A47542:193
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
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.
Thus the Almighty dealt by the Jews for their Sin in rejecting of Jesus Christ, and putting him to death by wicked hands, for this he gave them up to an hard, unbelieving, and an impenitent heart, and then let in the Romans upon them, who utterly destroyed their City and Temple, and so scattered them on all the face of the Earth; and hence the Apostle saith, that Wrath was come upon them to the uttermost.1
7. 1The Wrath of God like Fire sometimes also seizeth on the Consciences of men, by which means they are fearfully tormented, for their horrid Blasphemy, Profaneness, Atheism, Apostasy, &c. We have had two Examples of this sort, viz. Mr. Francis Spira in the last Century, and Mr. John Child in this.
7. 1The Wrath of God like Fire sometimes also seizeth on the Consciences of men, by which means they are fearfully tormented, for their horrid Blasphemy, Prophaness, Atheism, Apostacy, &c. We have had two Examples of this sort, viz. Mr. Francis Spira in the last Century, and Mr. John Child in this.
It is enough to make all who read those Narratives to Tremble, at the very thoughts of the incensed Wrath and Anger of an offended God. Who can stand before his indignation, when his wrath is poured out like fire, on the Souls and Consciences of Men? O how doth he seem to Tear them into pieces, even to such a degree as they seem to be in the very torments of Hell, while in the Body: And not knowing but that a faithful reciting of some Passages concerning the inward Horror of the said Spira and Child, may be of some use to Caution all to take heed of such like sins which they fell under, I shall ⟨p. 44⟩(tho' more briefly than I intended) compare their States, Circumstances, inward Anguish and Horror of their Spirits, together.
It is enough to make all who read those Naratives to Tremble, at the very thoughts of the incensed Wrath and Anger of an offended God. Who can stand before his indignation, when his wrath is poured out like fire, on the Souls and Consciences of Men? O how doth he seem to Tear them into peices, even to such a degree as they seem to be in the very torments of Hell, while in the Body: And not knowing but that a faithful reciting of some Passages concerning the inward Horror of the said Spira and Child, may be of some use to Caution all to take heed of such like sins which they fell under, I shall ⟨p. 44⟩(tho' more briefly than I intended) compare their States, Circumstances, inward Anguish and Horror of their Spirits, together.
SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of Francis Spira, Spira having received the Light of the Gospel, became a Teacher of the Blessed Truths thereof amongst his Friends and familiar Acquaintance; and (says the Narrative) in comparison seemed to neglect all other Affairs, much pressing this main point of Doctrine, viz. That we must wholly and only depend on the free and unchangeable Love of God in the Death of Christ, as the only way to Salvation. As to his natural and corrupt Inclination; 'I was, saith he, excessively Covetous of Money; and accordingly applied my self to get it by Injustice, corrupting Justice by doing it,' &c. As touching Spira's Sin and his grand fall, it was thus, viz. The Popes Legate, Resident at Venice, was stirred by the malice of the Papists to accuse Spira to him, and by the Craft and Policy of the Legate, and through slavish Fear, Spira first fled, and afterwards renounced his Testimony to the Truth; before which it appears he reasoned thus within himself, through' the Suggestion of the Devil, viz. 'Be well advised, fond Man, consider Reasons on both sides, and then judge, how canst thou thus overween thine own sufficiency, as thou neither regardest the Examples of thy Progenitors, nor the Judgment of the whole Church? dost thou not consider what misery this thy Rashness will bring thee into? thou shalt lose thy Substance gotten with so great Care and Travel; thou shalt undergo the most exquisite Torments that Malice […] devise; thou shalt be […] an Heretic of all; […] to close up all, thou shalt die shamefully: ⟨p. 45⟩What thinkest thou of the loathsome stinking Dungeon, the Bloody Axe, the Burning Faggot? are they delightful? be wise at length, and keep thy Life and Honour.—Go to the Legate, Weak Man, and freely Confess thy Fault,' &c. And upon these thoughts he goes to the Legate, and salutes him with this News, viz. Having for these divers years entertained an Opinion concerning some Articles of Faith, contrary to the Orthodox and received Judgment of the Church, and uttered many things against the Authority of the Church of Rome, and the universal Bishop, I humbly acknowledge my Fault and Error, and my Folly in my misleading others; I therefore yield my self in all Obedience to the supreme Bishop of Rome, into the Bosom of the Church of Rome, never to depart again from the Traditions and Decrees of the Holy See;
I am heartily sorry for what is past, and I humbly beg Pardon for so great an Offence. The Legate at this commanded him to return to his own Town, and there to confess and acknowledge the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be holy and true, and to abjure the Opinions of Luther, &c. After this he signed an Instrument of Abjuration, and then fell under horrid Despairation. 'And he thought he heard a direful Voice,' saying, Thou wicked Wretch, thou hast renounced the Covenant of thy Obedience, thou hast broke thy Vow; hence Apostate bear with thee the Sentence of thy Eternal Damnation. He trembling in Body and Mind fell into a Swoon. Now began some of his Friends to repent too late of their Rash Council, not looking so high as to the Judgment of God, laid all the blame on his Melancholy Constitution, that over-shadowing his Judgment, wrought in him a kind of Madness, and directed him to the use of Physicians, &c. To which Spira replied, Alas poor men! how far wide are you? do you think that this Disease is to be Cured by Potions? believe me, there must be another manner of Medicine; it is neither Plaster nor Drugs that can help a fainting Soul, cast down with the sense of sin, and the Wrath of God; 'tis only Christ that must be the Physician, and the Gospel the Souls Antidote. Amongst others that come to visit him was Panlus Vergerius, and Mattheus Gribauldus, principal Labourers for his Comfort; they sound him about 50 Years of Age. Neither affected with Dotage, nor with the unconstant head-strong Passion of Youth, but in the strength of his Experience and Judgment; in a burning heat, calling for drink; yet his Understanding active, quick or Apprehension, Witty in Discourse, above his ordinary manner—they forcibly infused some liquid Sustenance into his Mouth, most of which he spit out again, and in a fretting mood said, As it is true, that all things work for the better to those that Love God, so to the wicked all to the contrary; for whereas a plentiful Off-spring is the Blessing of God and his Reward, being a stay to the weak Estate of their Aged Parents, to me they are ⟨p. 46⟩a cause of bitterness and vexation; they do strive to make me tire out this misery, I would fain be at an end; I deserve not this dealing at their hands. Oh that I were gone from hence, that some body would let out this weary Soul! My sin, said Spira, is greater than the Mercy of God;
I am heartily sorry for what is past, and I humbly beg Pardon for so great an Offence. The Legate at this commanded him to return to his own Town, and there to confess and acknowledge the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be holy and true, and to abjure the Opinions of Luther, &c. After this he signed an Instrument of Abjuration, and then fell under horrid Despairation. 'And he thought he heard a direful Voice,' saying, Thou wicked Wretch, thou hast renounced the Covenant of thy Obedience, thou hast broke thy Vow; henc Apostate bear with thee the Sentene of thy Eternal Damnation. He trembling in Body and Mind fellinto a Swound. Now began some of his Friends to repent too late of their Rash Council, not looking so high as to the Judgment of God, laid all the blame on his Melancholly Constitution, that over-shaddowing his Judgment, wrought in him a kind of Madness, and directed him to the use of Physicians, &c. To which Spira replyed, Alas poor men! how far wide are you? do you think that this Disease is to be Cured by Potions? believe me, there must be another manner of Medicine; it is neither Plaister nor Drugs that can help a fainting Soul, cast down with the sence of sin, and the Wrath of God; 'tis only Christ that must be the Pysician, and the Gospel the Souls Antidote. Amongst others that come to visit him was Panlus Vergerius, and Mattheus Gribauldus, principal Labourers for his Comfort; they sound him about 50 Years of Age. Neither affected with Doteage, nor with the unconstant head-strong Passion of Youth, but in the strength of his Experience and Judgment; in a burning heat, calling for drink; yet his Understanding active, quick or Apprehension, Witty in Discourse, above his ordinary manner—they forcibly infused some liquid Sustenance into his Mouth, most of which he spit out again, and in a fretting mood said, As it is true, that all things work for the better to those that Love God, so to the wicked all to the contrary; for whereas a plentiful Off-spring is the Blessing of God and his Reward, being a stay to the weak Estate of their Aged Parents, to me they are
nay, answered his Visitors, the Mercy of God is above all sin, God would have all men to be saved; it is true, (said he) God would have all the Elect to be saved; he would not have damned Reprobates to be saved: I am one of that Number; I know it, for I willingly denied Christ, and I feel that he hardens me, and will not suffer me to hope. Being asked whether he did believe that Doctrine to be true for which he was accused before the Legate, he answered, I did believe it when I denied it, but now I neither can believe that nor the Doctrine of the Roman Church; I believe nothing, I have no Faith, no Trust, no Hope, I am a Reprobate, like Cain or Judas, who casting away all hope of mercy, fell under despair; and my Friends do me wrong, that they suffer me not to go to the place of Unbelievers, as I justly deserve. The mercy of God (said he) is exceeding large, and extends to all the Elect, but not to me, or any like me, who are sealed to Wrath: I tell you I deserve it, my own Conscience condemns me, what needeth any other Judge; if Peter grieved, and repented, it was because Christ beheld him with a merciful Eye, and in that he was pardoned; it was not because he wept, but because God was gracious to him; but God respects not me, and therefore I am a Reprobate; I feel no Comfort can enter into my Heart, there's place only for Torments and Vexings of Spirit: I tell you, my Case is properly mine own, no Man was ever in the like plight, and therefore my Estate is fearful. And then roaring out in bitterness of Spirit, he said, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Some said with a whispering Voice that he was possessed; he over-hearing it, said, Do ye doubt it? I have a whole Legion of Devils that take up their dwelling in me, and possess me as their own; and justly too; for I have denied Christ, Christ will not be denied, no not in a word, and therefore it is enough; in Heart I never denied him. He said, when asked, that he knew there were worse, far worse pains than those that he then suffered; for the wicked shall rise to their Judgment, but they shall not stand in Judgment; this I tremble to think of, yet I desire nothing more than that I might come to that place, where I may be sure to feel the worst, and to be freed from fear of worse to come.
nay, answered his Visitors, the Mercy of God is above all sin, God would have all men to be saved; it is true, (said he) God would have all the Elect to be saved; he would not have damn'd Reprobates to be saved: I am one of that Number; I know it, for I willingly denyed Christ, and I feel that he hardens me, and will not suffer me to hope. Being asked whether he did believe that Doctrine to be true for which he was accused before the Legate, he aswered, I did believe it when I denyed it, but now I neither can believe that nor the Doctrine of the Roman Church; I believe nothing, I have no Faith, no Trust, no Hope, I am a Reprobate, like Cain or Judas, who casting away all hope of mercy, fell under despair; and my Friends do me wrong, that they suffer me not to go to the place of Vnbelievers, as I justly deserve. The mercy of God (said he) is exceeding large, and extends to all the Elect, but not to me, or any like me, who are sealed to Wrath: I tell you I deserve it, my own Conscience condemns me, what needeth any other Judge; if Peter grieved, and repented, it was because Christ beheld him with a merciful Eye, and in that he was pardoned; it was not because he wept, but because God was gracious to him; but God respects not me, and therefore I am a Reprobate; I feel no Comfort can enter into my Heart, there's place only for Torments and Vexings of Spirit: I tell you, my Case is properly mine own, no Man was ever in the like plight, and therefore my Estate is fearful. And then roaring out in bitterness of Spirit, he said, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Some said with a whispering Voice that he was possessed; he over-hearing it, said, Do ye doubt it? I have a whole Legion of Devils that take up their dwelling in me, and possess me as their own; and justly too; for I have denyed Christ, Christ will not be denyed, no not in a word, and therefore it is enough; in Heart I never denied him. He said, when asked, that he knew there were worse, far worse pains than those that he then suffered; for the wicked shall rise to their Judgment, but they shall not stand in Judgment; this I tremble to think of, yet I desire nothing more than that I might come to that place, where I may be sure to feel the worst, and to be freed from fear of worse to come.
Being bid to believe the Truths he had denied, he replied, I cannot, God will not suffer me to believe them, nor to trust in his mercy; what would you have me to do? I would, but I cannot, tho' I presently be burnt for it. I find I can neither believe the Gospel, nor trust in Gods Mercy; I have sinned against the Holy Ghost, and God by his immutable Decree hath bound me over to perpetual Punishment: God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth; God hath taken away from me all power of Repentance, and brings all my sins to remembrance; and guilty of one, guilty of all, ⟨p. 47⟩fore it is no matter whether my sins be great or small, few or many; they are such, that Christs Blood, nor the Mercy of God belongs not to me; he hath hardened me, I find that he daily more and more doth harden me, and therefore I am without hope; I feel it, therefore cannot but despair: I tell you, there was never such a Monster as I am, never was any man alive a spectacle of such exceeding Misery. I know that Justification is to be expected by Christ, and I have denied and abjured it, to the end I might keep my frail Life from Adversity, and my Children from Poverty, and now behold how bitter my Life is to me, and God only knows what will become of this my Family; but sure no good is likely to betide it, but worse and worse, and such at length as one stone shall not be left upon another. Said he, The Spirit of God often admonished me, when at Cittadella I did as it were set my Seal, the Spirit of God often suggested to me, Do not write Spira, do not Seal, yet I resisted the Holy Ghost, and did both, and at that very time I did evidently feel a wound inflicted my very will, &c. David was Elected and dearly Beloved, and tho' he fell, yet God took not utterly away his holy Spirit, and therefore was heard when he prayed, 'Lord take not thy holy Spirit from me.' But I am in another Case, being for ever accursed from the presence of God; neither can I pray as he did, because the Holy Spirit is quite gone, and cannot be recalled,—'O that I might feel but the least sense of the Love of God to me, tho' but for one small moment, as I now feel his heavy Wrath that burns like Torments of Hell within me, and afflicts my Conscience with pangs unutterable: Very Desperation is Hell it self;
Being bid to believe the Truths he had denied, he replied, I cannot, God will not suffer me to believe them, nor to trust in his mercy; what would you have me to do? I would, but I cannot, tho' I presently be burnt for it. I find I can neither believe the Gospel, nor trust in Gods Mercy; I have sinned against the Holy Ghost, and God by his immutable Decree hath bound me over to perpetual Punishment: God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardneth; God hath taken away from me all power of Repentance, and brings all my sins to remembrance; and guilty of one, guilty of all,
you persuade me to believe, how fain would I do it, but I cannot:' Then violently grasping his Hands together, and raising himself, 'Behold, said he, I am strong, yet by little and little I decay and consume, and my Servants would fain preserve this weary Life, but at length the Will of God must be done, and I shall perish miserably.' 'I see, said he, my Damnation, and I know my remedy is only in Christ, yet I cannot set my self to take hold of him! Such are the Punishments of the Damned, they repent of their loss of Heaven, they cannot amend their ways.' 'Now also Beelzebub comes to his Banquet; you shall see my End, and in me an Example to many, of the Justice and Judgment of God.' 'What Hell can be worse than Desperation, or what greater Punishment than the gnawing worm, and unquenchable Fire? Horror, Confusion, and which is worse than all, Desperation it self, continually tortures me; and now I count my present-Estate worse than if my Soul were separated from my Body, and were with Judas and the rest of the damned; therefore I desire to be there, rather than alive in the Body.' 'God hath taken Faith from me, and left me other common Gifts for my deeper Condemnation, by how much the more I remember what ⟨p. 48⟩I had, and hear others discourse of what they have, by so much the more is my Torment, in that I know what I want, and there is no way to be relieved: Thus spake he, the Tears trickling down; professing that his Pangs were such, as that the Damned in Hell endure not the like Misery. That his Estate was worse than that of Cain or Judas, and therefore he desired to dye; yet, Behold, said he, the Scriptures are accomplished in me, They shall desire to dye, and Death shall fly from them.'1
you perswade me to believe, how fain would I do it, but I cannot:' Then violently grasping his Hands together, and raising himself, 'Behold, said he, I am strong, yet by little and little I decay and consume, and my Servants would fain preserve this weary Life, but at length the Will of God must be done, and I shall perish miserably.' 'I see, said he, my Damnation, and I know my remedy is only in Christ, yet I cannot set my self to take hold of him! Such are the Punishments of the Damned, they repent of their loss of Heaven, they cannot amend their ways.' 'Now also Belzebub comes to his Banquet; you shall see my End, and in me an Example to many, of the Justice and Judgment of God.' 'What Hell can be worse than Desparation, or what greater Punishment than the gnawing worm, and unquenchable Fire? Horror, Confusion, and which is worse than all, Desparation it self, continually tortures me; and now I count my present-Estate worse than if my Soul were separated from my Body, and were with Judas and the rest of the damned; therefore I desire to be there, rather than alive in the Body.' 'God hath taken Faith from me, and left me other common Gifts for my deeper Condemnation, by how much the more I remember what
SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of John Child, MR. John Child was a Preacher, and when he was young a very zealous Asserter of the Doctrine of Gods Free-Grace; Namely, of Personal Election, and of the Saints final Perseverance; and was a man of considerable Natural Parts and Ability, being much followed wherever he preached, both in the City and Country, yet seemed to be of a haughty Spirit, loving Applause and Popularity, which it may, be feared was the Cause of his Fall, and may be a Warning to all how they have mens Persons in Admiration. But he had not many years asserted the Doctrine before mentioned, before he changed his Judgment, and turned to be a grand Arminian; which Notions he maintained with great Confidence, and was so conceited of his Abilities, that he feared not to Dispute with any Man, charging the Doctrine of Personal Election at a strong manner, as if the Asserters of it rendered God cruel, and worse than the worst of Mortals: In his Judgment he was a Baptist, being against Infants Baptism, and for the Baptism of Believers; for many years he lived in Buckingham-shire, near me, I being intimately acquainted wth him for near 30 years; but a little before the last Persecution of Dissenters he removed his Dwelling, and came to London, and lived near to my Habitation, in Pauls Shadwel; now the first time I came to fear him, was through some Words he uttered to me, which was to his effect; I have, said he, seriously considered whether there be any thing in Religion worth suffering for: ⟨p. 49⟩Which Words I wondered at, from such a one as he; but soon after he Conformed, (Troubles rising high,) and then wrote a Cursed Book, rendering the Dissenters, especially the Baptists, very odious; casting Reproach upon their faithful Ministers, because some of them were not learned men, I mean with the Knowledge of the Tongues; and quickly after this he fell under fearful Despairation: I was one of the first Men that he sent for, and I found him in a dismal State and Condition, being filled with Horror, saying, he was damned, and crying out against himself for Writing that Book; saying, he had touched the Apple of Gods Eye; I said all I was well capable to speak, to Comfort him, but all in vain; at another time he said, Mine iniquities are great and many, old sins as well as of a late date come to mind;
SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of John Child, MR. John Child was a Preacher, and when he was young a very zealous Asserter of the Doctrine of Gods Free-Grace; Namely, of Personal Electrion, and of the Saints final Perseverance; and was a man of considerable Natural Parts and Ability, being much followed whereever he preached, both in the City and Countrey, yet seemed to be of a haughty Spirit, loving Applause and Popularity, which it may, be feared was the Cause of his Fall, and may be a Warning to all how they have mens Persons in Admiration. But he had not many years asserted the Doctrine before mentioned, before he changed his Judgment, and turned to be a grand Arminian; which Notions he maintained with great Confidence, and was so conceited of his Abilities, that he feared not to Dispute with any Man, charging the Doctrine of Personal Election at a strong manner, as if the Asserters of it rendered God cruel, and worse than the worst of Mortals: In his Judgment he was a Baptist, being against Infants Baptism, and for the Baptism of Believers; for many years he lived in Buckingham-shire, near me, I being intimately acquainted wth him for near 30 years; but a little before the last Persecution of Dissenters he removed his Dwelling, and came to London, and lived near to my Habitation, in Pauls Shadwel; now the first time I came to fear him, was through some Words he uttered to me, which was to his effect; I have, said he, seriously considered whether there be any thing in Religion worth suffering for:
Wrath is come upon me to the utmost, God hath forsaken me, good Men are my Enemies; I hate my self, I am afraid and ashamed to go abroad, and am confused and distracted at home; the Scriptures look dreadfully upon me, I have raised Reproach, invented Reproach, and by it wronged multitudes,—I am afraid to live, and afraid to dye; Judgment I fear will be terrible in this World, and more in the World to come; I cannot give an Account of my Actions to Men, how much less to God! my Heart condemns me, and he is greater, and knows more: I think I have not only outdone Cain, Balaam, and Judas, but some of the Devils themselves. O I cannot Repent, I cannot Repent! I shall go to Hell! I am broken in Judgment; When I think to Pray, either I have a flushing in my Face as if I were in a flame, or I am dumb, I cannot speak; all the signs of one whom God hath left, forsaken and hardened—If I was in Heaven, it could not relieve me, for I should behold the Face of God and holy Saints, as now I behold the Face of good Men upon Earth, with shame and confusion of Face—and then again said, Wrath is come upon me to the uttermost—I am one of the greatest Hypocrites that ever lived upon the Earth, and shall be so accounted: God hath and will do his will upon me—Oh he thunders upon me! should God let out the sense of my sins on me, (as he will) I should howl like a Dog, roar like a Lyon, bellow like an Ox; mine inward parts would melt within me, as brass melts in a flaming fire; I shall lye lower than Judas, I have sinned worse then Judas—he quoting those words in Heb. 10. 2, 6. If we sin wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truths, remains no more sacrifice for sin, &c. he said, when I am faint and low, I take some refreshments, but in Hell, there is no refreshment, not a drop of Water to cool my Tongue. To some that came to visit him, and to Comfort him, he said, All is gone, I am undone—I have been so great a sinner against God, and the people of God, that God will have no Mercy on me, but will glorify himself by me, and make me an Example for the strengthening and establishing of his People, but it shall end in my destruction—God hath sworn in his Wrath that I shall never enter into his rest—I have been a loose and carnal Professor, ⟨p. 50⟩and if I were in the place of God, I should meet the same measure that God doth to me:
Wrath is come upon me to the utmost, God hath forsaken me, good Men are my Enemies; I hate my self, I am afraid and ashamed to go abroad, and am confused and distracted at home; the Scriptures look dreadfully upon me, I have raised Reproach, invented Reproach, and by it wronged multitudes,—I am afraid to live, and afraid to dye; Judgment I fear will be terrible in this World, and more in the World to come; I cannot give an Account of my Actions to Men, how much less to God! my Heart condemns me, and he is greater, and knows more: I think I have not only outdone Cain, Balaam, and Judas, but some of the Devils themselves. O I cannot Repent, I cannot Repent! I shall go to Hell! I am broken in Judgment; When I think to Pray, either I have a flushing in my Face as if I were in a flame, or I am dumb, I cannot speak; all the signs of one whom God hath left, forsaken and hardened—If I was in Heaven, it could not relieve me, for I should behold the Face of God and holy Saints, as now I behold the Face of good Men upon Earth, with shame and confusion of Face—and then again said, Wrath is come upon me to the utermost—I am one of the greatest Hypocrites that ever lived upon the Earth, and shall be so accounted: God hath and will do his will upon me—Oh he thunders upon me! should God let out the sence of my sins on me, (as he will) I should howl like a Dog, roar like a Lyon, bellow like an Ox; mine inward parts would melt within me, as brass melts in a flaming fire; I shall lye lower than Judas, I have sinned worse then Judas—he quoting those words in
My Calamity is even at the door, and all men in a little time will justify Gods dealing with me: The Wrath of God is kindled, and burns in me; it is impossible for you to imagine my torment, and this is but an Earnest penny of my Eternal Damnation. Said a godly man, this is a humbling dispensation that you are exercised under—A humbling dispensation, said he, do you call it? I tell you, it is an hardening dispensation, and I feel it to be so: Said his Friend, I hope there is mercy yet reserved for you; to whom he replied, I know I shall have such Mercy as the Damned have; I do highly justify God in his dealings with me—at another time, I once thought, said he, that there was a power in man, but now I find it otherwise, for I cannot Pray—I have no desire after any thing that is good; I cannot Repent. His Visitors asked him if they should Pray for him? he said, No, No. One said to him, the Learned Dr. Twist in his Vinditiae Gratiae consesseth there were Depths in the Controversy between the Calvinists and Arminians, yet he believed the Truth against the Arminians. Mr. Child replied, I thought I could have dived to the bottom of it by my parts, but I see I cannot; and then, and many other times said, I am broken in Judgment—One of his Visitors said, you are obliged to stoop to the Sovereignty of God; he replied, Oh I cannot! I would be above him! O that there should be an Eternal blessed Being, and I sure never to enjoy him; there shall be an Eternal Wrath and Punishment, and I sure to fall under it. I shall be an eternal Monument of the Wrath of God—Pride and Covetousness hath ruined me, it hath undone me; I have been too much influenced thereby: I have been a Hypocrite, I am so now: I seem to repent, I do not, I cannot repent: And walking to the end of the room, turned back with a very stern Countenance, and striking his Hand on his Breast, said, No Sir, I cannot pamper this Body, for God will have it made a remarkable Example to this Generation. He cried out against himself for charging those that hold the Doctrine of Personal-Election with Consequences beyond the Sense of their Minds or Principles; I have, said he, made this World my God, I have been guilty of Idolatry, I have been guilty of Pride, endeavouring to run every Man down in Dispute; I have endeavoured to shake the Cross off my Shoulders;
My Calamity is even at the door, and all men in a little time will justifie Gods dealing with me: The Wrath of God is kindled, and burns in me; it is impossible for you to imagin my torment, and this is but an Earnest penny of my Eternal Damnation. Said a godly man, this is a humbling dispensation that you are exercised under—A humbling dispensation, said he, do you call it? I tell you, it is an hardening dispensation, and I feel it to be so: Said his Friend, I hope there is mercy yet reserved for you; to whom he replyed, I know I shall have such Mercy as the Damned have; I do highly justifie God in his dealings with me—at another time, I once thought, said he, that there was a power in man, but now I find it otherwise, for I cannot Pray—I have no desire after any thing that is good; I cannot Repent. His Visitors asked him if they should Pray for him? he said, No, No. One said to him, the Learned Dr. Twist in his Vinditiae Gratiae consesseth there were Depths in the Controversie between the Calvinists and Arminians, yet he believed the Truth against the Arminians. Mr. Child replyed, I thought I could have dived to the bottom of it by my parts, but I see I cannot; and then, and many other times said, I am broken in Judgment—One of his Visitors said, you are obliged to stoop to the Soveraignty of God; he replyed, Oh I cannot! I would be above him! O that there should be an Eternal blessed Being, and I sure never to enjoy him; there shall be an Eternal Wrath and Punishment, and I sure to fall under it. I shall be an eternal Monument of the Wrath of God—Pride and Covetousness hath ruined me, it hath undone me; I have been too much influenced thereby: I have been a Hypocrite, I am so now: I seem to repent, I do not, I cannot repent: And walking to the end of the room, turned back with a very stern Countenance, and striking his Hand on his Breast, said, No Sir, I cannot pamper this Body, for God will have it made a remarkable Example to this Generation. He cryed out against himself for charging those that hold the Doctrine of Personal-Election with Consequences beyond the Sense of their Minds or Principles; I have, said he, made this World my God, I have been guilty of Idolatry, I have been guilty of Pride, endeavouring to run every Man down in Dispute; I have endeavoured to shake the Cross off my Shoulders;
how deplorable a thing is this, that I that have preached so much of the glory of another World, should now be deprived of it all: You will as surely see me damned, as you now see me stand here. To others he said, I have trifled in Religion, trifled, trifled—I am lost, there is no Hope, no Hope: At another time he said, The black Tokens of Reprobation are upon me: He said to Mr. Plant, smiting on his Breast, Sir, I am Damned, I am Damned; it is so most certainly: My day is over; O that it was with me as in days past! but it is too late, the Decree is gone forth, it is Sealed in Heaven, and it is irreversible. Jesus Christ cannot save me, he will not, ⟨p. 51⟩he cannot Mediate for me, I have so much offended him, in maliciously abusing of his People: O what a Wretch was I! what a Spirit was I led by! I have guilt enough, said he, to sink seventeen Kingdoms, and I know the Earth would open its mouth and swallow me alive, like Corah, Dathan and Abiram, were it not that God hath reserved me to be a more public Spectacle of his Anger and Displeasure both to Angels and Men. I can neither Pray, nor desire others to pray for me; my Heart is perfectly hardened; how should I, when I cannot desire Jesus Christ to pray for me; floods of Tears flowing from him, Dear bought Experience, saith he, hath taught me, that it is no small thing to trifle with him in the great things of Religion and Eternity, &c. In one of his Letters sent to Mr. James Jones are these Expressions, viz. Being possessed with Doubts, Fears and Tremblings, night and day, the sad savour of Gall and Wormwood, an horrible Relish of Gravel-stones, the sad Apprehensions of Curses, Blastings and Mildew—the dismal sound of the mad Prophets words, I shall see him, but not now, I shall behold him, but not nigh—had I been a Backslider of an ordinary size—I have a Voice behind me, or dire Texts—to love and make a Lye is a qualification for the Lake. His poor Wife, as I remember, intimated to me, that the very Ends of the Hair of his Head in the Night-season did stand in Drops through' the Anguish of his Soul. 1Thus he continued for several Months under most dreadful horror and fearful desperation, until the 13th. of Octob. 1684. when to put an end to his miserable Life, he hanged himself in his own hired house, in Brick Lane near Spitalfields, London, leaving a sorrowful Widow and several Children:
how deplorable a thing is this, that I that have preached so much of the glory of another World, should now be deprived of it all: You will as surely see me damned, as you now see me stand here. To others he said, I have trifled in Religion, trifled, trifled—I am lost, there is no Hope, no Hope: At another time he said, The black Tokens of Reprobation are upon me: He said to Mr. Plant, smiting on his Breast, Sir, I am Damn'd, I am Damn'd; it is so most certainly: My day is over; O that it was with me as in days past! but it is too late, the Decree is gone forth, it is Sealed in Heaven, and it is irreversible. Jesus Christ cannot save me, he will not,
But she poor Woman lived not long after. 'Tis to be noted, that there was a strange blast upon his Estate, for tho' I understood by a Friend that was intimate with him, he was little before his fall worth near a thousand pounds, yet I can hear but of a little left to his Children, his Eldest Son being but in a low and mean Condition. I take not upon me to pass Judgment upon this miserable Man, not knowing how God might deal with him, whose Mercy is Infinite, for I do not believe Self-murder is an unpardonable sin; for if so, there is more Sins unto Death than one; certainly it is a Sin against the Father and the Son, and not against the Holy Ghost, and therefore may be forgiven unto ⟨p. 52⟩men, who may before their Life is quite gone have Repentance given to them. But I am of the Opinion, (with a worthy Minister that visited him) that if any Atheist in the World who had formerly known this man, and had conversed with him in his bitter Agonies, he would have seen sufficient Demonstrations to have convinced him that there is a dreadful God, or a Power besides and above Nature, who can touch, shake, and disorder, and turn into Confusion the strongest constitution of body, by ministering and fastening terrible things upon the Soul; and as he saith, let this Pillar of Salt tend to warn and season the People of this present and future Ages, of the danger of sinning against the light of their understanding. Moreover, it doth I am sure serve with a witness to prove, and fully to demonstrate the truth of that Proposition I am upon, viz. That God doth sometimes let out his Wrath on the Consciences of some men, for their horrid evil in this World, which seems intolerable and hard to be born or undergone by any Mortal. But,
But she poor Woman lived not long after. 'Tis to be noted, that there was a strange blast upon his Estate, for tho' I understood by a Friend that was intimate with him, he was little before his fall worth near a thousand pounds, yet I can hear but of a little left to his Children, his Eldest Son being but in a low and mean Condition. I take not upon me to pass Judgment upon this miserable Man, not knowing how God might deal with him, whose Mercy is Infinite, for I do not believe Self-murther is an unpardonable sin; for if so, there is more Sins unto Death than one; certainly it is a Sin against the Father and the Son, and not against the Holy Ghost, and therefore may be forgiven unto ⟨p. 52⟩
Secondly, 1To proceed, by burring up the Chaff with unquenchable fire, or by the Wrath of God in this place, our Blessed Saviour doth intend, casting the wicked into Hell it self: Remarkable it is, that no less than four or five times the Lord Christ positively affirms in Mark 9. that the fire of Hell into which Body and Soul of wicked men shall be cast, cannot be quenched; where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched, &c. Why repeated so often? is it not to assure all ungodly persons of the certainty 2of it? Men are not willing to believe this great truth, they are too ready to think that it is inconsistent with infinite goodness to inflict such Punishment on his Creatures, but alas, they forget that there is an infinite perfection in every one of the Divine Attributes, and that as Gods mercy is infinite, unsearchable, and unconceivable, so is his wrath and fury; none are able to conceive, much less to declare, what pain and anguish the damned undergo. What torments like fire? and what fire is so hot and so tormenting as Hell-fire? sad it is to burn half an hour in an Elementary fire, yet the Martyrs have endured that for Christs sake; God made it easy to some of them: But alas, who can bear the burnings of Hell-fire, when wrath shall be let out upon the Soul to the uttermost?
Secondly, 1To proceed, by buring up the Chaff with unquenchable fire, or by the Wrath of God in this place, our Blessed Saviour doth intend, casting the wicked into Hell it self: Remarkable it is, that no less than four or five times the Lord Christ positively affirms in Mark 9. that the fire of Hell into which Body and Soul of wicked men shall be cast, cannot be quenched; where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched, &c. Why repeated so often? is it not to assure all ungodly persons of the certainty 2of it? Men are not willing to believe this great truth, they are too ready to think that it is inconsistent with infinite goodness to inflict such Punishment on his Creatures, but alas, they forget that there is an infinite perfection in every one of the Divine Attributes, and that as Gods mercy is infinite, unsearchable, and unconceivable, so is his wrath and fury; none are able to conceive, much less to declare, what pain and anguish the damned undergo. What torments like fire? and what fire is so hot and so tormenting as Hell-fire? sad it is to burn half an hour in an Elementary fire, yet the Martyrs have endured that for Christs sake; God made it easie to some of them: But alas, who can bear the burnings of Hell-fire, when wrath shall be let out upon the Soul to the utterermost?
O Sirs, what a fearful thing will it be to be found chaff, and false hypocritical Persons! such cannot escape the damnation of Hell; ⟨p. 53⟩No, nor can any sinner whatsoever, except they believe, repent, or are born again; there is no avoiding being cast into unquenchable fire.
Thirdly, I shall now endeavour to prove the point, viz. That the Wrath of God in Hell is intolerable, and far greater than any Wrath let out here, either on the Bodies or Souls of men; which will appear, if we consider these particulars following:
Thirdly, I shall now endeavour to prove the point, viz. That the Wrath of God in Hell is intollerable, and far greater than any Wrath let out here, either on the Bodies or Souls of men; which will appear, if we consider these particulars following:
SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of Francis Spira, SPira having received the Light of the Gospel, became a Teacher of the Blessed Truths thereof amongst his Friends and familiar Acquaintance; and (says the Narrative) in comparison seemed to neglect all other Affairs, much pressing this main point of Doctrine, viz. That we must wholly and only depend on the free and unchangable Love of God in the Death of Christ, as the only way to Salvation. As to his natural and corrupt Inclination; 'I was, saith he, excessively Covetous of Money; and accordinly applyed my self to get it by Injustice, corrupting Justice by doing it,' &c. As touching Spira's Sin and his grand fall, it was thus, viz. The Popes Legate, Resident at Venice, was stirred by the malice of the Papists to accuse Spira to him, and by the Craft and Policy of the Legate, and through slavish Fear, Spira first fled, and afterwards renounced his Testimony to the Truth; before which it appears he reasoned thus within himself, thro' the Suggestion of the Devil, viz. 'Be well advised, fond Man, consider Reasons on both sides, and then judge, how canst thou thus overwean thine own sufficiency, as thou neither regardest the Examples of thy Progenitors, nor the Judgment of the whole Church? dost thou not consider what misery this thy Rashness will bring thee into? thou shalt lose thy Substance gotten with so great Care and Travel; thou shalt undergo the most exquisite Torments that Malice 〈…〉 devise; thou shalt be 〈…〉 an Heretick of all; 〈…〉 to close up all, thou shalt die shamefully: ⟨p. 45⟩What thinkest thou of the lothsom stinking Dungeon, the Bloudy Ax, the Burning Faggot? are they delightful? be wise at length, and keep thy Life and Honour.—Go to the Legate, Weak Man, and freely Confess thy Fault,' &c. And upon these thoughts he goes to the Legate, and salutes him with this News, viz. Having for these divers years entertained an Opinion concerning some Articles of Faith, contrary to the Orthodox and received Judgment of the Church, and uttered many things against the Authority of the Church of Rome, and the universal Bishop, I humbly acknowledge my Fault and Error, and my Folly in my misleading others; I therefore yeild my self in all Obedience to the supream Bishop of Rome, into the Bosom of the Church of Rome, never to depart again from the Traditions and Decrees of the Holy See;
