Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things

I have read of some, whom (in some sort) we might parallel with this rich man concerning their fearful horrid departure out of this miserable world: yea, I suppose the Books are so working, that any man whosoever he is, that would but read them, and ponder them in a serious way, they would certainly work in him much matter of humiliation, and make him to fly sin, as the very sting of a scorpion.

I have read of some, whom (in some sort) we might parallel with this rich man concerning their fearful horrid departure out of this miserable world: yea, I suppose the Books are so working, that any man whosoever he is, that would but read them, and ponder them in a serious way, they would certainly work in him much matter of humiliation, and make him to flie sin, as the very sting of a scorpion.

¹One of them I mean to speak of was an Englishman: Abbot. that relates the story, tells indeed of two in one year that died thus uncomfortably; the one so many ways looking homewards, that he died miserably rich: the other so lashing outward that he died miserably poor, both of different ways of life, yet both of uncomfortable passages out of the world. The one coming to his deaths-bed, the Author reports of him, that first the Devil presented himself unto him to be his Physician, and after Christ appeared to him sitting on the Throne, condemning his unprofitable life, and bidding him shift for himself, for he would have nothing to do with him: The other (of whom I mean to speak) as if he would prevent Christ, condemned himself to hell for ever and ever: O (said he) that I might burn along time in that fire, so I might not burn in hell. — I have had (said he) a little pleasure, and now I must go to the torments of hell for ever. Then praying to God (as he was pressed by others) to forgive him his sins, and to have mercy upon him, he would add, but I know God will not do it, I must go to hell for evermore. Whatsoever came ⟨p. 79⟩between whiles, this was the close, I must be burned in Hell, I must to the furnace of Hell, millions and millions of ages. The Author of this story (who was Minister of the place where he lived) went to him, offered him the comforts of the Gospel, opened to him the promises of the largest size, showed him that God was delighted to save souls, and not to destroy them, and that his sweet promises were without exception of time place, person, or sin, except that against the holy Ghost, which he assured him too, was not committed by him: and what was the issue? all this could not fasten on him, but still he would answer, Alas, it is too late, I must be burned in hell. That man of God (the Shepherd of his soul) seeing his soul in this danger, came to him again and again, and at last secluding the company, he presses him with tears in his eyes, not to cast away that soul for for which Christ died; he told him, that Christ rejected none that did not reject him: but for all this he could have no other answer, but that he had cast off Christ, and therefore must go to hell.