CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

And 1. That is in the deprivation of God, and an utter departure from him, ¹and this privative part of eternal death is the great aggravation of it; At the day of judgement, that dreadful doom runneth thus, Depart from me, Mat. 25.² 41. That is worse then the eternal fire they are cast into, you have heard that God was the fountain of all good, every creatures goodness is but a stream from that Fountain; At thy right hand (said David, Psa. 16.11.) are rivers of pleasure for evermore; So that this eternal death takes thee from the light of his countenance; Thou art never to be admitted in his presence, and when God departs, all comfort, all hope departs with him: Oh that wicked men would lay this to heart, you that now bid God depart from you, you will have none of his knowledge, none of his commands, God will requite you in your own kind, he will then command you to depart from him: Were it not that Atheism and unbelief did reign in your hearts, this truth would make your ears to tingle, and your heart to tremble, while you hear it: Was it not death to Absalom to be kept from his Fathers presence? Why do ye not kill me, saith he to Joab, rather then let it be always thus, yet he was but an earthly Father, he could not give peace and joy to the consciences of men, but this heavenly Father is a Father of spirits, whom he bids Depart from him, all terror and horror immediately seizeth on that man; There is no quietness in his bones, Michah had lost but an Idol-God, Judg. 18. and he wringeth his hand, and crieth out bitterly; Oh but what roarings and yellings when we shall have lost the true God and his favour for ever.

And 1. That is in the deprivation of God, and an utter departure from him, ¹and this privative part of eternal death is the great aggravation of it; At the day of judgement, that dreadful doom runneth thus, Depart from me,