but from the penalty expressed in his Law for the breach of it which is death Genesis 3. 3. Proof V. The word saith Gods fury is like fire in the fire of his jealousie he shall make a speedy riddance of all them in the day of the Lords wrath Ezek 1. 18. but to contiuue in torment for ever is no speedy riddance therefore there is no such punishment to be the pouring out of the fiery anger of the Lord is a day Zeph. 1. 15 18. Rom. 6. 17. Ezek. 13. 14. 22. 22. James 2. 21. Isa. 13. 9 13. the day of the Lord is at hand Deut. 33. 34 35. Job 20. 28. a punishment never to end no-way a grees to a day therefore there is no such punishment to be Proof VI The opinion of the torments of Hell never to end hath and doth daily cause much sin For First it causeth feare feare hath punishment 1 John 4. 8. He that feareth is not perfect in love 1 Joh. 4. 18. a servile and a slavish fear is sin 2. It causeth many evill and hard thoughts of God 3. Fear troubleth the hearts of many of the Lords people and makes them sad with their lyes this God complains of Ezâ—k. 13. 22. their lies cause them to erre after which their Fathers walked Amos 2. 4. Châ—ist saith â—et not your hearts be troubled Joh. 14. 1. the fear of hell doth greatly trouble the hearts of many it is Gods will to comfort the sad to release those that are bound Isa 61. 1 2 3 4. 40. 5 9. a word fitly spoken is like apples of Gold in pictures in Silver Pâ—ov. 25. 11. 4. Fear distracts and greatly discourageth the soul hinders faith that which freeth the soul from fear fits the soul to serve God without fear in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our lives Luk. 1. 74. 5. Fear unfits and disableth the soul to every good work to God or man fear unfits for any outward occasion fear is a weight that depresses the soul and makes it weak it straitneth the heart but hope comforteth and enlargeth it 6. The opinion of hell torments provokes the soul to envy and unbelief and hinders subjection to God if the soul apprehends it self lyable to so great and everlasting punishment it cannot submit to God nor be quiet This caused Francis Spira to wish hee were above God the light of this truth causeth the soul lesse to sinne and lesse to be troubled to have lesse hard thoughts of God and lesse to fret against the Lord 7. Their opinion causes an exceeding and unreasonable trouble of minde and melancholy such trouble is sinne John 13. 1. a merry heart doth good Prov. 17. 22. the knowledge of the truth herein easeth the fearful mind and causes as it were a Heaven upon Earth 8. Their opinion hath caused many to murder themselves in taking away their own lives by poyson stabbing drowning hanging strangling and shooting themselves casting themselves out of windowes and from high places to break their necks and by other deaths that they might not live to encrease their sin and encrease their torments in Hell 9. Their opinion provoketh to the greatest sins as despair also to the wickednesse that the world lieth in namely working for life to do duties to escape Hell and get Heaven which is to tread under foot the blood of Christ as an unholy thing Heb. 10. 29. in seeking to be justified by the law of works and not alone by the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ Rev. 1. 5. Jer. 23. 6. Heb 10. 10 14. 10. Freedome from feare causeth love love causeth service the love of Christ constraineth it tends to the comfort of many that through weakness of faith give way to Satans temptations to fear the torments of Hell causeth a feeble mind comfort the feeble mind 1 Thes. 5. 14. its a comfort to many whose children and friends die and leave no testimony of their conversion the fear that they are to suffer so great and endlesse torment hath greatly sadded and troubled the heart of many a parent and friend Proof VII The Reason that God gives that he will not contend for ever nor be almayes wroth for the spirit would faile before me and the souls I have made Isa. 57. 16. man is not able to dwell with everlasting burning Isa. 33. 14. to be in so great a torment as they speak of without end ease and refreshment the spirit must needs fail a small thing will make the spirit fail if so then the reason is the same against the being of a punishment never to end Proof 8. It is not agreeable to the God of nature to go contrary to the law of nature that he hath written in mankind there is planted in man an universal love to man especially to their Off-spring be they obedient or disobedient what bowels of love is there in Parents to their Off-spring when in misery and to others in misery and want sure no man doth desire any man nor creature to indure the torment they speak of one year much less their own of-spring how then may I or can I think so of God to be lesse pittifull lesse mercifull then cruell man Jer. 50. 24. and 6. 23. Hos. 4. 1. to his Off-spring we are all his Off-spring Acts 17. 28. sure God exceeds man in goodnesse if ye which are evill know how to give good things to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that aske him Math. 7. 8 9 10 11. thou Lord art good and dost good Psal. 119. 68. Math. 5. 45. though they were evil and did evil God did good and gave rain Act. 14. 17. They say the fire Dan. 3. 21. is nothing to Hell and that the greatest torment man can devise is scarce a shadow to that in hell by which they declare God to be more cruel than man Proof IX If man had deserved so great punishment why may not God shew that mercy as not to inflict it as well as to let his Sun to shine and his rain to fall on them that no way deserve it seeing he could if he so pleased hinder it we do see men shew more kindnesse to a rebellious and disobedient child then he deserveth may not God do the same so much as God is greater than man so much greater is his mercy love and goodnesse than that in man yea than that that is or ever was in all men all that came from him and all is but the least drop to that great sea and ocean of mercy and love that is in him how little a portion is heard of him Job 24. 14. All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing vanity Isaiah 40. 12 15 17 22. O how great is he that hangeth the earth upon nothing Job 24. 7. he can and will doe for the worst creature far above that which it is able to ask or think
Proof X. Because Gods general goodness in the creation of the world is to all his creatures and also in his ordinary dispensation is towards and for the whole Universe of mankinde he hath provided room enough for all men and creatures and all good things for all the profit of the earth is for all Eccles. 5. 9. God hath commanded us to doe good to all he that hath two coats is to impart to him that hath none and he that hath meat must do so likewise Luke 3. 11. all which doth hold forth Gods good will and care to mankind he that would not have them suffer the torment of misery and want that taketh care to prevent that little and short misery will not impose a far greater never to end Proof XI Their opinion lesseneth the goodnesse of God and limiteth to a few whereas the Scripture declares it to be to all Romans 5. the creature it selfe shall bee delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Romans 8. 19. the whole Creation and every creature is Angels and men Jewes and Gentiles verse 20. Mark 16. 15. in bondage to corruption subject to vanity Idolatry and delusion of the Devil that know not nor partake of the glorious liberty of the sons of God shall be delivered from this bondage into the said liberty for God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Corinthians 5. 19. this is spoken to perswade them to be reconciled to God verse 20. which shewes it to concern mankind the Protestants in Poland understand by every creature Angels and men they say there will come a time when the Angels and wickedest men shall be freed Origen one of the Fathers held that at last all should be saved men and Devils the generality of the Fathers held that all souls shall be purged by fire of the last Judgement and so passe to salvation Moulin pag. 135. see Rom. 11. 22 23 27. All flesh shall see the salvation of God Romans 8. 19. see 1 Timothy 2. 3 4 5. Isaiah 47. 17. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it Isaiah 40. 5. the times of the restitution of all things God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the world began Acts 3. 21. they shall in time be delivered from their bondage for which deliverance they groan are not all Angels and men obedient or disobedient the creation of God if so the worst shall partake of the liberty of the Sons of God as the whole creation came from God or rather is in God for in him we live it shall be taken up into the same glory a good the larger it is the better if it be good to shew mercy to some is it not more good to have mercy on all Romans 5. 18. Plato could say God being a supreme good there was no envy in him to any of his creatures but rather a desire that all might be made like him this is so great and glorious a discovery of God and that all men are in God for in him we live and move and have our being as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are all his off-spring Acts 17. 28. I have wondred how the Heathen Poets came to know this truth sure God did manifest it to them if all men are in God all men are in Christ for Christ saith I and my Father are one John 10. 30. also if all men are in God for in him we live and move c. if so then all men are in Christ for God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Corinth 5. 9. all confess that all that are in Christ shall be saved as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Corinthians 15. 22. I see God is good and doth good and that it is suitable to the being of God to do good to all and that no such torment of such continuance any way agrees to the mind and will of God Romans 5. puts the second Adam in opposition to the first in saving to his sinning if all Nations be blessed as Gen. 22. 18. every pâ—rticular is comprehended in the generall word All it is a great lessening of the greatness and glory of the fulness and riches of Gods grace to say that God hath made this world for all who are many and the best world to come but for a very few shall the fruit of Christ the Son of Righteousness be more narrow and confined than the Sun in the firmament whose excellency is that its bright raies and beams are dispersed into every corner of the Universe Proof XII It doth no way agree to the spirit of a Saint we may know the mind of God by the mind of a Saint we have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 16. He that is turned to the Lord is one spirit 1 Corin. 1. 17. God is in them of a truth 1 Cor. 14. Christ in us Coloss. 1. 27. Stephen when stoned cryed Lord lay not this sin to their charge Acts 7. 58. Saints they are ever mercifull Psalm 36. 17. The desire of the righteous is onely good Prov. 11. 22. such torment of such continuâ—nce in the least agree not to the gracious mind and mercifull heart of a Saint he desires not any man nor creature to be in such torment an hour therefore it doth no way agree to the mind of God we find the more the Lord manifests himself in any the more their minds and spirits are humbled the more loving and mercifull they are even to their enemies and can do them good for evil Proof XIII Such torments do not in the least agree to the mind and will of Christ Christ is full of love and mercy to the worst men it was truly said of Christ He was a friend to Publicans and Sinners He the best friend to them that ever was when they crucified him he said Father forgive them Luke 23. 34. when the Disciples would have had fire to come down from Heaven to consume Christs enemies he rebuked them Luke 9. 54. he that will by no meanes suffer his enemies to suffer a short deâ—th by fire will not inflict upon them a more terrible fire never to end ye may know the mind of God by the mind of Christ for Christ is God a like equall Acts 28. Heb. 1. 3. and as one I and my Father are one Joh. 10. 30. Proof XIV Such punishments agree not to the fruits of the holy and blessed God the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace goodnesse c. Galatians 5. 22 23. the fruit of the spirit is in all goodnesse Eph. 5. 9. The words of the Lord are pure words Ps. 12. 6. The words of the pure are pleasant words Prov. 15. 25. good words comfortable words the holy Spirit is calâ—ed a Comforter not a tormenter the pure spiâ—it of love sends forth only love and sweetness Proof XV No
such torment no way agrees to the nature of God God is love 1 Iohn 4. 16. it is his nature there is no anger nor fury in love fury is not in me Isa. 27. 4. God wills us to love enemies that abuse wrong and hate us God will do so much more love his enemies Luke 6. 35. if God should only love them that love him doe not the Publicans the same Mat. 5. 46. all that is in God is God is infinite God is love love is infinite without bounds and limits though we in our shallownesse and nâ—rrowness have often set bounds and limits to infinitenesse there was never any beginning in God therefore no beginning of his love the infinite blessed God is one and ever the same I am the Lord I change not Mich. 3. 6. this love delights in mercy and love and not in punishing of sinne that is his strange act Isa. 28. 21. Christ died to answer the Law we brake Christ did not purchase the love of God he loved us before the world began and ever will Joh. 13. 1. God was never without his love nor is ever out of that love Christ saith thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me Joh. 17. 23. at what shall God be angry or unsatisfied for God was never angry with Christ nor his people nor at the being of sin nor at Christ taking our sins upon him for he laid them on him the iniquity of us all Isa. 53. 6. Proof XVI It is not suitable to the mercifulnesse of a father to his child of a Creator to his Creature the work of his hands to impose so great a punishment without end upon any of them that were worse then to forsake the works of his hands and is contrary to Ps. 148. 8. Your heavenly father is mercifull Luk. 6. 36. rich in mercy Eph. 2. 7. the Lord is gracious of great mercy the Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works all thy works shall praise thee and thy Saints shall blesse thee Psal. 145. 8 9 10. he is good to all he despiseth not any Job 36. 5. no Respecter of persons Acts 10. 34. Proof XVII Sin cannot overcome his love where sin hath abounded grace abounds much more Rom. 5. 20. this declares the mercy of God to be greater then sin if so the grace of God is to all to the worst for sinne abounds in them most and where sinne abounds grace abounds much more if so then all their sins shall be forgiven and if any were so to suffer how hath grace abounded to them much more where sinne hath abounded answer this if ye can with the Lord there is mercy Psal. 130. 7. the Lord is good to all therefore to the worst of men his tender mercies are over all his workes therefore to the worst of men also for they are the work of his hands Job 34. 14. Isa. 64. 8. therefore there is no punishment for any to endure never to end he that bids us not to be overcome with evil but to overcome evil with good he wil not be overcome with evil but will overcome all evil with his infinite goodnes that which is finite cannot possibly overcome that which is infinite Proof XVIII God he is just therefore he will not do any thing but that which is just and right the greatest punishment of the breach of his law is death he will not inflict another much less a worser punishment then he hath expressed in his Law Justice is in number weight measure God requires things equal ye may see the mind of God in his command in forbidding any thing to be done but that which is equal and suitable to the fact as eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot stripe for stripe Exodus 21. 24 25 26. How much she hath glorified her selfe and livâ—d deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Rev. 18. 7. what measure you mete to others shall be measured to you again murder an horrible and grievous sin yet it is punished with an equal punishment in this life life for life he that shed deth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed Gen. 9. 6. life for life is equal but to lose life for life and also to suffer so great torment never to end is not equal Proof XIX It is no profit nor pleasure to God for any to suffer such endless torment he hath no pleasure in the death of any Ezek. 18. 31 32. much less can it be any pleasure to him for any so to suffer he desires mercy and not sacrifice Mich. 6. 6. if so he desires not any should be so sacrificed in a torment never to end God abhors cruelty Amos 1. 3 6 13. and casting off pity Proof XX It is not for the glory of God to impose such a punishment upon any glory lieth not in imposing great and terrible punishments that belongs to cruelty is abhorred by the light of nature Glory lieth in great mercy and forgivenesse Exod. 34. 6 7. the greater mercy and forgiveness the greater is the grace and the more is it to the glory of God love covereth all sins Prov. 10. 12. he that covereth transgreâ—sion seeketh love Pro. 17. 9. if man his glory is to passe over transgression Prov. 19. 11. it is for the glory of God to do so much more God made all things and doth all things for his glory he seeketh hâ—s glory in his exceeding greatness and riches of his grace Ephes. 2. 7. it is more for his glory to save all then to save a few the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life Rom. 5. 18. sin could not hinder Manasses Mary Magdalen persecutors wicked prodigals to find mercy I cannot admit to think any thing that is cruel to be in God in love whose goodness is unsearchable past finding out farre above all we can ask or think there is such a confused noise among men of the grace love of God so many several voices that we are in confusion and know not what to make of it look above and hearken to the sweet voice above in the Region of love what is the voice in Heaven they agree in one there is no voice comes from Heaven but love peace and good will to man let men say what they will I rest satisfied in the voice above that is onely a voice of love and good will it s enough to satisfie any in this doubt and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of Heavenly Hosts praising God saying glory be to the highest on earth peace good will to men Luk. 2. 13 14. not onely to some men but to all people v. 10. this is glad tidings indeed good news from Heaven the best news that ever was that God hath good will to men there is no ill will all is good will to men this causeth peace and praise glory be to the highest for his sweet peace and good will to men to all people Conclusion in reading the Scriptures we are not to understand any text in such sense as is not plain in Scriptures or contrary to Scriptures or contrary to the Law of nature or against the general goodness of God to mankind or to lessen the goodness of God or contrary to the gracious spirit and mercifulness of a Saint or contrary to the mind of Christ which he declared when on earth or contrary to the fruits of the blessed Spirit the nature of the love goodness and mercy of God or that shall tend to contradict or lessen the glory of God or lessen the greatness and riches of his grace for it is not to be imagined that God who is onely wise should doe and teach contrary things Sure I am from hence arise no inconveniency to the Gospel nor is it any dishonour to God nor any grief nor hinders faith and love in any good man nor any discouragement to any in serving of God that there is not to be a punishment for any to endure that shall never end There is not any thing more plaine then that which hath been said to him that will agree to truth some will not agree to any thing though never so plain and certain if contrary to the tradition of their Fathers this their way is their folly and their posterity approve their saying Psal. 49. 13. who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Isa. 53. 1. Some believed the things that were spoken and some believed not Acts 28. 29. they make a man an offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turn away the just for a thing of nought Isa. 29. 21. O God the Lord the strength of my salvation thou hast covered my head in the day of battel Psal. 140. 7.