The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

Quest. 2 Now the second question is this, how far our Saviour suffered these pains: To this I answer, that so I may carry the cause with as much plainness and nakedness as may be, that each poor creature may get something, give me leave to answer the question in these conclusions, one will make way for another▪ only here let me tell you thus much, that I mean only to make declaration of the truth of the point, and the argument shall be afterwards.

Quest. 2 Now the second question is this, how far our Saviour suffered these paines: To this I answer, that so I may carry the cause with as much plainnesse and nakednesse as may be, that each poore creature may get something, give mee leave to answer the question in these conclusions, one will make way for another▪ onely here let mee tell you thus much, that I mean onely to make declaration of the truth of the point, and the argument shall be afterwards.

First, it is possible that some pains of Hell may be suffered in this life, and therefore the living and being of our Saviour in this life, is no hindrance, but that he might undergo them. This I say to prevent a weak plea of some that desire to tie and entail all the pains of Hell to another life, and the place to be Hell, and they think that no man can suffer the pains of Hell, except he be in the very place of it; against which cavil, this truth doth professedly ma•ch, for the time and place are but common circumstances: the main substance of it, is not in regard of time or place, but in regard of the fierce displeasure of God, which seizeth upon a creature, and the vein of vengeance which is let into his soul, if God would be present with a man by his favour, though he were in the place of Hell, yet he should be as it were in Heaven: as Isaiah 30.33. Tophet is prepared of old, the burning thereof is fire and much wood, and the breath of the Lord as a ri••r of brimstone doth kindle it: so that wheresoever the stream of the brimstone of Gods wrath seizeth, there is Hell: again, the place is no part of debt, and therefore it is no part of the payment, but the payment of the money that makes the satisfaction: This is that which is spoken concerning Adam, Thou shalt die the death: he doth not say, thou shalt go to Hell: the wicked go to Hell because they cannot pay, as the debtor goes to prison, because he cannot pay the debt: all that justice requires is this, to have payment; he doth not say thou shalt go to Hell, but because the