3. Branch. See here the misery of a wicked man,1 though he may be, Coronis aureis donatus, and flourish in his bravery while he lives, yet when he dies he shall not have a Crown of Righteousness, but Chains of Darkness. nDeath carries him prisoner to hell, it leads him away to be Crucified. The Egyptians as Plutarch reports at their feasts, brought in a Death's head with this Motto; oLook upon this, and proceed in your banquet. The sinner who sports himself ⟨p. 16⟩with sin, and Crowns himself with Rose-buds, in the midst of all his mirth and music; here's a Death's head for him to look on. The day of Death to him will not be a day of Inauguration, but a day of Execution. How can the wicked rejoice? Theophylact used to say, his estate is miserable that goes laughing to hell. We may say of this laughter, it is mad, Eccles. 2. 2. Suppose ye saw a man set in a rotten chair, under him a fire burning, over his head a Sword hanging by a twine thread, and before him a table spread with variety of delicacies, sure he would have but little stomach to eat, sitting in that danger: So it is with a sinner, his Soul sits in his body as in a chair, diseases like worms breed there, under him hell fire is burning, over his head not a Crown, but a sword of Justice hangs, when death breaks this chair of the body, he falls into the fire, & this fire is unquenchable. pMultitude of tears cannot extinguish it, length of time cannot annihilate it. Nor let the sinner expect any Charon to ferry him over that stygian-lake, (as some have vainly fancied) qGod hath the Keys of hell, Rev. 1. 18. and besides the damned are bound hand and foot. Matt. 22. 13. So that there can be no coming out. O that this might scare and affright men from their evil courses! The wicked when they are dying must say to their Souls, as the Emperor Adrian; rO my poor wandering Soul, whither art thou going? What will become of thee? There remains nothing for sinners, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. Heb. 10. 27. God will not say to them, Come hither and be Crowned, but go ye cursed.s
3. Branch. See here the misery of a wicked man,1 though he may be, Coronis aureis donatus, and flourish in his bravery while he lives, yet when he dies he shall not have a Crown of Righteousnesse, but Chaines of Darknesse. nDeath carries him prisoner to hell, it leades him away to be Crucified. The Egyptians as Plutarch reports at their feastes, brought in a Death'shead with this Motto; oLook upon this, and proceed in your banquet. The sinner who sports himselfe ⟨p. 16⟩with sin, and Crowns himselfe with Rose-buds, in the mid'st of all his mirth and musick; here's a Death's head for him to look on. The day of Death to him will not be a day of Inauguration, but a day of Execution. How can the wicked rejoyce? Theophylact us'd to say, his estate is miserable that goes laughing to hell. We may say of this laughter, it is mad, Eccles. 2. 2. Suppose yee saw a man set in a rotten chair, under him a fire burning, over his head a Sword hanging by a twine thread, and before him a table spread with variety of delicacies, sure he would have but little stomack to eat, sitting in that danger: So it is with a sinner, his Soul sits in his body as in a chair, diseases like worms breed there, under him hell fire is burning, over his head not a Crown, but a sword of Justice hangs, when death breakes this chair of the body, he falls into the fire, & this fire is unquenchable. pMultitude of tears cannot extinguish it, length of time cannot annihilate it. Nor let the sinner expect any Charon to ferry him over that stygian-lake, (as some have vainly fancied) qGod hath the Keyes of hell, Rev. 1. 18. and besides thedamned are bound hand and foot. Matt. 22. 13. So that there can be no coming out. O that this might scare and affrightmen from their evill courses! The wicked when they are dying must say to their Souls, as the Emperor Adrian; rO my poor wandring Soul, whither art thou going? What will become of thee? There remaines nothing for sinners, but a certain fearfull looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.
- 13. Branch.
- nJude, ver. 6.
- oHoci •tuens epulare. Plut.
- pLuke 3. 17.
- qGodw. antiq.
- rAnimula, vagula, blandula, quo vadis?
- sMat. 25. 41.
