The best way to be preserved
from falling into hell

(Thomas Brooks, "Apples of Gold" 1660)

"Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into
 the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and
 his angels!" Matthew 25:41

The sinner's delight here is momentary;
that which torments hereafter is perpetual.

The best way to be preserved from falling
into hell, is to think often of hell. Ah!
that you would often consider . . .
  the bitterness of the damned's torments,
  the pitilessness of their torments,
  the diversity of their torments,
  the easelessness of their torments,
  the remedilessness of their torments,
  the eternity of their torments.

Ah! may these thoughts of hell be a means to
preserve you from lying in those everlasting flames!