A05817:192
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
London: printed for John Hodgets, 1613London: printed for Iohn Hodgets, 1613
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The fullness, (when it falls upon a Creature, not able to bear the burnt thereof) presseth him down to that bottomless adeep of the endless bwrath of Almighty God: which is called the cdamnation of hell. This fullness of cursedness is either particular or general.
THe fulnesse, (when it fals vpon a Creature, not able to beare the burnt thereof) presseth him down to that bottomlesse adeepe of the endlesse bwrath of Almightie God: which is called the cdamnation of hell. This fulnesse of cursednesse is either particular or generall.
Particular, or that which in a less measure of fullness, lighteth upon the dSoul, immediately as soon as she is separated from the body: For, in the very instant of dissolution, she is in the sight and presence of God. For, when she ceaseth to see with the organ of fleshly eyes, she seeth after a spiritual manner, like Stephen, 2who saw the glory of GOD, and Jesus standing at his right hand: or, as a man, who being blind-borne, and miraculously restored to his sight, would see the Sun, which he never saw before. And there by the testimony of her own Conscience, Christ the righteous Judge, who knoweth all things: maketh her, by his ⟨p. 120⟩omnipresent power to understand the doom and Judgement that is due unto her sins,3 and what must be her eternal state. And in this manner standing in the sight of Heaven, not fit for her uncleanness to come into Heaven; she is said, to stand before the throne of God. And so forthwith she is carried by the evil Angels, who came to fetch her, with violence into Hell, where she is kept as in a Prison, in everlasting pains and chains; under darkness, unto the Judgement of the great day: But not in that extremity of torments, which she shall finally receive at the last day.
Particular, or that which in a lesse measure of fulnesse, lighteth vpon the dSoule, immediately as soone as shee is separated from the body: For, in the very instant of dissolution, she is in the sight and presence of God. For, when she ceaseth to see with the organe of fleshly eyes, she seeth after a spirituall manner, like Stephen, 2who saw the glory of GOD, and Iesus standing at his right hand: or, as a man, who being blinde-borne, and miraculously restored to his sight, would see the Sunne, which hee neuer saw before. And there by the testimonie of her owne Conscience, Christ the righteous Iudge, vvho knoweth all things: maketh her, by his ⟨p. 120⟩omnipresent power to vnderstand the doome and Iudgement that is due vnto her sinnes,3
The general fullness of cursedness, is in a egreater measure ⟨p. 121⟩of fullness, which shall be inflicted upon both thy fSoul and Body, when (by the mighty power of Christ the supreme Judge of heaven and earth:) the one shall be brought out of Hell, 3and the other out of the Grave, as Prisoners, to receive their dreadful doom, according to their evil deeds. How shall the Reprobate, by the roaring of the Sea, the quaking of the Earth, 4the trembling of the Powers of Heaven, and terrors of heavenly Signs be driven, at the worlds end, to their wits end! Oh, what a woeful Salutation will there be, betwixt the damned Soul and Body, at their reuniting at that terrible day!
The generall fulnes of cursednesse, is in a egreater measure ⟨p. 121⟩of fulnesse, which shall be inflicted vpon both thy fSoule and Body, when (by the mighty power of Christ the supreame Iudge of heauen and earth:) the one shall be brought out of Hell, 3and the other out of the Graue, as Prisoners, to receiue their dreadfull doome, according to their euill deedes. How shall the Reprobate, by the roaring of the Sea, the quaking of the Earth, 4
1O sink of Sin, O lump of Filthiness (will the Soul say unto her Body,) how am I compelled to re-enter unto thee, not as an habitation to rest, but as a Prison to be tormented together? How doest thou appear in my sight like Jephthah's Daughter, to my greater torment? Would God thou hadst perpetually rotted in thy grave, that I might never have seen thee again! How shall we be confounded together, to hear, before God, Angels, and Men, laid open all those secret sins, which we committed together! Have I lost Heaven, for the love of such a stinking Carrion? Art thou the flesh for whose pleasures I have yielded to commit so ⟨p. 119⟩many Fornications? O filthy B•lly! how became I such a foul, as to make thee my God? How mad was I for momentany joys, to incur these torments of eternal pains? ye Rocks and Mountains, why skip ye so like Rams, Psal. 114.4. and will not fall upon me, to hide me from the face of him that comes to sit on yonder Throne; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Apoc. 6.16.17. Why tremblest thou thus, O Earth, at the presence of the Lord, and wilt not open thy mouth and swallow me up, as thou diddest Korah, that I be seen no more?
1O sincke of Sinne, O lumpe of Filthinesse (will the Soule say vnto her Body,) how am I compelled to re-enter vnto thee, not as an habitation to rest, but as a Prison to be tormented together? How doest thou appeare in my sight like Iephtes Daughter, to my greater torment? Would God thou hadst perpetually rotted in thy graue, that I might neuer haue seene thee againe! How shall wee be confounded together, to heare, before God, Angels, and Men, laid open all those secret sinnes, which wee committed together! Haue I lost Heauen, for the loue of such a stinking Carrion? Art thou the flesh for whose pleasures I haue yeelded to commit so ⟨p. 119⟩many Fornications? O filthy B•lly! how became I such a foule, as to make thee my God? How madde was I for momentanie ioyes, to incurre these torments of eternall paines? yee Rockes and Mountaines, why skirpe yee so like Rams,
O damned Furies! I would ye might without delay, ⟨p. 124⟩tear me in pieces, on condition that you would tear me unto nothing! But whilst thou art thus in vain bewailing thy misery,1 the Angels hale thee violently away from the brink of thy Grave, to some place near the Tribunal seat of Christ; where being as a cursed Goat, separated to stand beneath, on earth, as on the left hand of the Judge, Christ, shall rip up all the benefits he bestowed on thee, and the torments he suffered for thee, and all the good deeds which thou omitted, and all the ungrateful villainies which thou didst commit against him, and his holy Laws.
O damned Furies! I would yee might vvithout delay, ⟨p. 124⟩teare me in pieces, on condition that you vvould teare me vnto nothing! But whilest thou art thus in vaine bewailing thy miserie,1 the Angels hale thee violently away from the brincke of thy Graue, to some place neere the Tribunall seate of Christ; where being as a cursed Goate, separated to stand beneath, on earth, as on the left hand of the Iudge, Christ, shall rippe vp all the benefits he bestowed on thee, and the torments hee suffered for thee, and all the good deedes which thou omitted, and all the vngratefull villanies which thou didst commit against him, and his holy Lawes.
Within thee thine own conscience (more then a thousand ⟨p. 121⟩witnesses) shall accuse thee: the Devils who tempted thee to all thy lewdness, shall on the one side, testify with thy Conscience against thee: and on the other side, shall stand the holy Saints and Angels approving Christs Justice, and detesting so filthy a creature. Behind thee an hideous noise of innumerable fellow-damned Reprobates tarrying for thy company. Before thee all the world hburning in flaming fire. Above thee, an ireful Judge of deserved vengeance, ready to pronounce his sentence upon thee. Beneath thee, the fiery & sulphureous mouth of the bottomless pit, gaping to receive thee. In this woeful estate to hide thy self ⟨p. 122⟩will be impossible: (for on that condition thou wouldest iwish that the greatest Rock might fall upon thee:) to appear will be intolerable, and yet thou must stand forth, to receive with other reprobates this thy sentence: Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.
Within thee thine owne conscience (more then a thousand ⟨p. 121⟩witnesses) shall accuse thee: the Diuels vvho tempted thee to all thy lewdnesse, shall on the one side, testifie vvith thy Conscience against thee: and on the other side, shall stand the holy Saints and Angels approuing Christs Iustice, and detesting so filthy a creature. Behinde thee an hydeous noyse of innumerable fellow-damned Reprobates tarrying for thy company. Before thee all the world hburning in flaming fire. Aboue thee, an irefull Iudge of deserued vengeance, ready to pronounce his sentence vpon thee. Beneath thee, the fiery & sulphureous mouth of the bottomlesse pit, gaping to receiue thee. In this wofull estate to hide thy selfe ⟨p. 122⟩will be impossible: (for on that condition thou vvouldest
Ye cursed,] there is a black and direful Excommunication.
Yee cursed,] there is a blacke and direfull Excommunication.
Into fire,] there is the cruelty of pain.
Into fire,] there is the crueltie of paine.
Everlasting,] there is the perpetuity of punishment.
Euerlasting,] there is the perpetuitie of punishment.
Prepared for the Devil and his Angels.] Here are thy ⟨p. 123⟩infernal tormenting, and tormented companions.
Prepared for the Diuell and his Angels.] Here are thy ⟨p. 123⟩infernall tormenting, and tormented companions.
O terrible Sentence! from which the condemned cannot escape: which being pronounced, cannot possibly be with-stood: against which a man cannot except; and from which a man can no where appeal. So that to the damned, nothing remains but hellish torments, which knows neither ease of pain, nor end of time. From this Judgement-seat thou must be thrust by Angels, (together with all the damned Devils and Reprobates) into the bottomless Lake of utter darkness, 1that perpetually burns with fire and Brimstone. Whereunto, as they shall be thrust, there shall be such weeping, woes, ⟨p. 124⟩and wailing, that the cry of the company of Core, Dathan, & Abiram when the earth swallowed them up, was nothing comparable to this howling; nay, it vvill seem unto thee a Hell, before thou goest into hell, but to hear it.
O terrible Sentence! from which the condemned cannot escape: which being pronounced, cannot possibly be with-stood: against which a man cannot except; and from which a man can no where appeale. So that to the damned, nothing remaines but hellish torments, which knows neyther ease of paine, nor end of time. From this Iudgement-seate thou must be thrust by Angels, (together vvith all the damned Diuels and Reprobates) into the bottomlesse Lake of vtter darknesse, 1that perpetually burnes with fire and Brimstone. Whereunto, as they shall be thrust, there shall be such weeping, woes, ⟨p. 124⟩and wailing, that the cry of the company of Core, Dathan, & Abiram when the earth swallowed them vp, was nothing comparable to this howling; nay, it vvill seeme vnto thee a Hell, before thou goest into hell, but to heare it.
Into which bottomless Lake after that thou art once plunged, thou shalt ever be falling down, and never meet a bottom: and in it, thou shalt ever lament, and none shall pity thee: thou shalt always weep, for the pain of fire, and yet gnash thy teeth for the extremity of cold: thou shalt weep to think that thy miseries are past remedy: thou shalt weep to think, that to repent is to no purpose: thou shalt weep to ⟨p. 125⟩think, how for the shadows of short pleasures, thou hast incurred these sorrows of eternal pains: thou shalt weep to see how that weeping it self can nothing prevail: yea, in weeping thou shalt weep more tears, then there is water in the Sea; for the water of the Sea is finite, 1but the weeping of a Reprobate shall be infinite.
Into vvhich bottomlesse Lake after that thou art once plunged, thou shalt euer be falling downe, and neuer meet a bottome: and in it, thou shalt euer lament, and none shall pittie thee: thou shalt alwaies weepe, for the paine of fire, and yet gnash thy teeth for the extremitie of colde: thou shalt weepe to thinke that thy miseries are past remedie: thou shalt weepe to thinke, that to repent is to no purpose: thou shalt weepe to ⟨p. 125⟩thinke, how for the shadowes of short pleasures, thou hast incurred these sorrowes of eternall paines: thou shalt weepe to see how that weeping it selfe can nothing preuaile: yea, in weeping thou shalt weepe more teares, then there is water in the Sea; for the water of the Sea is finite, 1but the weeping of a Reprobate shall be infinite.
There thy lascivious Eyes shall be afflicted with sights of ghastly Spirits: thy curious Ears shall be affrighted with hideous noise of howling devils, and the gnashing teeth of damned Reprobates: thy dainty Nose shall be cloyed with noisome stench of Sulphur: thy delicate Taste shall be pained with intolerable ⟨p. 126⟩hunger: thy drunken Throat shall be parched with unquenchable thirst: thy Mind shall be tormented, to think how for the love of abortive pleasures, which perished ere they budded, thou so foolishly lost Heavens joys, and incurred hellish pains, which last beyond eternity: thy Conscience, shall ever sting thee like an Adder, when thou thinkest how often Christ by his Preachers, offered the remission of sins, and the Kingdom of Heaven, freely unto thee, if thou wouldest but believe and repent: and how easily thou mightest have obtained mercy in those days; how near thou wast many times to have repented, and yet diddest suffer ⟨p. 127⟩the devil and the world to keep thee still in impenitency: and how the day of mercy is now past, and will never dawn again.
There thy lasciuious Eyes shall be afflicted vvith sights of ghastly Spirits: thy curious Eares shall be affrighted with hydeous noyse of howling diuels, and the gnashing teeth of damned Reprobates: thy dainty Nose shall be cloyed with noysome stench of Sulphur: thy delicate Taste shall be pained with intollerable ⟨p. 126⟩hunger: thy drunken Throate shall be parched vvith vnquenchable thirst: thy Minde shall be tormented, to thinke how for the loue of abortiue pleasures, which perished ere they budded, thou so foolishly lost Heauens ioyes, and incurred hellish paines, which last beyond eternitie: thy Conscience, shall euer sting thee like an Adder, vvhen thou thinkest how often Christ by his Preachers, offered the remission of sinnes, and the Kingdome of Heauen, freely vnto thee, if thou wouldest but beleeue and repent: and how easily thou mightest haue obtained mercy in those dayes; how neere thou vvast many times to haue repented, and yet diddest suffer ⟨p. 127⟩the deuil and the world to keepe thee stil in impenitency: and how the day of mercy is now past, and wil neuer dawne againe.
How shall thy understanding be racked, to consider, how for momentany riches, thou hast lost the eternal treasure, and changed heavens felicity, for hells misery! where every part of thy body without intermission of pain shall be continually tormented alike.
How shall thy vnderstanding be racked, to consider, how for momentany riches, thou hast lost the eternall treasure, and changed heauens felicity, for hels misery! where euery part of thy body without intermission of paine shall be continually tormented alike.
