of Christian life we are taught every day continually to remēber this our latter end All dueties both of doing good through faith hope and love or of suffering evill for doing good through patience are so many memorials thereof The end of faith is the salvation of our soules which it beleeveth 1. Pet. 1.9 the object of hope is life eternall which it embraceth Tit. 1.2 3.7 2.13 the comfort of love is translation from death unto life whereof it assureth us 1. Ioh. 3.14.18.19 the reward of patience is rest in the kingdome of heaven and an eternall weight of glory which it looketh for Matth. 5 10-12 2. Cor. 4.17 And thus the comfort of this blessed end is ever carried in the eye of faith in the armes of hope in the bosome of love borne as it were upon the shoulders of patience And as all that is done by mē being well considered should bring this latter end to their remembrāce so all the works of speciall grace that are wrought by God for his children before this world in this world or after this world if we looke upō them with a right eye they doe every one carry in them a remembrance of this glorious end provoke us to thinke thereof We cannot be assured of our election but we see it as a booke of life wherein we reade our happy end Phil. 4.3 and behold the kingdome prepared for us before the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 We cannot rightly thinke of our calling unles we behold that marvellous light glory where unto we are called 1. Pet. 2.9 5.10 2. Pet. 1.3 We doe not conceive sufficiently the cōfort of our justificatiō by faith ūles eye on this end and for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and finished his course the work committed unto him Heb. 12.2 Oh let us not breake the band that drew on Christ himselfe Oh forgive us Lord that we have bene so profane carnall to forget this end so often from henceforth keep it in our mindes fix it in our memories that it never slip away CHAP. VI. The latter end of the faithfull compared vvith the primitive estate of the old vvorld Of the communion which man had with God being created after his likenesse a The image of God in the soule though perfectly beautifull excellent b yet inferiour to the image of Christ in the faithfull the perfection perpetuity thereof in the world to come c The body at first though naked yet without shame pain erect upright in all the senses fitted for communion with God d but hereafter endued with more noble heavenly qualities spirituall transparent light agile ever vigilant in feeing communicating with God e The dominion over the creatures given at first illustrated by the remnants thereof yet apparent f not to be compared with that which shall be in regard of heaven earth all that is therein Of their mutuall fellowship with one another g Marriage the first band of society ground of all other to that end instituted honoured of God for their mutual comfort h yet nothing like the glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels in heaven i What blessed communion Adam Evah might have had with their posterity living to this day if neither had sinned k In a right line descendent viewing the long race of their progeny with great joy to themselves l and no lesse happines to their childrē who though living at greatest distance might then with ease abundance of comfort have visited them and communicated with them m In the collaterall line extended on each side to brethren sisters all rejoycing in one another in their loving easy pleasant visitations n Yet all this comes short of the heavenly communion in the world to come the love of Christ the manifold rivolets of sweet fellowship the free glorious motions in the kingdome of heaven THat we may the better comprehend that happy communion wherewith the latter end of the faythfull shall be glorifyed let us somewhile leave our speech of the world to come as also of this present world and let us looke back into the world that is gone past let us behold the glory that is lost that by the greatnes thereof first considered in it selfe then compared with this to come the glory hereof may more evidently appeare That we may the better observe the difference we are to set ourselves as it were in a middle gate betwixt two worlds the old and the new where we may have an open and free prospect into them both and from thence we are to cast a look first into the old world then into the new with one eye to behold the first paradise in Eden and with another the second paradise in the third heavens with one look to view the first Adam his gifts his children and with an other look to behold the second Adam Christ Iesus his gifts his children and so to compare the glory of their estates together In such a middle gate or tower of prospect into these two worlds the Prophets Apostles did often set themselves when they compared them together as appeareth in those texts Old things are past away behold all things are become new 2. Cor. 5.17 Behold I create new heavens a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my minde Esa 65.17 The first man Adam vvas made a living soule the last Adam vvas made a quickening spirit 1. Cor. 15.45 so v. 49. c. a The glory of the old world in the primitive estate thereof consisted also in a blessed fellowship with God and fellowship with men This blessed fellowship of God with man appeared first in that he communicated his image and similitude with man the beauty of which image shined especially in that wisedome holines righteousnes which God imprinted in the soule Gen. 1.26.27 with Eph. 4.24 Coll. 3.10 Eccl. 7.29 By that wisedome he knew God saw his glory by that holines he did cleave unto him embrace him with love reverence confidence and so in both communicated with God At the bestowing of this image each Person in the holy Trinity did work together each gave precious excellent gifts unto man for the beautifying of his soule with variety of graces such as might make him a lovely creature in whom the Lord himselfe might take delight Rev. 4.10.11 with Ioh. 1.3 Coll. 1.16 Iob 33.4 and therefore is the Trinity described consulting about this work Let us make man in our image after our likenes all are noted with the title of creatours or makers Eccl. 12.1 boreêcha Iob. 35.10 ghnosai As upon the losse of this image when Adam begate a sonne in his owne likenes Gen. 5.3 all hatefull ugly deformity of sin succeeded every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 6.5 so
the moth Iob 4.19 even their beauty consumes away like the moth Psa 39.11 the moth of consumptiō eates them up Esa 50.9 51.8 Hos 5.12 As the Lord rides upō the Cherubims flyes abroad upō the wings of the winde so upon the wings of the moth used for his service made his Embassadour to deliver unto man a message of his mortality that he might remember his end l Thus doe all kinde of creatures made for man serve to warne him of his vanity And it is not simply the mere volubility of the heavens instability of the earth that give us this warning but this whole globe of heaven earth is created givē unto us of God for a Watch or Clock whereby we might learne to number our times our passing away in them The severall lights of the firmament are ordained of God for signes for seasons for dayes for yeares Gen. 1.14 The Sunne by his height motion doth plainely declare the time of the day being looked on to that end by the variation of his shadow in the degrees of the diall as in that of Ahaz Esa 38.8 doth more exactly distinguish determine the houres unto us Yea the window in every mans house stāding against the Sunne serves for a diall to shew the houre of the day more or lesse and to them that are abroad in the streets or field in the sunne-shine evē the shadow of their owne persons the stature of their owne body serving for the gnomon of a diall doth shew the difference of houres according to the variety of the shadow stretched out declining in divers degrees Ier. 6.4 Men that have bene a while intent unto their work eftsoones looke up see the declining of the shadow the sight of this declination is as the sound of a voyce unto them saying The Time passeth The end draweth on Man walketh in a shadow sleeth away as a shadow Iob 14.2 Psa 109.23 and so giveth him occasion to try himselfe his wayes what good he hath bene doing that while And as plainely doe the starres also by sundry wayes declare the houre of the night unto us and teach us the same lessons Neither doe the lights of heaven declare unto us the houres of the day night onely in regard of their diurnall motions but the planets by an other oblique motion entring into the signes of the Zodiak successively finishing that course some in a moneth some in a yeare of the superiour planets the highest in thirty yeares the next in twelve the next in two yeares do hereby very plainly distinguish both the moneths of the yeare the yeares of longer periods of time for which we have no proper names As the Greeks of old had their Olympiads with other reckonings and as the Prophets described their stories not onely from the raigne of their Kings after one reckoning but from many different poynts termes of time in respect of Gods judgments or mercies or mens defection or repentance Exod. 12.41.1 Kin. 6.1 Ier. 25.1 Ezek. 1.1 4.5 Amos. 1.1 Hag. 2.18.19 so the Lord in his unsearchable wisedome hath given unto us many heavenly dialles instruments of numbring our dayes all of them witnesses how our time passeth and God calleth us by so many that if one or two signes would not prevaile with us yet more might Exo. 4.9 one comming into our sight after another teaching us to examine our selves our estate both for shorter longer times to be prepared for the worke of God as the Angels for an houre a day a yeare Rev. 9.15 But that which is yet more wonderfull these coelestial bodies doe not onely declare signe out the times unto us but they alter change the times make the seasons to differ one from another As the cartwheeles on the earth where they goe leave a track or furrow behinde thē so the wheeles of these planets stars in their conversions make a deep impression upon the earth according to the diversity of their motions and some of them bring the spring some the summer some autumne some duely draw on winter as with bands cords Iob. 38.31.32 9.9 This their operation is manifested in great variety in such manner that thereby they produce many new reall dialles upon the earth And from hence in divers flowers we have a plaine distinction of the houres in the day while some still turne their face unto the Sunne from the rising to the setting as Heliotropium or Turnsol some declare the approch of the evening by shutting their flowers before as the Daysies Marigold Dandelion others some are so strangely affected that they shew it to be high noone by closing up themselves just at that time as we see dayly in the flower that is called Goates-beard or the starre of Ierusalem Others againe distinguish the moneths of the yeare some springing flourishing in one moneth some in others successively in order as we see in the Primerose Violet Rose Gilloflower others which follow even unto the winter moneths Thus the plāts of the earth together with the planets of heaven become monitors of the time passing away Neither is this to be observed in the plants onely but in the sensitive creatures also the fowles fishes fourefooted beasts the birds shew us the time of the day some sing at a certaine houre of the night before day Mar 13.35 some little birds at the day-break Eccl. 12.4 some at noone some nightbirds in the evening They distinguish also the times of the yeare sometimes revived sometimes drooping and decaying againe in great variety They know the times of their comming and going some in one moneth and some in another as the Stork the Turtle the Crane and the Swallow Iere. 8.7 and the fishes likewise have their appointed seasons as is dayly observed by the fishmongers All these shall rise up in judgement against them that know not the acceptable time nor learn to redeeme it though the Lord call them so many wayes and shew them the time passing by so many devises CHAP. III. Monitors of Death in about a mans ovvne selfe His Breath a Pulse b Dayly food the necessity preparation of it in the earth c by the death of the creatures d Apparell the originall matter necessity of it e Labour in generall sundry vocations in particular f Sleep a lively image of death g Sinne the cause of death feared of some desired of others h Extreme dangers threatning death i Age the changes thereof manifested by the face stature k Old age described by the decay of strength l of sense m and of health HItherto we have heard the call of God sounded out unto us in and by other creatures by heaven and earth and the things therein that were made for man now we are to consider how God comes neerer unto man and from the
arts of hunting in divers kindes It is strange to heare see how the waterfoules in Freeseland Waterland and elswhere are taught to entise other wild foules bring them into the snare and then to give a watchword unto their master to sease upon them If thus farre they be subdued unto man evē after the fall what is that service which they should have performed before the fall when both man should have had more understanding to teach governe them they a more inclinable tractable disposition to have obeyed As Iehosaphat witnessed his fellowship with the kings of Israel when he professed My people are as thy people and my horses as thy horses 1. Kings 22.4 2. Kings 3.7 so hath the Lord hereby declared his communion with man by making his creatures our servants his horses our horses c. It cannot be conceived or knowne of us how great pleasure delight man should have had in this dignity communicated unto him of God The earth it selfe all the increase thereof was also subjected unto man Gen. 1.28 paradise all the pleasant fruits thereof Gen. 2.8.16 whereas otherwise every one might have bene as dangerous pernicious to be eaten tasted of as was the forbidden fruit the greene grasse diversifyed with sweet flowers of sundry colours shapes was spread as a pleasant carpet for man to tread upon and by a speciall providence the ground was greene a colour wholesomest for the eye-sight of man the firmament above beautifyed with so many spangles of shining starres was spread out as a canopie over the head of man where ever he goes Esa 40.22 more glorious then those carried over the heads of Popes or Emperours Even those heavenly bodies are communicated and distributed unto man for his benefit comfort Deu. 4.19 f And yet notwithstanding all this if we cast our eye into the world to come the glory thereof will be found far to surmount all this That which is now above our heads shall then be found to be under our feet The visible heavens that now are are not thought good enough nor pleasant enough for the elect but they shall passe away with a noise 2. Pet. 3.10 into singing Esa 44.23 the sea shall roare the floods clap their hands the field shall be joyfull all that is therein Psal 96.11.12 98.7.8 And yet all this is not enough if every twigge of all the trees in the world were a flute or sapwhistle if every stalk of corne in the field or reed by the waters side were all pipes blowne by the winde yet all would be too little to resound this incomprehensible glory And in the meane time untill this glory be revealed untill the sons of God be manifested they wait hold up their heads in exspectation they groane travell in paine longing for this blessed end Rom. 8.19.22 and so doe they that have the first fruits of the Spirit groane sigh within themselves waiting for the adoption the redemption of their bodies vers 23. This is the desired end which God calles us so oft to remember how can men thinke of it without desiring it how can they desire it aright without praying for it how can men thinke they pray aright for it unlesse they prepare themselves thereunto by denying the world What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation godlines whiles we looke for this end with what care diligence should we labour to be found of him in peace without spot blamelesse 2. Pet. 3.11.14 g BEsides the fellowship with God in the old world if we againe looke back into it we may behold an other happines of men in their mutuall fellowship one with another The first conjugation of humane society was that of mā wife by marriage this was the originall ground of all other societies from hence sprung the names estates of father mother with their sonnes and daughters out of this society in family sprung all the societies in Church common-wealth When God could have made men of new clods of the earth so as Adam was made at first Gen. 2.7 and so have multiplyed them abundantly according to the abundance of spirit that was in him Mal. 2.15 yet he thought it good to create not onely one woman for one man which he might have done in many couples of them but also to make onely one couple of them and from them to draw all the lines of consanguinity affinity which should be so many bandes of love to unite binde all mankinde new Cast we our eye that way againe behold how in the resurrection they neither marry nor give in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven Matt. 22.30 All the comforts of marriage shall be as it were swallowed up overwhelmed of that heavenly glory vanish away in the sight of it There shall be more glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels then is the matrimoniall covenant sweeter knots of loving fellowship faster then the knot of marriage the bond of the Spirit uniting hearts mindes in one more then all the cords of consanguinity or affinity All the faithfull soules shall be presented unto Christ as pure virgines 2. Cor 11.2 they are shall be ever his loves his doves his undefiled Cant. 5.2 and he shall be their bridegroome Matt. 25.1 fayrer then the children of men Psal 45.2 white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand wholly delectable lovely Cant. 5.10 c. far above the first Adam The heavenly paradise shall be an eternall wedding-chamber and all the Angels of God shall rejoyce for them to whom such honour is vouchsafed Luke 15.10 What remaineth to be done of us untill we come to that immortall undefiled inheritance but that we aspire unto it dayly that we have this end before us as the loadstarre of our comfort direction that we be carried forward amaine toward this price of our heavenly calling one would thinke this should be a spurre sharp enough to make us runne the race of godlines set before us while we have such glory propounded the call of our Bridegroome inciting us i From Adam Evah come we to their children looke into the old world againe Had not sinne come into the world by the transgression of Adam had he his posterity continued untill this time in their uprightnes in the image of God wherein they were created what a glorious blessed communion should man have then enjoyed even upon the earth If sinne had bene kept out of the world then had not death entred Rom. 5.12 with Gen. 2.17 3.17.19 then might Adam Evah have bene alive to this day seene their childrens children not unto the third fourth but to the thirtieth fourtieth or hundredth generation all of them faire without blemish either of soule or body without any had thirty renowned sonnes that rode
ourselves with zeale of the Lord to drive away that lukewarmnes of our soules that is so abhominable in the sight of God Rev. 3.16 The Apostle teacheth us to make this use of the aforesaid considerations for the change of our conversatiō unto all holines godly life 2. Pet. 3.11 And from hence may we learne patience in suffering as well as obedience in doing the will of God as the Spirit teacheth us if the Lord be at hand if the end of all things be at hand such an end why should not our patient minde our moderation and sobriety be made knowne unto all upon all occasions Phil. 4.5 1. Pet. 4.7 Though injuries be done vnto us great dayly in extraordinary manner both unchristian inhumane dealing yet seing the comming of the Lord draweth nigh the Iudge is at the doore at the threshold and entrance of our house and there is but a step betwixt us him but an inch of time betwixt our sufferings and his judgement therefore he requireth of us that we be patient establish our hearts in him Iam. 5.8.9 Have we other losses troubles in the world whether we winne or loose it skilles not much whether we purchase buy with increase of gaine or whether we sell for necessity whether we be rich or poore it is no great matter seing the earth all the works thereof are in a moment to be burnt up 2. Pet. 3.10 seing the end hasteneth the world passeth away let not the buyer rejoyce nor the seller mourne Ezek. 7.12 All the happines of man stands in being delivered from this everlasting fire kindled by the fierce wrath of God against sinne We have enough may well be content while we have our soule saved as a prey from this great destruction f If yet we be dull of hearing cannot see the dreadfulnes of this death in the causes thereof the sinne of man deserving it the wrath of God inflicting it if yet we desire a plainer evidence thereof let us then looke upon the effects thereof consider how the smart of this second death shall make the children of hell to crye waile take up eternall lamentations without any measure or end By the effects of sorrow Ieremy thus describeth the affliction of Ierusalē in her captivity that of a princesse being become a desolate widow she did weep sore in the night that her teares were on her cheekes that they rā downe as a river night day the apple of her eye never ceassing that her elders her infāts young men virgines did mourne together that the priests prophets did sigh their eyes being dimmed fayling with teares their bowels troubled their liver powred thus roare faint in themselves under this burden of sorrow how can any men or Giants that are but flesh undergoe the same When the Lord shall pleade against the proud covetous cause his wrath to smoake against hypocrites dissemblers against profane men drunkards adulterers malicious men how can their heart endure or their hands be strong Ezek. 22.14 Though they were as stout as the devils they shall be crushed broken together with them Now many skorners make a mock of religion now the epicures make a sport of sinne now the obstinate persons despise admonition hate to be reformed they set their faces as Adamants in their obstinacy But though their bones were brasse their strength of stones their heart as hard as the nether milstone yet shall they be ground to peeces with this wrath of God that grindes the very Devils to powder makes them to howle yell before him Above all other the most terrible effect of Gods wrath was that which was shewed upon Christ Iesus the Lord of men angels when as he being become our surety bearing our sins did groane under the burden when he cryed out with strong cryes teares Heb. 5.7 when in the trouble of his soule with great astonishment feare he sayd What shall I say Ioh. 12.27 as if he had felt a sorrow not to be uttered when in the sense of Gods anger due unto us he not onely cryed day night but even with words of roaring Psa 22.1.2 finally uttered the most sorrowfull voyce that ever sounded in the world My God My God vvhy hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 If all the dolefull complaints lamentations of all miserable men were layd together upon the ballance they would be found lighter then this complaint of Christ because the iniquities of us all were layd together upon him Esa 53.6 he bore the curse of them Gal. 3.13 If we could see into the bowels of Hell or could lay our eare to any low vault to heare the howling of the spirits in that prison yet no wofull voyce ought to moove us so much as these cryes of our Saviour in his agony No weeping gnashing of teeth by those reprobates can so expresse the power fiercenes of Gods wrath as this weeping and sorrowfull teares of the in the second commandement the Lord threatens such a change that they shall be most ashamed of that which they adored shall cast their Idoles to the Moles to the Bats Esa 2.20 creatures that love darknes the one for place living under the earth the other for time comming abroad in the night The Idolaters shall wish their idoles were hidden in utter darknes for ever But as Moses once despited the Idolaters by burning their Idoll grinding it to powder strowing it on the waters making them drinke thereof to their further shame Exod. 32.20 so shall the Lord force the Idolaters by remorsefull remembrance evermore to drinke the powder of their images of their owne inventions The Lord through a secret antipathy of nature doth sometimes worke such a strange terrour in some men as experience shewes that at the sight of some creatures or dishes of meat set before them on the table though the creatures be good in themselves lawfull for use to other men comfortable yet these men quake tremble sit astonished with gastly countenances full of perplexity anguish gaping sweating at the sight their haire standing upright on their head their spirits appalled not able to speake a word nor to stirre out of their place but like men confounded remaine bound in the chaines of amazement as terribly affrighted as was Belshazzar when he saw the palme of a hand writing his destruction upon the wall Dan. 5.5.6 And hereby we may conceive the power of Gods wrath for the torment of idolaters by representing unto their mindes those unlawfull images which they worshipped to their eternall affright and horrour The Lord knoweth how to engrave all the sinnes of men with the point of a diamond upon the table of their heart for their vexation woe and so in speciall to pourtray their images idoles upon the broad plate
Lord that whether we live or die we may be the Lords Rom. 14.7.8.9 This murder of a mās self is a grievous sin of which are guilty not onely such as lay violent hands on themselves but even those also that rashly expose themselves to unnecessary dangers combatants rash adventurers such as without a calling or any necessity goe to infectious places which are as the shadow of death As souldiers set to keep watch may not leave their station till the time appointed of their Captaine no more may we offer to depart hence untill we be dismissed or called away of our Commander Every man is bound to preserve life so long as by good meanes he can doe it or els he breakes the sixth cōmandemēt In like manner doe many offend by impatience vaine wishes of death Ion. 4.3.8.9 whether they doe it without sense having obdurate and feared cōsciences or with extremity of sēse without faith as in thoughts of despaire b Secondly this poynt of doctrine touching the feare of death is wisely to be considered in respect of many weake and infirme persons which have true faith hope love and yet are not so ready to selves feeling some present unpreparednes for the recovery of their strength that they may in better manner be fitted to appeare before God Psa 39.13 As a faithfull loving wife having had her husband long absent in a farre countrey or a spouse her bridegroome though she cannot but long for his returne yet if it should so fall out that about the time of his returne she should have the yellow jaundies or some greevous sore and deformity in the face would wish that her bridegroome might stay a week or two lōger till her sores were healed her strength recovered or as a Nobleman that unfainedly desires that his Prince should come to his house may yet in respect of some want of reparations in his house desire and wish in his heart that the Kings comming might be deferred a while till his house were repaired even so the spouse of Christ and his faythfull servants though they love him dearely desire nothing so much as to enjoy his presence to the full may yet sometimes wish that his comming might be prolonged for some space of time till they be in better plight to entertaine him Secondly they may be loth to depart this life in respect of others for their benefit insomuch that though for their owne part they have an unfained desire to be dissolved yet for the good of others they are content desirous to live as a parent for his childrens education a Prince for the reformation a Minister for the instruction of the people in dangerous times Thus it was with Hezekiah Esa 38.18.19 Paul Phill. 1 21-24 d And yet even in all these distresses when death approcheth God calles mē away there is comfort against every want Christ makes supply of all if there be any blemish sore or deformity he is such a bridegroome as suddenly heales all and presents us to himself without spot or wrinckle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 He is the father of the fatherlesse the great Shepheard of the sheep Heb. 13.20 he will gather feed defend his flock he hath abundance of spirit whereby to fulfill all his good pleasure he is all in all Hezekias had great desire to live to see his children to teach them and yet behold when God had prolonged his life added unto his dayes fifteen yeares presently he offēds heares a woeful threatning of judgmēt Esa 39.6.7 Yea Manasses his sonne whom he got three yeares after his recovery and who entred into the kingdome when he was twelve yeares old Hezekias his fifteē yeares being expired became a most abominable Idolater murderer witch c. 2. Kin. 21.1.2 c. Had Hezekias knowne so much whē he desird to live lōger to teach his children it is not likely that he would have bene so desirous of life Therefore if God call us away we must be content to depart whatsoever inconveniences be in the way consider how great a fault sin it is to be unwilling to goe at his call e To this end it will be profitable to think often of the greatest hindrances and encumbrances in death yea to consider of them as if we were now upon our death-bed lay presently a dying gasping for breath that we may learne to arme ourselves against all lets difficulties that make men unwilling to leave this world For example Obj. I. Some are happily loth to leave the world because of their friends kinred children acquaintance c. whose company they still desire to enjoy Ans For one friend whom we leave here we finde a thousand in heaven For I. Of men in this world we see but one as it were our owne generation and of this generation not the thousandth person we never saw all the countries of the world scarce heard of them much lesse their cities townes particular persons II. Of those we have seen we know not one city much lesse are we acquainted with all the inhabitants there are many from whom we receive no love nor any fruits of love yea some that proove our enimies from whom much evill is received III. For that small number of those that are our true friends indeed how weake are they in comparison not so amiable in soule or body by an hundred degrees as those to whom we goe IV. If men on earth were as gracious vertuous unblameable as in heaven yet in this earthly condition our communion with them is most imperfect defective lame in respect of present necessities layd upon us as 1. Our drossy nature whereby we are like snailes cannot travell about the world in such swift and glorious motions as in heaven 2. Our many trades and vocations binding men like prisoners to sit the whole week at their work confining them to their severall imployments The world is like a Rasp-house or Bridewell where by the rod of necessity men are made to work the twigs or cords of this whip are hunger thirst cold nakednes the smart and shame of these doth scourge force men to labour thus it is with men here in respect of heavē where there is no hindrance from continuall making of acquaintance 3. Our wearines sleepy nature making us spend our nights in the shadow of death as dead men whereas in heaven there is no night no shadow of the earth which reacheth little further thē the sphere of the Moone and therefore is farre from causing any darknes in the third heavēs in the paradise of God What darknes or night can approch thither where al the righteous shine as the Sun for ever Matt. 13.43 4. The weaknes of our senses bodily communion whereas here two soules sitting together cānot impart their mindes to one another without the outward organs instruments of sense there the spirits
what madnes is it to forsake that greene bed for any bed of pleasure in the world By this communion the Lord embraceth his elect with both armes of his love putteth them in his bosome Sol. song 2.6 8.3 and in this divine embracement there is felt more happines heavenly joy then all the love fruits of love or whatsoever went under the name of the tēdrest and strōgest affection in this world could ever yeeld unto the heart of man For if the first fruits of spirituall joy now at this present in the middes of tribulation be an hundred fold more then all the pleasure of houses lands fathers mothers wife children the most desirable things of this world Mark 10.29.30 then how can it be but more then an hundred thousand fold pleasure to enjoy the beauty face of God in heavē to inherit the fulnes of joy in his presence pleasures for evermore at his right hand If the infinite blessednes of the glorious persons in the holy Trinity doth appeare in their mutuall union so that they were an allsufficient eternall delight unto themselves in enjoying one an other continually before the world was before men or angels were made Prov. 8.30 then may we well think how our vessels shall be filled and overflow with heavenly comfort 1. Ioh. 1.4 when we come to drinke of that divine fountaine and enter into our Masters able to bring to passe And therefore as in the transfiguration of Christ his face did shine as the Sunne Matt. 17.2 even so shall the righteous shine forth as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father Matt. 13.43 As the raiment of Christ through the brightnes of his body did shine as the transparent light Matt. 17.2 was exceeding white as snow Mark 9.3 and withall white glistering Luk. 9.29 so the whole person of the elect made whiter then snow in their transfiguration shall shine glister sparkle with a radiant beauty heavenly brightnes yea then shall the Moone be abashed the Sunne ashamed before the Lord his ancients when the Lord shall reigne in Zion Esa 24.23 when he shall be glorifyed in the Saints and made marvellous in all them that beleeve 2. Thes 1.10 If the face of Moses while he was yet clothed with corruption when he had seene but the back parts of the Lord and that but for a moment in one vision did yet shine so gloriously that men fled away amazed from him durst not behold the brightnes of his countenance Exo. 34.30 with c. 33.23 what then shall be the glory of the faithfull when being clothed with immortality they shall see God face to face and that in a perpetuall vision for evermore d From this transfiguration of the Saints made so glorious by the sight of God fellowship with him ariseth the glory of their fellowship one with another which is also an unspeakable felicity of the second life to enjoy all the beauty all the love of all the glorified soules bodies in heaven As Ionathan seing the grace of God in David his worthines was knit unto him loved him as his owne soule 1. Sam. 18.1 so here the Saints beholding the glory of God revealed in each other shall be linked together in the neerest bonds of intire affection They that first give themselves to God doe then give themselves unto one an other by the will of God 2. Cor. 8.5 They are all one in Christ Iesus Gal. 3.28 There is one body one spirit Eph. 4.4 all are gathered together in one under one head whether things in heaven or in earth men Angels whether they be thrones or principalities or powers Eph. 1.10.22 All things are the Saints whether it be Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present of her and embraced in her armes for ever The loving society of godly men even in their present weaknes is magnifyed as a good pleasant thing as a precious oyntment as the dew of Hermon Zion Psal 133.1.2.3 how good pleasant then is the heavenly conversation and cohabitation of the Saints even as the dew of Paradise where God hath appointed the blessing for ever to make those beauteous blossomes therein to flourish eternally As oyntment perfume rejoyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by hearty counsell Prov. 27.9 and what then is the sweetnes and joy of that communion where every heart is a severall closet replenished with al store variety of divine oyntments perfumes for the mutuall delight of the Saints The consolation of Christ is there most perfect the comfort of love fellowship of the spirit are compleate full and so the joy of every one is fulfilled in being like minded having the same love being of one accord of one judgment Phil. 2. 1.2 there is no crying nor complayning Rev. 21.4 no curse no angry word no countenance of dislike or disdaine no evill no occasion of evill no appearance of evill no suspicion of evill no want of good in themselves no envy of good in others but every mans joy doubled for anothers salvation and glorifyed in anothers glory The principall delight is that God is found in them all each being the temple of God and his love the fire burning upon the altar of every heart in each of them there is a vision of God an image of his glory he is seene in each shines in them and so at every turne they meet with God who is all in all in every one of them 1. Cor. 15.28 And they never powre out their hearts to one another but withall they powre out prayse unto God with streames of pleasure to themselves And how infinitely manifold are their pleasures where there are so many spirits of just perfect men Heb. 12.22.23 so many millions of Angels thousand thousands ten thousand times ten thousand standing before the Lord Dan. 7.10 Rev. 5.11 If Peter thought it so good to be there where but two of the Saints Moses Elias appeared in glory with Christ Luk. 9 30-33 how good is it to be there where all appeare together in glory with Christ where the glory of every one shall appeare more clearely and be better discerned where every one shall be the precious jewell and treasure of another O who are they which remembring this end will not be content to make an end of their sinfull courses to enjoy this communion How unworthy a thing is it that the thoughts of vanity should thrust out of our mindes these pleasant remembrances of our latter end and the comforts therein If I forget thee O Ierusalem let my right hand forget it selfe if I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I prefer not Ierusalem above my chiefe joy Psalm 137.5.6 e It is further to be considered that in all the maine parts acts
had he reteyned the image of God every imagination of the thoughts of his heart should have bene onely good and gracious continually without any inclination to evill or the least looking awry to any thing that might have bene displeasant in the sight of God And this image of God had bene such a beauty as the eye of man never saw in this corrupt world such a perfect beauty such a symmetry harmony of grace as that Gods owne judicious eye should have found no fault or dislike in it b And yet even this perfect beauty given at the first creation was farre inferiour and not to be compared with the glory of the world to come even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of that which excelleth 2. Cor. 3.10 The first man is of the earth earthly though made perfect yet in a lower degree of perfection the second man is the Lord from heaven As is the earthly such are they that be earthly and as is the heavenly such are they that be heavenly As we have borne the image of the earthly we shall also beare the image of the heavenly 1. Cor. 15.47.48.49 and shall be made conforme to the image of the Sonne of God Rom. 8.29 and that pleasant image of Christ is the highest degree of perfection the sweetest mirrour of beauty in heaven or earth stayning the glory of the former image The innocency of Adam was a white robe a glorious ornament unto him but the righteousnes of God in Christ is a white robe more pure precious of a finer threed of a brighter white of a more divine fashion to adorne the soule and by that righteousnes put on the Lord himselfe becomes a diademe of beauty unto his people Esa 28.5 62.3 Kings use to give gifts according to the state of kings great royall Esth 2.18 and so did the heavenly King at the first creation but the have bene no distemperature of the ayre as is felt now adayes no afflicting stormes or tempests no excesse of cold or heat but that the naked body unclothed without any paine or trouble might well have endured the same Now both the shame paine of nakednes is very great Esa 20.4 2. Sam. 10.4.5 Reu. 3.18 16.15 1. Cor. 4.11 2. Cor. 11.27 and such that men strive to cover the whole body so farre as necessity will permit the hands face being therefore excepted the face left uncovered lest the eyes should be blindfold the breath stopt the hands lest the manifold works of man in his divers callings should be hindered and yet even they also so muffled sometimes with maskes muffes mittens that with great cumber trouble they are often in the day covered uncovered covered againe to avoyd the injury of the weather A great freedome it was to have bene without care what to put on when as they needed no such exhortations as are since given to us thereabout Matth. 6.25.31 Againe the speciall forme of mans body erect upright with his face upward whereas other creatures are made with their heads hanging downward with their faces prone to the earth doth shew that man is called to fellowship with the Lord dwelling on high As the Lord when he still exhorts us to lift up our eyes looke up toward God doth in that phrase call us to communion with him to trust in him to love him to aspire unto him Psal 123.2 Esa 17.7 45.22 so when he made Adam in such a forme with his head and eyes lift up even in that manner of work the Lord called him to looke to his Creatour and to embrace him the author of all his good Besides this what are all the senses of the body but so many instruments of our communion with God or so many doores of the soule by which both the Lord enters in to shew himselfe and the soule goes out to behold him By them his praise is heard his glory is seene his goodnes gifts are tasted his sweetnes smelled yea groaped or handled of us Actes 17.27 By them both faith love feare of God is learned As by the senses of the body God communicated his goodnes with Adam so by the members of his body he was to communicate his heart with God to serve the Lord to render thanks unto him to glorify him at first could not without a change have inherited the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 15.50.51 His eyes had never seene nor could have seene that face of God which is in the light unapproachable 1. Tim. 6.16 with Exo. 33.20 If the eyes of holy men have fayled in waiting for the comforts and deliverances promised in this life Psa 119.82.123 how much more should our eyes wait our flesh long for that end where even in our flesh we shall see God so as Adam in paradise could not doe Iob. 19.26.27 Oh that the remembrance of this end were printed deeply in our hearts that it might ever be retained as the words that are written or plowed and the furrowes engraven with an yron pen filled with lead in stead of inke in the stony rocke in stead of paper all firme to endure so as Iob wished that his hope of this same glorious end might be recorded Iob. 19.23.24 c. e Looke we back againe into the old world behold how God further communicated his image with the whole person of man in that dominion lordship which he gave unto man over the earth all the creatures in it Gen. 1.28 Thereby Adam was crowned with honour and dignity set over the works of Gods hand all things being put under his feet sheepe oxen beasts of the field fowles of the aire fish of the sea Psal 8.5.6.7.8 God brought them all before Adam as it were to doe homage unto him as unto their king in signe of subjection to receive their names from him Gen. 2.19.20 Even after the fall since the rebellion of the creatures thereupon the service which they yet performe unto man is very great The oxe knowes his owner and the asse his masters crib Esa 1.3 The husbandman hath taught the strong horse to be obedient unto him to draw his plow his cart if he say goe he goeth if he say come he cometh at one word the horse goeth right forward at another he stands still and stirrs not at one word he turnes to the right hand at another he turnes to the left hand The silly sheepe are taught to know the voyce of their owne shepheard to follow him to distinguish betwixt his voyce the voyce of a stranger which they will not follow Iohn 10.3.4.5 Experience shewes how the doves are taught to carry letters for men The birds great small are tamed taught to come at the call of man evē the ravenous hawkes at the voyce and call of the faulconer The dogs are taught many
mines of coales in the veines of vitrioll of salt-peter of lime and divers other things whereby from under the earth is turned up as it were fire Iob. 28.5 and to shew a most wofull burning it is sayd The people shall be as the burnings of lime Esa 33.12 Above upon the face of the earth the Lord hath planted divers growing fires in sundry hote herbes some burning blistering the skinne outwardly by the very touch thereof as the nettle with some other kinde of thistles venomous thornes whose innumerable prickes shew the infinite power of God to curse the wicked some other herbs being taken inwardly as Hellebore Coloquintida or the wild gourd that brought death into the pot 2. Kin. 4.39.40 Euphorbium the like doe cast the body into miserable paine distresse burning exulcerating gnawing grating tearing the intrals tossing and tormenting the body with vomits purges with swooning fainting with violent convulsions fearfull symptomes In the sensitive creatures God hath kindled many kindes of living going fire walking to fro in the earth in the divers poysons of sundry serpēts some creeping under our feet some flying over our heads as in the hornet the snake adder aspe cockatrice those fiery flying serpents that sting burne men to the death Num. 21.6 Esa 14.29 To come neerer ourselves in the body of man God kindleth many strange fires in the sundry diseases thereof both by painefull inflammations of particular parts both outward inward especially by that universall fire of the burning fevers flaming out of the heart into the whole body Deut. 28.22 this in great variety some inflaming the spirits onely some the blood also some consuming the very substance of the solid parts also some burning with a simple excesse of heat others consisting in rotten corrupt humours doe burne the body more cruelly of these againe some burning continually night day without intermission as the fire in glasse houses the furnaces where yron is melted others by fitts comming at appoynted seasons after certain periods of time either every day or each second or third day like fire raked under ashes kindled againe upon occasion some others againe consisting of a malignant poysonous fire as in the pestilentiall fevers that burne more cruelly deadly then the rest these are like going or running fires through their contagion spreading abroad walking in darknesse destroying at noone flying as poysoned arrowes by their infection breaking out in boyles carbuncles like so many fiery furnaces or ovens comming up in the flesh Psa 91.3.6 Esa 38 21. And by these with their compounds the Lord kindleth a burning lake within the body maketh the veines which containe the inflamed blood humours to be like so many rivers of pitch brimstone and so causeth an unquenchable thirst an intollerable paine that followes it In the aire clouds above our heads God kindleth terrible fires by thūder lightnings divideth the flames shooteth abroad his fiery darts to consume his enimies Psa 18.12.13.14 Above the clouds in the firmament God kindleth another fire by the Sunne some other starres and smites the earth her inhabitants with the beames thereof so that they are scorched with heate faint in themselves Psal 121.6 with Rev. 7.16 16.8.9 Ion. 4.8 To goe higher into the third heavens God hath there also kindled many fires he maketh his Angels to be flames of fire Heb 1.7 to be horses charets of fire 2. Kin. 6.17 2.11 to be burning Seraphims Esa 6.2 expressed by the same name that is before given to the fiery serpents Numb 21.6 he maketh his Cherubims like coales of fire as the appearance of lampes as the flashes of lightning from them are scattered coales of fire over countries cities for their punishment Ezek. 1.13.14 with cha 10.2.7 e But above all these the Lord himselfe is a consuming fire Deut. 4.24 9.3 Heb. 12.29 an everlasting burning Esa 33.14 when he riseth up to judge the world to plead with secure sinners how can they stand before his angry face His throne is a fiery flame his wheeles as burning fire a fiery streame issueth commeth forth from before him consumeth round about Dan. 7.9.10 Psa 97.3 his face is burning Esa 30.27 his eyes flaming Rev. 1.14 his nostrils smoaking Psa 18.8 his tongue a devouring fire his breath an overflowing streame as a river of brimstone to kindle Tophet Esa 30.27.28.33 from his loynes upward from his loynes downeward all as the appearance of fire Ezek. 1.27 when he shall be revealed from heaven he is to come in flaming fire with his mighty angels round about him all of them like so many shining beames of his glory pointed with indignation sparkling with wrath against the sinners that are frozen in their dreggs 2. Thes 1.7.8 Iude. 14. And yet further to shew the greatnes of this wrath we are to remember that each person in the H. Trinity burneth with a distinct flame of wrath against the wicked The Lord from the Lord raines fire and brimstone Gen. 19.24 The Son comes in the glory of his Father Matt. 16.27 The holy Spirit is a spirit of judgment a spirit of burning Esa 4 4. as the Spirit mooved upon the waters in the beginning of the world Gen. 1.2 so shall it moove upon the fire of Gods judgments in the end of the world for the consuming of sinners All other fires in the creature are but sparkles lesse then nothing in respect of this infinite wrath of God This is the latter end of wicked men never to be forgotten When the Lord warned the Iewes of their destruction of their end that was comming it is wonderfull to consider how earnestly he cryes unto them how many repetitions he useth worthy to be numbred counted exactly of every one whiles he calles upō them An end an end is come the end is come An evill an onely evill behold it is come An end is come the end is come it vvatcheth for thee behold it is come The morning is come unto thee the time is come the day of trouble is neere not the eccho of the mountaines c. Behold the day behold it is come the morning is gone forth the rod hath blossomed pride hath budded c. The time is come the day dravveth neere c. Ezek. 7.2.3.5.6.7.10.12 Thus doth the Lord spread out his hands unto sinners to warne them of their end they are worthy to feele the smart of that eternall fire that neither by the terrour of his wrath propounded nor by the carefull love of God in admonishing thereof will be drawne to looke in this burning glasse to thinke upon this last end Were we wise we should run oftner to warme our soules with this fire by the meditation of it then we bring our bodies to any other fire to heate
of their consciences and to hang them as in a map before their eyes upon the wall of their memory for an everlasting confusion and torment unto them The name of God that is fearfull Deut. 28.58 shall in the end be fearfull to them that have taken it in vaine by swearing blaspheming or light usage of it Though in their desperate torment before all by their evill words actions the fruits of their envy And if the sight of so small good either outward or inward as is to be seene in this life doe yet stirre up such a painefull envy what then shall be the paine of that envy in the wicked when they shall behold the eternall glory good things enjoyed by others in heaven Looke how much the heavenly prosperity exceeds the earthly so much shall the paine of the hellish envy exceed al that ever hath bene on earth When the godly are exalted their enimies shall see it Rev. 11.12 the world shall know how God loves them Ioh. 17.23 the wicked shall see greeve gnash with their teeth pine away Psal 112.10 they shall be mad for the sight of their eyes Deut. 28.34 yea their eyes shall consume in their holes their tongue in their mouth Zac. 14.12 thē shall be weeping gnashing of teeth when they see others in the kingdome of God themselves thrust out Luk. 13.28 There is a bitter end threatned unto them that follow harlots Prov. 5.3.4.5 their dolefull song at last shall be Hovv have I hated instruction my heart despised reproofe c. vers 12. c. and the like wofull ditty is for them that follow wine or strong drink whereby they are inflamed unto more sin Esa 5.11.22 their unlawfull pleasure in the midst of their ungodly company shall at last bite like a serpent sting like a cockatrice Prov. 23.32 Then shall be woe to the mighty oppressours that oppresse a man and his heritage whereby they spoile themselves of their inheritance with God they joyne house to house on earth till they leave no place for the poore on earth nor any place for themselves in heaven Mic. 2.1.2 Esa 5.8 and the like woe is due to the unmercifull rich men who as they would not give a crumme so they shall not obtaine one drop of water from the tip of any finger to refresh them being tormented in the flame Luk. 16.24.25 The false witnesse shall not then goe unpunished Prov. 19.5.9 the railers and slanderers shall then be excluded out of the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6.10 the lips of the flatterers backbiters shal be cut off Psa 12.3 their owne words shal be a snare for their soule Prov. 18.7 they shall then reape that which they have sowne they have CHAP. VIII Of the visible signes memorials of Hell whereby God calleth men to remember the end of the ungodly The vaine curiosity of thē that desire to be informed of Hell-torments otherwise then by the word and works of God which compared together afford us sundry Memorials of Hell a In each of the foure Elements Fire Aire Water Earth b In the country of Eden c In the land of Canaan both in the foure borders of it d within the land on both sides of the river Iordan e In the Iewes themselves in the state of their rejection f In the country of Italy g In the Torrid or hote Zone of the world the condition actions of the inhabitants h In the frozen Zones the extremity of cold other occurrences in those parts i In the temperate Zones in the publick state of Antichristian Romish religion with the appurtenances thereof k In private houses haunted with evill spirits inhabited by witches disordered innes tavernes l In particular persons possessed excommunicate terrifyed in conscience m In particular sinnes in thoughts words actions IT may be some will say or thinke in themselves we heare many fearfull things touching Hell-torments if we might see the same take a view thereof it would doe us more good To such I answer they know not what they desire When the bottomlesse pit was once at a certaine time in especiall manner opened very wide there arose such a smoak out of the pit as had almost choaked the whole world the Sunne the aire were darkened therewith poysonous locusts came out of that smoak and tormented men that they were weary of their lives and sought death that fled from them Rev. 9.1.2.3 c. It were not safe for curious men to looke with their carnall eyes into that bottomlesse pit nor to wish that hell destruction were naked open unto them for their warning neither should it be for their edification so much as the due remembrance and spirituall meditation thereof by help of the Scriptures They that will not beleeve Moses the Prophets would not be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luk. 16.30.31 If Abraham or Noah the ancient preachers of righteousnes should come againe into this world clothed with angelicall glory with a heavenly voyce should call men to repentance or if Angels should come and preach the kingdome of God yet could we not world doe every one of them containe a vast gulfe of destruction within them insomuch that each of them hath seemed unto some to lay clayme unto Hell as having that prison within their bounds The Fire by which Hell is so often described is of a consuming devouring nature this operation of it is often compared to eating the fewell put unto it is the meat thereof Esa 9.19 the more it hath the more hungrily it eateth by burning more fiercely it hath an insatiable belly never saith It is enough Prov. 30.15.16 And so it is like unto Hell which enlargeth herselfe openeth her mouth wide without measure to devoure the wicked Esa 5.14 Whether we conceive it as the highest greatest element encompassing the aire on every side as in the proper place that is commonly assigned unto it or whether we looke upon it in the dayly effects thereof on the earth in those few sparkles coales thereof scattered among us here below for our use it carries in it both wayes a resemblance of Hell to make us remember the end of the wicked in the sight of it The Aire is noted as the seat or station of wicked spirits where they soare over our heads as the ravenous foules over the chickens still ready to seaze upon us Therefore is the Devill called the prince of the power of the aire Eph. 2.2 his angels are spirituall wickednesses in high places Eph. 6.12 Satan is sayd to fall downe like lightning from heaven when his works are loosed Luk. 10.18 So often as we looke out into the aire so oft doe we passe by the gates of Hell by the Castles Towers of the enimy from whence he shootes his fiery darts from whence he watcheth his advantage to oppugne us to
the outward borders of the holy land teturne we to the inward parts these on both sides of the river Iordan On this side above many other places Ierusalem the city of the great king offers it selfe to our consideration which though it were a type of heavē Gal. 4.26 Heb. 12.22 yet round about it there were signes set of the fearfull judgmēts of God of the last end of the wicked And first of all by the entry of the East-gate they had the vallie of Hinnom the high places of Tophet therein as it were a visible Hell Ier. 19.2 with Iosh 15.8 They there burned their children in the fire unto Baal Moloch with great impiety against God and cruelty to hornes their hoofes their haire well might that lake be this same pit As by the descent of an Angel into the poole of Bethesda those that first entred after the stirring of the waters were made whole of what disease soever they had Ioh. 5.4 so no wonder if after the stirring of these waters in Gadara by a legion of uncleane spirits together they were made unwholesome caused disease to those that drank thereof So often as men beheld or thought upon this devilish lake they had a spectacle of Hell before them they tooke the name of God in vaine if they did not learne hereby to watch fight against the wicked spirits to seeke the helpe of Christ that conquers them not to love their swine more then Christ nor to become as swine by wallowing in the mire of sinne 2. Pet. 2.22 left they also by the Devils should be carryed headlong into the lake of brimstone prepared for those that hearkē not unto the call of God e These were the markes tokens given to the Iewes but the Iewes themselves are given for signes warnings unto us for whē these many other memorials of the latter end were givē unto the Iewes despised of them then at last they themselves by the righteous judgment of God were made as signes and wonders unto the beleeving Gentiles called into their place to this day they remaine as memorials of Hell under the power of darknes their hearts being hardened their eyes darkened and covered with the spirit of slumber Rom. 11.7.8.10 Their state of rejection wherein they presently are is described in such phrase as the estate of those in Hell they are now in utter darknes while they are without Christ if they knew the misery of their estate then should they weep gnash their teeth Matt. 8.12 In this hell of utter darknes have they continued now these sixteen hundred yeares are scattered abroad among all nations for a warning unto them So often as we meet these obdurate Iewes in our streets consider how they are broken off from their olive the kingdome of God being taken from them given to others Matt. 21.43 so often are we to be mooved with compassion to thē as if they did weep howle before us as we are to pray for the day of their visitation so are we to worke the whole earth turning round about it continually even as the first flaming sword was about the garden of God in Eden This middle Zone though in comparison of Tophet it be an heaven yet in respect of other temperate Zones inhabited by us it is in many things like unto Hell As Hell is described by the burning heat that is therein Esa 30.33 Matt. 25.41 so in this Torrid Zone men are grievously afflicted tormented with heat men dwelling there under the Aequinoctiall line the climates on each side neere the same the Sunne burnes them by day and the beames thereof beating directly upon their heads doe strike them with a vehement heat round about the world even from the East unto the Westerne India in Aethiopia betwixt them both insomuch that some of them curse the Sunne every morning that it riseth As Hell is described by the blaknes of darknes that is there reserved for reprobates 2. Pet. 2.17 black being the colour of sorrow feare Psa 38.6 in the orig which make all faces to gather blacknes Ioel. 2.6 so under the hote Zone there dwell the black Moores the Aethiopians or burnt-faces as the word which the holy Ghost useth for them doth signify Act. 8.27 Their bodies visages are blacker then a coale some have bene frighted at the fight of them as if they had come out of Hell As in Hell men are under the vexation of the Devill that is called the prince of darknes Eph. 6.12 hath the power of death Heb. 2.14 so it is generally testifyed that the Indians both East West the Guineans betweene both in this hote Zone doe both worship the Devill that often appeares personally unto them are often beaten tormented by the immediate hand of the Devill in those visible apparitions with many other vexations to their unspeakable misery therefore in this regard there is not so much a shadow of Hell as a very Hell it selfe a kingdome of darknes As the state of those in Hell is described by a worme that torments them never dyeth Esa 66.24 Mark 9.44.46.48 so those that live in this Torrid Zone in Guinea have often ordinarily a worme of strange incredible length that breedeth in their flesh as those that travell thither have both seene and felt and in their flesh have brought home apparitions are imagined to ascend up out of the earth 1. Sam. 28.13 even so a man that should see these all-black naked impes come swarming up out of their holes from under ground each of them both at mouth nostrils breathing out the smoake of that Indian herb which is a part of their ordinary dyet it were no wonder if he thought the picture of Hell to be before him In fine as many for Māmon or riches doe sell themselves and loose their soules goe downe to Hell for ever 1. Kin. 21.20 even so many for the love of that treasure that is to be found in this hote Zone are content to adventure their lives in travelling thither in this journey there be multitudes that from time to time doe loose their mortall temporary lives and so in this regard also there is some consimilitude betwixt these two places And now if we doe well observe this strange work of God we shall therein perceive how unsearchable his judgements are his wayes past finding out in permitting this forlorne people that are so black in their bodies more black in their soules through their worship of the Devill to lye so long enthralled under the dominion of Satan that for so great a compasse round about the whole earth under the Aequinoctiall circle Seing the Lord hath made this visible Hell like a broad black belt or girdle to environ the very heart middle of the world how ought this to warne all the inhabitants
doe the Gobbelines resort the schrich-owles the night-ravēs night-walkers together make a cage of uncleane birds When men passe by such houses they are to looke upon them as the very Types of Hell the dennes of destruction where many are dayly overthrowne They are as deep pits that swallow up soule body goods good name of their bewitched guests both health of body wealth of estate credit of name salvation of soule doe there consume perish together And therefore with many pluckes doth the Lord seeke to divert men from such places Enter not into the path of the vvicked goe not in the way of evill men Avoyd it passe not by it turne from it passe away Prov. 4.14.15 l From private houses come we to private particular persons to see how many Helles may be found among them If we looke upon Gods judgments for sinne we see some possessed with Devils persons that procure these judgements of God in them also there are many Hells to be seene Their thoughts their words their deeds practises doe represent the same unto us The large heart of man his capacious thoughts are like unto a huge vessel wide deep greater thē the whole Globe of the earth which cānot fill the same The eye is not satisfyed with seeing nor the eare filled with hearing Eccles 1.8 Though a moate in the eye doe trouble it yet the world cannot fill it The reason is because the minde of man is an immeasurable gulfe the outward senses are but tunnels or conduits leading into it Immoderate desire whether it be the lust of the eyes the lust of the flesh or the pride of life is an insatiable whirlpoole that is still gaping devouring but never satisfyed Eccles 5.9.10 Hab. 2.5 Esa 56.11 The ignorance that is in the minde makes it to be as darke a dungeon as it is deep Eph 4.18 Matt. 6.23 wherein the thoughts doe blindely range roame up downe with pernicious wandrings The violence fervency of inordinate lust inflames the heart makes it to burne Rom. 1.27 like the bakers oven that is overheated till it burne as a flaming fire Hos 7.6.7 And to shew that the wicked heart is a more compleat Hell it is sayd that Satan enters into it Ioh. 13.27 filles the heart Act. 5.3 dwelles in it Matt. 12.45 reignes in it as a prince over his subjects Ioh. 14.30 or as a God over his people 2. Cor. 4.4 The mouth of a wicked man is like the mouth of Hell whiles the envy hatred lust that is kindled in the heart doth breake out in the words as it were flame out at the mouth The slanderous evill tongue is a fire is set on fire of Hell setteth on fire the whole course of nature Iam. 3.6 The body the whole person of wicked men is as it were the shop work-house of Satan wherein the uncleane spirits doe worke in the children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 all their members are the instruments tooles of the devils to worke all manner of sin unrighteousnes therewith Rom. 6.13.19 And now seeing the Lord hath set so many visions of Hell before us in this life whereby he calles men to remember the latter end let him that hath an eare to heare hearken to the call of God let him that hath an eye to see come open his 〈…〉 the godly would sometimes have him to be more severe He is more desirous of the salvation of them that are saved then they themselves AS God calles us many wayes to remember our latter end so the due remembrance of our end calles us to remember God the thought of death serves to urge admonish us of seeking the way of life True life is to be found with God alone He is the living God Iosh 3.10 Ier. 10.10 Hos 1.10 He giveth unto all life breath all things Act. 17.25 With him is the well of life Psa 36.9 From this well doe flow a thousand rivers of life of life naturall of life spirituall of life eternall in the heavens a With him is the fountaine of naturall vegetation the rivers of vegetative life are all propagated from him In every plāt in every least seed of tree or herb God hath planted a vitall juyce digged a welspring of life from which spring life floweth out flourisheth is spread abroad Gen. 1.11.12 Psa 104.14 the living things are multiplied according to their kinde in such unspeakable abundance that the increase thereof throughout the world might in few yeares serve to replenish an hundred worlds The seeds that one garden in one yeare affordeth are so many as might in short time serve to fill an hundred garden-plots while some one herb oft yeeldeth more then a thousand seedes at once So a thousand akehornes that fall from one Oake might serve to plant a whole grove of oakes The apples of some one tree yeeld more then a thousand kirnels therfore the kirnels together with the rootes graffes or shootes that one orchard affordeth in one yeare might well serve to be the seminary of an hūdred more Thus have we yearely the matter of many worlds layd before us though more new worlds be not dayly formed yet the living God shewes us hereby how easily he could doe it The glory of this well of life is to be considered not onely in the abundance of life which gusheth out floweth from it but likewise in the excellency thereof while the living things the herbs fruits that are thence produced doe not onely live themselves but serve to sustaine uphold the life of other creatures both man beast both in the maine dayly Gen. 1.22.28 as by a seed of seeds hath multiplyed life as from a well of life hath made the streames of naturall life to flow forth with a continuall current of succession to runne freshly from the beginning of the world unto this day Hereby we see how the Lord powres life out of his treasure at his word life swimmes in the waters flyes in the aire walkes on the earth scralles in the dust turned into living creatures at his command Exo. ◠16.17 A cleare vision of this power of life that is in God is shewed unto us even in the least sort of creatures in the Bees the Flyes and in speciall in the manifold swarmes of innumerable Gnattes in summer-time suddainly produced in some countries as if they were so many drops of life flying abroad round about us as if the whole aire were dissolved into living creatures not onely living but all endued with a most lively life all nimble active mounting above our heads and every one of them carrying with them a Trumpet wherewith they humme aloud sound an Alarum to us to awaken us unto the praise of their Creatour the living God And because we are so
him drink of the river of his pleasures To him be praise for evermore CHAP. II. Of the sure onely way to the Well of life No way to life but onely by Christ In the knowledge of Christ we are to consider a His calling unto the whole work of RedemptioÌ„ the gifts wherewith he was abundantly furnished for this calling b The offices laid upon him for this work when he became our Prophet to teach instruct both in his owne person by his ministers c Our Priest in his sufferings obedience on earth intercession for us in heaven d Our King to bring us unto the possession of life subduing all his our enimies e The visible signes seales of his grace Baptisme the Supper of the Lord f The dignity of his person being both very God true man requisite unto the discharge of each of his three offices g The comforts arising from these considerations specially when men thirst after life are carefull to have in store a select number of the promises of salvation h A direction how to apply the promises unto ourselves by the due consideration of Christ his natures offices I Am the way the trueth the life no man commeth unto the Father but by me saith Christ Ioh. 14.6 He is the Lambe that leades unto the living fountaines Rev. 7.17 the good shepheard that gathers the lambes with his arme carries was called thereunto of his Father Christ is the signet of his Fathers right hand him hath God the Father sealed by designing appointing him to be the Mediatour Ioh. 6.27 He is the elect of God Esa 42.1 fore ordained before the foundation of the world 1. Pet. 1.20 and againe manifestly called in time chiefely at his Baptisme Transfiguration when that glorious voyce came from heaven This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him Matt. 3.17 17.5 This calling of Christ is especially noted in the Gospell of Iohn more theÌ„ fourty times in exact number under the phrase of sending him Ioh. 5.23.24.30 â—6 37.38 c. yet fourty times againe in other equivalent phrases of being sealed given comming downe from heaven come in the Fathers name the like Our Saviour himselfe doth ever anon repeat this calling rejoyce in it teach others to comfort themselves in it therefore the afflicted conscience that seekes to be strengthened in faith should often remember this calling of Christ yea fourty fourty times to runne unto it after the example of Christ never to have done with it that so the meditation thereof may lead them to the well of life Christ being thus called of his Father is thereupon also furnished with all gifts meet for his calling anoynted with the oyle of joy gladnes above his fellowes Hâ—b 1.9 with the spirit above measure Ioh. 3.34 that of his fullnes we all might receive even grace for grace or grace over against grace grace renewed in us according to his image grace according to our need of grace according to his abundance able to supply all our wants Ioh. 1.16 All his garmeÌ„ts smel of myrrhe aloes cassia out of his yvory palaces whereby they have made him glad whereby he hath made us glad giving the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Psa 45.8 Esa 61.3 His name is an oyntment powred out therefore the virgines love him Sol. song 1.3 and they sing lovesongs of him and their heart boyleth out his praise Psal 45. title vers 1. Being thus anointed called of his Father he comes promptly at his call Lo I come to doe thy will O God Heb. 10.7 with Psa 40.7.8 he is as willing as he is able to be a ver have found the well of life for there is none that understandeth Psa 53.1.2 but he is the light of them that sit in darkenes in the shadow of death he maketh the eyes of the blinde to see out of obscurity darknes Esa 29.18 In his breast is that Vrim Thummim by which the counsell of God was made knowne unto men Exod. 28.30 Num. 27.21 for he is the substance of the shadowes that went before Coll. 2.17 As from the Oracle debir 1. Kin. 6.19.20 the inmost place of the Sanctuary God was wont to speak of old to send forth a voyce Exo. 25.22 Num. 7.8.9 so now hath he spoken unto us in his Sonne that is in his bosome Heb. 1.1 Ioh. 1.18 There is no labyrinth of errour but he gives a threed of direction to come out of it There is no perplexity or difficult case of conscience but he resolveth it God hath given him the tongue of the learned to know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Esa 50.4 He leades the simple in a way that the fooles shall not erre therein Esa 35.8 Many complaine of the many religions and opinions in the world that they know not which to take but such are not acquainted with this Prophet who teacheth the humble revealeth his secret to them that feare him Psal 25.9.14 Christ is not like a sterne austere master of whom the poore schollers dare not aske a question but he is gentle loving calles them to learne of him perswades them to come to him because he is meek lowly shewes them how to finde rest unto their soules in all their doubts difficulties Matt. 11.29 And further as in the dayes of his flesh he was a minister of the circumcision Rom. 15.8 going about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues preaching the Gospell of the kingdome Matt. 4.23 so now by his ministers servants Eph. 4.11.12 the maidens of his wisedome Prov. 9.3.4 he calles all nations to the knowledge fellowship of his grace Mat. 28.19 As of old he preached to the spirits now in prison by Noah a preacher of righteousnes 1. Pet. 3.19 so still at this day he preacheth peace to theÌ„ that are afarre of Eph. 2.17 Hereby his voyce is as the sound of many waters Rev. 1.15 a souud that is gone out into all the earth unto the ends of the world Rom. 10.18 And thus the spirit even in the waters of the great deep Exod. 14. Esa 51.10 so there being a burning lake a red sea of wrath prepared for sinners our holy high Priest hath made a way for us he wading first through the same the waters therof entring into his soule and overwhelming him that we might be delivered Psal 69.1 2. His suffering satisfaction is become a strong bridge of translation to carry us out of the state of wrath and condemnation into the state of grace and salvation and to transport us safely over this gulfe of destruction and curse in which for our sinnes we had deserved to have bene plunged drowned for ever Gal. 3.13 Col. 1.13.14 To