The saints everlasting rest

And as the soul, so also the body must bear its part. That body that must needs be pleased, whatsoever became of its eternal safety, shall now be paid for its unlawful pleasures. That body which was so carefully looked to, so tenderly cherished—That body which could not endure heat or cold, or an ill smell, or a loathsome sight: Oh what must it now endure! how are its haughty looks now taken down! how little will those flames regard its comeliness and beauty! but as death did not regard it, nor the worms regard it, but as freely feed upon the face of the proud and lustful dames, and the heart of the most ambitious lords or princes, as if they had been but beggars; so will their tormenters then as little pity their tenderness, or reverence their lordliness. Those eyes which were wont to be delighted with curious sights, must then see nothing, but what shall amaze and terrify them; an angry GOD above them, and those saints whom they scorned, enjoying the glory which they have ⟨p. 117⟩lost; and about them will be only devils and damned souls; ah! then how sadly will they look back and say, are all our feasts, our games and revels come to this! Then those ears which were wont to be delighted with music, shall hear the shrieks and cries of their damned companions; children crying out against their parents, that gave them encouragement and example in evil; husbands crying out upon their wives, and wives upon their husbands; masters and servants cursing each other; ministers and people; magistrates and subjects, charging their misery upon one another, for discouraging in duty, conniving at sin, and being silent or formal when they should have plainly told one another of their misery, and fore-warned them of their danger. Thus will soul and body be companions in calamity.

5. And the greater by far will their torments be, because they shall have no comfort lest to mitigate them. In this life when a minister told them of hell, or conscience began to trouble their peace, they had comforts enough at hand to relieve them: their carnal friends were all ready to comfort them, but now they have not a word of comfort either for him or themselves. Formerly they had their business, their company, their mirth, to drive away their fears; they could drink away their sorrows, or play them away, or sleep them away, or at least, time did wear them away; but now all these remedies are vanished. They had a hard, a presumptuous unbelieving heart, which was a wall to defend them against troubles of mind; but now their experience bath banished these, and lest them naked to the fury of those flames. Yea, formerly Satan himself was their comforter, and would unsay all that the minister said against them, as he did to our first mother. Hath GOD said, Ye shall not eat? Ye shall not surely die. So doth he now: doth GOD tell you that you shall lie in hell? it is no such matter;