A25250:183
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things: or certain meditations on life, death, judgement, hell, right purgatory, and heaven: delivered by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes in Lancashire.
London: printed for J.A., 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
They: who? not God, he knows not sinners, what should he do with a drunken, profane, covetous, sensual soul, he that never so much as thought on God in this life, will God accept of the commending of his soul to him at his death? no, the Lord of heaven will none of it: he that forsook God, is justly forsaken of God: See the true weight of this balance, he would not receive Gods grace into his soul, and God will not receive his graceless soul into heaven. But who then? will the Angels take it? no, they have nothing to do with the soul of a dying sinner, the Angels are only porters for the souls of the just: Poor Lazarus that could neither go, nor sit, nor stand for sores, it is he must be carried on the wings of Angels, but for this rich man, not the lowest Angel will do him poorest service. Who then? will the Saints receive it? no, they have no such commission to receive a soul: that blind opinion (which every one may blush at) that Saint Peter should be heavens porter, and that none may go in, but to whom he will open: if it be true, why may not a Saint help a departing soul? Away with this dreaming folly! not Peter, nor Paul, nor all the Saints of heaven have any such privilege; if God will not hear us, what will our prayers do to Saints? Heaven is too far off, they cannot hear, or were it nearer they will not, cannot help: it is God must save us, or we perish ever. Who then are the Sergeants? not God, nor Saints, nor Angels: no, there is another crew, Death and Devils stand in a readiness, and they are the parties that arrest this prisoner.
They: who? not God, he knows not sinners, what should he do with a drunken, profane, covetous, sensuall soul, he that never so much as thought on God in this life, will God accept of the commending of his soul to him at his death? no, the Lord of heaven will none of it: he that forsook God, is justly forsaken of God: See the true weight of this balance, he would not receive Gods grace into his soul, and God will not receive his graceless soul into heaven. But who then? will the Angels take it? no, they have nothing to do with the soul of a dying sinner, the Angels are onely porters for the souls of the just: Poor Lazarus that could neither go, nor sit, nor stand for sores, it is he must be carried on the wings of Angels, but for this rich man, not the lowest Angell will do him poorest service. Who then? will the Saints receive it? no, they have no such commission to receive a soul: that blind opinion (which every one may blush at) that Saint Peter should be heavens porter, and that none may go in, but to whom he will open: if it be true, why may not a Saint help a departing soul? Away with this dreaming folly! not Peter, nor Paul, nor all the Saints of heaven have any such priviledg; if God will not hear us, what will our prayers do to Saints? Heaven is too far off, they cannot hear, or were it nearer they will not, cannot help: it is God must save us, or we perish ever. Who then are the Sergeants? not God, nor Saints, nor Angels: no, there is another crew, Death and Devils stand in a readiness, and they are the parties that arrest this prisoner.