this life they must everlastingly bid adieu to all true joy and comfort Rev. 14. 11. The smoak of their torments ascends for ever and they have no rest night nor day But many of them begin their hell here long before their translation hence as the godly their heaven A wicked man though in never so flourishing and prosperous condition in the eye of sense or reason cannot upon good ground be confident that his peace and comfort shall continue one week or day or hour longer Eccles 7. 6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot which make a short blaze and is suddenly extinct so is the laughter of a fool Such God accounts and calls all wicicked men Amos. 8. 9. The Prophet Amos tels the wicked that their sun shall go down at noon day All the wicked mans considerable joy may be over before half his dayes be passed God delights to marre the mirth of Christless ones in the midst of their jollity Dan. 5. In the beginning of the Chapter we read that King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his Lords and himself his Princes wives and concubines were upon their merry pinnes quaffing and carowsing in golden and silver vessels taken out of the Temple But we read in v. 5. that all this joy was turned suddenly into extream sadnesse In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand and wrote over against the Candlestick upon the playster of the wall of the Kings Pallace and the King saw the part of the hand that wrote v. 6. Then the Kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joynts of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against another v. 7. Then the King cried aloud c. Oh the inconsiderablenesse of that short liv'd joy which a wicked man cannot be rightly confident to enjoy for the small space of one poor hour Job 20. 5. These things premised if any person wish well to his own joy no choice but the Christians choice is the right way to obtain and retain it in both worlds 3. The Christians choice is as unquestionably the best in reference to the concernments of the other world It cannot be reasonably expected that in a piece of an hour I should goe over in my discourse the state of the Saints blessednesse in Heaven and the sinners misery in Hell that by comparing them together it may be discovered which choice is best that which leads to Heaven's happinesse or Hell's misery This may abundantly suffice for my present purpose to mention four remarkable Particulars which hold forth light enough convincingly to prove the conclusion I have delivered about this weighty point 1. The Godly mans choice will infallibly bring him to so happy a condition in the other world that he shall not desire or have cause to desire any other good then that he shall then be possessed of Psal 73. 25. The Psalmist expresseth himself thus Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee If this be the language of the Saints in this world surely there will be much more cause why it should be their In beatudine complebitur omne desiderium beatorum Aquinas constant language in the other world God is the universal good and they will then be in the fullest enjoyment of it that their natures are capable of and so there will be no need of the least contribution of any other good below God to perfect their substantial happinesse That sea of goodnesse will surely fill brim-ful all their largest vessels Psal 16. last vers Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fullnesse of joy and so no room for any other objects But as for all the wicked their woful case will be far otherwise then their most afflicted estate ever was in this life In this world such is the admirable kindnesse of the glorious God to his cursed adversaries that he seems to deal with them more like children then like enemies The Psalmist tels us that in this life Psal 73. 7. they have more good things then heart could wish Here when they are in pain or any other affliction many of them can say to their servants Call my dear husband or wife to refresh me with their company Bid my beloved Child or faithfull Friend come and be helpfull to me Go fetch me such a costly Cordial to keep up my fainting spirits But in the other world God affords them no such comforts Their cup of gall and wormwood have not the least drop of any comfortable ingredient to qualifie the bitternesse thereof Luk. 16. 25. But Abraham said Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted thou art tormented Wicked men have all the comfortable portion that they are like to receive from God in Psal 17. 14. this life no wonder therefore when death comes they are soloth to depart hence The request made was but for a very small courtesie vers 24. a finger dipt in water would have been but a poor meanes to abate the paines of his tongue tormented with hellish flames yet as small as it was it was denied to let all Christlesse persons know what they must trust to in the other world They must onely drink of the wine of the wrath of God without mixture not the least drop of mercy shall be mingled with it Rev. 14. 10. 2. The condition of all godly persons in the other world shall be much more comfortable then they can possibly conceive while they are in this life Oh how happy would many judge their condition to be if all that they could possibly conceive to be delightful to them might be enjoyed by them But the case of all glorified persons shall be far more comfortable then this comes to 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard nor hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that 1 John 3. 2. love him It never entred into the hearts of God best people here to conceive fully how happy their glorified condition shall be Their happinesse shall be made up of such ingredients which the infinitely wise God who prepared it shall judge to be most comfortable and sure infinite wisdome can best choose the most comfortable ingredients and his infinite love to his people will not suffer him to leave out any of them But now on the other side the waies that wicked ones choose will bring them to greater wo and misery in the other world then they can for the present fully conceive Psal 90. 11. Who knoweth the power of thy wrath The interrogation is to be resolved into this negation None can fully conceive the greatnesse of it We may conceive that it will be very dreadful and although we know not to the utmost how dreadful it
if they might never see any of them that remain Christlesse as themselves do A great many think they have done all that belongs to them if they provide estates for their relations wives and children to live gallantly in the world but never take the least care about their soules more precious then the world But when they meet together before Christs Tribunal may not many women with better warrant say to their husbands then Moses wife did to him Thou hast been a bloudy husband to me And many children Oh thou cruel Father if you had according to your duty instructed corrected and given me an holy example I had never been so sinful and so miserable as now I am And so servants cry out bitterly Oh that I had never entered within the door of that family of such a gracelesse Master who in stead of helping me to heaven haled me with violence to the pit of destruction On earth t is a common speech amongst the wicked The more the merrier not so in hell Luke 16. 21. Then he said I pray therefore father that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house for I have five brethren that he may testifie unto them least they also come into this place of torment I cannot be so charitable as to think so good a thing as Charity dwels among the damned crew But he knew that if they came to hell his torments would be the greater and therefore desired never to see them more Mat. 8. 12. They that miscarry in the other world they weep and gnash their teeth The more therefore who are damned the louder and more hideous roaring and the greater number of ghastly and frightful persons Mat. 13. 41. who gnash their teeth The saints in the life to come shall never be afflicted with any unacceptable company for a day hour or moment and the wicked shall never be refreshed with a pleasing companion although it be but for the least space of time which is imaginable 4. All the godly persons shall enjoy the comfortable condition before mentioned to all eternity and all the wicked shall endure that woful misery for ever This great big-bellied Epithet Eternall is that which heightens happines or misery to the utmost I begin with the first branch The Saints happinesse will be and they shall know that it will be everlasting Psal 16. 11. In thy presence is fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore This proves the joy of glorified ones shall be everlasting And if we look into 1 Thes 4. 17. we may observe Paul speaking in the name of believers We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall be ever with the Lord. And if the Saints in this life know that their happinesse shall be everlasting in the life to come surely the knowledge of the saints Triumphant is not lesse then the knowledge of the saints Militant this being so that their happinesse shall be everlasting and they know it shall be so The Apostle might well adde vers 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words It is not possible or needful that more comfortable words should be spoken to any of the Children of men Ubi est summum bonum ibi summa faelicitas summa jucunditas vera libertas perfecta charitas aeterna securitas secura aeternitas Bernard Medit. cap. 4. Now as for the wicked Eternity is that which renders their condition amazingly unspeakably and unconceivably woful Esa 33. 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprized the hypocrites What is the matter There follow two hard Questions Who shall dwell with devouring fire although for a short space of time But the hardest Question of all is Who shall endure everlasting burnings If the damned in hell could in truth say which they cannot I have been roaring and yelling many years in this burning lake but after so many hundred or thousand years I shall certainly be delivered out of this place of Torment The thoughts of being delivered although after a long time would wonderfully abate their misery But when they speak that which is the truth in this case Here I have been a great while weeping and gnashing my teeth and so must be for ever This Eternity is as I may so speak The very hell of hell What more confounding words ever did or can God speak or wicked ones hear then those words which God will ere long pronounce in their hearing Mat. 25. 41. Depart ye our sed into everlasting fire When the wicked have been in hell as many years as there are hairs on their heads stars in the firmament or sands upon the Sea-shore they are as farre from the end of their torments as they were the first moment they dropt into the burning lake I have now dispatch't the Demonstration of the Doctrine by which it clearly appears that in reference to all the concernments of both worlds The godly mans choice is unquestionably and incomparably the best choice that can be made The third thing that I promised was to vindicate this glorious Doctrine from the Objections and Cavils that are brought against it to name them all were a very long if possible task I shall take notice of two principal ones which being clearly propounded and fully answered I shall hasten to the Application Object The Scripture declares That the Choice you speak of will infallibly expose us to many Afflictions Acts 14. 22. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God Let the people of God walk never so wisely and holily there is no avoiding of the Crosse If any think to go to Heaven without tribulation he must as the Emperor Constantine told the Heretick Acesias erect a ladder and go up alone Now the Apostle tels us Heb. 12. 11. No chastning for the present seems to be joyous but grievous How then can that choice be so much approved that renders our condition so grievous in this world Sol. Before I Answer this Objection I must premise That although this and a thousand such Objections framed by Satan or his instruments cannot prevailingly alter the choice of any that have in truth given up their names and hearts to God and his precious waies yet needlesse discouragements may be upon their spirits by means thereof Again This consideration of afflictions that they who walk in Gods waies meet with may dishearten others from making this choice when invited and provoked to enter into the way of life I shall therefore give in something by way of answer for the satisfaction of both these sort of persons who are herein concerned Sol. 1. To take off the discouragements of those who have made this holy and happy choice the Text speaks of I can in this haste name but a few things but I hope enough for their relief to be considered by them I do not dare not deny That
one to another here goes a fool that must dy like a dog in a string because for a little money he hath forfeited his life to justice exposed his name and friends to a lasting reproach and his whole self to the danger of everlasting misery in the other world At such times the children of men should be of better behaviour pittying and praying for the woful sinner and blessing the name of God for keeping them as prone as others from falling into such reproachful and dangerous miscarriages But if it be so bitter when under misery to want the compassion of foolish and hard-hearted men t is abundantly more miserable under far greater misery to be reproached but not pittyed by him who is a God of infinite wisdome and most tender compassion That this fearful and sad condition will befal the wicked is evident from those words of God by Solomon Prov. 1. 22. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and ye scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge Because I have called and ye have refused I have stretched out my hands and none regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh When your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind when distresse and anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but shall not find me for that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. When sinners are weeping yelling and gnashing their teeth under Gods fearful vengeance and they calling aloud for favour and God regards their cry no more then men regard the howling of beasts and barking of dogs but laughs in their faces as it were and mocks them telling them they were simple ones and stark fools who for the pleasures of sinne which last and they knew would last but for a season they wilfully exposed themselves to that fearfull indignation of God which they were often assured would be intollerable and everlasting One would wonder with what face any such sinner can look upon God and beg his mercy when God may suddenly put them to silence by telling them he damnes none but those who choose damnation and how can they reasonably except against their own choice I easily imagine what will be pleaded by sinners in this case They never did nor can any choose such misery for their portion nothing is more abhorring to their thoughts That which is the Object of the Wills choice must be presented under the form and notion of good to the creature But this appears to them in that form which is most contrary to the creatures good and welfare Well Let sinners please themselves never so much with such seemingly learned Objections God will quickly out-argue them Deut. 30. God by Moses calls upon the people to walk in the way of holy obedience to all his commandments and not to dare to disobey any of them and backs his exhortation to obedience with promises of blessing and his dehortation from disobedience with terrible threatnings then vers 14. shuts up that discourse after this manner I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed may live In which remarkable words according to Gods interpretation of them which is alwayes according to truth it is manifestly apparant that they who choose the way of obedience choose life and so by the Law of Contraries they who choose the way of Disobedience choose death which is a comprehensive word including the fearful misery of both worlds It may 2 Thes 1. 8. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. Ephes 5. 7. 1 John 3. 5. be truly said to all ignorant persons covetous muckworm's disobedient sinners and every other person abiding in their unregenerate estate You are in love with everlasting burnings you long to be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which shall never be quenched because they walk in those ways and continue in that estate which infallibly brings to that misery As we say to persons that feed on such meates as are unwholesome and dangerous you long to be sick and be in your grave because they will not forbear what will make them sick bring them to the house of rotteness And God himselfe whose language will not be reformed by any deluded sinners vain philosophy speakes after the same rate Pro. 8. 36. He that sinnes against me wrongeth his owne soul all they that hate me as all do who do not make the choice I have been speaking of love Death And if so how can it be with reason expected that God Angels or men should pitty them under it I remember what God by Solomon saith Pro. 3. 5. Lean not to thine owne understanding and Prov. 26. 12. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit there is more hope of a fool then of him Certainly if wicked ones would cease to be both Judges parties in their own case which is the most foolish and unreasonable thing in the world to contend for they must be forced to acknowledge the choice I am pleading for to be the best choice Let this be put to the votes of Heaven and earth I had almost said and of hell also to consider what choice is best and it will be clearly carried for the godli's against the wicked's choyce To begin with the votes of heaven God the Father Son and holy Ghost as you have heard do command all men to make and commend and reward them most highly for making the holy choice The innumerable company of holy angels manifest their approbation of it by rejoycing when any person Luk. 15. 7. truly repents and thereby declaredly forsaketh his former choice and ownes no choice but that which Mary in the Text made Hence it is usually said the teares of the penitent are the wine of Angels that is they are much refreshed to observe them And for all the glorified Spirits which are before Gods holy throne Ephes 2. 10. Heb. 12. 14. Rev. 21. 27. in heaven they had never been admitted into that blisful place if they had not chosen the holy path which leads to it Let us now come down to gather the Votes of the earth Let holy David as such speak for himself and consequently the sense of all holy ones Psal 119. 30 I have chosen the way of truth and vers 173. I have chosen thy precepts But then let us consider whether any thing of this nature may be expected from the wicked Certainly at some times when under great outward afflictions inward awaknings of Conscience and under the sentence of death in their own apprehensions some of them wil speak more holy truths in an hour then they have done in seven years before they abound
with good discourses as if they had newly dropt down from heaven They speak truly and eloquently of the vanity of the creatures of the woful effects of sin the unvaluable comfort of a pardon in the bloud of Christ call upon all that are about them not to follow their former wicked examples but to be sure to choose the ways of God and the company of his people which if God spare them and dare believe them they will not stick to make him large promises before many witnesses of better behaviour towards him all the remaining part of their days So that in this case we may appeal not onely from the wicked to the Godly but from the wicked to themselves from them when their Consciences are asleep to the same persons when their Consciences are awakned But it may be some will say what charity is it to account those wicked whose expressions are so pious I Answer 1. God forbid that I who need so much charity my self should be uncharitable to others 2. Some yea many that have spoken so as common experience proveth have afterwards being reprieved from death for a while returned to such manifest wickednesse as is inconsistent with the power of godlinesse Unlesse which the Scripture will not 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. bear although this hypocritical age will men should say O ye hâ—ly drunkards religious fornicators godly swearers pious cheater the Kingdom of heaven stands open to receive you All of the better sort on earth always vote for the choice of the Text and some of the worst of men and women at some times But sure no good Votes can be found in so bad a place as hell I shall only suggest at present the speech of the rich man the parable speaks of Luke 16. 28. who when in hell desired that his five brethren might be warned not to come to that place of torment which they could not avoid unlesse they made a better choice then himself had done and no choice could be effectual to that end but the choice in the Text. I enquire not into the motive of that warning I am sure the matter was unquestionably right Oh that these considerations may be duly weighed by the children of men before it be too late I dare adde no more to presse the first branch of the Exhortation and am much troubled that I can now speak so little to the second branch which also deserves a most vigorous enforcement Branch 2. To presse you who hear me this day to make the choice in the Text early Give me leave to offer some few quickning Considerations which I must do little more then name Cons 1. We are by the indispensible command of God to make this choice early Eccl. 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth Now saith the Text t is not left as a matter indifferent and at our own liberty when we will begin to make this choice Mat. 6. 33. Christ calls upon the children of men to seek first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof which is as much in effect as if he had said If you dare follow the advice of me who am a wonderful Counsellor let the first and unalterable choice be fixed upon God and the things of God Cons 2. T is the most reasonable thing in the world that it should be so 1. Because as we have shewed largely God and the things of his Kingdome do best and indeed onely deserve our early choice and nothing is more reasonable then to be guided in our choice by the different worth of Objects that are before us Prov. 4. 7. Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom and with all thy gettings get understanding That which is principal must be first and most regarded what ever be neglected 2. The earlier this choice is made the easier will our work be to get and keep out of forbidden pathes Assuredly let men begin never so soon to leave the ways of sin and to walk in the ways of God they will find it sufficiently difficult to turn their back upon wicked company and to give a bill of divorce to their most beloved sins But the longer they have been in league with sinners and the longer they have been wedded to any sinful course the difficulty will certainly increase by those means The Prophet speaks fully to this point Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good who are accustomed to do evil The Ethiopian cannot change his skin nor the Leopard his spots So that the Prophet hints it as impossible And therefore I may well assert it as very difficult for an accustomed sinner to return to God and without more then ordinary grace it would remain everlastingly impossible for such an one to be brought over to the obedience of Christ Cons 3. A late choice will certainly be very prejudicial to us in this if not also in the other world The broken bones that many get in their younger days before they be sober and wise in the government of themselves although they may be set again yet they have many painful remembrances of them afterwards T is so proportionably in spiritual matters Mens dodging with God and delaying to work his work may cost them much dearer then they are aware God made his beloved Job in bitternesse to possesse the sins of his youth Job 13. 26. Although they who make this right choice late shal not wholly loose the happinesse of the other world yet they who early choose the ways of God are ordinarily soonner under the light of Gods reconciled countenance which is as it were an Heaven upon earth And if that be supposed as true which goes currant with many learned and sober Divines which I cannot now discusse that there are degrees of glory in heaven they who engage late in Gods vineyard will throughout eternity possesse Heavens glory in a lesse degree then otherwise they might have been capable of So that on such a supposition late commers unto God seem in some respects by their delaies to suffer eternal prejudice Cons 4. Gods eminent acceptation of early comers into his waies ought to be of special force to engage us to follow the counsel of this Exhortation 'T is our duty to study how we may do that which is acceptable in the sight of God and not only so but likewise to labour with all our might after that which is most acceptable to God Now Gods remarkable acceptation of those Colos 3. 20. who early choose him and his precious waies is restified by the high commendations he in his Word bestows upon them This stands on Record for the praise of young Timothy as long as the blessed Book of God shall be found in the hands of any person 2 Tim. 3. 16. That from a child he had known the Scriptures which were able to make him wise unto salvation 'T is greater
likewise satisfie any other person who are worthy of and willing to receive satisfaction concerning this matter As 1. Lest by my silence I should deprive very many of a more then ordinary pattern for their holy imitation Her conversation which lay open to publick view was very considerable but there were many remarkable things in the more retired part of her life which were not commonly known and yet the knowledge of them might be of singular use to direct and quicken many to like profitable exercises of piety This copy of her life was freer from blots then the lives of many other worthy women 2. A discourse of this nature may be of use for the comfort of her near Relations although the more evidences of her remarkable piety are brought to their remembrances the greatnesse of their own losse is thereby the more clearly discovered Yet such self-love as makes them confine their thoughts wholly to their own losse neglecting the needful meditation of her incomparable gain is certainly liable to reproof Many that follow their gracelesse Relations to the Grave which did greatly love them and were dearly beloved by them are greatly dejected chiefly upon this ground because of their great fears touching their everlasting state But I can with confidence bespeak the friends of this deceased Gentlewoman in like words to those of our dear Saviour to the daughters of Jerusalem Weep not for her from Luke 23. 28. whose eyes all tears are wiped but weep for your selves weep for your surviving Christlesse Relations and over the afflicted daughter of Sion and the more of these tears the better 3. If I should forbear to speak concerning the holy life of this our deceased Christian friend how is it possible that the great duty of duly laying to heart this sad visitation we are now under should be performed by many of you Who can be sadly affected proportionably to a great losse when for want of information the losse is only apprehended as ordinary Now God takes it very ill at their hands who live carelesly under such sad Providences Es 57. 11. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come A great many think their whole duty is performed if for two or three days after the hearing of such news their table talk be to this purpose Such a good Gentlewoman is dead she did much good in her place I am sorry for it When it may be in a fortnight or moneth after 't is almost utterly forgotten that there was any such person The Scripture last mentioned tels you That God many times snatcheth away his people by death when some great evils are approaching to the places where they lived I love not to conceive or utter doleful prophecies but my earnest prayer to God is that we may all walk penitently under this stroak that greater displeasure then we are at present aware of do not flow in upon us through this very great breach I now addresse my self to the last general head I propounded to speak to viz. A brief account of some things and but some things for haste which were remarkable in the holy life of Mrs Anne Petter And here I might speak of her in a threefold capacity 1. Natural 2. Civil 3. Spiritual But I call to mind the rule observed by Basil the Great in the praise of Gordius the Martyr It is said he or to this purpose the vain-glorious fashion of the world when they would praise any person to speak of his Family to derive his pedigree through many discents to enlarge upon his natural disposition parts education learning and such other accomplishments Sed Ecclesia haec tanquam supervacua dimittit The Church looks only at those things which may glorifie Christ in his Saints and thereby do good to them that remain alive According to this rule I shall forbear to speak of her very loving humble and ingenuous temper 2. Of the Family whereof she was a Branch although in it self very considerable according to the worlds account These were not the things she did or had cause over-much to value My Discourse therefore concerning her will be wholly confined to her spiritual endowments and operations for in reckoning up the estate of rich persons small matters are not mentioned their estates are not reckoned by pence or shillings but by pounds by hundreds and thousands we shall do proportionably in this undertaking And here also she might be considered personally and relatively but I shall not stand upon any curiosity of this nature What I shall mention as observable in her and very worthy of imitation fals under these two general heads 1. Her disposition and behaviour towards those on Earth 2. Her affection and carriage more immediately relating to the God of Heaven and the things of Heaven For the first her disposition and behaviour towards them on Earth 1. She was one of a publick and consequently of a very excellent spirit This she manifested many waies by her being constant and fervent in her prayers for the publick welfare by her sadness when at any time it fared ill with any part of the Church of Christ although in Forain parts where no present danger of any of her personal worldly concernments did biass her by her great joy when she heard of its flourishing estate And whereas a great many at their meeting with others enquire after news that it may only furnish them with matter for table-discourse and present them with variety of objects for their proud censures her questions tending that way were usually if not constantly expressed in this short pious form How doth it go abroad with the Church and Cause of Jesus Christ That was all in all to her as to matter of news It would be over-tedious to go through all the instances which might be mentioned on this account I shall only touch upon one or two more she evidenced her publick spirit by the great and cordial respects which upon all occasions she expressed towards those that appeared gallantly and couragiously in the Cause of Christ She would name them with honour while living and bitterly bewail their deaths when taken hence by Gods angry hand She could say with Deborah Judg. 5. 9. My heart is towards the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people Blesse ye the Lord And yet further she did not satisfie her self by serving God with that which cost her nought she never repined at any expence of money in the Cause of Christ And which was much more considerable having an only son left her who was most dearly beloved by her she willingly parted with him for the service of the publick interest 2. She was very bountiful to those that were in need as many of you here present can testifie from large and long experience her charity was not hypocritical like theirs spoken of James 2.