Deaths knell

Oh, bethink thy self, how these visions would affright thee: to behold the gnashing of teeth, the horror of the place, the rigour of the pain, the ugliness of the company, and the eternity of these punishments; where the fire is unquenchable; the torments insupportable, hopeless, helpless, easeless, and endless! For our fire may be endured; that intolerable; ours for comfort; that, for torment; ours, if not fed, extinguisheth; that, without feeding, never goeth out; ours giveth light; ⟨image 6⟩that, none: ours consumes the matter, and ends the pain; that torments, but never wasteth, to make the pain perpetual. In Hell, the lazy Loiterer must be pricked with flaming Forks; the Glutton fed with hunger and thirst; the Drunkard quaff bowls of burning Brimstone; the Covetous pine in penury; the lustful embrace ugly Su••es; and the proud apparelled with shame and confusion▪ and further, to aggravate their grief, and up heap the measure of their unmeasurable misery, they shall turn up their affrighted eyes, and behold the meek triumphing, the Godly rejoicing: then shall they perceive base apparel to be glorious; gaudy attire •••amous; the humble Cottage commended; the gilded Palace despised; simple obedience show fairer then subtle policy; a clear conscience better accepted, then profound and abstruse Philosophy; zealous prayers far worthier then fine tales; good works preferred before sweet words. Is not he more then mad, that will play away his time allotted to prevent these intolerable calamities? Is it not a senseless security, to hug in thy bosom so many serpents as sins? or to foster in thy soul so many malicious accusers, as mortal faults? wouldst thou not then think one life too little, ⟨image 7⟩to repent for so many iniquities, the least whereof is strong enough to hurl thee irrecoverably into these unspeakable torments? Betimes then devote the residue of thy days, to make an atonement with Jehovah, the general Judge, and so endeavour to set free thy soul from such confusion, as by sin thou art sure to fall into. What canst thou purchase by being so long a customer to the World, but false ware, suitable to such a Merchants Shop, where traffic is toil; wealth, woe; gain, loss? what interest canst thou recover, that can equal thy detriments in grace and goodness?