Observe, that among all the objections and cavils that are made and
will be made by the ungodly in the day of the Lord Jesus, they have
not one about election, and reprobation: they murmur not at all that
they were not predestinated to eternal life; and the reason is,
because then they shall see, though now they are blind, that God
could in his prerogative royal, without prejudice to them that are
damned, choose and refuse at pleasure; and besides, they at this day
shall be convinced that there was so much reality, and downright
willingness in God, in every tender of grace and mercy to the worst
of men, and also so much goodness, justness, and reasonableness in
every command of the gospel of grace, which they were so often
entreated and beseeched to embrace, that they will be drowned in the
conviction of this, that they did refuse love, grace, and
reason--love, I say, for hatred, grace for sin, and things
reasonable for things unreasonable and vain. Now they shall see they
left glory for shame, God for the devil, heaven for hell, light for
darkness. Now they shall see, that though they made themselves
beasts, yet God made them reasonable creatures; and that he did with
reason expect that they should have adhered to, and have delighted
in, things that are good and according to God. Yea, now they shall
see and be convinced, that though God did not determine to bring
them to heaven against their hearts and wills, and the love that
they had to their sins, yet that God was far from infusing any thing
into their souls, that should in the least hinder, weaken, obstruct,
or let them in seeking the welfare of their souls. Now, men will
tattle and prattle at a mad rate about election and reprobation, and
conclude that because all are not elected, therefore God is to blame
that any are damned. But then they will see that they are not damned
because they were not elected, but because they sinned; and also,
that they sinned, not because God put any weakness into their souls,
but because they gave way, and that wilfully, knowingly, and
desperately, to Satan and his suggestions; and so turned away from
the holy commandment delivered unto them. Yea, then they will see,
that though God at some times did fasten his cords about their heads
and heels and hands, both by godly education and smarting
convictions, yet they rushed away with violence from all, saying,
"Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from
us." God will be justified in his sayings, and clear when he
judgeth; though men's proud ignorance thinks to have and to multjply
cavils against him.
Now shall be brought before thee and all men, how many strugglings
God had with thy heart, on the sick-bed, to do thee good; yea, and
at such times, how many vows, promises, engagements, and resolutions
thou madest before God to turn, if he would release thee from thy
affliction and turn off his rod from thy back; and yet how thou
didst, like the man possessed, break and snap in twain all these
chains of iron with which thou hadst bound thy soul; and that for a
very lust or sin. Here also will be opened before thee how often
thou hast sinned against thy light and knowledge; how often thou
hast laid violent hands on thy own conscience; how often thou hast
labored to put out that light that hath stood in thy way to hinder
thee from sinning against thy soul. Ah, Lord, what a condition will
the Christless soul be in at that day; how will every one of these
things afflict the damned soul they will pierce like arrows, and
bite like serpents, and sting like an adder. With what shame will
that man stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, who must have all
things he hath done against God to provoke the eyes of his glory to
jealousy, laid open before the whole host of the heavenly train. It
would make a man blush to have his pockets searched for things that
are stolen, in the midst of a market, especially if he stand upon
his reputation and honor. But thou must have thy heart searched, the
bottom of thy heart searched; and that, I say, before thy neighbor
whom thou hast wronged, and before the devils whom thou hast served;
yea, before God whom thou hast despised, and before the angels,
those holy and delicate creatures, whose holy and chaste faces will
scarce forbear blushing.
"IGNORANCE" CONDEMNED AT THE JUDGMENT.
While I was gazing at all these things, I turned my head to look
back, and saw Ignorance come up to the riverside; but he soon got
over, and that without half the difficulty which the other two men
met with. For it happened that there was then in that place one
Vain-hope, a ferryman, that with his boat helped him over. So he, as
the others I saw, did ascend the hill to come up to the gate; only
he came alone, neither did meet with any the least encouragement.
When he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that
was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should
have been quickly administered to him; but he was asked by the men
that looked over the top of the gate, "Whence come you? and what
would you have?" He answered, "I have eat and drank in the presence
of the King, and he has taught in our streets." Then they asked him
for his certificate, that they might go in and show it to the King.
So he fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they,
"Have you none?" But the man answered never a word. So they told the
king; but he would not come down to see him, but commanded the two
shining ones that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the city, to go
out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him
away. Then they took him up and carried him through the air to the
door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there. Then
I saw that there was a way to hell even from the gates of heaven, as
well as from the city of Destruction.