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

5. Desire to have such thoughts and resolutions now, ¹as if thou wert already in eternity: For if the damned in hell that see no escape from those everlasting flames were asked, what they thought of their sin, how they loved it? would they not make miserable howlings, it's that which hath undone us, oh that is the sting that enters into the very bowels, that's the scorpion which pierceth to the very heart: Oh we mad men and void of all understanding, who though forewarned of this, and threatened about it, yet regarded nothing, believed nothing; but now, oh now, after millions of years in this tormented place, we are as unlikely to come out, as at the first. Think you they are not then altered and changed, do they not cry out of those bitter sins which were once so sweet? Should God give them leave to be here again upon the earth, would they not repent in sackcloth and ashes? would they not day and night mourn after God and his forgiveness? Oh that every wicked man, who finds pleasure and delight in his sins, would think and say, Do the damned in hell judge it so? Do they feel sin so sweet? And thus also desire to have the same enlarged affections and delight in God, as those glorified Saints in heaven have. Dost thou find thy heart worldly, unruly, distempered, say, Do those in eternal life rejoice no more? have they no more enlivened flames of zeal for God then I have? Thus to judge as those who are in eternity, would be an excellent spur to all piety.

5. Desire to have such thoughts and resolutions now, ¹as if thou wert already in eternity: For if the damned in hell that see no escape from those everlasting flames were asked, what they thought of their sinne, how they loved it? would they not make miserable howlings, it's that which hath undone us, oh that is the sting that enters into the very bowels, that's the scorpion which pierceth to the very heart: Oh we mad men and void of all understanding, who though forewarned of this, and threatned about it, yet regarded nothing, beleeved nothing; but now, oh now, after millions of years in this tormented place, we are as unlikely to come out, as at the first. Think you they are not then altered and changed, do they not cry out of those bitter sinnes which were once so sweet? Should God give them leave to be here again upon the earth, would they not repent in sackcloth and ashes? would they not day and night mourn after God and his forgivenesse? Oh that every wicked man, who findes pleasure and delight in his sinnes, would think and say, Do the damned in hell judge it so? Do they feel sinne so sweet? And thus also desire to have the same inlarged affections and delight in God, as those glorified Saints in heaven have. Dost thou finde thy heart worldly, unruly, distempered, say, Do those in eternall life rejoyce no more? have they no more enlivened flames of zeal for God then I have? Thus to judge as those who are in eternity, would be an excellent spurre to all piety.