said to remain and so wrath doth abide Repentance in Hell will be without any Fruit their Grief without Relief their Groans Cries Petitions will not prevail can obtain nothing at the Hand of God sinners were deaf to God in time and he will be deaf to them in eternity Their Hearts were hardned and his Bowels will be shut The Fewel of Gods Anger will be everlasting therefore the Fire will be eternal an Immortal Death an ever dying Misery and endless Torments will be the Portion of the Damned The suffering Jews complain and say that God had hedged them about and they could not get out Lam. 3.7 so the damned in Hell are so hedged in by their own guilt and the just wrath of God that they can never get out Their Destruction will be everlasting their Ruin irrecoverable God will not Release them and they cannot Rescue themselves 5. This heightens the Misery of departed Souls that their Prison is a place of Torments as well as of Restraint Dives complains he was tormented in that Flame Luke 16.24 and would have his Brethren warned that they might not come into that place of Torments Luke 16.25 God will exact his debts of and execute his threatnings on sinners He will tread them in the Wine-press and press out all that is sweet grateful and pleasant and leave only a dry Husk of Being the Damned seem to be called Carcases Isaiah 66. last Ye shall go forth and see the carcases of the men that transgressed against me The Expression is Elegant Significant and Emphatical Christ will command his Enemies that would not have him to reign over them to be brought before him he will sentence them to be slain in his presence when they are slain when all the Peace Joy Comfort of their Souls is destroyed what will remain but a meer Carcase of Being When men shall be only to be miserable to endure vengeance to suffer Torments this may well be stiled a Carcase of Being Bullinger de Triumph tells us that the day that an Emperour Triumphed the Prisoners were led in Chains and exposed as an open spectacle to the Eyes of the Spectators and that when the Chariot of him that Triumphed turned to go up to the Capitol then the Prisoners were led away to the Prison and the Triumpher staid in the Capitol till news was brought him that the Prisoners or some one of them was put to death in the Prison the Prison this day was a place of Execution among the Romans Gods Prison will be a place of Eternal Execution and Torments Dives begged that Lazarus might but dip the Tip of his Finger in Water and let fall a few drope to cool his Tongue Luke 16.24 his Request seems very modest he did not desire that Lazarus should dip his whole Hand no not his whole Finger but only the Tip of his Finger this was a very small Petition yet it is not granted but rejected and decried Sinners in Hell shall not obtain the least ease refreshment or mitigation of their Torments God will deal with sinners as they did with Jesus Christ he cried out I Thirst John 19.28 but did he receive any thing to refresh or ease him no his Enemies only filled a Sponge with Vinegar and put it to his Mouth John 19.30 this was to Torment rather than Relieve him As Christ obtained nothing from men to refresh him so sinners shall get nothing from God to ease them when once they are shut up in his Prison as the wicked Jews Priests and Scribes upbraided Christ with his words and works Mat. 27.40 41 42 43. that he said he would build the Temple that he asserted himself to be the Son of God that he saved others so a Righteous God and an Awakened Conscience will upbraid Sinners with their evil words and their sinful actions to eternity the iniquity of their Heels will compass them about the reward of their Hand will be given to them Isaiah 3.10 they shall feed on the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own inventions Prov. 1.31 They that glory in their wisdoms and applauded themselves in their inventions as of they had found out the true and chief Good as if they had discovered the true Pleasures the true Liberty the true Happiness shall smart for their Inventions and feel the woful effects of them for ever 6. This renders the Condition of those that are in Gods Prison terrible that they are under the fear and dread of future evils and of a more severe punishment As the thoughts of the Affizes are bitter and terrible to Malefactors they know that then their Crimes will be remembred accusations will be formed Witnesses will appear against them they will be Condemned and Executed So sinners in Hell may dread the appearing of Jesus Christ and the Judgment of the Great Day Sinners are not yet at the bottom of their Pit they are not yet fallen under the heaviest hottest fullest expressions of the Wrath of God they do not yet see the worst of their Condition It is said that Death and Hell shall be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone this is the second death Revel 20.14 What is intended and meant by Death and Hell I suppose by Death here is meant the Body that died and so fell under the power of Death and Hell here signifies the Souls of the Damned that were cast into Hell The Continent is put for the thing Contained the Bodies of the wicked were held under death and their Souls were shut up in Hell but the Bodies of the Wicked shall not still sleep in the Grave they shall awake and rise be joined to and united with their Bodies but this resurrection will not be a benefit but a hurt to them it will not be a priviledge but a punishment their Bodies shall rise that they may fall into the Lake of Fire that they may feel Torments that they be obnoxious to punishment from the Revenging Hand of God those that are now in Hell do know that this will be that their Souls and Bodies must meet again that as they joined in sin so they may be Companions in misery this conjunction they dread they would rather their Bodies should dwell in the Grave for ever than that Soul and Body both should be united to be drowned in a Lake of Fire to be swallowed up of the second Death 7. Sinners shall have the misery of their Prison heightned by these two aggravations 1. They that remember what Mercy was once offered to them and was rejected by them 2. They that behold what happiness others enjoy and they are eternally deprived of 1. Sinners shall call to mind what means of Grace they once enjoyed what tenders of Salvation were made to them the Son of God preached to the old World he called them to Repentance he warned them to fly from the Wrath to come yet their Understandings were darkned their Consciences stupified their Hearts hardned their
own Person when he appeared here in the World The Second Doctrine that rises from the latter words is this That the Souls of wicked Men after they are departed out of the Body are confined to and shut up in God's Prison 1. Doctrine The Son of God preached before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his own Person We may here distinguish three Preachings of Jesus Christ 1. He preached before his Incarnation So in the Text the Son of God is said to Preach to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah The Gospel was preached to them that formerly lived but were dead in the days of Peter 1 Pet. 4.6 And who did then Preach it It was the Son of God He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not John 1.10 He was in the World and that to Teach and Instruct the Souls of Men. His being in the World relates to the time before his Incarnation then he treated with and revealed a way of Salvation to the perishing Souls of Men. He was in the World to give light to straying Sinners to awaken sleepy to apprehend flying to rescue and save sinning Souls He was in the World before Abraham was chosen and his Seed was taken as a Peculiar People or the Son came to them as his own 2. The Son of God preached when he was manifested in the Flesh At Nazareth where he was brought up Luke 4.26 he seems to Preach his first Sermon and then he chose that Text Isa 61.1 This Scripture evidences his Mission and contains his Commission As Ambassadors first shew their Credentials before they enter into a Treaty with those to whom they are sent So Christ as the Father's Ambassador produces his Credentials he saith The Spirit of the Lord was upon him for he anointed him to Preach glad tidings unto the meek And Christ in pursuance of his Commission and Instructions went about preaching the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God Luke 8.1 Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom Matth. 4.23 Jesus was not idle did not loyter or trifle away his time but was daily casting his Net to take Souls and calling Men from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God * When the Son of God was Incarnate then Wisdom cried without Prov. 1.20 And the first-born of Gods new Family declared his Name to his Brethren Ps 22.22 Then the Church found him without Cant. 8.1 That is come forth into our Nature And where he did not Convert Men yet he did convince and somewhat awaken and terrifie sinners with the fear of Hell In this sense he is said To smite the Earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips to slay the wicked Isa 11.4 3. Now Christ is in Heaven he still continues to Preach Take heed saith the Apostle Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh we shall not escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven It was foretold that our Lord Jesus should speak Peace to the Heathen Zech. 9.10 So it was fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Paul saith That Christ came to Ephesus Preaching Peace to them that were afar off Ephes 2.17 Jesus Christ was then ascended to Heaven yet even then he came to Ephesus and preached Peace As he went to the Old World and preached before his Incarnation so he came to Ephesus after his Ascension and proclaimed Peace though he came into the World to wage War with Satan and to destroy his works yet he daily comes and preaches Peace to Sinners and wooes and beseeches them to be reconciled to God * 2 Cor. 5.20 Thus you see that the Son of God preached by Instruments and by his Ambassadors before and since his Incarnation as he preached immediately when he was here in the World For the prosecuting of the Doctrine I shall insist upon these three things 1. How fit the Son of God was to Preach 2. What it was he did Preach 3. To whom he did Preach 1. I shall shew you how fit the Son of God is to Preach and that in respect 1. To the Divine Nature he possesses 2. As to the Office he is cloathed with 1. As to the Divine Nature he hath 1. As he is God he knows all things as he was in the bosom of the Father from Eternity John 1.18 He is conscious to all his Secrets he is privy to all his Thoughts of Grace and Counsels of Peace that did spring up in his Heart from Eternity concerning the Sons of Men. None knows the Father but the Son and he to whom he will reveal him Mat. 11.27 The Son knows the Father immediately perfectly and infallibly As the Wisdom of God he hath a full Acquaintance with the Father nothing is hid or concealed from him what he hath seen with and heard from the Father that he testifieth John 3.32 A Witness that reports what he hath heard and seen is surely to be credited and such a Witness is Jesus Christ Isa 55.4 Rev. 3.14 He was to bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles Isa 42.1 The Doctrine of the Gospel is God's Judgment concerning a way of Relief Reconciliation and Salvation for Sinners This Doctrine Christ was to bring forth and that out of the bosom of the Father * Vid. Piscal in loc These great Secrets he was to reveal to the World 2. None but the Son of God can give sufficient Authority and Efficacy to the Word 1. The Son gives Authority to the Gospel he that Preaches out of the bosom of the Father John 1.18 He that speaks from the Throne of Majesty and Glory * Heb. 12.25 is to be regarded The Word ought and is to be received as the Word of God 1 Thess 2.13 It is to be entertained as a Law from his Mouth Job 22.22 What the Son Preaches is stamped with a Divine Authority All should tremble at and stand in awe of his Word 2. The Son of God only can give Efficacy to the Word He that brought forth the Gospel out of his Father's Bosom can bring it into our Hearts He can sow cause the Seed to take Root and change the Soil he can write in the Tables of our Hearts 2 Cor. 3.3 Jesus Christ did not write the Gospel with his own Hand in any Paper or Book he intended and reserved a more Noble Writing to himself which is most becoming of him and peculiar to him He writes in the Minds Consciences and Wills of Men and he writes not Letters Syllables bare Words or Sentences but he writes Divine Truths Supernatural Mysteries Spiritual Principles Dispositions and Inclinations in the Souls of Men. The Son can come at and write in that Table that no other can reach or make impressions on And the Son of God can write so effectually as to change a
not to the sinful and inordinate love of themselves It is mens Lust that is active in this Adultery the Creature is only Passive it groans under this Force put on it but cannot decline and avoid it the Creature is innocent but it is a Mans Unchast and Filthy Heart that is guilty For this Spiritual Whoredom men deserve to be cast into Gods Prison if God be broken by their whorish Heart Ezek 6.9 then surely they are worthy to be wounded and broken for it 2. Men are debtors to God every sin is a Debt Matt. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors we primarily owe to God a Debt of Love and Obedience but for default in the Payment of this Debt there arises another Debut we owe God Glory to be raised out of our Sufferings Eternal Misery and Torments all Creatures must bow to God and some way or other serve him Isa 45.32 Either as Vessels of Honour or as Vessels for Dishonour God must have glory either by his Mercy or our Misery it is but just that God should enter his Action against his Debtors that he should Sue Arrest and Imprison them If those that owe Mony to Men and do not pay it are cast into Prison much more those that owe Service and Obedience to God and not render it are to be thrown into an Eternal Prison 3. Sinners are now already in Prison they are called Prisoners Isa 24.6 Isa 49.9 they are Styled Captives Isa 61.1 they are said to be taken Captive by the Devil at his will and to be held in his Snare they are in the Bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 The Sins of Men do take them and their iniquities do hold them Prov. 5.22 we read that Paul and Silas were cast into the inner Prison Acts 16.24 This Expression of the Inner Prison implies the Prison was divided into two parts there was an outer and an inner Prison so I may distinguish God hath an outer and inner Prison his outer Prison is in this World his inner Prison is in Hell here sinners are in the outer Prison they are bound Isa 61.1 they are held Rom. 7.6 They are taken captive 2 Tim. 2 last They are shut up under sin Gal. 3.22 Loaden with Dead Works Heb. 9.14 Guilty before God Rom. 3.19 And Condemned John 3.18 He that believes not is Condemned already and if men stay and continue in the outer-Prison and Death finds them here how just is it that God should cast them into his inner Prison and shut them up and hold them there for ever 4. Jesus Christ himself when he was a surety for Sinners and stood in their room and stead was made a Prisoner was under a restraint and confinement Isa 53.8 It is said He was taken from Prison and Judgment Jesus Christ could not have been taken out of Prison if he had not first been in Prison But how was Jesus Christ in Prison I answer 1. The great sorrow that was in the amazing fear that was on Christs Spirit was as a Prison about his Soul Matt. 36.37 38. he was sorrowful and very heavy he said My Soul is sorrowful to the Death He was sore amaz'd Mark 14.33 taking a prospect of the dreadful storm that did hang over him the deep and bitter Cup reach'd out to him the vast Ocean of Sorrows and Sufferings that were before him yet he was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 This implies that he was under fear yet he was deliver'd from it that it did not sink him or overwhelm him 2. Jesus fell into the hands of his Enemies they seized on him led him him away to Annas and Caiaphas they held him under their power for several hours till they Condemned and Executed him John 18.12 13. the Captain and band of Soldiers took Christ bound him and led him away as a Prisoner 3. Jesus was buried he was laid in the dust and shut up as a captive of Death in the prison of the grave but such was the dignity of his person the value of his Blood the satisfactory nature of his Suffering that his Captivity was short his Imprisonment lasted but a little while yet this confinement and prison of Christ doth teach us what sinners deserve doth instruct us what they must expect if they are not washed from their Sins in Christs Blood and reconciled to God by his Death his Person being infinite and his Sufferings satisfactory his Prison could only be temporary and short but the nature of Sinners being Finite and their sufferings not able to expiate their sins their Prison must needs be Everlasting 5. God threatens sinners with this Prison and he must needs be just to himself and true to his word the Lightening of Gods Threatning is not without a Thunderbolt of Execution and Vengeance Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God God hath not only said it but also sworn it That he will never forget any of the deeds of impenitent Sinners Amos 8.7 the Lord hath Sworn by the Excellency of Jacob that is by himself that is Jacobs Excellency surely I will never forget any of their Works Tho men forget God and his Laws yet he will not forget their Crimes and Iniquities Gods Threatning must stand therefore sinners must fall into the Bottomless Pit Gods word must take hold of them Zack 1.5 6. therefore they will be cast into the Eternal Prison If we confirm not Gods Command by doing it Deut. 27. last God will confirm his threatning by executing it Dan. 9.12 6. The Spirits of Sinners departed out of the Body must be shut up in Gods Prison for God hath mighty Officers of Justice he hath powerful Bayliffs and Serjeants to Arrest to Seize on to carry away departing Souls Luke 12.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall require and demand thy Soul of thee they that shall require it will not be denied will not be rejected and sent empty away they will take hold of guilty Creatures drag them to the highest Tribunal and present them to the Sovereign Judg of Heaven and Earth good or bad Angels seize on dislodging and removing Souls I have been credible informed concerning a wicked man that I knew my self That when he was on the brink of the Pit and on the Borders of Eternity Something in the likeness of a Crow appeared in his Chamber and sate on the Testar of his Bed and could not be driven away till the sick man gave up the Ghost and then it suddenly Vanished away The Antient Rabbins have talked of the Angel of Death that did appear to Sick and Dying Men and was very Terrible to them by this Angel of Death they seem to mean some good or bad Angel sent to fetch the Soul to God's Tribunal to give its Account and to receive its final Sentence God doth not want Means or Messengers to attach and apprehend guilty Souls and to Conduct them into his Terrible and glorious