[1] Many sinners who seem so jocund in our eyes have not such
merry lives as you think. A book may be fairly bound and
gilded, yet have but sad stories writ within it. Sinners
will not tell us all the secret rebukes that conscience
gives them. If you will judge of Herod by the jollity of
his feast, you may think he wanted no joy; but at another
time we see that John's ghost walked in his conscience. And
so doth the Word haunt many, who appear to us to lay
nothing to heart. In the midst of their laughter their
heart is sad; you see the lightning in their face, but hear
not the thunder that rumbles in their
conscience.--_Gurnall,_ 1617-1679.
Suppose a man were in prison, committed for some great
offence, and condemned to die under the displeasure of his
prince or state, and his servant should come to him,
saying, "Sir, be of good comfort; your wife is well at
home; you have very sweet children, an excellent crop of
corn; your neighbours love you dearly; your sheep and
cattle thrive, and all your houses are in good repair."
Would he not answer that servant, "What is all this, so
long as I am condemned to die"? Thus is it with every
wicked man. He is under the displeasure of the great God, a
condemned man, and God is angry with him every day; and if
his heart were open to be sensible of it, he would say,
"You tell me of my friends, and goods, and name, and trade;
but what is all this, so long as I am a condemned person,
and God is angry with me every day I rise?"--_Bridge,_
1600-1670.
Who would think, now, that sees how quietly the multitude
of the ungodly live, that they must very shortly lie
roaring in everlasting flames? They lie down, and rise, and
sleep so quietly; they eat and drink as quietly; they go
about their work as cheerfully; they talk as pleasantly, as
if nothing ailed them, or as if they were as far out of
danger as an obedient believer. Like a man that hath the
falling sickness, you would little think, while he is
labouring as strongly and talking as heartily as another
man, how he will presently fall down, lie gasping and
foaming, and beating his breast in torment! so it is with
these men. They are as free from the fears of hell as
others, as free from any vexing sorrows, not so much as
troubled with any cares of the state of their souls, nor
with any sad and serious thoughts of what shall become of
them in another world; yes, and for the most part, they
have less doubts and disquiet of mind, than those who shall
be saved. Oh, happy men, if they could be always thus; and
if this peace would prove a lasting peace! But, alas, there
is the misery! it will not. They are now in their own
element, as the fish in the water; but little knows that
silly creature when he is most fearlessly and delightfully
swallowing down the bait, how suddenly he shall be snatched
out, and lie dead upon the bank; and as little think these
careless sinners what a change is near. The sheep or ox is
driven quietly to the slaughter, because he knows not
whither he goes; if he knew it were to his death, you could
not drive him so easily. How contented is the swine when
the butcher's knife is shaving his throat, little thinking
that it is to prepare for his death! Why, it is even so
with these sensual, careless men; they fear the mischief
least, when it is nearest to them, because they see it
not!--_Baxter,_ 1615-1691.