Theapproach ofthe gaol Recompences. . a6 t Firff, the eternity of thofe torments, 'in that they Gtall nillever end ; and 1 verily Eternityofthc perfwade my felt, that this is a great encreafe of their torments, the veryconceit torment ofd:c and thought that they (halt never end, it is a great increafe and aggravation of thewitked. torment. You know there is no griefand forrow, or mifery in this life, but time will eitherdiminith it, or take it quite away;either the tormented,or the tormentor will die : but in hell there you have them tormented day and night, for ever and ever, neither the tormented, or the tormentor die, but they live to endlels woe.. Q ! faith a godlyFather inhis meditations, if a wicked flatter in Hell did know that he were to continue there no more thoufands ofyears, then there are rands upon the Sea-lbore, or no moremillions of Ages, than there are piles ofgrafs upon the ground, yet this would be fome comfort, that at fall they íhould have end ; but this word never, it breaks the heart, that after they have continued there fo many thoufand years, and millions of ages, they are as far from the end of their torment as at the firlt. Secondly, we might note here again the extremity, and firi lncfs of thole tor- Extremity of meats, the flraitnefsof them, there is no mercy th eased ; Take him, andbind him torment,. hand and foot, and raft him into utter dark.nefr. And again, the gate is film, after the Goner is once call into I-Iell, there is no getting out again, the gate is flint. The ftraitnefs of thefe torments may be exceedingly laid down to us, in thePá- rable'of the rich Glutton, who in hell roaring in cverlafling flames, lift up his eyes, and lawAbrahamafar offand Lazarte in his bofome ; lac defiredAbraham to fend Lazarus but to dip the top of his finger in water, to cool his tongue : a final! re- gild} : he asks not to be delivered from his torments ; or for a flaggon of water, but for a drop; yet to fee the ll:ridncfsofthofetorments, st was deniedhim. Dives had before, the world at will, what his heart could delire : but Lazarus comes to his gate full of fores and hungry, yet he refufed to refrefh him with crums lroni his table ; fee the jell judgement of God againll the mercilefs wretch. Dives refufed to give a crum ; when he asked he is denied one drop. So that as Saint James fpeaks, yam. z. there fhaIl be judgement mercilefi to them that yield..no Iam. a. mercy. Beloved,all you that have the wealth of the world,remember this example,when thepoor difirefied members ofChrifl come to yourgates,fhut notttp thebowelsof compaffron, open your hands, and your hearts to relieve them : for as I laid be- fore, there /hall bejudgement mercilefi to thofe that f/iewno mercy. But I come to the laflthing;thatI will but o lyname ; thatis, therewardof the-godly, that ever- The reward of kiting, eternal felicity in heaven. Thetime will not fuffer me to fpeak largely,and the godly. particularly ofthereward of the godly, which is a great incouragement, and com- fortable to the fervants of God. I will only fpeak in general. TheProphets when they fpake of the'Kingdomc of Chrill, they let it out by good things; there is no need of Elicit.' good things; 71Lation (hallnot rife aaainfi Nation,they/hall break their !bears into mattoefs The wolf(hall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopardwith the Ifa. n. Kid ; They fhdll eat of the tree oflife, and the hidden Manna there. Tbey/hall be made pillars in the Templeof God. There they' (hall be clòathed with long white robes. Which places takeusby the haád, and bringus to; Fume conceit of thofe joyes. How then doth it fiana-every one upon novy',1 while we havetime, to labour to have iutcrell inthofe joyes?Thricehappy is thgttttan or woman,thatcomes to enjoy thole joyes. It is fpoken ofChrrftt.znatrfs'v`the joyes of heaven being fet before him, he fofiained the croft. Saint jl` ó nted all but doing that he might win thrift, and come to thofe joyes. AilPgnariku faith, that breakingofbones, fire, and gallows, quartering of limbs, come what will, fo I may come to thofe joyes. I would we had all the like zeal after thofe joyes. Our coldnefs in Peeking thofe joyes come from a bareefleemofthem, for if we did efteem them,we would labour exceedingly alter them. k. Many thingsfor nie might be inferred hence. As fief hereis comfort,and ¡neou- ragement to all theSaints of God, the fervants ofChrill, that take pains to live a . 0 o' ... gödli vfe r. omfort.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=