THE Godly Mans Gain; AND THE Wicked Mans Woe; OR, Good news from Heaven for the Righteous.  
Plainly showing the wonderful manifestation of the love of God to their souls, their blessed and happy condition, both in this life and that which is to come.  
Likewise, the dreadful condition of the wicked, their danger by reason of sin, because the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against the workers of iniquity.  
Lastly, some seasonable warnings, and persuasions, for poor sinners to prepare for judgement, that they may be able to stand in the evil day, and avoid those visible tokens of Gods fury, and their eternal ruin in flames of fire, prepared for the wicked, who delight to make voided the law of God.  
By Matthew Killiray.  Psal 9. 6, 7. 
Upon the wicked be shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest, this shall bee the portion of their Cup.  
For the Righteous Lord, loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright.  
LONDON, Printed for W. Thackeray, at the Black-Spread-Eagle and Sun, in the Old-Bayley. 1665.   

The Godly Mans Gain, AND The Wicked Mans Woe; OR, Good news from Heaven for the Righteous.  Isaiah 3. 10, 11. 
Say ye to the Righteous, that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  
Woe unto the wicked, it shall bee ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall bee given him.  
THese words, are the words of the Prophet Isaiah, unto rebellious Judah and Jerusalem; having shewed them in the former verses, the trouble and confusion which comes by sin; It is the cause of the loss of Temporal and Spiritual enjoyments, thence ariseth disobedience to Parents, as you may red in the fift and sixth verses, he comes in these two verses red to you, to show that though it be a day of public calamity, when the shows of mens countenances do witness against them, and shows their Sin as sodom, yet then is there good news from Heaven for the Righteous soul, here is glad tidings of peace and safety for him, It shall be well with him; here is all good things comprehended in this word, Well, it shall go Well with him here, well with him hereafter; this shall bee his comfort, this his joy, he shall eat of the fruit of his Doings, and be satisfied. But what shall become of the Wicked? shall it be so with them? red the next verse, behold their doom and avoid it, if possible, Woe to the Wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. Better for him he had never been born, for eternal misery is his Portion, he hath done ill, and the fruits of his evil deeds shall he receive; not a word of mercy to him, not a word of comfort for him; he hath had his good things in this life, and the children of God their evil things; but now they are comforted, and he is tormented; they have the good spirit, the Holy Ghost, to comfort them, but the Wicked man, the evil spirit to torment him; in a word, all the woes and denunciations of wrath shall bee executed against him, which are written in the Book of God. The observation that I would note from these words, is this.  
Doct. That in the midst of misery, the Lord Iesus Christ hath bowels of mercy for the Righteous person; but in the day of account, he will have nothing but dregs of fury for the Wicked, who study to make voided his Law.  
Here is good news for you, who have fought the good fight of Faith, who have contended earnestly for the cause of Christ: a Crown of glory is prepared for them which shall never fade away: There is mercy for them in the midst of misery, joy for them in the midst of sorrow; the smiles of Gods countenance shall cheer up their hearts, though they may have sorrow for a season, yet joy cometh in the morning; the sweet and gracious carriage of the Lord Jesus Christ shall even Ravish their souls. That this is so, that in the midst of misery, the Lord Iesus Christ hath bowels of mercy, see Heb. 13. 5. be content with such things as you have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; As if the Lord should say to any poor soul in misery, that is ready to dispond or despair, under the burden of his afflictions, bear my hand patiently, bee content with such as you have, whether it be affliction, tribulation, or persecution in this world; I have prepared a better kingdom for you, Ile never leave you, in six troubles, or in seven, Ile guide you by my Counsel, and afterward receive you into Glory. Psa. 138. 3. In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my Soul. Though the world frown upon them, yet there is a secret support, there is an everlasting arm that bears them up; his sweet and gracious carriage to the Church, declares that they are the beloved of his Soul, they are his Darling, see Canticles 4. 8, 11. Come with me from Lebanon ( my Spouse) from Lebanon, &c. thou hast Ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse, thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one Chain of thy neck, how fair is thy love, my Sister, my Spouse, how much better is thy Love than wine, and the smell of thine ointments, than all spices? and thus the Lord Jesus goes along, showing forth his Love in most excellent terms, to make the soul more enamoured of him: But now to show you why it is so, or how it comes to pass, that the Lord is so full of bowels of mercy towards the Righteous, I shall give a few Reasons for it.  
1. Because they are those whom he hath Ransomed, whom he hath bought at a dear rate, even the price of his own blood. These are the persons,( the Righteous I mean) for whom he was reviled, despised, was in bitter Agonies, and suffered a cruel death upon the cross; And think you will he leave these in misery, and not remember, he is a God of mercy? will not he stay these with flagons, and comfort them with apple, when they are sick of love? The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ was not  shed in vain, but he dyed that his might live, he went thorough sorrows, that his might have joy, he was crwoned with Thorns, that his might bee crwoned with Glory. They are those whom he hath called out of darkness into his marvelous light, for these he hath procured a salvation, and an everlasting Rest, They shall not be led Captive at the Devils will, because they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Therefore shall it go well with them.  
2. Because they are those whom he hath Chosen, and those whom the Fathers hath given him; Therefore hath the Lord bowels of mercy for them. As he hath accomplished his part on the cross for them, so will he accomplish his part in Heaven for them. John 6. 36. Of all ●●at the Father hath given him he will lose nothing. They are the fruits of his death and Resurrection, to these he will bee a Father in time of trouble, when the world casts them off, he will receive them into his protection, he will open his everlasting arms, and receive them into his embraces, Christ will not lose his interest, he will not lose those whom he hath chosen, and whom the Father hath given him, but the light of his countenance shall shine upon them, and he will compass them about with mercy all the daies of their lives.  
3 Why hath God bowels of mercy for the Righteous? because God hath peculiarly promised to these, and none but these, that he will be a Father to them, and they shall be his Children.  
Now beloved, hath not a Father yearning bowels of affection towards his child, doth not he love his own, and cherish his own more affectionately then he doth anothers, if he see them wronged doth not he right them, even so the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Father is very pitiful, and very loving, and affectionate toward his Children, Oh how his spirit is grieved to see his grieved, when his children are molested, and despised, it pierceth into his soul, and presently he is ready to deliver them, he will never leave his comfortless, but he will come unto them, he will bee with them in joy and sorrow, in prosperity and adversity, in life and death, and at last will led them into his heavenly habitation, that they may partake of the glory promised, and receive the reward of their righteousness, even the salvation of their precious souls. Thus have you heard why the Lord Jesus Christ hath yearning bowels of mercy towards the Righteous. Indeed many more might be given, but these I think are enough to satisfy any reasonable soul, and now let me proceed to make a little improvement of it by way of use.  
1. Use of Exhortation: Let it bee to exhort you who are Righteous in the sight of God, you to whom Jesus Christ hath bowels of mercy, to be continually lifting up prayers and praises with your whole heart and soul unto the Lord, who hath translated you out of darkness into his marvelous light, and out of the kingdom of Satan unto God, that he should take pity of you when you were in your blood, when the Priest, and the Levite past by, that Christ the good Samaritain should look on you, and heal you. Oh admire this goodness of God! and been not slothful, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, that hath had such compassion on you, that hath washed your souls in his own blood, that hath purged your consciences from dead works, what, will not you serve the Lord with fear and trembling? you to whom the Lord hath revealed himself in Love and Mercy, oh be exhorted in the fear of God, to live answerable to those enjoyments you enjoy, and are like to bee partakers of.  
2. Use of comfort and consolation to poor dejected souls, who go mourning all the day long, here is good news for you converted sinners, you who have felt the misery under the burden of sin, and do believe and endeavour to avoid the power of Satan, and the wrath of God, and do believe what Christ hath done for your restauration and salvation, and have thankfully accepted of him as your onely Saviour and Lord, on the terms that he is offered in the Gospel, as one that calls, justifies, sanctifies, and brings at last to everlasting glory. Hold up your heads poor souls, and open the everlasting gates of your souls, that the King of glory may come in in triumph; Hitherto you have clouded the bright rays of his glory, now open your eyes and your souls, that you may behold it, learn to say with David, Why art thou cast down O my soul, why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, who will yet bee the light of my countenance and my God: hold up your heads, you have cause to rejoice, O ye Saints and Servants of the most high God, you need not fear what man can do unto you, it shall bee well with you, you shall have joy when others shall have sorrow, you shall have peace when others shall have trouble, you shall enjoy eternal life, when others shall have eternal death to their portion, and so let me leave you in the bosom of your Father sucking from the breasts of his consolation, and let me speak a little to the wicked, to those who will not have the Lord of life to Reign over them. Something I shall speak, to show them their danger and desperate condition, and something by way of persuasion, to persuade them to come in to the Lord Jesus Christ, that they might not bee the objects of his fury at the great day. And when I begin to speak of these things, I confess it seems terrible to me, and makes me almost afraid; people will run out of their wits when they hear it, but a little experience showing us that many are like a Dog bread up in a Forge or Furnace, that being used to it, can sleep though the hammers are beating, and the fire and hot Irons flaming about him, when another that had never seen it would be amazed at the sight: so thus they who have ten or twenty years heard talk of the danger of enduring the wrath of God at the day of judgement, but see it not, nor feel any hurt, they think it is but talk, and make nothing of it, and thus they thank God for his patience, Because his sentence is not executed speedily therefore they set themselves to do evil. Eccles. 8. 11. This consideration moved me, and awakened my soul, that I might unburden my conscience before you, and speak the truth in God and lie not. And Oh that I could reach your hearts, Oh that whosoever reads this little book, might fear and tremble, and that seeing his danger he may endeavour to avoid those unquenchable flames of the fury of Gods wrath, see 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. and tremble when you red it, For we must all appear at the Iudgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, good or bad. Kn●wing therefore the terrors of the Lord we persuade men. 'tis to you I am to speak who have done ill, woe to you, for the reward of your works shall bee given you, and what is that? Nothing but hell and horror, nothing but the fury of Gods wrath; a sad sentence shall bee passed on you, shall make your hearts to tremble then, though you will not tremble now.  
1. Let us inquire wherein this horror consists, that is, first in the sentence of condemnation itself, which expresseth the misery they are judged to.  
1. They are cursed, and that denounceth a people destinated and adjudged to utter unhappiness, and to all kind of miseries without remedy; and their cursedness is described in the next words; depart from me into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels; from whom must they depart? from that God that made them in his Image, from the Redeemer that Bought them with the price of his blood, and offered to save them freely, for all their unworthiness, and many times entreated them to accept his offer, that their souls might live; from the Holy Ghost, the sanctifier, and comforter of the Faithful, who striven with their hearts, till they quenched and expelled him: Oh sad departing! who would not then choose to depart from all the friends he had in the world, or from any thing imaginable, from his life, from himself, if it were possible, than from Christ; Depart, from what? from the presence of the Judge, from all future hopes of salvation for ever, from all possibility of ever being saved, and living in the joyful inheritance of the Righteous. And then consider  
2. Whether must they depart? 1. Into fire. 2. Into that fire, which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels. 3. Into everlasting fire, not into a purifying, but into a tormenting fire, and thither wilt thou go without remedy, no Christ now to intercede for thee; in vain now to repent, and wish you had not slighted your salvation, or sold it for a little pleasure for the flesh, it will bee then in vain to cry, Lord open to us; Oh spare us! Oh pity us! Oh do not cast us into those hideous flames! Oh do not turn us among Devils, do not condemn thy Redeemed ones! but all shall bee in vain, you cry and you call too late, the gates of Heaven are shut against you, you have sinned, therefore you shall suffer; the coals of his fury shall always bee burning of you, but you shall never be burnt; considering the company you shall have, none but tormenting Devils, this will aggravate your misery; and the time it shall endure, not only a year, or ten years, or a hundred years, but for ever; you shall bee always consuming, but never consumed; as the blessedness and joy of the Godly is perpetual, so shall also the torments of the Wicked. Oh poor sinner! that readest or hearest these lines, I beseech thee, in compassion to thy soul, consider how fearful the case of that man will bee, that is newly doomed to the everlasting fire, and is haled to the execution without remedy. The time was, when Repentance might have done thee good, but then all thy Repentings will bee in vain; now while thy day of visitation lasteth, hadst thou but a heart to cry and call for mercy in faith and fervency, thou mightest bee heard, but then praying and crying will do thee no good; shouldst thou roar out in the extremity of thy horror and amazement, and beseech the Lord Jesus, but to forgive thee one sin, or to sand thee on earth once more, or try thee once again in the flesh, whether thou would love him, and led a holy life, it would bee all in vain; shouldst thou beseech him by all the mercifulness of his nature, by all his sufferings and bloody death, by all the merciful promises of the Gospel, it would bee all in vain; nay shouldst thou but beg for one daies reprieve, or to stay one hour before thou wert cast into those flames, it would not bee heard; how earnestly did Dives hog of Abraham, for one drop of water to cool his tongue, because he was tormented in the flames, and what was he the better, he was bid Remember the good things he had in this life, and that remembrance would torment him more. Christ will not bee entreated by the ungodly, but he will soon stop thy mouth, or leave thee speechless and say, Remember man that I did once sand thee a message of peace, and thou wouldst not hear it, I did once stoop to beseech thee to return, and thou wouldst not hear, I besought thee by the tender mercies of God; I besought thee by all the love that I had shewed thee, by my holy life, my cursed death, by the riches of my grace, by the offers of my glory, and I could not get thee to forsake the world, to deny thy flesh, to leave one beloved sin; for all this, I waited on thee many a day, and year, thou wouldst not consider, and return and live, and now 'tis too late, my sentence is past, and cannot be recalled, away from me, get thee hence, thou worker of Iniquity, Mat. 7. 22, 23. Ah! beloved friends, what a case is then the poor desperate sinner left in? how can you that red or hear, once think without trembling, of the condition that such forlorn wretches will be in, when they look above them, and see God that hath forsaken them, because they forsook him first; and when they look about them, and see the Saints on the one hand, whom they despised, now sentenced unto glory, and the Wicked on the other hand, whom they accompanied and imitated, now judged with them to everlasting misery; when they look below them, and see the flames that they must abide in, even for evermore, and when the Devil begins to hale them to the execution; Oh poor souls! now what would they give for a Christ, for a promise, for a time of Repentance, for a Sermon of mercy, which once they slept under, or made no account of; how is the case altered now with them? who would think that these are the same men, that made light of all this on earth, that so stoutly scorned the reproofs of the word, that would be worldly, and fleshly,& drunk,& proud; let preachers say what they would, and perhaps hated them that did give them warning; now they are of another mind, but all too late; now would they draw back, and lay hold of any thing, rather than bee dragged away into those flames, but there is no resisting; Satans temptations might have been resisted, but his executions cannot; Gods Judgements might have been prevented by faith and prayer, and a holy life, but they cannot bee resisted, when they are not prevented; glad would the miserable sinner bee, if that he might but turn to nothing, or that he might bee any thing, rather than a Reasonable Creature, but their wishes are all in vain, there is but one time, and one way for a sinners deliverance, if he fail in that one, he perisheth for ever; all the world cannot help him after that, 2 Cor. 6. 26. I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in a day of salvation, behold now is the day of salvation, Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me, but for the time to come hereafter, hear what the Lord saith, Pro. 1, 24, 25, 26. because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded, but they have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof I will also mock at your calamity, I will laugh when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction as a whirl-wind, when distress and anguish cometh upon them; then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but shall not find me, for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsels, they despised all my reproofs, therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices, for the turning away of the simplo shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them, but who so hearkeneth to me, shall dwell safely, and shall bee quiet from fear of evil. This God himself hath plainly  told you, and Oh! that you would consider of it in time; will you thus wilfully sin, and think to escape the wrath of God? nay, let me tell you, except you likewise repent, ye shall all likewise perish; all the world shall not, cannot save you, no Act of Indemnity shall be passed upon you, you have sinned, and you shall suffer, and Gods name shall be justified by it, and Ah! that your consciences would be awakened by a serious apprehension of the deadly torments, and smoking flames that shall certainly one day seize upon your body, and that the fear of it might move your hearts into a relenting and repenting frame, and your souls might bee affencted with the ways and truths of God, which are both pleasant and peaceable, and in them you shall find et●●nal life.  
And now I have in brief shown you the danger of resisting the Lord Jesus Christ, suffer me to persuade you, and Oh that you would be persuaded, before the woes and denunciations of Gods wrath be pronounced against you! Oh that you would believe that one day you shall receive the fruit of your doings, will you suffer your souls to sink in the last day, for want of care and self-preservation? Oh that I could persuade you by the tender mercies of God, by that precious blood of the immaculate Lamb of God, to awake presently, and resolve to lose no more time, but set upon the work. Oh that there were such a heart in you, as you were truly willing to follow the gracious guidance of the Lord, and to use those sweet and reasonable means which he hath used in his Word, that you may be ready for the day of the Lord, for you will not bee able to make any shift to keep your souls from continual terrors, as long as you remain in a carnal and unregenerate condition; let the sudden approach of death and judgement continually move you, and the terrible apprehensions of the falling into those furious flames prepared for the wicked, rouse up your sleepy souls from sin and security. How do you think to escape at the last day, you that never once trembled at the thoughts of that great day. Let me persuade you to confirm your thoughts in the belief of this, that you shall suddenly appear at the Bar of Gods justice, and there shalt be brought to answer for thy deeds done in the flesh, whether good or evil, what then wilt thou be able to say before the great God, then it will be too late to say, Lord be merciful to me a sinner, then shal you wish too late, that you had done the good, and the acceptable will of God? and that you had left the Creature, and served the Creator. Then shall you be ready to cry out, wo is me, how shall I be able to bear this heavy and dreadful burden of the wrath of God? Oh how shall I live among those scorching and never dying flames? How shall I be able to endure those fearful shriecks, and sad complaints of those damned souls? and then beholding the sweet harmony that is among the glorified Saints, their continual blessedness shall more amaze thee, then wilt thou wish thou wert received into their sweet society; Then wilt thou be ready to say, Lord receive me into thy Kingdom. But alas thou hadst thy good things in this life, therefore nothing but wrath and curse is thy portion, this will be thy condition, unless thou in time consider, and carefully prepare for the coming of the Bride, I would lay down a few helps and directions, to poor seduced and deluded souls, that seeing their danger, they might also look out for a Recovery.  
The first Direction, Labour to get your souls established in this belief, that the judgement of the great day is at hand, and that you must answer for all your deeds done in the flesh; friends, shut not your eyes against the light. If you do not believe such a day is at hand, you will never prepare for it, it is the word of the God of truth, certainly you dare not give him the lie. John 5. 28, 29. The hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good to the Resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of damnation. Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to all men once to die, and after death to Iudgement. Nothing more true then this, and dare you live without the faith of this.  
2 Direction. Make it the business of your lives to be ready for that day. All other business should depend upon this, what else have you to do but to provide for eternity, and to use the means prescribed in Gods Word? remember when you awake every morning you are nearer to eternity, and that the day of your account is at hand, and when you go to bed, examine your hearts, what you have done in preparation for the last day, are you ready for judgement, or are you not? Consider a while with your souls, doth not the Scriptures say, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Joh. 3. 3. And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the World, and men love Darkness rather than Light, because their deeds are evil. See the case of the unprepared soul, at the great day Mat. 25. Cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. But those mine enemies who will not have me to reign over them, bring them hither and slay them before me. Mat. 22. 12, 13. Friend, how camest thou hither not having a wedding garment? and he was spéechlesse, then said the King to the servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, cast him into utter darkness. Labour to bee ready for the great day.  
3 Direction. Get faith and repentance sown in thy heart, or else thou shalt never bee accepted or justified by the blood of Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and without repentance no salvation. Oh make not a light matter of sin and misery, least thou bee pressed by them into infernal flames, but repent from the bottom of thy heart, and bee grieved for this, that thou didst not repent sooner; Turn to the Lord with thy whole heart, and let God bee in all your thoughts, then he will pardon and pass by all your iniquities, and receive you graciously, and present you as pure and spotless before the throne of his Father, and then you shall bee taken into his embraces, and have his banner of love spread over you.  
4 Direction. Let it bee the daily care of your souls to mortify fleshly desires, and overcome the world, fleshly desires and carnal self will draw you off from God. This therefore must bee the earnest work of thy life, to subdue this flesh, and to set light by this world, and resist the devil that would destroy thee; live loose from all things in this world, if you would bee ready for another world, you must not live after the flesh, but mortify it by the spirit; Rom. 8. 13. If you would be accepted in the last day, and bee able to give up your account with joy, this must bee the course of your life; then he hath promised to receive you graciously, and to take you into his everlasting rest.  
5 Direction. As you renew your Life, so daily renew your Repentance, and do all your works, as men that must bee Judged for them at the last day; Oh that you would remember when temptations are upon you! how careful you should bee of your words and thoughts; if you seriously remember you must bee judged for what you have done, and give an account for every talent received, certainly you would not be ●o vain, so carnal, and so dead to the things of God; were you fully convinced that you must answer for all, were God in all your thoughts, the Devil would bee under foot; Oh that poor miserable souls! would before it bee too late, lay to heart these things, and remember what they are born for, and what will bee the issue of an ungodly, careless, unrepenting life.  
6 Direction. Bee in this vigilant and obedient course, that with confidence you may rest upon God as a Father, and upon the promise of acceptance, and remission, through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ; look up in hope to the glory that is set before you; serve not droopingly, but with love and joy, and filial fear; get into communion with the Saints, take heed you bee not excluded by your unworthy walking, lest you bee cast out of the presence of Christ and his Saints for ever. And that I might draw to a conclusion, I would say to poor sinners, Judgement is near, bee prepared lest thou bewail when it is too late. Oh! that the Lord would open your eyes, and turn you to himself; and then the judgement day will not bee dreadful to you; then your Saviour whom you have obeied, will not condemn you, but if you will be obstinate, when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, you who have resisted his will, shall bee punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, when the day of the Marriage of the Lamb comes, and the reception of the Saints into glory, then you who are not prepared for the bridegroom, the door shall bee shut against you, and though you cry Lord, Lord open to us, you shall bee repulsed with a verily I know you not; when others long, hope, and wait for comfort, then shall you fear and tremble at the remembrance of it. And Oh! that the words contained in this little Book, might move some poor ●ouls to a serious view of their lives and conversations, whether they are those to whom the Lord will say, Woe to you wicked, you shall receive the fruit of your doings: that you may in time prepare for judgement, that when the time of your departure is at hand, you may bee able to look back on the good fight you have sought, and the cour● you have finished, and the faith you have kept, and may confidently conclude, that henceforth there is laid up a crown for you, of Righteousness, which the Lord Jesus Christ the Judge, shall give you at the last day, and not to you only, but to all them; who love his appearing, that you may bee able to say, even so come Lord Iesus, come quickly. Amen.  
FINIS.