Mr. Bolton's last and learned work of the four last things death, judgement, hell,…Mr. Boltons last and learned worke of the foure last things death, iudgement, hell,…

1. From the nature of the glorious Gospel ⟨p. 225⟩of JESUS CHRIST, the sun of righteousness, which shining upon one that hath spiritual life, will more revive and quicken him: but in one dead in sins and trespasses, causes him to stink more hatefully before the face of GOD and man.

1. From the nature of the glorious Gospell ⟨p. 225⟩of IESVS CHRIST, the sunn of righteousnesse, which shining upon one that hath spirituall life, will more reuiue and quicken him: but in one dead in sinnes and trespasses, causes him to stinke more hatefully before the face of GOD and man.

2. From the cruelty of Satan: who lays more burdens and heavier chains upon him; that the Ministers labour to pull out of h•s snares.

2. From the cruelty of Satan: who laies more burdens and heavier chaines upon him; that the Ministers labour to pull out of h•s snares.

2. Unsatiable. Corrupt affection is unsatiable in all it sensual pursuits for the empoisoned,

2. Vnsatiable. Corrupt affection is unsatiable in all it sensuall pursuits for the empoysoned,

2. When the heart of man forsakes the blessed and boundless Fountain of living waters; of which if it should drink heartily and sincerely, and every drop should be in it a well of water springing up to everlasting life; and digs unto it earthly pits; whereout to suck the muddy▪ and troubled streams of vanity and sensual delights; then GOD in his just Judgement makes those pits bottomless, that they'll hold no water; so that it shall seek and never be satisfied: it shall toil and tire out it self in ways of wickedness and destruction, and shall never find end and rest; but in endless woe and restless torments.

2. When the heart of man forsakes the blessed and boundlesse Fountaine of living waters; of which if it should drinke heartily and sincerely, and every drop should be in it a well of water springing up to everlasting life; and digs unto it earthly pits; wherout to suck the muddy▪ and troubled streams of vanity and sensuall delights; then GOD in his just Iudgement makes those pits bottomlesse, that they'le hold no water; so that it shall seeke and never bee satisfied: it shall toile and tire out it selfe in waies of wickednes and destruction, and shall never find end and rest; but in endlesse woe and restlesse torments.

3. Never was jailer so jealous over his prisoners, as Satan is watchful over every wicked man. ⟨p. 226⟩And therefore least he should wax weary of his way to hell, he fails not by a secret accursed influence to fill his sinful heart, with an unquenchable thirst after pleasures of the earth. And he doth not only put this insatiable thirst into the soul of a carnal man; but also by his juggling and art of imposture, he gilds over sensual objects, with lying glory, and a deceitful lustre, and puts a violent, strong enticing power into worldly vanities, that they may continually feed his greedy appetite with fresh succession, and an endless variety of sensual sweetnesses. Satan himself is infinite in malice against the majesty of GOD. He drinks up sin, and devours iniquity with as insatiable greediness, as Behemoth the river Jordan. Of all those huge mountains, the numberless number, and purple seas of sins and transgressions, which have at any time, any where, by any creature been committed since himself first fell from heaven unto this hou•e, or shall be from thence until the day of doom, or from thence everlastingly in hell, by bannings, cursings and despairs amongst those damned fiends: I say, of all these sins Satan is guilty one way or other: and if he might have his will, he hath malice enough to make an infinite addition both in number and heinousness. Where one sin is committed, he wisheth there were ten thousand. He would have every sinful thought be a sin of Sodomy: every idle word a desperate blasphemy: every angry look, a bloody murder: every frailty, a crying sin: every default, a damnable rebellion. Now as Satan himself is thus infinite ⟨p. 227⟩and insatiable in the ways of darkness; so doth he inspire every limb of his with a spice of this sinful greediness, and restless pursuit of their own wicked ways. To give an instance of trembling and terror in this kind, and of Satan's merciless malice that way. I knew a man which in his life time was given to that fearful blasphemous sin of swearing, who coming to his deathbed, Satan so filled his heart with a madded and enraged greediness after that, most gainless and pleasureless sin) that though himself swore as fast and furiously as he could;

3. Never was jaylor so jealous over his prisoners, as Satan is watchfull over every wicked man. ⟨p. 226⟩

yet (as though he had been already amongst the bannings and blasphemies of hell) he desperately desired the standers by to help him with oaths, and to swear for him. Incredible rage, prodigious fury! Now if Satan be able to beget such insatiableness after sin wherein there is no profit or delight at all; how fiercely & fearfully will he enrage carnal men in the pursuit of gainful, pleasure full and advancing sins?

yet (as though hee had beene already amongst the bannings and blasphemies of hell) he desperatly desir'd the standersby to helpe him with oathes, and to sweare for him. Incredible rage, prodigious fury! Now if Satan be able to beget such insatiablenesse after sin wherein there is no profit or delight at all; how fiercely & fearefully will he enrage carnall men in the pursuit of gainfull, pleasure full and advancing sinnes?

You see then how the insatiableness of corrupt affection springs out of the fountain of original naughtiness, from the just curse of GOD and malice of Satan.

You see then how the insatiablenesse of corrupt affection springs out of the fountaine of originall naughtinesse, from the just curse of GOD and malice of Satan.

It is clear and evident by ordinary experience, and observation in the world, with what insatisfiable desire and greediness, corrupt affection doth feed upon that sensual object, and earthly pleasure, upon which with special apprehension, and delightful taste, it seizes and sets it self.

It is cleare and evident by ordinary experience, and observation in the world, with what insatisfiable desire and greedinesse, corrupt affection doth feed upō that sensuall object, and earthly pleasure, upon which with speciall apprehension, and delightfull taste, it seazes and sets it selfe.

1. If it fall in love with honour and high ⟨p. 228⟩rooms; it begets ambition, which is an unsatiable thirst after glory, and a gluttonous excessive desire after greatness. Of all other vicious passions which do possess the heart of man, it is the most powerful and unconquerable. As it is superlative and transcendent in it object and aspirations; and seated in the highest, and haughtiest spirits; so is it resolute and desperate in it undertakings furious and head-strong in it pursuits and persecutions. It is venturous to remove any let, and hardened for all means; many times without remorse or tears, it takes out of the way by some cruel contrivance, their dearest friends, and tramples the nearest blood, as we see ordinarily in the Turkish Emperors, to get up into an high place, and grasp an Imperial Crown. It is victorious over all other affections, and masters even the sensuality of lustful pleasures, as we may see in many great men of the Heathens, Alexander, Scipio, Pompey, and many others; who being tempted with the exquisiteness and varieties of choicest beauties, yet forbore that villainy, not for conscience sake, or for fear of GOD, whom they knew not; but least thereby they should stop the current of their victorious achievements, and obscure the glory of their remarkable valour. It prefers a high room in the world before a temporal life; yea, and eternal life too. How many great mens hearts have burst, at the displeased and frowning countenance of a King? how many either by desperate practices or their own violent hands have brought themselves to untimely ends, because they were ⟨p. 229⟩impatient of the lower places they had formerly enjoyed. Ahithophel, when he was like to loose the reputation and rank of a Privy Counsellor, saddled his Ass, went home, put his house in order, and hanged himself. How many daily run great hazards, to domineer for a while in their undeserved dignities? And prepare against the day of wrath, by an unconscionable purchasing of highest rooms amongst the sons of men?

1. If it fall in love with honour and high ⟨p. 228⟩roomes; it begets ambition, which is an unsatiable thirst after glory, and a gluttonous excessive desire after greatnesse. Of all other vicious passions which doe possesse the heart of man, it is the most powerfull and unconquerable. As it is superlative and transcendent in it object and aspirations; and seated in the highest, and haughtiest spirits; so is it resolute and desperate in it undertakings furious and head-strong in it pursuits and persecutions. It is ventrous to remove any let, and hardned for all meanes; many times without remorse or teares, it takes out of the way by some cruell contriuance, their dearest friends, and tramples the neerest blood, as we see ordinarily in the Turkish Emperours, to get up into an high place, and grasp an Imperiall Crowne. It is victorious over all other affections, and maisters even the sensuality of lustfull pleasures, as we may see in many great men of the Heathens, Alexander, Scipio, Pompey, and many others; who being tempted with the exquisitenes and varieties of choisest beauties, yet forbare that villanie, not for conscience sake, or for feare of GOD, whome they knew not; but least thereby they should stop the current of their uictorious atchieuements, and obscure the glory of their remarkable valour. It preferres a high roome in the world before a temporall life; yea, and eternall life too. How many great mens hearts have burst, at the displeased and frouning countenance of a King? how many either by desperate practices or their own violent hands have brought themselves to untimely ends, because they were

Lastly, it is uncapable of society, and sharpened by the enjoyment of that it desireth. Give room to Caesar, and heel ambitiously pursue the Sovereignty of the whole world: Let Alexander conquer the whole world, heel ask for moe; let those be subdued; he would climb towards the stars, if he could aspire thither, he would peep beyond the heavens. For the proud and ambitious man enlargeth his desire like hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, &c. Hab. 2. 5. Who can fill the bottomless gulf of hell, or stop the insatiable jaws of death? neither can the greedy humour of a haughty spirit be satisfied. Let a consideration of that crown of endless joy and glory, which the Christian hath in pursuit; be unto him a counterpoison to uphold his heart in comfort and contentment against the vanity and venom of such endless ambitions; and if men be so infinitely venturous for an earthly crown, which (as one says) if we well weighed with what fears, jealousies, cares, insidiations, &c. it is thick set, if we found it before us in the way, we would not take it up. I say then, how eager should we be ⟨p. 228⟩[…] ⟨p. 229⟩[…] ⟨p. 230⟩after the glory of Heaven?

Lastly, it is uncapable of society, and sharpned by the enjoyment of that it desireth. Give roome to Caesar, and heele ambitiously pursue the Soveraignty of the whole world: Let Alexander conquer the whole world, heele aske for moe; let those be subdued; he would climbe towards the starres, if he could aspire thither, he would peep beyond ye heavens. For the proud and ambitious man enlargeth his desire like hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, &c. Hab. 2. 5. Who can fill the bottomlesse gulfe of hell, or stop the insatiable jawes of death? neither can the greedy humour of a haughty spirit be satisfied. Let a consideration of that crowne of endlesse joy and glory, which the Christian hath in pursuit; be unto him a counterpoyson to uphold his heart in comfort and contentment against the vanity and venome of such endlesse ambitions; and if men be so infinitly ventrous for an earthly crowne, which (as one sayes) if wee well weighed with what feares, jealousies, cares, insidiations, &c. it is thick set, if we found it before us in the way, we would not take it up. I say then, how eager should wee bee

2. If corrupt affection fall in love with riches, and the wedge of gold, it begets covetousness, the vilest and basest of all the infection of the soul: as ambition haunteth the haughtiest spirits, so covetousness lodgeth in the most dunghill disposition, it turns the soul of man, that noble and immortal spirit into earth and mud: whereas it might live in heaven upon earth, and by holy meditation, by a sweet familiarity and acquaintance (as it were) with GOD, and conversing above, and in that everlasting heaven of endless happiness hereafter: It lies in hell upon earth, and by restless torture of unsatiable greediness, makes way by it rooting to descend into the hell of wicked devils in the world to come. This devouring gangrene of greediness to get riches, doth not only by a most incompatible antipathy, keep out grace and GODS fear; but also by it venomous heat wast and consume all honest and natural affection, both to man, and beasts, to parents, kindred, friends and acquaintance. Nay, it makes a man contemn himself body and soul, wilfully to abandon both the comfortable enjoyment of this short time of this present mortality, and all hope of th• length of that blessed eternity to come, for a little transitory pelf, which he doth neither enjoy or use; except it be for use which enlargeth his covetous thirst as mightily, as it brings forth money monstrously.

2. If corrupt affection fall in love with riches, and the wedge of gold, it begets covetousnesse, the vilest and basest of all the infection of the soule: as ambition haunteth the haughtiest spirits, so covetousnesse lodgeth in the most dunghill disposition, it turnes the soule of man, that noble and immortall spirit into earth and mud: whereas it might live in heaven upon earth, and by holy meditation, by a sweet familiarity and acquaintance (as it were) with GOD, and conversing above, and in that everlasting heaven of endlesse happinesse hereafter: It lies in hell upon earth, and by restlesse torture of unsatiable greedinesse, makes way by it rooting to descend into the hell of wicked devils in the world to come. This devouring gangrene of greedinesse to get riches, doth not onely by a most incompatible antipathy, keepe out grace and GODS feare; but also by it venomous heat wast and consume all honest and naturall affection, both to man, and beasts, to parents, kindred, friends and acquaintance. Nay, it makes a man contemne himselfe body and soule, wilfully to abandon both the comfortable enjoyment of this short time of this present mortality, and all hope of th• length of that blessed eternity to come, for a litle transitory pelfe, which he doth neither enjoy or use; except it be for use which enlargeth his covetous thirst as mightily, as it brings forth money monstrously.

Besides, covetousness pierceth through the soul with a thousand torments, and the riches of ⟨p. 231⟩iniquity engender in the heart of man many tortures, envies and molestations, as their proper thunderbolt and blasting. And of all other vile affections it is most sottishly and senslesly unsatiable, Eccles. 4. 8. For, how is it possible that earth should feed or fill the immaterial and heaven born spirit of a man? It cannot be: and the Spirit of GOD hath said it shall not be; Eccles. 5. 9. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, &c. Hence it is, that the deeplier the drowsy heart of this covetous man doth drink of this golden stream, the more furiously it is inflamed with spiritual thirst. Nay, it is most certain, that if the covetous man could purchase a monopoly of all the wealth in the world; were he able to empty the Western parts of gold and silver; and the East of pearls and jewels; should he enclose the whole face of the earth from one end of heaven to the other; and heap his hoards unto the stars: yet his heart would be as hungry after more riches, as if he had never a penny, and much more: Such is GODS curse upon that man which makes his gold his god. And this insatiableness in the covetous man begets cruelty and oppression of others, and perpetual want of contentment and comfort in that he hath already. Sweetness of gain makes him many times drink the blood & eat the flesh of the oppressed. He begins first (if he be of power and place) to grind the faces of the poor; then to pluck of their skins, then to tear their flesh, then to break their bones, and chop them in pieces as flesh for the pot, and at last even to eat the flesh of GODS ⟨p. 232⟩people. That is; first to weary them out with petty wrongs and extraordinary occasions, to vex them with new conditions, and unconscionable encroachments: and at last to wring their pensive souls from their wasted and hunger-starved bodies, with extremity of oppression, and cruelty of covetousness. And that which is a just curse upon the covetous man; he is ever infinitely more tormented with the want of that which he doth immoderately and unnecessarily desire, than contented and comforted with the enjoyment of those things he doth presently possess.

The ambitious man, if he be disgraced and over-topped by any grand opposite and counterfactionist, or derided and reviled with baser and inferior contempt, or neglected by omission of some due observance and ceremony of state: he (I say) is more grieved, if he want grace, for some such little default in the attributions of his place, and want of complementall respect in that measure, and of such men as he desires; than he hath glory and pomp in his highest place. This is clear in Haman; though he was compassed and crowned with such undeserved and extraordinary precedency and pomp; yet this one little thing, because Mordecai would not bow the knee and do reverence to him at the Kings gate, did utterly mar and dissweeten all the other excellencies of his new advancement, and extraordinariness of the Kings favour: See Esther 5. 10, 11, 12, 13. And Haman told his wife and friends of all his glory, &c. But all this (saith he) doth nothing avail me as long as I see Mordecai the ⟨p. 233⟩Jew sitting at the Kings gate. As it is thus in ambition, and in great men that are graceless; they many times take more to heart (out of the pride of their hearts) the want of some one circumstantial observance, and of reverence from some one man; than they heartily enjoy all the other glory of their place: so it is also with the covetous man; though already he hath more than enough; yet some greedy wish of a new addition doth more torture his heart, than the rowing amongst all his other wealth can rejoice it. Ahab, though he had already¹ in his hand the riches, glory, pleasures, & sovereignty of a kingdom, yet after he had cast his covetous eye upon poor Naboths vineyard wch was near his palace, his heart did more afflict and vex it self with greedy longing for that bit of earth; than the vast and spacious compass of a kingdom could counter-comfort. He could take no joy in the beauty of a crown, and largeness of his royal command, because his poor neighbour would not deprive himself and all his posterity of the inheritance of his fathers, which his ancestors had enjoyed time out of mind.

The ambitious man, if he be disgrac'd and over-top'd by any grand opposite and counterfactionist, or derided and revil'd with baser and inferiour contempt, or neglected by omission of some due observance and ceremony of state: he (I say) is more griev'd, if he want grace, for some such little default in the attributions of his place, and want of complementall respect in that measure, and of such men as he desires; than he hath glory and pompe in his highest place. This is cleare in Haman; though he was compassed and crown'd with such undeserved and extraordinary precedency and pompe; yet this one little thing, because Mordecai would not bow the knee and do reverence to him at the Kings gate, did utterly marre and dissweeten all the other excellencies of his new advancement, and extraordinarinesse of the Kings favour: See

For a counterpoison against the greedy gangrene of hoarding up riches; consider in what stead thy riches will stand thee upon thy bed of death; consider that speech of a poor distressed woman afflicted in conscience, whom I heard thus say in the agony of her grieved spirit, I have husband, goods, and children, and other comforts; I would give them all the treasures of the earth if I had them, and all the good I shall have in ⟨p. 234⟩this world or in the world to come, to feel but the least taste of the favour of GOD in the pardon of my sin: she would in this case with all her heart have given the warmest and dearest blood of her heart for one drop of CHRISTS blood to do away her sins.

For a counterpoyson against the greedy gangrene of hoarding up riches; consider in what stead thy riches will stand thee upon thy bed of death; consider that speech of a poore distressed woman afflicted in conscience, whom I heard thus say in the agony of her grieved spirit, I have husband, goods, and children, and other comforts; I would give them all the treasures of the earth if I had them, and all the good I shall have in ⟨p. 234⟩this world or in the world to come, to feele but the least taste of the favour of GOD in the pardon of my sinne: she would in this case with all her heart haue giuen the warmest and dearest bloud of her heart for one drop of CHRISTS bloud to do away her sinnes.

If corrupt affections fall in love with worldly pleasure, such as are surfeiting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, lust and uncleanness, unlawful sports and recreations, it begets a strange furious thirst and heat in the carnal appetite, which cannot be satisfied, but like the two daughters of the horseleech, which cry still, give, give; which is set on fire by hell: and therefore it is as unsatiable as that bottomless infernal pit; every taste of sensuality serves as fuel to increase the flame and fury of concupiscence: We see it in drunkards, who by drinking do not quench their thirst, and satisfy their appetite, but by their immoderate swilling both increase the burning thirst of their bodies and enraged intemperance of their minds. We hear it of wantons, Wisd. 2. Come let us enjoy the pleasures that are present, &c. Let us crown our selves with roses before they wither, let there be no pleasant meadow which our luxuriousness doth not pass over; let us leave some token of our pleasure in every place, for that is our portion, and this is our lot. Every Carnalist feels it in himself after once he hath given the reins to his concupiscence: he is like a strong man running headlong down a steep hill, though he would never so fain, he cannot stay himself, but run still faster and faster, ⟨p. 235⟩till he break his neck at the bottom: If once he suffers the fountain of original pollution which naturally flows out of his rocky heart, to have that free and full course: it will shortly gather in its passage many strong and heady streams of stub bornenesse and rebellion, until by growing by little and little in strength and swiftness, it swell into a mighty and furious torrent, so at last fall with fearful noise and horror into the gulf of irrecoverable misery. In a word, after the heart of a man be set upon any sensual delight, it feeds upon it as greedily as the horseleech upon corrupt blood, it will burst before it give over. It will by no means part with its hold until it either be broken with the hammer of the Word, or burst with the horror of despair. It drinks so deep and long of the empoisoned cup of carnal pleasures, until the LORD fill it unto its brim, full of the cup of wine of his indignation, and bid it drink, be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, Jer. 25. 27.

If corrupt affections fall in love with worldly pleasure, such as are surfeiting and drunkennesse, chambering and wantonnesse, lust and uncleannesse, unlawfull sports and recreations, it begets a strange furious thirst and heat in the carnall appetite, which cannot be satisfied, but like the two daughters of the horsleech, which cry still, give, give; which is set on fire by hell: and therefore it is as unsatiable as that bottomlesse infernall pit; every taste of sensuality serves as fewell to increase the flame and fury of concupiscence: We see it in drunkards, who by drinking do not quench their thirst, and satisfie their appetite, but by their immoderate swilling both increase the burning thirst of their bodies and inraged intemperance of their minds. We heare it of wantons, Wisd. 2. Come let us enjoy the pleasures that are present, &c. Let us crowne our selves with roses before they wither, let there be no pleasant meadow which our luxuriousnesse doth not passe over; let us leave some token of our pleasure in every place, for that is our portion, and this is our lot. Every Carnalist feeles it in himselfe after once he hath given the reins to his concupiscence: he is like a strong man running headlong downe a steepe hill, though he would never so faine, he cannot stay himselfe, but run still faster and faster,