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into the Light again, after fo many Nights of Darkness and Solitude, when the Fear of Judgment is over; when our Bodies are calcin'd, and purified from their Corruption; our Souls as rapid and swift in their Motions as the Holy Angels; and vie with the Seraphims of Light and Zeal in attending upon their Creator.

When we seriously think of these Things, do not our Hearts burn and glow within us? Can we chufe but with, and figh, and groan for that Day, which will deliver us from our prefent Bondage? when we fhall be fet at liberty from Corruption and Vanity; from Fear and Danger; from Difappointment and Mifery ? When we fhall for ever folemnize the Nuptials of the Lamb, and behold God Face to Face, and be changed into his glorious Likeness: In a Word, when we fhall be admitted to that Bleffed Company of Spirits, which encompass, and fly round about the Throne of God, and fing with inceffant Voices and Hallelujahs. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hofts. Oh! Chriftians! Be much in the Study and Meditation of these Things. Think frequently of your Country, your proper Country, where you must live and be happy for ever! Believe it, for it is a true Report; and this will carry you fafe through all Temptations: This will reconcile you to all the Difficulties of Providence in this World This will fecure you against the Fear of a Judgment to come, against all the Affaults of A

theifts,

theifts, and the Infinuations of Scoffers, who walk after their own Lufts, faying, Where is the Promife of his Coming? Since the Fathers fell asleep, all Things continue as they were from the Beginning of the Creation. Now to the King Eternal, &c.

SER

SERMON IX.

The PrivativeandPofitiveTorments of the Damn'din Hell, with the Eternity and Extremity of those Torments.

St. LUKE XVI. 23.

And in Hell, he lift up bis Eyes, being in Torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his Bofom.

T

HESE Words are part of a Parable, fpoke by our Saviour Chrift to the fews; the general Defign of which is to prove the Immortality of the Soul; and the Certainty of its Existence in a State of Separation from the Body. And that this Doctrine might mare effectually move their Affections, and touch

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v.

their Confciences, we have the different Conditions of Bad and Good Men in the other World, very elegantly, and pathetically reprefented unto us, under the Characters of a Rich Voluptuous Glutton, and a poor, ftarved Laza

rus.

The firft is prefented to our View, under all the Circumftances of Affluence and SenV. 19. fuality; Clothed in fine Linnen, and faring Jumptuously every Day; glutting his Appetites s wallowing in his Intemperance; and furfeited with Eafe and Luxury. The Second, under v: zo. all the Difgraces of Want and Mifery, Lying at bis Gate, naked, and full of Sores: ftarved with Cold, and pinched with Hunger; defiring only to be fed with the Crumbs and refufe which fell from the Rich-Man's Table. In this miferable and forlorn Condition; neglected and defpifed by the Hard-Hearted Epicure, he receives a kind Refreshment from his Dogs; the more Hofpitable Creatures of the v. 21. two. Moreover the Dogs came and licked bis Sores.

V. 22.

Presently a new Scene opens, and behold! A most surprising and dreadful Change fucceeds. The Beggar dies, and is carried by a Guard of Angels into Abraham's Bofom, i. e. into Heaven. The Rich Man alfo dies, and is v. 23. buried, i.e. is thrown into Hell. Where he lifts up his Eyes, being in Torments, and feeth Abraham a far off, and Lazarus in his BoSom.

My

My Design from thefe Words, is to dif courfe unto you concerning the State of wicked Men upon their immediate Departure out of this Life. Where (induftriously waving Matters of Speculation, and Controverfy) fhall endeavour to make the Discourse as plain, and practical, and ufeful as I can.

It is obfervable, concerning thefe two Perfons, that the Manner of their going out of the World, is expreffed with fome Difference. Of Lazarus it is faid, that he was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bofom; but there is no mention made of the Rich Man, into what Hands he fell; or who conveyed him into the Regions of Mifery. But if we may judge by the Reason, and Analogy of the Parable; and the general Doctrine of the Scriptures; as the one was put into the Cuftody and Protection of the good Angels, fo the other fell into the Hands of wicked Spirits, and was by them dragged to the Place of Torments. For the Devil is the Prince of the Power of the Air; the malicious Seducer of Sinners, whilft they live; and their unmerciful Tormentor when they die. And they, who at their departure hence, are delivered over to the Malice of him, and his accurfed Crew, need no other Punishment till the Day of Judgment, when they shall be caft together into Mat. 22 outer Darkness, where shall be weeping and13. wailing, and gnashing of Teeth for evermore. We know what Tyranny the Devil exercised over the Pagan World, before the coming of

our