Baxter - BV4831 84 F3 1830

$38 MISERY OF THOSE WHO [Chap. 6. own tormentors; that they may see their whole destruc- tion is of themselves; and then, whom can they complain of but themselves ? 6. Consider also that their torment will be universal. As all parts have joined in sin, so must they ali partake in the torment. The soul, as it was the chief in sinning, shall be the chief in suffering; and as it is of a more excellent nature than the body, so will its torments far exceed bo- dily torments; and as its joys far surpass all sensual plea- sures, so the pains of the soul exceed corporeal pains. It is not only a soul, but a sinful soul, that must suffer. Fire will not burn, except the fuel be combustible; but if the wood be dry, how fiercely will it burn ! The guilt of their sins will be to damned souls like tinder to gunpowder, to make the flames of hell take hold upon them with fury. The body must also bear its part. That body which was so carefully looked to, so tenderly cherished, so curiously dressed, what must it now endure ! How are its haughty looks now taken down ! How little will those flames re- gard its comeliness and beauty ! Those eyes, which were wont to be delighted with curious sights, must then see nothing but what shall terrify them! an angry God above them, with those saints whom they scorned, enjoying the glory which they have lost; and about themwill be only devils and damned souls. How will they look back and say, a Are all our feasts, and games, and revels, come to this ?" Those ears, which were accustomed to music and songs, shall hear the shrieks and cries of their damned companions; childrencrying out against their parents, that gave them encouragement and example in evil; husbands and wives, masters and servants, ministers and people, ma- gistrates and subjects, charging their misery upon one ano- ther, for discouraging in duty, conniving at sin, and being silent, when they should have plainly foretold the danger. Thus will soul and body be companions in wo. 7. Far greater will these torments be, because without mitigation. In this life, when told of hell, or if conscience troubled their peace, they had comforters at hand; their carnal friends, their business, their company, their mirth. They could drink, play, or sleep away their sorrows. But now all these remedies arevanished. Their hard, presump- tuous, unbelieving heart was a wall to 'efend them against

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=