It's true, the revelation of Heaven's Glory does little affect chriſtleſs Sinners now, becauſe of their great Darkneſs and Infidelity. As the ungoſpellized World know nothing of the holy City; ſo all unconverted Chriſtians are great Strangers to that future, glorious State. Carnal Profeſſors may ſpeak much about Heaven; and Men of Learning write whole Volumns concerning the State of the Bleſſed in the other World; but they know nothing experimentally of the matter as holy Souls do. A Day in God's Courts, or one Hour's Communion with Chriſt at his Table; Yea, a quarter of an Hour's Fellowſhip of the Spirit, in Cloſet Prayer, or Evening Meditation, does give the moſt illiterate true Believer to underſtand more of Heaven, than many Years ſtudy of the acuteſt Doctor, from whoſe carnal Wiſdom theſe Things are hid.

Holy Mr. Flavel profeſs'd, that he knew more of the Life of Heaven, by the raviſhing Foretaſtes he had of Glory, in one ſolitary Journey in the way of divine Meditation, than ever he learned by all the Books he had read, and Diſcourſes he had entertained about it.

Heaven conſiſts mainly in the ſatisfaction of holy Deſires and Longings, which the unſanctified know nothing of. They may think it a good Thing, and great, to be equal to Angels, in Honours and Delights; To be free from Pain, Want, Labour, Care and Fear; and to be filled with Joy; but what that Joy is, they apprehend not; and the Nature and Taſte of the Water of Life, they are wholly Strangers to: 1 Cor. 2.14. But the natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs to him; neither can be know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned. Yea, even gracious Souls (the beſt of them all) ſee now but through a Glaſs darkly; and the moſt have but ſmall Sips: — If ſo be ye have Taſted, — 1 Pet. 2.3. It does not yet appear, to the high raiſed Apprehenſion of the moſt heavenly Chriſtian, what he ſhall be. 1 Joh. 3.2 Beloved, now are we the Sons of God; and it does not yet appear what we ſhall be. How inſeriour then muſt the Apprehenſions of Reprobates (whoſe Eyes the God of this World hath blinded) needs be, of the Happineſs of glorifyed Saints; if they would allow themſelves Time to think on ſuch a Subject: But no ſooner ſhall their bodily Eyes be cloſed, than thoſe of their Mind ſhall be fully opened, to take a clear View of their own Miſery, and to apprehend very much of the Saints Felicity.

More Particularly: Firſt, The Damned in Hell have the fulleſt. Knowledge that can be, by Senſe and Experience, of that Evil which the Saints are delivered from. Now herein conſiſts a great Part of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven: for if there be Pain of Loſs as well as Senſe in the Damned, there muſt be a proportionable Joy of Deliverance, as well as Fruition, in the Saved. A very great Part, no doubt, of the raviſhing Joy and Extaſies of Love, that, the glorifyed are tranſported with, ariſes from the Conſideration of what they are perfectly and for ever ſaved from; even the Pains of Hell, and the Blaſphemies of the Damned; ſome Taſte of which they had under the Spirit of Bondage, and from Satan's fiery Darts; (yea, and out of their own Hearts alſo have proceeded Blaſphemies;) and more is underſtood of the Power of God's Anger, in the State of perfect Knowledge; yet there can be no humane Knowledge like that of Experience: The Damned have reaſon to know what a Felicity it would be to be ſaved from Wrath; and are now convinced, by moſt cogent Arguments, that Heaven, conſidered only as it is deſcribed, Rev. 21.4. 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; it was well worth the ſeeking. Thus the Damned muſt needs have moſt large and quick Apprehenſions of one Part of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven. As the ſaved beſt know, what loſt Souls have loſt with their Souls; ſo, on the contrary, as was ſaid.

Secondly, The Damned will for ever remember what they ſhall have ſeen and heard, of the beginning of the Saints Happineſs, after the Reſurrection, before their final Separation. With what beautiful, ſhining, glorious Bodies they are raiſed: what Joy appears in their Countenance: how congratulated by Angels and Fellow Saints: what dear Love Chriſt expreſſes to them; and what Honour he does viſibly and openly put upon them; while they are caught up in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and to ſit at his right Hand, as Aſſeſſors in Judgment 1 Theſ. 4.17. 2 Cor. 6.2, 3. And they ſhall hear all their Graces and Duties, of active and paſſive Obedience, eſpecially their Alms-Deeds, honourably and particularly mentioned, to a Cup of cold Water, given to any out of chriſtian, brotherly Love: all their Care and Diligence to pleaſe GOD, and honour Chriſt in the World, and do Good in their Generatian; every Prayer that they have made in ſecret Corners; all their hearty Sighs and Groans under the Burden of Sin; and inward Deſires and Longings after, and Delight in Chriſt, Sabbaths, Ordinances, and Chriſtian Conference, ſhall be mentioned before the World: And then ſhall the King ſay to them on his right Hand, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the Foundation of the World: and all in the hearing of wretched Caſt-aways, that their Judgment may be the more clear, and their Condemnation the more aggravated: For the perfect remembrance of ſo much of the happy, glorious State and Caſe of the Saints, at the laſt Day, as they have been made to ſee and know, before their entrance into Blackneſs of Darkneſs, ſhall remain with them for ever, to help keep alive a Senſe of what they have loſt, by their Folly and Unbelief.

And then, Thirdly; Their Underſtandings will be greatly inlarged to take in, who can tell what Ideas of Heaven's Glory, and the Saints Felicity, for their own endleſs Vexation. If the Unſanctified may, by common Illumination, know ſomething of the Powers of the World to come, here, Heb. 6.5. Hereafter (though they ſhall taſte nothing of the Goodneſs of God's Word paſt, yet) they ſhall know more of the World then come, unſpeakably more than now can enter into their Hears to conceive. As their Bodies ſhall be ſtrengthned to endure the hotteſt Fire of God's burning Wrath, without conſuming a jot; ſo their Apprehenſions may be proportionably inlarged, above what they now can reach unto; and their Memories may be ſtrengthned to recal and retain every aggravating Circumſtance of all their Sin on Earth, Luk. 16.25. Son Remember,—

We know that Thought and Conſideration is eſſential to the humane Nature; and it is known, by univerſal Experience, that by this natural Power of the Soul, we are able to bring Things out of Sight, and at the greateſt Diſtance; yea, Things paſt or future, and purely ſpiritual too (as well, though not ſo eaſily as the Objects of Senſe) into plain View as it were before our Eyes; or as if ſuch Things were ſounding in our Ears. Thus, when a Man is on a deſolate Iſland at Sea, or cloſe Priſoner in a ſtrange Land; how ſenſibly does he repreſent to himſelf the happy Freedom of others, in their own beloved Country, commodious Habitations, with Meat and Drink to the full, and change of Raiment; warm Beds; their Wives with them, and Children about them; while himſelf is deſtitute of all theſe Comforts; and this makes his Iron Fetters to eat into his very Soul: how much more in the Caſe before us, in which not only is the diſproportion a million Times greater, but the Capacity alſo of apprehending, comparing, &c. ſhall be inconceiveably inlarged; and the Damned, as was ſaid, have nothing to divert them from a conſtant, deep and fixed Meditation on this very Subject.

It remains yet to be conſidered, more diſtinctly, how theſe Apprehenſions of the Damned in Hell, concerning the Saints Happineſs in Heaven, ſhall aggravate their own eternal Miſery. That their Miſery ſhall be Eternal is evident from many plain Scriptures, that have been already mentioned; and it muſt of neceſſity be ſo, for in Hell God will not puniſh them leſs than their Iniquities deſerve, which are infinite, in regard of the Object againſt whom they are committed: Now it being impoſſible that a finite Creature ſhould, in the longeſt ſpace of Time, make full Satisfaction to an infinite GOD, (as Chriſt, who was an infinite Perſon, did for the Elect) therefore their Puniſhment muſt be infinite in Duration: beſides, the earneſt Wiſh, and hearty Deſire of every Bond-ſlave of Satan is, that he might live for ever on Earth, in Health, Honour and Proſperity, that ſo he might fulfil the Deſires of the Fleſh and the Mind, (i. e. that he might Sin) for ever. So that there is a Sort of Infiniteneſs in the Evil of Sin: Nothing indeed, if we ſpeak abſolutely, can be infinitely Evil: there is but one Infinite, and he is infinitely Good: Yet, Reprobates are as it were guilty of an infinite Evil; both as Sin is contrary to the Nature, Will and Honour of a Being, infinite in Greatneſs and Goodneſs, Equity and Holineſs; and alſo, in that there is a Diſpoſition to Sin, in ſuch as are not changed, that will never ceaſe; but if the Sinner were under a I aw to Eternity, he would be a Tranſgreſſor to Eternity; if God ſhould heap Mercies on him to Eternity, he would abuſe them to Eternity. Now the leaſt Degree of Torment, to laſt for ever, is horrible to think of! Such as never had ſufficient Means of Salvation; that never once rebelled againſt the Light of the Goſpel, though (dying Chriſtleſs) their Puniſhment will be more tolerable than ours if we die in Unbelief; yet to lie in the ſofteſt Fire for ever, how Diſmal! Yea, if it were but to undergo the grievous Pain of a Tooth, for ever and for ever, it would tire out the longeſt Patience! But now, when all the bitter, biting, ſtinging Ingredients imaginable, and far beyond conceit, ſhall be com-mixed in the Cup of divine Wrath, for the Goſpel-Sinner to drink off: what Tongue can expreſs, or Heart conceive one thouſand millionth Part of their painful Anguiſh! If we could ſuppoſe that all the Angels had fallen, and all the Race of Adam had periſhed remedileſly; ſo that there had been no Abraham's Boſom, nor Lazarus to have lien in it; no glorified Saint or Angel, with whoſe Happineſs to have compared our Miſery; yet eternal Damnation would have made every Fugitive from God to cry out, My Puniſhment is greater than I can bear! But they are not Suppoſitions, they are Realities that we have to do with: and the Aggravation of the Miſery of ſome, ariſing from their Apprehenſion of the Happineſs of others, their Fellow-Creatures, and once Fellow-Sinners, may be conſidered, firſt, more Generally, as it concerns all the Damned; and then more Particularly, as it concerneth ſuch as periſh from under the Goſpel.

I. More Generally.

The Gentile Nations that periſhed (by Thouſands and Millions) for lack of Viſion, for ſo many Ages, while God (in a way of New-Covenant Mercy) knew only the Jewiſh Nation, the Seed of Abraham; giving his Word to Jacob, his Statutes and Judgments to Iſrael: All theſe Nations (I ſay) whom God ſuffered to walk in their own Ways, will be inraged with ſelf-tormenting Madneſs, that the Lord ſhould ſend all his Servants the Prophets unto Jacob whom he loved, and make his Word in their Mouth, effectual to the Converſion and Salvation of ſo many Thouſands of them; while theſe Sinners of the Gentiles could not hear for want of a Preacher, Rom. 10.14. And the Ungoſpellized Nations, now ſince Chriſt came and brake down the Partition Wall between Jews and Gentiles, will have the ſame bitter Pill to chew, while they conſider how that ſome in all Ages, of one Nation or other, and ſome of all Nations, in one Age or other, are redeemed and ſaved; this will make them lament and blaſpheme, that the Goſpel was not ſent to their Nation, and in their Day on Earth. Now to take the whole World of Reprobates together, in what ever Age or Nation they lived, that periſh either for lack of Viſion, or for rebelling againſt the Light of Nature and Scripture both; we may a little conſider, in a more general Way, how it will vex and torment all the Damned, while they view and ſurvey in their Heaven-piercing Thoughts, the Place and State of the Glorified; and conſider,

1. That there was a poſſibility of their having been all happy, as well as they that are ſo, or inſtead of them; there being nothing in the Nature of God or Man againſt it. Indeed, the Purpoſes of God are unalterable; it being impoſſible that he ſhould ſee any manner of Cauſe or Reaſon, in Time, to change his Mind, which he ſaw not perfectly from Eternity to have hindered his purpoſing any Thing but what he ſhould reſolvedly bring to paſs, in its Seaſon: and in this reſpect, its impoſſible that any one Thing in the World ſhould be any otherwiſe than it is, has been, and ſhall be: and on the other Hand, 'tis, in it ſelf, a Thing poſſible with God to turn the Devils into holy Angels again; and doubtleſs the eternal remembrance of what they once were, and what their then Fellow-Servants now unchangeably are, does double their own Torment and Vexation; as well as Chriſt's taking on him, not the angelical but human Nature. But now the Caſe is different with Men; they were all alike ruined in the firſt Adam; and alike capable of recovery by the ſecond: ſo that Thouſands of Millions will ſay, in Hell (and vex themſelves for ever with ſuch fruitleſs Wiſhes) Oh! That the Goſpel of Salvation had been ſent to us: Oh! That we had but heard the joyful Sound: Oh! That we had lived in ſuch Times and Places as were bleſſed with Sabbaths, Miniſters and Bibles. And ten thouſand Times ten Thouſand, Oh! That the Goſpel had been made effectual to us: But more of this afterwards.

2. There are the ſame natural and vehement Deſires, and Thirſtings of Soul after Happineſs in them that are ſaved and in them that periſh. By Nature they are both alike capable of, and the one as well as the other eager in purſuing after Happineſs: Only this is the Happineſs of the Elect; when God is effectually calling ſuch as he had Fore-known and Predeſtinated, he opens their Eyes and cauſes them to ſee and know that Happineſs does not lie in the Pleaſures, Profits and Honours of the World that now is, where they have been climbing high, digging deep, and turning every Stone, in ſearch of this Treaſure; till the Spirit of Grace and Truth conducts them into the Field where it lies hid from all natural Men, who are yet ſolicitouſly inquiſitive after the chiefeſt Good of the rational Creature; Pſal. 4, 6, 7. Many there be that ſay, Who will ſhew us any Good? Lord, life thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us: Thou haſt put, gladneſs in my Heart, more than in the time that their Corn and their Wine increaſed. Corn is our natural Life and Strength; Wine is the joy of Man's Heart: The former one of the moſt neceſſary, the latter one of the moſt excellent Products of the Earth; yet both, together with all overflowing abundance of Milk and Honey, Silver and Gold, make up but an empty and tranſient Felicity for an immortal Spirit. Where is the Bleſſedneſs you ſpake of? May the deceived Worldling ſay to himſelf, on his Bed on Sorrow, when the Night of Death has overtaken him: (for when his Sparks of worldly Wiſdom and Wealth, or legal Righteouſneſs are gone out, he muſt lie down in Sorrow; the Mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it; this ſhall ye have of mine Hand, Iſa. 50.11) Hadſt thou not an Underſtanding to diſtinguiſh between Light and Darkneſs; a Will to chuſe the Good and refuſe the Evil; Affections to embrace a ſuitable, ſatisfying, immortal Good; an hungry Soul panting after ſome living Spring, and boundleſs Ocean, to fill its immenſe Deſires? And couldeſt thou find nothing but Husks and Duſt of the Earth, the Swine and Serpents Meat, to feed upon? Who knows the Power that theſe Self-reflections will have, to Torment undone Reprobates of all Times and Places, Nations and Generations, from firſt to laſt? They were naturally alike capable of eternal Felicity with others; and had the ſame vehement, inceſſant Deſires to be Happy: Yea, this Capacity, and theſe Deſires too will remain with them for ever, to increaſe their Torment: For though we can't Hope for a Good we know unattainable, yet we may Deſire it.

3. The Truth in Hand, thus generally conſidered, is further evident from our own Experience, in the trifles of this vain World and momentany Life. The Trouble and Vexation of proud, diſcontented Folks under their Afflictions and Croſſes; Poverty, and low, deſpicable Circunſtances is more than doubled by the conſideration of the Riches and Proſperity, Eaſe and Preferment of others, whom they envy. If none were above them they would not think themſelves low, though on the ſame level they now are. Rachel's want of Children had been a tolerable Evil, if Leah alſo and the Handmaids had been Barren. The Principle from which we are moſt ſtrongly inclined, thus to rub our Sores with Salt and Vinegar, is rooted in our very Nature: We ſee the Fruits of it in our Children, when they are very little, and as they grow up: How diſcontented is one little One in the Family with his old Coat, when his Brother firſt puts on a new one; though he made no complaint before: if we give but an Apple to one he rejoyces, but then give two unto another and the firſt will think he has leſs than none, unleſs he may be made equal with his Mate. The elder brother in the Parable nurmurs, becauſe the younger is ſo joyfully received and entertained. The Caſe of Joſepb and his Brethren ſerves further to illuſtrate and comfirm the Matter: You know how to apply it.

II. We come now, more particularly to conſider the inexpreſſible Vexation and Anguiſh of Goſpel-Sinners in Hell; unconceivably aggravated from the clear and large Apprehenſions they ſhall have of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven. We know that the Eſſence of Damnation, of the Torments of Hell, does conſiſt in the Sinners Separation from the infinitely glorious JEHOVAH, the only ſatisfying Portion of the immortal, heaven-born Soul; and the immediate Impreſſions of his Wrath, who is a conſuming Fire: The loſs of the Society both of Saints and Angels is ſmall to this, if we conſider them as ſeparable. And on the other Hand, All that the Legions of Devils could do againſt us were, in compariſon of falling into the Hands of the living GOD, leſs than the trouble of a few Moſchetto's, to being caſt into a Den of hungry Lions: However, to think of ſitting down with Abraham, &c. in the Kingdom of God is a comfortable Thought, to his natural or ſpiritual Children; and to be ſeparated from godly Friends and Neighbours, and for ever excluded the Place of their eternal Abode, will be tormenting. Ah! to left up their Eyes being in Torment and ſee ſo many Thouſands of all Nations, Kindreds, People and Tongues, ſtanding before the Throne, and before the Lamb, cloathed with Robes, made White in his Blood, with Palms in their Hands, Crowns on their Heads, and fulneſs of Joy in their Hearts; ſerving God Day and Night (where indeed there is no Night) in his Temple, where he that ſits on the Throne ſhall dwell among them; and the Lamb, who is in the midſt of the Throne ſhall feed them, and lead them to living Fountains of Water; where God ſhall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes; this Sight of the Eye will affect and afflict, pierce and rend the Hearts of the Damned; eſpecially ſuch as periſh from under the Goſpel: For, Conſider;

1. They were not only as capable of enjoying &c but all this was offered to them, as well and as much as unto them who accepted the Offer; Mark. 16.15, 16. Go Preach the Goſpel, to every Creature: He that believeth and is baptized ſhall be Saved. Heb. 4.2. For unto us was the Goſpel preached as well as unto them; but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it. Luk. 14.16, 17. A certain Man made a great Supper, and bade many; and ſent his Servants at Supper time to ſay unto them who were bidden, Come, for all things are ready. Iſa. 55.1, 2. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come to the Waters; and he that hath no Money, come, buy Wine and Milk, without Money and without Price. Joh. 7.37. In the laſt Day, that great Day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood and cried, ſaying, If any Man Thirſt, let him come to me and Drink. Joh. 6.37. Him that comes to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Rev. 3.20. Behold, I ſtand at the Door and knock; if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door, I will come in to him, and ſup with him, and he with me.

To ſet down all the Offers and Tenders of Grace and Mercy, that God is freely making to all Sorts of Sinners under the Goſpel (one only excepted) would be to tranſcribe a great Part of the Bible: That moſt liberal Offer, Rev. 22.17. deſerves a peculiar Remark; And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come: And let him that heareth, ſay, Come: And let him that is athirſt, come: and whoſoever WILL, let him take the Water of Life freely. In this, almoſt the laſt and ſweeteſt Invitation in the holy Book, we may obſerve ſeveral Things.

As if a Malefactor at the Foot of the Ladder, ſhould refuſe ſuch an offer as this from the Mouth, or under the Hand and Seal of his gracious Prince and Judge; Condemned and hopeleſs Rebel! If thou wilt fall down on thy Knees and accept this free and full Pardon, thy Sentence is revoked, thy Treaſon forgiven, and thy Eſtate and Honour with thy Life ſhall be reſtored; nor muſt this Clauſe of neceſſity come in, if thou canſt give Security for thy good Behaviour and 〈◊〉 Loyalty: For Chriſt ſays, If you are but willing to take me for your Lord and King as well as Prieſt and Prophet, I will give you a loyal Heart; I ſhall ſtand bound for your good Behaviour, Jer. 32.40. I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, that I will not turn away from you to do you Good; but I will put my Fear into their Hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me. Of them that thou gaveſt me, have I loſt none, Joh. 18.9.

Goſpel Sinners in Hell do know to their Coſt, even to Killing Vexation and raging Madneſs with themſelves, that what I have now laid down from the Scripture is true; and that they are Damned for ever becauſe they were not willing to be eternally Happy; and purged and ſanctified in order there unto: Jer. 13.27. O Jeruſalem, wilt thou not be made clean? When ſhalt it once he? Luk. 13.34. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, which killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them that were ſent unto thee: how often would I have gathered thy Children together, as a Hen doth gather her brood under her Wings; and ye would not?

Ohject. But will it be no extenuation of their eternal Vexation (the fruit of their wilful Folly) for the Damned to remember that they have read and heard ſuch Texis as theſe, Joh. 6.37.44. All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me. No Man can come to me, except the Father, which hath ſent me, draw him. So, ver. 64, 65. Jeſus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who ſhould betray him. And be ſaid, therefore ſaid I unto you, that no Man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Act. 13.48. As many as were ordained to eternal Life believed. Joh. 10.26. Ye believe not, becauſe ye are not of my Sheep. Rom. 11.7. The Election hath obtained it, and the reſt were blinded. Inferring from theſe, and ſuch like Scriptures, that becauſe God never exerted his Almighty Power, to draw them to Chriſt, it was impoſſible they ſhould, by any Power of their own believe unto the ſaving of their Souls, Eph. 1.19, 20. And becauſe they were not of the Number given to Jeſus Chriſt, therefore (may they ſay) Chriſt had no Warrant to ſave them; Joh. 17.2. As thou haſt given him Power over all Fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal Life to as many as thou haſt given him. Joh. 12.39.40 Therefore they could not belive, becauſe that Eſaias ſaid again, He hath blinded their Eyes, & hardned their Hearts, that they ſhould not ſee with their Eyes, nor underſtand with their Heart, and be converted, and 1 ſhould heal them.

Anſw. Such Thoughts as theſe will afford them no relief at all: As it did not excuſe their Sin in not believing, ſo it will not extenuate their Puniſhment. This will be evident if we conſider a few things.

Neither do the Decrees of God, his determinate Counſel and Fore-knowledge hinder any Man from doing his Duty; Jer. 7.27. Thouſhalt ſpeak, &c. but they will not hearken unto thee, And why? Becauſe they walk in the Counſel and Imagination of their own evil Heart: As ver. 24. So Ezek. 34, — Son of Man, Go, get thee to the Houſe of Iſrael; and ſpeak, with my Words unto them. But the Houſe of Iſrael will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: (And why) Becauſe all the Houſe of Iſrael are Impudent and hard hearted, ver. 7. God indeed knows that many will die in their Sins, for want of Faith in Chriſt; but he knows alſo that it is not ſo much becauſe they cannot believe, as becauſe they will not come to Chriſt that they might have Life. How evident then is it to all, but ſuch as wilfully ſhut their own Eyes, how little relief it can be to the Damned for them to think in the Flames of Tophet, That God did from all Eternity Decree to leave them to their own Choice; and then to puniſh them for their wilful Unbelief and Impenitency.

Thus much for the firſt Confideration, viz. That Goſpel, Impenitent Sinners, not only have a Capacity of being Happy; but Grace and Glory were freely offered them, as well and as much as to others; but they wilfully rejected the Offer; yea tho' they were frequently and earneſtly intreated to accept the ſame; and had all manner of Arguments uſed with them, to perſwade them to turn and live: which may be diſtincty conſidered, as another Evidence of the doctrinal Truth, now under Conſideration.

2. The Damned in Hell ſhall have their Hell-Fire inflamed and inraged, while they will for ever remember, how perfectly Happy the glorified Saints are, in accepting thoſe very Offers they themſelves refuſed; yea after very frequent and moſt importunate Intreaties that they would accept of Life and Immortality, brought to Light by the Goſpel. It will ever be freſh in their Minds, how the Ambaſſadors of Chriſt have pleaded with them: begging, as if it had been a Starving Beggar, pleading for an Alms; or a condemned Man, begging for his Life, that they would think on their Ways; conſider their latter End; prize and improve all Seaſons of Grace; ſeek the Lord, in Seaſon and in Earneſt; Make much of Time, even the Minutes of precious, fleeting Time; giving all Diligence to make their Calling and Election ſure; working out their own Salvation, with Fear and Trembling; ſtriving to enter in at the ſtrait Gate; and taking the Kingdom of Heaven by Force; 2 Cor. 5.20. Now then, we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt; a though God did beſeech you by us; we pray you in Chriſt's Stead be ye reconciled to God.

They will remember how often ſuch Scriptures as theſe were repeated in their Ears; O that my People were Wiſe, that they underſtood this; that they would conſider their latter End. Wilt thou not be made clean; when ſhall it once be? Be inſtructed, O Jeruſalem; leſt my Soul depart from thee, How ſhall I give thee up, Ephraim? How ſhall I deliver thee, Judah? Turn ye, Turn ye; why will ye die, O Houſe of Iſrael? As I Live, ſaith the Lord, I have no Pleaſure in the Death of him that dieth: Turn you therefore from all your evil Ways; ſo Iniquity ſhall not be your Ruin. Waſh you; make you clean; put away the Evil of your Doings, from before mine Eyes; ceaſe to do Evil; learn to do Well: Come now, let us reaſon together ſaith the Lord: Though your Sins are as Scarlet, they ſhall be as white as Snow; though they be red like Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wool. Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: Let the Wicked forſake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Tho'ts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have Mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon: For my Tho'ts are not your Tho'ts, neither are your Ways my Ways, ſaith the Lord: For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, ſo are my Ways higher than your Ways, & my Tho'ts than your Tho'ts. Ask and ye ſhall receive; Seek and ye ſhall find; Knock and it ſhall be opened unto you. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Reſt. Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am Meek and lowly in Heart; and ye ſhall find Reſt to your Souls: For my Yoke is eaſy, and my Burden is light. O do not that abominable Thing which my Soul hates, ſaith the Lord.

Theſe and a thouſand more like Paſſages, which they have read and heard in Time, will a million million Times over paſs through their thoughtful Minds in Hell: And they will be forced to call to Mind all the ſtrong Reaſons and powerful Arguments that Chriſt's Miniſters have uſed with them; if poſſible to have gained their Conſent to their own eternal Happineſs, on Goſpel Terms; and to have kept them back from this Place of Torment. How they have been warned with many compaſſionate Tears of Grief and Love, to flie from the Wrath to come; and pleaded with by all the Regards they owed to the creating Mercy & redeeming Love; God's Glory, and their own Safety & Comfort; preſent Peace and everlaſting Reſt: arguing from the neceſſity and utility of a found Converſion and Goſpel Converſation; & from the incomparable, ſuperlative Delights of Communion with God: entreating them to have ſome pity on their poor, periſhing Souls; and not to deſtroy themſelves, and ſell eternal Joys for an empty Song, a Bladder full of Wind, a dry Leaf, a momentany Bubble, Vapour and Smoke, the Dream of a Shadow, leſs than nothing, and Vanity of Vanities: (Such is all ſinful Delight.)

It will be impoſſible for the Priſoners of eternal Darkneſs, who once had the Light, to forget how they were told of this bottomleſs Pit and burning Lake, to fright them from Sin; and how the Glory of Heaven was diſplayed, to allure them to Chriſt. All that ever they heard or read, concerning his tranſcendent Beauty, and unſearchable Riches; what he had done for them, would be to them, and bring them to, if they would but have given the Conſent of their Hearts to an Eſpouſal with the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the Heir of all Things. Moreover, all Counſels and Directions how they ſhould ſeek God ſo as to find him; and infallibly ſecure an Intereſt in Chriſt; that were plainly laid down before them, in publick or private; but they had no Heart to any Thing but Sin; they could find no leaſure to think on theſe Things in Time; and now they can't but vex their Souls to Death with the Thoughts of them to Eternity.

3. Goſpel Sinners, in the Place of Torment, will remember what variety of Means God uſed with them, in their life Time, as well as with others that are ſaved: Not only by his written Word, (unfolded, applied and enforced, in many excellent Books put into their Hands) and the publick Miniſtry; (Either in a more ſtated Courſe, or Sermons that they have occaſionally heard, from one Miniſter and another, both abroad and at home) but by Mercies and Afflictions alſo, has the Lord been ſeeking to reclaim and reform them, Iſa. 1.2 Hear, O Heavens, and give Ear, O Earth, for the Lord hath ſpoken; I have nouriſhed and brought up Chilaren, and they have rebeſled againſt me. Jer 5.23, 24 But this People hath a revolting and rebellious Heart, they are revolted and gine: Neither ſay they in their Heart, let us now fear the Lord our God, who giveth Rain; both the former and the latter, in his Seaſon: He reſerveth unto us the appointed Weeks of the Harveſt. Did they not know how they ought to have feared the Lord and his Goodneſs; of which not only the Earth was full; but God filled their Hearts with Food and Gladneſs: Their Life, and Health, and Limbs were precious in God's Sight: Their Houſes he filled with all good Things: Their Fields and Flocks he made fruitful; and often ſpake to them in their Proſperity; drawing them with the Cords of a Man, with the Bands of Love: Rem. 12.1. I beſeech you therefore Brethren, by the Mercies of God, that you preſent your Bodies a living Pacrifice, holy, acceptable to God; which is your reaſonable Service: but they would not hear: Thus they deſpiſed the Riches of divine Goodneſs, Forbearance and Long ſuffering, ſo kindly taking them by the Hand, to lead them to Repentance; while the Sun-Beams of Love and Bounty, inſtead of melting, did harden their impenitent Hearts: and now they muſt pay for all in Hell I indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguiſh, are but the Treaſures that they had been hoarding up, all their Life long, againſt this Day of Wrath. If theſe ungrateful Wretches had never heard the Goſpel; yet common-Mercy, thus ſhamefully abuſed, would have been an authentick Witneſs for God, againſt the Sinner: Act 14.17. Nevertheleſs, be left not himſelf without Witneſs, in that he did Good, and gave us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seaſons, ſilling our Hearis with Food and Gladneſs.

And then every worldly Croſs and Trouble in the Fleſh; all Vexations and Afflictions, whereby an Hedge of Thorns was made in all their ſinful Ways; which yet their inſatiable Luſts, and Head ſtrong Paſſions brake through; will come in as ſo many Items againſt them: And becauſe the Lord thus purged them, and they were not purged: but in their Affliction treſpaſſed yet more againſt the Lord, therefore his Fury ſhall reſt on them for ever! They would neither hearken to the Voice of his Word nor Rod, Miniſters, Parents, godly Neighbours, Death of Friends, narrow Eſcapes, recovery from Sickneſs, deliverance out of Captivity: and a thouſand thouſand more of particular Intimations concerning their Duty & Intereſt; Warnings of their Sin and Danger, will dwell in their Thoughts, and fret their galled Conſciences in Hell, World without End! Eſpecially while they conſider, how that Thouſands of glorified Saints, never had ſuch a great variety of long continued Means and Methods uſed with them, as themſelves have had, Ezek 24.13. This is the third Aggravation of the Goſpel Sinner's Damnation.

4. They will alſo remember, as what variety of Means the Lord uſed with them, ſo how, by his good Spirit, he was wont to ſtrive with them in and by the Means of Grace. How they were convinced of this and that Sin, together with the Evil and Danger of it: The Spirit of God has ſtood in their way of Diſobedience, either with the drawn Sword of ſome dreadful Threatning, or elſe with jealous Indignation, mixed with loving Compaſſion, beſeeching the tempted Soul to forbear its darling Luſt, Jer. 44.4. O do not this abominable Thing that I hate. Convicted alſo they have been of their neglect of that and the other Duty, which they ought to have attended and performed: And when the Wrath of God, revealed from Heaven, ſhall be poured out upon them, for their profaning or not calling on the Name of the Lord; then they will remember how they ſtifled Convictions, and held the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs, Jer 10.25. Rom 1.18. And Oh! they will never, never forget, how the good Spirit of God has taken them by the Hand, and led them into a Corner, to confeſs and bewail their Sins; to cry and lament after the Lord; but they have ſoon quenched all theſe good Motions, and turned again to Folly; hardned their Hearts ſtill more and more, through the deceitfulneſs of Sin; and then more obſtinately reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, till there was no Remedy. Gen. 6.3. 2 Chron. 36.16. Or elſe delaying to put their good Purpoſes in Execution till Death and Darkneſs made it too late, Joh. 9.4. The Night cometh wherein no Man can Work: And now they find and feel Blackneſs of Darkneſs, reſerved for them for ever; becauſe while they had the Light (not only of Scripture Revelation, but of ſpiritual Illumination, and Conviction) they walked not in the Light, but deſpiſed and rebelled againſt it, Prov. 1.23,— Turn you at my Reproof; behold, I will pour out my Spirit, &c. Becauſe I have called, and ye refuſed; I have ſtretched out my Hand, and no Man regarded: But ye have ſet at nought all my Counſel, and would none of my Reproof; I alſo will laugh at your Calamity, and mick when your Fear cometh: When your Fear cometh as Deſolation, and your Deſtruction as a Whirlwind: When Diſtreſs & Angusſh cometh upon you. Oh! This is a fearful Aggravation of Sin and Puniſhment, that they ſhould (not only ſhut their Ears againſt the Word, but (make their Heart as an Adamant, leſt they ſhould bear the Law; and the Words which the Lord of Hoſts hath ſent in his Spirit, Zech. 7.12. Therefore (as it follows there) came great Wrath from the Lord. Nothing can more incenſe the burning Wrath of God, than for Men to kick againſt his tender Bowels of Compaſſion and Pity. Oh! To have his loving Kindneſs abuſed; this goes to the Heart of God! Yea, it was this that alienated the Heart of God from his Covenant People of old; whom he ſometimes calls the dearly beloved of his Soul. Iſai. 63.7,— I will mention the Loving Kindneſſes of the Lord, and the Praiſes of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath beſtowed on us, and the great Goodneſs towards the Houſe of Iſrael, which he hath beſtowed on them, according to his Mercies, and according to the Multitude of his Loving Kindneſſes: For he ſaid, Surely they are my People, Children that will not Lie; ſo be was their Saviour. In all their Afflictions he was afflicted, and the Angel of his Preſence ſaved them: In his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the Days of old: But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their Enemy, and fought againſt them. And be ſure, whatever the Lord mentions in his Word, as an Aggravation of the Goſpel Sinner's inexcuſable Tranſgreſſion and Diſobedience here, ſhall come into his Mind, as an Aggravation of the juſt Recompence of his intolerable Reward hereafter.

But here lies the Force of the Argument, we are upon; That as thoſe who die in their Unbelief, had the ſame precious Means of Grace, that, in the Almighty Spirit's Hand, proved effectual to the Salvation of others; ſo they had the ſame bleſſed Spirit of Grace to ſtrive with them; but their Neck being as an Iron Sinew, and their Brow Braſs, they did wickedly and wilfully oppoſe him. Act. 7.51. Ye ſtiff necked, and uncircumciſed in Heart and Ears; ye do always reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt And hence, what bitter weeping, doleful wailing, and outragous gnaſhing of Teeth will there be, among you Chriſt-deſpiſing Sinners, when you ſhall ſee your Friends and Neighbours, of the ſame Town & Church, in the Kingdom of God, and you your ſelves thruſt out; for neglecting the ſame Means of Grace, rejecting the ſame Offers of Grace, and for reſiſting the ſame Spirit of Grace, that they wiſely improved, thankfully accepted, and did not always reſiſt; but ſooner or later, cheriſh and comply with.

Object. It's true, we do always reſſt the Holy Ghoſt; and always ſhall, unleſs Omnipotency take away this Reſiſtance and Enmity?

Anſw. Suppoſing the objector to be convinced of Sin, and in ſome Meaſure humbled out of Self; a more tender Anſwer muſt be given here, than to the blaſphemous Quareller, under the firſt Doctrine.

And,

(1) It's true, that the corrupt Hearts of Men do as naturally oppoſe and reſiſt the Spirit of Grace, when he comes to convince of Sin and Righteouſneſs, &c. as Water does quench Fire. Thoſe that are now converted Saints upon Earth, and ſuch as are glorified Saints in Heaven, did once reſiſt, even as others, for a Time, yea, always did they continue reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, till irreſiſtible Power & Grace did take away this natural Reſiſtance, and ſlay this rooted Enmity of their carnal Minds againſt God and Chriſt. And even ſtill, in the Hearts of True Converts, who have Fleſh as well as Spirit, there is too much Reſiſtance remaining. 'Tis to ſuch as are ſanctified, as well as others, that the Apoſtle ſpeaks, when he ſays, 1 Theſ. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. Yet, this curſed Enmity of our Hearts againſt God, is altogether unreaſonable & inexcuſable: We muſt not plead for it; nor by any Means ſeek to excuſe our not ſubmitting to God, by our Enmity againſt Him. This would be, as if a Traitor ſhould plead his Hatred of his gracious Prince, as an Excuſe for his Treaſon and Rebellion! Joh. 15.25. They hated me (ſays Chriſt) without a Cauſe.

(2) It's both a great Mercy and good Sign, (at leaſt of our being in a hopeful Way for a well grounded Peace) thus far to be convinced of Sin. When we come to know the Plague of our own Hearts, and come to ſee the need we have of an all-wiſe and omnipotent Phyſician, this is a good Step. We have been tampering, and trying many Ways to heal our ſelves; and ſometimes the Wound has ſeem'd to be skin'd over; but it breaks out again: Prayers & Tears, Reformation and Reſolution won't do; we utterly deſpair of Relief in this Old Covenant, Self-righteous Way: And now, if it pleaſe God alſo to humble us at his Foot, under a Senſe of our utter Unworthineſs that ever ſoveraign Grace ſhould lend an helping Hand, or ſo much as caſt an Eye of Pity towards us, the preparatory Work is then wrought: The Self-condemned Sinner has nothing elſe to do, but to believe in him, who of God is made unto us Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption.

It's true, Faith alſo is the Gift of God; and the Effect of his Power; even the exceeding Greatneſs of his mighty Power, Eph. 1.19. But when the convinced Sinner is once brought to yield himſelf up into the Hands of divine Sovereignty; to be diſpoſed of at God's own, meet good Will & Pleaſure; then the Work of Converſion is as good as wrought: never did any ſuch Soul miſcarry. Jam. 4.6, 7 God reſiſteth the Proud; but giveth Grace to the Humble: Submit your ſelves therefore to God. Humble your ſelves in his Sight, and he ſhall lift you up, ver. 10.

But,

(3.) Although ſinful, apoſtate Man can't overcome this contrariety of his Heart to the holy Nature and Will of God, nor of himſelf ceaſe to oppoſe him, when he comes by his Spirit to deſtroy natural & righteous Self; and to create the Man a new in Chriſt Jeſus to good Works; yet the poor Rebel has Power to cry unto Him that is able to ſubdue all Things to himſelf, that he would be pleaſed, for his own Name's ſake, to pull down all the ſtrong Holds of proud Self-love, carnal Reaſon, and worldly Wiſdom: Caſting down Imaginations, and every high Thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the Knowlege of God; and bringing into Captivity every Thought, to the Obedience of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10.4.5.

In ſhort, This is the important Caſe thou wanteſt to be reſolved in; What ſhall I do that I may wark the Works of God? Take the Reſolution thereof in Chriſt's own Words, Joh. 6.29. This is the Work of God, that ye believe in Him whom he hath ſent. Chriſt is the Author of eternal Salvation to all, and only to ſuch as thus obey him. This Obedience of Faith is a Fruit of the Spirit, now ſtriving with thee: But, My Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive with Man, (ſaith the Lord, Gen. 6.3) If you continue to rebel, and vex the Holy Spirit there will be no Remedy: And in Hell thou wilt remember how that Life and Death was ſet before thee; how thou waſt intreated to choſe Life; how the Matter was urged upon thee, by the miniſtry of the Word, and Motions of the Spirit: And will not this be a fearful Aggravation of thy eternal Miſery, to think, how that by quenching the Spirit, thou haſt kindled a Fire in God's Anger, that burns to the loweſt Hell; where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched?

5. Such as periſh from under the Goſpel, ſhall find themſelves loſt and damned for ever, not becauſe they had ſinned; but becauſe they did not repent of their Sins: not ſo much for that they had broken the Law of God, as for their rejecting the Offers of Grace by Jeſus Chriſt. 'Tis true, they were conceived and born under a twofold Guilt, and ſo doubly curſed by the juſt Imputation of Adam's Sin, and a depraved Nature, the neceſſary conſequent: But thus the whole Race of Adam died in him; and theſe as well as others ſhould have been made alive in Chriſt, had they come unto him; or be willing that he ſhould come into them. Joh. 5.40. Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have Life. Rev. 3.20 Behold, I ſtand at the Door, and knock: If any Man hear my Voice, and open the Door, I will come in to him, and ſup with him, and he with me. Their Childhood and Youth was Vanity: Many alſo of thoſe who are ſaved, forgot their Creator in the Days of their Youth: But they remembred their Redeemer before it was too late, which theſe never did; and this neglect prov'd their Ruin.

In ſhort, Goſpel Sinners, lifting up their Eves in Torment, will ſee, not only Abraham. Iſaac and Jacob but Manaſſeh, Magdalen and Paul, in the Kingdom of God, and themſelves thruſt out; not becauſe they had been greater Sinners, but becauſe they were impenitent Unbelievers: and how will it tear the damned Wretch in Pieces, to conſider that his Companions in Sin, yea, ſome of the Ringleaders in Sin, did conſider and turn from all their Abominations, and were waſhed and made white in the Blood of the Lamb; which was every way ſufficient to have cleanſed him alſo from all his Sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. Here's the Extremity of Folly, and Heighth of Madneſs! To follow a Multitude in ſinning, but never to follow any in repenting and believing: Mat. 21.31, 32 Jeſus ſaith unto them, Verily, I ſay unto you, that the Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of Righteouſneſs, and ye believed him not: but the Publicans and the Harlots believed him. And ye, when ye had ſeen it, repented not afterwards that ye might believe.

6. From all the fore-going Particulars laid together, it follows, That when the Goſpel Sinner comes to the Place of Torment, he ſhall plainly ſee, that his Deſtruction is of himſelf: Hoſ. 13.9. O Iſrael, Thou haſt deſtroyed thy ſelf. Life and Death have been ſet before them; they have their own Choice. Deut. 30.15, & 19. I call Heaven and Earth to Record this Day againſt you, that I have ſet before you Life and Death; Bleſſing and Curſing. They had what beſt liked them; Carnal Delights while they lived, and Hell Torment afterwards; rather than godly Sorrow with eternal Joy. 2 Tim. 3.4. Lovers of Pleaſures more than Lovers of God. Luk. 6.21, 25. Bleſſed are ye that Weep now, for ye ſhall Laugh: Wo unto you that Laugh now, for ye ſhall Mourn and Weep. They loved the mortal Poiſon of Sin (becauſe it was ſweet in the Mouth, Job 20.12. and therefore loved Death (in it's Seed;) yea, (which is worſe) they hated the Prince of Life; even JESUS, who would have delivered them from the Wrath now come upon them. Prov. 8.36 He that ſinneth againſt me, wrongeth his own Soul: all they that bate me, love Death. Alas! If damned Sinners could poſſibly be ſo deceived as to perſwade themſelves, that they were, by the irreſiſtible Temptations of Satan, neceſſitated to commit Sin; or forcibly kept back from repenting and believing the Goſpel, by God's unalterable Decree, Hell would be no Hell to them, in compariſon of what the Guilt of Self and Soul-murther will make it. They ſhall know aſſuredly, That the very Reaſon why they miſs'd of Chriſt, and Grace, and Heaven, was becauſe they loved Sin, Self and the World better. Thus the Thing is in it ſelf, and it will appear ſo to you, Goſpel impenitent Sinners, when Enoch's Propheſy ſhall be fulfilled, Jude ver. 14, 15, 16. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten Thouſand of his Saints, to convince all that are Ungodly, of all their hard Speeches, which ungodly Sinners have ſpoken againſt him. Theſe are Murmurers, Complainers, walking after their own Luſts; and their Mouth ſpeaketh great ſwelling Words. If I had not come, and ſpoken to them, they had not had Sin: but now they have no Cloke for their Sin, Joh. 15.22.

Object. How ſhall the Damned ſee it to be thro' their own Default that they periſh, ſeeing they had no Power to believe unto the ſaving of their Souls. It was as poſſible for the Heathen to believe in him of whom they had not heard, as for theſe who had Preachers to believe, without the exceeding greatneſs of the Almighty's Power, irreſiſtibly enabling them: and not being choſen to Salvation by the Father, nor of Chriſt's Sheep, for whom he laid down his Life; the Spirit was not ſent to ſanctify them; and without Faith and Holineſs (which are both above their Power) it being impoſſible to pleaſe God here, or ſee him with Comfort hereafter: How is it the Reprobates own Fault, that he miſſes of Heaven?

Anſw. This Objection, as to the Subſtance of it, has been anſwered before; and ſuch as replied againſt God were ſilenced; or at leaſt, had ſufficient Conviction offered, from the Word of God, to ſtop their Mouth: But I would now further ſatisfy ſome upright, but weak Chriſtians, who are ſometimes, by Satan's Temptations, the carnal Reaſonings of the Truth's bitter Enemies, and their own remaining Enmity as well as Darkneſs, ſtumbled and perplexed, not a little about this Matter.

And,

[1] It muſt be granted, that no Sinner can come to Chriſt for Salvation, till drawn by Almighty Power, by all conquering Grace. Joh. 6.44, 65. No Man can come to me, except the Father, which hath ſent me, draw him. No Man can come to me, except it were given to him of my Father. And it muſt alſo be acknowledged, that whatever Means God uſes with them that were not choſen to Salvation, yet he does not ſecretly and irreſiſtibly draw them to Chriſt, Rom. 11.7. The Election obtained it; the reſt were blinded.

But,

[2] It is, nevertheleſs, the Reprobates own Fault that he goes on in Sin, rejecting Chriſt, till he die impenitently in Unbelief: For,

(1.) He knew nothing but he might be elected. It is a Thing that can't be known in this World; unleſs to ſuch as have committed the unpardonable Sin; or to others who know infallibly that ſuch an one has blaſphemed againſt the Holy Ghoſt, and done deſpite to the Spirit of Grace. The Elect are Children of Wrath by Nature, as well as others, Eph. 2.3. And the very ſame gracious Offers, and conditional Promiſes were made to the one and the other. Chriſt did not diſſemble when he dropt thoſe compaſſionate Tears on obſtinate Jeruſalem, and weeping, ſaid, How often would I have gathered thy Children together, as an Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not. If ſuch as ſhall be rejected by Chriſt the Judge, had been willing to come to Jeſus the Saviour; or but willing to open the Door and let him come into them, and had been denied any Part in him, meerly becauſe they were not elected, it were then another Caſe; but they had no Mind to come to Chriſt for Juſtification; nor that he ſhould come to ſanctify them, Job. 5.40. Jer. 13.27. The Fault is therefore their own; and they are without Excuſe.

(2) Had they been perſwaded that they were elected; yet, their blind, proud, and baſe Hearts would have oppoſed an holy JESUS, a crucifyed Saviour; and rejected him with Contempt. Many of the Jews called Abraham their Father; yea, they boaſted that God was their Father; and doubted not but he had choſen them, and had ſet his Love upon them; yet could they not by any Means, no not by Miracles be perſwaded to believe on Chriſt, Job. 8.39, 41, 47, 59, & 9 13, to 34, & 10.42 to 53. & 12 37. So that it was no conceived impoſſibility of believing, becauſe they were not elected, that hindred theſe from coming to Chriſt; but their Ignorance of him, and Enmity againſt him; for which they muſt blame themſelves, becauſe they rejected Knowledge, and cheriſhed their malicious Envy: And both Jews and Gentiles are alike in this; they both conſpired to crucify their common Saviour, Act. 4.25, 26, 27. And both continue to oppoſe his Doctrine, 1 Cor. 1.23. We preach Chriſt crucified, to the Jews a ſtumbling Block, and to the Grecks fooliſhneſs. And even they that are ſaved, before their effectual Calling, have ſtill Hearts as wicked as were the elect Iſraelites Hands, who were converted by Peter's Sermon, Act. 2.22,—So that as, neither Election it ſelf, nor the Knowledge of it (if we could be ſure of it before our Calling) is ſufficient to draw us to Chriſt; ſo, neither can Reprobates plead their Non-Election, as any Excuſe for their not believing; as well on theſe two Accounts already mentioned, as in ſome other Reſpects, that may be added.

(3.) Many of them that periſh, are ſuch as always denied and hated the Doctrine of perſonal Election from Eternity; and were for the Doctrine of Free-Will, as it ſtands in oppoſition to that of Free-Grace; holding that God deſires the Salvation of all that have the Goſpel alike; that Chriſt died for them all, one as much as another; and that the Spirit ſtrives no leſs with ſuch as finally reſiſt him, than with them that comply with his Motions, ſo as to Repent and Believe the Goſpel. That ſome of my Hearers are (or at leaſt have been) of this Perſwaſion, I muſt believe, becauſe they have plainly told me as much; and their uneaſineſs, diſcovered in Words & Actions, when the contrary Doctrines are aſſerted, is a further Demonſtration of it.

It is not now my Buſineſs ſo much to confute the erroneous, as to ſatisfy the Weak, how the Doctrine of Election, &c. (which paſſes by the greateſt Part, even of ſuch as live under the Goſpel) can ſtand with their periſhing thro' their own Default: And I have gained one Point further towards their Satisfaction, when they ſhall ſee, how that ſuch as are for univerſal Redemption, and profeſs to believe that God has given to them (and all) Power ſufficient, in the uſe of Means, to obtain Salvation; if yet they miſs of their Expectation, and be found Enemies to Chriſt at laſt, they muſt needs be ſpeechleſs, and bear the Blame of their Self-Deſtruction for ever. For what can they ſay, when the final Sentence is paſſed, why it ſhould not be executed upon them? Why did they not turn and live; ſince they boaſted of a Power to do it? Or rather, Why did they not acknowledge they had none, and go to Chriſt for it, who never rejected any that, lamenting their Ignorance, Impotence, Enmity and utter Unworthineſs, came a begging to him for Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption.

(4.) It is true, ſuch as periſh were not given to Chriſt to be redeemed and ſaved; and ſo, not irreſiſtibly drawn to him. Joh. 6.37. All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come to me. But who, and what was it that drave them away from Chriſt? Was it not their cauſeleſs Hatred of him? Job. 15.25. And what was it that drew them the quite contrary Way? Was it not their love to Sin, Self and the World? Mat 22.5, 6. Luke 14.16, to 20. 2 Tim 3.4. And what will they ſay for themſelves, when Chriſt ſhall ask them another Day, Why they did not come to him at the call of the Goſpel? Why, if they ſpeak the Truth, they muſt needs ſay, We did not Love thee: We ſaw no Form nor Comelineſs in thee, why we ſhould deſire thee. It is true, we heard, by the Report of the Goſpel, that thou wer't fairer than the Children of Men, Pſal. 45.2. yea, altogether lovely, Cant. 5.16. But we could not think it was true. Iſai. 53.1, 2, 3 Who hath believed our Report? — He hath no Form nor Comelineſs: and when we ſhall ſee him, there is no Beauty that we ſhould deſire him. He is deſpiſed and rejected of Men; — We hid, as it were our Faces from him; He was deſpiſed, and we eſteemed him not. Why did they hate God and Chriſt? Was it becauſe they were not loved by God, and choſen in Chriſt, before the Foundation of the World? No; for the Elect hated the Lord before Converſion. Was it becauſe moſt of them had never ſeen Chriſt? No; Joh. 15.24. But now, have they both ſeen and hated, both me and my Father. 1 Pet. 1.8. Whom having not ſeen, ye love. Had they any Reaſon to hate one that bled and died for his Enemies, and mourned and wept over ſuch as were implacably ſo? No; Joh. 15.25. They hated me without a Cauſe. And now, judge I pray you, betwixt Chriſt, and ſuch as deſpiſed, rejected and hated him; and preferred every Trifle, yea, their cusſed Luſts, that were Soul Murderers, before him; whither they are not juſtly condemned for loving the World as their God, and hating Chriſt worſe than they did the Devil; or Sin, which is the only Thing that makes the Devil hateful: Such then as love Sin more than Chriſt, can't be ſaid to hate him leſs than they do the Devil. Sure none will pity them, or plead for them in that Day, when they ſee what a CHRIST it was that they hated, and what hatred it was they bare him; and for what, even the holy Image of his Father, and that too it may be under a fair outſide ſhew of Love to him. Luk. 22.47,—Judas, one of the Twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jeſus to kiſs him.

(5) What, though Sinners have no Power to Repent and Believe the Goſpel, with ſuch a Faith as works by Love; yet they that periſh are without Excuſe, in that it was not only through Man's wilful Apoſtacy from God, that he came to need a Saviour (Eccl. 7.29. God made Man upright: but he hath ſought out many Inventions) which he could never oblige God to provide for him: but it is alſo the Reprobate's own Fault that he heaps up actual Tranſgreſſions of his own, for which he needs Repentance; and when he has done, he is ſo far from repenting heartily of his Sins, that he either hates to be reformed, or traiterouſly ſets up his external, partial Reformation in the Saviour's Throne. Whoſe Fault was it that Adam finned? And whence came the Sinner's corrupt Nature: that Ignorance and Enmity, which is the Root of all the Unbelief, Diſobedience and Impenitency therein, for which they are deſervedly puniſhed? Was any Violence offered to the pure Will of Man at firſt? And does not his corrupt Will act freely ſtill? Did the Creator, or any Creature force the Hands of our firſt Parents to the Tree of Knowledge; or that forbidden Fruit into their Mouths? And having loſt their original Rectitude, they could not convey it to their Poſterity. Or, is the univerſal Law of Nature unjuſt; that every ſort of Creature ſhould propagate it's Kind, in it's own Likeneſs? Gen. 1.12, 21, to 28. compar'd with Chap. 5.3. Adam begat a Son in his own Likeneſs, after his Image: i. e. as he was a Man, and as he was a Sinner. Now, if God made Man in his own Image, after his own Likeneſs; and when he comes to judge him, he finds him in Satan's Likeneſs, with the very Image of the Devil upon him, Go, ye curſed, into Everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, will be no unrighteous Sentence; for Iſrael hath deſtroyed himſelf firſt; and then refuſed Help through Chriſt. Reader, If thou art not found thus guilty at laſt, thou ſhalt not be condemned.

(6) I might appeal to your own Experience, whom the Spirit has convinc'd of Sin; whether you did not ſee and know it to be your own Fault that you had finned againſt God; and doubly ſo, that you had rejected Chriſt's Authority, as your rightful Lord and King, and his Mercy, as your only Saviour from Sin and Wrath. Suppoſe, you that are effectually Called had only heard the external Sound of the Goſpel, and experienced only a common Work of the Spirit; (thus many are called, who are not choſen, Mat. 22.14) had you not periſhed through your own Default? What Thoughts had you of your ſelves, when you were under the humbling, preparatory Work of the Spirit of Bondage? Did you not plainly ſee it to be your own Fault that you had finned, and not repented? Were you not brought (tho' it may be, it was long firſt) to juſtify God if he ſhould caſt you off for ever, becauſe you had forſaken Him? Did you not acknowledge, from the bottom of your Hearts, that if God ſhould deny you his Grace, and leave you to your ſelves, he could do you no Wrong? Now, either you did wrong in thus judging your ſelves, or God does right in condemning others, that neither can nor will believe and repent; but are condemned to die, not becauſe they cannot, but becauſe they will not turn and live. Is it not juſt, that the Soul which Sins ſhould die and periſh, except he repent? And juſt it cannot be, unleſs his finning and not repenting be his own Fault: Hoſ. 9.15, 17, & 10 2. I hated them for the wickedneſs of their Doings. My God will caſt them away, becauſe they did not hearken unto him: Now ſhall they be found faulty.

(7.) Finally. If nothing elſe will ſatisfy us, let the uncontroulable, indiſputable Supremacy; the abſolute, unlimitted Sovereignty; the eſſential, ſpotleſs Righteouſneſs, and infinite Holineſs of that GOD who taketh Vengeance, ſilence all our carnal Reaſonings; and ſet us down ſatisfied with what the Scriptures of Truth inform us concerning this Matter. Now, it is evident by the Word of God, that all impenient Unbelievers ſhall be damned, Mark 16.16. Luk. 13.3. It is alſo clear, that no Sinner can believe to the ſaving of his Soul, except almighty Power draw him to Chriſt, Joh. 6.44. Eph. 1.19, 20. Nor does the Spirit of God thus irreſiſtibly work Faith in any, but ſuch as were given to Chriſt, and ordained to eternal Life, thro' him, Joh. 10.16, 26. Act. 13.48. Yet, that the Unbeliever, obſtinately refuſing the only Remedy; and God being no ways obliged to overcome this obſtinacy, is guilty of his own Death; and muſt blame himſelf that he periſheth in his Sins, is what the Scriptures alſo do abundantly aſſert; either more directly, or by neceſſary Conſequence: Joh. 3.19. This is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the World, and Men love Darkneſs rather than Light. Prov. 8.36. He that ſinneth againſt me, wrongeth his own Soul; all they that hate me, love Death. Joh. 15.22. If I had not come and ſpoken unto them, they had not had Sin, but now they have no Cloke for their Sin. Mat. 22.11, 12, to 15. And when the King came in to ſee the Gueſts, he ſaw there a Man which had not on a wedding Garment: And he ſaith unto him, Friend, How cameſt thou in hither, not having a wedding Garment? And he was ſpeechleſs. Them ſaid the King to the Servants, Bind him Hand and Foot, and take him away; and caſt him into outer Darkneſs; there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth: For many are called; but few are choſen. The whole World of Reprobates ſhall be like this Man: their Mouths ſhall be ſtop'd: Rom. 3.19. That every Mouth may be ſtopped; and all the World become guilty before God: If God hath ſaid it, tho' Man may contradict it; Let God be true; but every Man a Liar; as it is written, That thou mighteſt be juſtified in thy ſayings; and overcome when thou art judged, Rom. 3.4.

There be many hard Speeches, uttered againſt Chriſt's Ambaſſadors, while they ſhun not to declare the whole Counſel of God, which will at laſt be found to have been ſpoken, by ungodly Sinners againſt CHRIST; who will, very ſhortly, make good Enoch's Propheſy, Jude ver. 10.14, 15. But theſe ſpeak Evil of thoſe Things which they know not,—And Enoch alſo, the ſeventh from Adam, propheſied of theſe, ſaying; Behold, the Lord cometh with ten Thouſands of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all; and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly Deeds, which they have ungodly committed; and of all their hard Speeches, which ungodly Sinners have ſpoken againſt him. What, though we can't anſwer Objections ſo as to ſtop others Mouths; nor to the ſilencing of our own carnal Reaſonings, and vanquiſhing Temptations, for the preſent; let us leave that Work to Chriſt; in whom are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowlege; and in the mean time, hold we cloſe to this, and be ſure we keep our hold-faſt, that the Word of God is true, the Judge of all the Earth will do right; the fooliſhneſs of God is wiſer than Men: His Judgments are a great Deep! which the ſhort Line of humane Reaſon can never ſound: What then can be more reaſonable, than that our Reaſon ſhould be brought into Captivity under the Dominion of Faith; 'till Faith ſhall be ſwallowed up in Viſion? And then we ſhall know as much of theſe Things as we can deſire to know; even to full & everlaſting Satisfaction. Indeed, if we could now or then comprehend fully the eternal Counſels of him whoſe Underſtanding is infinite, they would not be worthy of GOD, only Wiſe: Nor are the Doctrines of God's Sovereignty, and Man's Impotency; Eternal Election, and Free Grace, to be at all ſuſpected, becauſe many wiſe Men after the Fleſh, and moſt wicked Men, not having the Spirit, do oppoſe them: On the other Hand; It is an Effect of Election (ſaith Mr. Norton) to be affected with the Decree of Election. As God openeth himſelf in no Truth more than this; ſo they that love to ſee the ſhining Face of God in Chriſt, delight in no Truth more than this. In this Way, the Riches of Free Grace are glorified to the uttermoſt; and the poor trembling Believer's Salvation is ſecured infallibly, abundantly! Whereas, even Adam in Paradiſe, (with all his large Stock of Grace, tho' he had no inward Luſt to entice and draw him away) being left to himſelf ſoon fell; and Millions of Angels in Heaven, not being elected (as thoſe that ſtood are ſaid to be, 1 Tim. 1.21.) left their own Habitation, even without a Tempter. And yet the poor ſelf conceited Wretch, that knows nothing of the Breadth and Rigour of the Law, or the Riches of Free Grace in the Goſpel; nothing of God, or himſelf, or any Thing elſe as he ought to know; when he hears the Doctrine of Election preached, either quarrels at it, or is diſcouraged if he gives any Credit to it. It ſeems to ſtand in the Way of his Salvation: Oh! If it were not for this Doctrine, (thinks the proud ſelf Juſticiary) I ſhould do well enough: Whereas, all the grounded Hope thou can it have, is from this Doctrine. Were there not a Remnant according to the Election of Grace, God's Iſrael, all New-England, yea, and the whole Goſpel World would have been like Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah; not one Soul would have been ſaved, any more than the fallen Angels. So that not only the Believer, but the unconverted Sinner has cauſe to bleſs God for Election, which refuſes not any on the Account of Weakneſs or Vileneſs. If then thou ſeeſt thy ſelf as unable to believe as a dead Man to riſe and walk; and as unworthy that Chriſt ſhould give thee Life, as are the very Devils; venture all on this Bottom; Chriſt has not excepted me, in the general Invitations of the Goſpel; Whoſoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. Nor may I excuſe my ſelf from obeying the Command of God, 1 John 3.23. This is his Commandment, that we ſhould believe on the Name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt: And tho' I have a natural, ſtrong, rooted Averſeneſs and Enmity, as well as Impotency, that keeps me from oſing the only Remedy; yet, GOD can make me willing in the Day of his Power, Pſal. 110.3. And, if the Eye of electing Love ſhall pity me, and the Hand of irreſiſtable Power ſhall draw me, I ſhall be an eternal Monument of free Grace: Nor will I dare to ſit ſtill and cry, God help me, any more than to riſe up in my own Strength; but wait in the Uſe of all Means of Grace, avoiding all the Occaſions of Sin; and if I periſh, I periſh juſtly; if I am ſaved, 'twill be a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Salvation!

Let the Enemies of this Doctrine themſelves be Judges, whether this be not a more likely Way to obtain the Favour of God, than their Way of contradicting, quarrelling, objecting; or abuſing the Doctrine unto a ſlothful Neglect of the Means; a profane Courſe of Life, and deſperate Way of Sinning; if they are elected they ſhall be ſaved, do what they will; if not, they ſhall be damned, do what they can. They might: as well ſay, when they are grievouſly wounded in their Bodies, have their Bones broken, or are dangerouſly ſick; we will uſe no Means; if it be appointed we ſhall live, we ſhall live, do what we will; if our Time be come to die, we ſhall die, do what we can.

But, to return from this Digreſſion (which may poſſibly, meet with ſome loſt Sheep, that muſt be bro't in:) The Objection I am anſwering (which fell in our Way, as we were arguing the Truth of the ſecond Doctrine, from a ſixth Conſideration, viz. That when the Goſpel-Sinner comes to the Place of Torment, he ſhall ſee and know that his Deſtruction is of himſelf; and conſequently the Apprehenſions he ſhall have of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven, will the more dreadfully aggravate his own eternal Miſery:) I ſay, the Objection pleads that the Reprobate is not guilty of Self-Deſtruction, becauſe not elected, redeemed and ſanctified by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: but having found him guilty before God, by clear Scripture Evidence; notwithſtanding all that may be pleaded in his Behalf; we re-aſſume our former Argument, and cloſe the ſixth Conſideration, that we may paſs to the Seventh: And do Goſpel Sinners indeed pull down everlaſting Deſtruction upon their own Heads? What Tongue then can expreſs, or Heart conceive, the leaſt Part of that Soul-killing Rage againſt themſelves, that ſelf-tormenting Fury, that muſt needs eternally poſſeſs their Souls in Hell; while they ſhall behold all thoſe, who took a wiſer Courſe, in the Kingdom of God, and themſelves thruſt out, becauſe they refuſed to enter in: Here I am, (and ſhall be, for as many Millions of Ages as there were Minutes from the Creation to the Reſurrection; and when that is paſt, ten Hundred Thouſand Million Times more will remain behind;) Here I am, tormented in this Flame; ſeventy Times ſeven fold hotter than Nebuchadnezzar's fiery Furnace; and I wilfully threw my ſelf into this boiling Lake of Fire and Brimſtone; O cruelly wounding Tho't! Reader, think not any Pains too much by which thou mayſt eſcape theſe cruel Laſhes of a ſelftormenting Conſcience!

7. And laſtly, Such as have once had the Price of the Goſpel in their Hands; but had no Heart to improve it, ſhall for ever remember in Hell, how they ſold their immortal Souls, and eternal Joys, for vaniſhing Trifles; empty Nothings!

How did it vex Eſau, when he had ſwallowed down and digeſted a few Spoonfuls of Pottage, to think that his Birth-right was gone, (and the Bleſſing muſt go after it) Heb. 12.16. Leſt there be any Fornicator, or profane Perſon, as Eſau, who for one Morſel of Meat ſold his Birth-right; For, ye know, how that afterwards, when he would have inherited the Bleſſing, he was rejected, and found us Place for Repentance, though be ſought it carefully with Tears. Gen. 27.34. And Eſau cried with a great and exceeding bitter Cry, and ſaid unto his Father; bleſs me, even me alſo, O my Father. And Eſau lift up his Voice and wept, ver. 38.

So will the damned Goſpel-Deſpiſers weep and wail, and gnaſh their Teeth, while they conſider what they had in Exchange for thoſe Rivers of Pleaſure, that flow at God's right Hand for evermore; even a little bitter ſweet Pleaſure; for an Inch of Time; a thin Bubble of worldly Honour; ſmall, inconſiderable, unſatisfying, unprofitable Gains: As that Prince, who, in his Extremity ſold a Kingdom for one Draught of Water; lamenting, ſighing, and too late repenting, ſaid, For how ſhort a Pleaſure have I ſold a Kingdom! Men will ſay, I have been fool'd out of ſo much Land, Money, Goods, &c. and never ſo much as drank for it. And what have poor loſt Souls now to ſhew for a fair Inheritance above the Stars; which they ſold for a Song? How inconſiderable a Part of this inconſiderable World had they; and for how ſmall a Moment did they enjoy this Dream of a Shadow, at the Price of their Souls? Whereas, if they could have graſped and held Poſſeſſion of the whole World, from the Beginning to the End of Time, on ſuch Terms; it had been a loſing Bargain; an undoing Bargain! Mat. 16.26. For what is a Man profited, if he ſhall gain the whole World, and loſe his own Soul? Or, what ſhall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul?

If a Man parts with a rich Commodity, or a large Inheritance, for a valuable Conſideration; though he ſhould ſomething under ſell, it does not much trouble him: Or if he loſes a good Bargain, he keeps his Money, and that comforts him: But if he ſhould in a mad Fit, ſell firſt his Houſe and Land, and then his Wife and Children into perpetual Slavery; and all for a Whiſtle and a Rattle, a guilded Box and a gay Picture; would it not vex his Soul to Death, when he ſhould come to himſelf, and ſolemnly reflect on what he had done? Yet this were a tolerable good Bargain, in Compariſon of what is made by many Goſpel Sinners among us: And whether you believe it or not, ſure we are that damned Souls in Hell do know, that the Heighth of their extream Folly has been above all Compariſon; and their eternal Vexation of Soul ſhall be proportionable. Such a Time I was tempted by the Pleaſure of Sin, and at another Time the Hook was baited with Gain; but my Conſcience told me it was Sin, the Wages of which is Death; and the Word of God informed me, that they which do ſuch Things ſhall anot inherit the Kingdom of God; yet, I did not forbear; and now Heaven is gone, and I die like a Fool!— Theſe will be intolerable Thoughts! And yet ſuch as periſh from under the Goſpel muſt dwell with ſuch Thoughts, for ever and ever. Oh! that Men were wiſe, to prevent this in Time. Thus much for the Second General Head of our Diſcourſe, under the Second Doctrine.

III. We might in the third and laſt Place, yet more particularly make mention of ſeveral Sorts of Goſpel Sinners, whoſe eternal Miſery ſhall be peculiarly aggravated; not only above that of the Heathen, but above the Puniſhment of many of their Fellow-Goſpel Sinners; As,

1. Such as have lived in Times and Places when and where many have been converted; Churches greatly inlarged; Multitudes flocking after Chriſt; Sinners of all ſorts and ſizes repenting and believing the Goſpel, Mat. 21.32. John came unto you in the Way of Righteouſneſs, and ye believed him not; but the Publicans and Harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had ſeen it, repented not afterwards, that ye might believe him. Many of their Acquaintance, of the ſame Town, in the near Neighbourhood; ſome of the ſame Knot of Good-Fellowſhip, (as they ſay) their Companions in Sin, it may be out of the ſame Family, have turned to the Lord; yea, out of the ſame Bed one has been taken and the other left: A Yoke-Fellow, a Brother or Siſter, a Parent or Child has been perſwaded to enter in at the ſtrait Gate; and then by earneſt Intreaties and good Inſtructions, or at leaſt a convincing, winning Example, they have ſought to draw you with them, in the Way Everlaſting; but you would not hearken; therefore an infinite Evil muſt come upon you. And when you ſhall hear many Goſpel Sinners pleading, that tho' Religion was profeſs'd where they lived, yet it was little practic'd; and if ſomething of the Form was kept up, yet the Power of Godlineſs was derided by the moſt; and what Hazzards they muſt have run if they had followed the Lord fully! You ſhall then remember, that though you might have advantaged your Reputation with your Neighbours, by denying all Ungodlineſs and worldly Luſts, and by living Soberly, Righteouſly and Godly; and though you were often aſhamed to be found in bad Company, and it was a Diſcredit to you to turn your Back on the Lord's-Table; and more ſo to be looſe and vain in your Converſations, and hard in your Dealings, notwithſtanding your Profeſſion; yet, neither Duty nor Intereſt, no, not the temporal, ſpiritual and eternal Advantages that were on Religion's Side, could prevail with you to profeſs and practiſe as holy Souls did: It therefore remains, that you chew everlaſtingly on this bitter Pill; which, if it were poſſible for your own Conſciences to forget, we may ſuppoſe Millious of Goſpel Sinners to caſt in your Teeth, and ſay, If we had had half the Encouragements to an holy Life, that others were ſurrounded with, we would never have been ſo fond of Damnation, as to have croſſed even our worldly Intereſt in purſuing it.

2. Such as have had ſingular Advantages above others, and that many Ways: by their Education in the Days of their Youth: they have been trained up in the Way they ſhould go; many Thouſands of Prayers made with them and for them, in the Family; beſides ten Thouſand Petitions put up for them by a pious Father, a gracious Mother, in ſecret Places; who have alſo, all the Time of their Childhood and Youth, been dropping ſweet and ſolemn Words of Council and Warning into their Ears; as holy David and Bathſheha did by young Solomon, as himſelf tells us, Prov. 4.1, 2. — Hear, ye Children, the Inſtruction of a Father; and attend to know Underſtanding: For I give you good Doctrine, forſake you not my Law. For, I was my Father's Son; tender and only beloved in the ſight of my Mother. He taught me alſo, and ſaid unto me, Let thy Heart retain my Words: Keep my Commandments and live. Get Wiſdom, get Underſtanding; forget it not; neither decline from the Words of my Mouth. Wiſdom is the principal Thing; therefore get Wiſdom; and with all thy gettings get Underſtanding. And ver. 13, 14, 15. Take faſt hold of Inſtruction, let her not go; keep her, for ſhe is thy Life. Enter not into the Path of the Wicked; and go not in the Way of evil Men-Avoid it, paſs not by it, turn from it, and paſs away. Put away from thee a froward Mouth, and perverſe Lips put far from thee, ver. 24. Oh! 'Tis an unſpeakable Advantage to have a pious Education, holy Examples, good Books, all imaginable Helps, in our tender Years, and after we are grown up: And yet theſe priviledged Souls, who have had all manner of Helps and precious Means, in publick and private, ſhall ſee ſome, who have been under all Kinds of Diſadvantages and Hindrances, in the Kingdom of God, and themſelves thruſt out; but it will kill their Hearts. So much for the ſecond Sort.

3. Such as have had many Convictions, ſtrong Terrors, good Purpoſes, promiſing Beginnings; but their Goodneſs has quickly vaniſhed and diſappeared, like the Morning Cloud and early Dew, Hoſ. 6.4. Theſe ſhall come to a fearful End; unleſs it pleaſe the Lord to move again upon their Hearts, and give them an Heart to comply with thoſe Motions, 2 Pet 2.20, 21, 22. For of after they have eſcaped the Pollutions of the World, through the Knowlege of the Lord and Savicur, Jeſus Chriſt, they are again intangled therein, and overcome; the latter End is worſe with them than the Beginning. For it bad been better fir them not to have known the Way of Righteouſneſs, than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment, delivered unto them. But it is hapned unto them according to the true Proverb; The Dog is turned to his own V mit again; and the Sow that was waſhed, to her wallowing in the Mire. And as this Relapſe aggravates their Sin, ſo their Puniſhment will be doubly aggravated; That they ſhould begin well, and be almoſt peſwaded, and yet fall off and fall back,—and then that they ſhould ſin worſe than ever before; at leaſt in this Reſpect worſe, becauſe greater Mercy is abuſed; more Light ſinned againſt; Job 24.13. They are of thoſe that rebel againſt the Light: But they ſhall never forget how near they once were to the Kingdom of God, Mark 12.34. From whence they are, notwithſtanding, fallen into the Bottomleſs Pit; and, how great is their Fall! How much deeper are they fallen than others, who were never liſted up ſo high! How much better had it been for them not to have had this internal Knowledge, by the Spirit's Conviction and Illumination, added to their more common Knowledge by Reading, Hearing, &c. unleſs they had better improved it? 'Tis a dreadful Thing to increaſe Knowledge only to the increaſing of eternal Sorrow.

4. Such as have made an high Profeſſion, laid themſelves under the ſtricteſt Covenant Engagements, and frequently renewed their Baptiſmal Vows at the Lord's Table. That many ſuch ſhall go to Hell, is a no leſs certain than ſad and awful Truth, Mat. 7.21, 22. and 8.11, 12. and 25.10, 11, 12. But we needed to have looked no further than the Verſes immediately preceeding our Text, for the Confirmation of this ſolemn Truth, Luke 13.26, 27. Then ſhall ye (and others like them, in after Times) begin to ſay, We have eaten and drunk in thy Preſence, and thou baſt taught in our Streets. But be ſhall ſay, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are: Depart from me all ye Workers of Iniquity. That the profeſſed Followers of an holy JESUS and Pretenders to the ſtricteſt Piety ſhould be found the Devil's Children, and Workers of Iniquity, is not more abſurd and impious, than their Condemnation will be juſt, and their Puniſhment intolerably aggravated: Not becauſe they made ſo high a Profeſſion; but that they aimed no higher than Self in it. They abuſe the richeſt Favours that are capable of being abaſed to the Subject's Ruin. They have violated the ſtrongeſt Engagements that ſuch unſanctified Wretches could be brought under. And perhaps too, they have cloaked their ſelfiſh, worldly, helliſh Deſigns with religious Pretences: As if one ſhould ſtop an Oven with a King's Robes. And ſhall not their Shame before the World, and Suffering in the Place of Torment, bear a juſt Proportion to their Iniquity and Hypocriſy? This is the Man (it will be known to all) that made not GOD his Hope and Strength; but boaſted in the Height of his Privileges, and truſted in the abundance of his Sacrifices: The Righteous ſhall laugh at him, Pſal 52.6. And the very Devils will reproach him. Yea, ſuch of his Acquaintance in the World as never pertended to ſuch high Things in Religion (tho' they muſt be damned, not only becauſe they did not believe with their Hearts, but becauſe they did not confeſs with their Mouths too; both being our indiſpenſible Duty, Rom. 10.10.) yet may taunt at theſe Hypocrites. But the worſt is, GOD has allotted them one of the hotteſt Rooms in Hell, Mat. 24. ult. Where their own Conſciences will for ever ſting their Souls with the Remembrance of how much they promiſed, and how little they performed. How publickly and ſolemnly they renounced the Fleſh, the World and the Devil; and yet, at leaſt more hiddenly, either in Words and Actions, or, be ſure, in Heart and Affection, did follow what they had call'd Heaven to witneſs of their abandoning. What, for ſuch as have full often drunk of the Cup of the Lord; the Cup of Bleſſing; the Cup which Chriſt calls the New Teſtament in his Blood; inſtead of going to drink of the new Wine with Chriſt in his Father's Kingdom, to have the Cup of Fury and Indignation, Trembling and Aſtoniſhment forced into their Hands; full of the Wine of divine Wrath, even the fierceneſs of his Wrath, without any Mixture of Mercy; and to be made to drink it up, Dregs and all; (for the very Dregs of God's Fury are wrung into this Cup) tho' it be Eternity to the Bottom, they muſt drink it off! But they had better have profeſſed leſs; or rather more truly, and have practiſed accordingly.

5. Such as have contemned, maligned and moſt uncharitably cenſured the precious Saints of GOD, and meek Followers of JESUS, on account of their natural and moral Infirmities, real or ſuppoſed; or elſe becauſe of the outward Meanneſs of their Condition in the World; yea, very likely, for their real Piety, Integrity and conſcientious Walking; but always under Pretence of ſomething elſe. Now theſe are of three Sorts; (1) Profligate Wretches, who, like Cain, bear a deadly Hatred againſt the Faithful in Chriſt Jeſus, even becauſe their own Works are evil, and the Believer's righteous; 1 Joh. 3.12, 13. Not as Cain, who was of that Wicked-One, and ſlew his Brother; and wherefore ſlew be him? Becauſe his own Works were evil, and his Brother's righteous. Marvel not, my Brethren, if the World hate you. And the Apoſtle, in theſe laſt Words, does but declare what he heard from Chriſt's own Mouth: That which we have ſeen and heard, (ſaith he, Chap. 1. ver. 3.) declare we unto you, Thus ſpake our bleſſed Lord to his Diſciples, John 15.18, 19, 20. If the World hate you, ye know it bated me before it bated you. If ye were of the World, the World would love his own: But becauſe you are not of the World, but I have choſen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. Remember the World that I ſaid unto you; The Servant is not greater than the Lord: If they have perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you. There is Perſecution with Fire and Swore; and there is Perſecution with the Tongue, which is as a ſharp Sword, drawn and whet; ſet on Fire of Hell, Pſal. 57.4 My Soul is among Lions; and I lie even among them that are ſet on Fire; even the Sons of Men, whoſe Teeth are Spears and Arrows, and their Tongue a ſharp Sword. Pſal. 64.3 Who whet their Tongue like a Sword; and bend their Bows to ſhoot their Arrows, even bitter Words. Iſa 57.4. Againſt whom do ye ſport yourſelves? Againſt whom make ye a wide Mouth, and draw out the Tongue? Jam. 3.6 The Tongue is a Fire, a World of Iniquity: — It is ſet on Fire of Hell. Yea, ſuch as profeſs Love and Friendſhip to God's Choſen and called Ones, being unſanctified themſelves, have bitter Enmity againſt them; and may prove the worſt of Perſecutors; Pſal. 55.12, 13, 14. For it was not an Enemy that reproached me, then I could have born it; neither was it he that bated me (i. e. with a manifeſt Hatred) that did magnify himſelf againſt me; then I would have bid myſelf from him. But it was thou, a Man mine Equal, my Guide, and mine Acquaintance. We took ſweet Counſel together, and walked unto the Houſe of God in Company. And ver. 21. 'tis added, The Words of his Mouth were ſmoother than Butter; but War was in his Heart; his Words were ſifter than Oyl, yet were they drawn Swords. And the very ſame malicious, perſecuting Spirit diſcovers it ſelf in theſe Goſpel Time: Gal. 4.28, 29. Now we, Brethren, as Iſacc was, are the Children of Promiſe. But as then, he that was born after the Fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even ſo it is now. Profane Sinners hate the Godly: and carnal Profeſſors, who have but the Form of Godlineſs, can't affect ſuch as have and ſhew forth the Power of it; for though it pleaſeth them in ſome Reſpects, yet it croſſeth them many Ways. The Fleſh and Spirit are Contraries. (2) The ſtrict Legaliſt, who truſts in himſelf that he is righteous, and deſpiſeth others. If he be in Church-Fellowſhip, he thinks ſcarce any good enough for his Communion, Iſa. 65.5. Which ſay ſtand by thy ſelf, come not near me, for I am holier than thou. If a Non-Communicant, he thinks the Church ſo corrupt that he muſt not hold Communion with them. Are they Men expert in the Letter of the Scriptures? Then they think as the Phariſees ſpake, (John. 7.49.) of poor, weak, tho' true Believers; This People who knoweth not the Law, are curſed. Are their Heads barren even of common Knowledge in religious Matters? Yet their Hearts (they profeſs and verily think) are as good as the beſt Profeſſor of them all. (3.) Proud and haughty Spirits, if they make ſome figure in the World, and are Men of Reaſon: (in their own Account at leaſt) theſe ſcorn God's Choſen and precious Ones, becauſe, for the moſt part, they are poor in the World; James 2.5. Hearken, my beloved Brethren, hath not God choſen the Poor of this World? But we unto you that are rich; for ye have received your Conſolation, Luke 6.24. And not many of God's Elect, but are poor alſo in Gifts and Endowments of the Mind, whether natural or acquired. Not many wiſe Men after the Fleſh are called: But God hath choſen the fooliſh, weak, yea and baſe Things of the World, and ſuch as are deſpiſed hath God choſen, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28. But wo to ſuch as deſpiſe, and offend, and cenſure, and perſecute ſo much as one of theſe little Ones that believes in Chriſt; it were better for him that a Mill-Stone were hanged about his Neck, and he were caſt into the Sea. Be it on one Account or another, that theſe and thoſe have deſpiſed, diſaffected, judged and wronged the Saints of God; when they ſhall ſee at laſt, how that they were the only Excellent of the Earth; precious in the Sight of God as the Apple of his Eye; and even Kings in diſguiſe: When they ſhall ſee them in their royal Apparrel, and a Crown royal ſet upon their Heads, (for thus ſhall it be done to the Men whom the King of Saints delighteth to honour) how will it cut them to the Heart, and make them gnaſh their Teeth! How will it aſhame and confound them! How will they for ever vex and torment themſelves with what they ſhall have ſeen and heard, in that Day of Judgment and Recompence! How will GOD repay into their Boſoms, with a Vengeance, all the Indignities they have offered his dear Children! And indeed, there needs no more to make them miſerable, with a Witneſs, than for them to be given up into the Hands of their own ſelf-tormenting Thoughts, and cruel Reflections: And muſt theſe Objects of our Envy, Malice and 〈◊〉 , be embrac'd in the Boſom of divine Love; exalted to an eternal Throne, and triumph over us, who had thought them as bad as we were, or our ſelves much better than they were? Are theſe the Perſons, whoſe Infirmities we derided, whoſe Company we ſcorned, and whoſe very Devotion we mocked? Oh! that we had rather lov'd them, honour'd them, done like them, though we had far'd like them, and like Chriſt in the World; ſo ſhould we now have been like them, whom we ſee (to our inexpreſſible Vexation and Confuſion) to be like Him, in Beauty & Glory: Theſe Reflections, theſe bitter, cruel Self-Reflections, are the never-dying-Worm.

6. Such as have had confident Hopes, and high raiſed Expectations of going to Heaven, their Fall will be the greater. Some there are among the Children of Men who are far from being the Sons of God; yet they lot upon it that they ſhall go to Heaven when they die, as much as they expect an Harveſt after Seed-Time. I ſpake before of groſſer Hypocrites, who deceive others with their outſide Shews; but now I aim at cloſe, formal Hypocrites, who deceive themſelves. Are we blind alſo? If any Man ſeem to be religious, (ſo many do in open View of the Church and World, deceiving Men by their outward Appearance, on which only Man can look; but the Apoſtle adds) deceiving his own Heart. Theſe are either more groſly ignorant, ſuch as think that being baptized, if they carry ſoberly before Men, eſpecially if they make a Profeſſion too, and perform Duties of Religion in publick and private, they ſhall undoubtedly be ſaved. Or elſe they are ſuch as go far beyond theſe, not only in hiſtorical Knowledge and outward Practice; (in which they may exceed even true Chriſtians) but in real Experience of common Illumination, ſtrong Convictions, & much Comfort in Duty and after Trouble. They oft try themſelves and are as oft acquitted by falſe Signs, or true ones miſapplyed. They are well thought of by others like themſelves, and even admired by ſome true Chriſtians; yea, approv'd poſſibly, by ſuch as are diſcerning Chriſtians, and by Miniſters; and they know it, and this s;eals their Deluſion, and raiſes their Expectation to a great Height: So that they may be wonderfully conſident of being own'd by CHRIST himſelf, whoſe flaming Eye will diſcover them to themſelves and the World, to their unſpeakable Shame, and more dreadful Diſappointment. The higher they were raiſed by GOD, in common Gifts of the Spirit; by Men, in charitable Expreſſions, and real Affection, thro' miſtake; and by themſelves, through Satan's ſtrong Deluſions, in glorious Expectations, the deeper will they fall. Stand ſtill, Reader, pauſe a little, —and think (what Words can't expreſs) of the Dreadfulneſs of ſuch a Diſappointment!

7. Such as heave had the Unſoundneſs of their Hopes for Heaven, again and again, plainly diſcovered; inſomuch that their falſe Peace has been greatly diſturbed; and at Times, they have been even convinced that their State and Condition was bad; that they were yet in the Gall of Bitterneſs and in the Bonds of Iniquity; that another Manner of Work muſt paſs on them, or they periſh for ever. Yet, for all this, like fool-hardy Wretches, they have ſhut their Eyes againſt this Light of Conviction, (that might have prov'd the Dawning of ſound Converſion, and eternal Salvation to them;) and ventured on over the Precipice, chuſing the Terrors of the Second-Death, rather than the Pangs of the New-Birth; and to be at the Coſt of laying a new Foundation. Sometimes they have thought they would let go their falſe Hold; but then, finding themſelves deſtitute of any Footing, falling and ſinking, and fearing they ſhould be daſhed in Pices or drowned, they muſt catch hold of ſomething; ſome where they muſt faſten; Deſpair is dreadful! And being ignorant of the Way of Salvation, by believing in him that juſtifies the Ungodly, Rom. 4.5. (which indeed is a Miſtery, hidden from the greateſt Part of Profeſſors) they muſt (I ſay) catch hold ſome where, as drowning Men; and the rotten Stick of ſelfrighteous Performances is what comes next to Hand, and they can reach no further: If they think, now they will come off from Self and Duties, and lean on CHRIST only, 'tis with a Faith of their own forging; they do but repair the old Houſe, which muſt be pulled down to the Ground, and removed, every Stick of it, and the Foundation ripped up, that they may be created a new, in Chriſt Jeſs to good Works: founded on him, and built up in him: But, Oh! how averſe are our old Covenant Hearts from this new and living Way, when opened in the Goſpel! Salvation by Works, a Diſpoſition to work for Wages and earn Heaven, was the firſt Liquor that was put into the Veſſel of humane Nature and it ſtrongly ſavours of it to this Day; according to the true Proverb, That which is bred in the Bone, will never out of the Fleſh.

Thus, I have diverted a little, to ſhew you one main Cauſe of that extreme Difficulty Miniſters find, in removing Men from their old, falſe Foundations: And when they have done all, Multitudes will hold faſt their own Self-Deceivings. They will put new Patches on the old, ragged Garment; they will ſeem to mend their Pace; but 'tis in the old, broad, beaten Path. Yea (to retun) they will ſhut their Eyes (as was ſaid) againſt the plaineſt Conviction; and venture on in a Way, they are ſo oft and faithfully told, will end in their ſhameful and intolerable Diſappointment.

Thus the Damned in Hell, eſpecially ſuch as periſh from under the Goſpel, and peculiarly ſome Sorts of Goſpel Sinners that have been mentioned, ſhall have ſuch Apprehenſions of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven, as will dreadfully aggravate their own eternal Miſery.

So much may ſerve for the Doctrinal Part of the ſecond Point.

The APPLICATION of the Whole remains.

1. Shall many, that now enjoy the Means of Grace with the People of God here, be Caſtaways hereafter? Then in muſt needs be a great Miſtake, to think that all or moſt Church-Members ſhall be ſaved: Yet, ſome there are ſo groſly ignorant and laviſhly charitable, as to think and ſpeak as if it were ſo: But the holy Scriptures are the Rule of our Charity; and they aſſure us that many are called but few choſen: That many ſhall ſay, We have eat and drunk in thy Preſence, &c. Beſides, Experience tells us, that all Church-Members are not like Zecharias and Eliſabeth, who were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſs. And do not the Conſciences of ſome Profeſſors tell them, that, how ſmoothly ſoever they carry it before Men, yet, they live in the Neglect of Cloſet Duty, and in the Allowance of ſecret Sins; at leaſt, ſome one Way and Trade of Sin, which is inconſiſtent with Sincerity. Others there may be, who don't know that they allow themſelves any Sin, yet they never experienced a thorough Work of Converſion: They were never Heart ſick of Sin; nor bro't off from ſelf-Righteouſneſs: What they do is not out of Love to Chriſt who died for Sinners: Now, we know that nothing avails without Faith that works by Love, Gal. 5.6.

2. Is it only now for the preſent Time of Life and State of Trial, that the Elect and Reprobates, Saints and Hypocrites do join, viſibly, together in the Worſhip of God; muſt they be ſeperated at Death and Judgment, as we have heard? Well then may they both be content to bear the Trouble of each others Company in this World. Thou falſe Heart! Does the more gracious Converſe; or did the more experimental Relation of thy Fellow-Communicant trouble thee, becauſe is condemns thee? Art thou thus ſilently, or more directly and expreſly reproved by him? Is there ſecret Enmity in thy Heart againſt him? Would thy envious Heart be gland to have this Eye-Sore removed? Comfort thy ſelf in this! 'Twill be but a little while before you ſhall be parted far enough aſunder. On the other Hand, Is thy righteous Soul, upright-Hearted Nathaniel, not only vexed with the ſilthy Converſation of the more openly Wicked; but grieved alſo with the unſavoury Spirit of the hypocritical Profeſſor? Yet a little while and the Wicked ſhall not be: Thou ſhalt have no more of this, or any other Kind of Trouble for ever. In the mean Time, conſider him who endured ſuch Contradiction of Sinners againſt himſelf, leſt you be wearied and faint in your Minds, Ye have not yet reſiſted unto Blood, Heb. 12.3, 4.

3. Shall their Diſtance in the other Wolrld be as great as is between Heaven and Hell? Then the Wicked have, be ſure, no leſs Reaſon to dread, than the Godly have to deſire the Coming of the LORD, by Death or Judgment. It was one of John's Viſions, Rev. 6.8. I looked, and behold a pale Horſe; and his Name that ſat on him was Death; and Hell followed.—To die, and go to Hell; the Reſurrection of Damnation; the Coming of Chriſt in flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on the Ignorant and Diſobedient; what a dreadful Sound ſhould theſe Things make in the Ears of nominal Chriſtians, lukewarm Laodiceans, and ſelf righteous Phariſees, (who are, at beſt, but ignorant Zealots, Rom 10. begin.) as well as of the moſt profane and openly Scandalous!

But, is the Life thou now liveſt in the Fleſh by the Faith of the Son of God? then to die will be Gain. Bleſſed are the Dead which die in the Lord; for they reſt from their Labours, and their Works do follow them. Thou haſt all the Reaſon in the World for thy Deſire to depart, and to be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all. Let this be the conſtant Language of thy Soul, Come LORD JESUS, come quickly. The Day of they Death will be better than was the Day of thy Birth, Eccl. 7.1. This being the Beginning of all thy evil Things; and that the End thereof, and the Beginning of that infinite Good that ſhall never end.

4. Again. Shall this ſeperation be forced on the Wicked, ſore againſt their Will? Why then ſhould any be ſo unadviſed, beſotted, and (to uſe the Apoſtle's Word) ſo bewitched as to chuſe the Ways of Sin, and refuſe thoſe of Holineſs now, ſeeing they ſhall be ſo contrarily affected towards the reſpective Ends unto which theſe Ways lead, in the other World? Knoweſt thou not that it will be Bitterneſs in the latte End? His Bones are full of the Sins of his Youth, which ſhall lie down with him in th Duſt, Tho' Wickedneſs be ſweet in his Mouth; though he bide it under his Tongue; though he ſpare it, and forſake it not; but keep it ſtill within his Mouth: Yet, his Meat in his Bowels is turned; it is the Gall of Aſps within him, Job 20.11,—Who would not chuſe rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleaſures of Sin (were they ten thouſand Times ſweeter than they are) for a Moment? Didſt thou but realized it now, that Death and Judgment will change thy Mind; thou wouldſt certainly deſire and endeavour, preſently to change thy Way. Put Sin and Hell together in one Scale, and Self-Denial with eternal Glory in the other; and if thou haſt but hte Reaſon of a Man; one would think, that far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory (with which neither the Sufferings nor Injoyments of this preſent Time are worthy to be compared) ſhould ſoon determine thy Choice. But alas! The Word preached (or written) does not profit, not being mixed with Faith in them that hear (or read) it, Heb. 4.2.

5. Is it as we have heard in the ſecond Doctrine, That the Damned in Hell ſhall have ſuch Apprehenſions of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven, as will dreadfully aggravate their own eternal Miſery? Hence, Places of Goſpel-Light are dear Places to ſin in. The Wages of Sin (even of all Kinds of Sin, of each ſingle Act in any Kind) is Death, Rom. 6.23. The Soul that ſins ſhall die, Ezek. 18.4. So that none of the ungoſpellized World can ſin at a cheap Rate: The Wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God, Pſal 17.9. Yet, Iſrael, the Seed of Jacob whom God loved, becauſe they had his Word nad Ordinances, which other Nations had not; becauſe they only, of all the Families of the Earth, were thus highly priviledged, thus nearly related to God; their Sins were the more grievous; Amos 2.13. Behold, I am preſſed under you, as a Cart is preſſed that is full of Sheaves, Iſa. 1.2, 14. I have nouriſhed and brought up Children, and they have rebelled againſt me. I am weary to bear them. Ezek. 6.9. I am broken with their whoriſh Heart. And their Puniſhment muſt be more heavy; Amos 3.2. You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth, therefore you I will puniſh, with a Wineſs; with a Vengeance; in Jealouſy and Fury. But we, in theſe Goſpel Times; we in this Land of Light! How dear muſt we pay for all our ungrateful Diſobedience; our wilful Barrenneſs? Unleſs we agree with our Adverſary quickly, whiles we are in the Way with him, Mat 5.25

6. What we have heard under the ſecond Doctrine, does abundantly juſtify the inceſſant, unwearied Care and Pains of the moſt circumſpect, diligent Chriſtian in the World; and may equally ſerve to comfort ſuch under all their Labours, Sorrows and Sufferings, in the Way to Heaven: Luke 13.24. Strive to enter in at the ſtrait Gait; for many, I ſay unto you, ſhall ſeek to enter in, and not be able. Heb. 3.19. and 4.1. So we ſee that they could not enter in, becauſe of Unbelief. Therefore let us fear, leſt a Promiſe being left us of entring into his Reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it. Prov. 28.14. Happy is the Man that feareth always. Heb. 12.15. Looking diligently, leſt any Man fail of the Grace of God. 2 Pet. 3.10, 14. But the Day of the Lord will come, as a Thief in the Night Wherefore be diligent, that ye may be found of him in Peace. And ver. 11. What Manner of Perſons ought ye to be, in all holy Converſation and Godlineſs? Be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might. Put on the whole Armour of God: Praying always, with all Prayer,—and watching thereunto with all Perſeverance, Eph. 6.10, 11, 18. Fight the good Fight of Faith: Lay hold on eternal Life: So run that ye may obtain, 1 Tim. 6.12. 1 Cor. 9.24.

Theſe are hard Leſſons! But if we be ſteadfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord; we know that our Labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall be glorified together. He that overcomes, ſhall ſit down with Chriſt, on his Throne; as he alſo overcame, and is ſet down with his Father, on his Throne. Suppoſe the worſt, that it ſhould come to Burning at the Stake; that's better than burning for ever in Hell. Should the World that hates us, gnaſh on us with their Teeth, and ſtone us to Death; this is not half ſo bad as what is expreſſed in our Text, There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth, when ye ſhall ſee Abraham, &c. in the Kingdom of God, and you your ſelves thruſt out.

7. Shall the Damned in Hell have ſuch Apprehenſions of the Saints Happineſs in Heaven, as will dreadſully aggravate their own eternal Miſery? No doubt then but glorified Saints ſhall find their everlaſting Joys proportionably heightned, while they conſider the Sorrows of the Tormented. Not that they ſhall rejoyce in that Miſery of their Fellow-Creatures which themſelves have deſerved as well and as much, and many of them more than moſt of the Damned: But this ſhall be their Rejoycing, that they are delivered from ſo great a Death as the ſecond Death is, Rev. 21.8. compar'd with I Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. But the Fearful, and Unbelieving, and the Abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Liars, ſhall have their Part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone; which is the ſecond Death. Know ye not that the Unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: Neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inherit the Kingdom of God: And ſuch were ſome of you; but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God. And ſhall we not for ever remember, when we come to the Region of Light and Bliſs, how far we ran in Sin; how long we played on the Brink of Heil; and how loth we were at laſt to be ſaved in GOD's Way? Though he had ſent his Son to endure his burning Wrath for us; and did ſend his Spirit to pluck us as Brands out of the Fire; while Multitudes were left to periſh for lack of Viſion: and moſt, who had the Light, were left, in their Blindneſs, to love Darkneſs rather than Light; and are therefore juſtly condemned to Blackneſs of Darkneſs for ever; becauſe they hated the Light of Truth and Grace, they ſhall never ſee the Light of Glory; unleſs with ſuch Apprehenſions, Flaſhing in their Minds, as make Hell the darker and hotter.

So, on the other Hand, (as we are arguing) the black Night of eternal Death makes the perfect Day to ſhine the brighter. The Howling of the Dogs which are without, (Rev. 22.15) makes the Hallelujahs of Saints, the Songs of Ston to be the more Joyful & Melodious. If there were no Hell; or none but Devils in it; or but few of the Children of Men, and thoſe only ſuch as had been the leaſt of Mortals, or greateſt of Sinners; Heaven would be the leſs Glorious; and its high Arches would not have rung ſo loud and ſweetly of SALVATION! SALVATION! Rev. 7.10 & 19.1. Neither would there have been room for that new Song, Rev. 5.9. At leaſt the Tune of it muſt have been ſet lower; And they ſong a new Song, ſaying, Thou art worthy, — for thou waſt ſlain; and baſt redeemed us to GOD, by the Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation. And they ſhall rejoyce alſo, unconceivably, and be glad with exceeding Joy, in the Triumphs of divine Juſtice, when they ſhall ſee the Vengeance, Pſal 58.9, 10. Themſelves are by a Miracle of Grace wonderfully delivered, which will be freſh and new to Eternity; becauſe the Smoke of Hell's Torment will aſcend (as it were in their Sight) for ever and ever: And GOD's Power, Juſtice and Truth are glorified to the Height; and therefore they rejoyce; Rev. 18.20 and 19 1, 2 — Rejoyce over her, thou Heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets; for GOD hath avengedy a on her. After theſe Things I heard a great Voice of much People in Heaven, ſaying, Alleluia; Salvation, and Honour, and Glory, and Power to the LORD our GOD: For true and righteous are his Judgments. And again they ſaid Halleluia; and her Smoke roſe up for ever and ever. And a Voice came out of the Throne, ſaying, Praiſe our GOD, all ye his Servants, and ye that fear him, both Small and Great: Let us be glad and rejoyce, and give Honour to him.