Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

SECONDLY, Let us consider, whence they are driven, and whither. When the wicked die, (1.) They are driven out of this world, where they sinned; into the other world, where they must be judged, and receive their particular sentences, Heb ix. It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. They shall no more return to their beloved earth. Tho' their hearts are wedded to their earthly enjoyments, they must leave them; they can carry nothing hence. How sorrowful must their departure be, when they have nothing in view, so good as that which they leave behind them! (2) They are driven out of the society of the saints on earth, into the society of the damned in hell, Luke xvi 22. "The rich man also died and was buried." ver. 23. "And in hell he lift up his eyes." What a multitude of the devil's goats do now take place among Christ's sheep! but at death they shall be led forth with the workers of iniquity, Psal. cxxv.5. There is a mixed multitude in this world, but no mixture in the other; each party is there set by themselves. Though hypocrites grow here as tares among the wheat, death will root them up▪ and they shall be bound in bundles for the fire.— (3.) They are driven out of time into eternity. While time lasts with them, there is hope; but when time goes, all hope goes with it. Precious time is now lavishly spent: it lies so heavy upon the ⟨p. 230⟩hands of many, that they think themselves obliged to take several ways to drive away time. But beware of being at a loss what to do in life: improve time for eternity, whilst you have it: for •re long death will drive it from you, and you from it, so as ye shall never meet again. (4.) They are driven out of their specious pretences to piety. Death strips them of the splendid robes of a fair profession, with which some of them were adorned; and turns them off the stage, in the rags of a wicked heart and life. The word hypocrite properly signifies a stage player, who appears to be what indeed he is not. This world is the stage on which these children of the devil personate the children of God. Their show of religion is the player's coat, under which one must look, who will judge of them aright. Now death turns them out of their coat, and then they appear in their native dress: it unveils them, and takes off their mask. There are none in the other world, who pretend to be better than they really are.