〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HEAVEN and HELL EPITOMIZED . THE TRUE CHRISTIAN Characterized . AS ALSO An Exhortation with Motives , Means , and Directions to be speedy and serious about the work of Conversion . By George Swinnocke M. A. sometime fellow of Baliol Colledge in Oxford , and now Preacher of the Gospel at Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire .

London , Printed by E. M. for Tho. Parkhurst , and are to be sold at the Sign of the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside , over against the Conduit , 1659.

THis small Treatise ( part whereof was lately preached in your eares at the Funeral of your dear Mother presenteth it self to your eyes , not for your protection ( Divine Truths desire none from men , and humane errors deserve none from any ) but for your direction . It containeth that in it , which is able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus .

You have a double right to the dedication of this book ; partly in regard of the occasion of it ; partly in regard of the Authors obligation unto you , which is great , for your liberality , but farre greater for your encouraging of , and exemplariness in the truth and life of Christianity .

I did not think my self a little bound to that Providence , which gave you Relation to our Parish ; and I suppose not without cause , when the power of godliness hath few such considerable Patrons . There is scarce one of a thousand , cui praesens faeticitas si arrisit , non irrisit . Bern. lib. 2. de consolat. Men of your rank , though sometimes ( to stop the mouth of conscience , or for their credit ) they take up a form and profession , yet do usually neglect , if not cursedly deride the strictness and power of Religion . They are too often like the Moon farthest from , and in most direct opposition unto the Sun of Righteousn sse , when they are at the full of outward plenty , and receive most light of Divine bounty from him : their carnal hearts , as the Sea , turn the showers of mercies from heaven , and fresh streams from the earth , into the salt waters of corruption . In our natural bodies , the more fat there is , the lesse blood in the veines , and by consequence the fewer spirits . Greatnesse and Goodness are beautiful and happy , Quies hath no plural number ; God seldom giveth two Heavens . Tamen aliquando Christus voluit Reginam in coelum vebere saith Luther of Elisabeth Queen of Denmark . Luth. in Epist ad Jo Agric. but rare conjunctions . You know who hath said , Not many such are called , 1 Cor. 1.26 . And experience teacheth us , that they are like Stars of the first Magnitude thinly scattered in the Firmament of a Country . How much therefore are you engaged to that distinguishing love , which enableth you to look after the things of a better life !

I shall take the liberty ( which I know you will give ) to speak a few words to you in your twofold capacity .

First as you are a Christian ; and herein my counsel will be , that you would more and more ensure your effectual calling . We say , where men intend to live long , they build strong . I am confident all that you are worth , for your endless condition in the other world , dependeth under Christ upon your inward change . And if ever any wyers had need to be firm and strong , then questionlesse they upon which such heavy weights hang , as your eternal unchangeable estate .

You have a large room in the hearts of many that are holy : But alas Sir , the best mans confidence of me would prove but a bad evidence for heaven : He is not approved whom man commendeth , but whom the Lord commendeth .

The great affection which you bear to the souls of the people , amongst whom you were born , is worthy of imitation : And so is your care and cost in scattering some practical home-treatises in several families ( whereby souls may be converted , and wherein you may have comfort at the day of Christ ) for soul-charity is the soul of charity ; but the best charity begins at home , though it never ends there ; your main business lyeth within your own doors , to make sure that good work within you , which shall be perfected hereafter .

The ordinary security which most men trust to , will not serve when they come in the other life , to lay their claims , and shew their deeds for the inheritance of the Saints in light . Many flaws will then be found in their evidences , which now through their wilful blindness they neither see nor fear . Pa●lens aurum melius est qu●m fulgens aurichalcum . Bern. He had need to have armour of proof that would enter the list with his enemy Death , and not be foiled . The heart not ballasted with renewing grace , may hold out in the calm of life , and shallows of time ; but when it meets with the storm of death , and launcheth into the Ocean of eternity , it suffereth a desperate and everlasting shipwrack . The want of this is the leak which sinketh many a precious vessel ( soul I mean ) in the gulph of perdition .

There is as much difference between a nominal and a real Christian , as between a liveless picture and a living person . True Christianity , which consisteth in the souls humble unfained acceptation of , and hearty resolved dedication unto Christ , as Saviour and Soveraign , is a Paradox to most . There are many Christians ( as Salvian complained in his time ) without Christ , Christiani sine Christo . Salv. but they which know experimentally what the sanctification of the holy Ghost meaneth , are few indeed . The Moralist in his best dresse of civility , the Formalist in his gaudy attire of ceremonies , and the hypocrite in all his royalty , is not arrayed like one of these . I do not write these things as in the least suspecting your sincerity , but to quicken you to a godly jealousie over your own soul . If the Apostles and Disciples needed such rousing cautions , Take heed least that day come upon you unawares , Luke 21.34 . Take heed least any man fail of the grace of God , Heb. 12.15 . then much more you and I , who are more drowsie and prone to slumber , do require awakening considerations .

What is the reason that men take up short of Christ , and renewing grace , that they please themselves with the shadow instead of the substance of Religion , that they cry peace , peace , to their souls onely upon some outward priviledges or a few inward good meanings ( as they call them ) when they are in a most damnable condition , and suddain destruction is ready to seise on them ( as travail on a woman with child ) which they cannot escape ; surely it is ignorance of the nature of Christianity and sanctification ; they know not what regeneration is , and what faith and repentance are , which are the conditions upon which salvation may be had ; therefore they rest in forms ( which will fade ) when their hearts and lives deny the power of godlinesse . This , this is ( not as Papists would perswade their deluded votaries the mother of devotion , but ) the monster which causeth such hideous births of corruption . This is the epidemical disease that raigneth all the year long , and killeth ( I fear ) more souls then any of our new distempers doth bodies : For the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels , in flaming fire , taking vengeance on them that know not God , and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; Which shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power , 2 Thess. 1.6 , 7 , 8 , 9. This , this is the sourse of mens sins on earth and eternal sufferings in hell .

But one would think such truths as these might be seasonable in Turky or India , or in Spain and Italy , where the tree of knowledge is forbidden fruit , where they may not read their fathers mind in their mother tongue ; but is it possible that in England ( where the will and word of God is more powerfully preached , more practically applied , more clearly discovered than in any nation of the world ) there should be any ignorant persons ? Alas , alas , We finde by woful experience that there are many , very many Indians and heathen ( for ignorance ) in England . Men and women that know as little of God and holiness of Christ , his natures , offices , of true faith and repentance , as if they had been born , and bred up all their time in Turky or India . I am ashamed to write what I know of the sottish stupid hellish ignorance of many , and some that are aged too , that are going to dye , and yet never knew what it was to live , either to God or their souls . The good Lord affect my heart more with the danger and dreadfulnesse of their eternal conditions .

O how sad is it that so many precious souls should lie lazing on their beds of security and idleness , and though the Sun shine brightly in upon them , they will not draw their curtains and open their eyes to behold it ! That in a valley of vision , a Goshen , a land of light , thousands should live and dye in worse then Egyptian darknesse ; that the Bible should be a sealed book to them , and almost every one have the dark side of that glorious pillar towards him !

Reader , To cure this soul-murdering distemper , I have endeavored ( according to the trust committed to me , and the grace bestowed on me ) to discover in this Treatise the life in Christ , or true Christianity , with the matchless endless felicity that accompanieth it ; as also the nature and danger of unregeneracy , with the means to come out of it ; by which thou mayst see that many cozen their souls with counterfeit coin ( false evidences for heaven ) instead of true , which will not abide the touchstone of Scripture , and so like Uriah , they carry those letters about them , though they know it not , which will at last cost them their lives , and cause their eternal deaths . That there is no fool like the sinner who selleth his soul for a song ; his Saviour , his eternal happiness , the unspeakable pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore , for the perishing empty profits , and base brutish pleasures of sin , which are but for a season ; Though sin be delightful in the act ( to carnal wretches ) yet it will be bitterness in the end . It will be a bitter-sweet to all its lovers , when for their momentany pleasure they shall be recompenced with eternity of intolerable unconceivable pain . That it is not for nothing that Ministers call so loudly and earnestly to thee , to kill those lusts which would kill thee , and to follow after holiness , without which no man shall ever see the Lord , Heb. 12.14 . It will teach thee , that God and Christ , heaven and hell , thy soul and eternity , death and judgement are not things to be dallied with ; believe it , thou wilt one day find that it is bad jesting with such edged tools . Surely the greatest seriousness that is imaginable is too too little for them . O hadst thou but the thousandth part of that seriousness about them which they deserve , and call for at thy hands ; surely thou wouldst have other manner of thoughts of them , and carriage towards them then now thou hast . Well , I have four special things at present from the living God to commend to thee and leave with thee in order to thine eternal good ( I known not how soon I may be taken from thee ) If thou lovest thy soul , practice them faithfully ; if not , answer the contrary when thou and I shall meet in the other world at the great and terrible day of the Lord Jesus .

First , do thou labor for the knowledge of God and his Son , thy self , and the duty which thou owest to thy Maker and Redeemer ; hast thou not read the doleful consequence of ignorance ? and doth it not nearly concern thee to get out of that damnable condition ?

Without this thou canst never be Religious , notwithstanding all thy pretences that thou meanest well , and hast as good an heart as the best . If thou knowest not the God of thy fathers , thou canst never serve him with a perfect heart , 1 Chron. 28.9 . All thy worship will be but wild , and wandering from God ; all thy services but the sacrifice of a fool ; The foundation of obedience must be laid in knowledge , Mal. 1.8 . till then thou offerest up to the Lord , the lame and blind , which he will not accept . God expecteth reasonable services , Rom. 12.1 . such for which thou canst give a good reason out of his word , which must be the warrant of thy worship . Be not therefore in shape a man , a reasonable creature , and as NebuchadneZZar , in heart a beast ; be not as the horse and mule which hath no understanding , Psal. 32.9 .

Without knowledge thou canst not be saved ; If the Gospel be hid , it is hid to them that perish , 2 Cor. 4.4 . Wilful ignorance is a sad sign that thou art in Gods black bill . If God will ever have thee to be saved , he will bring thee to the knowledge of this truth , 1 Tim. 2.4 . When Hammans face was covered , his execution was near . Do not delude and destroy thy soul by presuming that thy ignorance will not damne thee ; for if thou art without knowledge , he that made thee will not save thee , and he that formed thee will shew thee no mercy , Isa. 27.11 . Mark Reader but this one place , Psal. 95.10 , 11. where the God of truth confirmeth it by an oath that they which do not know his ways , shall not enter into his rest . One would think that a prisoner should be both earnest and diligent to learn his neck verse , who knoweth he must be hanged if he cannot read ; and dost not thou read in broad Characters , in the word of God , that thou must be an eternal monument of divine fury in hell , if thou dost not learn to know the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent ? doth it not then behove thee to be diligent for knowledge ?

1. How shouldst thou wait on the word of God which enlightneth the mind , and maketh wise the simple ! Auditus est sensus disciplinae . Psal. 19.7 , 8. David had more understanding then the ancients , because Gods word was his meditation , Psa. 119.98 , 99. Watch at wisdoms gate , with an humble hungry soul , and God may fill thee with good things ; God maketh manifest the favour of his knowledge by his Mnisters in every place , 2 Cor. 2.14 . If thou wouldst see , go where the Sunne shineth .

2. Ply the throne of grace with uncessant prayers , Bene or assc est bene studuisse . that God would enlighten thy mind in the knowledge of his will . If any man lack wisdom or knowledge , let him ask it of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not , Jam. 1.5 . Intreat him to open thine eyes that thou mayst see the wonderful things contained in his law , Psal. 119.18 . If thou cryest after knowledge , and liftest up thy voice for understanding ; if thou seekest her as silver , and searchest for her as for hid treasure , then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God ; For the Lord giveth wisdom , out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding , Prov. 2.3 , 4 , 5 , 6.

3. Take heed of sinning against those commands which thou knowest : Hold not the truth in unrighteousness ; Do not wanton away the light , least God give thee up to judiciary darkness . Thou knowest thou shouldst pray with thy family , and in secret ; make conscience of the Lords day , instruct thy children , forbear drunkenness , swearing , lying , uncleanness , and the like ; be sure thou do not shut up this knowledge in thy conscience , and deny it in thy conversation , lest ( as a candle pent up in a dark lanthorn ) it swail out quickly . If any man will do my will , he shall know my doctrine whether it be of God or no , John 7.17 . To practice what you know , is the way to know what to practice ; Knowledge is the mother of obedience , it breeds it ; and obedience is the nurse of knowledge , it feedeth and nurtureth it ; if thou improvest thy little stock well , doubt not but God will adde to it and encrease it ; leave no means untried for the obtaining this purchase . I have ( if thou belongest to our Parish ) offered thee to instruct thee to my power in the mysteries of Christ , appointed also days for that end ; it may be thou art one of those many that ate too old to learn , that scorn to be taught . I would ask thee one question , and think of it , Art thou not too old to be saved ? Dost thou not scorn to go to heaven ? Surely thou dost ; by contemning the way thou scornest the end . Well take heed thou dost not die without knowledge ; for if thou dost , all the world cannot keep thee one quarter of an hour out of hell , and then thou wilt have time enough to befool thy self for refusing a good offer , and willfully rejecting through thy pride those things which concerned thine eternal peace . I shall conclude this head with the words of that eminent and pious writer . Mr. Gurnal Arm 1 part , p. 239 , 240. How long ( saith he ) may a poor Minister sit in his study before any of the ignorant sort will come upon that errand ( i. e. to learn the knowledge of God & themselves ) ! Lawyers have their Clients , and Physicians their Patients ; these are sought after & called up at midnight for counsel ; but alas the soul which is more worth then raiment and body too , that is neglected and the Minister seldome thought one , till both these be sent away . Perhaps when the Physitian gives them over for dead , then we must come and close up their eyes with comfort , which were never opened to see Christ in his truth , or else be counted cruel , because we will not sprinkle them with this holy water , and anoint them for the Kingdom of heaven , though they know not a step of the way that leads to it . Ah , poor wretches , what comfort would you nave us speak to those to whom God himself speaks terror ? Is heaven ours to give to whom we please ? or is it in our power to alter the laws of the most High , and save those whom he condemns ? Do you remember the curse that is to fall upon his head , that maketh the blind to wander out of the way ? Deut. 27.18 . What curse then would be our portion , if we should confirm such blind souls as are quite out of the way to heaven , encouraging them to go on , and expect to reach heaven at last , when God knows , their feet stand in those paths that lead to eternal death ? No , 't is written , we cannot . God will not reverse it , you may read your very names amongst those damned souls which Christ comes in flaming fire to take vengeance on , 2 Thess. 1.8 . And therefore in the fear of God let this provoke you of what age or sex , rank or condition soever you be , to labor for the saving knowledge of God in Christ , whom to know is life eternal , John 17.3 .