If Jesus Christ hath delivered his people from the wrath to come,1 how little comfort can any man take in his present enjoyments and accommodations in the world, whilst it remains a question with him whether he be delivered from the wrath to come! It's well for present, but will it be so still? Man is a prospecting creature, and it will not satisfy him that his present condition is comfortable, except he have some hope it shall be so hereafter. It can afford a man little content that all is easy and pleasant about him now; whilst such passages and terrible hints of wrath to come are given him by his own conscience daily. Oh methinks such a thought as this, what if I am reserved for the wrath to come? Should be to him as the fingers appearing upon the plaster of the wall were to Belteshazzar in the height of a frolic. It's a custom with some of the Indians when they have taken a prisoner (whom they intend not presently to eat) to bring him with great Triumph,2 into the village where he dwelleth that hath taken him; and placing him in the house of one that was slain in the Wars, as it were to re-celebrate his funerals, they give him his Wives or Sisters to attend on him, and use at his pleasure. They apparel him gorgeously, and feed him with all the dainty meats that may be had; affording him all the pleasure that can be devised: when he hath past certain months in all these pleasures, and like a Capon is made fat with delicate fare, they assemble themselves upon some festival day, and in great pomp bring him to the place of execution where they kill, and eat him.
If Jesus Christ hath delivered his people from the wrath to come,1 how little comfort can any man take in his present enjoyments and accommodations in the world, whilst it remains a question with him whether he be deliver'd from the wrath to come! It's well for present, but will it be so still? Man is a prospecting creature, and it will not satisfie him that his present condition is comfortable, except he have some hope it shall be so hereafter. It can afford a man little content that all is easie and pleasant about him now; whilst such passages and terrible hints of wrath to come are given him by his own conscience daily. Oh methinks such a thought as this, what if I am reserved for the wrath to come? Should be to him as the fingers appearing upon the plaister of the wall were to Belteshazzar in the height of a frollick. It's a custom with some of the Indians when they have taken a prisoner (whom they intend not presently to eat) to bring him with great Triumph,2 into the village where he dwelleth that hath taken him; and placing him in the house of one that was slain in the Wars, as it were to re-celebrate his funerals, they give him his Wives or Sisters to attend on him, and use at his pleasure. They apparel him gorgeously, and feed him with all the dainty meats that may be had; affording him all the pleasure that can be devised: when he hath past certain months in all these pleasures, and like a Capon is made fat with delicate fare, they assemble themselves upon some festival day, and in great pomp bring him to the place of execution where they kill, and eat him.
- 1Cor. 2.
- 2Sir Rich. Barkley in the felicity of man, p. 12, 13,
