As no part is free from sin, so none shall be from punishment ; in the first death, the pain may lie in one place, head or heart, but here all over ; the agonies of the first death are soon over, but the agonies and pains of the second death endure for ever. The first death, the more it prevaileth, the more we are past feeling ; but by this second death there is a greater vivacity than ever, the capacity of every sense is enlarged and made more receptive of pain, while we are in the body. Vehemens sensihile corruwpit sensum — the more vehemently anything doth strike on the senses the more doth it deaden the sense; as the inhabitants about the fall of Nilus are deaf with the continual noise, and too much light puts out the eyes, and taste is dulled by custom ; but here the capacity is improved by feeling the power of God sustaining
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the sinner whilst his wrath torments him. As the saints are fortified by their blessedness, and can endure that light and glory, the least glimpse of which would overwhelm them here, so the wicked are capacitated to endure the torments. In the first death, our praying is for life, we would not die ; there, our wish shall be for destruction, we would not live. Every man would lose a tooth rather than be perpet- ually tormented with the tooth-ache; these pains never cease; this death is the fruit of the carnal life.
Secondly. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Here all will be easily and soon despatched.
1. What is it to be spiritually-minded? I answer, when we know the things of the spirit, so as to believe them, and believe them so as to affect and esteem them ; and esteem and affect them, so as to seek after them ; and so seek after them, as to seek after them in the first place. (1.) We must know them ; for the things of the spirit must be understood before they can be chosen and desired: John iv. 10,* If thou knewest the gift.' The brutish world know not the worth of spiritual and heavenly things, therefore mind them not. (2.) Believe them. None will seek after that which they judge to be a fancy, or of the certainty of which they are not persuaded, especially when they must forego present delights and contentments to obtain it : such is salvation by Christ: 2 Pet. i. 5, 10, 16, 'And besides this, giving all diligence to add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge : wherefore the rather, brethren, give all diligence to make your calling and election sure.' (3.) Affect and esteem them above all other things : Heb. xi. 13, ' Being persuaded of these things, they embraced them ; so esteem them, that your desires may not be checked and controlled by other things : Heb. xi. 26, ' By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.' (4.) To pursue after them with all diligence : Phil. ii. 10, ' Working out your salva- tion with fear and trembling ;' and John vi. 27, ' Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but that which endureth to everlasting life.' (5.) Seek them in the first place, that you may not only make it your busi- ness, but the chiefest business of your lives to obtain these things : Mat. vi. 33, ' First seek the kingdom of God.' This is to set your faces heavenward, when you make it your great business to please God, and save your souls.
2. This is life and peace. By life and peace are meant eternal blessedness. He addeth to the word life the term peace, because in eternal life there is freedom from all evil, and the presence of all good ; for there can be no true solid peace where there is the fear of any evil, or a want of any good ; but here being neither, the soul is fully at peace and rest ; therefore it is said that God ' will give glory, honour, and peace to every one that doeth good :' Eom. ii. 10. Heaven is the new Jerusalem, the city of peace, where we converse with God, who is a God of peace, and enjoy full peace and rest from all our molesta- tions ; but though it be meant of heaven, yet peace of conscience is not excluded, partly because it is the beginning and earnest of it, that peace which we now have in the kingdom of the Messiah by our recon- ciliation with God : Eom. v. 1, 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God and the testimony of a good conscience ;' 2 Cor. i. 20, ' This
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is a continual feast.' Now the fruit of righteousness is peace ; peace in heaven, and peace on earth : Luke ii. 14, and Luke xix. 38, ' Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord ; ' ' Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest' It is begun here, and perfected there. . And partly because whatever the spirit worketh tendeth to our peace and blessedness, not only hereafter, but now : Eom. xv. 13, 'Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.' The reasons are in common.