Captives bound in chains made free

4. It is a strong prison; As it is so close that none can come to them to comfort them, so it is so strong that not a prisoner shall escape, or break through, or get out to all eternity; if once these prison-doors be shut, and if Christ that hath the keys of death and hell, do once put thee in, and turn the key upon thee, there is no opening them for ever. Now you are bound in chains of your own making, even of your sins; but hereafter you shall be bound in chains of Gods making. And there are four ⟨p. 151⟩Bars or Bolts upon the prison-gates of hell, that the prisoners shall be filled with despair of ever coming forth.

1. This prison-gates shall be made for ever fast and strong by the counsel and decree of God; God hath ordained, that the imprisonment of those Captives that dye before they are made free, shall be eternal; it is the unalterable will of God, that they shall lye in chains for ever; Gods purpose must be changed before their chains can be broken, or the prisoners delivered: But God is a God that doth not change, he will be always in the same mind, and his Will will be the same for ever; therefore the prisoners must abide by it for ever.

2. This prison-gates shall be made fast and strong by the Justice of God. Justice shall keep the prison-door, that not a prisoner shall come forth till he hath made satisfaction for his sin, till he hath paid his debts to the uttermost farthing, and that will never be. When the prisoner hath been there a thousand years, and should beg, and pray, Lord, I have been here a thousand years, it is a long time, a long time, O me-thinks it is a long time since the day I came into this place; my time of sinning seemed short, it was indeed but short; but my time of suffering seemeth long, it is indeed exceeding long; now therefore Lord let me come forth. No, saith Justice, yet I am not satisfied. And when the other thousand years be past and the prisoner