HEAVEN.] Heaven promised to all Believers. [CHAP. XIV, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. 2. The efficacious influence of the Holy Spirit is requisite to change the will, that with a free and full consent it may desire and prosecute the spiritual eternal good. Without this, the conviction of the mind is not powerful enough to convert the soul from the love of the world, to choose heaven. There may be an enlightened conscience, without a renewed heart. Though the judgment assents that God is the supreme good, yet till the heart be circumcised,' and the sensuality of the affections taken away, divine love that directs the life to God as our blessed end, can never possess it. Suppose that men had a sensible and strong assurance of the eternal state hereafter, if all those who lived godly in a visible manner ascended with Elias to heaven, and if all who continued in their sins visibly descended into hell, as Corah and his company were swallowed up alive by the earth, before the Israelites; if men could hear the joyful exultations of the saints above, their high praises of God, and hear the desperate cries and deep complaints of the damned; if one, according to the desire of the rich man, were sent from hell, and with his fiery tongue should relate what he had seen and suffered, and exhibit a sensible domonstration in himself of those torments; yet this alone were not sufficient to draw off their hearts from the deceitful happiness of this world, and fix them on the perfect and eternal happiness in the next. Indeed they CHAP. XIV.] Heaven promised to all Believers. [HEAVEN. could not then indulge their lusts so securely, but they would be strangers to the life of God, so inveterate is the alienation of the heart from real holiness. Till the sanctifying Spirit by a directive persuasive light, which represents the truth and goodness of spiritual things, transforms the soul, and makes it spiritual in its valuations and affections, it is inwardly averse from grace and glory. The Lord direct our hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. HELL. CHAP. I. The punishment of the impenitent will be extreme and eternal-The torments of hell exceed the heaviest judgments inflicted here--The soul shall be the chief mourner in hell-The apprehension shall be enlarged, and fixed upon what is tormenting-All the tormenting passions will be let loose upon the guilty soul, shame, sorrow, rage and despair. WHERE THEIR WORM DIETH NOT, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. MARK ix. 48. THESE words are the repetition of a powerful motive, urged by our blessed Saviour to deter men from indulging temptations to sin, how grateful or useful soever they may be. If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off; if thy foot offend thee, cut it off; if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out.' All the occasions whereby sin insinuates itself, and inflames our inclinations, whether it bribes us with profit, or HELL.] Future misery inconceivable. [CHAP. I. allures by pleasure, must be immediately cut off, and for ever separated from us. This counsel seems very severe to the natural man, who freely converses with temptations. To do violence to himself, and tear his beloved lusts from his bosom, is what the carnal man will not consent to. Our Saviour therefore urges such arguments as may move the understanding and affections, and strike the conscience. For it is better to enter into life maimed, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into hell, where the fire is not quenched.' Hope and fear are the most active passions. The hope of heaven is motive enough to induce a true believer to despise and reject all the advantages and pleasures of sin that are but for a season; and the fear of an everJasting hell, is strong enough to controul the vicious appetites. Reason determines, that when a gangrene that is deadly and spreading has seized upon a member, presently to cut off an affected arm or leg to save the rest. How much more reasonable and necessary then to part with the most charming and favourite sin, to preserve the soul from eternal death. It is observable that our Saviour inculcates the awful truth three times, that men may take notice of it with terror, saying, Their worm dieth not, and the fire is never quenched.' A worm gnawing upon the bowels, which possess the tenderest and quickest sense, and fire that causes the most vehement pain, are fearful representations to typify the torments of the damned. And that this worm is undying, and |