Soul of Jesus Christ being separated from the Body did go and Preach to some of the Fathers of the Old Testament that were not as they say yet admitted into Heaven but were reserved in some out-rooms of Hell where they felt no pain but did not yet see the Glorious Face of God nor enjoy his Blessed Presence But this cannot be the true genuine sense of the words For 1. If Spirit signifies here the Soul of Christ and quickned imports his Resurrection then Jesus Christ must Preach to these Spirits not while his Body was dead but after his Resurrection which the Papists themselves will not own or admit 2. Spirit in the 18th Verse signifies Christ's Divine Nature and it was not in this or by this that he preached to the Spirits of the Old Testament after their Souls were separated from their Bodies 3. Those that Christ preached to lived and were disobedient in the days of Noah it is not said they did Repent of or break off from their sins but were hardned in their Unbelief and dyed in their Iniquities they went down uncircumcised in Heart into the Pit and so Eternal Death was their Wages and Hell was their own Place Now even Papists dare not say that Christ preached to the Damned their state is remediless the Sentence irrevocable their Loss irrecoverable there is no Year of Jubilee no Goal-delivery for imprisoned Spirits confined to and shut up in Hell Jesus Christ would not Preach to those that God had cast off for ever and doomed to Eternal Misery for their continued and obstinate Disobedience they whose Nature was not changed on Earth their Condition could not be altered in Hell 4. If the Soul of Christ had preached to Souls in the Prison of Hell what Reason can be assigned why he should Preach rather to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah than to those that were disobedient in the days of Abraham Moses or in the after-times of the Prophets This one Argument may shame this Notion and confute this ungrounded Exposition of the words that the Soul of Christ went down to Hell to Preach to Spirits there Before I come to the main Doctrines that the words afford I shall observe several other great Truths that the words do offer to us 1. That the Scripture is a most Excellent and Divine Book in that it gives us such a true Account and such sure Notions about a future and eternal state after Death As it tells us what is the Condition of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Holy Prophets that they are in the Palaces and Kingdom of God Luke 13.28 so it informs us what is become of the Sinners of the Old World that these are cast into the Prison of God He that appoints Portion in the Paradice above and assigns places in the Prison below and adjudges to each of these by an irrevocable Sentence can best tell what is become of Saints and Sinners now they are departed out of the World 2. This Evidences the Immortality of the Soul that the Spirits of wicked Men are said to subsist after Death and to abide in God's Prison though their Garments of Flesh were pluckt off their Houses of Clay thrown down to the Dust yet their Souls did not expire or sleep as a Man can live though his Garments are put off or his House be demolished or drop down So the Soul hath no such necessary dependance on the Body but can exist though this Garment be put off this House be pulled down This Candle will burn though taken out of the Lanthorn of the Flesh Death doth not blow out only it removes this Light into another World 3. We may observe the Mercy and Goodness of God that though he had threatned a Flood and adjudged all the World besides eight Persons to be drowned by it yet the Son of God Preaches to this degenerate and wicked World before he destroys them though God designed Severity against their Bodies yet he offers Mercy to their Souls that though they could not avoid the first yet that they might decline the second Death and though their baser part were cast away yet that their Souls might swim to and Land safely on the Shoars of a blessed Eternity and God's means do not use to be totally ineffectual and in vain The Word is seldom if ever preached but that some are to be drawn out of the dead Sea and called out of their Graves by it Peter seems to tell us that the Word was not wholly lost on the Old World but that some received saving Benefit by it 1 Pet. 4.6 For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that were dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit This may be Vid. Piscal in locum and is expounded to relate to and point at the state of the Old World the Gospel was preached to them that though they were judged were drowned and perished in the Eye of Men as to their Flesh yet they might live to and with God in their Spirits Though God proclaimed War against their Bodies yet he tendred Peace to their Souls 4. We may further Observe that even those that the Son of God Preaches to may stop their Ears close their Eyes harden their Hearts and for their Unbelief and Impenitency may be cast into God's Prison and perish everlastingly The Gospel is to some the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.16 They did shut Christ out of their Souls and for this are shut up under the wrath of God and are the Subjects of Eternal Vengeance 5. We may Observe what a hainous Evil Sin is and what a terrible Adversary God is He did not only sweep away the sinners of the World and drown their Bodies in a Flood of Waters but he imprisoned and punished their Souls God drowned their Spirits in Destruction and Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 Sin is committed against an Infinite Majesty and cannot be sufficiently punished or satisfied for in a Finite Time by a Finite Creature It is an Axiom in the Civil Law Accusatio rei morte finitat An Accusation is finished by the death of the guilty Person all Process and Proceedings then cease against the Delinquent But it is otherwise here God's Accusation is not let fall his Actions are not withdrawn his Controversie doth not cease when sinners dye he pursues and overtakes them in another World there he meets them as one bereaved of his Authority Honour and Glory by them he resents the wrongs done to him he pours out the full Vials of his Wrath on them and fights against them for ever They are that they may be Miserables a bare Stock of Being is continued that God may graft Misery and Eternal Torments on it The words afford us two Doctrines First That the Son of God did Preach before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his
and turned the Flint into a Fountain of Waters Psal 114. last So in vain would Christ's Ministers smite on the Rocky Hearts of Men to draw Penitential Tears from thence if the Son of God doth not stand on this Rock and so melt and dissolve it into Floods of Godly Sorrow In vain would our hands knock at the Door of Mens Hearts if Jesus Christ had not a Hand to open them Acts 16.14 The Lord opened the heart of Lydia and then she attended to what Paul spake The Prophet Isaiah saith The Lord spake to him with a strong hand and that he should not walk in the way of that People Isa 8.11 The Lord speaks with a strong Hand when he levels Mountains of Opposition conquers Enmity and effectually Plants the Word in the Heart The Bridegroom did not only give sweet Names to and use strong Arguments with the Church why she should rise and open to him but he put in his Hand by the hole of the Door he touched her Heart he stirred her Affections he moved her Bowels towards him and then she rose to open to him Cant. 5.2.4 5 6. This is a great Encouragement that Ministers do not speak alone but Christ speaks in them 2 Cor. 13.3 And they do not act alone but the Lord Christ works with them Mark 16.20 Use 3. Doth the Son of God Preach as well by Instruments as when he Preaches immediately in his own Person Then 1. Be convinced that whoever Preaches that you have to do with the Son of God it is he that speaks to and deals with your Souls Noah he treated with and preached to the Old World he is styled A Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 But in the Text Peter doth over-look him and keep silence concerning him and saith The Son of God went by his Divine Nature and preached to the old World that were disobedient in the days of Noah As the light of the Sun doth obscure darken and hide the Stars so this Sun of Righteousness by his Glorious Light doth darken all the dim and little Candles he doth make use of O! how should this awe our Hearts and make us to tremble at the Word that it is the Son of God that Preacheth and dispenseth it to us 2. This should make us forward willing and ready to hear because it is the Son of God that Preacheth If Christ were now on Earth and was to Preach at such a place to day and at another place to morrow would not Men and Women run and flock to hear him Should we not charge folly on and impute sin to those that would not lay aside Excuses neglect their little petty Affairs and Concerns in the World to hear the Son of God Incarnate And yet when the Son of God Preaches by Instruments how ingenious are Persons to invent Pretences to neglect and hinder themselves from hearing Christ speaking by his Ambassadors They will not with the Eunuch * Acts 8.38 cause the Chariot of their Trade and Worldly Business to stand still to attend on an Ordinance of God and listen to the Word of Jesus Christ The Queen of the South came from the ends of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon Mat. 12.42 But how few now will step without their Doors to hear the Son of God Preaching by his Servants It is said in Prov. 8.33 34. That they are blessed that do hear Wisdom watch daily at her Gates and wait at the Posts of her doors Men should be as willing and forward Scholars that come to School before the Gates or Doors of the School are opened that stay and wait there when the Doors will be opened and they be let in to be instructed and learn Thus should we run to and wait at the Doors of Wisdom's House where she teacheth School and gives saving Instructions to ignorant Souls 3. Doth the Son of God Preach by his Instruments as truly as in his own Person O then how should we attend and listen to the Word Hearken O Daughter encline thy ear Psal 45.10 As those that are somewhat deaf are thick and hard of Hearing how do they bow down their Ears and put them near to the Mouth of the Speaker So we should with the greatest care attend to Christ's Word Isa 55.2 We should hearken diligently to Châ—â—st and eat that which is good The Word that we hear is the Bread of Life and the Food of our Souls and shall we not therefore listen to it We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we hear lest at any time we should let them slip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there seems to be an Allusion to Water-Glasses that were anciently used to measure Time by and as the Water in the upper Glass did drop into the lower till all was run out So we are apt to lose the Word of God by our negligent and careless hearing of it so it leaks and flows away from us and we get no saving Benefit by it We must hear with that Attention as those that have to do with the Prince of Life with the Lord of Glory as those that hear Matters of Infinite Consequence and everlasting Concernment You must attend as those that hear for their Souls and Eternity Take heed of a sleepy Ear a drousie Mind a Heart wandring and roving Will you bring Bodies only into God's Presence Will you leave Carcasses before him and let your Thoughts stray and your Minds run to the ends of the Earth Would a condemned Malefactor hear his Pardon read as you hear Jesus Christ offering Grace and Remission of Sins to your perishing Souls 4. We should readily receive the Word of the Son of God as the good Ground is said to drink in the Rain and Dew that cometh oft upon it Heb. 6.17 O how should you drink in the Word of Jesus Christ O how should it soak and sink into your Hearts That Doctrine that came out of the Bosom of the Father should it not be lodged in your Breasts and be received into your Hearts Job 22.22 Receive the Law from his mouth and lay it up in thy heart We must entertain the Word as coming immediately from the Mouth of Christ and you must let it into your Hearts Psal 119.20 My Soul breaketh for the longings it hath to thy righteous Judgments at all times As the dry Ground so thirsteth after Rain that it chappeth cleaveth breaketh and with open mouth Petitions Heaven for Rain So our Souls should even break for the Longings we have after the Rain of Christ's Word Matth. 11.12 The Kingdom of Heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force the Doctrine of a Spiritual and Heavenly Kingdom was earnestly catched at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the violent do catch at and snatch it away If Bread were thrown among the Hungry if Pieces of Gold and Silver were thrown among the Poor O how would starving and perishing Poor catch at this Bread and these Pieces
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
heavier Yoke on himself for us He puts his Name into our Bond and became a Surety for us the Debt was great he was to discharge it was not to be paid off with Gold and Silver but with Blood the Debt was not only possible or probable or likely only to fall on him but certainly to take hold of him and to be required of him He was to be wounded with the Sword of his own Father to bear the heaviest Burden to drink the most bitter Cup this Lamb of God was to be roasted by the hottest Fire he was to sweat Blood and to pour out his Soul to the Death and is it not reasonable now that the Son of God should require us to renounce our depraved Wills base Lusts and vile Affections and put our Necks under his easie Yoke bound on us by Cords of Love Did our Lord submit and obey and shall we be proud disobedient and rebellious 3. The Son of God preached Peace Ephes 2.17 His Gospel is a Gospel of Peace Ephes 6.15 His Covenant a Covenant of Peace Isa 54.10 In the days of his Flesh he preached Peace Acts 10.36 And now he still publisheth Peace to humbled Sinners This Peace the Son of God Preaches is a costly and righteous Peace His own Father did wage War with him that he might make Peace with us Zech. 13.7 He called the Sword of his Justice to awake smite and wound his own Son The Sufferings the Wounds of Christ were great and deep they came from they were made by the awakened Sword of Justice Our Sins had made a wide Breach between God and us and this Breach was filled by the dead Body of Jesus Christ Our Iniquities had kindled the Fire of God's Wrath and this Fire was quenched by the Blood of the Son of God He made Peace for our Souls because he made Atonement for our Sins 4. Jesus Christ preached Salvation That we should be saved from the hands of our Enemies and from all that hated us Luke 1.71 Sin and Death are our Enemies wicked Men and Satan hate us here is a Salvation from Enemies and all that hate us And this is a full and perfect Salvation Christ saves from sin Matth. 1.21 And he saves from wrath Rom. 5.9 And by his own Sufferings he was delivered up to Death Rom. 8.32 that he might deliver us from the Wrath to come 1 Thess 1. last He fell into the hands of God as an angry Judge that we might not fall into the Bottomless-pit He went out into the most dreadful Storm that he might allay it and free us from it The Cup of Wrath came to him that the Cup of Salvation might come to us Jesus Christ could not have been a Shield to us if he had not been pierced by the Arrows of Divine Vengeance himself He could not have been a shadow to us from the burning scorching Wrath of God if he had not been himself exposed to it That Cloud that skreened Israel from the hottest Beams of the Sun was exposed to them that Cloud did not feel the burning Beams of the Sun but Jesus Christ had a tender sense and feeling of the Wrath of God that for our sakes he was liable to 5. Jesus Christ preached the Kingdom of God Matth. 4.23 He went about Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and declaring the glad Tidings of the Kingdom of God Luke 8.1 Jesus Christ doth not only Preach to us Salvation from the greatest Evil but also the Enjoyment of the highest Good The Apostle 2 Tim. 2.10 saith The Elect shall obtain the Salvation that is in Christ together with everlasting Glory As Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not only called out of and saved from the Fiery Furnace but also promoted and exalted to Honour and Rule in the Province of Babylon Dan. 3. last So Believers are not only preserved from a Furnace of Fire but also called into a Glorious Kingdom they do not only escape Ruin but are advanced to Reign And this Kingdom is bequeathed by Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word as Budaeus * In Comment Graecae Linguae observes is Verbum Testamentale a word used by the Graecians in making their Wills Though in the account of wicked Men Jesus Christ died as a Malefactor yet in the Eye of God he died as a Testator when he was robbed of his Liberty Garments and Life then he bequeathed a Kingdom to enrich us for ever The Eternal Inheritance is a Legacy of Christ's Testament Heb. 9.15 Christ that is Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 takes us to be Coheirs with himself Rom. 8.17 Those that serve God shall Reign Rev. 22.3.5 And those that are Subjects to Christ shall wear a Glorious and Everlasting Crown Rev. 2.10 As the Blood of Christ keeps destroying Justice out so it gives us boldness to enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary Heb. 10.19 6. The Cross of Christ is preached 1 Cor. 1.19.23 as the Meritorious cause of all Good Christ's Poverty enriches us his Abasement Exalts us his Infamy is our Glory He is a Priest of good things Heb. 9.11 he merits and procures them by his Sacrifice The Death and Testament of Jesus Christ is the very Foundation of our hopes of and of our call to the Everlasting Inheritance Heb. 9.15 In the Civil Law * Institut lib. 2. Tit. 19. Sect. 6. he that is an Heir is said to be Vocatus ad haereditatem and that by the Testament of the Deceased This much illustrates Spiritual things Christ makes a Testament designs Heirs and calls them in due time to what he hath designed for them The Cross of Christ should be preached and the Death of the Son of God should be most valuable in our Eye because this is the Foundation and Confirmation of Christ's Testament If he had not made a Will and died to confirm it there had been no Heirs appointed there had been no Inheritance bequeathed and there had been no ground to call any to the Kingdom and Glory of God 3. To whom did the Son of God Preach I Answer sometimes to more sometimes to fewer before Abraham was called and his Seed chosen and separated to be God's Peculiar and only People he preached more or less to all Mankind if they did not cut off and cast themselves out by their Negligence and Profaneness as Cain's Posterity seemed to do Afterward God made an Inclosure of a Common when he took Abraham redeemed him from his Idolatry and called him from his Ignorance and Blindness Since that God hath made a Common instead of an Inclosure We read of the Common Faith Titus 1.4 And of the Common Salvation Jude's Epistle Verse 3. After Christ's death the Hedges were pulled * Luke 14 23. up the Inclosure thrown open Christ was to be a Light to the Gentiles and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 49.6 The Son of God is the true Universal Bishop 1 Pet. 2. last The
not listen to the Son of God as opening promulgating and declaring his own Testament and the Riches and Fulness of it Other Men's Testaments do make Heirs but they cannot make Children But in the Testament of Christ a new Heart a new Spirit and the Holy Ghost to sanctifie and quicken are bequeathed Ezek. 36.26 27. Those that are savingly renewed are regenerated by vertue of this Promise and so are styled The Children of Promise Gal. 4.28 We Brethren as Isaac was are Children of Promise as Isaac was born by vertue of God's Promise Rom. 9.9 At this time will I come and Sarah shall have a Son So Saints now are Children of Promise they are born again by vertue of this Promise A new Heart will I give to them a new Spirit will I put into them Ezek. 36.26 And as all the Grace we have is from the Womb of the Promise so all the Glory we hope for is by the Promise and therefore Believers are also styled The Heirs of Promise Heb. 6.17 18. O how is Christ's Testament ordered first to make us Children and then to make us Heirs First to make us Holy and then to make us Happy And will you not believe on and submit to the Son of God that Preacheth his own Testament First to impart to us a Divine Nature and then to communicate to us an Eternal Kingdom an Everlasting Glory I shall proceed to Propose a few Directions and so conclude my Discourse on the first Doctrine 1. If the Son of God Preaches as well and as truly by Instruments as in his own Person immediately then believe it is the Voice of the Son of God that sounds in your Ears and believe soundly and deeply what he Preacheth 1. Believe it is the Voice of the Son of God that you hear Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts There is not only the Voice of Ministers and Ambassadors but also the Voice of the King of Glory Christ draws near and comes with them Ephes 2.17 He came and preached Peace to you that were afar off And Jesus Christ speaks in them 2 Cor. 13.3 2. Believe soundly and sincerely what Christ Preacheth Rom. 10.10 With the heart Man believeth unto Righteousness Acts 8.37 If thou believest with all thy heart You should believe so as to be sure and fully perswaded in your own Minds John 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the Living God Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 We may confidently relye on the Word and we may boldly lean on the Arm of the Son of God This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 It is a Faithful Saying the Understanding may acquiesce in it and it is worthy of all Acceptation therefore the Will may embrace it 2. Make Particular Application of Christ's Word and Doctrine to your own Souls Account that Christ as truly Addresseth himself to you as if he did from Heaven call you by Name and apply himself to you John 10.3 He calleth his own Sheep by Name Jesus Christ with an effectual Call makes Persons to know that he speaks as expresly to them as if he did from Heaven mention their very Names Do not divert or turn off the Word to others Do not think that a Portion is divided to them but not to thee that their Conditions are pointed at their Sins reproved but not thine As Pictures in a Room do seem to look on every Person whose Eye is fixed on them So we should Account that the Word of the Son of God hath a particular Aspect on us that it directs our Hearts into the Love of God that it guides our Feet into the ways of Peace it speaks to all that hear it We should account that what is written is written for our Learning and what is spoken is spoken for our Practice 3. Obey the Son of God hear his voice presently Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice harden not your Hearts excuses delays will harden the Heart Audience and Obedience should be presently yeilded and rendred Jesus Christ we must not put off adjourn our Obedience to a longer day or to years hereafter to come David saith He considered his ways and turned his Feet to God's Testimonies he made hast and delayed not to keep his Commandments Psal 119.59 60. The Gentiles when they were Enlightned Convinced Converted they Exhort they Incourage one another Zech. 8.21 the Inhabitants of one City shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to Pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts I will go also those that are sensible of their Duty and Danger cannot defer or put off the great concernment of their Souls any longer Isa 49.17 it is said to Zion Thy Children shall make hast that is to joyn themselves to Christ and his Church This hast is set down by many Similitudes in Scripture it is said The Gentiles should as waters Flow to the Mountain of the Lords House Isa 2.23 Tho Waters they do run downwards naturally yet the Nature and motion of the Heathen Nations should be so chang'd that they should run upwards ascend the holy Hill of God the Nations should flow unto it 2. It is said The Gentiles should run to Jesus Christ Isa 5.55 Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy one of Israel for he hath Glorified thee 3. It is said that the Converted Gentiles should fly to the Church Isa 60.8 Who are these that fly as a Cloud and as the Doves to their Windows How swiftly do the Clouds move when driven by the Wind How swiftly do the Doves fly when pursued by the Hawk or any other Bird of prey so convinced and awakened Spirits will fly from the wrath that is to come and will fly for refuge to take hold of the hope set before them Matt. 3.7 Heb. 6.18 Are your Souls sick Are your wounds bleeding Are your Consciences burdened Are your Hearts broken And can you delay turning to Jesus Christ presently O! consider how great that Person is that speaks to you it is the Prince of Life the King of Glory and is he to be shut out or put off till a longer time O! think how great matters Jesus Christ speaks and treats about is Reconciliation to God espousals to Christ cutting off the Entail of the Curse reversing the Sentence of Death and setling upon you an eternal Inheritance small matters Are they unnecessary or inconsiderable things that you should delay to mind them till hereafter Is it not great mercy that the Son of God will open his Mouth He might have kept silence towards us as he doth to many Nations of the World at this day Why should we
be Visited when others are passed by and neglected Why should the Son of God come to and knock at our Doors when he is far off from others and makes no Address to them And will you slight and abuse Christs Kindness Will you break off the Treaty of Peace and reject the offers of Mercy If you delay Jesus Christ may withdraw he may utterly depart from you the Bridegroom may no more woo you the Physitian may no more offer his Help to you but suffer you to die of your Diseases the great Shepherd may break his Staff of Beauty take no more care of you but leave you to be a prey to Satan that roaring Lion O! consider if you delay and put Christ off Sickness may suddenly seize you Death may in a moment snatch you away your Flower may soon Fade your Lamp of Life be quickly blown out an Apoplexy may surprize you your Reason may be Clouded your Understanding darkned your Speech may fail you some sudden accident that you never thought of may cut off your Life in an instant will not your delays then be pernitious and fatal to you What then will become of all your Promises and all your purposes to Believe Repent and turn to God Will not Satan then catch away the Soul to Hell Will you not then fall into the Hands of the Living God Will you not be the objects of his Eternal Frowns and Fury Will you not then too late understand your Folly and Madness in puting off Jesus Christ O! will not Conscience then twit upbraid reproach you what did you think it was too soon to be Cured of your Diseases Was it too soon to have your Bonds and Satans snares broken Was it too soon to be made wise Too soon to be set at liberty Too soon to be Pardoned Too soon to return from your wanderings and get into the way of Salvation and Eternal Life How did Satan blind your Eyes How did Sin charm and bewitch your Souls You that once thought it too soon do now understand and feel that it is too late It is a very observable Sentence in Cyprian Sero credunt in aeternam paenam Contra Demetr qui noluerunt credere ad aeternam vitam Those too late will believe the truth of Gods word to their Eternal Punishment who would not timely believe to their Eternal Life they that would not see their Danger shall see their Destruction They that would not fear the Threatnings of Gods Mouth shall feel the Blows of his Hand Is it not better to hear now the sweet noise of the Bridegroom than hereafter to hear the terrible Voice of an Angry and Condemning Judg. Take heed that you be not Cheated and Beguiled by Satan he tells thee thou maist listen to Christ and Repent hereafter but his design is to harden thy Heart and that thou shalt never listen or turn to Christ As the Levite rose early to go his Journey Judges 19.5 but his Father in Law incouraged him to stay and comfort his Heart with a morsel of Bread and afterward he should go his way so Satan and sin are first modest in their Temptations and Suggestions They tell sinners they need not rise early and soon set out in the way to Heaven That it is best first to Comfort their Hearts with the Pleasures and Enjoyments of the World after they have Eaten a Morsel and Drunk a Draught of Stolen Waters they may go on in their way to another World and as the Levites Father in Law that first asked but for the Morning afterward desires the whole day and would have the Levite tarry all Night and so he did even thus Sin and Satan deal with wicked men after they have prevailed with them to mis-spend and vainly Consume the Morning of their Lives they afterwards insinnate desire and demand the whole Day of Life to be spent in Estrangement from God in the service of vile Affections and base Lusts so that the Night of Death comes on them and they drop down into the bottomless Pit The Levite tho he did not depart and journey one day yet he might Travel away the next but when our one day of Life is past and spent in sin there is no day of Life or Grace that will succeed to amend our Folly or repair our loss Psal 49.19 careless and negligent sinners go to the Generation of their ungodly Fathers they that never see the Light there will be a morning for Judgement and Condemnation but none for Repentance Delays are exceeding dangerous the Heart it more hardened Heb. 3.13 the old Man is more corrupted Ephes 4.22 As a Dead Body doth every day grow worse more corrupt and putrified even so the old Man in us doth more corrupt in its desires and affections it is great Policy in a Captain to hold an Enemy in a Treaty about a Surrender while he doth Portify his Garrison so it is a deep Policy of Satan to put thee on Fair Promises and faint purposes of yeilding to Jesus Christ while thy Heart is more Fortified with prejudice and enmity against God and Christ O! therefore soon stretch out thy Hands to Christ Psal 68.31 Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God in the Hebrew it is shall make her Hands run to God O! that thy Hands may run to Christ to receive precious Gifts from him and to offer up a Living Sacrifice to him The Second Part of a Discourse on 1 Pet. 3.19 The Second Doctrine that the last words of the Text afford us is this 2. Doct. The spirits of Wicked Men when they go out of the Body are confin'd to and shut up in Gods Prison THree things here are to be spoken to and insisted on 1. That God hath 2 Prison 2. That the Souls of wicked Men when they go out of the Body shall be cast into this Prison 3. I shall shew how Dreadful and Terrible this Prison is 1. That God hath a Prison Earthly Princes have places of Durance and Restraint for such as offend them and Transgress their Laws Gen. 1.2 3. two of the Officers of Pharaoh offended the King of Egypt their Lord was wroth with them and expresses his Displeasure by puting them in Prison And is it not highly reasonable and just that the King of Heaven and Earth should have his Prison to confine Transgressors to and to punish delinquents in Should Sinners that do their own wills fulfil the Devils Lusts Rebel against Gods Laws still be at liberty to Contract more Guilt and provoke more wrath if Iniquity were for ever joyn'd with Impuâ—ity would not the Majesty of God be still affronted his Laws trod under foot his threatnings derided and scorn'd Tho sinners own God in word and cannot utterly race and extirpate the Notion of a Divine Being out of their Souls yet they hold it in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 They are as Dark Lanterns to shut in and hide the Light of this great Truth they
Depart from us Job 12.14 15. they would not suffer such Thoughts to break in upon them to lodg or stay with them because they begin their Hell and anticipate their Torments before the time yet tho it be so greivous to sinners to remember God to have their Thoughts fixed to have their Minds dwell on God yet they must behold they must Converse with this Angry God for ever O! what a doleful dreadful Prison will it be when a guilty Creature and an angry God shall be alone together Sinners now have their divertisements they drink deep draughts of the Pleasures of Sin of the Wine of Sensual Delights that they may forget their Misery and shake off the thoughts of a Final Account of a Righteous Condemnation and of an Everlasting Destruction but in this Prison they can no more steep their Souls in Pleasures nor soak them in Sensual Delights all the Comforts of the World are gone but sin remains guilt abides Conscience can never be Charmed Silenced or suppressed When sinners lye down among Thorns of Terrours and in Sheets of Flames when they make their Bed in Hell Behold God is there Psal 139.3 This is an awakening a dreadful Behold O think on it behold God is in Hell There he meets Sinners with a frowning Face with a punishing Hand behold God is there to remember Iniquity against men to bind the yoke of their Transgressions on them This will most surprise and astonish this will most dismay sink overwhelm the Damned to meet with a God they have so wearied so grieved so vexed so burdened with their Iniquities Behold God is there but it is still to fill their Cup of wrath to deal out blows and give wounds to them by his Almighty Power Behold God is there and doth unveil his rowning Face to scorch them and make bare his glorious Arm to destroy them The second thing that I proposed to speak to is That the Spirits of Sinners when they go out of the Body shall be cast into and shut up in Gods Prison The Scripture confirms this truth in several places The rich man is said to die and in Hell he lifted up his Eyes being in Torments Luke 16.22 23. No sooner was his Soul out of the Tabernacle of the Body but it was in the Prison of Hell So Judas is said to go to his own place when he passed into the Regions of Darkness and of Misery Acts 25. The filthy Sodomites after their Bodies were burnt with a Temporal Fire their Souls were Tormented in Eternal Fames Judes Epistle 7. He that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the Congregation of the Dead in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies Giants some have thought that Hell is called the Congregation of the Giants there were Giants before the Flood Gen 6.4 as they were of High Stature in Body so they were no Dwarss in Sin and Wickedness their Iniquities grew to so great a Height that God was provoked to send a destroying Flood these Giants were not only drowned in the Waters but also swallowed up of Eternal Death These were such heinous Sinners that they seem to be presented as chief Proprietors and Principal Possessors and Inhabitants of Hell I shall endeavour to Demonstrate to you that it must needs be so That the Souls of wicked Men when they go out of the Body do pass into a Prison For 1. Here in this World they do cast off all restraints they are all for Carnal Liberty they exempt themselves from Gods Jurisdiction they count their Hearts their own they will Love and Lust as they please Heb. 9.10 Their Abominations were according as they Loved Sinners reckon their Tongues to be their own Psal 12.4 Our Lips are our own Who is Lord over us Therefore they will Talk and speak as they please The ten Tribes are called Aholah Ezek. 23.4 as much as to say her Tent because that Israel like an Adulterous Wife left the House of God her Lawful Husband forsook him and repaired to her own Tent Idolatrous Israel built high places set up Temples in Dan and Bethel these were the Israelites own Tents they did break off from Gods Temple they thought it Bondage and Slavery to be tied to Worship in Gods House they would Offer their Sacrifice in their own Tent. The Prodigal thought himself not a Freeman while he was under his Fathers Eye and Government he would not depend on him for Maintenance or be controuled by his Authority or Subject to his Commands he would have his Portion in his own Hands and Live of himself so he gathered together all that his Father gave him and departed into a far Country Luke 15.12 13 14. There he lived according to his own Lusts and liking he wastes his Fathers Goods keeps bad Company and indulgeth his vile affectiones to the height So Sinners carry it as if they were not under Gods Eye or Subject to his Authority Jer. 5.5 It is said of the great Men That they altogether broke the Yoke and burst the Bonds So Psal 2.23 The Kings of the Earth did set themselves and take Counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying let us break their Bands asunder and cast away their Cords from us Tho Jesus Christ came as a Redeemer to ransom and as a Deliverer to rescue Souls from Slavery yet they took up such wrong Notions such hard Thoughts of him as if he came to chain and fetter them to yoke and enslave them to spoil them of the Pleasure and deprive them of the liberty of their lives Hose tells us that the Princes of Judah were like those that remove the bound Hos 5.10 Sinners will not be restrained and limited by Gods Bounds or be held by his Bonds or bare his yoke Our first Parents affected inordinate Liberty to cast off all restraints to remove all bounds to be lawless and independent tho this indeed be Monstrous to have the limited Nature of a Creature and yet the boundless unlimited will of God Our first Parents thought to change their Tenure and of Tenants to become absolute Lords They denied God that little Quit Rent that he reserved to himself and invaded the Fruit of that Tree that he restrained them from that Carnal Liberty that Sinners so much hunt after and aspire to is a stream from this Poysoned Fountain and pernitious Fruit from this corrupt root their degenerate Children have all like sheep gone astray and have turned aside into their own way Isa 53.6 yea they love to wander Jer. 14.18 They choose their own ways and their Soul delights in their Abominations Isa 66.3 They think God a poor Master that can do little for them Job 22.14 15. Job 22.17 What can the Almighty do for them They account him a hard Master that requires too much of them Matt. 25.24 I knew thou wast a hard Man Reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast
presence The 3d. thing I proposed to speak to was to shew you how dreadful this Prison is and that I shall open to you in these following particulars 1. This Prison is a very dark Prison the Scripture calls the darkness of it outer darkness Matt. 8.12 The Children of the Kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness so the unprofitable servant is sentenced to and sent into outer darkness Matt. 25.30 Sinners now are in darkness yea they are said to be darkness Ephes 5.8 but this expression points at the inward darkness of the minds of Sinners there is a Cataract on the Eye of the Soul a Veil on the Understanding but there is besides this inward darkness an outer darkness when sinners shall be removed at the greatest distance from God the Father of Lights James 1.17 They shall be eternally separated and cut off from the Communion with God In his light Saints shall see light Psal 36.9 In the light of his Countenance they shall see the light of Life but wicked men shall go to the generation of their ungodly Fathers they shall never see the Light Psal 49.9 The mist of darkness is their portion 2 Pet. 2.17 yea the blackness of Darkness is reserved for them as an eternal inheritance Judes Epist the 13th v. what Terrour is there in this expression The blackness of darkness Neither Creatures that Shine as a Candle to them nor God as a Sun shall arise on them Luke paints out the sadness of Pauls State and of those that were in the Ship with him Acts. 17.20 That no small Tempest laid on them and that neither the Sun nor the Stars for many days appeared to them Thus it shall be with the Damned in Hell a dreadful Tempest of the wrath of God will lye upon them and he will never appear as a Sun to chear them nor suffer Creatures as Stars to shine for their Comfort they will be shut out from Gods gracious presence and also shut up from the Creatures they shall neither have Beams from Heaven nor Lamps from Earth they shall leave all their Idols behind them in the world they shall loose all their sensual pleasures and delights God will give them no joy and Creatures will lend them no comfort therefore blackness of darkness must needs follow Thick darkness that might be felt was one of the plagues of Egypt Exod. 21.22 23. but this lasted but three days but here is Eternal Darkness 2. This prison is a strong prison there is no breaking out of it no Filing off the Chains of the Damned or Forcing open the doors the Judg himself by the arm of his own Omnisciency is the Keeper of this Prison the Eye of his Omnisciency still watches over the Prisoners that there is no flying or escaping God challengeth all creatures who shall deliver out of my hand Deut. 32.39 if he do tare in pieces and deliver up the body to the first and the Soul to the Second Death there will be none to rescue or deliver Ps 50.22 when God shuts up there is no opening Job 12.14 Tho there may be millions of Prisoners in Hell yet this Evidences their weakness and evinces Gods strength that this huge and vast multitude cannot wrest themselves ouâ— of the Hand of the Judg or break his Prison God that cast them thither will hold and secure them there 3. Gods Prison is a close Prison there will be no Addressing to Visiting or Releiving of his Prisoners Luke 16.26 consider what Abraham there speaks to Dives And besides all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they that would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence There is a great gulf that cannot be filled up or passed over and this gulf is Fixed it shall remain and continue for ever Gods Decree is Stable it cannot be changed revoked or repealed there is an unalterable an eternal separation between the blessed and the damned it is not to be thought that any of the Saints will pity the Damned will relent towards them or melt over them Saints that be perfected and even swallowed up in the Love of God they shall fully acquiess in his will and rejoyce that his Justice is Magnified and his Power Glorified in the Eternal Destruction of the Wicked but Abraham makes only a supposition if any such thing were possible if Saints could sympathise with the Damned if their Bowels did yearn towards them if they were willing to relieve them or to carry over any supplies to them if they did endeavour to case their Pains or mitigate their Torments all such desires would be in vain all such endeavours would be frustrated and inefiectual they could not get to the Damned their Kindness could not reach them or affect them all Communicatition with them is obstructed all passages are shut up these tormented Creatures are inaccessible Saints can carry no water to cool their Tongues can bring them no Cordials to revive their Souls the Damned cannot come forth nor others come in to them to succour or ease them 4. It is an Eternal Prison there will be no Goal-delivery no dismission or releasing of these Prisoners We read in Isa 24 21.22 of some that should be gathered together and shut up in Prisons but after many days they should be Visited Piscator understands this of Kings and Princes that should be Conquered by the King of Babylon and held in Bondage for many years but these oppressed men should at last be Visited and releived by the gracious Kingdom of Jeâ—â—s Christ that should give liberty to their Souls freedom to their Consciences But those that God apprehends and shuts up in his Prison shall never be visited and recover their Liberty Jeremiah was by the Fury of his Adversaries cast into a deep and miery Dungeon but God rais'd him up Friends Ebed-melech and others did let down Cords into his Dungeon drew him up and saved his life Jer. 38.10 11 12 13. But no Beam of Hope shall shine no Cord of a Promise shall be let down to the Damned to draw them up out of their Dungeon It was an Act of Oppression Cruelty and Tyranny in the King of Babylon that he opened not the House of his Prisoners Isaiah 14.17 but this is an Act of Pure and High Justice in God that he will never open the House of his Prisoners they that sinned without Dread of his Justice shall suffer without Relief from his Mercy There is now a Wall of Partition between God and sinners in this Life but this may possibly be broken down but there is a Gulf fixed in Hell that can never be passed over This is dreadful to consider that God executes sinners and yet they continue his Prisoners to feel more Wrath and suffer more Vengeance the guilt of sin still cleaves to them and the wrath of God will still abide on them John 9. last John 3. last sin is
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
snare till he takes up his snare Amos 3.5 seizes on the prey he hath caught and carries it away to Hell As the Lord liveth there is a place of Misery there is a dreadful Prison and place of Torments Do not banish it out of your Thoughts do not ridicule it as a meer Invention of Men or as vain ungrounded Fancy entertained in weak and timerous Minds Do not go on to despise or question it till God confutes your unbelief and punishes your Atheism by the woful painful feeling of that which you would not believe or fear 2. Vse Do not envy Sinners do not grudge them their full Cup of sensual Delights their calm and smoath Streams of Prosperity God hath a reckoning with them Judgments are travelling towards them Hos 5.1 Vengeance is ready to take hold of them those that now will bear no Yoak will be restrained by no bounds must shortly be laid fast in the Eternal Prison They that now swim in Rivers of Pleasures must soon be drowned in Perdition and Destruction They that suck in large draughts of sensual Delights must within a little time drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty Would you envy a Malefactor a large Meal or a full Glass of Wine that next day is to be executed Would you grudge a Man Fine Cloaths or delicate Fare that next hour is to be cast into devouring Fire their Comforts are measured by Time but their Misery and Torment is to be measured by Eternity 3. Vse O examine your selves what grounded Hope you have that you shall be secured from Eternal Bondage and delivered from the wrath to come are you in the Road to the Prison or in the way to the Palace there are but these two Receptacles and places of Entertainment for departed Souls Consider well of it are you in a perishing way Psal 1. last or in the way Everlasting Psal 139. last Put these following Questions to your Souls 1. Are your Eyes opened Isa 42.7 This is the means to bring us out of our spiritual Prison and the first step towards our Liberty Why are Men so quiet so contented so satisfied to stay in Gods outer Prison Surely it is because their Eyes are shut they discern not where they are and how great their danger is Jesus Christ first opens the blind eyes and then he brings the Prisoners out of the Prison-House Inquire therefore did you ever come to your selves take up true Notions or form a right Judgment concerning your lost deplorable and miserable Estate Luk. 15.17 The Prodigal came to himself he conversed with reflected on himself dwelt on the sad Thoughts of what his Folly and Lusts had reduced him to and then he took up this fixed Resolution I will arise and go to my Father Luk. 15.18 19 20 21. If Men did come to themselves they would leave Sin as a bad and hard Master and would return to God their Heavenly Father The Apostle Paul speaks of Sinners recovering themselves out of the snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. last The Word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies to recover out of Drunknness and to become sober and those that thus become sober do escape out of the snare of the Devil Sinners are drunken with false Notions with wrong Conceptions and ungrounded Imaginations concerning themselves the goodness of their own Estate the sweetness of the Pleasures of Sin the worth of the Riches of the World Men must return to sobriety of Mind to a right Judgment of their State and Ways that they may recover out of the snare of the Devil Are the Scales of Ignorance fallen off from your Eyes is the Veil drawn off from your Hearts Act. 12.7 9. A Light shined into Peters Prison and then he was raised and called out of it so here 2. Are you come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and to the Blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Are you come into his Righteousness Psal 69.27 That is an observable Phrase to come into the Righteousness of the Messiah Believers come into it as their Garment that must cloath and cover them their Fortress and City of Refuge that must secure them from the Curse of the Law and Revenging Justice Those that lay hold of and come into the Righteousness of Christ are passed from Death to Life and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.20 These things are linked with and depend on each other coming into Christs Righteousness secures us from coming into Condemnation have you fled by Faith to the Mediator and his Blood so that you have received the Atonement that he made Rom. 5.11 Do you apply the Reconciliation that Christ hath made to your selves 2 Cor. 5.18 All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ 3. Are you made Free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death The Law of the Spirit is the mighty powerful effectual working of the Spirit of Life Though the Law of Sin be strong yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is stronger This Law of the Spirit can prevail and carry it against the Law of Sin have we ever experienced this mighty Law of the Spirit hath it broke our Fetters and Chains mortified our Lusts enlarged our Hearts Psal 119.32 Then will I run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart It is the work of the Spirit to enlarge the understanding by beaming in new Light and to enlarge the Will by kindling new spiritual Love when Christ by his Spirit doth cirtumcise the Heart then the Chains of Lust do fall off Is the Law of God written in you Jer. 31.33 Is this a prevailing reigning Principle in your Hearts and as a powerful Byass on your Wills Do you choose the way of Truth and choose Gods Precepts Psal 119.30 173. 4. Have you New Honourable and Ornamental Chains cast about your Souls Isa 45.14 It is promised the Church that the Egyptians and the Ethiopians and other Gentile Nations should come over to her and be hers they should come over to her and after her in Chains We are not to understand the Words as if Christ should force Proselites into his Church or Subjects into his Kingdom Jesus Christ never did violence to the Bodies of Men or by an outward force hale Men to him but the Phrase signifies the powerful work of Christ by his Spirit on the Minds and Consciences of Men he casts Chains of Light and Love about the Souls of Men He mightily convinces and perswades them of the Truth of his Doctrine of the Excellency of his Promises He plants strong Inclinations in them he makes powerful Impressions on them that they cannot but subject themselves to him and yield and submit to his Church Those that are bound with Chains