A26808:261
The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain itThe soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it
The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it by William Bates ...The soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it by William Bates ...
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1680
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.
CHAP. XII.
The Gospel threatens Hell to all that prefer the Pleasures of Sin before Heaven. How congruous and powerful a Motive this is to work on carnal Men. The Misery of an everlasting Hell represented.
4. Consider, if Men choose the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a season, before Heaven, that infinitely exceeds this World, then an everlasting Hell shall be their Portion. There is no middle State in the next World, no tolerable mediocrity, but two contrary States, yet alike in this, that the Happiness and Misery are equally Infinite and Eternal. And by the most wise righteous Will of God, there is an inseparable connection between the Choice and Actions of Men here, and their future Condition for ever. The equity of this cannot be denied without renouncing the Light of Reason. For when by a Chain of Consequences sinful Pleasures are linked with eternal Punishments threatened in the Divine Law, he that will enjoy those forbidden Pleasures, ⟨p. 232⟩binds himself to suffer all the pains annexed to them. And 'tis just that those who err without Excuse, should repent without Remedy. Now the threatening of eternal Punishment is the most proper Argument to work on carnal secure Sinners.
4. COnsider, if Men choose the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a season, before Heaven, that infinitely exceeds this World, then an everlasting Hell shall be their Portion. There is no middle State in the next World, no tolerable mediocrity, but two contrary States, yet alike in this, that the Happiness and Misery are equally Infinite and Eternal. And by the most wise righteous Will of God, there is an inseparable connexion between the Choice and Actions of Men here, and their future Condition for ever. The equity of this cannot be denied without renouncing the Light of Reason. For when by a Chain of Consequences sinful Pleasures are linked with eternal Punishments threatned in the Divine Law, he that will enjoy those forbidden Pleasures,