[FUTURE HAPPINESS NOT TO BE HOPED FROM A QUIET HARDENED DEATH.]
WISE. There is no judgment to be made by a quiet death, of the
eternal state of him that so dieth. Suppose that one man should
die quietly, another should die suddenly, and a third should die
under great consternation of spirit, no man can judge of their
eternal condition by the manner of any of these kinds of deaths.
He that dies quietly, suddenly, or under consternation of spirit,
may go to heaven, or may go to hell; no man can tell whether a man
goes, by any such manner of death. The judgment, therefore, that
we make of the eternal condition of a man must be gathered from
another consideration, to wit, Did the man die in his sins? did
he die in unbelief? did he die before he was born again? then he
has gone to the devil and hell, though he died never so quietly.
Again, Was the man a good man? had he faith and holiness? was he
a lover and a worshipper of God by Christ according to his word?
Then he is gone to God and heaven, how suddenly, or in what
consternation of mind soever he died. But Mr. Badman was naught,
his life was evil, his ways were evil, evil to his end. He therefore
went to hell and to the devil, how quietly soever he died.
Indeed there is, in some cases, a judgment to be made of a man's
eternal condition by the manner of the death he dieth. As, suppose
now a man should murder himself, or live a wicked life, and after
that die in utter despair; these men, without doubt, do both
of them go to hell. And here I will take an occasion to speak of
two of Mr. Badman's brethren, for you know I told you before that
he had brethren, and of the manner of their death. One of them
killed himself, and the other, after a wicked life, died in utter
despair. Now, I should not be afraid to conclude of both these,
that they went by and through their death to hell.
ATTEN. Pray tell me concerning the first, how he made away with
himself?
WISE. Why, he took a knife and cut his own throat, and immediately
gave up the ghost and died. Now, what can we judge of such a man's
condition, since the scripture saith, 'No murderer hath eternal
life,' &c., but that it must be concluded that such a one is gone
to hell. He was a murderer, self-murderer; and he is the worst
murderer, one that slays his own body and soul.[78] Nor do we find
mention made of any but cursed ones that do such kind of deeds.
I say, no mention made in Holy Writ of any others, but such that
murder themselves.
And this is a sore judgment of God upon men, when God shall, for
the sins of such, give them up to be their own executioners, or
rather to execute his judgment and anger upon themselves. And let
me earnestly give this caution to sinners. Take heed, Sirs, break
off your sins, lest God serves you as he served Mr. Badman's
brother; that is, lest he gives you up to be your own murderers.
ATTEN. Now you talk of this; I did once know a man, a barber, that
took his own razor and cut his own throat, and then put his head
out of his chamber window, to show the neighbours what he had
done, and after a little while died.
WISE. I can tell you a more dreadful thing than this; I mean as
to the manner of doing the fact. There was, about twelve years
since, a man that lived at Brafield, by Northampton, named John
Cox, that murdered himself; the manner of his doing of it was thus.
He was a poor man, and had for some time been sick, and the time
of his sickness was about the beginning of hay-time, and taking
too many thoughts how he should live afterwards, if he lost his
present season of work, he fell into deep despair about the world,
and cried out to his wife the morning before he killed himself,
saying, We are undone. But quickly after, he desired his wife to
depart the room, because, said he, I will see if I can get any
rest; so she went out; but he, instead of sleeping, quickly took
his razor, and therewith cut up a great hole in his side, out of
which he pulled and cut off some of his guts, and threw them, with
the blood, up and down the chamber. But this not speeding of him
so soon as he desired, he took the same razor and therewith cut
his own throat. His wife, the hearing of him sigh and fetch his
wind short, came again into the room to him, and seeing what he
had done, she ran out and called in some neighbours, who came to
him where he lay in a bloody manner, frightful to behold. Then
said one of them to him, Ah! John, what have you done? Are you
not sorry for what you have done? He answered roughly, It is too
late to be sorry. Then, said the same person to him again, Ah!
John, pray to God to forgive thee this bloody act of thine. At
the hearing of which exhortation he seemed much offended, and in
an angry manner said, Pray! and with that flung himself away to
the wall, and so, after a few gasps, died desperately. When he
had turned him of his back to the wall, the blood ran out of his
belly as out of a bowl, and soaked quite through the bed to the
boards, and through the chinks of the boards it ran pouring down
to the ground. Some said that when the neighbours came to see him,
he lay groping with his hand in his bowels, reaching upward, as
was thought, that he might have pulled or cut out his heart. It
was said, also, that some of his liver had been by him torn out
and cast upon the boards, and that many of his guts hung out of
the bed on the side thereof; but I cannot confirm all particulars;
but the general of the story, with these circumstances above
mentioned, is true. I had it from a sober and credible person,
who himself was one that saw him in this bloody state, and that
talked with him, as was hinted before.
Many other such dreadful things might be told you, but these
are enough, and too many too, if God, in his wisdom, had thought
necessary to prevent them.
ATTEN. This is a dreadful story. And I would to God that it might
be a warning to others, to instruct them to fear before God, and
pray, lest he give them up to do as John Cox hath done. For surely
self-murderers cannot go to heaven; and, therefore, as you have
said, he that dieth by his own hands, is certainly gone to hell.
But speak a word or two of the other man you mentioned.
WISE. What? of a wicked man dying in despair?
ATTEN. Yes, of a wicked man dying in despair.
WISE. Well then. This Mr. Badman's other brother was a very wicked
man, both in heart and life; I say in heart, because he was so
in life, nor could anything reclaim him; neither good men, good
books, good examples, nor God's judgments. Well, after he had
lived a great while in his sins, God smote him with a sickness,
of which he died. Now in his sickness his conscience began to be
awakened, and he began to roar out of his ill-spent life, insomuch
that the town began to ring of him. Now, when it was noised about,
many of the neighbours came to see him, and to read by him, as is
the common way with some; but all that they could do, could not
abate his terror, but he would lie in his bed gnashing of his
teeth, and wringing of his wrists, concluding upon the damnation
of his soul, and in that horror and despair he died; not calling
upon God, but distrusting in his mercy, and blaspheming of his
name.
ATTEN. This brings to my mind a man that a friend of mine told me
of. He had been a wicked liver; so when he came to die, he fell
into despair; and having concluded that God had no mercy for him,
he addressed himself to the devil for favour, saying, Good devil,
be good unto me.
WISE. This is almost like Saul, who being forsaken of God, went
to the witch of Endor, and so to the devil for help (1 Sam 28).
But, alas, should I set myself to collect these dreadful stories,
it would be easy in little time to present you with hundreds
of them. But I will conclude as I began; they that are their own
murderers, or that die in despair, after they have lived a life
of wickedness, do surely go to hell. And here I would put in
a caution. Every one that dieth under consternation of spirit;
that is, under amazement and great fear, do not therefore die in
despair. For a good man may have this for his bands in his death,
and yet go to heaven and glory (Psa 73:4). For, as I said before,
he that is a good man, a man that hath faith and holiness, a lover
and worshipper of God by Christ, according to his Word, may die in
consternation of spirit; for Satan will not be wanting to assault
good men upon their death-bed, but they are secured by the Word
and power of God; yea, and are also helped, though with much agony
of spirit, to exercise themselves in faith and prayer, the which
he that dieth in despair can by no means do. But let us return to
Mr. Badman, and enter further discourse of the manner of his death.
ATTEN. I think you and I are both of a mind; for just now I was
thinking to call you back to him also. And pray now, since it is
your own motion to return again to him, let us discourse a little
more of his quiet and still death.
WISE. With all my heart. You know we were speaking before of the
manner of Mr. Badman's death; how that he died still and quietly;
upon which you made observation that the common people conclude,
that if a man dies quietly, and as they call it, like a lamb,
he is certainly gone to heaven; when, alas, if a wicked man died
quietly, if a man that has all his days lived in notorious sin,
dieth quietly; his quiet dying is so far off from being a sign
of his being saved, that it is an uncontrollable proof of his
damnation. This was Mr. Badman's case, he lived wickedly even to
the last, and then went quietly out of the world; therefore Mr.
Badman is gone to hell.
ATTEN. Well, but since you are upon it, and also so confident in
it, to wit, that a man that lives a wicked life till he dies, and
then dies quietly, is gone to hell; let me see what show of proof
you have for this your opinion.
WISE. My first argument is drawn from the necessity of repentance.
No man can be saved except he repents, nor can he repent that
sees not, that knows not that he is a sinner; and he that knows
himself to be a sinner will, I will warrant him, be molested for
the time by that knowledge. this, as it is testified by all the
scriptures, so it is testified by Christian experience. He that
knows himself to be a sinner is molested, especially if that
knowledge comes not to him until he is cast upon his death-bed;
molested, I say, before he can die quietly. Yea, he is molested,
dejected, and cast down, he is also made to cry out, to hunger and
thirst after mercy by Christ, and if at all he shall indeed come
to die quietly, I mean with that quietness that is begotten by
faith and hope in God's mercy, to the which Mr. Badman and his
brethren were utter strangers, his quietness is distinguished by
all judicious observers by what went before it, by what it flows
from, and also by what is the fruit thereof.
I must confess I am no admirer of sick-bed repentance, for I think
verily it is seldom good of any thing. But I say, he that hath
lived in sin and profaneness all his days, as Mr. Badman did,
and yet shall die quietly, that is, without repentance steps in
betwixt his life and death, he is assuredly gone to hell, and is
damned.
ATTEN. This does look like an argument indeed; for repentance must
come, or else we must go to hell-fire; and if a lewd liver shall,
I mean that so continues till the day of his death, yet go out of
the world quietly, it is a sign that he died without repentance,
and so a sign that he is damned.
WISE. I am satisfied in it, for my part, and that from the necessity
and nature of repentance. It is necessary, because God calls for
it, and will not pardon sin without it. 'Except ye repent, ye shall
all likewise perish?' (Luke 13:1-7). This is that which God hath
said, and he will prove but a foolhardy man that shall yet think
to go to heaven and glory without it. Repent, for 'the axe is laid
unto the root of the trees, therefore every tree which bringeth
not forth good fruit,' but no good fruit can be where there is
not sound repentance, shall be 'hewn down, and cast into the fire'
(Matt 3:10). This was Mr. Badman's case, he had attending of him
a sinful life, and that to the very last, and yet died quietly,
that is, without repentance; he is gone to hell and is damned.
For the nature of repentance, I have touched upon that already,
and showed that it never was where a quiet death is the immediate
companion of a sinful life; and therefore Mr. Badman is gone to
hell.
Secondly. My second argument is drawn from that blessed word of
Christ. While the strong man armed keeps the house, 'his goods
are in peace,' till a stronger than he comes (Luke 11:21). But
the strong man armed kept Mr. Badman's house, that is, his heart,
and soul, and body, for he went from a sinful life quietly out
of this world. The stronger did not disturb by intercepting with
sound repentance betwixt his sinful life and his quiet death.
Therefore Mr. Badman is gone to hell.
The strong man armed is the devil, and quietness is his security.
The devil never fears losing of the sinner, if he can but keep
him quiet. Can he but keep him quiet in a sinful life, and quiet
in his death, he is his own. Therefore he saith, 'his goods are
in peace'; that is, out of danger. There is no fear of the devil's
losing such a soul, I say, because Christ, who is the best judge
in this matter, saith, 'his goods are in peace,' in quiet, and
out of danger.
ATTEN. This is a good one too; for, doubtless, peace and quiet
with sin is one of the greatest signs of a damnable state.
WISE. So it is. Therefore, when God would show the greatness of
his anger against sin and sinners in one word, he saith, They are
'joined to idols; let them alone' (Hosea 4:17). Let them alone,
that is, disturb them not; let them go on without control; let the
devil enjoy them peaceably, let him carry them out of the world
unconverted quietly. This is one of the sorest of judgments, and
bespeaketh the burning anger of God against sinful men. See also
when you come home, the fourteenth verse of the fourth chapter
of Hosea, 'I will not punish your daughters when they commit
whoredom.' I will let them alone, they shall live and die in their
sins. But,
Thirdly. My third argument is drawn from that saying of Christ,
'He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they
should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart,
and be converted, and I should heal them' (John 12:40). There are
three things that I will take notice of from these words.
1. The first is, that there can be no conversion to God where the
eye is darkened, and the heart hardened. The eye must first be
made to see, and the heart to break and relent under and for sin,
or else there can be no conversion. 'He hath blinded their eyes,
and hardened their heart, lest they should see, and understand
and' so 'be converted.' And this was clearly Mr. Badman's case; he
lived a wicked life, and also died with his eyes shut, and heart
hardened, as is manifest, in that a sinful life was joined with
a quiet death; and all for that he should not be converted, but
partake of the fruit of his sinful life in hell-fire.
2. The second thing that I take notice of from these words is, that
this is a dispensation and manifestation of God's anger against
a man for his sin. When God is angry with men, I mean, when he is
so angry with them, this among many is one of the judgments that
he giveth them up unto, to wit, to blindness of mind, and hardness
of heart, which he also suffereth to accompany them till they
enter in at the gates of death. And then, and there, and not short
of then and there, their eyes come to be opened.[79] Hence it is
said of the rich man mentioned in Luke, 'He died, and in hell he
lifted up his eyes' (Luke 16:22). Implying that he did not lift
them up before; he neither saw what he had done, nor whither
he was going, till he came to the place of execution, even into
hell. He died asleep in his soul; he died besotted, stupefied,
and so consequently for quietness like a child or lamb, even as
Mr. Badman did. This was a sign of God's anger; he had a mind to
damn him for his sins, and therefore would not let him see nor
have a heart to repent for them, lest he should convert; and his
damnation, which God had appointed, should be frustrate. 'Lest
they should be converted, and I should heal them.'
3. The third thing I take notice of from hence is, that a sinful
life and a quiet death annexed to it is the ready, the open, the
beaten, the common highway to hell: there is no surer sign of
damnation than for a man to die quietly after a sinful life. I do
not say that all wicked men that are molested at their death with
a sense of sin and fears of hell do therefore go to heaven, for
some are also made to see, and are left to despair, not converted
by seeing, that they might go roaring out of this world to their
place. But I say there is no surer sign of a man's damnation than
to die quietly after a sinful life; than to sin and die with his
eyes shut; than to sin and die with an heart that cannot repent.
'He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they
should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart'
(John 12:40). No not so long as they are in this world, 'Lest they
should see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them' (Acts 28:26,27; Rom
2:1-5).
God has a judgment for wicked men; God will be even with wicked
men. God knows how to reserve the ungodly to the day of judgment
to be punished (2 Peter 2). And this is one of his ways by which
he doth it. Thus it was with Mr. Badman.
4. Fourthly, it is said in the book of Psalms, concerning the
wicked, 'There are no bands in their death, but their strength is
firm' (Psa 73:4-6). By no bands he means no troubles, no gracious
chastisements, no such corrections for sin as fall to be the lot of
God's people for theirs; yea, that many times falls to be theirs
at the time of their death. Therefore he adds concerning the
wicked, 'They are not in trouble [then] as other men, neither are
they plagued like other men'; but go as securely out of the world
as if they had never sinned against God, and put their own souls
into danger of damnation. 'There is no bands in their death.' They
seem to go unbound, and set at liberty out of this world, though
they have lived notoriously wicked all their days in it. The
prisoner that is to die at the gallows for his wickedness, must
first have his irons knocked off his legs; so he seems to go
most at liberty, when indeed he is going to be executed for his
transgressions. Wicked men also have no bands in their death, they
seem to be more at liberty when they are even at the wind-up of
their sinful life, than at any time besides.
Hence you shall have them boast of their faith and hope in God's
mercy when they lie upon their death-bed; yea, you shall have
them speak as confidently of their salvation as if they had served
God all their days; when the truth is, the bottom of this their
boasting is because they have no bands in their death. Their
sin and base life comes not into their mind to correct them, and
bring them to repentance; but presumptuous thoughts, and a hope
and faith of the spider's, the devil's, making, possesseth their
soul, to their own eternal undoing (Job 8:13,14).