Fire and brimstone from heaven, from earth, in hell, or, Three discourses I. Concerning…

But more particularly I shall lay before you some considerations for the awakening of the secure.

First, Think how doleful a day of trouble and adversity is like to be to you, if you be then in danger of Hell, where will the quiet and security which now you have appear on that day? possibly it may last and abide with you so long as the warm Sun of prosperity doth shine upon you, in the spring of youth and sensual delights, whilst you thrive and ⟨p. 123⟩flourish in the World, whilst your friends and flatterers are about you, your health and outward peace doth remain with you; but you may live to see all your outward comforts lye dead before you, and hid in the Grave from your sight for ever: your Sun of prosperity may set at the noonday of your lives, and a black night of adversity may come upon you; stormy Winds and a bitter cold Winter of trouble and affliction may assault you, & wither all your sensual pleasures like the herb and Flower of the Field: some unlooked-for-providence may blast your estate, and your name, bereave you of your dearest Friends and Relations, and withdraw all the fuel and provisions which you have been storing, and laying up for your flesh and sensual satisfactions: how well and strong so ever you are for the present, an unexpected Sickness and Death-threatening distemper may suddenly invade you, and bring you down to the sides of the pit, and fill you with such pain and grief as no outward enjoyments shall be able in the least to assuage:

First, Think how doleful a day of trouble and adversity is like to be to you, if you be then in danger of Hell, where will the quiet and security which now you have appear on that day? possibly it may last and abide with you so long as the warm Sun of prosperity doth shine upon you, in the spring of youth and sensual delights, whilst you thrive and ⟨p. 123⟩flourish in the World, whilst your friends and flatterers are about you, your health and outward peace doth remain with you; but you may live to see all your outward comforts lye dead before you, and hid in the Grave from your sight for ever: your Sun of prosperity may set at the noonday of your lives, and a black night of adversiry may come upon you; stormy Winds and a bitter cold Winter of trouble and affliction may assault you, & wither all your sensual pleasures like the herb and Flower of the Field: some unlooked-for-providence may blast your estate, and your name, bereave you of your dearest Friends and Relations, and withdraw all the fewel and provisions which you have been storing, and laying up for your flesh and sensual satisfactions: how well and strong so ever you are for the present, an unexpected Sickness and Death-threatning distemper may suddenly invade you, and bring you down to the sides of the pit, and fill you with such pain and grief as no outward enjoyments shall be able in the least to aswage: