sary for the inspired writers, in their revelations concerning the eternal world, to represent the torments of the damned, under the similitude of objects with which we are conversant and familiar upon earth.

Yet the very comparisons introduced-the very terms made use of, serve to impress the mind with the solemn and startling conviction, that no object on earth-no power of language, can fully represent, or describe the intensity of suffering which the wicked will undergo. They carry us to the full extent of human imagination, and there leave us, convinced that after all that has been said, no eye of man hath seen, nor ear heard, nor heart hath conceived, the height, and depth, and length, and breadth. In order to appreciate the descriptions which we find in the sacred writings, so far as our feeble understandings can appreciate them, we must bear in mind that they relate to the awful realities of a spiritual and immaterial world, and therefore are to be taken in a figurative and not in a literal sense. It would be absurd to suppose, for a moment, that in the world of spirits there are actually furnaces of fire, and chains of iron, and lakes of fire and brimstone; but we are to understand, that by the pains and torments which these material substances are capable of inflicting upon our mortal bodies, are faintly represented the horrors of a condemning conscience the tortures of a soul that is banished forever from the presence of its GOD. Neither are we to understand that there is any particular place, any specified location in nature, that is destined to receive the condemned soul, as the place of its torment; for this would be inconsistent with the language of Scripture in other respects. But we are taught to believe, that an accusing and condemning conscience, the remembrance of despised mercies, the abiding sense of divine wrath, and the utter hopelessness of ever obtaining the beatitudes of heaven, will constitute the torments of the wicked-and were such a soul to gain admittance even into the centre of heaven, so to speak, it would carry its hell along with it, and would remain equally and forever miserable. The more deeply and intently we reflect on this subject, the more we perceive, that there must be something in the condition and mode of existence of a disembodied spirit, of which we can now form no adequate conception; and while we keep this in mind, we

shall be better able to avoid superstition and absurdity, and to entertain some idea of the spirituality, both of the rewards and punishments that will be allotted to us in a future state.

Such, my brethren, is the nature of those punishments which will overwhelm the guilty soul, in the great day of retribution, and with this view of the subject, we will proceed to consider the extent and duration of those punishments, as they are set forth in the sacred writings.

And first, as to their extent. As the Scriptures declare it to be impossible for the mind of man to conceive the extent of happiness which awaits the righteous, so we may consider it equally impossible to conceive the extent of misery which awaits the wicked. To be cast out and banished from the presence of GOD. To be deprived of the glorious light of Heaven. To be compelled to associate with devils, and all evil spirits, in that outer darkness through which no ray of light can ever penetrate-to be continually subject to the accusations of a condemning conscience-to be abandoned to the uncontrolled dominion of every evil passion-to witness afar off the blessedness of the saints in light, and to know that that blessedness is lost for ever, these will create a horror and despair which it is not in the power of man to describe or imagine. The only idea which we can form of the sufferings which the sinner will be doomed to undergo, must be drawn from sensible objects, and these, as represented in Scripture, serve rather to show that no power of human language, or thought, can reach the reality. The torments of the damned are represented, in the first place, under the similitude of a devouring fire. As we can hardly imagine a more exquisite torture than that which is inflicted upon the body by the action of fire, so this is used to express the torment which the just judgment of GOD will inflict upon the soul of the sinner. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom, all things which offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. It is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet, to be cast

into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched-where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. He will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. The LORD thy GOD is a consuming fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD. For fiery indignation shall devour the adversaries. The devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night, for ever and ever. And whosoever was not found written in the Lamb's book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. Such will be the effect of divine wrath, that the soul will shrink under it, as every object in nature shrinks under the influence of a devouring flame. The soul, under condemnation, is represented by the prisoner, immured in a dungeon and loaded with fetters of iron. We can hardly conceive a situation more truly deplorable, than that of the poor criminal confined within the dark and gloomy walls of his prison, and doomed to drag out his life under a load of chains. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. The torments of hell are represented by the pains and distresses which are inflicted upon the human body by disease. Their effects upon the soul, are like the gnawings of the worm which consumes the dead body, with this difference, that the body is soon consumed, but the soul can never die. In short, every distress and every anguish which we are capable of enduring in this life, is made use of to show forth the anguish and horror that will overwhelm the guilty soul. GOD is represented as filled with wrath and indignation against the wicked, not that such emotions can ever have power to disturb the peace and blessedness of the ALMIGHTY, but that we may understand the weight of woe which will be the lot of those who will be rejected by GoD in the great day of account. Oh who can endure the wrath of an offended GOD? who can dwell with everlasting burnings? who can sustain the misery and torment of the condemned soul, so powerfully represented by the language of Scripture? What will be the horror, the agony, and despair, that will seize upon the guilty soul, when VOL. II.-25

the decree of eternal banishment will be thundered from the throne of judgment? Which of you, my brethren, will be the subjects of this dreadful sentence? O! deal candidly, I beseech you, with your own hearts, and judge yourselves now, that ye be not judged hereafter. Take warning from the subject now before us, and be assured that, however you may now disregard it, the day is advancing that awful day which no mortal can avoid, when the blessings of heaven, or the pains and torments of hell, must be awarded to every human soul. Knowing the terrors of the LORD, we endeavor to persuade men, and O! that you could be persuaded so to reflect upon the tremendous consequences of guilt, as seen in the future punishments of the wicked, as to use all diligence to make your calling and election sure; and by timely repentance and amendment of life, to escape the threatened vengeance of a just and holy GOD! Our ideas of those future punishments which await the wicked in the world to come, are heightened beyond compare, by the solemn reflection that they can never know an end. These shall go away into EVERLASTING punishment. Dreadful as will be the weight of that punishment—a weight, which, if laid upon mortal man for one instant, would crush him to earth, still it must last forever, and when millions of ages shall have passed by, still the condemned soul must endure its torment, and must continue to endure, without the least prospect, without a shadow of hope, that it will ever experience the least mitigation! And however men may attempt to explain away terms of Scripture, and to establish the opinion that hell is but a temporary purgatory, still the word of God is sure, and cannot be broken, and it impresses upon the pains of hell, as well as the joys of heaven, the awful character of eternity! They are declared to be eternal and everlasting; and there can be but one meaning justly attached to those most ominous words. Oh how awful the idea, that, according to the decisions of the day of judgment, so must our condition be through an endless eternity. What must be the horror and despair of the soul which, in the midst of its torment, can see no end!-which looks forward through eternity, as over a boundless ocean, which contains no friendly shore-no place of rest, where the weary soul may gain a respite from its pain and woe. Not a ray of hope-not a beam of consolation can penetrate

the gloom, to alleviate the horrors of despair. Oh who of us will ever be placed in this awful condition? Who of us will descend into the bottomless pit, there to endure this exquisite misery-this dreadful despair-this eternity of torment! It is a question of most solemn import-and Oh, how should our souls tremble at the bare possibility, that we may be included in the number of those unhappy ones. How should the mere supposition of it, rouse us from our slumbers, and lead us to call upon God for his help, and to put forth all our strength, that we may escape the wrath to come. It will be unnecessary for us here, had we time to do it, to describe the blessed estate of those, who will hereafter be admitted to the joy of their LORD. The happiness which awaits the righteous, is represented in Scripture as inconceivable and perfect in degree, and eternal in duration, and we might dwell with rapture and delight on the happy condition of those who will be permitted to dwell in the presence of their God-in that presence where is fulness of joy for evermore.

Thus, brethren, life and death, heaven and hell, are set before you. Heaven, with all its attendant joys and beatitudes, and hell, with all its horrors, its misery, and despair. One of these two conditions must be your everlasting portion. Now is your time to determine what shall be your future lot, and may GoD, in infinite mercy, incline your hearts to choose aright. Can you endure the thought, that in hell you will lift up your eyes, "being in torment?" That you will cast your longing gaze toward heaven, the place of everlasting blessedness,-that you will there behold the companions of your earthly pilgrimage, and those who were near and dear to you in life, happy in the enjoyment of their Father's love, while you will be compelled to feel and to know that that happiness you can never enjoy? Does not your soul shrink within itself at the very thought? Oh, why should you be idle, and careless, while such an alternative lies before you? Why should you risk the safety of your immortal soul, when you know that such awful consequences must ensue. May GOD enable you to perceive the danger of neglecting his "great salvation," and incline your hearts to come to CHRIST, that you may "have life." And may the solemn-the emphatic words of our text ever dwell in your minds and quicken your resclves.