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Fire and brimstone from heaven, from earth, in hell, or, Three discourses I. Concerning the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah formerly, II. Concerning the burning of Æetna, or Mount Gibel more lately, III. Concerning the burning of the wicked eternally, with fire and brimstone / by Thomas Vincent ...
London: printed for George Calvert, 1670
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.
The second aggravation of the Sodomites Sins was their Incorrigibleness; As it was said of the Jews afterward, Jer. 5. 3. So it might have been said of the Sodomites then, Though God had stricken them, yet they did not grieve, though God had consumed them, yet they refused to receive correction. They did not take warning by lesser judgements, so as to be corrected and amended thereby; They were smitten before their enemies, their City not long before had been sacked, their goods taken away, and themselves were led into Captivity, with their Wives and Children; and yet they were insensible of their Sins, the cause of all this evil that came upon them, and were so far from being bettered hereby, that they grew worse than they were before.
The second aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was th•ir Incorrigibleness; As it was said of the Jews aft•rward, Ier. 5. 3. So it might have been said of the Sodomits then, Though God had stricken them, yet they did not grieve, though God had consumed them, yet they refused to receive correction. They did not take warning by lesser judgements, so as to be corrected and amended thereby; They were smitten before their enemies, their City not long before had been sackt, their goods taken away, and themselves were led into Captivity, with their Wives and Children; and yet they were insensible of their Sins, the cause of all this evil that came upon them, and were so far from being bettered hereby, that they grew worse than they were before.
The third aggravation of the Sodomites Sins was their Ingratitude. They were not only ungrateful unto Lot, upon whose account Abraham did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, which not only laid an obligation of respect to Lot upon them as long as they lived: but chiefly they were ungrateful unto God, the Author of this deliverance by Abraham, and who moreover had been very bountiful unto them, in giving them such a place of plenty and ⟨p. 22⟩pleasure for their habitation, that it was like unto the Garden of the Lord for fruitfulness, the greater Gods Mercy and Bounty to them, the greater was their ingratitude, and the more highly aggravated were their Sins.
The third aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Ingratitude. They were not only ungrateful unto Lot, upon whose account Abraham did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, which not only laid an obligation of respect to Lot upon them as long as they liv'd: but chiefly they were ungrateful unto God, the Author of this deliverance by Abraham, and who moreover had been very bountiful unto them, in giving them such a place of plenty and ⟨p. 22⟩pleasure for their habitation, that it was like unto the Garden of the Lord for fruitfulness, the greater Gods Mercy and Bounty to them, the greater was their ingratitude, and the more highly aggravated were their Sins.
The fourth aggravation of the Sodomites Sins was the Universality of their Sins. There were no righteous persons amongst them, except it were Lot and his Family; they were generally corrupt, they were all dross and no Gold, all Water and no Wine ▪ all wicked when Lot was departed; As the Earth of old was filled with violence; so Sodom then was filled with Filthiness, which was very offensive unto the pure and Holy Eyes of God, and provoked him to destroy them.
The fourth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was the Universality of their Sins. There were no righteous persons amongst them, except it were Lot and his Family; they were generally corrupt, they were all dross and no Gold, all Water and no Wine ▪ all wicked when Lot was departed; As the Earth of old was filled with violence; so Sodom then was filled with Filthiness, which was very offensive unto the pure and Holy Eyes of God, and provoked him to destroy them.
The fifth aggravation of the Sodomites Sins, was their Shamelessness. What was spoken of Israel, Jer. 6. 5. Might have been said of Sodom, were they ashamed, when they had committed abomination! nay they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. When the Prophet would set forth the shamelessness of Judah's Sins, he compareth them unto Sodom, Isa. 3. 9. The show of their countenance doth witness against them, they declare their Sin like Sodom they hide it not. None had more reason to blush and be ashamed than such filthy Sinners as they, and yet none were so little ashamed: instead of being ashamed of their Sins, they gloried in their shame.
The fifth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins, was their Shamlesness. What was spoken of Israel, Ier. 6. 5. Might have been said of Sodom, were they ashamed, when they had committed abomination! nay they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. When the Prophet would set forth the shamlesness of Iudah's Sins, he compareth them unto Sodom, Isa. 3. 9. The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them, they declare their Sin like Sodom they hide it not. None had more reason to blush and be ashamed than such filthy Sinners as they, and yet none were so little ashamed: instead of being ashamed of their Sins, they gloried in their shame.
The sixth aggravation of the Sodomites Sins was their Security. They eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded, until the the judgement did overtake them, Luke 17. 28. They were generally secure, though they had so greatly sinned, and by their Sins so highly provoked ⟨p. 23⟩the Lord to take vengeance upon them. They put the evil day far from them; Lot's Sons in Law although foretold and forewarned by their Father, would not believe it was so near, much less did the rest of the Sodomites believe any such thing, who had no intimation thereof given unto them; they little thought what a day would bring forth; their impunity for a while did increase their security, and their security under the guilt of such Heaven-daring Sins, did aggravate their Sins exceedingly.
The sixth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Security. They eat, they drank, they bought, they solde, they planted, they builded, until the the judgement did overtake them, Luke 17. 28. They were generally secure, though they had so greatly sinned, and by their Sins so highly provoked ⟨p. 23⟩the Lord to take vengeance upon them. They put the evil day far from them; Lot's Sons in Law although foretold and forewarn'd by their Father, would not believe it was so near, much lesse did the rest of the Sodomits believe any such thing, who had no intimation thereof given unto them; they little thought what a day would bring forth; their impunity for a while did encrease their security, and their security under the guilt of such Heaven-dareing Sins, did aggravate their Sins exceedingly.
And now the lusts of the Sodomites having conceived and brought forth such Sins, and their Sins so aggravated, do arrive unto perfection, and they bring forth death; Their iniquities now are full, and the Viols of Gods wrath also are full, and he poureth them down upon their heads▪ which leadeth unto the next particular, to speak of the judgement it self inflicted upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
And now the lusts of the Sodomits having conceived and brought forth such Sins, and their Sins so aggravated, do arrive unto perfection, and they bring forth death; Their iniquities now are full, and the Viols of Gods wrath also are full, and he poureth them down upon their heads▪ which leadeth unto the next particular, to speak of the judgement it self inflicted upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
Concerning the judgement it self which was inflicted on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was Fire and Brimstone which was rained down from Heaven upon those Cities. The morning was clear when Lot went forth of Sodom, and the Sun was risen upon the Earth when he entered into Zoar: But then a strange darkness did quickly fill the face of the Heavens, and hide the Sun from the view we may conceive that the fashion of the Heaven: ⟨p. 24⟩was altered, and that the clouds, which carried this horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone in their Bowels, were of another shape, than those which carry in them ordinary storms of Rain or Hail, of Thunder and Lightning. It was over Sodom and Gomorrah that these dreadful clouds were gathered, which upon the command of the Lord brake asunder, and it is likely with fearful lightening, accompanied with great cracks and amazing noise, as if Heaven and Earth, and Hell had been coming together, let down these flaming showers, which strangely turned the Air into Fire, and with such irresistible violence beat upon the Houses of the Sodomites, that they were forced to yield unto the fury of these devouring flames.
COncerning the judgement it self which was inflicted on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was Fire and Brimstone which was rained down from Heaven upon those Cities. The morning was clear when Lot went forth of Sodom, and the Sun was risen upon the Earth when he entered into Zoar: But then a strange darkness did quickly fill the face of the Heavens, and hide the Sun from the view we may conceive that the fashion of the Heaven: ⟨p. 24⟩was altered, and that the clouds, which carried this horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone in their Bowels, were of another shape, than those which carry in them ordinary storms of Rain or Hail, of Thunder and Lightning. It was over Sodom and Gomorrah that these dreadful clouds were gathered, which upon the command of the Lord brake asunder, and it is likely with fearful lightening, accompained with great cracks and amazing noise, as if Heaven and Earth, and Hell had been coming together, let down these flaming showers, which strangely turned the Air into Fire, and with such irresistible violence beat upon the Houses of the Sodomits, that they were foreed to yield unto the fury of these devouring flames.
This Rain probably was not in small drops, like that which falling upon the tender Grass, causeth it to spring forth and flourish; but in great flakes of of scalding Sulphurous matter enkindled by the breath of God: great sheets of Fire, it is likely, came down from Heaven, like the Flying Roll spoken of Zach. 5. 2, 3, 4. the length whereof was twenty Cubits, and the breadth thereof ten Cubits, which entered into the House of the Thief and False swearer, and consumed the Timber thereof, and the stones thereof. So did these sheets and rolls of fire fly about the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and entered into the houses of the unjust and profane, the filthy and unclean, smiting and consuming Inhabitants with their Habitations. This storm of Fire and Brimstone, coming down with a commission from God, to destroy the whole Place, doth arm it self with unexpressible rage and fury, and first smiting the heads and tops of all the houses in the ⟨p. 25⟩City, setteth them on fire together, which mounting a great flame upward, and that mingling with the sulphurous fire which came downward was exceedingly the more enraged, and we may conceive that from thence came such horrid blazes to the eye, and such dreadful roarings to the ear, as awakened all the wicked Inhabitants of the City out of their sleep and security, and filled them with unconceivable horror and perplexity, when they saw inevitable ruin so near unto them.
This Rain probably was not in small drops, like that which falling upon the tender Grass, causeth it to spring forth and flourish; but in great flakes of of scalding Sulphurious matter enkindled by the breath of God: great sheets of Fire, it is likely, came down from Heaven, like the Flying Roll spoken of Zach. 5. 2, 3, 4. the length whereof was twenty Cubits, and the bredth thereof ten Cubits, which entered into the House of the Thief and Falseswearer, and consumed the Timber thereof, and the stones thereof. So did these sheets and rolls of fire fly about the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and entered into the houses of the unjust and profane, the filthy and unclean, smiting and consuming Inhabitants with their Habitations. This storm of Fire and Brimstone, coming down with a commission from God, to destroy the whole Place, doth arm it self with unexpressible rage and fury, and first smiting the heads and tops of all the houses in the
Then the streets of the City were filled with flames, and the Rain from Heaven, likely did raise Floods and Streams of burning Brimstone, which poured into the houses on every side such fire as no Water could quench, no Stone Walls, nor Iron Bars or Gates could resist or defend any of the Inhabitants from being devoured thereby; thus Gods hand did find out all his enemies in these wicked Cities together, his right hand did lay hold on them that hated him, and took no heed to his Laws; and making Sodom and Gomorrah as a fiery Oven in the time of his anger, he swallowed up all the Sinners of those Places in his Wrath, and devoured them with this unquenchable fire; the Place now is like a fiery Oven, or like a great fiery Furnace, the smoke of whose flame was so great, that far and near it might be seen; concerning the horror of the Sodomites when compassed about with Flames, I shall speak more under the third particular, only here add these things, which were remarkable in in this judgement.
Then the streets of the City were filled with flames, and the Rain from Heaven, likely did raise Floods and Streams of burning Brimstone, which poured into the houses on every side such fire as no Water could quench, no Stone Walls, nor Iron Bars or Gates could resist or defend any of the Inhabitans from being devoured thereby; thus Gods hand did find out all his enemies in these wicked Cities together, his right hand did lay hold on them that hated him, and took no heed to his Laws; and making Sodom and Gomorrah as a fiery Oven in the time of his anger, he swallowed up all the Sinners of those Places in his Wrath, and devoured them with this unquenchable fire; the Place now is like a fiery Oven, or like a great fiery Furnace, the smoke of whofe flame was so great, that far and near it might be seen; concerning the horror of the Sodomits when compassed about with Flames, I shall speak more under the third particular, only here add these things, which were remarkable in in this judgement.
First, The strangeness of it. Secondly, The suddenness and unexpectedness of it. ⟨p. 26⟩Thirdly, The dreadfulness of it.
First, This Judgement was very Strange. It is the nature of Fire to ascend towards Heaven, but here Fire and Brimstone together do descend from Heaven, this is very strange; the Sodomites had an unnatural Fire within them, and they have an unnatural Fire sent upon them; they lust after strange Flesh, Jud. 7. And God punished them with strange Fire, Job 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked, and a strange punishment unto the workers of Iniquity? But of all strange punishments, this is one of the most strange, never such a thing was heard of before, or hath been known since; as I may apply what Moses speaketh on another occasion, Deut. 4. 32. Ask now of the days which are past which were before, since God Created Man upon the Earth, and ask from one side of Heaven unto the other, whether there hath been such a thing as this great thing, or hath been like it, that God should Rain Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, to punish wicked Cities. We read of Fire sent down from Heaven by the Lord, upon the request of Elijah, which consumed his Sacrifice; although he had drenched it often, and surrounded it with Water, all which was licked up by the fire, unto the wonder and astonishment of the People, whereby the Lord discovered his power beyond Baal, whose Priests could not by all their prayers and cutting themselves prevail with their God to effect any such thing, 1 Kings 18. 26, 28, 37, 38. And we read of Fire sent down from Heaven, which destroyed two Captains and their fifty's, upon the request of the same Prophet: these things were exceeding strange; but the rain of Fire and Brimstone from ⟨p. 27⟩Heaven, which consumed several Cities, and all their Inhabitants together was far more strange: Fire hath come from Heaven, but never so great Fire; Fire hath come down from Heaven, but never Fire mingled with Brimstone; Fire and Brimstone hath come forth of the bowels of the Earth (of which in the second discourse) but never did Fire and Brimstone come down from Heaven, either before or since.
First, This Judgement was very Strange. It is the nature of Fire to ascend towards Heaven, but here Fire and Brimstone together do descend from Heaven, this is very strange; the Sodomits had an unnatural Fire within them, and they have an unnatural Fire sent upon them; they lust after strange Flesh, Iud. 7. And God punished them with strange Fire,
Secondly, This judgement was sudden and unexpected: It was like the Flood to the old World, which was drowned, or like the coming of Christ to the Sinners on Earth, which shall be damned: when the greatest judgements are most near, the Sinners which shall be destroyed thereby are most secure; and thus it was with the Sinners of Sodom: the day before there was no appearance of any such destruction near, there was no sign in the Earth or in the Heavens of any such thing; the night before also was like other nights, no fire beginning in any place, only the fire of lust which burned and raged in the hearts of that wicked people, but they had no apprehension of danger from those flames: when the morning was come it was like other mornings, there were no fiery dews, or fore-drops▪ of the fiery rain, to give them warning of what would follow. The shadows of the night were chased away by the beams of the morning Sun, there was no appearance of the shadows of the night of Death, ready to stretch forth themselves upon all the Inhabitants of Sodom and Neighbour Cities together. But so soon as Lot was entered into Zoar, the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone on ⟨p. 28⟩Sodom and Gomorrah, and brought such a sudden destruction upon them as they could not escape. Even as it will be ere long with Babylon, Rev. 18. 7, 8. So it was with Sodom; she lived deliciously and securely, and in one day death and mourning came upon her, and she was utterly burnt with Fire. Could the Sodomites have foreseen, and certainly foreknown, what destruction would have befallen their City that day, they would have hastened out of the place the day before, at furthest they would have delayed no longer than that morning; when Lot did depart, they would have flocked about him old and young from every quarter, and have departed with him; they would not have valued houses of goods, so that they might have but saved their lives: But the Sodomites did not in the least apprehend their destruction to be so near. The Angels knew it, but they discover the thing unto Lot only; if they had made it know unto the Sodomites, it is most likely they would not have believed it any more than Lot's Sons in Law did believe Lot, when from their mouth he did declare it. The Sodomites are jovial and secure, as if their life and mirth should continue many a year, when neither of them were a days standing longer.
Secondly, This judgement was sudden and unexpected: It was like the Flood to the old World, which was drowned, or like the coming of Christ to the Sinners on Earth, which shall be damned: when the greatest judgements are most near, the Sinners which shall be destroyed thereby are most secure; and thus it was with the Sinners of Sodom: the day before there was no appearance of any such destruction near, there was no sign in the Earth or in the Heavens of any such thing; the night before also was like other nights, no fire beginning in any place, only the fire of lust which burned and raged in the hearts of that wicked people, but they had no apprehension of danger from those flames: when the morning was come it was like other mornings, there were no fiery dews, or fore-drops of the fiery rain, to give them warning of what would follow. The shaddows of the night were chased away by the beams of the morning Sun, there was no appearance of the shaddows of the night of Death, ready to stretch forth themselves upon all the Inhabitants of Sodom and Neighbour Cities together. But so soon as Lot was entered into Zear, the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone on
Thirdly, This judgement was most dreadful; we read in the Scriptures and have seen with our eyes very great judgements, but none so dreadful, all things considered, as this of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven. Indeed the Flood which devoured the whole old World together, Noah and his Family excepted did strike the most universal dread upon the children of men, of any judgement that ever hath been since the Worlds Creation: yet the ⟨p. 29⟩Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, which devoured Sodom and Gomorrah with all their Inhabitants, Lot only and his Family excepted had more of particular dread in it, in as much as death by Fire is more painful than death by Water; especially such Fire as came down from Heaven. It was a terrible day to the old World, when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened, and Water to come forth from thence in such great abundance, as to swell into a Flood, and that so great a Flood as drowned all Man-kind which were not found in the Ark: But it was a more terrible day to the Sodomites, when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened, and Fire to come forth from thence, Fire mingled with Brimstone, and Gods fiery indignation, which falling upon their Houses and heads, put all into flames; this last judgement as it had more strangeness in it; so it did strike more terror into the hearts of those which did endure it.
Thirdly, This judgement was most dreadful; we read in the Scriptures and have seen with our eyes very great judgements, but none so dreadful, all things considered, as this of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven. Indeed the Flood which devoured the whole old World together, Noah and his Family excepted did strike the most universal dread upon the children of men, of any judgement that ever hath been since the Worlds Creation: yet the ⟨p. 29⟩Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, which devoured Sodom and Gomorrah with all their Inhabitants, Lot only and his Family excepted had more of particular dread in it, in as much as death by Fire is more painful than death by Water; especially such Fire as came down from Heaven. It was a terrible day to the old World, when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened, and Water to come forth from thence in such great abundance, as to swell into a Flood, and that so great a Flood as drowned all Man-kind which were not found in the Ark: But it was a more terrible day to the Sodomits, when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened, and Fire to come forth from thence, Fire mingled with Brimstone, and Gods fiery indignation, which falling upon their Houses and heads, put all into flames; this last judgement as it had more strangeness in it; so it did strike more terrour into the hearts of those which did endure it.
When the ground clave asunder, and the Earth opening her mouth swallowed up Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, with all that appertained to them, when they went thus down alive into the pit, and the Earth closing upon them again, they perished from the Congregation, Num. 16. vers. 32. 33. This was a very fearful judgement; but the opening of the Heavens, and it's showering down Fire and Brimstone, which swallowed up Sodom and Gomorrah with all the Sinners therein, this judgement was far more fearful. Death by the Sword, and death by the Pestilence, or by any other disease hath nothing of that dread in it, as death by Fire, especially by Fire from Heaven, by Fire mingled with Brimstone.
When the ground clave asunder, and the Earth opening her mouth swallowed up Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, with all that appertained to them, when they went thus down alive into the pit, and the Earth closing upon them again, they perished from the Congregation, Num. 16. vers. 32. 33. This was a very feaful judgement; but the opening of the Heavens, and it's showring down Fire and Brimstone, which swallowed up Sodom and Gomorrah with all the Sinners therein, this judgement was far more fearful. Death by the Sword, and death by the Pestilence, or by any other disease hath nothing of that dread in it, as death by Fire, especially by Fire from Heaven, by Fire mingled with Brimstone.
No Fire have we ever seen that carried so much dread in it, as the Fire that burnt down our City of London; but London's Fire was nothing in comparison with Sodoms Fire: this will appear if we compare them together.
