer the burning of his whole body. 2 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 9, 10. Fifthly, let us alwayes watch and wayt for Christs comming to us in particular, by our death (that is) sha∣king of security as we would shake of sleep, let us take great heed that we not overcome by sin or Satan, and looking always for death, be in a dying posture, and live every houre as if it were our last houre. Iob. 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time I will wait till my change come. Luk. 2. 25. Motives. 1. It will be very profitable for us so to watch. 2. It will be very

dangerous for us to neglect it. See Mat. 24. 42. to the end of that chapter and Mat. 25. 1. to verse 14. Sixthly, let us be able to looke beyond death into heaven and the glory thereof. Heb. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 5. 1. He will not care much to be turned out of the house he dwels in when he knows where to have a better house at hand to goe into. Seventhly, let us keep our hearts from being glued by overmuch love to the world or any thing in it, for by how much the more we love, by so much the more we shall grieve when we leave it. 2 Sam. 18. 33. Eightly, let us get as much of the tast of heaven here as we can, that the sweetnesse thereof may make us more to desire the full fruition of it. The preparation to be made a little before and at the time of a mans death lyeth in these things. First to God-w••••d. Secondly to man-ward. To God-ward. ••. If sicknesse goe before death, we are the•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to looke upon it as Gods hand and that for our sin. Lam. 3. 39. Ioh. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20, 21. and 30. 2. We are to labour to renew our saith and repentance, and so to get a renewed assurance of Gods favour by an earnest seeking of him by prayer, so David Psa. 32. Psal. 38. Psal. 39. 2. To man-ward our selves and others, when we be sick, we are to call in help from the prayers and counsel of good people, who are able to help us herein. Mark 2. 4. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 3. 1. 2. We are to use the best outward meanes we can for the recovery of our health. 2 King. 20. 7. Luk 1••. 3 4. Matt. 9. 12. 3. We are to set our house in order (i.) to make our will (if it be not made before) and give direction what we will have done after our death. 2 Sam. 23. Gen. 25. 5, 6. 4. We are (as much as we may) to endeavour to be reconciled to our Neigh∣bours with whom we are at difference. Matt. 5. 25. Rom. 12. 8. 5. We are to get and make use of all the comfortable meditations we can think of a∣gainst the fear of death. 6. If we be Magistrates or Ministers we are to do what we can to further the well ordering of the Common-wealth and Church after our death. Deut. 32. 2. 1 Kings 2. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 5. In death it self, or being about to die, we are to give up our souls to God. (i.) to his care and keeping, being his by redemption. Psal. 31. 5. Luk. 23. 46. Acts 7. 59. And this we are to do. 1. Beleevingly as Stephen Acts 7. ••6. 59. died in the em∣bracements of the Lord Jesus Christ and calling upon his name. Iob. 13. 15 1 Sam. ••0 6. Heb. 11. 21. 22. 13. These 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in faith. 2. Charitably so Stephen. Acts. 7. 20. Lord ••ay not this sinne to their charge and Christ Luk. 23. 34. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forgive them. 3. Patiently. 2 King. 20. 2. Iam. 5. 7, 8. 4. Obediently and submissively so Christ Matt. 26. 39. not as I will but as thou wilt. Phil. * 1.7 2 8. Rom. 14. 7, 8. 5. And we are then like the Swan to endeavour to sing sweetest by our devout prayers and praises to God, and gratious speeches to men: So Iacob Gen. 49. David 2 Sam. 23 Christ Luke 23. 34. Stephen Acts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 56. Isaac Heb. 11. 22. Iob. Iob. 1. 21. we shall say somewhat more to this p••••nt in the next branch which we are now to descend unto. 4. The fourth thing we are to be exhorted unto from this doctrine of the necessity of dying is to make a virtue of this necessity and not to fear death, but when we see our time is come to die, let us resolutely patiently and willingly un∣dergo ••t. A naturall and moderate fear of it, as it is an Enemy to nature 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be cha••ged as an evill upon us, being no other but what was in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••••rt of Christ Jesus: but an immoderate afflicting distracting fear

of it is to be avoyded of all Christians. And for the Cure hereof and our further fitting for death, let us be well instructed in the nature thereof to a beleever as it is set forth in the Gospell, wherein we have these considerations. 1. That there is a necessity of it, and it cannot be avoyded. Psal. 49. 7. 2. It is sancti••ed and sweetned by Christs death so as it is not now a curse but a blessing, a passage, a departure, a change of roomes, a going out of a worse place into a better. 3. Assoon as the body goeth out of this world it goeth to a place of rest where it shall be troubled no more, and then Gods Covenant of peace shall be made good to it. And (to speak properly) the * 1.8 beleeving Christian doth not die, he lyeth down to sleep in his bed, for his death is but the bodies going to bed, and to sleep after the many labours of the day of this life are ended, out of which he shall awake after the night of death is past, at the morning of the r••surrection to everlasting life, and no s••oner is the soule out of the body then it is in possession thereof. Esay. 57. 2, 3. The righteous are taken away &c. he shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds &c. 2 King 32. 20. Thou shals be gathered to thy fathers in••eace. Matt. 9. 24. Acts 7. 60. He fell asleepe. 4. The body by death is not reduced to nothing, as the body of a bea••t is, but it is only resolved to earth again, where the ••otting of it is only to refine it, that as the Corne which first di••••h it may arise more glorious. 1 Cor. 15. 36. Gen. 3. 19. So that death to the Saints is neither totall, but of the body only; nor perpetuall, but for a time only Rom. 8. 10. 5. God is as much the God of the dead as of the living be∣leever Mat. 22. 34. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (i.) his Covenant is with them to make them happy in communicating to them grace life and glory, and this Covenant is with the body as well as with the soul. Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live or die we are the Lords. 6. The body and soul of a beleever notwithstanding the death of the body is still a member of Christ. Ephe. 5. 30. Rom. 14. 8. Death devides us not from God, but brings us home to him. 7. God hath the power of death and the grave, and his pro∣vidence doth dispose thereof and of everything therein, and he will be with the beleever in this estate to support him under and deliver him out of it, and to turn it to his good and he w•••• not leave him till he hath settled his soul and body in heaven. Rev. 18. I have the Keyes of Hell and Death. (i.) power to keep from or deliver to death. Iude verse 9. Acts 4. 28. Psalm 16. 10. 11. Thou wi•••• not leave my Soule in grave nor suffer thi•••• holy one to see corruption. Heb. 2. 14, 15. Acts 2. 24. Psalm 116. 15. The death of his Saints is pretious to him. (1.) either God will preserve them from wicked hands, or will sharply revenge their death on them that kill them, Acts 20. 24. 2 Kings 1. 13. Psal. 72. 14. 8. The death of the beleever cannot seperate his soul from Christs love to it, or its love to Christ, Iohn 11. 5. 20. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 38. 39. What shall sep••rate us from the love of Christ, Shall death &c. 9. Death reacheth to the body only and not to the soul. Mat. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the Soule &c. 10. By death God requireth again of us that soul he ••••u∣sted * 1.9 us with, and every honest man will willingly deliver up his trust when it is required Eocles. 12. 12. 11. The sting of death is now taken away to the beleever that it cannot hurt him. 1 Cor. 15. 55. Buzze it may

snake whose sting •••• pulled out. 1••. The Angels will be ready to receive and carry the beleevers sould into the presence of the God of peace in Heaven. Luke. 16. 22. 23. Death shall be destroyed and it is the last Enemy that shall be de∣stroyed. ••evel. 20 v. 14. •• C••rin••h. 15. v. 26. Rev. 20. 14. 14. The body of the beleever shall be gloriously raised after death to die no more, for then death shall be swallowed up into victory, and body and soul united and placed in eternall felicity: for the soul being loosed out of prison, the body may not be kept in prison. 2 Cor. ••. 1. Rev. 21. 4. 20. 13. 1 Thes. 4. 13. Psalm 49. 14, 15, 16. 8, 9. 1 Cor. 15. 43. Iohn 6. 39. Rom. 8. 11. To say all in one word, death to the beleever makes a happy change, and doth infinitly better his condition, for it ••reeth him from all evill and puts him in possession of all good. It ••reeth him from the evill of sin and pu∣n••••••ment felt and feared, present and to come, and puts an end to all his * 1.10 cares, fears, teares, labours, griefs, combats with sin, the world and the Devill; for in death he gets beyond and above them all. It is a passage and going from Aegyt to Canaan; out of an old rotten house wherein a man hath no estate at all, into a glorious Mansion and Kingly pallace of his own inheritance; the going out of a base prison to a glorious liberty; the return from a banishment to his own Country and home; the com∣ming to the haven after a long and dangerous voyage by sea: It is a going to bed after a man hath laboured hard all day and is ••yred and weary: It is a going from corruption to incorruption, from mortallity to im∣mortallity, from death to life, from earth to heaven, from a miserable to a happy life. It is the putting off a mans old ragged Cloathes, to put on princely robes: It is a loosing from the shore, and a lanching out into the main, to take possession of a Kingdome: It is the doore of Heaven the ga••e of Life; the entrance into perfect peace and security, the day break of eternall brightnesse. It is the consummation of a mans victory, the begin∣ning of glory to be perfected at the day of Judgment. Here the law of the fle•••• shall no more oppose the law of the mind. Then shall be perfect rest, settled peace, a sure inheritance, without any feeling of trouble, or fear of l••sse. Then shall be the buriall of all sinnes, the raising of all virtues: Then shall the soul fly out of the body, as an Eagle above the Clouds, where shall be neither nets nor snares to take it. Who would fear or fly from this change? Who would not be glad and desirous to embrace it? 2 Cor. 5. 8. Esay 57. 1. 3. Ec••les. 12. 7. The Spirit returneth to God that gave it being absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Rev. 14. 13. Blessed a•••• the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours &c. Phil. 1. 23. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is best of all. Phil. 3. 20, 21. Our Conversation is in heaven, from whence we looke for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto hi•• glorious body and 1 Thes. 4. 14. 17. Luke 16. 22. When Laz•••••••• died it is said the Angels carryed his soul into Abrahams b••some, an all••sion (as some would have it) to the sweet delights and fel∣lowship the Saints shall have with Abrham (the father of the faithfull) in Heaven, as at a Feast whereat in the Eastern Countries they used to

leane on one anothers breast Iohn 13. 23. others would have it a m••ta ph•••• from Fathers who imbosome and hug their Children when wearied with long running about, or have met with a knock and come crying to them. By death the soul is marryed to Jesus Christ her dearest husband; the which hath been here kept at a distance from him: but then it shall be more neerly united to him and enjoy the beatificall vision of the God∣head the chiefest good, and then is there but one step more, and soul and body together shall have the compleat enjoyment thereof. Then shall the beleever not only be brought into the bouse of his Father prepared from all eternity for him, but he shall also there for ever have and enjoy the fellowship of all the blessed Saints and Angels; and of his dearest fr••inds who died in the Lord before him. Heb. 6. 20. 1••. 23. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Who then would not be willing to die? It is no ma••••ail•• therefore i•• Paul in the Contempl••tion or all these things desired to be dissolved Phil. 1. 23. and that the Saints desire to be u••cl••thed of their house of clay. 2 Cor. 5. 2. And that the wicked do so much desire to di•• the death of the righteous. Numb. 23. 10. And that the Maityrs loved not their▪ lives unto death Rev. 12. 11. Acts 20. 24. but refused deliverance from death when they might have had it Heb. 11. 35. they were as willing to die as to live, Out of all this we may then conclude upon the beleevers death with Salomon Eccle•••• 7. 3. The ••a of death is better then the day of his birth.

But here it may be objected that death is a fruit of Gods curse, the wages of ••••n, the destruction of nature and a bitter and dreadfull thing?

To which we answer thus. It is bitter and dreadfull in it self, but it is the way all flesh do go, and Christ himself went into glory, and the na∣ture of it is now changed (as we have already shewed) the sting of it is gone, and it cannot hurt us, and it is sanctified and sweetned by the death of Christ who will be with us, and enable us to endure it. Esay. 43. 2. Oh! but you will say I am affraid of a long and strong disease, and a painfull death? To this we say: Perhaps it may be otherwise, for some die with little, some without any pain at all. But if it be so either god will lessen the pain or greaten thy strength and comfort. 2 Cor. 1. 5. 10. 13. And very long the disease cannot be. It is but like one swallow of a bitter pill and be cu••ed of all diseases, one thrust out at a narrow gate, and we are out of prison, it is but one wink and all is past 2 Cor. 4. 17.

Oh! But some will say the grave which followes death at the heels is a dreadfull spectacle?

To this we answer; That the grave shall be no other to the Saints but as a sweet bed wherein they shall sleep quietly and feel nothing. Esay. 57. 1. 3. And Christ (the members of whose body they still continue to be) will be there with them and bring them from thence into heaven Ephes. 5. 30. Psal. 16. 9. 0.

Fifthly, The ••ifth thing to which we are to be perswaded is, that since we must shortly die and by death be for ever seperated from our worldly enjoyments, that we do not overmuch desire them before we have them, not to much delight, glory, please and content our selves, or trust in them when we have them, nor much be grieved for them when we loose them.

Riches, Honours, Offices, Authority, Command, Friends, Pleasures, and the rest what are they? What can they do? Matt. 6. 19, 20. Lay not u•• for your selves treasures on earth, &c. Jo 6. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, &c. 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let them that have wives be as if they ••ad none, 1 Tim. 6. 1••. Trust not in uncertain riches, Psal. 62. 10. If riches increase, set not thine heart upon them, Prov. 23. 4. Labour not to be rich. But for the Cure of this consider these things: 1. That all Silver, Gold, Pearls, &c. are but vile things, Earth upon Earth, Matth. 6. verse 19. Silver and Gold is but White and Yellow earth, Pearls the guts and garbage of the Earth, all of them but thick clay: Hab. 2. 9.

2. Riches, Honours and the rest, reach no further then to this life, Iob 17. 15, 16.

3. They can do little for us, while we have them, they can procure us no spirituall or solid joy, they cannot preserve or deliver us from any great evill: Prov. 10. 2. Treasures of wickednesse profit nothing. Prov. 11. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: Psal. 49. 6, 7. They that trust in their wealth, &c. none of them can by any means redeem his brother, &c. Luke 12. 15.

4. They are of a perishing, vanishing nature, they perish with the using, they are but as heaps of Snow or Chasse, they melt away between our singers, as butter before the Sun, and are gone we know not how: they that lean upon and trust unto them are as men that trust to a hill••••k of Yee or heap of Snow: Psal. 30. 6, 7. Esay 40. 6. All flesh is grasse and the glory thereof as the flower of the field. Prov. 23. 9. Iob 38. 22. they are rather the shaddow and ap∣pearances of things then the things themselves, 1 Cor. 7. 3••. The fashion of this world passeth away: It is (as one saith) like the water of a river that runs by a City, or as a fair picture drawn upon the Yee that melts away with it. The pompe of this world is but a fantasie, and the glory of it an opinion, there is nothing of any firmnes or solid consistency in the creature; it is but a surface, outside, or empty promise: all the beauty of it is but a skin deep: Psal. 39. 6. Surely every man walketh in a vain shaddow: (i.) he leadeth an imaginary life rather then a life it self. It is but an ig••is fatuus, a walking fire that leads men into brakes and ditches; so the hue of this world deceiveth and car••y∣eth them another way out of the right way, for both the words and shews of the wo••ld are full of fraud.

5. That which is good and reall in it is as transitory as a hastie head-long river. The posting ••un of all wordly pleasure after a short gleam of vain gli∣stering, sets in the Ocean of endlesse sorrow, sic transit glori•• mundi.

6 All these things are but a piece of vanitie, Eccles. 1. 3. vainitie of vani∣ti••s and all is vanitie, (i.) most vain and exceeding full of vanitie, it hath no continuance, soliditie or profit in it, but is full of unprofitable travaile and false deceit: men come to the worlds felicitie as to a lotterie with heads full of hopes but return with hearts full of blanks.

7 They are not onely vain but ve••ing, they do not only not satisfie but tor∣ture and torment the mind, as the body is tormented being set on a ra••k or bed of thorns; the care of getting, the fear of keeping, and the grief of spending and loosing like three vultures, do continually feed upon and ••at up the heart 1 Tim. 6. 10. Ephes. 6. ••••. 5. 1••. Psal. 127. 2.

8 They are most uncertain things, 1 Tim. 6. 17. Trust not in uncertain

riches. Job 38. 22. For happily they may be taken from us and leave us be∣fore we die, Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine eye upon that which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 For riches certainly make themselves wings and fly away as an Eagle towards hea∣ven, Prov. 27 4. Riches are not for ever, and doth the Crown endure to every generation? But were we sure they could continu•• with us, we may not con∣tinue with them for our life itself is most uncertain, this onely is certain that we must shortly die and leave all these things behinde us, and go as naked out of the world as we came into the world Job 1. 21. Psal. 49. 16, 17. He shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pom•••• ••••scend after him, Eccles. 6. 11. and being once dead we shall live no more this life: Iob 14. 14. If a man die shall belive again? Yea let us be hence perswaded not much to desire or care for life it self, but use it as if we used it not: Let us desire it onely for Gods glory and his peoples good, and so long as it may serve in or∣der thereunto; otherwise, let us desire and choose rather to die, Phil. 1. 23. Psal. 10 2. 26. Esay 5. 17. 2 Pet. 3. 12.

6 The next thing to which we are to be exhorted is, That since it is certain we must die, and that we cannot tell how soon this may be: and that after death there is no more time or place of doing good to our selves or o∣thers. That from hence we be stirred up to be active and industrious in Gods service while we live, as men that have much work to do, work so much the faster, by how much the neerer they see the night approach, Gal. 6. 10 As we have then opportunitie, let us do good, Eccles. 9. 10. All that thine hand shall fin••e to doe, do•• it with all thy power, for there is neither worke, nor invention, nor knowledge, ••••r wisdome in the grave whither thou goest, Eccles. 12. 1. Remember (i) [know, love, fear, and serve] thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the dayes of thy youth, &c. before dust return to dust, verse 7. Death is the night where••o no man can work: old age the evening and latter part of the day, when it is ill working. To provoke us hereunto, let us set before us, 1. the example of good men. 2. The examples of Devils and bad men: Of good men P••••d: 2 Tim. 4. 5. I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departing is at hand, watch therefore &c. Peter, 2 Pet. 1. 10. 14, 15. I shall not be negligent to put you alwayes in remembrance &c. And I think it meet to stirre you up, &c. See∣ing I know the time is at hand that I must lay down this my ta••ernacle &c. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Christ. Luke 12. 31, 32. Paul Acts 20. 28 25. The Devil also and wicked mee, by how much the more short they doe perceive their time is, by so much the more they doe bestir themselves to improve that time to ou•• work the chil∣dren of light in a quick dispatch of the works of darknes. Rev. 12. 12. Luke 16. 4, 5. Mat. 8. 29. And thus we have done with the exhortations deduced from this point as it hath reference to our own death. Now there follows an exhor∣tation draw from this point as it hath reference to the death of others. And so it is usefull to exhort and perswade us to these things: 1. As to our friends 2. as to our enemies. As to our friends, 1. living, let us look upon and make use of them: as mortall and dying friends, and such as were born to die, 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let them that have wives be as though they had none. 2. Dead, let us not mourn for them above measure and as without hope: 1 Thes. 4. 13. Against this disease let us applp a remedie by these considerations: 1. be they good or bad friends that are dead: it is Gods pleasure to have it so, and this we must patiently abide, Psal. 90. 3. Ezech. 24. 5. 2. They must have died

one time or other, for man is born to die and cannot avoid it, Iob 14. 1, 2. 3. It may be we had them long and therefore we should be content now to let them go. 4. They were ••ent us of God, and there is great reason we should be content to let him have them again when he requires them. 5. Our dead friends are not at all sensible of our grief. 6. Our case herein is not singu∣lar, but common to the Saints and to men, 1 Pet. 5. 9. 7. This affliction cannot hinder Christs love 10. 11. 5. 8. Christ is sensible of our sorrow and mourneth with us, 10. 11. 33, 34. But if they be Saints that are departed, there are some other things to be said for our quiet and comfort. 9 They have made a blessed and happy change (as we have already shewed) and we are not to be much troubled at our own losse which is so much to their gain: they are but gone to bed, and in a sweet sleep a little before us, 10. 11. 11. Ps. 37. 7. Luke 16. 24. 10. They are not gone from, but a little before us, and we shall shortly go to them, 2 Sam. 12. 23. 11. They shall rise again, and we shall meet again and live together for ever in a far better condition then we are or can be in here, 1 Thess 4. 3. 2. In the second place, let this perswade us not to trust too much in friends: Psal. 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes, nor in the sonnes of men, for there is no help in him, his breath departeth, he re∣turneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish, Esay 2. 22. Cease from man whose breath is in his ••ostrils, for wherein is he to be esteemed. 2. As to Enemies, Let this perswade us, not to live in fear of them, be they never so mighty, rich, cruel, &c. able and willing to hurt us. For first, all their po∣wer can reach but to the bodie, it cannot touch the soul, Mat. 10. 28. 2. They can do no more to our bodies then God hath decreed, and shall give them leave to do, Acts 2. 23. Revel. 2. 10. Luke 8. 3••. Iob 1. 4, 5, 6. 3. They must shortly die, and then that power they have will be taken from them: Matt. 2. 16. 19. Iob 3. 17. there (i) in the grave the wicked cease from troubling. Thus we have done with the use of exhortation.

The next use we shall make of this point shall be for consolation, and this [Ʋse 3] is to the Saints under all their lesser deaths, the troubles of this present life which they either feel or fear; this great death will shortly come and put an end to them all: Iob 3. 17. There the weary be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. they heare not the voice of the oppressor: for being once dead, they can die no more. This very Use the Holy Ghost doth make of this point, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rev. 14. 13. Esay 7. 1. for as it is a comfort to a man in a dark prison that he hath no light but through a little hole; If looking through it he can see some pleasant object that doth delight him, it will make his imprisonment seem shorter and lighter: So doubtlesse will it comfort Gods people to contemplate this doore of hope shortly to be opened to them, by which they shall be let out of all the troubles of this present life into a place and estate of perfect peace and liberty.

[Ʋse 4] But here that we be not mistaken, and to the end that the comforts before reached out and offered to the Saints be not catched hold of, and assumed by the wicked that have nothing to do therewith; we shall subjoyn a word or two of ••yall and examination: If we be the persons to whom the comforts before he•••• forth do belong, who shall have a happy change; who shall be blessed in d••ath, rest from their labours after death, being dissolved shall be with Christ: who shall have hope in death, whose flesh shall rest in hope, whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bodies shall

be with Christ, who shall have hope in death, whose flesh shall rest in hope, whose vile bodies shall be made like Christs glorious body: who shall have peace, who shall rest in our beds, and be gathered to our graves in peace, we must be able to give this Character of our selves. That we are upright, righte∣ous persons, perfect and mercifull men, such as do studdy to approve our selves in all things towards God and men. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 9, 10. Prov. 14. 31. 32. Psal. 37. 7. Esay. 57. 1. 3. Numb. 23. 10. That we are in Christ Jesus. (1) eng••a••••ed into him by faith. Rev. 14. 13. And if so then are we; 1. New Creatures. (that is,) we have new qualyties of holinesse created in us. Rom. 8. 38, 39. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 2. We are dead to sin and alive to righteousnesse. Rom. 6. 3, 4. &c. 3. We walk not after the flesh but af∣ter the spirit. Rom. 8. 10. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 5. 4. We have tender hearts. and humble our selves before God, his word, and his judgments. 2 Kings 22, 19, 20. We are also active and industrious for Gods glory and his peoples good. Phil. 1. 1, 2 &c. 1 Pet 1. 12. Our conversation is heavenly. Phil. 2••, 21. We are Saints and such as make the Lord ••u•• portion. Psal. 16. 5 These are Gods people who have the Lord for their God, and to whom the comforts of this poy••t belong. Mat. 22. 32. What then have reprobate, unregenerate, unbeleeving, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, unmercifull, deceitfull, carelesse, hard-hearted, proud, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wicked and impenitent persons to do with those comfortable promises and discoveries? they have no part nor portion herein, but their portion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the next use.

[Ʋse. 5] The next and last use to be made of this point of death•• certain and speedy approach is of very great terrour and discomfort to, all wicked and ungodly persons, such as we have before s••cluded from all the comfort of this point. The licentious ••••••cure that sayth, 1 Cor. 15. 32. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die. Luke 12. 19. Psal. 49. 18. The secure wordling that doth think his house shall continue for ever Psal. 49. 11. and that he hath enough for many yeares. Luk. 12. 19. The proud who trusteth in his goods and glor••eth in the multitude of his wealth Psal. 49. 6. and all o∣ther sinners whatsoever, that walk in the way of their own hearts, and ei∣ther mind not at all, or put farre from them their dying day. Eccles. 7. 9. Amo•• 6. 3. All these are to know to their grief and astonishment that they must certainly and shortly die and that very suddenly, and when they least of all expect it, their souls will be required of them, and return they must to God to give an account of all the things they have done in their flesh, and from thence be sent packing to hell: their bodies shall ••re long chop into the earth when they must leave all their worldly enjoyments they so much glory and rejoyce in, and settle upon to others, and be gone from hence to be seen no more; A change they also shall make, but not from a worse to a better estate, but from a better to a worse estate, they shall go from peace to trouble, from liberty to bondage, from life to death, from their heaven to hell, and from the enjoyment, and the hope of all in this world, which either is, or they esteem to be good, to all that is evill, or if they do (as some of them do) go from a sad condition here, they go into a worse, out of the Frying-pan they g•••• to the Fi••e, ••ut of Prison to the Gallowes; they are lanching into an infinite ocean of scalding Lead,

and in it they must swim naked for ever. In one word, they are passing out of the world into death and the grave, and from thence to judgment. Of which we are to speak in the next place.

Of JUDGEMENT. DOCTRINE.

There is without question a great and terrible Assist or day of generall Judgement set and to come, wherein every one must be brought to account, and be judged for all his thoughts, words, and works.

IN this point we shall say something for Explication, something for Con∣firmation, and somthing for Application. For Explication, 1. It shall be a great day, and so it is called, ••ude v. 6. Mal. 4. 5. It is so called, 1 for the great assembly and meeting that then shall be. If all the Juries and peo∣ple of the Kingdom were to meet at one grand Assise before the King himself for the tryall of all the Delinquents in the Kingdom, this would be a great day: how great then will that day be wherein all the Men, Women and Children that ever were, are, or shall be, must appear before the Lord Jesus to be judg∣ed? 2. It is called a great day because there are great things to be done on that day. It is also called a terrible day, because there are terrible things on that day to be seen and done. Io•••• 3. 2. Rev. 20. 12, 13, 14. 13. 16. Ioel 2. 31. Mal. 4. 5. It is also called the day, or that day, by a specialty, Luke 21. verse 34 Rev. 6. 17.

This day we call the day of the generall Judgement, to distinguish it from the perticular Judgement which every man receiveth at his death, for every mans deaths day is his dooms-day, Hebr. 9. 27. Eccles. 12. 7.

This is to be a day of Judgement: For in it there shall be a formall and ••udiciall proceeding; Judgment containeth three things, 1 Examination of the cause wherein it is requisite, there be two things, 1. an equity in all things and persons: 2. a laying open of this equity: 2. a giving of Judgement up∣on the cause: 3. the doing of execution according to the Judgement, all this shall be then done: For the Judge shall sit, parties shall be cited, evidence given in, a tryall had and passed, and judgment given; men shall be formally and orderly examined, condemned and punished, Rev. 10. 11, 12. Matt. 25. verse 40. &c.

This day is decreed and set, Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day wherein to ••••dge the world. And it is not past, but yet to come; nor shall it come till the end of all other things be first come: 2 Thess. 2. 1, 2, 3. nor is the very certain houre or day to be known by man, Matt. 24. 42. 25. 1••.

All flesh young and old, rich and p••ore, male and female must then appear, none shall be so great to avoid it, none so little as to be forgotten. And they must, (must you say is for the King) so saith the King of Kings, they must ap∣pear and that in person, they may not appear by proxie, nor may they be ex∣cused for their default, or make delay, or have a day over, but they must then and there appear to give anaccount, Revel. 20. 12. I saw the dead great and

small stand before God. 2 Cor. 5. ••0. We must all appear before the judg•••••••• seat of Christ: Eccles. 11. 9. God will bring thee [i. the young man] to judg∣ment; though thou be unwilling to come, God will bring t•••••• by force, Hebr. 6. 27. Rom. 14. 10.

That all thi•• is out of all question, will appear by the Confirmation which follows in the next place; 1. That it is so. 2. That it must be so: That it is so, 1. many Scriptures of the old and new Testament do foreshew it: Da••. 12. 1, ••ard 7. 26. 22. Eccles. 11. 9. Mal. 4. 5. Ioel 2. 31. Iude verse 14, 15. Acts 17. 31. Rom. 14. 10. Acts 10. 42, 43. to him give all the Prophets wit∣nesse, that he is ordained of God to be judge both of quick and dead. Rev. 1. 7. Behold he commeth; (i.) It is as certain as if he were come. 2. The Devils and wicked men at one time or another believe it, and tremble to think of it, M••t. 8 ••9. Art thou come to torment us before the time. Iames 2. 19. The Devils be∣lieve and tremble; their hearts ake and quake within them. 3. All the God∣ly expect it, 2 Pet. 3. 12. 4 Many signes there have been and are foreshew∣ing it. 5. The prayers of good and sins of bad men will bring it about, Rev. 22. 17, 20. chapt. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

2. That it must be so, reason doth evince it: 1. For it will not stand with the justice, mercy, and goodnes of God that it should be otherwise then well with the good, and ill with the bad at last, since it falleth out often, that the condition of the best men is worst, and of the worst men is best in this life. How can it stand with the justice of God, that wicked persecutors should go unpunished, and not receive a reward of their works, and that the godly who have suffered so much injury from wicked men should not be righted and re∣compenced. There is nothing in all the world doth more certainly prove the day of judgment then the injustice of the wicked world; for thus we may reason, will the Lord certainly punish the wicked and reward the just; this being not alwayes in this life, it must be certainly at the day of judgment, Beli••es, what mistakes and mi••construction do the justice of God and ino∣cency of godly men lye under in this life, and how much do the names of God and godly men su••••er hereby, and when or how will they or can they be delivered, but at and by this day of judgement? For the clearing thereof therefore and manifestation of Gods justice and godly m••••s integrity, the•••• must be of necessity such a day to come: Hence it is called the day of the Rev••lation of the righteous judgement of God. 2 Thess. 6. We glory in your pa∣tience in your sufferings which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God. The Saints sufferings here are (as one saith) an ocular demonstration of a future judgement, where all their wrongs shall be righted, and all their labours of love recompenced, Iames 5. 8. Rom. 2. 5. That therefore there is such a judgement to come we do rightly professe in one of the Articles of our Creed That Iesus Christ shall come from Heaven to judge the quick and dead. 2. Gods decree hath set it, Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to man once to die, but af∣ter this the judgment. 3. His word hath spoken it and his truth must perform it. We have done with the Confirmation▪ but we must answer two or three objections ••re we can make our Application. [Object.]

[Answer.] It may be said, God judgeth men now, he judgeth men everyday.

To this we answer, This judgment is begun here on good and bad; God

judgeth men by his word, by their own Consciences and by his administra∣tion and the disposall of his works: but the finall and solemn consummation and manifestation thereof is not till this day of judgment.

[Object. 2] It may be also objected out of that place Iohn 12. 47. that Christ sayth He came not to judge the world but to save it.

To this we answer, That by those words Christ meaneth nothing but [Answer.] this, that he came not then when he came first into the world to judge or punish men for sin, but to save men from sin, and for that purpose then, rather to execute his priestly and propheticall office then his kingly office in the judgment and punishment of sinners, which is to be done at the time of his second comming to judgment.

[Object. 3] There is yet one more objection to be answered, which is this, There need∣eth no other judgment then what is already. Iohn. 3. 18. 5. 24. He that be∣leeveth shall not come into judgement, but he•• that beleeveth not is condemned already.

To this we answer, that the sence of this place is by Interpreters thus, that the beleever shall not be judged to condemnation, but in the judgment of absolution he shall be judged. And as for the unbeleever he is condem∣ned already by that ancient sentence Gen. 3. 19. 2. 17. Gal. 3. 19. he is condemned also by Gods councell and decree, by Gods word and by his own conscience, the sentence is as it were passed, the halter about his neck, nothing to be done but turn him over the ladder of life, and he is gone for ever. Or he is as sure to be condemned as if it were done already: but the full and solemn declaration and execution of this is not till this last judgment.

And now we shall come to the application of this point and consider what profitable uses we may make thereof wherein we must premise these things, that some of the uses are deduced from the generall doctrine of the last judgment, and some of them from some particular branches of this doctrine, or some things that do accompany this judgement; As the firing of the world, the end of all things and the like: And some of the uses are applyable to all men, but some to good men and some to bad men only.

[Ʋse 1] The first use shall be of Instruction and discovery, to shew us some things concerning this point of the last judgment. 1. Who shall be Judge? The Lord Jesus Christ, God and man, as to the externall visible act, is to be the Judge of quick and dead. Acts 17. 31. 10. 42. And herein his divinity and humanity both shall be exercised. But as to the consent and authority the whole Trinity shall be Judge. Rom. 2. 5. 16. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Christ Jesus the second person of the Trinity is to be the Judge. 1. That as he was judged by the world so the world may be judged by him. 2. That as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people have seen him in his state of humility, so they may see him in a state of glory. 3. That therby he may perfect his Kingly office. 4. Because the Father hath committed all judgment to him. John 5. 27. 22. 5. That he may have the same honour with his Father. 6. That the Iudge may be visible.

If that be objected which is in Matt. 19. 28. 1 Cor. 6. 2. that the Apo∣stles

and Saints shall judge the world?

The answer is this. That some take the sence of this text to be but this. That their doctrine, faith, and grace shall rise in judgment against the unbe∣liefe and wickednesse of the world and leave them inexcusable. Heb. 11. 7. Mat. 12. 41, 4••. Others thus. They shall sit with him as assistants and ap∣prove of the sentence; as Iustices of peace with the Iudges. Others thus. They shall according to their measure partake of the glory of Christs Kingdome and be therein preferred before others. Luke 22. 30. Rev. 10. 4. 2, 26 D••••. 12. 3.

2. What this judgment shall be? It shall be that whereby Christ will judge all men without exception according to his word, some to eternall life, some to eternall death.

3. The place where this judgment shall be? For this some have thought that the place of this judgment shall be over the valley of Jehosa••hat n••••r to Ierusalem, and for proofe hereof have alleadged some reasons and some places of Scripture. As Ioel 3. 1, 2. 2 Chron. 20. 1. 22, 23. &c. But this opinion seemeth to be very doubtfull; and it is more probable it shall be in the aire and alost; from th••se Scriptures. Luke 21. 27. Mat. 24. 27, 28. 30, 31. 1 Thess. 4. 17.

4. The time when this judgment shall be? For this some have held, it shall be at the end of 6000. years. Others immediatly after the discovery of Antichrist. Others at another time. But these things are not, certain. Yet as to this poynt the Scripture seems clearly to h••ld forth these things. 1. That Gods people shall have a more certain knowledge of the time when this judgment shall be then wicked men shall have: they may perhaps be able to see and say in what age it shall be. 1 Thess. 5. 1, 2, 3. &c. But the very precise time no man or Angell can or shall know, for this knowledge is hid from man, and kept in Gods own power. 1. For his own glory. 2. For his peoples good, to the end they may be alwayes upon their watch, * 1.11 and still ready and prepared. Therefore God hath kept one day from us, that we may watch every day. There is nothing more certain then that Christ will come, but nothing more uncertain then the time when. Christ will come to judgment. Mat. 24. 36. But of that day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the dayes of Noah were, so likewise shall the comming of the So••••e of man be. Acts 1. 7. Marke 13. verse 32.

2. That this day shall come, when it doth come, suddainly and unexpected∣ly as a thief in the night, and a snare upon the blind and secure inhabi∣tants of the world. Luke 21. 35. When they shall cry peace, then shall come suddaine destruction. 1 Thess. 5. 3. Matt. 24. 38. As in the dayes before the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they did eate and drinke &c. and knew nothing till the floud tooke them all away, so shall the comming of the Sonne of man be

3. This day is not farre off but neer at hand, and is hastened by the sins of wicked, and the prayers of godly men. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Rev. 22. 17. chap. 14. 14, 15. &c.

4. The manner and order of this last judgment, and of Christs com∣ming to it. This judgment will be in itself, and to all wicked men excee∣ding

terrible and dreadfull; For as the Iudge so the judgment will be most impartiall just and righteous. Rom. 2. 2. We are sure the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. If Gods temporall judgments which were only shaddowes hereof were so terrible, how much more terrible will the substance thereof, and the execution thereof, this last judgment be? See Ioel 2. 1, 2. 31. &c. Zeph. 1. 14, 15, 16. This judge∣ment is resembled and likened to terrible things, as Lightening, Theeves in the night, the Child-birth of a Woman, the comming of a Iudge to guilty Persons &c. Notable is that place in Rev. 6. from v. 12. to the end of the chapter, upon the opening of the sixt Seale, being a prophecy of tem∣porall judgments only to come upon the Roman Empire already fulfilled upon divers great men and others therein, enemies of Christ and his Mem∣bers. And I behold and there was a gr••at earthquake, and the Kings of the earth, great men, rich men, chiefe Captaines, mighty men &c. [notwithstanding their valour, power, wit, riches and friends] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselves amongst the R••cks and said to the mountaines fall on us, and hide us from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne, an•• from the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand? Esay. 34. 6. 8. Ezek. 10. 11, 12. chap. 30. 2, 3. 9. Esay. 13. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Of this day then we may say much more, who shall stand, who shall be able to abide it? Mal. 3. 2. This day therefore in 2 Cor. 5. 11. is called the terrour of the Lord. But the dayes of temporall judgments the great and terrible dayes of the Lord. Terrible this judgment will be. 1. For the things which shall go before it. 2. For the things which shall accompany it. 3. For the things which shall follow after it. For the things which shall precede it we will not speak of those foregoing, but remote signs Which Divines say are 8. [To wit] 1. The preaching of the Gos∣pell. 2. The Apostacy of professors. 3. The revealing of Antichrist. 4. Great wars and troubles in the world. 5. Great trouble in the Church. 6. False Christs. 7. The calling of the Iewes. 8. Strange signs in Heaven. But of the immediate signs which shall appeare a little before Christs comming to judgment. For some think that alittle before this, the powers of Heaven shall be shaken, the Sun and the Moon shall be darkened, and the Stars shall fall from Heaven, out of Mat. 24. 29, 30. Luke 21. 26. and that these Prophesies are to be taken litterally, that there shall be strange e∣vents in Heaven and Earth, that the frame of the whole universe shall shake as a house that gives a Crack when it is ready to fall. And it is most proba∣ble that that which the Apostle 2 Pet. 3 10. prophesieth concerning this day. The day of the Lord will come as a Thiefe in the night, in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a noise [like a mighty Whirl-wind or Temp••st, roaring and carrying all before it] and the elements shall melt with heate, and the earth with the workes that are therein shall be burnt up. And after v. 11. That day of God by the which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved: an∣swerable to that in Mat. 24. 29. 30. The Sun shall be darkened and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. By which is understood the purging re∣newing and changing of their form and not their utter destruction; by comparing these places with Psal. 102. 26. Rom. 8. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Rev. 20. 11. After this there shall be new heavens and a new earth. This thing

we say it is probable is to go immediatly before Christs comming, or that Christ shall come in this fire: And as the day of Iudgment is the last day, so it is likely the judgment it self is one of the last acts of this day. For the text ••aith, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ely after, these strange signes and sights, the on of man shall appear: Matth. 24. 29, 30. and in and by this change of all things, it is proba∣ble that change shall be made of the Saints, whereof the Apostle speaks 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15. 51, 52. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. Some understand by the signe of the Son of man, Matth. 24 30 some ex••••••∣ding glory which shall appear in heaven before the appearing of the So••••e of man himself, which others take to be meant of the dreadfull dissolution of the world by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 immediatly to forego his appearing.

2. The comming of the judge shall be terrible: For 1, it shall be cons〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the Lightning, for he shall appear in his humane shape, so that every eye and those that have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, Rev. 1. 7. Acts 1. 11. 2. It is not improbable (as we have touched) that he shall discend and come in the clouds in the middest or at the end of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Psal. 50. 3. God shall co•• and shall not keep silence, a fire shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before him, and a mighty tempest shall be round about him: 2 Thess. 1 6, 7. When the Lord I••sus shall shew himself from 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 flaming fire: 3. his comming shall be suddain like the comming of the Lightning, Matth. 24 27. 4. his comming shall be with great power, b••••ghtnes, majestre and glory, Psal. 18. 7, 8, &c. So Matt. 24. 30. Chap. 25. 31. He shall co••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sit mounted on the clouds, as on a stately Throne, Acts 1. 9. 11. env••••oned as with a flame of fire attended with an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••••t of heavenly Angels, there shall not one of them be left in heaven, but they shall all minister to him in this work: What a bright day will this be, when so many glorious Suns shal shine in the ••••rmament together, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the Sun of righteousnes out••••••ning them so much, that the Sun shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him, 2 Thess. 1. 7, 8. 1 Thess. 4 17. Matth. 6. verse 27. Luke 21. 27. Matth. 25. 3••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15. 16.

3. An unconceivable and unspeakable hor••our and fear shall seize upon all especially upon all wicked men: Luke 21. 25, 26, 27. And there shall be signes in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in the Stars, and upon the Earth d••••••resse of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 w••th 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Sea and the Wav•• roaring, mens hearts failing them for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and ••or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after the thing•• which are comming on the earth: For the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 shall be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. Matth. 24. 30. Then shall the signe of the Son of man ap••ear in Heaven, and all the tribes of the Earth shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Revel. 20. 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Earth shall ••••e away before him: Rev. 6. 18. The King Captains 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great men shall run into holes and corners.

4. There will be a long 〈◊〉〈◊〉 terrible ••••und of a Trumpet made by Christs 〈◊〉〈◊〉, an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christs voice and the last Trump, like unto that at the giving ••t the Law Exo. 19. 15. and as at their solemn meetings they did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men together ••y a Trumpet, so n••w by this Trump, the dead in Christ shall be first raised and called before Christ, and the rest of the dead afterwards, Iohn 5 28. And by the Ministery of this and the rest of the An∣gels, as by his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and executioners he shall send, cite, summon and gather together all Nations before him, 1 Thess. 4. 16. Mat 24. 31. 1 Corin. ••5 52. Matt. 25. 32. And thus much for what shall go before the judgement.

It will be terrible also for the things which shall accompany the Judgement it self. For the proceeding herein shall be much after the manner of the Judi∣catures of men. For here in are thrones prepared for the Judge, his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and assistants, and they shall sit on them, Dan. 7. verse 10. Matth. 19. verse 18. Re••. 20. verse 11.

2. There is ••. a law making the offence, and a punishment appointed for the ••ssence: 2. a hearing of the cause wherein is an offence proved to be done 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sentenced to be punished: 3. the sentence executed according to that ••aw. In the doing of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are two parts, 1. a hearing of the cause, 2. a do∣ing of execution, and in the first of these are foure parts; 1. an accusation: 2. an arra••gnment: 3. an examination of witnesses or giving of evidence: 4. a giving of sentence, So here. The Iudge being on his Throne and all Nations convented before him, every man is brought forth, his case is exami∣ned, and he receiveth his sentence according to it. But to open this yet more fully let us examine these two things, 1. by what men shall be tryed. 2. how it shall be done: 1. By what? They shall be tryed ••y their words and works by which their faith or infidelity shall be discerned, Matth. 25. 35, & 42, &c. Iude v. 15. 2 ••or. 5. 10. 2. How they shall be tryed: 1, by discovery of the fact: 2, by discovery of the Law. By discovery of the fact, For which pur∣pose, The books of Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 know••edge, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 every mans own consci∣•••••••• as an informer accusing and as a thousand with 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then ••ly and lye so open, that every man shall have all his 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, ••••d shall be left, and sit down speechlesse, excuselesse and self-〈◊〉〈◊〉, Iude v 15. And this shall be such a discovery as nothing shall escape it, for it shall be of every thought of ou•• heart, though never so secret; every 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••f our 〈◊〉〈◊〉, though never so car••lesly uttered; every glance of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eye, every moment of our time, every omission of good, every commission 〈◊〉〈◊〉 done by ourselves, or by others, and suffered by us, of every 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, of every good thing committed to us, of every work we have done, ••f every company we have kept; all this must be brought to judgement: And our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that ••e n••w written (as it were) with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall then be by the fire of the last day made most legible, Matth. 25. 19. Rom. 2. 1, 6 R••••. 20. 12 Eccles. 20. 1. God will bring every work to judgement, with every 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing whether good or evill. 1 Corin. 4. 5. Iudge nothing before the time, till the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darknesse, and make 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 of the heart manifest, and then shall every ma•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praise of God. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 50. ••1. I will reprove th••••, and set them in order befor•• thine eyes. 2. This that be by discovery of the word of God, Law and Gospel; For men shall have that light therein as to see, 1. what they should have done: 2. what they have done against it: 3. what they must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for it. They that have had no more but the law of nature shall be judged by that alone; they that have had the law written, by that also; they that have had them both and the Go∣spell shall be judged by them all: Rom. 2. 12. 16. Iohn 1 2. 48. Thus th•• ••••y∣all and hearing of every mans cause being done and passed, there shall be a se∣peration made of the good and bad: the good shall be set on Christs right∣hand, a place of dignity and safetie; the bad on his left-hand, a place of neg∣lect

and forsaking, Matth. 25. 33. Then the sentence shall be pronounced, and this is twofold: 1. of Absolution to the good, the sheep on his right hand in these words. Come yee blessed, &c. every word full of sweetnesse and com∣fort. 2. Of Condemnation to the bad, the Goats on his left hand in these words. Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his An∣gels: a sentence breathing out nothing but fire and brimstone, stings and horrours, every word whereof hath in it a deadly sting. Depart, be gone, from me: from God, this were Hell enough to go from God the chiefest good, But oh God! let me go with a blessing, nay with a curse and vengeance: G••yee 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Whether Lord must I go? Let me go to some good place of pleasure? ••••y to H••ll fire, a fire as bad as Gods wisdome can devise, of old by him devised for thy torment; yet let me I pray thee come out again? ••ay into everlasting fire. Grant me then but some good company there? nay with the Devill ••••d his Angels. And thus we have the terriblenesse of the Iudgment, and that which doth accompany it.

Now that which followeth it is the execution of this sentence, and this will be much more terrible. For 1. it will be suddain and present, there can be no reprieve, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be no delay. 2. I•• will be certain, no pardon no•• other thing can happen or come between the Cup and the Lip to prevent it. 3. It will be unresistable and unavoidable; for no power or policy can rescue the prisoner. 4. It will continue to all eternity. The wicked being then under that shame and contempt spoken off by Daniel chap. 12. v. 2. and under ten thousand time•• more horror and grief, then ever any guilty condemned per∣son was after his sentence of condemnation pronounced shall be violently puld down to Hell from the presence of the glorious God, Iesus Christ, all good Angels and Men, and their godly friends, who shall be then so far from pitty∣ing and praying for them, that they shall rejoyce in Gods justice upon them, and there they must suffer the pain and horrour of eternall, ••aselesse, and re••••∣dilesse vengeance in a dark dungeon; the gates whereof are to be for ever shut upon them, whilest the godly shall be taken up into heaven, there to enjoy everlasting rest, glory, and peace. Matth. 25. 46. And they shall go into ever∣lasting pain, and these into eternall life. Revel. 20. 14. Death and Hell, (i.) the heirs of Death and Hell; the reprobates shall be cast into the lake of fire this is the second Death, of which we shall anon speak largly: 2 Cor. 5. 10. 7. This Iudgment being dispatched, the end of all things shall come, Matth. 13. 40. 24. 3. 31, 32, &c. 1 Cor. 15. 23, 24. 8. This doctrine of the last judg∣ment, and Christ comming ought much to be thought upon of every Chri∣stian, Rev. 22. 12. 9. By this we may be taught also; That God will have the glory of his justice to be seen. 2 Thess 1. 4. 10. Lastly, this doth disco∣ver to us Gods goodnes in forewarning man of this day, for by this means he may be prepared for to receive the good of it, and forearmed against the evill of it: so we have done with the Use of Instruction.

[Ʋse 2] In the next place let it be to exhort and perswade us, and that to divers things. 1. This point of the last judgment and Christs comming there∣unto, being an unquestionable truth, an Article of our Creed and Prin∣ciple of our Christian faith, let us not doubt of it, but stedfastly beleeve it. Heb. 6. 2. 2. It being a point of so great moment and high con∣cernment

to us let us meditate and consider of it, and this let us do. 1 Pup••sely and willingly as Iob did. Iob 19. 25. I know that my redeemer liveth &c. not accidentally and unwillingly as divels and wicked men do. ••••mes 2. 19. Acts 24. 25. 2. Beleevingly so Iob 19. 25. not doubt∣fully as those wicked in 2 Pet. 3. 4. There shall be m••ckers who shall say where is the promise of his comming. 3. Desirously as a good day to be wi••••∣ed for, so the Church Rev. 22. 17. The Spirit and the Bride say come, not fearfully as an evill day to be avoyded as Foelix did Act. 24. 25. And as he disputed of the judgement to come Foelix trembled and answered, goe thy way for this time, and when I have a convenient time I will call for thee. 4 Often and continually Mat. 24. 44. not once a yeare once a moneth or once a week only: let us think we ever hear this voyce sounding in our ears, awake ye dead and come to judgment. 5. Seriously so as to pre∣pare for it Luke 12. 35. 40. Be ye ready also, for the Sonne of man commeth at an houre when ye thinke not. 2 Pet. 3. 10, 11, 12. The day of the Lord will come as a Thiefe in the night &c. what manner of persons ought ye th•••• to be in all holy conversation an•• godlynesse &c. looking for the comming of this day &c. not scoffingly as those 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2 Pet. 3. 4. And in the medi∣tation of this day let us think of. 1. The certainty and unavoydable∣nesse of it. Acts 1. 11. 2. The terriblenesse of it. 2 Cor. 5. 11. 3 The neernesse of it, at least to every man in particular Rev. 1. ••. To pr••v••le us to consider much of this time, we are to kn••w. 1 That it is a wise pro∣fitable and usefull meditation, and will certainly leave some good impressi∣on behind it upon the heart. Deut 32. 29. For it serves 1. To take of our hearts from the vanities of this life: he will not much care for that house which is shortly to be burnt down about his cares. 2 Pet. 3. 1••. 2. It will serve to make us patient under our present troubles to consider that this time will put an end to them Iob 19. 25. 3. It will make us have a ••are to keep our Accounts always in a readinesse whilst we are still in expectation of the comming of our Master to call us to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 account Rom. 14. 12. 4. And finally it will much serve to forward the work of grace, restrain us from evill, and make and keep us good Rom. 14. 10. 12, 13. Why doest thou condemne brother, or why doest thou despi••••thy brother? For we shall all appeare before the judgement S••ate of Christ, so then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God, Let us not therefore judge one another any more &c. Math. 3. ••. Who hath forewarned you to fly from the wrath, Gods judgement to come, in this but especially in the next life. 1 Thess. 1. 10. Mat. 23. 23. Acts 3. 19 Amend your lives therefore and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that your sins may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Iesus Christ &c. whom the heavens must containe untill the time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all things be restored &c. Acts 17. 30, 31. And the time of this ignorance God regarded not, but now he admonisteth all men every where to repent, because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousn••s by that man whom he hath appointed whereof he hath given 〈◊〉〈◊〉 assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Re∣markable for this is that place, Eccles. 11. 9. Rejoyce O young man [thou that presumest of thy ag••, and puttest far of the evill day of Death and Iudgment••

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and let thine heart chear thee, &c. [like the fool in the Gospel Luke 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, please thy self in thine own vain concelts and wilfulnes] walk in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of thine own heart [pursue thy pleasures and satisfie thy lusts without 〈◊〉〈◊〉] but know that for all these things God will bring thee to Iudgment. Now to help us in this meditation let us use these means, 1. Let us read and hear often those Scriptures and other books which treat of this subject: 2. Let us speak much of it with them who do most think of it: 3. Let us observe much those things amongst men which do resemble it, as the Lightning, Iudicatures of men and the like: 4. Let us still pray to God to put and keep this medita∣tion in our hearts.

In the third place we are to be exhorted, that believing and thinking of this last Iudgment, and Christs comming to it, we do prepare for it. This is Christs counsel, Matt. 24. 44. Therefore be ye also ready, for in an houre that yee think not, will the Son of m••n come: Luke 12 40. Be ye also prepared therefore. Matth. 25. 13 Watch therefore, &c. for ye know not the day nor the ••ou•••• when the son of man commeth. Luke 21. 6. Watch yee therefore and pray alwayes. And this we must do for these reasons, 1. because this day hasteth and will steale upon vs unawares if we look not to it: Luke 21. 35. As a snare it shall come on them that dw•••• on the earth. Rev. 3. 3. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thiefe, and thou shalt not know what houre I will come upon thee. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••y the mo••e suddain the more terrible for 1, it amazes and exanimates a man, as an unexpected storm doth the Mariner: 2. it cannot be prevented. 2 That which we do in the mater of preparation must be done before that day come, for it will be then too late to do any thing to it: and delay in this case is very dangerous, for though we could be sure of time, yet we cannot be sure of grace as we have set forth to us in the instance of the foolish Virgins,Matt. 25. 9, 10. They which neglect to get grace here have no way left to get any then. And no other mans goodnes will then stand them in any stead. Psal. 95. 11. Matt. 24 43, 44. it will be too late to bolt the door when the thieves are broken into the house. 3. If at that time we be not prepared we are un∣done forever, if we be prepared we are made for ever, Matth. 25. 9, 10, 11. 4. None but such as are prepared will be able to stand justified in that judg∣ment. Luke 21. 36. Watch, &c. that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to passe, and to stand before the Son of man.

If now you shall ask me how you may be prepared for Christs comming.

I answer 1. We must labour for true repentance, which doth consist in contrition, confession, faith, and reformation. Acts 17. 30, 31. Now God commandeth all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath or∣dained. &c. 1. Cor. 11. 31. If we judge our selves we shall not be judged. Now let us weep over him in time because we have offended him, least we be forced to weep and wail to late that we did not weep in time Acts 3. 20, 21. Repent and amend, that your sins may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ &c. Mat. 11. 20, 21. Luke 13. 3, 5. 2. We must beleeve and obey the Gospel of Christ Acts 16. 31. Beleeve on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved. By this faith we are united to Christ the Judge, and make him a sure friend to

us Phil: 3. 9. 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. 2 Thes. 1. 10. when Christ comes to Judge∣ment he shall be admired of all them that beleeve, And he is a Saviour onely to them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. But he will shew himself from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, rendring veng••an•••• to them that do not know God, and which obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes. 1. 7, 8. 3. we must labour for a holy and unblameable life. 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing then all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse, looking for and hasting to the comming of the day of God. And after verse 14. be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse. Rev. 3. 4, 5. They who have not defiled their garments (i) have kept themselves from the contagion of sin, even from the shew of evil, Iude ver. 23. they shall be clothed in white (••) gloriously and their names shall not be put out of the book of life, in which the names of the elect are written. But the wicked shall not be able to stand in the judgement. Psal. 1. 5. and into the holy Citie there shall not enter any unclean thing, neither whatsoever worketh Abomination, or Lies, but they which are written in the Lambs book of life. Revelation. 21. 27. 4. We must labour with all diligence to make good our Election to our selves, for thereby we shall be made sure of salvation; if we can be sure our names are written in the book of life. Reve. 21. 27. Reve. 20. 12, 15. And I saw the dead both great and small stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened which is the book of Life and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And whosoever was not found written in the books of life was cast into the ••ake ••of fire. And we shall finde out our Election by our San∣ctification. Rom••n••s. 8. 30. 2 Pet. 1. 10, 11. and Iude ver. 1. 1 Thes. 4. 7.

5. We must have a care to to keep our Accounts alwaies even between God and us. For this purpose we must 1. set them down exactly. 2. We must cast them up often. Thus thriving men and such as mean not to be bankrupts use to doe by their Civill accounts. 6 We must seek the Lord now whiles he may be found. Esay 55. 6. Let us now su•• out our pardon, and make our peace with him in Christ and get the favour of the Judge, for now is the day of mercy, of grace, the day of Judgement is a day of wrath and vengeance. 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. Luke 3. 7. Rom. 2. 5. 7. We must not sleep in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but be alwayes awake unto righteousnesse and having our Ac∣counts ready, live alwayes in an expectation of Christs suddain appeareance. Luke 21. 34, 36. Matth. 24. 42. Rom. 14. 12. 2 Thes. 5. 4 6 It is doubt∣lesse one main cause of the freedom and boldnesse of men in sinning, that either they think not of giving any account at all, or if they do they put that day far from the••: he that without all consideration taketh up money and runs in debt, doth certainly never mean to pay it again. Come saith the Ha••lot Prov. 7. 8. Let us take our pleasure to the full &c. my husband is gone a far journey &c. Matth. 24. 48. The evil servant that smiteth his fel∣lows, and eateth and drinketh with the drunken, saith, My master doth defer his comming Amos 6. 3. They put far from them the evil day and approach to the seat of iniquity. 8 If we be professours of religion, we must not be content

with the lamp of profession onely, but also labour to get the oile of true grace and piety in our hearts. Matth. 25. 1. 2, 3, &c. 2 Tim. 3. 5. 9 We must be faithfull and active in the places wherein God hath set us, and in the trusts put into our hands Mat. 24. 46, 10. We must pray alwayes Luke 21. 36. Pray with David Psal. 143. 2. Lord enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy fight shall no flesh be justified. 11 And thus we must love, long, and wish, for the speedy comming of this day and of Christ our dearest friend Rev. 22. 17. 2 Pet. 3. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 7. And rejoyce that it draweth nigh Acts 3. 19. Luke 21. 28. 12. We must continue withpa∣tience a••d sobriety to wait for Christs comming till he come. For 1. it will be long ere he come Mat. 25. 5. 2. A generall securitie will be upon all sorts of people Mat. 25. 5. 6. Mat. 24. 38. 39. 3. Securitie is dangerous to all Mat. 25 5, 6. 7. 8. 4 Herein is watchfulnesse indeed, in an earnest care and bending of the mind, to live every day as one would live upon his Judgement day, which may fall out to be every day for ought that he know∣eth. Thus let us be alwayes prepared, for Christ will come in an hour that we think not of. 4. Since at the day of judgement every man shall receive according to his works, let us be from hence exhorted in the next place to take care that our works be good, and that we be fruitfull in good works Rom. 2. 6. 7, 8. Especially in succouring the needie members of Jesus Christ Mat. 25. 35. I was hungry and ye fed me &c. The last definitive sentence shall passe upon men according to their forwardnesse and freenesse in shewing mercy to the family of faith and the meanest kindenesse done to them, Christ will accept, and will reward as done to himself. Mat. 10. 41. 42. God is not unfaithfull that he should forget your labour of love &c. 5. In the next place, since at this great day our conscience shall give evidence against us and either accuse or excuse us, and it will be a time of great trouble; let us labour to get good and quiet consciences towards God and man. 2 Pet. 3. 14. And if at any time the conscience happen to be defiled or disquieted by sin, let us by repentance and application of Christs blood by faith, get it to be cleansed and quieted again. A good conscience will be more worth than all the worlds good at the day of judgement Acts 24. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 6. In the next place let this serve to perswade us that are Gods people, to be patient under all the sufferings of this present life Iames 5. 6, 7, 8. Be patient there∣fore for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh: and then when he comes all will be well, for then his people shall have rest from all their troubles. 2 Thes. 1. 6, 7. But of this we shall have more in the use of comfort. 7. Let us be perswaded in the next place to think and speak more reverently of the Judge of all flesh, the Lord Jesus. If we honour our civill Judges, we are much more bound to honour this Judge. Rev. 14. 7. 8. Since that at this day of judgement all things shall be dissolved by fire: Let this in the next place perswade us to moderation in our desires after, and delights in all earth∣ly things, the works either of creation or natures daily production, or arts invention 2 Pet. 3. 11. 1 Cor. 7. 31. Let us use the world as if we used it not. 9 In the next place, since after the dissolution of all things there shall be n••w heavens, and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse. 2 Pet. 3. 13. (i) none but righteous persons: Let us then labour by regeneration to be

such persons. 10. Since this time of Christs second comming will be such a troublesome time: Let us take care to be in a safe place at that time, as men do when a city is to be stormed: Let us put our selves into Gods hands. Psal. 31. 5. 11. In the next place let this perswade us to a reverent fear of Gods judgements which are so terrible. Psal. 119. 120. Hab. 3. 16.

[Quest.] But here a question may be made whether there be any prepared for Christs comming? And whether any shall be thought worthy to escape the things that at that time shall come upon the world, and that will have cause to rejoyce at Christs comming? And who they are that shall be thus prepared &c? To the first part we answer, That doubtlesse there are such as doth clearly appear by these Scriptures Luke 21. 28, 36. Acts 3. 19 Rev. 22. 17. [Ans.] For answer to the second part, since the day of judgement is a day of so much good to some, and so much evil to others: that some shall have cause to rejoyce, others to weep and howle when it comes, we shall spend some time in examination. For which purpose,

[Vse.] The next use therefore shall be a use of triall and examination to shew men of which side and sort they are, and to discover to them whether they are of the sheep of Christ, and shall at the day of judgement be set on his right hand and taken up to glorie; or whether they be goats to be placed on his left hand and sent down to hell. Let us trie our selves whether we be in the faith or no. 2 Cor. 1. 5 Let us see whether our names be written in the book of life. (i) whether we are elected to life, and our names are written in heaven, to be ta∣ken up into life and glorie with them that are appointed thereunto; for those whose names are not written there, are to be cast out Rev. 21. 27. And hence it is that this Book is to be opened at the day of Judgement Rev. 20. 12, ••5. to see whose names are written there. Rev. 3. 5, 21, 27. Phil. 4. 3. The work is then to finde whether our names are written in this Book of life, for if once written there, they can never be put out again. But you will say how shall we know this, which is not to be known? we answer First this is to be known 1. For otherwise Moses spake he knew not what in Exod. 32. 31, 32. And Christs speech must needs be idle in Luke 10. 12. When he bids his disciples rejoyce that their names were written in the Book of life: And the Apostle 2 Pet. 2. 10. spake unadvisedly when he bid them make their Election sure 2. The Saints have known this Iob 19. 25, 26. 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. Secondly their names are written in the Book of life. (i) they are Elected which are Christs sheep: And they are Christs sheep which have. 1. Christs Eare mark an inward and effectuall C••l••••ng (i) that are drawn by the work of Gods Spirit from sin to holinesse, and made of sinners saints and sons of God. 2 Tim. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Acts 2. 39. Rom 8. 28, 30. Whom he predestinated them he called. &c. 2. Christs brand mark bro∣therly love. 1 John 3. 14. Iohn 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye love one another. 3. His mark in their foreheads, they mourn for sin. Ezek. 9. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 7. 4. His Seal the spirit of God. Rom. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8, 9, 10. 5. They feed in his pastures upon his ordinances and grow and thrive thereby in grace. Ephes. 2. 21. Psal. 23. 2. Psal. 84. 7. 6. That are like to sheep in nature and qualitie. 1. Tractable and meek, that may be easily governed and reduced from their strayings. Psal. 100. 3.

Esay. 11. 6. Matt. 5 5. Ephes. 4. 1. 2. 2. Chast. Tit. 2. 5. 3. Inno∣cent. Matt. 10. 16. 4. Patient. Iames 5. 7, 8. 1 Pet. 1. 6. Psal. 40. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Esay. 53. 7. 5 Profitable Phil. ver. 11. 6. Temperate Tit. 1. 8. Luke. 21. 24. 1 Peter. 1 6. 7. Sociable and loving. Heb. 10. 25. Ephes. 4. 1, 2. 8. Clean from soul. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Rev. 3. 4 5. 7. They have not onely a form but a power of godlinesse, not onely oyle in their lamps but in their vessels also Matt. 25. 1, 2. 3. &c. 8 They are active and faithfull in their places for Gods glory and his Churches good Matt. 24. 46. And finally they are such as beleeve and obey the gospell of Iesus Christ, turn from sin sincerely, stick to God constantly, and suffer patient∣ly the evil of this present time, desire, wait, and lock for the appearing of this Christ to judgement. 2. Thes. 1. 7, 8. Matt. 24. 48, 13, 33, 37. Heb. 10. 25. To these Christs comming and the last judgement will be very joyfull and acceptable. But such as are not called out of the world, and from their sins, that are secure, unregenerate, that hate Gods people, rejoyce in iniquity, have not the spirit of Christ, forsake the fellowship of Gods saints and ordi∣nances, profit not under them, but grow worse and worse, do not imploy, or misimploy the Tallents God hath trusted them with, are hurtfull, intem∣perate, filthy, fierce, that are impenitent, unbeleeving, Apostates, hypocrites, Idolaters, whoremongers, murderers, lyars, and such like, have little cause to rejoyce in this day. To all these Christs comming will be terrible, and the judgement day a sad day, as we shall shew you by and by. Io. 3. 3. 1 Ioh. 2. 9. 1 Cor. 1••. 6. Rom. 8. 9. Matt. 25. 14. &c. 44. 49. &c. 2 Thes. 1. 8. Luke. 13. 5. Rev. 21. 8 Heb. 10. 25. Matth. 24. 51. Luke 21. 34.

The next Use shall be a use of Comfort to all believing Christians, that have the characters of Christs Sheep we have before given upon them; and [unspec Ʋse.] truly to them the••e doe issue forth many streams of comfort from this doctrin of the last judgment and Christs Comming thereunto, 1. It may comfort and quiet them against the fear of Condemnation for their sin, for he that is their Saviour that dyed for them, their intercessor, their brother, their friend, their husband, and head shall come to be their Iudge: What need have they then to fear his severity, or a hard, or harsh sentence from him? Or what rea∣son have they to doubt of their cause, how it shall go with them? Io. 5. 22. The Father hath committed the judgment to him. 2. It may comfort them a∣gainst the meanesse and contempt of Christ (the Christians God) when he was in the world: for he, albeit he did then appear in weaknes, and in a mean condition, yet shall he appear the second time with power and great glo∣ry, to the admiration of his friends and terrour of his enemies. 2 Thess. 1. 7, 8, 1••. When the Lord Iesus shall shew himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels; Inflaming fire &c. When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be made marvelous in all them that believe. 3. It may comfort them against the hor∣ror of the grave, and the corruption of the body; for at Christs comming it shal be brought before him: therefore it must be raised and restored. Iob 19. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and he shall stand the last day on the earth, &c. 4. It may comfort them against persecutions, for when Christ comes the per∣secuted shall be delivered and rewarded, and the persecutor punished, 2 Thess.

1. 4, 5. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you which are troubled rest with us, When the Lord Iesus shall sh••w himself from heaven, &c. 5. It may comfort them against the ••ast Iudgment of men and things; evill men and evill things are now called good, and good evill: Esay 5. 20. But at this last Iudgment all men and things shall appear in their colours, and be seen to be as they are, Matth. 10. 25, 26. There is nothing covered that shall not be disclosed, nor ••id that shall not be known: and when shall this be if not at this day, which shall be the day of the declaration of the just judgment of God. Rom. 2. 5. and the time when God will lighten things that are hid in darknes, and make the counsell of the heart manifest and then shall every man have praise of God, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Rom. 14. 12, 13. Then the righteous cause and person trodden down, here shall have the upper hand. Psal. 49. 14. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, (i) at the day of the resurrection, after the night of death and the grave is past: Then it shall be known who was in fault, Ioseph or his Mistress, Gen. 39. 7, 8. &c. 17, 18, 19. Whether it were Ahab or Eliah that troubled Israel, 1 Kings 18. 17, 18. And whether Christ or the Scribes and Pharisees (that did so much censure him) were most faulty. Then will it be seen, who indeed is the hypo∣crite, the factious, seditious, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 person, who is the truly foole, and who is the truly wise man; there will be a resurrection of names as well as of bodi••s. 6. It may comfort them against the injuries they su••••er by unjust Iudges, and their unjust sentences, Iam. 5. 6, 7, 8. Eccless. 3. vers. 16, 17. 5. 8. Esdras 7. 32. the most high shall appear upon the seat of Iudgment, and mi∣sery shall vanish. 7. It may comfort them against all manner of misery and sorrow: when Christ shall come to judgement, all sorrow shall be done away, and perfect deliverance shall come to them, Then shall all tears be wiped away from their eyes, Luke 21. 28. When yee see th••se things, lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. It is called therefore a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3. 19, 20, 21. This held up Iobs head above wa∣ter, who otherwise had been overwhelmed with the flouds of affliction, Iob. 19 25. and Daniel 12. 1, 2. and those Saints in Hebr. 11. 35. and as the summer after the winter, so Heaven after these sorrows will be much the sweeter. 8. This may comfort them against the dissolution of Heaven and Earth; these shall be dissolved, but we shall have new Heavens, and a new Earth: (i) we shall have them with renewed qualities, shining with brightnes and glory, som∣what proportionable to the Saints, to delight their eyes and minds; Wherein shall dwel righteousnesse: (i.) none but righteous persons, 2 Pet. 3. 12. Esay 1. 21. 9. This may comfort them in respect of all the good they do, and evill they suffer: it is perhaps little heeded of men, they do as much as they can obscure it, and the glory of the Saints for it: when Christ comes to judge∣ment, he will trumpet out their praise. Matth. 25. 35. I was hungry and yee fed me, &c. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Then shall every one have praise of God.

The next and last use we shall make of this point of the last judgment is a use of discomfort and reproof to two sorts of people. 1. It is for the great ter∣rour and fear, and sharp reproof of all such as viewing themselves in the glass [unspec Ʋse.] of the former discoveries find themselves to be not the Sheep of Christ but Goats, as Murtherers, Whoremongers, Pornicators, Sorocrers, Lyars, Persecutors, Oppressors, Buggerers, Thieves, Drunkards, Raylors, Extor∣tioners,

Disobedient, Unbelieving, Idolatrous, Ignorant, Unregenerate, Un∣penitent, Fearfull, Hypocriticall, Apostate, Unprofitable, Formall Persons, and such as are ha••ers and despisers of Christ, his People, his Graces, and Or∣dinances: And yet if they think at all of the day of judgment, and of Christs comming it is as of a day far off, or a day that will not hurt them; or (which is worse) do neither believe it nor thing of it at all, or (which is worst of all) if they do think or speak of it, it is to mock and jeer at it. They say l••t him make hast with his work that we may see it, Esay 5. 19. Where is the promise of his comming, 2 Pet. 3. 3. Out of a prophane boldnes and infidelity as provoking God to bring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that once which he hath so long threatened: or by an impudent boasting of their own innocency, as if Gods comming to judgment should finde them not guilty, or not s guilty as they are charged to bee: they desire the day of the Lord, Amos 5. 18. Ior. 5. 11, 12, 13, &c. To all these we have this to say: 1. They are worse then the Devils who do believe the day of judgment and tremble to think of it. Matt. 8. 29. Iam. 2. 10. 2. The time will shortly come, when all Gods words which he hath spoken concerning this thing shall be no longer delayed but come to passe and be performed against them. Eze••k. 12. ••1, 2,••, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. 2. Pet. 3. 20. The day of the Lord will come &c. I••r. 5. 13, 14. 3. This day will come too soon for these men when ever it comes. 4. It will come on a suddain, and when they least of all do think of it: It shall come as a thiefe in the night. 2 Pet. 3. 10. 5. It will be a terri∣ble day to them, for they must then be brought to judgment and cannot avoid it. 2. Then shall all their sins (which now they will not see) be represented to them in their colours, as a debt they are not able to pay, nor any will pay for them, for which the Serjeant is ready to arrest them, the Gaole ready to take and keep them, till they have paid the utmost farthing which will never be, and this shall be laid open to men and Angels. 3. They can look for no other but to hear against them pronounced that dreadfull sentence, Depart yee cursed into, &c. and in what a case will their hearts be to hear it. 4. They must expect a speedy and certain execution thereof like that of Haman, Esther 7 8. Mat. 24. 50. Cut him asunder and give him his portion with Hipocrites. 5. The punishment will be intollerable, the time eternall. But to them which so much desire the day of the Lord; we have this further to say out of Zeph. 1. 12. 15. An••os 5. 18. To what end is it for you: the day of the Lord is darknes and not light: the great day of the Lord is neer, and hasteth greatly. It is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distresse, a day of wastenesse, and desolution, a day of darknesse and gloominesse, a day of clouds and thick darknesse to them which are setled on their lees, that say in their hearts, the Lord will neither do good, neither will ••e doe evill. To them and all the rest we say: There remains nothing for them: But a fearfull looking for of judgment and violent ••ire which shall devoure the adversaries, Hebr. 10. 27.

2. The second part of this use is to blame G••ods pe••ple. If t••ry of judgment be a dreadfull day, near at hand, and will come when men least think of it, are not Gods people blame-worthy that they doe not think more seriously and frequently of, and prepare more carefully for this day?

That this security may be and is the fault of Gods own people is evident. Matth. 24. 5. Whiles tho bridegroom ••arried long, they all slumbred. Matth. 25.

38, 39, &c. 1 Thess. 5. 3. When Chri•••• comes shall he finde faith on the earth? Lu••e 18. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Psal. 30. 7. 1 Cor. 11. 29, 30, 31. And hence it is partly that their hearts are so much set upon the things of this world▪ they do so little minde the making up of their accounts, and that they are so impatient under their lusterings, and so ca••elesse and uncircumspect in their lives; because they d•••• not more minde the second comming of Christ to judgment, and the near approach thereof: It was to Christs own Disciples he said, Luke 21. 34 Take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfetting, drunkennesse and the cares of this life; and least that day come on you at unawares, Matth. 24. 42, 43, &c. Matth. 25. 12, &c. And truly as this is an evill to which the Saints are lyable, so is it not without danger enough to them. The danger is set out and illustrated at large in Matth. 24. and chapt. 25. in the parable of the Virgins, and the Hou••••olders neglect of his house, and the Thieves breaking in thereby, and the sudden comming of the Master upon his evill Servant; for albeit it cannot overthrow the elect, and prevent their sal∣vation (for this is impossible to be done) yet so far it may take upon them that they may be very hardly saved. 1 Pet. 4. 18. Matth. 26. 39. It is true, the great soule Thief, the Devil, come he at what houre he will, cannot rob him, and spoile him of his salvation; but it is as true, he may notwithstanding af∣fright him sorely and much endanger his salvation. That Soul to whom when Christ shall come in his particular Judgement at his death, and finde him somewhat carelesse and secure, may perhaps not know and much doubt whe∣ther it shall be saved or not. And truly we cannot say but the last comming of Christ to judgment in generall may at the first be somwhat terrible, as the comming of the Master on a sudden to the servant whose accounts are not made o••n, and the comming of the Thief to the Housholder that looketh not for him, though he knoweth he shall not rob him: and (as it seems) the ••ive wise, but slumbring Virgins were, at the sudden comming of the Bride∣groom. The more watchfull we are, and shall be found, the more confident assured and comfortable, doubtles we shall be found when Christ comes to judgement: But if we be otherwise, we may be saved; but it will be perhaps as a firebrand pluckt out of the fire, and as Lot was saved out of the destruction of Sodom, Gen. 19. 16. It will be Gods decree and his care to keep us, and not by our watchfulnes and care to keep our selves, it will be by his holdfast of us, not our ••oldfast of him.

Of Heaven, of Hell.

IN the handling of this subject of Heaven and Hell, (to omit all curi∣ous, endlesse, needlesse and fruitlesse questions) we shall endeavour for the doctrinall part to prove 3. things necessary to be known, 1. That there is such a state to come as Heaven and Hell is: For he that is such a fool as to say ••n his heart, there is no God, may be such a fool also as to say, there is neither Hell nor Heaven. 2. What Heaven and Hell are: that the one is a very glorious and happy, the other a very base and miserable condition. 3. That there are degrees of this happines and misery. And then last of all, for the use of all this, we shall shew, how we may attain to the one, and escape the other. And for a foundation of all our structure, we will first of all lay down this doctrinall proposition or point.

DOCTRINE.

That there is a Heaven and a Hell, that this Heaven is a state of wonderfull happinesse, And this Hell is a state of wonderfull miserie, And there are degrees of this happinesse and misery. These parts we shall take and handle asunder.

That there is a Heaven.

THat there is a heaven may appear by these things. 1. Otherwise the conditi∣on of the best men will be worst, for in this life they receive most evil things. Luke 16. 25. If in this life onely we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1 Cor. 15. 19. 2. How otherwise can God be just, or appear to be just? And shall not the judge of all the earth doe right? If God proportion the worst ••sta•••• to the best men he must at least seem to be unjust, which cannot be. 2 Th••••salonians. 1. 5, 6, 7. It is a righteous t••••••g with God 〈◊〉〈◊〉. to gi••e you rest who are troubled. It is a manife•••• taken of the righteous judgements of God. This time and state is therefore called, The time of the re••••lation of the righteous judgements of God. Rom. 2. 5. 3. Otherwise the••e is no reward for the righteous for all the good works they have done. And the reward of their works shall be given them. I••say 3. 10. 4. Otherwise the greatest part of the Scripture must be false, and the promises of heaven to the righteous must be of no force, for the Scripture saith there is a Heaven and God hath promised it to the righteous, and it is purchased and pre∣pared for them. Matth. 2 5. 31, 5, 12, 19, 8, 1••, 21. Co••oss. 1. 5. Heb. 10. 34, 5. It is begun here and men have a little taste of it in this life, which is an evidence to them of the full f••u••tion thereof in the life to come. Rom. 5. 2, 8, 23. Mark 9. 45, 6. If there be a God, there is a Kingdom of God: But the first is true. 7. There is a resurrection of good and bad and therefore a place for good and bad.

That there is a Hell.

THat there is a Hell may appear by these things. 1. Otherwise the condition of the worst men will be best, for in this life they (for the most part) receive good things. Luke 16. 25. They are not afflicted as other men. (i) The righteous, for there are no other men but the righteous and the wicked. Psal. 78. 5. 2. Otherwise Gods justice is not seen in giving to every man according to his deeds as in that Rom. 2. 5, 6. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you. 2 Thess. 1. 6, 7. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take venge∣ance &c. 3. Otherwise the sinner shall escape unpun••hed for his sin; for many of them are not plagued at all for their sins here. And yet the reward of his hands shall be given him. Esay. 3. 11. And every one mu•••• receive according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 4. Otherwise the word of God, that doth assure us there is a Hell, and all the threatnings of God against sinners, that they shall be cast into bell &c. are false Esay. ••0. 33. Tophe•• is prepared of old &c. Psal. 9. 13. The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God. Matt 5. 22, 10, 28, 18, 9. 5. It is begun here and they have a taste of it in this present life, for what else is it that doth cause that horrour of conscience in some men, but the fear of lying for ever under Gods wrath in this place, Iudas. Matt. 27. 7. Acts 1. 25. Spir••t &c. Belshassar. Dan. 5. Herod. Nero and others.

What Heaven is.

IN the opening of this point we shall shew first in generall what is either properly, or

figuratively and by way of resemblance and of it. And 2 in some particulers wherein it doth consist.

Heaven is the blessed state and condition made and appointed by God, for the eternall hap∣pinesse of the godly and elect, after this life is ended, with God and his blessed Angels above, where the most lively visible and Comfortable discovery of Gods gracious presence is; a little taste whereof we have here, a greater when Soul and Body are seperated by death, And the full fruition whereof we have when the Body shall be raised and Soul and Body united to∣gether.

As touching this place and condition, we must first know, that the excellency, glory and sweetnesse thereof, no mortall heart, or crea∣ted understanding can possibly conceive and comprehend to the life. For S. Paul tells us, 1 Cor. 2. 9. That neither eye hath seen, nor eare heard, n••••ther heart of man conceived, the in∣comprehensible height and glorious misteries of that heavenly wisdom and inutterable, di∣vine sweetnesse revealed in the Gospell: How transcendently then unutterable and uncon∣cewable is the fulfilling perfection, the reall, actuall, and full fruition of all those evangel∣licall revelations accomplished to the height in the highest heavens through all eternitie. But this is ce••tain, that this state and place is a state and place of inconceivable happi∣nesse and pleasure. For if the Disciples of Christ in the Transfiguration, were so taken and ••avished with a little glimpse of this glory, that they desired they might for ever enjoy it. Matt. 17. 2, 3, 4. What then will the full view thereof be? and if the tast of it onely be a ••••y that passet•• all understanding Phil. 4. 7. a joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. Then the whole cup and full draught thereof must needs be an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4. 17. There is a fulnesse of joy in it. Psal. 17. 15. The soul shall have so much that it shall desire no more; it shall have so much that it can receive no more, as a ves∣sel that is full to the top. It is a rich inherit∣ance. Ephes. 1. 18. No man can know it in

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the extent, but he that injoyeth it: and all that can be said of it, can but as he that drew out the whole body of Hercules by his foot, frame unto us a conjecture of the matter that will come••ar•••• short of the thing it self. The Scri∣pture doth set it forth unto us by the most ex∣cellent and precious things that are in the world: It is called a kingdom and crown, which is the top and Crown of all earthly happinesse; In this there is a confluence of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉, plea∣sures, glory, and what mans heart can with for outward welfare and felicity: they that p••ssess this are said to be Kings, and to have Crowns, Matth. 25. 34 Rev. 1. 6. 2. Tim. 4. 8. Iames 1. 12. And what what will not men do and suffer for a Kingdom. It is called an Heavenly King∣dom. Matth. 7 21. to note that it exceedeth in glory and excellency all earthly Kingdoms, as farre••s Heaven surpasseth the Earth and more. It is called also, the Kingdom of God. Acts 1••. 23. a Kingdome of Gods own making, (who doth all things like himself) filled and shining with all Majesty; leasure and unspeak∣able 〈◊〉〈◊〉, beseeming the dwelling of the King of Kings: It is said to be also a kingdome in••∣corruptible, 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 4 and that cannot be sha∣ke••, Hebr. 12. 28. It is not subject to any ha∣zard, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 change as earthly Kingdoms are (for all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is grasse, and the glory thereof as the flower of the field, Esay 4••. 6.) but it will be as fre••h and as full many thousand of years hence as it is at the first. It is also said to be undefi∣led: 1. Pet. 1. 4. to note that it may be had and kept without any sin at all; which hardly can be in the having and holding of earthly kingdomes: they are accompanied with many temptations, so there is a transcendency in this kingdome above all earthly kingdomes.

It is compared to light, 1 Tim. 5. 16. It is compared to honour and glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. It is compared to life, then which what more sweet? it is expressed by the things that are most desired of men. Think we if a man that hath a sound mind in a healthy body, and that hath together and at once all the most exquisite and ravishing delights and contents to body and mind, that all the world can afford? and

all this is nothing to set forth this estate; for all th••se things are no more to be compared to the glory of Heaven, then the shaddow it to be comp••••ed to the body. But by these earthly things the holy Ghost doth paint out this hea∣venly happines to us. It is compared to a roy∣all fea••••, a glorious City, and the ••ike. Think we upon a Virgin of mean condition and in great 〈◊〉〈◊〉, graciously adopted by, and ta∣ken and ••••pou••ed to, a husband of great worth, as a Prince o•• the like; one shee loves dearly and longs for much, one she hath been long kept from, now to be gloriously and richly marryed unto him in a stat••ly pallace and glo∣rious City, never to be ••undred from him a∣gain: what ravishing joy and sweet delight would it be to such a Virgin? This doth a little shaddow out unto us the happy condition of a Christian in Heaven. For Christ hath espou•••••• him (though most unworthy) to him∣self, and having loved him first, makes him to love Christ, and long after him, but the mar∣riage is not to be consummate till they meet in Heaven, Ezech. 16. 4. 1 Io. 4 17. Phil. 1. 23. 2 Cor. 5, 6, 7. Rev. 22. 20. 17. Rev. 19. 7. Rev. 21. What joy will it be (think we) to an heir of a Kingdom or rich inheritance, that hath been long kept from it, in much warn and mi∣sery; now to have the full and peaceable pos∣session of it, as David had at length of his king∣dom, Psal. 18. What joy is it to a man that hath been long at Sea in a dangerous voyage, even fainting with desire to see the land, now to arrive at his desired haven, in a goodly country and amongst his dearest friends, and there to be royally feasted, and entertained with all possible delights? What joy to a man banish∣ed from his country and friends, into an un∣known uncomfortable place, and there to be imprisoned and hardly used without any hope of return; for him to return to his country and friends, and there to feast and rejoyce to∣gether. What joy to a man under the Tur∣k••••h tyranny and bondage, and there designed to death, to be redeemed and brought from thence, and advanced to great glory? What joy to two dear friends that have been long as∣sunder

now to meet together? What are all these things but life from the dead? yet all this is nothing to the happines of the Saints in hea∣ven. Th sweet content of a Christian in this estate is resembled to the sweet sleep of an In∣fant in its mothers bosome. Luke 16. 23. If A••asucrus (to discover his great glory and riches) could make such a feast as he did, Esth. 1? What manner of banquet then, how mag∣nificent, how full of majesty will the feast of the King of Kings be, which he will make to feast his dearest friends to all eternity? we may well think it to be as great as the power and wisdome of the maker can reach unto; which must need, be incomparable and above all meas••••e infinitie. And if God hath made such a world for a world of wicked men, for a a place of banishment, for a vale of misery; what place hath he made for his dearest and holy friends, in the ti••e of j••y and marriage of his Son? If our Goale contain so great matters what shall o•• Country and Kingdom do? To say all in a little room, in the words of a learned man, In heaven the Lord shall be the Sun without rising, or setting; there we shall partake of the greatest good without envy; there shall be fulnesse of joy without disdain, perpetual triumph without war, perfection with out any defe••t, perpetu••••y without end: God shall dwel in his people most clearly; he shall crown them with all good things; he shall re∣move all sorrow and mourning from them; Christ shall give them of the tree of Life in the middest of the Paradice of God: to them he shall give the morning Star•••• Christ shall ••wn and honor them in the ••••ght of God & Angels. The pure river of livingwater shal flow to them they shall be satisfied with the fruit of the tree of Life; they shall enjoy eternall health, they can never sin, they shall be for ever with God and the Lamb: there we shall not loose a friend, nor fear an enemy; there we shall live with good affection without defect; there no man shall be born, for no man shall die, no man shall increase or decrease; no man shall hun∣ger or thirst but sati••••ie shall be immortality, and meat var••ety. It is life, therefore sweet;

It is an inheritance, all men desire this; It is a crown and a kingdom; all men aspire to this: it is light, all men delight in it; It is honour and glory, and all men labour to this; and it c••st Christ his precious blood, it must needs be some rare purchase for which so much was paid. 1 Pet. 1. 18. There we shall be ••ed with Angels food which shall be to us a continuall feast; there we shall be cloathed with immorta∣lity and glory: 1 Corin. 15. 43. There shall be chastity without uncleannesse, sanct••••y without pollution, gravity without foolishnesse, temperance without gl••ttony: there the minde shall be al∣wayes sober, holy, pious, wholy and alwayes addicted to the love of God. But we shall o∣pen these things yet farther in some parti∣culars.

As the misery of Hell, so the happinesse of Heaven doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of two parts, 1. in ••••ex∣emption and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of all ••••••ll. 2. In a frui∣tion of all good. The righteous in heaven shall be freed from all manner of evill, from evill spirituall; for they shall not, they cannot sin; that which makes the holy man here to cry out, O wretched man that I am, &c. Rom. 7. 24. they shall be freed off: the Conscience shall not be unquieted any more; corporall, for there shall be no more offence to the body, by hun∣ger, thirst, cold, wearines, heat, ••••ame, sick∣nes, death, nothing shall annoy either soule or body; it shall neither feel nor fear distur∣bance: Otherice blessed condition, that is so exceeding happy, and whose happines is so in∣fallibly secured, Revel. 21. 4. Esay: 5. 8. It is said of this estate: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, &c. And again, Revel. 7. 14, &c. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more: neither shall the Sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And again, Esay 57. 1, 2. it is said, The righteous are taken away from the evill to

come. He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds. And in Matth. 11. 29. Come unto me all yee that are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 laden, &c. you shall finde rest to your Soules: of this time and state it is that Christ speaks, Mat. 22. 30. They neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in Heaven. Hebr. 4. 9. There remaineth a rest for the People of God: the which was signified by the rest the Jews had in the ••••nd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Canaan, Psal 95. 11. This is that also the whol creation wa••teth for: Rom. 8. 22, 23. For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together till now: And not onely they, but our selves also which have the first fruits of the spirit; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we ourselves gr••••n within our selves, waiting for the Ado∣ption, to wit, for the Redemption of our body. Nay then, shall do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 self be swallowed up in victory: 1 Cor. 15. 54. So that the triumphant ••oulin 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Lord Iesus 〈◊〉〈◊〉. So that here we see 〈◊〉〈◊〉 immuni∣ty and freedom from 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for Death and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall be abolished, and that last ene∣my shall be destroyed. Coll. 3. 3. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law. Christ hath taken away the sin, satisfied the Law, and obtained eternall freedom for his own. They are never to return into bondage o•• to feel evill any more. They are no more to come into this place; for they are to dwell on high where no evill can reach them. The De∣vil shall be shut up in chains of darknes in the prison of Hell. Rom. 16. 20. no wicked perso•• or thing shall be in Heaven, for there dwelled righteousne••••: there shall be therefore perfect freedom without any possibility of returning to bondage.

The second part of the happines of heaven, is in the fruition of all good, corporall and spi∣rituall, and albeit this doth consist of many particulars, yet all these seem to be intended and contained in those three words in Rom. 2. 10. Glory, Honour and Peace, in opposition to the ••••ame, Contempt and Trouble, by which the misery of Hell is described. The glory o•• the Saints in Heaven 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wherein a part of then

happines shall consist) shall be in these things 1. in their bodies, which being glorified, shall be most beautifull and excellent, either as it springs out of the blessed beauty and excellen∣cy of the soule, or as it is ind••wed with an heavenly excellency originally implanted by God in it self: For the Spirit of God and glory shall thou rest aboundantly upon them. 1 Pet 4. 14. The body be••••••s the freedom that it shall have from all the evils thereof, as lamenes, mis-sha∣penesse, sicknes, hunger, nakednes, wearines, cold and the like, it shall be gloriously end••w∣ed with many positive and wonderfull excel∣lencies, as 1. Immortality, for it can never possibly die, 1 Corinth. 15. verse 54. but it shall live as long as God doth live, so that herein their condition is a thousand times more happy th••n it was in the state of inno∣cency in Paradise. 2. Incorruptiblenes, for every glorified body shall be for ev••r utterly impossible with any corruptive quality, acti∣on or alteration, and cannot be subject to any inward decay or dissolution, 1 Cor. 15. 42. 54. 3. Power, when to the Souls native strength there shall be an addition of glorifying vigour, and Gods mighty spirits more plentifull habi∣tation; and it shall also put on a body which brings with it besides his own inherent power an exact ablenes and readines, fitted to the Souls highest abilities; how incredible migh∣ty may we conceive a Saint in Heaven to be? 1 Cor. 15 43. 4. Spiritualnes, 1 Cor. 15. 44. The glorified body shall be more of the nature of the Spirit (i.) more active not needing food &c. and more subject to the Spirit; and be more fully possessed with the Spirit. 5. Beauty and a shining amiablenes: 1 Cor. 15. 43. The glorified body shall have an exquisite feature and stature, a welfavoured and comly propor∣tion, and mutuall correspondency of all the parts thereof, a sweet and amiable colour, and a bright shining splendor of celestiall glory, and a chearfull, lively, lightsome aspect; and all this preserved in perpetuall freshnes, with new supply of heavenly activenesse by a more glorious Soul: yea, the very nakednesse, now the shame thereof, shall be then the glory of it,

Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned, like unto his glorious bodie. A glimpse of which we have in Christs Transfiguration. Matth. 17. 2, 13, 43, 2, 4 2. A second part of this glory shall be in the soul, wherein 1. The understanding shall be abundantly and comfortably enlightened, and enlarged to the uttermost, that the crea∣ture can reach unto, in all naturall things that may delight, and especially in heavenly things, as in Gods word, the glorious miste∣ries of the holy Trinity, The union of Christs natures, the union of his elect unto him, Gods eternall councell in election and reprobation, and the like. 2. The will shall be conform∣able to Gods will. 3. The memory shall still keep what it knowes. 4. The affections shall be according to the perfect pattern. And all this shall be in perfection 1 Cor. 13. 10, 12. For when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. And it must n••eds be where there is so much grace there should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to much Glorie, for wisdom make, the face of man to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. What with the glory of the soul, and th•• body together it is an ex••eeding weight of glory. It is said therefore D••n. 12. 2 They shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. And therefore it is that they are compared to Kings 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 21. 26. There is glorie in this, therefore it is called a glorious inheritance Ephes. 1. 1••. And a glorious liber∣tie Rom. 8. 21. And this shall be of the whole man, bodie and soul.

2. The honour of the Saints in Heaven (wherein another part of their happinesse shall consist) shall be in these things. 1. As con∣querours and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by whom their spirituall enemies have been vanquished, as Judges by whom the world hath been judged, they sit down in triumph for ever. Rev. 16 1 Cor. 6. 2. Psal. 49. 14. The righteous shall have dom••••ion over them (i.) The wicked. In the morning: for their beautie shall consume. &c. Rev. 21. 2. 2. They shall be Citizens and freemen of a stately and glorious Citie Hebr. 11. 10. Rev. 21. They shall be members of a glorious society and company of the blessed

Trinity, holy angels and just and perfect men. Heb. 12. 22, 23, 24. 3. They shall inha∣bit a great and glorious house. John 14. 2, 3, 4 They shall have the estimation, approbati∣on, and commendation of God, Angels, and good men. Mal. 3. 17. Matth. 25. 21. 23. 34. Well done good servants &c. Come ye bles∣sed. &c. Matth. 19. 28. They shall stand in the presence of God, and attend (as it were) upon him in his privie chamber, and they shall do nothing but serve him, their work shall be to praise God: and if it be an honour thus to serve in the presence of a King? what honour is it thus to serve in the presence of the King of Kings? Psal. 17. 15. I shall be satisfied with his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. See a little of all this, as in a Glasse, in the example of Mordecai, a man, though in himself, and towards the people, of much worth and merit, yet despised and re∣jected of men, and now, for his goodnesse and fast ••••••••ving to his God, in great distresse and much danger; by and by, quit of all his mise∣rie and advanced to great honour, to wear the Kings own Royall Ring and apparrell, and to ride upon the Kings own horse, and to be the next man to the King Esther 5. 6. Also in the example of Ioseph, this day in the prison, in the dungeon, under much contempt, and to morrow, advanced to great honour, to be the second man of the kingdom &c. Gen. 41. 14. 42, 43. So the Saints by their death shall be taken from all their contempt and miserie here, and carried to much honour and happi∣nesse as was Lazarus Luke 16. 20. 1. And this of God who raiseth the begger from the dunghill to set him amongst Princes 1. Sam. 2. 8. This honour shall be to all the Saints Psal. 139. 9. And thus shall it be done to the man whom the King shall honour. Esther 6. 9.

The third tearme by which the happinesse of heaven is expressed is Peace which indeed doth comprehend all good things to the soule and body called in Psalm. 16. 11. Fulnesse of joy and pleasures. And this is in divers perticulers. For 1. There will be joy, delight, and con∣tentment, there will be true and solid joy, there will be plentifull and ample delight, there

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there will be a pure and perfect delight, every man shall have as much as he would, he shall desire no more, nor yet shall he be glutted with what he hath: every vessel of mercie shall be as full of mercy as it can hold, and it must needs be so, for heaven is a place ordained for joy and delight. 2. There is nothing but happinesse there, 3. It is the consummation of all happinesse and joy. 4. The persons there to be entertained are the persons of Gods singular love, ••ight de•••• unto him. What feast think we then will God make for the entertain∣ment of his deerest friends. If an earthly king would make such a royall feast as Esther. 1. What feast can the King of kings make Matth. 25. 23. Iohn 16. ••2, ••4. Psalm 16. 11. R••••. 21. 4. Good measure pressed down shaken together and ranning over Luke 6. 38. Every part of body and soul shall be filled with won∣derfull sense of delight and sweetnesse, Yea, even the whole man shall drink down rivers of pleasures, and in the fulnesse thereof be made drunk. There we shall enjoy the Sabbath of our thoughts, and that sweet tranquility of minde, which we shall receive from the pre∣sence and fruition of that good whereunto our desires have carried us; when they shall have reached their object, when they shall be really, and eternally, present with and united to it. Every passion and faculty of the soul shall have its happinesse, for it shall be freed from all that may disturb it. The soul must nee••s be won∣derfully contented and pleased, w••••h that ex∣cellent glory wherewith the shall be invested. Then will be that sweet tranquilitie of minde, resting in the f••uition and poss••ss••••n of good. The bo••y must nee••s be marvelously taken with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 singular happiness•• wherewith it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For every sence thereof shall be ••••l∣led with its severall singularity, and excellen∣cies of ad p••ssible pleasure and perfection: The eye shall be delighted in the beatifi∣call beholding of God, the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, the blessed Angels, and Saints; The ear with the mellodious harmony of that Hallelu••a•• The smell with the odori∣ferous perfume of all the flowers of the Pa∣radise

of God, of all that may delight it, And the taste with that bread of life which shall so satisfie him that eateth thereof, that he shall not hunger or thirst any more. If you ask, whence this joy and delight which the Saints in heaven shall have ariseth? we shall answer you. From that Glory and honour and the rest of the happinesse of the Saints before spoken of, which the glorified person shall have.

2. From peace, for he shall have peace in∣ternal•• with God; and his own conscience; that blessed peace that passeth all understanding: Phil. 4. 7. Wherein a part of Gods Kingdom is Rom. 14. 17. part of Christs Legacy. John 14. 27. a continuall feast Prov. 15. 15. Which the world, can neither give nor take away. Peace externall, with good men, against Satan, per∣secutours, wicked men, all the creatures. Iob 5. 23. His enemies shall be at peace with him. Prov. 16. 7. Peace without war, a safety with∣out an enemy: For the last enemy which shall be destroyed i•• death; and therefore this peace shall be eternall also. It is the complaint of Gods people Psalm 120. 5, 6. That they live amongst them that hate peace. Woe is me &c. My soul hath too long dwelt with him that hateth peace: They shall then be freed of this misery. 3. From the blessed vision of God: 1. For the glorified person shall see as he is seen, he shall have a most cleer, beatifficall, sweet, and comfortable beholding of God, by the under∣standing of the minde: as far as the creature is capable. And this sight of God shall be 1. True, not imaginary and by delusions. 2 It shall be perfect according to the capacity of the soul. 3 It shall be immediate without the help of any other thing. 4 It shall be joyfull as one that seeth his deerest friend, and not terrible as one that seeth his Judge, or Tor∣mentour. And this must needs be a blessed thing. For 1. God is Light. 2 He is joy: 3 He is satisfying to the soul. 4 There is parti∣cipation of him by this means to the creatures. 1 Io. 1. 5. Psal. 16. 7. 171 Ioh. 3, 2. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Cor. 13. 12. Iob 19. 5. I know that my Re∣deemer liveth, and that I shall see him, &c. And faithfull shall also have a sweet, and comfort∣able

and certain knowledge of one another, Mat. 27. 3. 4. From the perfect conformi∣ty of the whole man to Gods will, for then the work of grace shall be perfect and entire. 1 Cor. 13. 10. When that which is perfect i•• come, then that which is in part shall be done away, then, and there, the faithfull shall not sin, for they shall enjoy a perfect rest, which cannot stand with sin, and they shall doe Gods will perfectly as the Angels in heaven, and as Christ him self. Mat. 6. v. 10. 22, 30. Psal 103 v. 21, 22. 1 Jo. 3. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Wee shall all meet together, &c. unto a perfect man, and the mea∣sure of the age of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ••hrist, Ephes. 4. 13. The Church shall be glorious at last, not ha∣ving spot or wri••kle, or any such thing. Ephes. 5. ••7. When he is manifest we shall be like him. 1 Jo. 3. 2. Then shall the Saints be freed from that body of death, under which they groan so much now; then shall they be freed from that body of corruption under which they cry out so much, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me &c. Rom. 7. 23, 24, 25. Rev. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 1••. 5. From their fruition of what they have, for they shall not onely have much, but enjoy what they have; they shall therefore know it, that is theirs, what it is, and that they cannot lose it, none can take it from them. There are these things in fruition, 1. there must be a propriety in the thing: 2. a possessi∣on of the thing: 3. an accommodation of it to the ends for which it is appointed: 4. an as••urance that they shall not lose it: all this is here, for then he shall dwel on high, and his defence shall be the munition of Rocks, Esay 33. 16. compare then the happines and security of this estate together, and we must needs say it is a very happy estate, Iohn 10. 28. 6. From their contentment and satisfaction in it. For then shall they not desire more or other then they have; but God alone shall be their portion: they shal desire none other with him, or besides him; then shal•• it come passe that God shall be all in all, 1 Corinthians 15. verse 28. 7. From their work and Imployment which shall be that and nothing but that, wherein the regenerate man doth much delight, Rom. 7. 21.

They serve God night and day in his Temple, and sing praises to him. Revel. 7. 15. Halleluia, Sal∣vation and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God. Revel. 1. 1. And when those Beasts gave glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sate on the Throne, who ••••o••th for ever and ever: the foure and twenty E••••ers fall down before him that sate on the Throne and worship him that liveth for ever, and cast their Crowns before the Throne, saying, Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory, and honour, a••d po∣wer, for thou ha•••• created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created, Revel. 4. 9, 10, 11. And they sung a new Song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, ton∣gue, and nation, and people. i. From the state of the wicked, as the Israelites turned back on the Sea and saw the Egyptians drowned, them∣selves delivered. And as there shall be no evill person, so there shall be no evill work there. Revel. 21. 27. 22. ••〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 13. All things that offend shall be removed. Mat 13 41. 9. That nothing shall disturbe their happines, or in the least measure lessen it; and that there shall be no intermission of it, but that it shall be night and day continued. Great peace shall they have that keep thy Word, and nothing shall offend them, Psal. 119. 165. Your joy shall no man take from you, Io. 16. 22. Add we to all this the su••dennesse and ••nexpectednesse of them, the place, the company, and the time, wherein, and with whom all this happines shall be enjoyed: and we will see and say that there is indeed matter of wonderfull joy and delight in it, 1. From the place in 3. particulars, 1. It is above and on high, it shall be very conspi∣cuous, and therefore more glorious; it doth somewhat add to the glory of a building, that it is a little mounted Jerusalem which is above Gal. 4. 6. Acts 1 9, 10, 11. 2. It is a place of unmeasurable greatnes and largenes; it ads to the glory of a ••arm, and the hapines of hi•• that ows it, that it is spacious; to have 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that very good; a fair 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, and ••ll in a sweet soile, and fa••••ly ••••••tuated, all this together is in this pos∣session:

for the Heaven is the biggest of all created bodies, and infinitely bigger then the Earth: 2 Cor. 12. 2. and all this shining with exq••••••te glory and brightnes of purest light. Men love stately houses built by curious work∣men, especially if ••hey be safe, pleasant, and delightfull h••••••tations. Such is this, Heb 11. 12. Jo. 14. 2. In my fathers house are many mansions. It is called the great City. Rev. 21. 10. and the City of the great and mighty King and Lord of Heaven and Earth: made of purpose for the manifestation of his glory, and the ha∣bitation, and entertainment of his dearest friends. 3. It is a place of incomparable and supercelestiall light of a perfect and constant light: for there shall be no night there. It is set out by a City whose wal is of Jaspar, build∣ing of Gold, Gates of Pearls, and foundati∣on of precious stones. I•• needs not the light of the Sun and Moon, For the glory of the Lord shall enlighten it, and the Lambe shall be the light thereof. And it must needs be infinitely shin∣ing and bright; for God himself in his most ••••••nsparent glory shall there shine out most ad∣mirable: the glorified body of Christ shall shine brighter then the firmanment, and the splendor of many millions of glorified bodies, by the brightnes of God communicated to them outshining the Sun and Stars in bright∣nes shall there concur. It is called therefore the inheritance of the Saints in light, Collos. 1. 12. Revel. 21. 13. Mat. 17. 2. Dan. 12. 3. Phil. 3. 21. Collos. 3. 4. Exod. 34. 29. 2. For the company, the society & company shall add much to the felicity of the Saints in Heaven; For their company shall be, God the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, The Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, the Marty•••• and Saints; Abra∣ham, Isaac, and Iacob, and all our godly friends depa••ted; for we shall all meet together, and be for ever with the Lord: and with these they shall have a familiar acquaintance: they shall all rejoyce in each others happines, and thereby increase each others joy. This I say, &c. That yee may also have fellowship with us, and that our fellowship also may be with the Fa∣ther, and with his Son 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ, 1 Jo. 1. 3.

1 Thess. 4. 17. Then we which are alive and re∣main shall be caught up, &c. and so shall we be for ever with the Lord. Jo. 17. 24 Father I will that they which thou hast given mee be where I am, that they may behold that my glory which thou hast given me. Hebr. 12. 22, 2••, 24. But yee are come to the mount Sion the City of the li∣ving God, the heavenly Ierusalem, the company of innumerable Angels, the Congregation of the first born written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the Spirits of just and perfect men, to Je∣sus the Mediator of the new Testament, &c. Phil. 2. 1. Psal. 17. v. 15. Rev. 21. v. 3. 22. 33. Mat. 8. 1••. Mat. 13 28. Luke 20. 36. 1 Thes. 4. 13. And there shall be none but saints there Rev. 21. 27. 22. 3 ••4. 15. 2 P••t 3. 1••. So that then our Union and Communion with God shall be perfect. Suppose we a wife that loves her husband dearly and desires his company much above all things in the world; but hi∣therto his occasions have been such that she could not enjoy him: now that he is resolved to live at home alwayes with her; how com∣fortable and joyfull a thing will this be to her? So now the Church of Christ, and Christ here∣tofore kept a part shall for ever dwell together, and be parted no more. 3. For the time of enjoyment of this happines, it shall be for ever ••nd ever. It is therefore called an inheritance, 1 Pet. 1. 4. Acts 20. 32. and everlasting life Mat 25. 46. If we ask why God should give an eternall reward for ••emporall service, we must answer, because it is his pleasure: as it is his pleasure to give a Kingdome, for to give an everlasting Kingdome. And it is a gift like himself, and ••••t for such a one to give, Luke 12. 32. Iames 1. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Now put all this together, and then let us think what a state and condition heaven is, and whether he be not a happy man that is born to inhe••it this. May we not say of this; O joy above all▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yes and without which there is no joy; when shall I enter into thee, to see my God that dwelleth in thee! O everlasting Kingdome! O Kingdom of all eternities! O Light with∣out end! O Pence of God that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all un∣derstanding! in which the Souls o•• Saints do▪

rest with thee, and everlasting joyes are upon their heads, and all pain and sorrow is fled from them! O how glorious a Kingdome is thine O Lord, where in all Saints do dwel with thee, adorned with light as with apparel, and having Crowns of precious stones on their heads! O Kingdom of everlasting blisse, where thou O Lord the hope of all Saints art, and the Diadem of all their perpetuall glory rejoycing the•• on every side with thy blessed sight! In this kingdom of thine, there is infinite joy and myrth without sadnes, health without sicknes, life without death, ease without pain, light with out darknes, and all good without any evill; where youth flourisheth that never waxeth old, life that knoweth no end, beauty that never fa∣deth, love that never cooleth, health that ne∣ver dimini••heth, joy that never ceaseth, where sorrow is never felt, complaint is never heard, matter of sadnes is never seen, nor evill suc∣cesse is ever feared. For that they possesse th••e O Lord which art the perfection of 〈…〉〈…〉.

What Hell is.

IN the opening of this point we shall take the same course as w•• doe in the opposite

branch. 1. What it is in generall. 1. Wherein it doth consist in some particulers.

Hell is the miserable state and condition, made and appointed by God, for the eternall tor∣ment of the wicked and reprobate, with the di∣vell and his Angels after this life is ended, be∣neath, where the most lively sensible, and terri∣ble discovery of Gods wrath is. A little taste whereof men have here, a greater after death. And the full and perfect suffering whereof they have after the resurrection of the Body, and reuniting of Soul and Body together.

As touching this place, and state also, we must conceive the sorrows and pain thereof as inconceiveable and inutterable as the other. If the weight of the little finger of Gods wrath herein be so heavy as insupportable, what will his whole loyns be? If the taste of it be so in∣tollerable, what will the full cup thereof be? yet so it is, For the Holy Ghost speaking of that little, men do see and feel in this life, expresseth it thus. A wounded Spirit who can bear: Pro. 18. 14. It is intollerable for so that manner of speech doth intend. This weight made Christ himself, though he knew he should get out of it wuickly, yell, and whiles he was under it, was supported by a mighty strength, to sweat drops of blood, and cry out aloud Lord, Lord, Why hast thou forsaken me? This is it that hath made the faithfull themselves (though supported by Gods hand) so heavily to lament, and so bitterly to bemoan their estate. Psal. 77. This is that which hath made the wicked weary of their lives, and to chuse death rather then life, as Iudas, Saul, Spira, and others. It is but the apprehension of this state to come, and neer at hand that mako•• those kings and great persons Rev. 6. 15, 16, 17. To hide themselves and to say to the mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Thronc••, and from the wrath of the Lamb, For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to sta••d? like unto that Esay 33. 14. The sinners in Si∣on are afraid, fearfulnesse hath surprised the hy∣pocrites: Who amongst us shall dwell with de∣vouring ••ire, Who amongst us shall dwell with

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with everlasting burnings? If a glimpse and a glanse of this now, and that seen a far of••, be so dreadfull and horrid, what will the weight and feeling of it present be, then, when the wrath of God shall for ever in all extremity rest and remain upon them? for besides the lesse of Gods blessed and joyfull presence and favour, (getter then life) and an eternall separation from those everlasting joys and delights above, ther•• is the pain of feeling the torment of an e∣verlasting red hot scorching fire, without any possibility of dying or being ever consumed. All that can be said of it, cannot come near it; all that can be felt here, is nothing to it. If the fire of Hell be a true fire (as some suppose) it doth as far exceed our hottest fire, as ours doth exceed the painting on the wall: And it must needs be so; for the one was created for com∣fort, the other purposely to torment; the one is made by the hand of man, the other is tem∣pered by the angry arm of almighty God; with all terrible and tormenting ingredients to make it most fierce and raging. It is said to be prepared, Matth. 25. 41. as if Gods wisdom and power were set on work deliberately to de∣vise it. And when God shall take upon him to do a thing for the uttermost declaration (in a certain sort) of his power, wisdome, and ju∣stice: what a thing will it be be? will not the work belike the workman? who knoweth the power of his wrath? Psal. 90. vers. 11. And the thunder of his power who call understand? Iob 26. 1••. Consider the making of Angels and men, and the making of this transitory world; and then imagine what God can doe? Moreover, this fire is blown by the airy breath, the other by the angry breath of the great God, which doth burn far hotter then ten thousand rivers of Brimstone. The pile thereof (saith the Pro∣phet) is fire and much wood, ••he breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it, ••say 30. 33.

Our fire must be fed continually else it go∣eth out, that burneth alwayes without feeding; ours giveth light, that giveth none; ours con∣sumeth and dispatcheth; the matter laid in it; that tormenteth but consument not, our fire

may be qu••••••fied or put out, but that hath nei∣ther abatement, nor possibillity of putting out: if the severall pains of all the deseases incident to our nature, as the Stone, Gou••, Coll••••k, broken Bones, Toothache, and th•• rest, and with all, the most exquisite tortu••os which have been or may be inflicted upon man by any Ty∣rant; and with all also, all the griefs, horrours, and despaires, that over rent in pieces any hea∣vy heart and vexed conscience, as Iudas, Spira, &c. if all these together and at once were up∣on one man, yet would they come infinitely short of the pain and anguish that shall torment the soule and body of the wicked in hell. But by these corporall things we may the better at∣tain to ••he view of those spirituall matters. The evill conscience here (a ••••ame of this in••ernall fire) is compared to a Lion, a Serpent, a Sword, and Fir••, Iob 20. Eccles. 2••. 2. to broken Legs, a Bone crushed to pieces, Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. It i•• compared to darknes, shame, and contempt, to death and the like; things mans nature do most of all abhor. Suppose we, a man that for a long time hath enjoyed a Kingdom, and all the glory that the world can afford, that he is now to be banished into a strange Country, and there to be for ever kept in a filthy s••inking Dungeon amongst Snakes and the like: Or a man that hath been long wedded to a wi••e he loves dearly, and with whom he hath lived sweetly; and he is now to be divorced from her and made to marry a loathsome filthy crea∣ture, and with her to spend all his dayes, in all the misery besides, that such a life is capable of: What torment and misery will the tor∣ment and misery of such a man be? But alas, this cannot come near to that torment we speak of. Think we of a man much more in debt then he hath to pay to a furious and impla∣cable creditor; apprehended by fierce S••rje∣ants, in Prison under a fierce and cruel Jay∣lor, having no friend to succour him, that looks for no other but to spend his dayes in th•••• mi∣serable estate. Or of a Traytor, that hath un∣censed his Prince, who hath sent out his fierce officers, and apprehended and cast him into Prison under a mercilesse Keeper, to be judged

before a dreadfull Judge, who is sure to be condemned, and to suffer most exquisite tor∣ments. Or think we of what we can, and we can think of nothing that can give us a taste, or discover a glimpse of it unto us. The wicked indeed have their Kingdome and their glory here, their portion is in this life, Psal. 17. 14. Luke 16. v. 25. And they are w••dded to this world which they make their God: but they shall be suddenly taken from it, and cast into Hell, they spend their daies in wealth and suddenly go down to Hell, Iob 21. 15. And wo, wo unto them, for the misery that shall come upon them, Iames 4. 3. Phil. 3. 19. They mu•••• with the Devil and his Angels to everlast∣ing fire, Matth. 25. 41. there to lye, untill they have paid the uttermost fa••thing which will ne∣ver be. Matth. 5. 26. and what else can be ex∣pected, for they have provoked to the uttermost the wrath of the King of Kings against them. And if the wrath of an earthly King be as mes∣sengers of death, Prov. 16. 14. and as the roar∣ing of a Lyon. Prov. 19. 12. how terrible will the wrath of the King of the Kings of the earth be, Heb. 12. 29. 10, 31.

If we would know reasons why this conditi∣on shall be so importable, they may be these a∣mong others: 1. because they shall look upon the angry countenance of God, and appre∣hend t•• the uttermost his irefull indignation, and that so unmeasurably fearfull and terrible sustain it; Rev. 6. 16. 2. The guilt of sinne shall still be to the uttermost upon the heart to feel, and as an hideous object in the ••ye to see, and this alwayes before them, and continually on them. No debt though of millions, and to the cruellest creditor in the world; so dread∣full as sin: no Writ so frightfull as the curses of Gods Law. No Arrest so irksome, as he biting accusation of the conscience. 3. The continuance of their misery, that they shall be ever dying and never able to dye, ever de∣stroying and never destroyed, doth mightily dismay them, and add to the weight of their misery. 4. God hath made this estate of pur∣pose so miserable, and will make the creature able everlastingly to undergo it. 5. The know∣ledge

that the creature shall then have to the uttermost of Gods wrath, its own misery, &c. for Sapiens miser magic quam stultus miser. It is called Death, which is bitter, and who doth not shun it; it is called a Prison, who will not labour to keep out of it; it is called dark∣nes, who doth not abhor it; it iscalled shame and contempt, who doth not labour to avoid it. But this shall yet farther appear in the things tha•• follow.

There are also two parts of Hell, as there are of Heaven, 2 Thess. 1. 9. 1. The pain of losse, or an exemption from all good. 2. The pain of sense, or the enduring of all evill. Matth. 8. 29. The damned in Hell are deprived of all good, and means, and hope of good. Their Con∣sciences shall have no more peace, they can do nothing else but sin; their bodies shall have no more ease nor rest, but torments day and night 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14. 10. They shall hunger, and have nothing to eat; thirst, and have nothing to drink; be cold, and have nothing to heat them; hot, and have nothing to cool them; weary, and cannot rest, sick, and dying, and yet cannot be well nor yet dye. And no marvell that they are deprived of all other good, for they shall be deprived and for ever separated from that sum∣m••on bonum, the chiefest good, and well spring of all good: they shall be for ever driven out of and excluded from the blessed, sweet, and comfortable presence, of the most glori∣ous God blessed for ever, the Lord Iesus Christ, the blessed Spirit, and all the blessed ones, and those that were their dearest friends, who shall then justly abandon them with all loa∣thing and scorn, and forgetting all neernes, and bonds of nature shall rejoyce in the justice of God in their everlasting condemnation: So that no eye of God or man shall then pity them; no pray∣ers, promises, or means be then heard or prevail in their behalf; or any one in heaven or earth be heard to speak for them. The serious thinking of this losse will then more afflict the understanding Soul, then all the extream sufferings of Sense; to be shut out everlastingly and unrecoverabl••∣ly, and to be for ever banished of the blessed sight of God, which had they ever had but a

a taste of, they would know to be an incompa∣rable l••sse, and greater then the l••osse of ten thousand worlds: this renting of the Soule from God, and the horrible sense of Gods for∣saking, and casting it of is incomparably more grievous then the renting of Soul and Body a∣sunder. And then withall they shall think of their shamefull negligence, and wilfull folly in the neglect and refusall of the means of sal∣vation, how near they were to it, how easily they might have had it, how much they are deceived, how these men are exalted that they thought fools, and they proved fooles that thought themselves wise. And in those and such like thoughts, what then will be the gnaw∣ings of the never dying Worm: what rage of their guilty Consciences, what furious despair, what horrour of minde, what distractions and fears what bitter looking back upon their mis∣pent time in this world: what cursing of the day of their birth, their Brethren in iniquity, and even blaspheaming of God himself; what tearing of the haire, gnashing the teeth, wayl∣ing and wringing the hands; no tongue can tell, no heart can think.

The second part of Hel is the pain of Sense, or enduring of evill, which though it doth comprehend many particulars, yet perhaps al∣so may be all intended and comprehended in the terms of Shame and Conte••pt in Dan. 12. 2 and th•••• implyed in Esay 57. 31. in oppositi∣on to that Glory, Honour and Peace, by which the felicity of Heaven is set forth. The unhap∣pines of the wicked in Hell we must needs con∣ceive to be in the contrary, 1 that there shall be an uglines and lothsomnes in them, and in their bodies and souls both; for they shall have nothing in or upon them, nor shall they come near to any thing that may make them glori∣••u••, they are separated from God and all good∣••••••s as farr as Hel from Heaven; they shall then be perfectly wicked, and therefore perfectly fil∣••hy and unclean, Rev. 10. 11. their fellowships is with unclean spirits, Matt. 12. 43. and they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like unto them. Those therefore that are to be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone (amongst the rest) are said to be abominable, Rev. 21. 8. And in Esay 66. ••4. They shall be

an abhorring to all flesh. Their bodies shall be immortall also, but this shall be their death that they cannot die; they shall be ever dying, but never dye. It is called therefore an everla∣sting destruction; so that they shall be an e∣verlasting abhorring: they shall be alwayes corrupting but not corrupted, alwayes decay∣ing but not decayed. Their bodies shall be powerfull also; but alas for this power, there shall be an addition of suffering-strength, for God will make them able to endure, what else were intollerable, and he will give them strength to bear that burthen which otherwise were insupportable: for they shall be able to live so as alwayes a dying; but so shall dye, as that they shall alwayes live; they who torment, shall never be weary, they who are tormented, shall never be killed. They may have also more power to sin, for they shall be given up thereunto without restraint, there shall be no grace nor means of grace thre; the naturall ability or capacity of receiving or doing good shall be lost. And if the light in them be dark∣nes, how great is the darknes? Their vile bodies shall be yet more vile, and as vile as sin and misery together can make them. And because the body hath sinned, therefore is the body to be vexed with corporall pains. The damned body shall be more spirituall also: but wo worth this spiritualnes, for it shall be now im∣mortall like the soul; but happy were it for it if it could die. Their bodyes also will be then much more deformed and ug••y: if sin or misery, the fellowship of Devils, in a smoackie, filthy Dungeon, can make a man filthy and ignominious, the persons of the damned must needs be so. Gods Spirit hath forsaken them and Satan hath filled their heart.

2. The understanding and memory of the damned soul shall also then without doubt be much greater, and shall be so far forth enlar∣ged and confirmed as it may thereby be made more capable of miserie: for as grace shall be perfect in heaven so shall per••••bation in hell, the mindes of those damned wretches shall be tormented with anger, fury, madnesse, sorrow, fear, outcries, and the like; 1. With the sense

of their sin which now they shall see in order before them Psal. ••0 21. in quantity and in qualitie, as it is in Gods eye, and his words censure, all which they shall now see and re∣member at once exactly. 2. In the sense of the happinesse they have lost, by the losse of Gods favour and presence, the society of good Angels and men, of the happinesse of which, then, they shall be doubtlesse far enlightened to see the extent; for there shall be nothing wan∣ting to make them perfectly miserable. But they shall neither see nor remember any thing at all that may conduce to their ease, or release the•• of their mise••ie, here they shall envy the happinesse of the Saints, despair of help and mercie; and be utterly destitute of all courage to support. If the neer approach to God and an intimate communion with him draw a ••ustie and glory upon the person approaching, then the eternall separation from God with an eternall communion with the Devil that un∣clean spirit, and all wicked men must needs attract a shame and a dishonour to the person that is in such a fellowship with them Exod. 34. 29, 30. 2 Cor. 3. 18.

2. The dishonour and shame of the wicked in hell (wherein another part of their unhappi∣nesse shall be) i•• in these things. 1. That they must for ever suffer under the brand of base Cowards, the slaves of Satan, by whom they have beene carried captive at his pleasure, and notorious malefactours, justly for the same devoted to this condition. 2 Their company and society shall be those unclean spirits: The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fall and unbeleeving the abominable, whore∣mo••g••rs, murderers, dogs, inchanters, &c. Like snakes, and serpents, frogs, and toads, and such like creatures. This is the second death. Rev. 16. 13, 21, 8, 22, 15. 3. And this in a blinde narrow; and stinking prison. Rev. 9. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 19. 4. They shall be neglected, rejected, and despised of God, good angels and good men Psalm 119. 18. Psalm 1. 5. Goe ye cursed Matth. 25. 26, 41. Matth. 19. 28. 5. They have no master to serve but the devill, no work to do but sinne, and suffer for sinne. And if it be a shame and disho∣nour

to be the mean servant of a base and un∣worthy person, and to serve him in a base and servile work, as to cleanse his houses of office or the like: then, the work and service of the damned in hell to the devill must needs be shamefull and dishonourable indeed Prov. 6. 33. He shall finde a wound and dishonour, and his reproach shall never be put away. The least part of this dishonour and infelicity we may consider in that example of proud Haman, Esther chap. 6. and 7. Tumbling from his exceeding great height of honour and earthly felicity, upon a suddain, and when he least thought of it, into a most shamefull condition and extream misery and contempt. And this of the Lord. Who shall cut off the Spirits of Princes, and is terrible to the Kings of the earth Psalm 76. 12. That poureth contempt upon Princes Psal. 107. 40. That bringeth Princes to nothing; and maketh the Iudges of the earth as vanitie. Esay 40. 23. That maketh the strength of the mightie weak Job. 12. 21.

The opposite tearm to peace is trouble or no rest, which also must comprehend many perticulers. In hell there is no rest Rev. 14. 10. But torments day and night Rev. 20. 10. It is a place that deprives from all comfort that is ordained for torment onely. And this also is in divers particulars, For 1. There will be sorrow, anguish, and discontent, such as none like it. For 1. it shall be in such a place as is ordained for torment. 2. The persons to be tormented there, are men forsaken of God for e••er. 3. Their Executioner will be their mali••ious, eternall, and powerfull enemy. 4. There is not the least comfort, no light to comfort the eye, water to cool the tongue, nor courage to support the heart. 5. It is the consummation and compleatment of all mise∣ry. It must needs be an ample torment, every vessel of wrath will be full of wrath also, every part of body and soul shall be filled with won∣derfull torment. There is nothing but torment in hell, The soul the most tender part shall be distracted to think upon. 1. All the sinne that ever it hath committed. 2. The time

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and meanes of grace which it hath neglected, trifled away and despised, and the eternall miserie it hath acquited. And they then shall think of their shamefull negligence and wilfull folly in neglect and refusall of the meanes of Salvation how neere they were it 〈◊〉〈◊〉, how easily they might have had it, how much they are deceived, how those men are exalted that they thoughts fools, and they proved fools that thought themselves wise. And in th••se and such like thoughts, what then will be the gnawing of the never dying worm? what rage of their guilty consciences? what fu∣rious despair? what horrour of minde? what distractions and fears? what bitter looking back upon their mispent time in this world? what cursing of the day of their birth? their brethren, in iniquity; and even blaspheming of God himself? what tearing the hair; gna••••∣ing the teeth wailing and wringing the hands? no tongue can tell no heart can think. See a little of it in this familiar example. A man of mean condition is very likely and in great hopes to attain to be a speciall favourite of the King and by that means to come to great for∣tunes indeed, he is fair for it, and in his own thoughts so sure of it, that he cannot misse of it: and at length by some small mistake, or some little neglect he is utterly defeated; and doth not onely loose the kings favour but in∣curre his displeasure, and is perpetually banish∣ed his presence, and committed to perpetuall imprisonment, how much will this afflict the minde of such a man? So it is in this case. The wicked man especially that is under the means of Grace is fair for heaven, and neer to eternal life▪ and might no doubt with more ease attain to it, then many of them do go to hell; he dreams all his dayes that heaven is his, and makes himself sure of it: but at last when he thinks to take possession of it, he is irroco∣verably and endlesly cast and thrust into hell. 2 Thess. 9. Who shall be punished with ever∣lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power. Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed. &c. And then shall they say too late. How have I hated instruction. &c.

Prov. 5. 12. Remember Hamans case Esthe•• ch. 6. et 7. It shall be tormented with the me∣mory of pleasures past, and with the apprehen∣sion of pains present and to come; it shall free at its own folly and misery: and grieve to set the prosperity and happinesse of the godly in heaven: there must needs be grief unmeasu∣rable. For the creature hath lost all that good wherein it delighted, it is disappointed of all that hope wherein it ••elied, and it wanteth all that it desireth: and it is unable to remove what it suffe••eth, to recover what it looseth, to supply what it wanteth. All the faculties and passions of the soul shall suffer; for their joy and delight shall be drowned with sorrow, and their sorrow shall none take from them, if they love and thing they shall not enjoy it, if they hate it they shall have it; if they l••ath, they can∣not leave it, if they desire, they cannot have it. The body likewise will have no part free, for every sense shall have a singular kinde of suffer∣ing. The eye shall be afflighted and afflicted, with the ugly and fearfull light of devils: and the torments, and tormented before it. The eare with the horrible noise, clamour and cry, and cursed blasphemies of tormented, and the confused noise of the tormentours shadowed in the cry of the children in the valley of Hin∣non, when they were sacrificed by their parents. The smell with the stinch of fire and brim∣stone, and other filth, shadowed also by that valley where men did use to lay all the filth of the city: the taste with most ravenous hunger and thirst, and all the sensible parts with burn∣ing fire. Luke 16. 24. 1 Pet. 4 18. Rom. 9. 22. Rev. 20. 15. Matth. 5. 21. 22, 11, 22. 24. Mark. 9. 44. Matth. 8. 13, 22. 24. Luke 16. 23. 13, 28.

And now if you ask me whence all this an∣guish and torment ariseth? We shall answer, we have touched it before; but to give yet fur∣ther light herein, it ariseth, 1 From the shame and dishonour we have before spoken of: 2 From their unquiet estate, fro the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast out mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Esay 57. 20. 21 No

no internall Peace: but they are still under that torment, Prov. 18. 14. which who can bear? their conscience doth still presage to them ter∣rible things, they see so much that their hearts sink to behold it; there is no terrour of Con∣science here like it, no peace with God, but an irreconcileable hat••ed and war. No exter∣nall peace from good men, devils, or wicked men, no not among themselves; but as they delighted in war and trouble, so they shall have enough. Psal. ••8. 30. 109. 17. And this trou∣ble also shall be eternall. 3. From the losse of Gods presence, and blessed vision: for they are to be driven out of Gods presence, and shall never see any thing in God that may yeeld them any comfort: if they look upon him at all, it must be as an angry Judge, as a terrible Enemy. They are to go from the Presence of God and Glory of his Power. 2 Thess. 1. 13. accord∣ing to Gods sentence. Go yee cursed, &c. Mat. 25. 41. And that Mat. 7. 23. Depart from me yee workers of iniquity, I know yee not, and in∣stead thereof shall see nothing but Devils and damned Spirits, nor shall they have any other fellowship but this with the Devil and his An∣gels. Mat. 25. 41. Of this punishment then may they say, that are to undergo it as Cain, Gen. 4. 12, 13. that was to be driven out from Gods presence. My punishment is greater then I can bear. 4. From the Enmity and inconfor∣mity of the whole man against and to the will of God; not because the wicked in Hell shall de∣fine to doe Gods will, or be grieved that they cannot do (for this is grace) but because from their eternal mind & practise to sin, they have drawn upon themselves an eternal misery they shall then do nothing else but sin, & suffer for sin, for there shall be nothing to keep them from sin. 5. From their feeling of what they have, for they shal not only be under amiserable condition, but they shall feel their misery to the uttermost, a man may be in desperate case, and yet not feel it, for he may be sensles: they shall see their misery to the full, and they shall know that it will be endlesse; all the powers and faculties of their souls and bodies shall be very quick to apprehend, and very lively to feel

their present and future misery: Nay, (if it can be) they shall apprehend worse then they feel. 6. From their discontentment in their condition, for they shall be utterly impatient of their estate, and this also shall add to the mi∣sery of their condition, Luke 21 v. 19. And hence shall arise those bitter execrations and cursed blasphemies against God, other men, and themselves. Rev. 1. And they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their soars, and repented not of their deeds: their work shall be to curse and ban, and to blaspheam. 7. From they happy estate of the godly: for it shall be a pa•••• of the torment of the damn•••• that they shall be compelled to behold the godly placed in hea∣ven and enjoying eternal blisse, and themselves shut out with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hope of a b••ter state, Mat. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 16. 23. It is elegantly set forth in the book of Wisdome, which though 〈◊〉〈◊〉, yet ••••r ornaments sake we will set down at large. Then shall the righteous stand in great boldnes before the face of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, and taken away his labours: When they see him they shall be vexed with horrible fear, and shall be amazed for his wonderfull deliverance; and shall change their minds, and sigh for grief of minde, and say with∣in themselves, this is he we sometimes had in∣derision, and in a Parable of reproach; we ••ools thought his life madnesse, and his end without honour. How is he counted amongst the children of God, &c. which doth shew three things in God, 1. how little he regards them: 2. how far he is from helping them: 3. how excee∣ding hotly he is displeased with them. 8. That there is no avoiding of this, or any part of it, no relief, ••ase, or comfort under it, nor any in∣termission of torment to be expected. Mat. 22. 13. Luke 16. 24, 25. ••ev. ••0 10. no place for repentance in God, though they seek it with tears of blood: nay so far will God be from pittying or helping them; that he will laugh at their destruction, and mock when their fear commeth. Prov. 1. 6. 27, 28. 9. Add we to this the suddennes and unexpectednes, the place and time in which, and they company with whom; all this misery shall be endured

and we must needs say, that it is misery incom∣parable: 1. For the place in 3. things, 1. The place appointed for the Damned is beneath, and (as is probably conjectured) in the heart of the Earth. Luk. 16. 26. They go down into Hell. Psal. 55. 15 Deu••. ••2. 22. 2. It is a place of straitnes, able onely to contain that huge multitude that must be for ever shut up therein. It is set forth therefore by a Prison, a place of restraint, a Pit, a Dungeon, a Lake, places that are not great, Revel. 9. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 19. I••r. 38. 6. The earth it self (in which it is conceived to be) is not great. 3. It is a place and state of perfect and compleat dark∣ne••••, and without any light at all. For there shall be all night, no day; they shall be bound with the bonds of darknes, and of everlasting night: we read of a dreadfull darknes, one of those g••••••vous plagues that God inflicted up∣on Egypt, Exod. 10. 22, 23. But alas, what was that to this? It is called utter darknes, Mat. 8. 12. 22. 25. 30. It is called in Iude 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 17. it is called the blacknes of darknesse (i.) extream darknes. And it must needs be so dark, that is so far remote from all that may enlighten it: yet it is a strange dark∣nes, to be dark where fire is; as it is a strange fire where no light is: and this darknes must needs be then a dreadfull darknes, that is so ex∣traordinary, when al ordinary darknes is terri∣ble to nature. 2. For the company the wicked shall have in Hell, they shall be such as cannot but add to their misery, for they shall have no other company but Devils and wicked persons, Mat. 25. 26. Go yee, &c. into everlasting fire pre∣pared for the Devill and his Angels. Their fel∣lowship shall be with Devils, and with them they must be for ever. Their company shall be the fearfull, unbelieving, abominable, mur∣therers, dogs, whoremongers, idolaters, sorcerers and all lyars. Rev. 21. 8 22. 15. They shall still live with, and look upon their deadly ene∣my the Devill that by his bewitching deceits, and malicious and cunning devises hath brought them into this misery, and doth now triumph and rejoyce therein over them: they shall still live and look upon the Devill their

powerfull and malicious executioner; they shall still live with and look upon those wick∣ed men that by their wicked Counsell and ex∣ample have h••lpen together to bring them in∣to this miserable estate, and they shall still live with, and look upon also those men, whom they themselves by their wicked example and counsell have been a means to draw into this misery: and how much this will add to the heavy weight of misery upon them, no heart can think, or tongue expresse. It is one case and help against many a misery to go from the sight and sent of it, For out of sight out of minde; but from this we may not, we shall not go; we must have it still in sight, and therefore still in mind. 3. For the time of enduring this misery, it is everlasting, Mat. 25. 46. These shall go into everlasting pain, and v. 41. everlasting fire, J••de v. 6. Mat. 5. v. 2••. Dan. 12. 2. ••••ark 9 43. 2 Thess. 1. 9. And this drives the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the head. [Bolton] The consideration of this eternity will so torture the damned soule, that he would think himsel happy, if he might endure those pains no more millions of years then there be sands upon the Sea shore. For this thought would comfort, my misery will once have a••end. But alas, this word never will ever rent the heart in pieces with much rage, and give still new life to th••se in••offerabl•• sorrows which infinitly exceed all expression, or imagination. Let us suppose▪ this great body of the earth on which we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be turned to Sand, and a Wron to come but every hundred thousand year, and carry away one grain of this great heap, what an innum••∣rable number of years would be spent before this heap of Sand would be fetched away: And yet we and alas, that ever thou wast born; when thou hast lyen all this time in this misery thou art no nearer comming out, thou the first houre thou entrest in! Now suppose what it is to lye one night in some disease, and have all the helps and comforts for ••ase; what will it then be to lye in this estate for ever? O eterni∣ty, eternity, eternity. If you shall aske why the temporall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is punished with eternal pu∣nisment? We answer, 1. Because Gods ••u∣stice

can never be satisfied by the sinners pu∣nishment. 2. The sinners mind to sin is e∣ternall. 3. The souls and bodies to be pu∣nished shall be eternall. 4. The sinner doth sin all his time, and God doth punish all his time, which is eternall. 5. The staine of sin is eternall. 6. The sin is against an infi∣nite God, and therefore the punishment is an infinite punishment. So now, put all this together, and then think what a state and con∣dition Hell is; and whether it had not been good for a man never to be born, rather then to be born to this condition. Matth. 26. vers. 24.

That there are degrees of joyes in heaven.

IT is certain and infallible, that the glory of heaven is the gift that God bestowes upon all the Saints, and every Saint shall be full of glory: and that as some doe and suffer more then others here: So they shall have and receive more glory, then others hereafter.

That this is so, is more then probable. Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousnesse, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. 1 Cor. 15. 41. The Apostle speaking of the bodies, of the glorified bodies of the Saints in heaven, useth these words: There is another glory of the Sun, another glory of the Moon, another glory of the starrs: for one ••arre differeth from another star in glory. So al 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is the resurrection of the dead. 2 Cor. 9, 6. The parable of the Talents Luke 19.

Rea••. ••1. For though God give not heaven for, yet he gives it according to our works: and some mens works do farre exceed others. 2 All

are not alike capable, but differ as vessels, that are some greater and some lesse. If it be asked then who shall have most glory? The answer must be this. 1 Those that suffer most for Christs sake. Matth. 5. 12. Great is your re∣ward in heaven. 2 Those that do most good for others souls. Dan. 12. 2. They shall shine as the starres &c. 3 Those that are most hum∣ble. Matth. 18. 1, 2, 3, &c. Christ being as∣ked, who should be the greatest in the King∣dom of God, he sets a little childe before them and saith. He that shall humble himself as this little childe, the same is the greatest in the King∣dom of heaven.

Now that we have made it appear that there is a heaven, and that it is such a heaven, such a happy and blessed estate, and that there are de∣grees of this happinesse; you will say unto me Quorsion 〈◊〉〈◊〉? What of all this, or what is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to us? That we may therefore know these things for our selves: Let us see what use may be made of all this, for our own profit.

Ʋse 1. This then serveth for instruction, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the folly and madnesse of the men of the world, that willingly deprive themselves of this endlesse glory for a few base lusts, that be∣••eave th••mselves of a room in the city of pearls; for a few carnall pleasures, that shut themselves out of everlasting habitations, for a little transitorie pe••••e, that wilfully keep themselves out of this pallace of infinite pleasure: for the short fruition of worldly trash and trifles. These are like profane Esau, that sell their birthright for a messe of portage Heb. 12. 16. These are like the co••k in the fable, that let go a pearl for a barley corn. Will not every man think him out of his wits, that is promised a Kingdom, ••he will forbear to doe some small matter that will not profit, but hurt him to do, and doe some small thing he may easily doe; and he will not doe this little for so great gain? certainly every man will think him so. Should not a man rather, sell all that he hath to gain this Matth. 13. And account all but durg in comparison of this Phil. 3 [Jerome] What saith the father. fire, gallowes, &c. All the torments of hell, so I may enjoy the pleasures

of heaven. Who doth not then marvell at the wisdom of the men of this world (rightly tear∣med folly) that embrace straw, and contemn gold, set their hearts upon that which is not, and so greedily follow after shadowes, and neg∣lect that which is, and let go enduring substan∣ces; what folly and madnesse is this?

2. Exhorta. To divers duties. 1 Let us labour to see, know, and beleeve this. But you will say of this as of death, is there any man alie, that makes a question of this, whe∣ther he shall die, or whether there be a hell or a heaven or no? Yes certainly it is more then manifest, that most men doe not know nor be∣leeve this truth: for if they did, it is not possi∣ble they should live as they doe. To know, is to know by causes, and for our selves, and to apply to our selves, and our own private profit what we know: which is the knowledge we are pressed to in this place. To beleeve (because the God of truth hath said it in his word, that there is a heaven to reward the righteous, and a hell to punish the wicked, that we must all die, and after death come to judgement: and to live so as those that expect such things. 2 P••t. 3. 14. Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blamelesse. Let us con∣sider it well, spend many thoughts upon it, en∣ter into deep meditations of the inestimable glorie of it, and view that heavenly Canaan well. And to help us herein, let us pray with the Apostle, Ephes. 1. 18. That we may be en∣lightened to see what is the riches, and glory of this inheritance. These things beleevingly thought upon will bring us much profit. 1 They will expell other thoughts. 2 They will keep us from sin, we shall say then, shall I sin, and for a few base lusts loose such a place as heaven is. 3 They will provoke us to good works, and make them more easie to us. 4 They will make us bear the crosse the more patiently, as they did the Martyr who said well, Though I have a sower breakfast, I shall have a sweet sup••••••. 5 They will more inflame us with the love 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this felicity, and consequently make us more to strive to attain it.

2 In the second place this may exhort us, to use the means, and take the course to attain to this happy estate. 2 To get assurance that we belong to this estate, and shall come at the last to it; For the first of these, we are to see that we labour and strive to get into this gold∣en citie, where streets, gates, walls, and all are gold and pearl: Nay, where pearl and all is but as mire and dirt and nothing worth. 2 Pet. 3. 13. 14. And now, and now onely is the time to do this. And to move us hereunto, we are to consider th••se things. 1 It is a thing to be done, heaven may be had if we seek after it: Matth. 7. 7. 2 It is an excellent condition as we have shwed. 3 It is an everlasting happy condition, 4 Else we perish everlastingly. If now you shall ask how you may attain, or which way you may come to it: we must answer you. We must goe the way. And herein there are 2 things. 1 That we know the path that leadeth to this blessednesse. 2 that we tread this path untill we do attain it. As he that would goe to any place heere, must first know, and then go the way thither and not another way. If you desire to be shewed this way, we must first of all shew you, that is the way that Gods word prescribeth, that a man that will come to heaven must walk; this is the King of kings high way, Iames 2. 8. That leads to true blessednesse, he then that means to come thither, must be acquainted with the word of God, both Law, and Gospel. And for that purpose he must be a diligent hearer, reader, and medi∣tatour of it Psalm 1. Psalm 119. Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 39. Acts 20. 32 And this is that, that sheweth us the way; it sheweth us Christ who is the way, it gives us grace and makes us sit for glory: this is as the starre that brought the wisemen to Christ. See Matth. 7. 24. Rom. 10. 14. Ephe 4. 11 1, 13. 2 Cor. 5 19. Heb. 1. 1.

If you desire yet to be farther instructed in this point, you must observe with us 3 things, 1 some lets or hinderances, that do keep men from heaven, and the way which must be re∣moved. 2 Some helps and furtherances, as provision for the journey, that do help onwards in the way to heaven, that must be used. 3

the steps of this way it self. The hinderances and impediments are many But to give you some 1 All sin in generall is a hinderance to mens attainment of true blessednesse, for every sin is a step in the contrary way, and leadeth towards hell. But there are some speciall things that l••t, as 1 Inf••delitie; the J••ws could not ente•• into the earthly Canaan, because of their unbeleef Heb. 3. 19. And the Christian will be kept out of the heavenly Canaan by his un∣beleef. Iob. 3. 18. 2 Pride James 4 6. God ref••••teth ••e pr••••d: When m••n are puffed up and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so big, with the conceit of their own externall o•• internall worth, they cannot get into heaven. Matth. 19. 24. It is easier for a Ca••••ll to goe through the eye of an••••dle. &c. 3. Trusting to a mans self and his own righte∣ousnesse Rom. 10. 3 Gal. 2. 17. 4 A r••misse and carelesse seeking of it, men will not give enough for it, he that would have heaven must go beyond all men Luke 13. 24. 5. Presum∣tuous security, whereby a man is content in his present condition, presuming all is well when it is not so, Matth. 25. 43. 44. and v. in the pa∣rable of the ••ive ••••••lish virgins.

The helps and furtherances that must be used, are. 1 Resolution, as a man that prepares for a journey doth gird up the loyns &c 2 All the means and ordinances of grace. And the spi∣ritual traveler can no more go to heaven without the constant and conscionable use of th••se, then a trava••ler here can go a great journey with∣out a guide, food, and other provision for his journey. These means are the Word, and Sa∣craments, prayer, and the rest i•• the Sanctificati∣on of the Sabbath, all which being the means to beget increase and che••••••, grace, which is he way and means to attain to glorie must be carefully and constantly used of all those th••t look to ••••me to glory: Io••n•• 6. 24. Act•• 20. 32. Iohn 5. 29. Rom. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 5. ••9. 1 P••••. ••••0. Esay. ••8 14. Rom. 10. 14. They That call upon the Lord shall be saved.

3. The steps of this way it self, are in gene∣rall, the conformity of a mans ways in righte∣ousnes and holines to the will of God, doing good and avoiding evill; or a walking in ho∣lines

and righteousnes before him: Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdome of Heavens; but he that doth the will of my Father in Heaven: Matth. 7. 2••. They th••••efore for whom this place i•• prepared, and that shall be Inhabitants of this heavenly Jeru∣salem, are said to be, the righteous, just, Saints &c. E••ay ••7. 1. Righteous men are taken away from the evill to come. Mat. 25 46. The righ∣teous shall go into everlasting life. Mat. 1. 43. Then shall the just shine as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the king∣dome of their Father: and heaven it self. Col. 2. 1••. It is called the inheritance of the Saints, of them that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. Hebr. 12 14. Revel. 21 27. For it is but reason, that they that would have the wages of eternall life of God hereafter, should do his work here: Hebr. 12. v. 28 If yet you d••si••e to see this branched out further in 〈◊〉〈◊〉; we may observe it to be noted out unto us to ••ivers gracious works of Gods Spirit in us and by us: as,

1. In Sanctification, that is, the peculiar work of Gods Spirit, creating in the elect, con∣verted souls, that new quality of holinesse; whereby they can in some measure truly hate their own sins, with firm purpose to leave them and love Gods Law with resolution to do it in some good measure. For al those, & those alone that are sanctified here shall be saved hereafter. And this sanctification, is one part of the will of God that must be done of all that will be sa∣ved. 1 Thess. 4. 3. This is the will of God, even your Sanctification. Rom. 8. 3. Whom he will glorifie, he will sanctifie. And this we know doth comprehend two things, Mortification of sin, and a quickening virtue to goodnes. And the first or rather the Spirit in the first, worketh by these degrees, 1. it doth make a man labour to finde out his sin, especially roo••-sin. 2. It makes him loath it, and be weary of it, and desirous to be rid of it. 3. It maketh him to fetch power from the death of Christ, in the use of all the means of grace to kill it. 4. It maketh him to apply this power as a corasive to proud flesh, to eat out his sin. The second worketh thus: 1. It maketh a man labour

to find out that righteousnes which God re∣tquireth. 2. To strive for a willingnes of heart ••o perform it. 3. And that he may so do to fetch power from Christ in the use of all the means of Grace. 4. A love to all good persons and things. And by these pure motions as streams, the fountain is known to be pure. Io. 4 14. 5. A pure and a holy life sheweth the heart as the fruit doth the Tree to be good.

2. In Regeneration, That work of Gods wonderfull power, begetting the Elect again to himself, by the Word and Spirit; thereby making them the children of God through 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Christ, who were the children of w••••th by 〈◊〉〈◊〉: which is one of the first steps in the way to salvation. And all those, and those onely that are regenerate here of God, by his Spirit and Word, by a spirituall birth, and by that means made new creatures, shall come to this happy place, Iohn 3 3. Christs own words. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be born againe, he cannot see the kingdome of God Joh. 1. 13. 1 Pet 1. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 3. who hath begotten us again to a lively hope, &c. To an i••her••tance, &c. For flesh and blood can∣not inherit the kingdome of God. 1 Cor. 15. 50. Jo. 1. 14. And this work where it is wrought doth shew it self thus: 1. by the change, their hearts are changed, their stony heart is turned into a heart of flesh, &c. and their lives are al∣tered; they are other men as Paul and Manas∣sah: they have new thoughts, words, and works. Gal. 1. 22. 2. They desire after, and delight in the means of Grace, 1 Pet. 2. v. 2. 3. They know how to work and do work in the work of God.

3. In Repentance, (a fruit of sanctification) which is, where a man is sorely displeased with himself for his sins, because they are offensive to God and against his Law; and a true ha∣tred of all sin, a setled, constant desire and en∣deavour to order his life by Gods Word. For those only that turn from all sin to God in heart and desire, and labour to shew the same by eschewing all manner of evill, and doing all manner of good shall be saved. It is called re∣pentance unto life, Acts 11. 18. Ezech. 18, 21

Mat. 18. 3. Christs own words, Verily I say to you, except you be converted, and become as little children, yee shall not enter into the king∣dome of God. Acts 3. 19. Amend your lives therefore and turn, that your sins may be blotted out, when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And this repentance if it be true, hath these things in it. 1. a hearty grief, chiefly, because we have offended a gra∣cious God that hath been so good to us. Psal. 51. 4. 2. An unf••••ned hat••ed and detesta∣tion of all sin: especially of that we have lo∣ved most Psal. 119. 104. 3. A groaning under the burthen of it. Luke 15. 17. he to whom sin is a burthen shall come to this rest. Mat. 11. 28. Acts 3. 9 4. A constant resolution against all sin especially our own sin, Psal. 119 57. 5. An earnest striving all our life time against all that we know to be evill. 6. A pra∣ctise in some measure in now, obedience, Luke 1. 6. sin begins to be left, corruption begins to work out. 7. A daily examination of our selves, judging and humbling of our selves for our sins. Psal. 32. Rom. 7. 8. A quick ap∣prehension of Gods word against it self. Acts 2. 37. 2 Kings 22. 19. 9. A love of the word of God and Ministers thereof, as that by which we have had our healing, as a man will doe the Physitian and Physick that cured his body.

4. In an effectuall or inward calling: the speciall and free work of Gods spirit, singling and drawing the elect from the reprobates, making them that they were not before, Saints, &c. for they, and they onely who are inward∣ly called by Gods Spirit, as well as outwardly called by Gods Word, out of the state of na∣ture ot the state of grace, to faith and repen∣tance, shall be saved. And all such as are de∣livered into the ••ingdome of his deare Son. Col. 1. 13. This calling is a sure signe that one is ordained to everlasting life. Rom. 8. 30. Whom the Lord hath called, them he hath also glorified. For these are the Vessels of mercy prepared to glory, and on whom God will declare the ri∣ches of his glory, even them whom he hath called. Rom. 9. 22, 23, 24.

The evidence of this is 1. when the soul doth answer to God in every thing he doth re∣quire, Psal. 27. 8. 2. when a man is made a new creature by the powerfull work of regene∣ration.

5. In our Faith, that gift of God where∣by the regenerate heart receiveth Christ, and all his b••nefits to it self, as they are offered by the word, or that tift whereby the believer is perswaded that the word of God is true, and doth belong all unto it self. And those onely that have a true justifying Faith here in their hearts, shall be saved hereafter, and none others: and those shal be saved, for God hath promised salvation to them. Jo. 3. 36. He that believeth shall be saved. 1 Pet. 1. 9. receiving the en••••o, your Faith, even the salvation of your Souls: for this bringeth us unto and into Christ, who is the way to salvation; and hath the Keys of Heaven doors that openeth and no man shut∣teth. io ••4 6 Rev. 14. 13. Acts 16. 30, 31. And this Faith may be found by these signes, 1. It is bred by the word, Rom. 10. 17. Law and Gospel. 2. It gives a power against the po∣werfu••l work of Satan. Ephes. 6. v. 16. 3. It makes a man earnestly desire reconciliation with God, and assurance of his favour. Psal. 106 4. 31. 16. 4. It makes a man carefull to please God, though he displease himself in it. Heb. 11. 5. Gen. 22. 10. 5. It makes us to long for Christ, for a more abundant tast and participation of his heavenly grace and gifts. Cant. 1. 11. 6. It raiseth in us a heavenly and spirituall joy. 1 Pet. 1. 8. 7. It purgeth the heart of sin, Acts 15. 9. 8. It moveth in us a love to God and all his People. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Gal. 5. 5. Iames 2.

6. In our Iustification, in the forgivenes of our sins, by the sufferings of Christ, and the imputation of righteousnes, by his obe∣dience through faith: for whosoever is justi∣fied shall be saved, and so è converse: Rom. 8. 30. Whom he justified them hee also glorified. This doth consist in the pardon of sin, which may be known to be ours, if we have repented of it, 1 John 1. 9. and of the imputation of Christs righteousenes which may be known by

such a peace of Conscience as 1. doth follow or accompany trouble of Conscience. 2. As doth make one carefull to preserve a good Con∣science. Rom. 5. 1. Heb. 13. 8. 2 Corinth. 1. vers. 12.

7. In our adoption, which is, the taking of a man, the childe of wrath by nature, to be a childe of God by grace. For they that are to inherit heaven hereafter are the children of God here, and so è converso: Rom. 8. 15, 16, 17. If we be children, then are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heirs of God, and joynt heirs with Christ, which we may know by these things, 1. If we do partake of the divine nature by Regneration. Io. 1. v. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 4. 2. If we have such spirituall affe∣ctions towards God, as children have naturall affections towards Parents. 3. If we have the Spirit of Adoption, that gi••t of the spirit assuring us of our Adoption, Rom. 8. 15. 4. If we doe willingly submit unto, and desire wholly to be governed by the spirit of God, Rom. 8. 14. 5. If we do in some sort resemble God.

8. In a true love, that holy affection of the heart causing us to delight in God for his g••odnesse sake, and in our neighbours for Gods sake, Iam. 1. 12. The Lord hath promised the Crown of life ot them that love him. And this we may know by these thing, 1. That we desire a more neer union to him: 2. we are well pleased in him 3. We much esteem him. 4. we are careful to please him. 5. we hate that he hatheth. 6. Wee are zealous for him. 7. we love his ordinances and servants by which we have intercourse withhim.

9. In a true love to Gods people, whereby a man is moved to wish them well and labour their good: 1 Io. 3. 14. Hereby we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren: which may be known by these things, 1. That we love them all; those that have no respect to us, as well as the rest. 2. That we love them for their goodnes sake: Psalm. 16. 3. 1 Cor 12. 26. 3. That we have a fellow feeling with them in their misery. 4. That we are willing and ready to do them all the good we can, & do help and succour them in their misery. Matt. 5. 34, 35. I was sick and yee visited me, &c. they that shall rest Esay 57. 1, 2. are mercifull men.

10. In the true filial frear of God, Psal. 145. 19. that holy affection of the heart awing us, and making us loath to displease God by sin, in respect of his great goodnes and mercy, and for a love we bear to righteousenes: The Lord hath promised to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the desire of them that fear him; And that he will h••ar their cry, and save them And this fear those men have, that 1 doe love God. 2. that are truly humbled, Gen. 33. 3. 3. that are afraid of sin, Exod. 4. 3. Psal. 16. 8. 4. that hate sin, Pr••v. 8. 13. 5. that depart from evill, Prov. 3. 7. Luke 1. 74. 75.

11. In true saving knowledge: in the clear and distinct understanding of heavenly truth contained in the word by the spirit, Io. 1•• 2. This is life eternall to know thee, the true God, &c. and then it is true, 1. when it is di∣stinct: 2. universall of all truths in a good measure: 3. it is humbling: 4. it is experi∣mentall. 5. it is joyned with practise.

12. In new obedience; when a man is rea∣dy to do Gods will in all things, though never so much against heart: Rom. 6. 17. Psal. 119 6. And this must be, 1. of the whole man inward and outward: 2. it must be to the whole word. 3. it must be always & in all places, times, and companies.

13. In a true joy, a sweet motion of delight in the soul, raised by the sense of Gods favour in Christ, whereof the sould by good grounds is assured. A glimpse of heaven upon earth, 1 Pet. 8. 9. Saint Peter speaks of such as re∣joyce with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: That they shall receive the end of their Faith, even the salvation of their souls; which is known by these things: 1. it goeth with faith: 2. it fol∣loweth godly sorrow: 3 it is in heavenly and spirituall things: 4. it is the fruit of the spirit: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. it is a lasting joy: 6. it is a victorious joy: 7. and it is a solid joy.

14. In patience under the Crosse: when a man is able to bear the crosse quietly with a ready submission to Gods will, who will have it so for his own ends. Jam. 1. 12. B••essed is the man that endureth tentation, for when he is ••ried he shall receive the crown of life. 2. Thess. 1. 8. And this patience we shall know to be ••••ue by these things. I when a man doth

finde fault with the least inclination to impati∣ency. 2 When he doth not go about to limit God. 3 When a man doth more fear the evil of sin, then he doth the evill of punishment. 4. When a man is the better for the crosse. Rom. 5. 8. Psalm 119 67. Dan 12. 10. 5. When he doth wholly resign up himself to God in it. Heb. 12. 9. David 〈◊〉〈◊〉 El••e.

15 In the earnest of the SPirit, in their he••rts, whereby they are sealed upto the day of redemp∣tion, and assured of heaven. 1 Cor. 1 22. Ephes. 1. 14. 4. 30. Rom. 8. 16. 17. Which beareth witnesse with our spirits that we are Gods chil∣dren, and kn••w•• by the fruits thereof as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and the rest Galla. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 22.

16. In their Spirituall povertie, or humble∣heartednesse in the sight and sense of their own spirituall wants, when a man is tamed by af∣fliction, so that he hath a lively feeling of his spirituall poveritie and want: and is humbled and made low thereby. Matth. 5. 3. Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

17 In their holy mourning for their own and others sins, and the miseries of Gods people: Matth. 5. 4. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. They that mourn for spirituall things in a spirituall manner, and upon spirituall motives Luke 6. 11. Blessed are they that weep &c.

18 In humility, when a man looking on his worse•• part, hath a mean esteem of himself, and a higher esteem of others, and doth walk hum∣bly before his God; in a patient bearing of evil and doing of good Prov. 18. 12. Before glory goeth lowlinesse: Phillip. 2. 7. 8, 9. Matth. 5. 23. 4. Matth. 18. 12. 3, 4, 5. Whosoever shall humble himself as a little childe, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heven.

19. In their mercy and pity, to them that are in misery: When we pity and help and succour them in their miserie. Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy: Matth. 5. 7. Esay 57. 1. Mercifull men are taken away &c. Matt. 25. 34. I was hungry and ye fed me &c. Sell that ye have and give alms, make you bags which wax no•• old, a treasure that can never fail in hea∣ven &c. Luke 12. 33. Where no theefe com∣meth, nor moth corrupteth.

20. In a lively hope, to an assured expectati∣on

of all goodthings promised Rom. 8. 14. We are saved by hope. This is an anchor to the soul sure and stedfast. Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19. And then true, when 1 it ariseth out of faith Heb. 11. 1. 2 It followeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 effedtuall cal••ing: Ephes. 1. 18. 3 It makes a man use all good means to have the thing hoped for. 4 It makes a man sit himself for the thing hopes for: he that hath this shall not be ashamed of it. Rom. 5. 5. 1 Iohn 3. 3.

21 In a broken hearts and contrite Spirit, when it is b••u••sed as it were to powder through deep grief, from the apprehension of Gods wrath against him for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Psal. 34. 18 Psal 50. He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Psal. 147. 3. Ezek. 6. 26. Rom. 7. 8 〈◊〉〈◊〉. P••ritie and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of heart, that have hearts partly freed from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and endeavouring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the gu••lt and punishme•••• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and from the power of sin by 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Matth. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Blessed are the pure•••• heart, for they shall see God Rev. 7. 14. These are the•• which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 m••••e them white &c. ver. 9. Clothed with white Roles in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of puritie. 1 Tim. 1. 5.

23. In their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, their mutuall concord and agreement with their brethren: Matth. 5 9. Blessed are the peace makers: Gal. 5. 24. Fruit of the Spirit is peace.

24. In their sinceritie and uprightnesse, when the heart is right towards God and man: stu∣dying to doe all things to please God, and not for any by 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Esay 57. 2. Ʋpright men are taken away.

25. In doing good in every state and condition of life. Rom. 2. 6. 7 Go•• will reward every one according to his work: That is to them who through patience in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seek glory: &c. Eternall life, ver. 10. To every man that doth good shall be Glory, Honour, and Peace.

26 Especially by fruitfulnesse in well doing. Matth. 7. 19. When we forget what is past and prosse forward to more, not trusting to what who have done. Herein is my Father glori∣fied that ye bear much fruit, and he that honoureth him shall be honoured. Phil. 3. 13. Iob. 15. 8. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Matth. 25. 37. 38. Christ shall say to them I was an hungrie and ye fed me &c. And they shall say unto him, Lord when saw we

thee an hungry and fed thee, &c.

27 In picking close to God herein, in impro∣ving all our talents and opportunities for this end, and mightily opposing all that doth op∣pose us herein. 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. I have fought a good sight and have finished my course, I have kept the faith, From henceforth is ••aid up for me the crown of righteousnesse &c. 1 Pet. 5. 4. Matth. 25. 21.

28 In labouring by their example and Coun∣sell to convert others to righteousnesse: Dan. 12. 2. And they that turn many to righteousnesse shall shine as the ••arres for ever and ever.

29 In cherishing and furthering euerie good thing.

30 In pers••vering in good: Mark 13. 13. He that continueth to the end shall be saved. Rev. 2. 10. Be faithfull to the death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

31 In loving and ••onging for the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ: 2 Tim. 4. 8. Luke 21. 8. Rev. 22. 17. 20. Rom. 8. 10. 23.

32 In embracing and reverencing the truth 2 Thess. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10.

If now upon all this we shall begin to think that this way is impossible to be gone, we must answer and tell you in Christs words, the way t•• heaven is a narrow and a straight way. Matth. 7. 13. 1 Pet. 4. 18 For 1 It is a persecuted way. 2 Tim 3. 11. 12. 2 It is a way through many troubles Acts 14. 22 Iames 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12. 2 Cor. 4 17. Typed by the tra∣vell of the Israelites through the wildernesse. 3 It will admit of no turning: Acts 13. 10. 4 It crosseth all a mans corruptions 1 Cor. 1. 23. Rom. 5. 5 There are many enemies against them that walk in this way. But all this is but to make us to doe as Christ doth exhort, Strive to enter in &c. Luke 13. 24. Use all meanes and be at any charge to attain it. Esay 55. 1 Prov. 23. 23. Matth. 13. 44. And that we may not go without it, Let us 1. beginne bet••••es to deal upon this purchase. 2 Labour earnestly, neglect no time nor means. 3. Be industrious as men that cleave a knottie piece of wood. 4. Let us be sure to bid enough for heaven. 5 Let us go through, and let us re∣solve to go through with the bargain what ever it cost us: for wisemen have given their life for

it; and it is the best bargain in the world.

3. The 3. duty whereunto (in this use) we are to be exhorted is, That we labour to get an assurance of heaven before we die. 2 Pet. 1. 10. For 1 We know not how soon we shall die, and then we must part from the present things we have here: It is good then to be assured of better, before we leave these things. 2 This assurance brings a world of joy with it. Rom 14 17 3. It will be one speciall means to keep of many of Satans tentations Ephes. 6. 16 4 Hereby we shall be able to come with boldnesse to the throne of grace Heb. 4. 14. 16. And to move us thereunto, let us con∣sider theseunto, let us con∣sider these things. 1 It is possible to attain it, for some of the Saints have attained it. Exod. 15. 2. Ioh 19. 23. Ioh 20. 21. ••7, 28. Ephes. 1. 14. 2 We have means to attain it, and time also to make use of that means Iob 14. 14. 19. Ioh. 12. 36. 3 God requires it 2 Pet. 1. 10. 4. Many excellent benefits flow from hence to us, and (amongst the rest) we shall have a taste of this happinesse here, we shall have a heaven upon earth.

If now you shall ask how you may come by this assurance, we must make the answer in 3 branches. 1 This assurance cannot be had presently; for commonly it is not gotten with∣out much labour & a-doe, and that for a long time, and after a long waiting. 2 The best means that can be found of our assurance herein, will be the work of the spirit of God, so much as we can finde of the work of the Spirit in our Sanctification, Regeneration, Repent∣ance, Faith, Love, Joy, &c. So much assu∣rance we may have upon solid grounds of our salvation, and the more we finde of the one, the more we have of the other: 2 Pet. 1. 5. 6, 7, 10, 11. Psalm 15. 1. 2. &c. Rom. 8. 28. 30. 3 The means of increase of grace, which are 1 The constant use of all the means of grace, the word. Psalm 1. 3. Acts 20. 32. The Sa∣craments. 1 Cor. 11. 26. Prayer. Matth. 7. 7. And by this means we shall get into Christ, by and from whom, all our vertue to grow and increase doth come: as the branches from the tree. Ioh. 15. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 5. In the third place for application of this point of heavens happinesse, there are some uses to be directed to

them onely that upon a serious examinatin of themselves, finde themselves to be justly enti∣t••led to this blessednesse, and those are 4. first of all they are from hence, to be taught thank∣fulnesse to God, who hath bestowed this gift upon them, prepared them for it, and doth pre∣serve it fo•• them, and them for it: to be deli∣vered from such an evil as hell, is no small fa∣vour; but withall to be brought to such a good as heaven, is a favour above all comparison. If a man (of whom we may deserve something) should bestow a good farm upon us in fee sim∣ple, we should think our selves bound to owe him much thanks for this. What thanks then think we do we owe to God (from whom we can merit nothing) who hath freely given us a Kingdom, nay more then all the Kingdoms of the world at once: For the gift of God is eter∣nall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. 23. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of our selves, it is the gift of God: Ephe. 2. 8. Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Coloss. 1. 12. Well may we assume the Apostles words; 1 Pet. 3. 4. Bles∣sed be God, even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us to a lively hope by the resurrecti∣on of Iesus Christ to an inheritance &c. 2 They are from hence to be learned to rejoyce in the hope and expectation of this happinesse; who is there that is born to a crown, and doth not rejoyce to think of it? The godly have as much cause to rejoyce for the happinesse to come up∣on them, as the wicked to weep and howle for the misery to come upon them. Iames 1. 1. 2. Rom. 5. 2. We rejoyce under the hope of glory. Luke 10. 20. Rejoyc•• that your names are writ∣ten in Heaven Luk 21. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 13. 3 They are from hence to learn patience and comfort under the crosse: have we many and grievous afflictions here? it will not be long but we shal be freed of them all, and we shall be made a∣mends for all; are we poor here? we shall have a kingdome then; are we in trouble here? we shall have rest then; are we under shame and contempt here? we shall have honour then: 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light afflictions here, which are but for a moment, cause unto us a far more ex∣cellen••

••nd eternell weight of glory. Rom. 8. 18. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this present time are not worthy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the glory which shall be shewed unto us: The comming of the Lord draweth nigh. 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 5. 6 7. And this will be a time of refresh∣ing, Act, 3. 19 And then there shall be, no more curse; and all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow. &c. Rev. 22. 3. Let us wait till then, Jam. 5 7 Be patient my brethren to the com∣ming of the Lord; behold the husbandman wait∣eth for the precious fruits of the Earth, and hath long patience for it till he receive the former and the latter raine, Mat. 12. So let us wait, Iude 21. 4 They are from hence to learn mode∣ration in their desires after, and use of, these earthly things, since they are shortly to have so much, they may be content with a little in the meantime; nor should they much esteem those things they have, since shortly they must leave them for far better things. It is not for him that is born to a kingdome, to set his heart upon an old rotten Cottage. 1 Cor. 7. 31. In the fourth place for application, since, heaven is such a place and condition, Let us all be then perswaded, not only to get it for our selves, but to doe our best to help others to it also, bonian que communius comelius, the better the thing is the more we should desire the communication of it to others, and the more goo•• we shall do thereby, there is room enough in heaven for us all, and it will not lessen, but encrease our happines to have o∣thers to pertake of the same happines with us: they that turn many to righteousnes shall shine, &c. it is one note and mark of our being in the state of grace, and our going to the state of glory (as we have shewed) to be of this making, Psal 51. 13. Gal. 4. 19. Luke 22. 32. grace is commu∣nicative, for there is love in it, which is b••utifull and good; and he that hath tasted the sweetnes of Gods goodnesse; himself, hath so much love to others, that he desireth, that all others should caste thereof with him; it is the nature and temper of all the heavenly passengers. Let us every one of us therefore be of this heavenly minde, not to hinder men in the way by laying blocks of ill example or bad councel, but rather by all good perswasions and examples, labour to have as many with us to heaven as we can, the father his children, the husband his wife, the wife her husband, one friend and neighbour another; and for this purpose, let us instruct, reprove, and admoni•••• them our selves? and let us draw and bring them to Iesus Christ, who is the way; and for this purpose let us pray for them, and draw them to the means and ordinances of grace, the word, prayer, and sacraments; by which as by a Conduit pipe, grace and glory, Christ and all, is conveyed and derived to us. So let us bring the sick souls of our friends now to Christ, as men did the sick bodies of their friends to Christ heretofore, and were healed: let us perswade them to wash in that heavenly bath, that is open for sin and transgression, Zach. 12. 1. Let us say, Come let us go up to the house of the Lord, &c. Esay 2. 3. In the last place, since it is so, that there be degrees of glory in heaven, and some shall have more then others: Let it then be to perswade us to labour for the utmost degree of glory, by doing and suffering: let us not onely labour to be good, but to be passing good; to do good, but to doe much good; to doe all the good we can, not onely to suffer for Christ and righteousnes sake; but to suffer gladly and willingly, any thing for Christs sake, We will end with the Apostles exhortation, in the 1 Cor. 15. 59. therefore my beloved brethren, be yee stedfast, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the works of the Lord; forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord: i. not without a reward from God, seeing there is an eternal life.

That there are degrees of tor∣ments in hell.

IT is most certain, that the torments of hel shall be imposed upon every impenitent sin∣ner, and he that bears least thereof, shall bear an intollerable burden: yet it is more then probable, that as some sin more then others▪ so they shall be punished more then others: and therefore that there shall be degrees of torments in hell. Matth. 23. 14. woe unto you Scribes &c. Therefore you shall receive the greater dam∣nation. Matth. 11. 22. It shall be easier for Tyre and idon in the day of judgement thou for you. Matth. 5. 22.

Reas. For Gods justice so requireth, and the judge of all the earth will do right. If then it be demanded who shall have most torment? The answer will be, he that hath most sinned: And the aggravation of sin will rest upon these circumstances. 1 Upon mens knowledge for they that have much knowledge, and yet sin much: must look for much torment. Luke 12. 48. 2 Upon mans will, for the more of the

heart runs to a sinne, the greater is that sin, in which respect, some sinfull thoughts are deem∣ed greater then other sinfull works. 3 Upon the means of amendment, for they that have had much means of amendment, & yet are as ••ad as ever they have been, must look for a great share of hell. 4 Upon the hurt they doe by their sin, for the more hurt they doe by their sin, the more torment they must expect to suffer in hell for their sin: hence it was (as it is concei∣ved by some) that Dives would have had his friends admonished, least they being hurt by his counsell or example, this might cause in∣crease of this torments in after time.

Now having made it to appear, that there is a hell, and that it is such a hell, a miserable and intollerable condition: And that there are degrees of this misery. Let us b••ing home this a little ne••rer to our selves, and consider what use the Holy Ghost in the Word of God teach∣eth us to make of all this.

Use 1. First then let his be to set forth, the folly and madnesse of those men, who though they hear before of such a state and con∣dition, and are forewarned thereof: yet wil∣fully run themselves upon the hazard of ever∣lasting undoing therein, to have the fulfilling of a few base lusts here: these shew plainly that either they beleeve none of these things, or if they doe, that they suppose they have made a Covenant with death, and are at agreement with hell, that it shall not touch them. Esay 28. 15. They run upon all this danger, as the horse unto the battell. Ier. 8. 6. Being igno∣rant of Gods judgement. ver. 7. What will it profit a man to win the whole world, and lose his own soul Matth. 16. 26. Will we not think that man mad, who being told that if he go such a way, he will fall into a dangerous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, or be torn in pieces of wilde beasts: that ha••ing no need will notwithstanding adventure that danger? doubtlesse every man will think him so. [Bolton] Ah then is it not madnesse above admiration, and that which may justly astonish heaven and earth, that men who are reasonable creatures, that have eyes in their heads to fore∣see, and hearts in their bodies to tremble, con∣sciences

capable of horrour, and bodies and souls that can burn in hell; that may (by ta∣king lesse pains in the right way then a drunk∣ard, wordling, or other wicked man in the wayes of hell) escape everlasting pains, yet will not be warned or moved; untill tho fire of that infernall lake flame about their ears. O mon∣strous madnesse! and mercilesse cruelty to your own souls.

2. Let us then consider of this, see and be∣leeve this. For whatsoever men may pretend, or imagine, they do not beleeve there is any such place as hell is, for if they did, they could not so desperately and inconsiderately, run into evil as they do. Deut. 32. 29. Esay 27. 11. Let men therefore know and beleeve as a part of Gods infallible truth, that there is a hell, and that the torment thereof is extream and perpe∣tuall, and let them labour to avoid it. (& cries [Ward] In hell there is nothing heard but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 In hel the fire nere slakes, nor worm 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dies. But where this hell is plac••d (my muse stop there) Lord shew me what it is, but never where.

Let us then spend many though••s, in the meditation of this also: and for this also pray, that God will open ••he eyes of our minde; that we may see that which the devil labours with all his might to keep from us, what is the misery of this condition, and let us know it for our selves, for this knowledge will be very profi∣table to us. 1 It will keep us from sin, and it is the ••fore proposed as a remedy and help against it. 2 It will wean us from the world, and make us prepare for heaven. 3 It will make us more afraid of the place, and of sin leading to it: and provoke us with more care and study, to endeavour to avoid it, Forewar∣ned and forearmed. 4 It will make us more thankfull to God and Christ for the work of Redemption, by which we are freed from such a misery. But to forget these things, or to put farre from us ••he thought of death, judgement, hell, and heaven, is to open the stood-gates, and let loose the reins to all unrighteousnesse, as the minding and expecting of them, is to shut up and restrain them. Iob gives this as the reason of his care to walk with his God, Iob 31. 23.

For Gods punishment was fearfull to me, &c. Amos 6. 3. Ye that put farre away the evil day, and approach to the seat of iniquity.

2. Let this then perswade us, to use all the pos∣sible means we may to escape this place and condition. Matth. 3. 8. To flie from the wrath to come. And for this let us hearken to the counsell of Gods Word Luke 16. 31. Which is to flie all sin: for that leads to this misery. Let us therefore resolve to doe or suffer any thing rather then knowingly, wittingly, and willing∣ly, to sin against God. Let us invincibly op∣pose all the motions and temptations to sin, watching and praying continually against it that we may be found worthy to escape the things that shall come upon the world. Luke 21. 36. And to provoke us to this let us con∣sider these things.

1. What a terrible place hell is (as we have shewed) 1 Torment inexplicable. 2 No manner nor measure of ease or comfort. 3 all this endlesse. 2 There is a possibilitie now of escaping it, the promise is to all, and God is rich in mercy to all that call upon him, Christi•• merits are sufficient for all, and the greatest sinners have found mercy, that have sought it with repentance.

If now you shall ask what is the cause, that most men notwithstanding they know this; doe so desperately hazard themselves: and are so carelesse to avoid so great a danger, We shall answer: these 4 causes especially.

1. Securitie, They are asleep in sin, and so as Ionas was sometimes in the ship, do not ap∣prehend any danger though there be never so much. Or 2 Presumption. They are in a dream of another case then indeed they are in, for they that doe spiritually sleep, doe spiritu∣ally dream, and as a man out of his way, that notwithstanding is confident he is in his way, will not heed them that shall tell him so; so is it in this case. 3 Delay, if it be so that men doe think there is some danger in the case, they think it is time enough, and they will look to it hereafter. 4 Remissenesse, We think a little will serve, and that we have done enough; and so as good never a whit, as never the neer: Be

because we have not done enough, we have un∣done our selves for ever. For Remedie whereof we must labour to be throughly awaked, exa∣mine our case, and put our selves in the bal∣lance of the Sanctuary: see which way we are going, and if we finde we are going the broad way to destruction, let us make haste with all care to get out of this way into the narrow way that leadeth to life Psalm 119. 59. I have con∣sidered my wayes and turned my feet to thy Pe••ti∣monies. If now you shall ask what means you may use and what course you may take to escape this miserable condition, we shall answer you in these perticulars, wherein also you may se•• who are yet in this broad way to destruction. 1. Hearken to the counsell of Gods word, and his faithfull servants speaking to us by it Luke 16. 28. 29. For as the neglect and contempt of this brought the old world into hell 1 Pet. 3. 19. 20. So the heeding and obeying of this will keep men out of hell. 2 Pray earnestly for Gods favour in the pardon of our sins

3. Get the spirit in us to help us. Rom. 8. 26. 4. Make Christ our friend and bring him to God for us. 5. Get out of the broad way of our own hearts in evil, and forsake the way of sin which leads to this misery, resolve to do any thing and suffer anything rather then sin, and so get into the narrow way of Gods minde in good.

For they for whom Hell is prepared, and that shall be members of this black and h••ll••sh crew, shall be the unrighteous, the wick∣ed that do o••tend, that do iniquity, &c. Psal. 9. 17. 1 Cor. 6. 9. The unrighteous shall not i••h••rit the kingdome of God. Mat. 13. 41. They shall gather out of his kingdome all things that of∣fend, and them which d••e iniquity. If yet you de∣sire to see it further set forth, what evils especi∣ally they be that bring men to this miserable condition, that all m••n must avoid as the way, as they will avoid this as the end. 1. The che∣rishing, nourishing, and sparing of sin; for if we kill not sin, sin will certainly kill us, Rom 8. 15. For if yee live after the flesh, yee shall die. But if yee mortifie the deeds of the bo∣dy by the Spirit, yee shall live. Mat. 18. 7, 8.

9. Wherefore it thy hand or thy foot cause thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from thee. It is better for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enter into life, halt or maimed, then having two hands, or two feet to be cast in∣to everlasting ••ire. And if thine eye cause thee to offend, pl••ck••n••ous, and ••••st it from thee. It is better to enter into life with one eye, then ha∣ving two eyes to be cast into hell fire And then a man doth cherish and spare his sin, when 1. he will not endure reproof for it, when he will not have his sin dist••••bed. 2. When he doth labour to hide his sin. Iob 20. 12, 13. 3. When he doth plead for his sin. 4. When it is plea∣sant to him. 5. When he doth not care to be rid of it, nor doth groan under it. 6. He cares not to know what that good will of God is; nor doth he labour to bring his heart to it. 7. He cares not to draw nigh to God in the means of grace. Job 21. 14 They say to God depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes. 8. Their fruits are the fruits of the flesh, and this sheweth them to be bad Trees.

2. The continuance in an Unregenerate state, which is the naturall state and conditi∣on of every man: there is no hope for any man to escape damnation, but for such as are begotten again by this work. And this is the condition of all these persons following: 1. Such as in whom there is no change at all wrought, but they are still in their pure na∣turals; as they were born, so they live, and they mean to dye. 2. Such in whom is there no de∣sire after, nor delight in the means of grace. 2. Such as have neither will nor skill to any of Gods works, as Prayer, or the like. 4. Such as have no holy motions, for these are like the breath and beating of the Pulse; that shew the naturall life: and where they are not, it is a signe the body is dead. And to where those are not, it is a signe the soul is dead; and that there is no spirituall life begun in it.

3. Impenetency in Sin; it is not mans sin so much as his not repenting of his sin that damns and undoes him. Manasseth and Paul sinned much; but they repented and were saved. Ezech. 18. ••1. Cast away all your transgressions,

&c. For why will you die ô hous of Israel. And this is then most pernitious, when God cals Upon men to repent; when men are exhorted and perswaded to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and will not hear? Matt. 11. 20, 2••. 12. 41, Acts 17. 30. 2 Chron. 36. 11, 12. 14, 15, 16. And they do continue in their impenitent estate. 1. That do not see a filthines in sin, but think it a beautifull thing. 2. That are not burthened with sin, though they have never so much upon them. 3. They whose hearts are like a Vessel without a hole, where into the word cannot Peirce. 4. They who live in sin still, and leave no sin. 5. They that cry not out of their sin and bewaile it. 6. That are untractable to Gods will. Hebr. 3 13. Rom. 2. 5. 7. That will not endure a plain and sincere Ministery, they will not be awaked out of sin; as a man disturbed is angry doth shew he is willing to sleep on, and not to be awaked; so it shews these men are not wil∣ling to come out of their sin. Better to endure the pain of Repentance here, then everlasting pain hereafter: for one of them must be en∣dured. Luke 13. 3. 5. Christs own words Except yee repent, yee shall all likewise perish.

4. An effectuall or outward calling when men are moved by the Word, or afflictions to repent, but do not; such men as are still un∣der the power of darknes, such are they that hear the word, but do not repent of sin; nor believe the Gospel: such are like to a man in a dead sleep, when he is called, who hears not, and therefore lies snorting stil in his sin. These answer not Gods call, but put them off with delayes and excuses. Luke 14. 16, 17. Math. 20. 16. Prov. 1. 24. Because I have called, and yee refused. I have stretched out my hand, and none would regard: those that were called to the Supper; one saith, I have bought a farm; an∣other, I have married a wise; a third, I have bought oxen. 2. These continue still in their unregenerate state and are not changed at all.

5. Infidelity, the privation and utter want of Faith: when Gods promises are wholly distrusted: for such men as believe not, are damned already (that is) as sure to go to hell

as if they were there already. Jo. 3. verse 36. Hee that believeth in the Son hath everlast∣ing life: And he that obeyeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him: Rom. 1. verse 20. Heb 3. verse 2••. They could not enter in, because of unbeliefe. Marke 16. verse 16. He that believeth not shall be dam∣ned. And this unbelief may be discerned by the effects thereof, also which are 1. by a mans weaknes to withstand temptation, that he is carried and hurried hither and thither with every temptation. 2. That a man takes so little care and pains to be reconciled to God. 3. That a man doth so little care to please God. 4. That a man doth so little de∣sire after grace. 5. That a man hath no spi∣rituall joy in him. 6. That the heart is so foule and unclean still: And 7. that they have so little love to God and his People, 1 Iohn 3. 14, 15.

6. In a mans own guiltines, when a mans sins remain upon his soul being unpardoned, because they are not repented of; and he hath nothing to do with Christs righteousnes, but must stand upon his own bottome: the plague of wicked men, Psal. ••9. 27. Lay iniquity up∣on iniquity, and let them not come into thy righte∣ousnes. Matth. 22. 11, 12. Man how camest thou in hither not having on thy wedding garment, that knoweth not what a troubled Conscience for sin, and quieted by Christs blood doth mean; and therefore take no care, use no pains to keep the Conscience quiet and good.

7 If we continue still as we are by nature the base born of Satan, by similitudinary re∣semblance: we are said to be the Devils chil∣dren, such as bare his image and resemble him in malice and subtilty, called children of wrath, of the flesh, of perdition, of Death, of Hell. Iohn 8. 41. 44. You are of your father the Devil and his works will yee doe. And thus it is, when we have none of the divine nature in us: nor any good affection towards God at all, we are more like unto Satan than unto God; and when Satan, and not Gods Spirit hath filled our hearts, and we are led by the Devill and not by the Spirit of God.

8. In the warn of love ot or hatred of God, the case of all wilful disobedient sinners: for every man that is wicked (as every man is in his estate of nature) doth hate God, Rom. 1. 30. which doth appear by his desire to have God depart from him, Iob 20. by this that he doth not regard him, nor care to please him, that he careth not for Gods glory; nor doth he regard his ordinances.

9. In the hatred of Gods people, when men have a settled malice against them without cause, that they neither wish them well, nor endeavour their good. 1 Jo. 2. 11. He that hateth his brother is in death. Vers. 15. is a man slayer; and yee know that no manslayer hath eter∣nall life. 1 Jo. 3. 13. 15. Psal. 34 21. They that hate the righteous shall perish: which may be thus discerned: 1. That they love not one of them but for some respect: 2. That they hate them for their goodnes sake. 1 Jo. 3. 12. Because his own works were evill, and his bro∣thers good. 3. That they rejoyce nover them, and that they ••o not pitty them nor yeeld them any help in their misery. Math. 25. I was hun∣gry and yee fed me not, sick and in prison, and yee visited me not; naked and yee cloathed me not, &c. Judgment mercilesse, shall be to him that sheweth no mercy Jam. 2. 13.

10. In Presumption or the want of Gods feare: either they fear him not at all, or if they do; it is as an angry Judge, and with a servile fear, they sin nothing the lesse but the more. Rom. 3. 16, 17, 18. The feare of God is not be∣fore their eyes. And therefore they love not God; they are not humbled before God, do not fear sin nor depart from it Jer. 5. 22.

11. In their Ignorance, want of the true knowledge of God and heavenly things, when either they have not and cannot, or have means and will not know. 2 Thess. 1. 8, 9. Ephes. 4. 18 The Lord will come from heaven in flaming fire, to render vengeance on them that know him not, &c. And then it is not true, if there be any, when it is confused, partiall, proud, with∣out experience or practise.

12. In disobedience; when a man refuseth to heare, and do what God requireth. 2 Thes. 1.

8, 9. He shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance, &c. and obey not the gospel. 1 Pet. 3. v. 19, 20.

13. In the want of true joy: for their joy if any is, 1. without faith: 2. and did not fol∣low godly sorrow; 3 it is in carnall and earth∣ly things, Psal. 4. 6. 4. it is a fruit of the flesh and not of the spirit. 5. And it is not a solid lasting nor victorious joy, Eccles. 7. 8.

14. In impatiencie under the Crosse, wherein men cannot submit to God and be quiet, but fret and repine: one of the sins that provoked God so much against the Jews, and kept them out of the earthly Canaan. Psal. 106. 25, ••6. Dan. 12. 10. Psal. 78. 41. 2 Kings 6. 33. For it makes God to increase the Plague still until at last he utterly destroy, Levit. 26. 21. And they discover it in these things 1. They limit the holy one of Israel; and neither can or will endure to wait upon him: 2. They are trou∣bled onely with the evill of punishment, and not at all with the evill of sin as Pharoah: 3. They are not the better but the worse for their crosses: 2 Chron. 28. 22. This is King Ahaz, who in the time of his affliction did trespasse, yet more and more.

15. In the absence of the Spirit of God, which they have not Iude 1. 19. and the presence of Satan that evill Spirit, wherewith they are filled. Acts 5. 3. by the illusion whereof, they pro∣sume of salvation, having no right to it, nor reason for it. And as this is of the flesh, so it yeelds the fruits of the flesh, as adultery and the like. Gal. 5. 19.

16. In their spirituall fulnes: that in their pride and high conceitednes of their own suffi∣ciency feel no need of Christ; that in their own sense think they have all things, and want no spirituall good thing. Luke 1. 53. Luke. 8. 24, 25. W•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you that are full, Rev. 3. 17. Luk. 18. 9, &c. He filleth the hungry with good things, but the rich be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 empty a∣way.

17. In their wicked joy and mirth, that are so drowned in their present pleasures that they shun all pains & crosses for godlines or Gods glory, rejoyce in wickednesse and in earthly things at the best; and mourn not at all for any spirituall thing, Luke 6. 25. Wo unto 〈◊〉〈◊〉

that now laugh, for yee shall waile and we••y. Jam. 5., 1 2. 5.

18. In pride, that haughtines of minde, when a man is puft up with a conceit of his own excellency to the neglect of God, and con∣tempt of men; that which brought Satan to Hell. Prov, 18. 12. Before destruction the heart of man is ••aughty. Math. 23. 12. He that exal∣tech himself shall be brought low. Ezech. 28. Obadia, vers. 3. The pride of thy heart hath de∣ceived thee; thou that dwellest in the clifts of the Rocks, &c. Though thou exalt thy self, &c. Yet I will bring thee down.

19. In their cruelty and unmercifulnesse to∣wards 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in misery; that have not a heart to grieve nor a hand to help them. Jam. 2. 13. Condemneation mercilesse, shall bee to him that sheweth to mercy, Jam. 5. 1. &c. Weep and ••owl yee rich men for the misery that shall come upon you &c. Behold, the hire of the Labourers is of you kept buck; and it cryeth in the ears of the Lord: yee have condemned and killed the just. Luke 16. 20, 21. Dan. 4. 24.

20. In despair or want of hope or presumption, a groundles vain hope, that hath no foundation, that brings to fruit. Job 8. 13. The hope of such shall perish, and be cut off: and their trust shall be as the Spiders web: and then they shall be a∣shamed of their hope. Psal. 25. 3.

21. In a hard and stony hears: when the heart is disobdient and unyeelding: which men get by custom in sin, Gods judgment and Satans ma∣lice. Rom. 2. 5. Thou after thine hardnes, and as a treasure, wrath againist the day of wrath and declaration of the just judgment of God. Rom. 9. 18. He sheweth mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth: so then, those that are hardened are such on whom he sheweth no mercy, therefore such are to perish.

22. In their unclean hearts, that have hearts spiritually defiled with Sin: that are either a generation cleansed in their own eyes, and not indeed; and have an outward cleansing: or, are openly and pr••••••ssedly filthy and abomi∣nable Esay. 64. 3. Ephes 5. 5. Rev. 21. 27.

23 In their hatred and variance, when being of contrary desires and opinions, they fall out amongst themselves. Matth. 5. 22. Rom. 1. 29.

24 In their hypocrisie, when men cloak in fi∣delity and sin, with the appearance and shew of faith and repentance: Woe to you hypocrites, Matth. 23. 1••. 28. You shall receive the greater damnation &c. ver. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 1.

25 In doing evil in every state of life. Rom. 2. 9. Tribulation and anguish shall be upon every soul that doth evil &c. Gallat. 6. 7. He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap Corrupti∣on Esay 3. 11. Wo to the wicked, the reward of his works shall be given him.

26 Especially they that be fruitfull in evill doing: Heb. 6. 8. For if every tree that bring∣eth not forth good fruit, shall be hewen down and cast into the fire, Matth. 7. 19. Much more the trees that bring forth evil, and much evil fruit: and especially if they glorie in it. Phil. 3. 1••. Their end is damnation, they glorie in their shame.

27 In hanging loose from God, in not using, or misimployment of our talents Matth. 25. 30. Cast that unprofitable servant into utter darknesse, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. All such as suffer Satan to carry them captive to their own destruction.

28 In drawing otoers by their councell and example to sin with them: Matth. 23. 13. 15. woe ••e unto you &c. For you compasse Sea dn Land to make one of your profession, and when he is made, ye make him two fold more the childe of hell then yourselves.

29. In hindering the growth of goodnesse, like tares amongst corn. Matth. 13. 30. Matth. 23. 10. Acts 13. 20. They are to be burnt.

30 In gluttony and worldlinesse. Phil. 3. 19. The end of such men is destruction of body and soul in hell. Matth. 19. 28.

31 In Apostasie, and progresse from evill to worse. 1 Tim. 5. 12. 2. Tim. 3. 13.

22 In not enduring to think of the comming of the Lord Jesus to judgment, They shall call on the mountains to cover them, &c.

33 In Hereticall opinions, Rom. 3. 8. 2 Thess. 2. 10. 12. God shall send them strong delusions to beleeve lies, that they may be damned, &c. 2 Pet. 2. 1.

If a man would now desire to know which way he is passing, whether he be going to hea∣ven or to hell; Let him examine himself by

these rules, and try himself by the particulars aforesaid. And thereby he shall soon see which way he takes, and to what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will come: If he be going the broad and easie way of sin which mans carnall reason directeth, and mans cor∣rupt will and affections embraceth, he is going the way to destruction, if he walk after the prince that ruleth in the air, after the course of this present world: then he is still in practice, as we are by nature, The childe of wrath. There are three sorts of men. 1 Such as are affected with desperate horrours and fears as Iudas, these will not escape hell. Matth. 27. 5. 2 such as are sottish and senslesse, that fear nor, or care for any thing: these are not the likely men to escape it. 3 The vain presumptuous man that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and hath no ground for his hope. 4. Such as have a lively hope upon good and solid grounds; these may expect deliver∣ance from ••••ll and the obtaining of heaven. 2 Tim 4. 8. We shall shut up this part in the words of M••ses Deut. 32. 29. Oh that they were wise then they would understand this, they would consider their latter end.

3 The 3. thing we are to be exhorted to, is to g••t (if possible we may) an ass••ance that we shall escape this miserable condition: that God hath not appo••uted us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ. And the best means to assure us of that, is to be assured that we are not in the way. If you can assure me that you goe nor the broad way of sin that lead∣eth to destruction, I can assure you, you shall never come to the place of destruction: And if we can be assured we are appointed to salvation, we may be sure we are not appointed to wrath. And therefore herein for further satisfaction in this point, we must refer and send you to the evidences of our assurance of salvation.

In the fourth place for application, if it be so that hell be such a miserable place, state, and condition? Let it be the•• for the terrour and dread of al those men, which upon the view of their own hea••ts, and lives, in the glasse before proposed to them, finde themselves to be in the broad way to this misery, to call upon them to fear: to turn their laughter into mourning, their joy into sorrow, and to weep and howl for the miserie that shall come upon them, doe you

laugh now? Oh wo to you that laugh now, Luke 6. 25. For you shall mourn and weep. Are you m••••••y now, truly you have little cause were all well known; your case is little otherwise then that of the devils, who are delivered into chains of darknesse, to be reserved unto Judge∣ment. 2 Pet. 2. 4. As condemned prisoners and malefactors, they are shortly to be haled out to a dreadfull execution. Are you consi∣dent and fearlesse? truly it is marvell, for the heavie wrath of the Almighty like a sharp sword, by a small thread hangs over your heads: and when this thread of your life breaks, (and it will break shortly) then will it f••ll upon you to the uttermost: And who shall be able to abide it? Rev. 6. 17. Will you not fear him that hath the keyes of hell and death? Matth. 10. 28. Fear him that when he hath killed the bodie can cast soul and bodie into hell 〈◊〉〈◊〉, fear him: Ephes. 2. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 5 6. Were it not so that you were spiritually dead, twice dead and therefore senselesse, and (as it is) that the god of this world hath blinded your eyes, that you cannot see the things that belong to your peace: Luk•• 10. 42. you could not be so con∣fident, and secure as you are: did you see but the least part, of what is to come upon you shortly: you would soon change your note, and as B••lshassar when he saw the hand writing upon the wall, their countenance would be changed, their thoughts would be troubled; so that the joynts of their loyns would be loosed: and their knees would smite one against another. Oh that thou hadst known these things, but now they are hid from thine eyes: Luke 19. 42. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the dayes that the Lord shall deal with thee. Ezek. 12 14. When his wrath is kindled but a little (O but a little) blessed are they that trust in him: Psal. ••1. 12. For who (O Lord) knoweth the power of thy anger, the thunder of thy power who can un∣derstand. Job 2••. 14. Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. Remember and forget not That the day of the Lord, that great day and terrible day of the Lord is at hand: the coming of the Lord Iesus draweth nigh. That before this the Sun shall be turned into ••••rknesse, the moon shall not give h••r light, the starres of heaven shall fall, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Matth. 24. 29. The heavens shall passe away with a noise: the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth with all the works thereof shall be burn∣ed up. 2 Pet. 2. 10. Then shall come dayes, or, that great day, or day of his wrath Rev. 6. 17. The day of judgement and destruction of ungod∣men. 2 Pet. 3. 7. When the dreadfull and glo∣rious signe of the Son of man in heaven shall be seen. Matth. 24. 30. The Lord Iesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire. 2 Thess. 1. 7. 8. And he shall come in the clouds of heaven, and all his holy-Ang∣gels with him, with power and great glory. Luke 9. 26. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 admired of al his saints. 2 Thess. 1. 10. and then the Lord shall descend from above with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shoat, and the trumpet, that is, [first loud, shril, terrible] trump, the trumpet of God shall sound, and the dead shall be raised, 1 Thess 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 50. And all the kindreds and Tribes of the earth shall mourn. Mat. 24. ••0. Because of him, and shall hide themselves in the holes of the earth, and they shall say to the mountains, and the rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe: for that gret day of his wrath is come, and who shall stand. Rev. 6. 17. And then shall hee send his Angels: with this great sound of a trumpet to gather together his elect from the foure windes: Mat. 24. 31. And then shall all flesh appear before his judgment seat. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Who is the judge of quick and dead: Acts 10. 42. And he shall sit whose garment shall be white as Snow, and the haire of his head like pure Wool; his Throne like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire; a fiery stream shall issue and come before him, thou∣sand thousands shall mini••er unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand shall stand before him, the judgement shall be set, and the Books shall be o∣pened: Dan. 7. 9, 10. Jude 14. And before this Judge, for his knowledge is infinite, his courage in comparable, his uprightnes incorruptible, these wicked Catifs shall have a most just and e∣qual tryall, and be convinced by more then a thousand witnesses; and being separated as Goats from the Sheep of Christ, hear that dread∣full sentence. Depart yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, which shalbe speedily, effectually, and eternally execu∣ted in the state & place we have before spoken of,

And what will yee do in the time of visitation, and in the desolation which shal come from far, and to whom will yee flye for help, and where wil lyee leave your glory: oh consider this, all yee that forget God, least he tear you in peeces, and there be non•• to deliver you. Esay 10. 3. 4. Psal. 50. 22.

In the third place, if Hell be such a misera∣ble condition, then how much thanks do they owe to God, that are delivered and preserved from this estate; that are not appointed to wrath: but to obtain salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ. Had a man been taken captiveby the Turks, and there being appointed to die; and ano∣ther man no way obliged to him, of whom the captive had deserved no good but evil, should ransom him at a great rate; all men would say that this captive was infinitely bound to give thanks to this redeemer. But ala••! what is this to the work of redemption by the Lord Iesus Christ? surely, nothing at all: then are we much more bound to God, who hath translated us from darknes to light, and from the power of Sa∣tan to God, Col. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 57. Ps. 16 9, 10 11. 1 ••et. 18. 19.

In the fourth place, if Hell be such a misera∣ble condition, and there be no perswading of us to keep our selves from it; yet let us be per∣swaded not to further others towards this mi∣sery, as all men do, that by wicked councell or example, provoke, perswade, and draw men to sin, or dishearten, or drive them back from good: a monstrous and barbarous cruelty, yet common in most; yea, frequent in Parents to children; but rather let us pity them that are under this misery, and do what we can to keep others; especially these that are neer us from it. If we saw another, one of our chil∣dren especially, ready to fall in the fire or wa∣ter, do we not, should we not, do our best to save and preserve them; even nature teacheth it: much more then, let us so do in this case: by Councel, Prayer, and Correction also where we have authority, Iude 22, 23. And have compassion on some in putting 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & other, save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. And to move us hereunto, let us consider, 1. that he that converteth a sinner from going a∣stray out of the way, shall save a soule from death and hide a multitude of sin, Jam. 5. 20. 2. H.

this turneth others to righteousnes shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Stars for ever and ever, Dan. 12. 2. 3. O∣therwise we shall seem to be worse then the damned in hell: for Dives would have A••••••∣ban to send to his brethren to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them that they might not come into this place, Luke 16. 27. 28. 4. hereby God is glorified much.

In the last place since it is so, that there be degrees of torments in Hell, and that the wick∣ed man will thither, say what we can. O that we might yet perswade him not to sin so much! if he will to hell, and there be no nay, hee would a•• least provide, that his torments in hell may not be in the most extream degree! But if none of all this will do to perswade him; then have we no more to say to him, but the words of the Holy Ghost Rev. 22. 1••. He that is un∣just, let him be unjust still: And be which is fil∣thy, let him be filthy still.

Finis.

Notes

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