Ver. i 3. the Epifíle to the Romans. X 69 even the godlieft are not exempted, bu mu!t die at the laft.Again,this death is far from terrifying fome of the godly that itgiveth tTi m much joy and corn fbrt,andis a thing moft defied of them and therefore thefe words are not to b underilood of a corporali death alone is the diffolution of nature, but i may partly be underfrood of a naturall death when itisinflifted upon the godly, as a judgement of fome loft of the flab, which they have too much folio wed.As it happened to 111 yfes, Aaron,Jofìas,elyt Nrsmb,27.12, r 3. Deut.3 z.49, 5 o, 5 t. 2 Kings 23. 2 9. r Sain.3 3.3 4. & 4.15, 18. Alfa the Prophet mentioned r King.' 3. 24. Yea, fometimes the obeying fome luit of the flefh, doth coif Gods children dear from the hand of civil juflice, as happened to force that perifhed in the wildernefs, ' Cor.ro.5. and to fiindry others daily amongft our felves, who come to publike and (hamefull death, for force work of the fie(h which they have done, and yet no doubt are the faith full children of God ; as it did be. fall the Theef upon the Crois. But that death which is here chiefly to be meant, is eternal! death,which is the calling out of the whole man, both body and foul, from Gods prefence, to fuffer hell torments for ever and ever. Ti M. But feeing they which are calf into hell fhall live there for ever, how is this called death? S r L. Firfi, as the ble(fednefs of hea- ven is called life in fcripture, becaufe of all things life is molt pleafant: fo the mi- feries of hei are called death, becaufè death of all things is very miferable and molt fhunned.Secondly,though the wic- ked do live in hell, yet becaufe they are feparated from God who is life, a nd be- auk they fo live,as that they are ever dy- ing,therefore it is worthily called death. TIM. The words being thus opened, nosy let us fee rebat infiruúions will arifi from hence. S t L. The inflru &ions are two : the d former concerns the wicked, the latter o the godly: for the former, the wicked i are here admonifhed, that if they are o- a bedient unto the flefh and live wickedly, fit t ' doing what fin commands, they muff fo die and perifh for ever, if they continue fo, r Cor.6.9,ro. Ga1.5.2o,21. Rev. - at. 8. The reafon hereof is, becaufe the wifdorne ofthe flefh is death. Rom.8.6, e Allò becaufe the wages of 1m is death. , Koni.6.z3. t Tr M. What is the of of this inffruiiion? S r L. It affords an admonition to all inch as do live in the fervice ofany fiefhly lu(l,to forfake it betimes and ear - nettly, as they do covet not to be de- llroyed perpetually; if this move not, yet let them forfake their evil courfe, left they (horten their natural/ life, and purchafe to themf Ives a reproachful) death, by being given over to fonte crime that (hall deferve it. T t M. What inflruaion may be given from hence to the godly? S r L. This: that howfòever they are free from condemnation by faith in Chrih, yet the meditation of eternall death is profitable for them : thereafon hereof is, becaufe the godlieft men have t }ill fore fifth and fin abiding in them, yea the molt have more fin then grace. Hereof it followes, that they are never free from blemilhes and fpiritual floth- fulnefs, fecurity, prefumption, and pro- phanenefs;againft which the confedera- tion of hel pains i* a good remedy ; be- caufe the more Gods fierce juftice and wrath be thought upon and feared, the more careful! men become to avoid the former and all other fins.The Papifts do us wrong in charging us to with men not to leave fin for fear ofhel fire. T ttw. What profit is to be made of this latterinfireehfion? SIL. Firft, it reprover], the godlefs, who do not think it needful! often to think ofhel fire,or be afraid fo to do,lefl ittrouble them; better now to be feared with it, then hereafter to feel ir. Se- condly, it admoni(heth all Gods chil- dren, much and very earnefìly to con- fider the eflate of the damned, ifthey dire ro live holily after the example f Paul, z Cor.S.g, to. a Tim.4. t,a. It s Chryfofiome. counfell, that at banquets ifeafts, and publike meetings, men ould talk of helli(h pains, that they Aa2 be
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