Now that this consideration may take place in our hearts,1 we must enter into a particular view of this our natural misery: the principal branches whereof be these: ⟨p. 215⟩first, a separation from all fellowship §1with God: for as Isai hsaith, Our sins have separated between God and us: and this is the special part of mans misery. Secondly, society and §2fellowship with the damned spirits, the devil and all his angels; standing in this, that man by nature beareth the image of the devil, and withal performeth service unto him in the practise of lying, injustice, cruelty, and all manner of sin. Thirdly, all manner of §3calamities in this life, as ignominy in good name, pains and diseases in the body, losses, and damages in friends,§4 and in all temporal blessings whatsoever. Fourthly, the horror of a guilty conscience, which is in it self the beginning ⟨p. 216⟩of hell torments: for it is our accuser unto God, our Judge to give sentence against us, and the very hang-man of our souls to condemn us eternally. Fifthly, the second death, which is the full apprehension of the eternal fury §5of Gods wrath, both in body and soul eternally. This consideration must be often used of every man, to move him to repentance, and it is very effectual thereunto: for if we do but consider how a man for the pain of one tooth, will be so grieved, that he could wish with all his heart to be out of the world, that his pain were ended; oh then how great shall we think the apprehension of the full wrath of God to be, seizing not upon one little member, ⟨p. 217⟩but upon the whole man both body and soul, & that for ever? No tongue can express, nay no heart can conceive the greatness of this terror, and therefore it must be an occasion both to begin and increase true repentance in us daily.
Nowe that this consideration may take place in our hearts,1 wee must enter into a particular view of this our naturall miserie: the principall branches whereof bee these: ⟨p. 215⟩first, a separation from all fellowship §1with God: for as Isai hsaith, Our sinnes haue separated betweene God and vs: and this is the speciall part of mans miserie. Secondly, societie and §2fellowship with the damned spirits, the deuill and all his angels; standing in this, that man by nature beareth the image of the deuill, and withall performeth seruice vnto him in the practise of lying, iniustice, crueltie, and all manner of sinne. Thirdly, all manner of §3calamities in this life, as ignominie in good name, paines and diseases in the bodie, losses, and damages in friends,§4 and in all temporall blessings whatsoeuer. Fourthly, the horrour of a guiltie conscience, which is in it selfe the beginning ⟨p. 216⟩of hell torments: for it is our accuser vnto God, our Iudge to giue sentence against vs, and the very hang-man of our soules to condemne vs eternally. Fiftly, the second death, which is the full apprehension of the eternall furie §5of Gods wrath, both in bodie and soule eternally. This consideration must be often vsed of euery man, to mooue him to repentance, and it is very effectuall thereunto: for if we doe but consider howe a man for the paine of one tooth, will be so grieued, that hee could wish with all his heart to be out of the worlde, that his paine were ended; oh then how great shal we think the apprehension of the full wrath of God to bee, seazing not vpon one little member, ⟨p. 217⟩but vpon the whole man both bodie and soule, & that for euer? No tongue can expresse, nay no heart can conceiue the greatnes of this terrour, and therefore it must be an occasion both to beginne and encrease true repentance in vs dailie.
- 1Mans natural misery branthed out.Mans natural miserie branthed out.
- hIsa. 59. 2.
