A Golden Chain

Thirdly, the man which is no Christian is in danger of eternal death and damnation in hell fire: and they which fall into this estate it had been ten thousand fold better for them if they had never bin borne: ^pfor they are quite separated from the presence of God and from his glory: all the company they have is with the devil and his angels. Their bodies and souls are tormented with infinite horror and anguish arising of the feeling of the whole wrath of God, in which as into a bottomless sea, they are plunged. Thus they are always dying, and yet are never dead. Furthermore, the length of this torment must be considered which greatly aggravates the pain. If a man might be delivered from the pains of hell when he had suffered them so many years as there be drops in the sea, or little sands in the whole earth, it were some comfort: but after that those years be expired there shall come no release, but the damned shall continue in shrieking, yelling and gnashing of teeth, enduring the consuming heat of Gods wrath without any end for ever and ever. Yea to go further, a wicked man carrieth an hell about him in this life,² namely, an evil conscience, which if it be never so little touched with any part of Gods anger, a man shall feel himself to have even the pangs of hell in his heart. Now therefore they that would escape out of this hellish and damnable estate, while they have time let them pray for the pardon of their sins in Christ, and walk according to the spirit in newness of life; and then they may assure themselves, that there is no condemnation can belong to them. And it must be always remembered that he which would live, when he is dead, must die while he is alive, namely to sin. And again, he which would rise to eternal life in the day of judgement, must rise from sin before he die, unto newness of life.

Thirdly, the man which is no Christian is in daunger of eternall death and damnation in hell fire: and they which fall into this estate it had beene tenne thousand fold better for them if they had neuer bin borne: ^pfor they are quite separated from the presence of God and from his glorie: all the company they haue is with the deuill and his angels. Their bodies and soules are tormented with infinite horror and anguish arising of the feeling of the whole wrath of God, in which as into a bottomlesse sea, they are plunged. Thus they are alwaies dying, and yet are neuer dead. Furthermore, the length of this torment must be considered which greatly aggrauates the paine. If a man might be deliuered from the paines of hell when he had suffered them so many yeares as there be droppes in the sea, or little sands in the whole earth, it were some comfort: but after that those yeares be expired there shall come no release, but the damned shall continue in shriking, yelling and gnashing of teeth, enduring the consuming heate of Gods wrath without any ende for euer and euer. Yea to goe further, a wicked man carrieth an hell about him in this life,