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 dies 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 uncontroulable 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 shew 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 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, ejected, 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 sickbedrepentance, for I think verily it is seldom good for 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." This is that which God hath said, and he will prove but a fool-hardy man that shall yet think to go to heaven and glory without it. "Repent, for the ax is laid to the root of the tree; every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit (but no good fruit can be where there is no sound repentance) shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire." 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 shewed, that it never was, where a quiet death is the immediate companion of a sinful life; and therefore Mr Badman is gone to hell. 2. 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;" 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 at 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 shew the greatness of his anger against sin and sinners, in one word he saith, "They are joined to idols, let them alone." Let them alone, that is, disturb them not; let them go on without controul; 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, Hosea iv. 14. "I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom." I will let them alone, they shall live and die in their sins. But, 3. My third argument is drawn from that saying of Christ, "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I should heal them." 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. 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