12 V 3 Stom t 0e £i6rar£ of profeBBor Wfiam (JMffer #4rfon, ©.©., £&.©. $reeenfeo 61? (gtrg. (patfon fo f 0e feifimrt? of (princefon £0eofogicaf J&etmnarg / 772^ * I N Q, U I C O N C E R I MAfcll "he future State of thole wlxo die itx he Dictate! of SCRIPT !i S O N, "•on tnis import Wherein the Ar&REAS , s important SUBJECT, ^ confidered ; And whether Endless Punishment, bo CONSISTENT With Divine Justice* Wisdom and Goqdns ss3 In which alfo Objections are dated andanfwered; By SAMTJ EL 7 HOT KINS, A. M. Paftor of the firft Congregational Church in Newport* O, that they were wife, that they under flood this; 1 hat they would consider their latter end ! JEHOVAH. NEWPORT, Rhode- Iflatid: Printed by SOLOMON SQUTHfTlCK* ij?& ADVERTIS EMENT. CJ^H E Subfiance of the following Inquiry was -*■ written /erne Years ago, fotn ajter the Dcthine of endle/s *Pun foment began to be public /v denied bj Jome anmg us. Lafl (/inter it was revijed ; ar.a fame Jidtiiticns and yf iterations litre viaoe ; by which it has been cajl into the Form in which it n$w appears. Since it was ftnifhed, the yfuthor fas flcn Jeter ul late Publications on the fame Subject ; in which art found fGtne of the jame Sentiments r.nd jirgu- wents, which are introduced by bim. % But, as they were not taken from them 9 end arY not expref- fed in the fame Manner, or introduced in the fame Connexion I ere ; and as this jit ten ft is difigbed to he a more particular and full l^ijtujftcn *f the Subject ; and may fall into the tiancs of Jme, who will net jce thofe mentioned ; it is biped this Pub- lication, after them, will not be th$u^bt afjuming or needlefs. * Tie Lcfirine of finaf, Unherfal Satiation examines Mndfheun to be unjertpmral. By Dr. Cordon, af Kcxtu- ty. — A Lifccurfe concerning the Prcctjs #/ the Central Judgmeit. By Mr. tnnoni, of Fraiklth.—Vkot oit Ann fkall net be jaied, at tempted to be proved and ilhflrated, in three Sermons. By Mr, 2 batter, *J Maiden, Newport, l/lqy 6> 17 S3. CONTENTS. Introduction. Page i«~ — vl SECTION I. In which it is inquired, whe- ther the Wicked will be punifhed in the future Scare ; and what the Holy Scriptures teach con- ing this. Page i — —5%. SECTION Ii; Wherein it is particularly confidered, whether it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures, that the Punifhment of the Wicked Will be endlefs. Page 54—85. SECTION III. Containing an Examina- tion o( thofe Pad-ages of Scripture, which the Oppofers of the Doctrine of endlefs Punifhment, add Advocates ior the Salvation of all Men, have thought to be favorable to their- Caufe. Page 85—112. SECTION IV. Wherein it is confidered, what Renfon may be given for the Do&rinc of (fetveitefs Punishment, which is revealed in the Scriptures ; or why God will punifli impenitent Sinners forever : And whether there be any reakmabie Objections againft this. Page 119 — 155, SECTION V. Containing a Number of QuetHons and Aid wers, relating to the Dodrine ot endlefs Punifhment. Page (56 175. S KCT i O N VI. Containing Inferences from the Doftrine of endlete Punifhment ; and a particular Improvement of it. Page 176—19^* THE I NT RODUCTIOM. TV/T A N is not only made capable of looking -»•**- forward, but is ftrongly inclined to do it, and cannot avoid a greater or lels degree of thought and concern about futurity, and the good or evil which he (hall be the fubject of hereafter. Thefe are the objects of all his hopes ind fears, and afford great fcope for the con- tinual exercife of them, and rhofc affections which attend them ; by which he is influenced, more or Ids, in all his conduct. And though mod of mankind appear to confine their prof^- peels chiefly or altogether within the narrow limits of this life, and feel little concerned about that which may take place after they leave this world ; yet who is there that will not pro- nounce this very unreafonable, on the lead ferious reflection, andconfider it as an evidence, among a thoufand others, of human depravity ? We are certainly capable of exiftence in a future ftate ; yea, of continuing to exift with- out end ; and there is nothing in reafon or ex- perience to render this improbable ; but much to induce us to believe, that this prefent life is only preparatory to our cxifling in an endlcfs ftate hereafter ; and that we fhall be happy or miferable there, according as we are the objects B of ii INTRODUCTION. o( the favor of our Maker, or not. Therefore, this our future exigence is the moll interefting and important to us, and demands our greatdl and molt ferious attention, and concern, and the highefl: exercife of our hopes and fears. It is true, indeed, that when we turn our thoughts to this fubjecl, we at once feel that reafon alone will never enable us to determine, without hefitarion, many important inquiries about a future (late ; and that mankind would be left in great and molt undefnable uncertainty and darknefs, refpecling all things that relate to the invisible world, without fome other affifl- ance ; and that it is therefore greatly defirable, and ot infinite importance, that God, who is able, fhould affiftman, by a particular revelation ot his will and defign, with regard to a future ftate. And this might not only be a ground of hope that God may thus favor his creature man, to whom he grants fo many favors in his pro- vidence, and {hows himfelf propitious ; but af- fords good reafon to conclude he has actually given fuch a revelation: And may ferve to excite our gratitude to God, who find ourielves in actual poffeffion of a revelation which bears" every mark, and is attended with all the evidence of its divine original, that can be defired,or even conceived ; and ought to lead us to feel the great obligations we are under to attend to it, with a ferious and honeit mind, ready to receive the dictates of heaven on this important point, i&hacever we may find to be revealed. All INTRODUCTION. iii All who admit the TcriptureS; of the old and new-tettaments to be from God, agree that it is there revealed, that they who (hall be redeemed from fin, and made happy by Chi id the Saviour, fli ;i 1 1 have an unccafing exiflence in perfect happinefs in his cverlafting kingdom. But they have differed much about the future exigence and punifhment of thole who do not embrace the gofpel in this life; but live and die in their fins. Mod: who have lived in the chrifl inn World have profefled to believe, that it is as clearly revealed that the latter (hall cxift forever in endlefs punifhment, as that the former (hail be happy without end. But a number have de- nied this. Some have expi-eiled a confidence that all the wicked (hall ceafe to exiil, and be annihilated, either immediately upon the death of the body, or after they have continued in mifery, and been punifhed dining* a proper length of time. Others are confident, it can be proved from fcripture, that all the human race will be finally and eternally happy. Some of thefe allow, that they who die in their fins will be punifhed for a feafon, even after the day of judgment, as an cfflcTual difciphi.e ro 1 ring tbe*m to repentance. But others confidently aflerc that all will be happy at iht day oi jo nient. And fome of theft? hold that all do enter into perfeel blcfTednefs, when they leave this .World. The de/ign of the following inquiry is to af- W INTRODUCTION. ilfr. all who are dcfirous to know the truth, in examining this point in the light of the iacred oracles; and to help them to fee the reafonable* nefs of what is there revealed concerning it, and to anlwer the mod material objections rhat have been made againft it. There leems to be a fpecial call for this nov) y as the denial of endlefs punilhmcnt has been more open and common of late, and the doctrine of univerfal falvarion, though in different forms, is zealoufiy efpoufed by many. We have no reafon to think the difference of fentiment on 16 important and intereftinga point, among thofe who profefs to form their different opinions irom divine revelation, is owing to any defect in the bible, or becaufe the truth reflecting it is not revealed with fufficient plain- nefs. This div'erfiry and oppofuion of (emi- incnt, thmfore, mud be wholly owing to the faulty prejudices, and evil biafes in the minds of men, which indifpofc them to believe the truth, ami lead them to mifunderftand and per- vert the holy fcriprures ; even where that which is revealed is very plain and decifive. Whoever attends to the different and oppofitc fentiments on almoft every point in religion, Vvhich have been and are embraced, even by thofe who have the bible in their hands, and appeal to that for the fupport of what they be- lieve, will have fnflicient reafon to determine, th?t no (landing revelation can be given from heaven INTRODUCTION; V heaven, however perfect, plain and decifive, that cannot be mifunderftood and perverted, by men of corrupt and perverfe minds. If divine revelation be fo formed, that they cannot fail of feeing every important tnrh contained in it, who give fuitable attention to it, and have a meek, humble, honed mjnd ; it is fuited to an- fwer all the defirable ends of a revelation, how- ever it may be abufed and perverted, by thofe who do not love the truth, in fupport of the naoft grofs and hurtful errors. We therefore have all defirable encourage- ment to fearch the fcriptures, that we may learn what will he the certain confeqnence of living and dying in fin ; what will be the punilhment of the wicked in the future (late ; as'it is cer- tainly there plainly revealed ; and however men have differed, and many have run into great and dangerous errors on this point, we may have the comfortable aflurance, that we fhall know what is the truth rejecting this im- portant article, if with meeknefs and impartia- lity we be ready to receive and love what God has revealed. But as many have failed of this, and have come to the bible full of prcju iiecs againft the truth there revealed, and difpofed to believe nothing contained in divine revelation, which is not agreeable to their corrupted minds ; and fo have not believed the trurh, and have been juftly given up to ftrong delufion, to be- lieve a lie ; and we are liable to the fame fm, and vi INTRODUCTION. and dreadful confcquence \ let us therefore take heed to ourfelves, and humbly, withearneftn-efs and conftancy, look to the Father of lights, that he may give us an honeft heart, and fo open our minds to understand the feriptures, that we may find the truth after which we are now inquir- ing, and have our hearts cftablifhed in it, and be directed to improve it to his glory, our own eternal good, and the benefit of our neighbour. mm SECTION L SECTION I. / N which it is inquire i, whether the Wick- ed will be punijhed in the future State ; and what the holy Scriptures teach con* cerning this. MUC H is faid in the fcripture concern- ing the evil and pumfhment that will come on the wicked in a future ftate. This obfervation will be fufficiemly illuftrated by the following pafluges ; though they do not contain all that is faid on this tub* jc<5t in the infpired writing?. The evils which God brings on men in this world for their fins, and his often dcttrcying them in a terrible manner, as a-teftimony of his difpleafure with them, many inftances o$ which we find recorded in facrcd writ, do forebode the future punifhment of the wicked, and may well be confidered as a (landing evidence and admonition of this. * The * It is (rue indeed, that many rmke the evils ihey kffer m this lie, an argument lhat 'h?y (hall he happy in the -usure *orld, and are hence confiJ«#t, as it has been often expiei- fedj that ail the hell the^ (hail have, is in this vvcrld, 3at ( 2 ) The deftru&ion of the old world by the flood, when only one family was faved ; the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the deliverance of Lot, are confidered, byChriiland his apoftles, as emblems or types of the deitruc- tion or punifhment of the wicked in the future ftate, and the falvation of God's people. Mat. xxvi. 37/38. " but as the days of Noah were, fo (hall alio the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, &c. until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not till the flood came and took them all away; fo fhall aljo the coming of tht Son of man be" 2 Pet. ii. 5, &c. " For if God (pared not the old world, but faved Noah, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly ; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into afhes, condemned them with an overthrow* making them an en /am pie to tho/e that after fliould live un- godly ; and delivered juit Lor. The Lord know- cth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to referve the unjufl unto the day of judgment to be punifoed" Here the apohMe makes thefe de- ftruflions of the wicked an argument that the ungodly in general will be puniihed in the fu- ture But this way of argufng is evidently owing totheir being in- ferable and greatly (lup>d, with refpecl to the evil of inland the magnitude of thtrir own crimes, and their looking on thetmf.jlves in a measure innocent. Hence they cone'ude, that the evils they fuffer here in body ani mind, are full &» much as they deferve, And iadf ca* a great deal mare, ( i ) &S.L ture (late, and after the day of judgment: And therefore teaches us to confider them in this light, and by them to learn the diftindion God will make between the godly and unjuft at the lait day. In the fame light St. Judc con* fiders the deftru&ion of Sodom, &c. * k Even as Sodom and Gomorral:, g»v ; ng themfelvcs over to fornication, and goin after ftrange fle/h, arc Jet forth for an example /firing the vengeance of eternal fire'* In thi ', v., the bible is full of admonitions of th \r : u punifhment of all that live ungodly, r \ s c righteous (hall be completely deliverer and enter info ever- lasting life. A contrary doom is pointed ouc for the wicked. When God reveals a Saviour, by Mofes, and promifeth he (hall come into the world, in the charader of a prophet, he adds the following words, Deut xviii. 19. M And it fhall come to pafs that whofoever will not hearken unto my words, which he fhall fpeak in my name, 1* will require it of him. 1 * That is, he fhall anfwer to me lor it, and I will deal with hira, and pu- - nifh him accordingly. Therefore when St. Peter qUvites this paffage, he exprefies the true fenfa in the following words, " He (hall bedcfiroyed from among his people/' This is an early de- claration, that rejection of Chrift in this world, -would prove fatal to men ; and that he would be Co far from fuving all men, that they who fhall difrcgard him in this life, will certainly be C punifhed &ft. 1- C 4 ) % puniflhed with a peculiarly aggravated de- finition. We find an awful threatning of God to the wicked, who continue his incorrigible enemies, through this life, under all the methods taken to reclaim them, in Deut. xxxiu 35, &€. " To me belongeth vengeance and recompence, their foot (hall Aide in due time ; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that fhall come upon them make hafte. For 1 lift my hand to heaven, and fay 1 live forever. If I whet my glittering fword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; 1 will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and that with the blood of the flain, and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy/' The punifhment here threatened, to the obfti- mtely wicked, is to be inflicted in a future ftate j for no fuch diftindtion between God's people and his enemies, as is reprefented in this paflage of fcripiure, does take place in this world : Bo- lides, the firft words of this paragraph are quo- ted by St. Paul, Heb. x. 30, and he applies them to the future punifhment of the wicked, of which he is there fpeaking. " For we know him that hath faid, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompenfe, faith the Lord." And he then adds, " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." In the laft words* The The living God, he evidently has reference to^ thofe in the paflage above recited, " 1 lift my hand to heaven, and lay, I live forever'' Which certainly implies, that God lives fo as to beable to punifh the wicked in a future flare; fo that they are fo far from getting out of his hands when they die, that then in a peculiar fenfe, they fall into his bands, to fuffer the vengeance threatened. And may it not be jnftly obierved here, that, though the endlefs duration of this punifhment is not exprefly afTerted in the threat- Ding; yet it feems to be plainly intimated, when Jehovah introduces himfelf a* living forever, to cxprefs his determination and ability to render vengeance and recompence to his enemies,- and that he will do this as long as he liveth. But this is to be more particularly confidered here- after. And perhaps it will appear, when pro* perly confidered, that it is neceffary that God Ihould live forever in order to render vengeance, and a proper and full recompence to {his ene- mies, that is, a punifhment equal to their de- fert. Job and his friends fpeak much of the evil end, and punifhment of (he wicked, as certain and inevitable ; being the objects of God's dif- pleafure and wrath ; and at the fame time men- tion the fecurity and happhiefs of the righteous, in his favor and protection. See Job iv. 8, o, ao, 2f. viii. 13, — 23„ xi. 13. — 20. xv. 20, ET35- xviiit jJ f — zu XX. .4,— 29. In this laft quoted 'Scff.L ( 6 ) quoted paflage are the following words, "Know- cit thou not this of old, that the triumphing of the wicked is fhort, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment ? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds > y&t he fhall perifh forever, like his own dung— His bones are full of the fins of his youth ; which fhall lie down with him in the dulh When he is about to fill his belly, God fhall call the fury of his wrath upon him, and fhall rain it upon him while he is eating* He fhall flee from the iron weapon, and a bow of iteel fhall lirike him through. It is drawn and cometh out of the body; yea the gliftering fword cometh out < f his gall ; teirors are upon him. A fire net blown fhall confume him. The heaven fhall reveal his iniquity > and the earth fhall rife up againft him. This is the portion of a wicked man irom God, and the heritage ap- pointed unto him by God/' Job himfelf agrees with his friends in this, that the wicked are the objects of God's w^ath, and fhall be punifhed. They differed on this head only in applying this doctrine i 77;* > confidered outward afflictions iix this world, ss included in the punifhment of rhe wicked ; and therefore concluded, that they who fufTered greatly by the hand of God in this life, were ungodly, and the objects of divine dif- pleafure ; and that God would protect and fave the truly pious from fuch evils, in this world. He inhfted, that the didinction between the righteous ( 7 ) SeB. I. righteous and the wicked did not take place, and appear in God's difpenfations and dealings with them, in his providence, in this life; there- fore the good and evil by which they were to be diftinguifhed, mud and would take place in a fu- ture itare only. He fays, that innocence and righteoumefs will not lecure a perfon from af- flictions in this life, and from death, in common with the wicked. Chap ix. 22, &c. "This is one thing, therefore I (aid it, he deftroyeth the perfect and the wicked. If the fcourge flay fuddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the inno- cent. The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; if not, where, and who is he?" He obferves, that the wicked live long and profper in their wickednefs in this world, 'Ch^p. xii. 6. M The tabernacles of robbers profper, and they that provoke God arc fecure, into whofe hand God bringeth abundantly." Chap. xxi. 7, 8, 9. " Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, and mighty in power? Their feed is eftabiifhed in their fight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houfes are fafe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them, &c" Yet he fpeaks of the punifliment and deftruftion of the wicked as certain and inevitable ; which therefore muft take place in a fu f ure ftate. Speaking of the wicked, he fays, " They are as ftubble before the wind, and as chaff that the (lorm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity tor his children : He rewardeth him. Sea. i.- ( 8 ) him, and he (hall know it. His eyes (hall fee his deftru&ion, and he (hall drink of the wrath of the Almighty." Chap, xxvii. 7, &c. "Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that rifeth up againft me, as the unrighteous. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his foul ? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon hirn? This is the portion of the wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppreflors, which they (hall receive of the Almighty. The rich man (hall lie down, but he (hall not be ga- thered." i. e. he (hall die, but (hall not be ga- thered and received to the fociety of the blerfed, as Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob were at their death. " He openeth his eyes, and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a temped ftealeth him away in the night. The eafl: wind carrieth him away, and he departeth ; and a ftorm hurleth him out o( his place. For God, fhall caft upon him, and not (pare: He would fain flee out of his ban-d." Chap. xxxi. 3, " Is not deftrudtion to the wicked, and a ftrange, punifliment to the workers of iniquity?" Job and his friends lived in the days of Mofes 9 or before • and by them we karn what was the doftrine refpedling the future punifhment of the wicked, received and taught by the people of God at that time. They rcprefent it as certain and very dreadful, and give not the lead hint; that it faall ever sad ; but the whole they fay rather ( $ ) Seff.t rather imports the contrary. They reprefent the wicked as deprived of all his hopes, when he dies; which furely can not be true, if he (hall be immediately happy, or happy forever, though punifhed for a time. What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, 10 hen God taketh away bis foul ? God Jhall cafl upon h\m % AN d not spare. Yea, he fhall perijh forever* The book of Pfalms, in which the future ftate is brought more fully into view, than in the preceding part of icripture, is full of threat- nings to finuers, and declarations of their pu- nifhment in the world to come. This will be fufficiently evident, by reciting the following paflages, out of many more \Vhich are found in thofe facred writings. In the firft Pfalm the truly pious sre pro- nounced bleffed ; and the ungodly are curfed* as thofe who thall be condemned at the day of judgment, feparated from the righteous, and ut- terly penfh, and be deftroyed. " The ungodly are not fo : but are like the chaffwhich the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly (hall not Hand in the judgment, nor finners in the con- gregation of the righteous : For the Lord know- eth the way of the righteous ; but the way of the ungodly (hall pcrifh." Pfal. xi. 6. Upon the wicked he (hall rain fnares, fire and brimftone, and an horrible tempeft : This fliall be the por- tion of their cup." This is not their portion in this life ; therefore it mult refer to their pu- nishment Sett* I. ( io ) uifhmentin a future ftate; which is reprefented as very dreadful PfaU x^i. 8, o. " Thine hand fhall find out all thine enemies, thy right hand (hall find out thofe that hare thee. Thou (halt make them as a fiery oven in the time ol thine anger: The Lord fhall (wallow them up, and the fire fhall devour them." xxxiv. 21. " Evil fhall flay the wicked; and they that hate the righteous fhall be defolate." When the Pfalmift has related the trouble and perplexity he had experienced, by obferving the apparent profpe- rity and happinefs of the wicked in this world, he fays, Pfal. Ixxiii. 17, &c. "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me ; until 1 went into the fan&uary of God ; then un- derftood I their end. Surely thou didft fet them in flippery places : Thou caftedeft them down into deltrudion. How are they brought into defb- lation as in a moment ! They are utterly con- fumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh ; fo, O Lord, when thouawakeft, thou fhalt defpife their image. For lo, they that are far from thee (hall perifh : Thou haft deflroyed all them that go a whoring trom thee." All this evil, wretchednefs and definition, in which the wicked perifh, is what mult be inflicted on them after death, in the invifible world; for thefe are they who profper in this world, and die like other men, as death is common to both the righteous and wicked. Their end therefore, 'which he then understood and ddcribed> muu be ( II ) SeS. % be the pnnifhtaent which comes on the wicked in confequence of death, or leaving this world. If the wicked were hanj5y as fooit as they leave thi> world, this paffage would be altogether un- intelligible ; yea, a perfedt deception. And how can there be any end to this deflruclion and puniOimenr, when this itfclf is (aid ro be their end? If this deflruclion were to c-ome to an end, and they, after all, mull be eternally happy, how can this be called their end? When St, Paul (peaks of fame whofe end is cleftruftion, mull he not intend a dcilrucli.Hi which is in- confiltent with their eternal happinefs? For if he meant a deflruclion confident with their having eternal life, fuch a deflruclion is noc their end s but infinitely far from it ; and ever- lafling life would be their end: And there would be no propriety or truth in the diffinclion which he make?. Rom. vi. if, 22. " What fruit had ye then in thole things, whereof ye are now afliamed? F or the end of thofe things is death* Bur now being made free from fin, and become fcfyants to God, ye have your fruit unto holi- luK. and the end ever la fling life* P&l. lxxv. 8. " in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red: It is full o! mixture, and he poureth our the fame; buc the dregs thereof all the wicked o\ the earth fhall wring thorn our, and drink them," xcii. 7, 8, 9. When the wicked fpring as fhe grnf^ and when all the workers di iniquity e'e flourift^ D K it is that they fhall be dcflroyed forever. Bat thou, Lord, art moil high forevermore For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lor lo, thine enemies (hall pcrilh." xciv. 23. "And he (hall bring Upon ttaera their own iniquity; and fhall cut them off in their own wicked^efs; yea, the L >rd our God fhall cut them off*" cxii. 9, 10. M His .ngfxeoulnefs (who feareth the Lord) cnlureth forever * his horn fhall be exalted with honour. The wicked fhall fee it, and be grieved ; he fhall gnafh with his teeth, and melt away ; The defire of the wicked fhall pe- ri fh " This diflin&ion between the righteous and the wicked is not made in this life; there- fore it mult be made in the furure itate; and then this threatning fhall be inflicled on the "wicked, exxxix. 19. "Surely, thou wilt flay the wicked, O God." This does not intend God's taking them our of the world by death ; for in this fenfe, he flays the righteous as much as the wicked; but it mull intend a punifhme-nt after the death of the body, or the fecond death, or it can have no meaning. This is evidently oppofed to what David defires God would grant ttntohim, ver. 24, "Lead me in the way^ever* la,ftin t \' r cxlv. 20. " The Lord preferveth all them fcjiat love him ; but all the wicked wtll he deftrojA." This alio muft refer to a futurt flare; for both) they who love God, and his enemies, areequivly preferved in this life, and deilroycd by ^y* n 3V This deftructioa of the wicked is that ( 13 ) Seti.t that which is fo often fpoken of as their portion and end, in the future (late. In the writings of Salomon, efpeciaMy in his Proverbs, we find the future punifhment nnd mifery of t-he wicked often mentioned ; and ge- nerally in contrail to the fafery and happii.efs of the righteous. The following inftances, out of many more that might be mentioned, will be fuflicicnt to ill lift rate this remark. Prov. i. 24, &c. !' Becau(e I have called, and ye refilled, I have ftrerched .out my hand, and no man re* garded ; but ye have ict at nought my counfel, and would none of my reproof: I alio will ^ laugh at your calamity, and i will mock when your fear cometh; when your it j ar cometh as defolation, and your deftruclion cometh as a whirlwind; when difhels and anguifh cometh upon you. Then (hall they call upon me, but 1 will not anfwer ; they fhall feck me early, but (hall not find me. For that they hated know- ledge, and did not ch.ufe the fear of the Lore; Therefore (hall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices* For the turning away o[ the fimple (ball flay them, and the prosperity of fools (hall defrroy them" Chap. v. 22, " His own iniquities (hall take the wicked himfelf, and he (hall be holdefl with the cords of his fins. He fhall die without inftruclion, and in the great ne/s of his lolly he fhall go aftray." Chap. x. 28 " The hope of Che righteous (hall be gladucii: But the expec- tation Sc3. I. ( 14 ) tation of the wicked (hall perifli. The way of the Lord is ftrength tojhe upright: But de- itruclion to the workers of iniquity." Chop. xi. 7. When a wicked man dieih his expectation fhall pcrifh : And the hope of unjuir men pe- jifheth." What words could more fully exprefs the mifery of the wuked after death, or aiTch more ftrongly, thai he (hall then be deprived of sll good, which is the object of hope, and fail into ablolute defpair ? And how inconfjfleni are fueh afTertions as thefe, with his furviring this xnifery, and, after all this, obtaining eternal hap* pineis ! How can his hope perifh when he dies, if he knows, or has the lead hope, that he fhall "be yet eternally happy? Chap, xxiii- 17, ) 8. Solomon fays, " Let not thine heart envy fi li- ners : But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long: For fu rely there is on end, and thy expectation fhall not be cut off." Thefe words ill nitrate thofe laft quoted. If this be a promife to him that feareth God, that he fhafl be happy after death, and that without end, as it certainly is; then the other is a threatning of the contrary, which is mifery without end. If both the righteous and the wicked fhall be happy together, forever ; how is it poffible to be true, that the hope of the latter fhall be cut off and perifh, when he dies ; and directly the contrary be true of t'he former? Chap. xi. 2 1. •' Though hand join in hand, the wicked fhall not be unpuniflxed." Chap* xii* ( 15 ) SeS. I. xii. 7. " The wicked arc overthrown and are nee ; bur the hoble of this righteous fhail Hand." Chap xiii 21. '.'Evil purfu'etft fihners; but Co the righteous good (hall be repaid." Chap. 3:. '* The wicked is driven away in his wrckednefs ; but the righteous hath hope in his . h." Chap. xvi. 4. t; The Lord hath made ail things for himfelf/; yea, even the wicked fur the J-v of evil." Chap. xxi. 12. u GoJ overrhrowecii the wicked fox theirwickednefs.' Eccl. viii. 12, 13, ik Though a firmer Jo evil an hundred times/' or years, ''and his days be prolonged j yet furely, I know that it (hall be Iveii with them that fear God ; but if fhall not! be well with the wicked, neither (hall he pro- long his days, which are as a fhacfoW; because he feareth not before God." It is certain that all thefe evils which are de- nounced againft the wicked, by which they are to be diftinguimed from the righteous, are in- flicted, not m this life, but in a future (late ; becaiife the fame infpired writer fays, there is no fuch difrinction in this liie. Ecch ix. r, 2. " No man knoweth either love or hatred, by all that is before them. All things come alike to all, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked 3 to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean ; to him that facrificeth, and to him that facrificeth not : As is the gooJ, Co> is the finner; and he that fweareth, as he that feareth an oath." The &&.1. ( 16 ) The prophet Ifaiah fpeaks much of the dread- ful evil, and unavoidable punifliment, that will attend the wicked, in the future flare. He leems to fum up and declare the whole import of his cammiffion and prophecy, Chap. hi. 10, n. fci Say ye to the righteous, that k (hall be well with him ; for they fliall eat the fruit of their doings. Wo uuto the wicked, it fliall be ill wuh him ; for the reward of his hands fliall be given hinu" Here the righteous and the wick- ed are fet in oppofiiion to each other, with re- fpect to the fruit and end of what they do in this world. .And if what is promifed to the former, be endlefs life and happinefs ; can the threatning of the contrary, to the latter, be any- thing btA directly the oppofite, endlefs milery and punifliment? That punifliment muft be very dreadful, which is a full reward of all that the finner does in this life, that is, anfwerable to his ill defert : And doubtlefs will be without end ; which will be particularly confickred in the fequel. Chap, xxviii. i6, &c. u Therefore, thus faith the Lord God, behold I lay in Zion for a foun- dation, a ftone, a tried ftone, a precious corner flone, a fure foundation : He that be.Jieveth fliall not make hafte. Judgment alio will 1 lay to the line, and righteoufnefs to the plummet, and the hail fliall fweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters fhall overflow the hiding-place. And your covenant with death tk4l be dilajinulled, and and your agreement with hell fhall not {land ; when the overflowing fcourge (hall pais through, then (hall ye be trodclen down by it, &c" This pjifTige refptcls Chrift, and points out the cer- tain oppofite confequewecs of believing on him, and rejecting him. To him who believeth, the molt perfeft fbcurity from all evil is prornifed. He (hall be out of the reach of the riling floods of water, and the overflowing fcourge. But all the reft (hall have judgment without mercy, and be punifhed according to their crimes, and fwept away by the irrefiftible billows, and overflowing fcourge, of the divine vejigeance and wrath ! What a ftriking, awful representation is this of the future punifh.ment of the wicked 1 Chap, xxxiii. 14. " The fitmers in Zion are afraid, feartulneis hath furprifed the hypocrites : Who among us (hull dwell with devouring fire? Who among as fhall dwell with everiafting burn- ings ? " How can this reprefentation be juft or true, if a moft dreadful punifhment, yea, an endlefs one, does not await all thofe finners and hypocrites, who fuftain this character to the- end of life ? Chap, xxxiv, 8, 9, 10. " For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of rccompences for the controvcrfy of Zion, And the ftreams thereof fhall be turned into pitch, and the duft thereof into brimftone, and the land thereof (hall become burning pitch. It (hall not be quenched night nor day, the fmoke thereoi fhull go up forever ; from gene- ration Sett. I ( 1 8 ) ration regeneration it (hail lie vyafTe: None (hall pafs through it forever and ever/' The prophet in this pafljge, and in the pre- ceding veries, is representing the dreadful rpu- mfhment that fhall cpiiie on the enemies of God and his church, when he fhall rife up ro take vengeance on them, and recompense them fot their evil deeds. And when he brings into view tke great evils, and awful dettruction that fhall come on the enemies of God's people, upon the introduction of the happy Hate ol the church in this world, he extends this view to their milery in the future ftate, in which their pnnifhment fhall ilTue, and be completed. This is not the only inftance oi this kind ; but we of- ten find in the prophecies bath ol the profperity and happinefs of God's church and people, and the overthrow and punishment of his enemies, that the prophetic vifiori compels, the complete Gild eternal happinefs of the former with their happy ftate in tins world, and included both in the fame figurative representation • and in t]tq fame manner rcprefents the punifhment of the }Mter. And that this paflage hath reference to the furure mifery of the wicked, is further evi- dent from the plain allufion to ir in the Reve- lation, when fpcaking ol the (inure and dread- ful mifery of the enemies oi God and his people. Chap. xiv. rr. " And they fhall be tormented with fire and brimftone ; and the fmoke of their torment afcendeth up forever and ever; and they have no reft day nor night." In ( 19 ) '&&% In the 1. chap, of Ifai. the lafl verfe, there is another threatning of future evil to the wicked. ° Behold all ye thac kindle a fire, and compafs Vourfelves about with ("parks : Walk in the light of your fire, and in the (parks that ye have kin- dled. This (hall ye have of mine hand* ye fhall lie down inforrow." Chap, lxiii. I-— 6* " Who is this that cometh from Edom,- with died gar- ments from Bozrah i Who is glorious ia his apparel, travelling in the greatneis of his ftrength ? I that fpeak '\ righteoufnefs, mighty to fave. Wherefore at thou red in thine ap- parel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat I I have trodden the wine*prefs alone, and of the people there was none with me : For I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood fhall be fprirtkled upon my garments, and I will flair all my raiment. For the day of vengeance in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed come. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their ftrength to the; earth/' Here Chrill is rcprefented as pouring vengeance on all his enemies, while he redeems and laves his church. This is exaclly agreea- ble to feveral paffages already quoted, and to the general current of Icripture. The acceptable year of the Lord is/alfo, the day of vengeance of our God, Ifai. Ixi. 2. And agreeable to the fcripture now under coufideration r it is tai< B Ci ( 2° ) (phrift, Rev. xix. 15. "He treadeth the wine* prels of the fiercenefs and wrath of Almighty God." And we are told byChrift himicli, and by St. Paul, how, and when, this (hall be com- pletely done. Matth. xxv< 41. " Then (hall he lay unto them on his left hand, Depart from me, ye curled, into everkfhng fire." 2 Thcff. i. 7, &c. "When the Lord Jefus (hall be re-, ed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gofpel of our Lord Jelus Chrift ; who dial] be punifhed with everlaihng deitrucTion from the prefcncc of the Lord, and the glory of his power. 1 ' Ifai. Ixvi. 23, 24. " And it (hall come to pafs f that ,from one new moon to another, and from one fabbath to another, fhall all fle(h come to wo. fhip before me, faith the Lord. And they fhall go forth, and look upon the csrcafes of the men tif^l have tranfgrefTed againft me; for their worm fhall not die, neither (hall their fire be quenched, and they fhall be an abhorring unto all flefli." This prophet had dwelt much on the certain overthrow and destruction of all the enemies of the church, and the profperity and happinefs to which that (hall be brought in the latterdays; and now concludes his prophecy in thefe. re- markable words, which* in figurative language, reprefcnt the eternal ftate of the church, and of J^er enemies, which are deflroyed and punifhei foi ( 21 ) Selt.h for their tranfgreffion. Dead bodies which arc not buried, foorr become very naufeous and a- bominable, until they are wJiolly coniumed by worms, or by fire. Here the great nefs and du- ration of the punifhment of thefe tranfgreifors, is fet forth by their bodies, though putrid and very offiufive, continuing unconiumed by the worm, or by the fire, and remaining food for the one, and fuel for the other, without any end or diminution. And this is tp take place m the fight of all the inhabitants of heaven; and they (hall have it fully in view, while they Worllnp and praife Goa. This is exa&lv able to other pafla£es-of (crip'fure ; eipecially Rev. xiv. 10. " And he ihail be tormented with fire and brimftone, in the frf fence of the holy an- gels V and In the jprelenee of the Lamb: And the fmoke of their torment alcendeth up forever and ever." Chap. xix. 3. " And i h voice of much people in heaven, fayi luia ; falvation, and glory, and h and power unto the Lord our God. And again they laid, Alleluia. And her fmoke rofe up for- ever and ever.'' No fitnilirudc, no words, could be chofen, that would, in a more dercrmii and ftriking manner, fee forth the dreadful, and perpetuity of the future punifhment 01 the Wicked, than thefe ufed by the prophet Ifaiah. For this reafon, doubt!efs> our Saviour alludes to this p ifTaae, repeatedly, when he would fet this awful iubject in the baoft 'awakening 'point lii light. But this will be more particularly coj> jider'cd hereafter. By the prophet Jeremiah, God fixeth an aw- ful curie on chofe who refufe to truft in him"; and pronounceth every one blefled that truft- eth in the Lord. Chap xvii, 5, Sec. "Thus foirh the Lord, Curled be the man that trufteth in rp&n, and mafceth flefh his arm, and whole heart depsrteth from the Lord. For he fh-all be like the heath in the defert, and (hall not fee when-good cometh, but Ihall inhabit the parched p'aces in the wildernefs, in a Salt land, and not inhabited. Biefled is the man that truileth in the Lord, and whole hope the Lord is. For he fliall be as a tree planted by the waters, &c/ 8 The curie here pronounced on the unbeliever, muft intend the curie which will fall on him in tht* future flate ; for no fueh curie, as is here defcribed, and eppofed to the bkffing pro- nounced on him who trufteth or believeth in God, comes on the flnner in this world : Bur, as Jeremiah himfelf fays, in this world, u The way of the wicked profpereth, and they are happy that deal very treacheroufly." Chap. xii. 1 . This curfe is exprcfled in figurative language $ but appears to be the lame which is fixed by John the Baptift, and our Saviour on all unbe- lievers. ° He that believeth not the fon, fliall not lee life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him. He that believeth not, lhall be damned. Depart from .me, ye curfed % into everlaiting fire/ 8 In ( 23 ) Seff.h In the book of the prophet Ezekiel, it is often declared, that they who perfili in evil ways, through life, (hall die ; (hail die in their iniquity* "And on the contrary, they who turn from their evil ways, (hall live. See Chap. iii. xviii. xxxiii. By dying here cannot mean departing our of this life, by the death of the body; for the penitent and obedient die this death, as well as the ob- ftinate firmer. It muft therefore mean what is called the fecond death, which is to be judged ac- cording to their works, and cafl into the lake of fire, where they (hall be tormented forever and ever. Rev, xx. 14. Bi£. one text more will be mentioned in the Old-Teftament, importing the future punifhment of the wicked. And that is in Daniel, Chap* xii. 2. " And many of them that fleep in the dull of the earth (hall awake, fome to everlaft- ing life, and fome to fhamc and everlafting contempt." WE now come to the New r -Teflament, to fee what is faid there of the future punifhment of the wicked. We may juflly exped greater light on this head, in this more clear revelation of a future ftate. If, notwithftanding all that is found in the Old-Tefiament, there be really no fuch punifhment, doubtlefs Chrift and his apoftles have plainly told us, that there will be no fuch evil ; and have not faid a word that can be con- ftrued in favor of it. But if the glad tidings proclaimed $*a: i. ( 24 3 proclaimed in the gofpel, are confident with the future punifhment of thole who rcjedt it ; and if a great, awfully aggravated, and endlefs punifhment awaits them > the kind Saviour, who is full of grace and truth, and thole whom he authorized to preach the whole truth, have certainly warned mankind of this, and ftated the do&rine of the wrath to come in the molt plain and determinate words. John the baptift, who was raifed up to in- troduce the Saviour, is not filent on this head ; but publilhes awful threats againft theobftinate- ly wicked, and thofe who reject Chrift, Matth. iii. 7, &c. "When he faw many of the Pharifees and Sadducees come to his bap- tifm, he faid unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath te come. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for re- pentance/' Here he bri/igs into view wrath t§ come, which could be avoided only by true re- pentance. " And now alfo the ax is laid unto the root of the trees t Therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is Jiewu down and cafi into the fire. He that Cometh, after, me is' mightier than I ; whole fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will bum up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Jqh. iii. 36. "He that believeth on the Son h evcrlafting life ; and he that believeth not Son, (hall ngt fee life ; but. the VJraih of God 'deth on him". What ( z$ ) St* 1 * J > What need of going any further ? The point is decided. He who introduceth the Saviour, plainly tells us what "will be the confequence. They who repent and believe the gofpe], (hall be faved ; but all who do not, are left in, at lead, as bad a cafe, as they could be in, had there been no Saviour. Tbeyjhall not fee lifg * $ but the wrath of God abideth on them j they fhall be cad into unquenchable fire, But what does Chrift himielf fay ? Mathcw v. 22, &c Whofocver fhall fay to his bro- ther, Thou fool, fhall be in danger of hell firc> Agree with thine adverfary quickly, while thou art in the way with him ; left at any time the adverfary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be caft into prifon. Verily I fay unto thee, thou fhak by no means come out thence, till thou haft paid the uttermoft farthing, And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and caft it from thee: For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members fhould periQi, and not that thy whole body fhould be caft into hell. And if thy right. hand offend thee, cut it off, and caft it from thee : For it is profitable for thee that one of thy mem- bers fhould perifh, and not that thy whole body fhould be caft into hell. Chap. vii. igi Enter ye in at the ftrait gate ; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to dc- ■ itru&ion, and many there be which go in there- at, Setl.l* ( 26 ) at." ti 22, 8cc. " Many will fay unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophe- sied in thy name, and in thy name caft out de- vils, &c» And then will I profefs unto them* I never knew you : Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Every one that heareth theie faying* of mine, and doth them not, fhall be - likened unto a foolifh man, which built his houfe upon the fand j And the rain defcended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that houfe ; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." Chap, viii. 12* " But the children of the kingdom fhall be call out into outer dark- nefs: There fhall be weeping and gnafhing of teeth." Chap. x. 15, " Verily I lay unto you, it fhall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city." v. 28. "Fear not them which kill the body, and are not able to kill the foul : But rather fear him which is able to deftroy both foul and body in helh" Chap, xi. 21, &c« II Wo unto thee Cborazin ! I fay unto you, it fhall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, I fay unto you, it fhall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." Math. xii. 3 r, 32* " Wherefore I fay unto you, all manner of fill and blafphemy (hall be forgiven unto men: But the blafphemy againft the Holy Ghoft (hall sot be forgiven unto men* And whofbever fpeakctfci C 2 7 ) ScS.i; fpeaketh againfl; the Holy Ghoft, it fliall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come." Mark, iii. 29. u He that fhali blafphemc agaifrft the Holy Ghoft, hath never iorgivenefs, but is in danger of eternal damnation." Luke xn. 10. " And whofocver 1 fpeak a word againft the Ton of man, it fhali be forgiven him : But unto him that blaP phemeth againfl the Holy Ghoft, it lhali not be forgiven." There is a certain connexion be- tween not being forgiven, and punimment, or damnation. Matth. aciii. 41, &c. " So fliall it be in the end of the world. ; The fori of man (hall tend forth his angels* and they fliall gather out of his kingdom all things that of- fend, and them Which do iniquity ; and fliall caft them into a furnace of fire: There fhall be wailing and gnafhing of teeth." So fhall it b*e in the end of the world : The angels fhall come forth, and fever the wicked from among the juft ; and (hall caft them into the furnace of fire : There fhall be wailing and gnafhing of teeth." Chap, xvi, 25, &c. Whofoever will : his life, • fhall lofe it. For what is a man profited, if he 'fhall gain the whole world, and lole his own foul ? Or, what fliall a man give in exchange for his foul? For the fon of man fhail come in the glory of his Father, wich his angels ; and then fhall he reward every man ruling to his works." Chap, xviii. 8, 9. M If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cu: • V them. Self. L ( 28 ) them off and caft them from thee j jt is better for thee jo enter into life halt or maim- ' cd, rather than having two hands or two leet, to be cad into evcrlafling fir-e. An J if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and caft it from thee % It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be call into bell fire/' Chap..xxi. 44. " And whofoever fhall fall on this ftone, fhall be broken : But on ■whomfocver it fhall fall, it will grind him to powder/' Chap. xxii. 13. " Then faid the king to his fervants, Bind him hand and foot, an take him away, and caft: him into outer dark- nefs : There fhall be weeping and gnafhing of teeth. For many are called, but few are choien/* Chap, xxiii. 14, 33. "Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites ; for ye devour widows houfes, and for a pretence make long prayers; therefore ye fhall receive the greater damnation. Ye ferpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye efcape the damnation of hell ? " Chap. xxiv. 50, s'u " The Lord of that fervant fhall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of; and fhall cut him afunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites : There fhall be weeping and gnafhing of teeth." Chap. xxv. 10, &c. "And while" they went to buy, -the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was flrut, Af- •ward came alio rhe other virgins,' faying 8 1 >rd ( 2j) ) Sell. I. Lord, Lord, open to us. But he anfwered and raid, Verily I (ay unto you, I know you nor* For unto every one that hath fhall be given, and he fhall have abundance; but from him that hath not, fhall be taken away even that which he hath. And caft ye the unprofitable fervant into outer darknefs : There fhall be weeping and gnafhing of teeth/' Chap. xxvi. ! 24. u The fon of man goeth as it is written of him : But wo unto that man by whom the fon of man is betrayed: It had been good for that man, if he had not been born." Mark viii. 38* 18 Whofoever therefore fhall be afhamed of me, f and of my words, jn this adulterous and finful generation; of him alfo fhall the fon of man be afhamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels." Chap. ix. 43, &c. " And if. thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the \ fire that never fhall be quenched : Where their worm dicth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: It is bet- ter for'thce to enter halt into life, than having two feet, to be caft into hell, into the fire that never fhall be quenched : Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out-: It is -bet- ter for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be call into hell fire : Where their worm dicth not, and the Sep. L ( 30 ) the fire is not quenched," Chap. xyi. 16. "He that believeth not, fhall be damned." Luke, vi. 24, 25. " Wo unto you that are rich : For yc have received your confolation. Wo unto you that are full : For ye fhall hunger. Wo unto you that laugh now: For ye fhall mourn and weep." Chap. xiL 5, &c. " But 1 will forewarn you whom you fhall fear, Fear him which, after he hath killed, hath pow- er to cafl: into hell: Yea, I fay unto you, fear him. Bur if that fervant fay in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, 8cc. The Lord of that fervant will come in a day when he look- eth not for him, and will cut him in fundcr, and appoint him his portion with the unbelie- vers. And that fervanr which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himfeif, neither did ac- cording ro his will, fhall be beaten with many ftripes. When thou goeft with thine adverfary to the magiftrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayeft be delivered from him; left he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cafl- thee into prifbnj I tell thee, thou fhalt not depart thence, till thou haft paid tha Tery laft : mite," Chap, xiii. 25, &c\ "When once the mafter of the houfe is rifen up, and hath fiiut to the door, and ye begin to fland without, and to knock at the door,Vaying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, he .'fhall fay, I tell you, I know you not ; depart from me, all ye workers of in;* quity. Sell. I. ( ■ Z\ ) quity. There fiialj be weeping aiul gnafiiihg of cccrh when yc (hall fee Abraham, lfaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourfelves thnift out." Chap, xvi. 22, &c. " The rich man, alio died, and was buried. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bofom. And he cried, and fai!. Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and fend Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for I am tor- menred in this flame. But Abraham laid, fan, remember that thou in thy life time receivedft thy good things, and likewife Lazarus evil things : But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And befides ail this, between us and you there is a great gulph fixed ; fo that they which would pafs from hence to you can- not ; neither can they pafs to us, that would come from thence/' John hi. 14, 15, i 6, "And as Mofes lifted up the ferpcut in thenvildernefs, cv-cn fo mult the fi>n of man be lifted up ; that whofoevcr believethin h\m, Jlwuld not per if:, but have eternal life. For God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Ion, t whoiocver believeth in him, fljokld no4 pertfi, have evcrlaftinglife." In thefc words it is im- plied, that they who believe not on CI) lift ihall? ■perifh ; and perifhing is directly oppofed to hav- ing cverlafting life. All is implied here which isexprefsly aliened in v. 36, u He that believeth not Se3. I. ( .32 ) not the fon, fhall not fee life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him/' Chap* v 6 28, £9. " The hour is coming, in which all thac are in the graves fhall hear his voice, and {hall come forth \ they that have done good, unto the refurreclion of life ; and tjiey that have done evil, unto the refurrefiton of damnation* 9 Chap, viii. 2r, 24/ " 1 go my .way, and ye (hall feek me, and fhall die in your fins. Ye arc of this world, I am not of this world. I faid therefore unto you, that ye fhall die in your fins : For if ye believe not thac I am h€ % yejf;all dip in your fins" What Cbnft repeatedly threatens in thefe words, muftbe evil that would come on them after their death, which can be no lefs than a proper punifhment for their fins. Chap. xii. 25, 48. " He that loveth his life, fhall lofe it : And he that hateth bis life in this world, fhall keep it unto life e* ternal." Lofing his life, is an evil which Ur op- pofed to keeping it to life eternal ; therefore mud mean eternal death. " He that rejecleth mc 9 and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him : The word that I have fpoken, die fame fhall judge him in the lafl day." That he fhall then be condemned and punifhedr Chap, xv/ 6. "If a' man abide not in me, he h cafl forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather tharn, and cad them into the fire, and they are burned." Mattb. xxv, 41, 46c " Then fliall he fay unto rhem on the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed f into evcrlafting fire sis. I, fire, prepared for the devil and his angels* And theie fhall go away into everlafting pu- nishment." Who can read all thefe words of Chrift, and yet think that he came into the world with a defign to fave all men from future puniihment ? If wc had nothing but his own declarations to determine us, thefe are more than diffident to give us as much aflurance, that the wicked will be punifhed to a great and awful degree in a fu- ture (late, as we can have that he is the fon of God, the faviour of the world j yea, we cannot doubt of the former, without calling the latter equally in que (lion. No perfon that ever (poke on earth by divine infpiratjon, has (aid fo much of the future punifhment -of the wicked, and preached hell and damnation fo much, and fo ofren, or fet it info awful and fbocking a light, as did the only begotten fon oi God, who is full of grace and truth. But what we find in the writings of the apoflles of Chrifl, will fhew how they under- flood him on this point, and flrengthen the evi- dence of the deftruclion and puniihment of the wicked, in a foture flare, if it be capable of re- , ceiving any addition. Aft. iii. 23. " And it (hall come to paff, that every foul which will not hear that propher, ( fhall be deilroycd from among the people." Theie words, with the foregoing, are a quota- 1 from Mofcs, made by the apoftlc Peter, in his Salt/ ( 34 9 his fpeeeh to the people in the temple; which words he applies to Chrift, as being the pro- phet oi which God fpeaks by Mofes, and hereis a threatningof certain deftruftion to every foul who fhall disregard this prophet. Chap. xiii. 40, 4U therefore he preached that they would then be condemned, and punifhed ac- cording to their evil deeds in this life. This appears from the words under confederation ; and alfo from St, Paul's own' words, 2 Cor. v. 10, 11. "For we nuift all appear be/ore the judgment feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hfith done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, 1* ( 37 ) St* I hcritance in the kingdom of Chrift, and of God, Let no man deceive you with vain words: For becau/e of tbefe things cometh the wrath of Cod upoi$ , the children of difobedience." Phil. i. 28, " And ' in nothing terrified by your advarfaries : Which is to them an evident token of -perdition ; but. to you offalvation,andthatofGod," Chap. iii. 18, 19, " For many walk, of whom 1 have told you 'often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they arc the enemies of the crofs of Chrift: wb$fe tnd it deftruftion" Col. iii. 5, 6* " Mor- tify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, covetoufnefs, &c. for which things fake, the wrath of God comet h' on the children of di/obediente" v. 25. u Bur he that doth wrong, fhall receive for the wrong -which he hath done ; And there is no refpedt of perfons." 1 ThelT. i. 10. "Whom he raifed from the dead, even Jefus, which delivered us from ths wrath to come." Chap. iv. 6. " That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any mat- ter ; becaufe the Lord is the avenger of all fucb, as we alfb have forewarned you, and tcftified." Chap. v. 3. " For when they fhall fay, peac« •nd fafcty ; then fudden deftruffion cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child: And they frail not efcapc" 2 Theff. i. 6, 7, 8, 9. " Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompenfc tribulation to them that trouble you ; and to you who are troubled, reft with us, whqj the Lord Jems ihail bo rercakd SeB. h ( 33 ) .revealed from heaven, with his mighty am; in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that pbe/ not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift : Who (hall be pu- nifhed with cverla(tingdeftru£tion from the pre- fence of the Lord, and the glory of his power/' Chap. ii. 10, h, i2 ? " And with all deceivable- Iiefs of unrighteoufnefs, in them that peri[h ; be- caufe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be faved. And for this caufe God Avail fend them ftrbng delufion, that they fhould believe a lie 1 That they all might be damn* ed, who believed not the truth, but had plea- sure in unrighteoufnefs/* 1 Tim, v. 24. " Some mens fins are open before hand, going before to judgment ; and fome men they follow after/' Chap. vi. 9. (i But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a fnare, and into many foolifh and hurtful lufls, witch drown men in dc- ftruSion and perdition." 2. Tim, ii. 12, " If we iuffer, we fhall alfo reign with him : If we de«? ny him, be alfo will deny us" Heb. ii.2, 3. " For if the word fpoken by angels was fledfaft, and every tranfgreflion and difobedience received a. juft recompence of reward ; how fhall we cf- cape, if we negleft fo great falvation ?" Chap. xii- 19. compared with iv. 11. " So we fee that they could not enter in becaufe of unbelief. Let ps labour therefore to enter into that reft, left any man fall after the fame example of unbelief/* £hap. vi. 4, &c, " For it is impoifible for thofij who ( 19 ) &R.-1 3 were once enlightened, &£,• — If they (hall iall sway, to renew them again unto, repentance : Seeing they crucify to themfelves the Son of God afrefh, and put him to an open fhame. For the earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs* &c. receive* h bleffiug from God. But that [Which bcareth thorns and briars, is rfcjefted, and is nigh unto curfing : Whole end is to be burned." Chap. x. 26, &c. " For if we fin wilfully after that we have received the know- ledge of the truth, there remaineth no more fa- crifice for fins : But a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which fhall devour the adverfarses, He that defpifed Mofes's law died without mercy: Of bow much forer punijliment, fuppofe jr, flail be be thought 'worthy % who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant, therewith he was fandtified, an unholy thing ; and hath done defpite to the Spirit of Grace i For we know him that hath faid, Vengeance belongeth unto me, 1 will recompense, faith the Lord. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Jiands of the living God ! But we arc not of th#m who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe, to the faving of the foul." Chap* xii. 15, &c. " Looking diligently, left any rnan fail of the grace of God; left any root of bitternefs fpringing up, trouble you, and there- by many be defiled ; Left there be any fornica- tor, - Seel. I. ( 40 ) . tor, or profane pcrfon, as Efau, who for one morfel of meat fold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the bleffing, he was rejeded : For he found no place of repentance, though he fought it carefully, with tears. See that ye rcfufc not him that fpeakcth : For if they cfcaped not who refufed him that (pake on earth, much more Jlmll we e/cepe, if wc turn away from him thai ipoaketh from heaven." We have alfo the apcftle James's witnefs to future puniflimcnt. Jam. ii. i%. " For he fhall have judgment without mercy, that hath fhew- cd ho mercy." To have judgment without mercy, is to be punifhed according to his ill defert, Jana. iv. 12. " There is one lawgiver, who is able to fave, and to dejlroy : Who art thou that judgeft another?" Jam. t. i, Sec. V Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl/ influenced thereto by the fpirit of Cbrift, are ipoken of as being in prifon, when St. Peter wrote, which was above 2000 years after they left this world, They arc therefore prifoners n*w % confined in darknefs and defpair, to the judgment of the great day. Chap. iv. 17, 18, u For the time is come that judgment muft be- gin at the houfe of God : And if it ftrft begin at us, what Jhall be the end of them that obey not the g9lpel of God> And if the righteous fcarcely be laved, -where fhall the ungodly and the Jinner ,. pear ?" Chap. v. 8. M Be fober, be vigilant ; be- caufe your adverfary, the devil, as a roar lion, walketh about feekingwtiom he may devout 2. Pet. ii. 1,3, &c. M Who bring on them/elves fwift diftruftion. Whofe judgment now of a long time lingercth not, and their damnation flu bcretb not. For if God fpared not the angels thac finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darknefs, to be referred unto judgment, and fpared not the old world, bringing/m the flood upon the world of the ungodly ; and turning the cities of Sodom m and Gomorrah into afhes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto thole that after fhould live ungodly ; the Lord knoweth how to referve the unjnft unto the day of judgment , to he punifhed. Thcfe, as natural brute beads, made to be taken and ftroyed, fhall utterly per if]) in their corruption, Thefe are wells wit | ater, c] hat ore carri SdL I carried with a tempefl, to whom the mijl of dark* vefs is rejerved forever" Chap. iii. 7, 9, 16. " But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the fame word are feept in (lore, refsrved unto fire againft'the day of judgment, and per- dition 0/ ungodly wen. The Lord is not Hack concerning his pro'mife (as fome men count flacknefs) but is long-fuffering to us -ward, not willing that any fhould periflv but that all fhould come to repentance." Here it is fup- pofed that all will perifh, who do not come to repentance in this life, while God waits on them ; and therefore certain definition to thofe who continue impenitent through life, under all means ufed with them to bring them to- re- pentance, is in thefe words fully afTerted. It will be thought flrange, perhaps, by fome, that this paffage, from which it has been infer- red ths^t all mankind will be faved, fhould be tefed to prove directly the reverfe, viz. that many will' perifh. It has been faid, if God is not willing that anjf (hould perifh, certainly none can periflh; for who hath refilled his will I To this it may beanfwered, in the firft place, That it is certainly very ftrange indeed, and perfectly unaccountable, that St. Peter fhould here affert that none of mankind will perifh ; fince he had declared the contrary, over and over again, in this epiMle; and does it even in this very paragraph. He had faid, that falfe teachers would bring on themfelvcs fwift de~ fir action* ( 43 ) ' Sen. I. ftniiiion.- That God referred the wicked to the day of judgment, to be punijhei. That they fhall utterly PERISH in their own corruption. And in the noxt vcrfc but &ne before this, (ays, the heavens and the earth arc r^ferved unto fire, againft the (lay of judgment, and perdition ef un- godly men. And with reference to this awful cataftrophe, he fays, that God docs not bring it on immediately, beeaufe he is long fuf- fering, and difpofed to give men time and op- portunity to repent, not willing that any fhould perifh in that definition, which he. had juffc laid was coming on ungodly men. So that he f here aliens, God is longfufiering, not willing that any fhould perifh, as he had juft faid un- godly men will perifh; for whofe perdition God had already made provifion. The way is now prepared to anfwer, in the next place. When the apoftle fays, God is longfufiering, riot willing that any fhould pe- F rrfli, buc that all fhould come to repentance, the natural, plain, and only confident meaning is, (hat God in his dealings with men, in his pro- vidence, does not conlult and purfue methods t > circumvent and enfnare them, to prevent their having a fufficient and fair opportunity to repent; but puts them under all proper advan- tages for this ; fets before them the ftrongeft motives, and waits upon them with great pa- tience and long fullering ; and who has at the fame time declared, that if they do not come to H repentance &£l. ( 44 ) repentance in this life, they {hall certainly pe- rifh in the* perdition of ungodly men. Hor will not put an end to the world, until he has ufed all proper and fiiitable means, and taken die greeted conceivable variety d! methods and ways, in the wifeft and bell manner, adapted to bring them to repentance; that they who con- tinue impenitent may appear in their true obfli- nacy, and perverfenefs and be left wholly with- out any exeu'fe ; and their full defert of the de- flruction which God will bring upon them, and his righteoufnefs in punifhing them, may be i'cen in the cleared light, by all And, by the way, they who fuppofe that Sr. Peter here afferts, that not oncfhall perifh, mud allow lie equally aflerts, that all (hall come to repentance; for God is faid to will the latter, as much as the former. And this repentance is to take place in this life ; becaufe God is long- furfering towards them in this world, for this end. But they do not pretend, that God brings all men, to repentance in this world. If then, notwithitanding whofe character is particularly and abundantly defcribed, ftull themfeives, in their own per (on s, be punifhed; that God will inflict it on them\ and Kh^x theft fball be tewarded according to their works, and receive of Chrift the judge, lecording to what they have done in the body ; and that thefe (kali actually go away into everlafting jHinifhmcnt, &e. Jcc. Anfwer 2, If thofe declarations and threatnings were only to declare and (hew, what all men deferve, and not what any will fuffer : Or if they all rafer to Chrift, and he is the only pcrfon that fufFcrs ; then one man, or clafs of men, of a particular character, could not be pointed out as the obje&s of thefe declarations and threatnings, more than all others j lor, on this fuppofition, they mult be equally true of all men # and equally applicable to them, whatever be their character; Why then is this punishment threatened, and faid to be inflicted only on one clafs of men, of a particular character, viz* Thofe who have no love to Chrift, are unbelievers, know not God, and do not obey the gofpei, &c. While not one threatning, but prornifes of deliverance and falvation* are made to thofe ©f a different and contrary character ; and it is abundantly declared"* that while the former are punifhed whh everlafting deftruction, the latter fha'! not be punifhed;, or condemned, h\xt have everlafting life ? This is impoflible ? On the whole, do not fuch notions and evafions as thefe, ferve to (hew how weak and dcfencelefs their caufe is, who aflVrt there is no punifhment for any man in the world to come, rather than to give it fo much as any piaufibfe fupport ? Surely they tend to render the bible ufelefs and •ontemptib!c. Muft not every confident friend to that fncred book, reject them with abhorrance; and not without furprifc, that they frould be ever thought of, by sny man ? i 5% ) &&*f future ftate, who die impenitent ; yet, from an attentive view of them, they prove more, even that this punifhment will be without end This has been remarked concerning a number of fcriptures that have been mentioned, in which the punifhment is not exprejsly faid to be ever- lafting ; but that it will be fo, is neceffarily im- plied : And the lame remark might be made concerning a number of others. And it may be obferved here, that what the fcripture lays of future punifhment, being confidered in one collective view ; nothing can be found which carries the lead intimation that this punifliment will evar end : Which we might expedt, fince there is fo much faid of it, if this were true ; efpecially, fince there is fuch infinite difference between a temporary and an endlefs punifh- ment, and it is of fuch importance to men to know, whethar it be without end, or not : But on the contrary, the whole taken together, or if every paffage be viewed feparately, it carries the complexion of an endlefs punifhment : E- fpecially, fince it is fo often, and in fuch a par- ticular way and connexion, aliened to be eter- nal or everltfiing. But as this was not to be particularly confidered under this head, it of courfe brings us to the next fe&ion. SECTION SefJAL ( 54 ) SECTION IL fflH ERE IN it is particularly confidered, tube* ther it be revealed in the Holy Scriptures, thqt the future Tmijhment of the Wicked will be endlefs. IT is particularly and abundantly declared in the holy fcriptures, that the future punifli- jnent of the wicked will have no end. ^he evidence of this prropofition will be pro- duced under the following particulars. First, The punifhment of the wicked is many times, in the fcripture, exprefsly declared to beeverlafting, eternal, and to continue for- ever. Thefe pafTages have been mentioned under the preceding head, but mud be rehearfed here, "with a view to illuftrate this particular. Job. 3cx. 7. It is faid, that the wicked perifl) forever* Pfal. xcii. 7. V When the wicked fpring as the graft, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourifh, it is that they (hall be deftroyed/or ever." Ifai. xxxiv. 14* The evil that is coming on finners, is called "everlafting burnings" And the prophet Daniel, fpeaking of the wicked, fays, they (hall rife to fhame and everlafting contempt. Chap. xii. 2. St. Paul, fpeaking of ChrifVs coming to judgment, to take vengeance on all that have not known and obeyed him, fays, they (hall be punifhed with everlafting dejlrudiom ^he apoflles Peter and Jude, fpeaking of the pvmilhment ( 55 ) SettAl. punifhment of the wicked, fay, " To whom the mift of darknefs is referved forever."—- u To whom is referved the blacknefs of dark- nefs forever. Even as Sodom and Gomor- rah, and the cities about them, giving them- felves over to fornication, and going after ft range flefh, are fct forth for an example, fuf- fering the vengeance of eternal pre." 2 Peter, ii. 17. Jade v. 7. 13. And Chrift himfelf has repeatedly declared, that the punifhment of the, \v\cked \\\\\ be ever laJJirjg. Mark iif. 29. " tie that fhall blafpheme againft the Holy Ghoft, hath never forgivenefs, but is in danger of eter- nal damnation' 1 Matth. xviii. 8. " It is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two l*ands or two feet, to be caft into everlafting fire. Matth. xxv. 41, 46. " Then (hall he fay alfo unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed, into ever- lafting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And thefe fhall go away into everlafting puni fo- ment : But the righteous into life eternal." On the laft: mentioned words, the following obfer- vations may be made. 1. Our Saviour here gives a particular and folemn reprefentation of the day of judgment, and ftates the ifTue of it, both to the righteous and the wicked, very particularly; and doubt- lefs ufes language that is quite plain and intel- ligible, fo that the final ftate of one and the ether is prccifely ftated, and will be clearly fuggefted. Mcci. II. ( 5 6 ) fuggcflcd, without need of any laboured criti- ciiin. The Tubjeft is of infinite importance to all : And when our divine teacher undertakes so give a particular account of it, and to tell all jnen, of every capacity, learned and unlearned, what are the different and oppofitc chara&ers of jthofe whom he will fet on his right hand, and on his left • and what will be the fentence which he will pronounce on each; what will be the reward and happineis of the one, and what the punifhraent and mifery of the other; we may be fure he has chofen words that are raofi plain and eafy to be understood, and beft fuited to convey the truth: And has properly guarded againft every miftake. He has not left us in the dark about the duration of the happinefs of the righteous, or punifhment of the wicked ; whether the one or the other fhall be endlefs, or infinitely fhort of it* but moll certainly, has ftated this important point, in which we are all lo much interefted, very pre- ciiely ; fo that we are in no danger ot making a miftakc, and of taking his meaning to be in- finitely otherwifc than it really is, unlefs it be wholly our own fault. 2. The word which our Saviour ufes twice, in this peflage, to denote the duration of the punifhment of w the wicked, and tell us how long this fhall laft, he has ufed twenty times on various oceafions, and in different difcourfes ; and in every one oi thefc inftanccs he evident- ( 57 ) SeSJtt ly ufes it in exactly one and the fame fenfe,- and intends by it an endlefs duration. And when he ufes it twice here on purpofe to tell us how long the punifhment of the wicked (hall continue, is it poflible that he fhould in- tend by it fomething infinitely different, a du- ration infinitely fhort of endlefs; and that with- out giving the leaft intimation of his ufing it in fuch a different fenfe? — -So far from this, that h© ufes it in fuch a connexion here, as will naturally lead usto underftand him, as de~ figning to exprefs an endlefs duration, though he had never ufed the word on any other occa- fion. This leads to another remark, j. The fame word is ufed here, in the very fame fentence, to exprefs the endlefs life and happinefs of the righteous, which is ufed to denote the duration of the punifhment of the wicked* " And thefc fhall go away into ever- lifting punifliment ; but the righteous into tifc eternal? The word in our tranflation is indeed varied ; though everiafting and eternal have prc- cifely the fame meaning ; but in the original, the very fame ivord is ufed in each parr of the fentence, and might be moft cxaclly rendered, Thefc fhall go away into everiafting punifhment ; but the righteous into everiafting life. If the life into which the righteous go, be endlefs, which all grant, and Jefus ufes a word here to exprefs fuch a duration ; then certainly the fame word, ufed in the fame fentence, to exprefs the Se8.IL ( 58 ) the duration of the puniftiment into Which the kicked (hall go, mull mean an endlefs duration : Especially, as the life of the righteous, and pu« nifhment of the wicked, are fet in diredt oppo- lition to each other. If the punifhment of the wicked were temporary, and mud have an end ; and the life of the righteous endlefs : So that the former is as nothing, compared with the lat- ter ; and the wicked," as well as the righteous, were equally to enjoy everlafting life; would Chrifl thus fet the endlefs happinefs of the righteous, and the temporary mifery of the wicked, in direct oppofition to each other, and in the fame fentence ufe the fame word to ex- prefs a duration infinitely. different ? This can- not, be : For fnch a fuppofition makes him con- found language, as never any man did, and ren- der it perfectly unintelligible and infignificant. This reprefents Him, who is full of grace and truth, and came into the world to reveal the wonderful love and grace of God, and accom- pli fh and dif play -the great falvation of man, as ■wfjng words, and /peaking, in a manner which tends to deceive men, and make them believe that this falvation is far lefs extenfive than it really is, and lead them to think he will pu- mih the wicked infinitely more than he defigns : That the duration of this punifhment will be equal to that of the happinefs. of the righteous, when, in truth, it is infinitely lefs, and not wor- thy to be mentioned, in companion with the latter. ( 59 ) Stg. II. Utter. This be far from him ! And if it be, there is as much reafon to conclude, frum his moft exprefs and pointed affertion, that the punilhment of the wicked will be without end, as that the happinefs of the righ* teous will be fo : Yea, we may be as fure of it, as we can be, that he is a Teacher come from Goc\ Secondly, The,endlefs punifhment of the wicked h expreffed a number of times in fcripture, in words yes more emphatical, if pofiible •, when it is faid to continue forever and ever. Rev. xiv. io, n. " And he (hall be tormented with fire and brimftone, in the prefence of the holy angels, and in the prefence of the Lamb : And the (moke of their torment afcendeth up forever avdever." Chap. xix. 3. " And again they faid Alleluia : And her frnoke role up forever and ever.'* Chap. xx. 10. c< And the devil that deceived them, was caft: into the lake of fire and brimftone, where the bead and the falfe prophet are ; and (hall be tormented day and night, forever and ever." And all the wicked are faid to be caft into this lake. v. 15, " And whofocver was not found written in the book of life, was caft into the lake of fire." Chap. xxi. 8. " But tfee fearful and unbe- lieving, and the abomiaable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and forcerers, and idolaters, and all liar s 9 lhall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimftone ; which is the fecond death." This exprefiion, forever and ever, is found twenty-two times in the original, in the New-Te (lament. It is ufed tight times in the epiftles of St. Paul and Peter, where they afcribe glory, honor, and praife and dominion to God, forever and ever. It is found fourteen time3 in this book of the Revelations. It is ufed twice, to exprefs the duration of the kingdom and reign of Chrlft, and the redeem:d. Chap. xi. 15 *' The kingdoms rfrhia world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and o( his K Carift. Seel. II. { 6'o ) Chrift; and he (hill reign forever and ever" Chap. xxiL a. " And there fhili be no night there, and they need no candle, neither lighc of the fun •, for the Lord God giveth them light : And they fhxll reign forever and ever* 9 Tb-'ee times it is ufed to exprefs the endlefs duration of t;ie power, glory and dominion, of God. Chap. i. 6. « To hirri be glory and dominion, forever and ever." v. 13. " BleiBng and honor and gbry, and power, be unto him that fnr.eth upon the throne, and wnto the Lamb, forever ana ever" vii. 12 " BlelTing, and glory, and wifdom, and thankfgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever." Six times it is ufed to exprefs the endlefs exiftence and life of God. Chap. i. 18. " I am he that liveth, and was dead : And behold 1 am alive forevermore. The words are the fame in the original, which are eifewhere mandated, forever and ever, iv.- 9, to. " And when thofe four beads give g'ory, and honor, and thanks to him that fat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever t the four and twenty elders fall down before him that fat on the throne, and Worfhip him that liveth forever and ever" v. 14, "And the four and twenty elders tell do#n and worfhipped him that liveth forever and ever " x» 6* " And fware by him that liveth forever and ever ." xvi 7. " And one of the four beads gave unto the feven angels, feven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever" The fame words are ufed three times, to exprefs the duration of the punifhment of the wicked, in the places which have been quoted above. When we find the very fame words, ufed in the ( New- teftament near twenty times, to exprefs an endlefs du- ration, and above ten times in this book of the Reve- lation ; and fix of them, moil emphatically, and in the ftrongeft manner, to mark God's eternity, or the endlefs duration of his exiftence \ and at the fame time, find theirf ( 61 ) 6W7M* them ufed three times, in the fame book, by the fame writer, to denote the duration of future punimmtnt ; is it pofTible to miftake the meaning, and think that in thefe three itiftances only, thefe words are ufed for a finite duration ? How can any one think they do not mean an endlefs duration, in thefe places, but fomething in- finitely (hort of it, without doing violence to the iciip- ture, and his own reafon ? If it were contrary to God's nature and perfeclion.% to punifh Tinners with endlefs mtfery, and very impious, and moft dilhonorable to him ; and of the worir ten- dency toman, for us to entertain fuch a thought (which they whooppofe this dccVine generally aflerc) can it he thought, that he would exprefs himfelf fo, on this poiar, as would naturally, and even m -ceflarily, lead all to con- clude he will thus punifh them, even as long as he him- felf (hall exift, and not fay a word to guard againfl this conclufion ? Is it pofTible he mould do this, in a revelati- on which is defigned to give men right notions of the di- vine character, and of the future Mate of the wicked, and in the moft plain and decifive manner, declare what they are to expect •, and to guard againft all wrong an d hurt- ful conceptions, refpecting this infinitely important iub- jedt ? Moft certainly, he who livetb forever and ever, and whofe kingdom, honor and praife from the re- deemed, will continue forever and ever, will pun ifh his impenitent enemies forever and ever, even as long as he li/eth. To doubt of this, is to call in queftion the oi- vine authority of this Revelation. It has been faid by fome, that the words everl "forever, and forever and ever, do not mean an tndlels duration •, and are often ufed for a limited time \p. fcrip- turc : And that the words in the J-lebrew and G languages, tranftated into the above Erglifh words, do not fignify an endlefs duration : Therefore it doe; fallow * Se3. II. ( 62 ) follow that the punifhment of the wicked will be with- out end, though fuch words are ufed to denote its du- ration. Whether there be any weight in this objection, let every one judge, when he has attended to the follow- ing obfervaiions, 1. It is certain that the words eternal, -everlasting fcreitr, &c. are, in a great number of. inftances, ukd in the Old-teftament to exprefs the duration of the exiftence of God, and of his kingdom and reign, of his truth, mercy, praife and honor, and of his counfels and dtfigns, and the happinefs of his friends, &c. And in all thefe inftances, an endlefs duration is intended. "We are obliged to affix this meaning to thefe words here ; and therefore without doubt this is the proper meaning of them, and they mult be fo un* derftood wherever they are ufed, unlefs we are guarded sgainft it, by an exprefs or neceffary limitation 2. It does not yet appear, that thefe words are ever ufed in the original, when they are tranflated everlafting^ forever, fcff. where it would not be proper to make ufe of them, though they do, when confidered in their pro- per, full meaning, fignify an endlefs duration 5 but the contrary is evident. "This obfervation might be illufp trated, by producing all the inftances in which thefe words are ufed in theOld-Teftament; but this would be tco tedious. It may fuffice to mention one or two \ and leave the reader to examine others, if he pleafes. iWhen it is faid of a fervant who refufed his freedom, 2nd confequently had his ear bored through with an awl, by his matter, that he (hall fetve him forever \ t) Owgh the fubject neceftarily limits the meaning to this Hie ; yet a word that means an endlefs duration is properly ufed here, to fignify his perpetual fervitude, in oppofuion to his being made free. When it is fie*. qucmiy ( 63 ) Sett.U. quently faid of many of the laws which were given to lirael by Moles, that they were to be evcrlufting ftatutes, &c. and mould be fo to that peop'e ; the meaning is? plain, viz. That they (hould never difregard them and fet them afide; and a word char fignifics endlefs, is the moft proper to be ufed in this cafe: And indeed no other word could convey the idea dtfigned to be ex- preffed. Therefore, though thefe words are ufed in in- stances, where the nature of the fubj^cl does in fome re- fped limit them 5 yet this is no evidence that they do in themlelves fignify a limited time ; becaufea word thac Signifies an unlimited duration, is melt proper, and even neceflary, to convey the idea in the molt plain, and the ftrongeft manner. * % As to thofe words in the Nrw-teftament, the Englifh reader, who knows nothing of the original Greek, may have full fatisfa&ion about the meaning of them j and that they muft intend an endlefs duration, even when they refpect the punifhment of the wicked ; fince they are ufed fo often, to exprefs the endlefs exif* tence or God, and his kingdom, and the never ending life and happinefc of the redeemed \ and never are ufed for a temporary duration, unlefs it be in this inftance; which cannot be fuppofed, without confounding lan- guage * In a deed of conveyance of land, it if given and granted to him to whom the conveyance is made, and his \\t\\%, for ever* This forevtr is neceffarily limited, and is not dcfigned to ex- tend beyond the end of the world ; and yet, a word which fignities an unlimited duration, or endlefs, is the moft proper word to be ufed here, to fignify that the grantor will never revoke the conveyance. And if any one, obferving the ufe vi this word forever, in thofe instruments of conveyance, mould hence conclude, that neither this word, nor any one in th« Englifh language, did fignify an cnelieU duration, in any cafe whatever, he would reafon at well as the; do, who make the cbjsclion abovc 4 S& L ( 64 ) guage, and doing violence to words, as has been ob- ferved. 4. The greek word which is ufed fix times to exprefs the duration of the punifhment of the wicked, and tranf- lated eternal and evcrlaftng* is to be found in above Je? renty places in the New-teftament : And ir every where Is evidently ufed to exprefs an cndlefs duration, unlefs thofe fix places, which fpeak of the duration of future punifhinent be excepted. And is not this fufficient to afcertain the meaning of the word, if we had no_ other way to determine what it is defigned to exprefs ? * If a confident * This word is'tfWtf, and is derived from AUn\ which is ufed above*;* hundred umt% in the New-Teftament, and does not mean any certain, definite, but an indetermhtete duration, unlefs it be limited by the words or fubjetf, with which it is connected. And when the prepofition eis is put before it, whether it be ufed in the Angular or plural num- ber, it always fignifies an endlefs duration, and is generally translated /amvr, and fometimes never ; of which there are near forty inftances, only two of which refpec* the duration of future punifhment, viz. 2 Pet. ii. 17. Jude v. 1$. And no reafon can be given why it fliould not be undcrftood here, as it muft be in other places, where it is ufed. When the words are doubled, they are more emphatical, and are trans- lated forever and ever. There are twenty-two inftances of this, nineteen of which exprefs a duration which is certainly cndlefs. In the remaining three the duration of future pu- nifhment is cxpreiTed, agreeable to what has been ebferved above. From this ftate of the cafe, is it not eafy to deter- mine whether thefe words, which in ail other inftances are V(td to exprefs a duration which is endlefs, do mean only a temporary,- or an endlefs duration, when they are ufed with a defign to let us know what is the duration of future punifh- nicm ? it is faid by feme, that this word fignifies only an age ; or age^ when it is plural. If it 4oe granted that it is fometimes ufed for an indefinite age 3 yet, ii the adjective aicniu h always ufed ( -65 ) Sea. ih confident and judicious author, (hould ufea particular word above feventy times in one fmall volume ; and in every inftance, evidently make ufe of it to exprefs pre- ciicly the fame thing •, fo that he could not poftibly mean 1 any thing elfe, or be rnifundcrftood, except in five or fix of them \ (hould we not think ourfelvcs warranted to fix the fam« meaning to ic, in thefe inftances, unlefshe had given fufficient intimation, that he then ufed the word in a different fenfe ? There certainly could be no doubt about his meaning in fuch a cafe : And if any one fhould infift upon it, that in thefc fix places he meant no fuch thing, as he cercainly meant in the other, but fomething very different, and dire&ly contrary *, becaufe the word from which this is derived, does not neceffapily mean any fuch thing, and is fometimes ufed in a diffe- rent fenfe •, would he be thought worthy of any regard ? It is further, to be obferved, that this word is not on- ly conftantlyufed where the duration to beexprtflfed is endlefs, which (hews the force and meaning of it, as has been obferved •, but it is exprefslyoppofcd to a word which fignifies a temporary duration, to exprefs dire&ly the contrary. 2 Cor. iv. 18. " For the tttpg* which are feen, ixztemforal\ but the things which are not ken 9 are ufed to expreff endlefs duration^ ; and the fubftantive is con- ftantly ufed fo, when it follows the prepofuion eis \ and, ex- cept two inftances, thefe are the only words ufed to exprefs the duration of future punifhment ; Who can be at a Ioi> f - whether it be endlefs, or not? Bcfidcf, it would nuke no fenfe, but the comraiy, to tranlla'e the word agt inrtead of 4ver % or mvir. This may be iilu (hated by an inftance or two. Joh. vi. 58, « This is that biead which came down from heaven : Not as your fathers did cat manna, and are dead : He that eateth of this bread Hull live to an age" x. 28. " And I give unto them eternal life, and they ftiaU not perifb to an ags." K?b. v, 6. tc Thou art a prieft (0 an after the order of Mclchifedec." Sea. II. ( 66 ) are eternal* If this word fignified a temporary duration* i. e. a duration which has an end, it could not be op- pofed to that whick (ignites fuch a duration, though ever fo long. And it" it did not mean an endlefs dura- lion, it would have no force or fenfe at all, in this place ; but would ftgnify nothing, and might as well be ufed to exprefs the duration of the things that are feen, as of things that are not feen ; and the words might as pro- perly be put thus : For the things which are feen, are eternal ; but the things which are not feen are temporal j if both words fignifyonly a temporal or limited duration. Thirdly, It is not only exprefely faid, in holy fcrip- ture, that the future punishment of the wicked fhall be evcrlafting ; and yet more emphatically, th£y fhall be punifhed forever and ever : But the endlefs duration of it is yet moreftrongly afferted, if pofiible, by negatives, ©rexprefsly denying that it fhall have any end. John the Baptift, fpeakiag of Chrift, f»s, Matth. iiii 12, " Whofe tan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the gar&sr : • But he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" That is,^re that cannot be put out ; there will be no snd to ksyburrnng. Our Saviour expreffeth this in a yet more pointed and folerrin manner, Mark ix. 43, &c. "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that never /ball be quenched: Where their worm dietb not % and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut. it off: For it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two fact, to be cad in- to heli, into the fire that never /ball be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out : It is better for ?hee to enter into th.3 kingdom of God with one eye ? than thari having two eyes* to be caft into hell-fire : t their worm dkth not^ and the fire is not quenched. 19 This is a remarkable and lingular pafTage, in our Saviour, full of love and gr ace, lets him ft- If tc men of future puniftimenf, and perfuade them, f particular, awful view of it, to avoid and renounc ry thing that will expofe them to ic. He dwells t fubjeft, and particularly mentions the hand, the foe the eye •, and with relation to each of thefe defcrib punimment that is connected with not parting them, when they offend. And this punilhment pre fen ted in ftrong and frightful colours ; it is caft into helUfire \ and what adds infinitely to the c fulnefs of it, It shall njzver be quenched. TJ niftiment never fhall have an end. And he exprefsl there (ball be no end •, not once only, but repeats i and over again, and ufes negatives eight times, ii Ihort difcoude, with every one of which he gflert this punifhment will have no end. Our Saviour does here, doubtlefs, allude to the of Ifaiah, Chap. lxvi. 24. " And they fhall go and look upon the carcafes of the men that have grefled againft me : For their worm [hall not die, h Jhall the fire be quenched" There are two ways in which the bodies of me confumed after they are dead, viz. by being caf a fire and burned •, or left to confume away, and be up of worms, which naturally breed in them. I the body is loon confumed by the worm, or by tl into which it is caft ; and the worm of courfe dies, the fire goes out ; the endlefs duration of the punifh of the wicked is affertcd by faying, The fire, into \ they are caft, fhall not be quenched^ or go our, and worm never dies, li they who are caft into tfvs pi mjnt can ever eeafe to be, or fhall be delivered JU Sea. Ih ( 6% ) it, after they have fuffered for a time ; then it could not be faid, Their worm dieth not, and the fire in which they are burned is not quenched* or put out • For the wQrm and the fire continue, only by the continuance of the f object upon v^hich they prey : When that ceafes to be a fubjed of puhifhment, the worm dies* and the fire goes out. There could therefore be no other ex- preffion, perhaps, thought of, which would with fa rsuch prectfion, and fo clearly afFert, that the wicked fnall be prefer ved in a ftate of endlefs puniflirnent* And this fixes the meaning of (Thrift's words, when he fays, they fhall go away into ever lafting punijhtnem^ ever-* lafting fere % if there could otherwife be any pofTible doubt about it. Everlafiing fire, the fire in which the wicked fhall be tormented former and ever t is, if we will allow Chrift himfelf to tell us, The fin that never (hall be yuencked* • Fourthly, * They who hold that the wicked will be annihilated, after 3 temporary punilhment, have indeed faid, in order to evade the force of ihis pafiage, thefe ex predion* are fo far frem af- ifcrting the endlefs duration of the wicked, in a ftate of punish- ment, that the contrary is neceffarily implied, viz. that they fhall foon be deftroyed, by ceafing to exift. They fay, " There is fomething abfurd and contradiftory in the image made ufe of, if we fuppofe chaff, 5cc. thrown into an un« qucnchable fire, and yet not to be confumed and deftroyed in that fire ; or a living creature caft into it, and yet preferved ^Uve forever in it : For throwing into the fire is always under- stood to be the rnoft effectual way to deflroy a thing 5 And the lefi extinguijhabls the fit e is, the more certainly will the fub}e& thrown in be confumed." Mr, Bourn's letter t* Dr. Chandler. Answer. It is true, that combuftible things, which men caft into the fire, are foon confumed : Confequently there it no fuch thing in this world as unquenchable fire ; beeaufe whatever is proper fuel tor the fire, will be confumed, and burnt up, and th« fir© will of courie be cxtinguiihed. And therefore ( 6 9 ) Sea At Fourthly, The future puniihment of the wicked h proved to be endlefs, not only by its being exprefsly faid in the icripture to be everla(ting y or eternal, and that it mall endure forever and ever •> and alio in a pointed manner declared, that it fhall never end, as has been fhown : But from many other paflages of fcripture, in which this truth is plainly, and even neccffarily implied. Mattho therefore csfting chaff, or a dead body, into the fire, would not be a fit emblem of endlefs punimment, had it not been faid of this fire 9 that it is unquenchable, and never (hall be put out. Were not the punilhment endlefs, there could be no need of faying the fire fhall never be quenched ; and it couid net be faid wiih truth : But ihis fixes the idea, and determines that what is meant by ch?jF, or whatever is caft imo this fire •f hell cannot be con fumed by the fire, nor will be taken out of it ; but continue without end, to be the fubject for the firs to feed upon, and to prevent its going out. In this view on- ly, there is a perfect confidence and propriety in thefe ex* preiftons. And to fuppofe the wicked will be wholly dc- flroyed in this fire, fo as toceafe to exift, or ever be taken out of it, is to fuppofe it is e«tinguifhable, and will re actually pur out s and therefore to call it unquenchable fire, would be indeed •• moft abfurd and contradictory " In this view, the man if eft weaknefs and abfurdity of the following confident ailertion, appear in a finking jjghr, , and therefore add the following words : " But the moft plain, eafy and fatiifatlory anfwer is — That ihefe wcrdi are taken trom the book of flaish's prophecy, and allude to the punifhment or* thofc whofe bodies were ei'her burned in the valley of Hinnom, or permitted to lie on the ground "n the form of dead carcafes, to be fed upon by worm*. And confequ' ntiy, as the fire which burned ihefe bodies, and the •worm- that fed on them, can in no other fenfc be faid not t§ be quenched, and not to die, than thiy, that they continued till thefe carcafes were conlumed ; fo may if be faid of the worm that preys on the wicked in hell, and of /he fire that torments them, that the one dicth not, and the cthet is not quenched, till rhey have certainly eifec'red the difiblution, or death of* wicked men, in the future ftate." Answer. It is granted that thefe wsrds^ Where their warm tiieth not, end the fire is not quenched, arc taken from the prophet Ifaiah ; and that they allude to the diiTolution of dead bodies), by being eat of worms, or confumed by fire : But it cannot be granted that, conjequently, our Saviour, by thefe words, 44 Where their werm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" means a worm that dieth, and a fire that is quenched very foon : For this is to fuppo/e he means direclJy contrary to what he fays. In the valley of Hinnom the worm died and the fire was extinguished, when the dead carcafes were eaten up by the former, or burned by the latter : But Chrilt fays, there it no parallel in this refpec*r, between thefe, and the worm and fire, in hell ; For there their worm doth net die, and the fire is not quenched Sct7.ll. ( 72 ) happy forever? after fuffe ring a temporary puniiliment, though ever fo long and fevere. Judas is therefore, in thefe words, fentenced to endlefs punifhratent. And there is the fame reafon why all impenitent Tinners mould be pumfbed without end, as that Judas fhould. || Our jfaviour fays, Luk. xii. to. «* Whofoever (hall (peak a word again ft the Ton of man, it (hall be forgiven pirn ; but unto him that blafphemeth againft the Holy Ghoft, it jhal not be forgiven" And if fuch an one can never be forgiven, then he cannot be faved ; but gDuft be curfed and punifhed, as long as he cxifts. This is quenched. And the only reafon of this it plain, v]%. becavfe iht (u) jecu on which they prey, which are food for the one, a.'Ki fuel for fhc other,, never will be confuted, as they arc in this world; bu» continue without end, and the fmokc of their torment afcendeth up forever and ever. No advance therefore appear to be made, in \hit mo/i plain, eafy andya- tisfafiory anfvrer, unlefs it be in finding out, that our Saviour pisans one thing, andyi>/ another. Let him to whom thit it flam, eafy and jatisfofiory, avail himfelf of the advantage. When they fpeak or " the difolutien and death of wicked men, in the future flate," who can tell what they mean, >uniefi it be annihilation, or a total ceflation of cxiftencc ? If ene mould read only what is faid on this text, which hat been now quoted, he would naturally conclude they meant this, and held that the punifhment of the wicked would end with the end.of their exiftence, they being utterly eonfumed^ But this is contrary to the title of the pamphlet, and moft that it contain*. What then do they mean bv ct The dijftiuum and death of wicked men, in the future flater" The truth of the cafe feems to be this : The quotation it wade from Mr. Scott, or " tnf and another" of his fentiment 5 whe held that the wicked, after they have been punifhed for a time, will be wholly confumed, aud ceafe to txift. No wonder therefore, we find an unintelligible jumble and in- confiftence, when the advocates for xhtfalvation of all men, »• fuppon their fchtmc, quote from thofe who held direAly the contrary |j Sec note, page 75, ( 73 ) &3. If. is cxprei&d in different words by Se. Mark, Chap, ii[« 29. " He thar mall blafpheme againftthe Hcty Gh oft, bath never forgiven* fs ; >«/ is in danger of eternal dam- nation" In St. Matth. xii. 31, 32. it is fvd *< The blaiphemy againft the Holy Gh ^ft /3a// not be forgiven unto men : But whofocver fpeaketh againft the Holy Ghoft, it mail not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."* Here it is af- ferted by Ghrift in the ftrongeft terms, that this fin (hall not ke forgiven. Therefore they who are guilty of this fin, mutt fufifer endlefs punifhment, uakf* they can have eternal life without forgivenefs. What is faid, Heb. x. 26, 27. ferves to tUuftratt thefe words of Chrift, w For if we fin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, thtre remainetb no more faerifice for fits : But a certain fearful looking-for of judgment, and fiery indignation, whicln Dial) devour the adverfaries." Where there is no facr- fic« for fin, there cannot be forgtvenels of fin : There* fore all who commit this fin, and alt who die in their fins, are got beyond forgivenefs, as che faerifice for fin does not extend to them. That the wicked will never be releafed from punifh- ment, and pafs from hell into the abodes of the bkffed, is aflferted by our Saviour in the words in which he re- prefents Abraham fpeaking to the rich man, Luk. xvL 26. * c And befides all this, between us anil you there is a great gulf fixed: So that they that would pafs from hence to you, cannot ; neither can (key pafs to *;, ibat would come from thence" Agreeable to this is what Chrift hath declared fioce his exaltation, and when he is fpeaking his la/l word.r to hit church and to the world. Rev. xxii. 10, &c. 46 And he faith unto me, feal not the layings of the prophecy of this book : For the time is at hand; he * See note, page 76, that &£ 1L ( 74 ) that is unjuft, let him be unjuft ftill; and he which U filthy, let him be filthy (liil j and he that is righteous, let him be righteous (till % and he that is holy, let him be holy ftili. And behold I come quickly ; and my reward is with me, to give every man according *s his work (hall be." The time here fpoken of * is evidently the time when the events foretold in this book fhall be accomplifhed % when Chrift will come to judgment, and reward every roan, according as his work in this life (hall be found to have been, whether good or evil. And then, he fays, every man's character (hall be fixed, and remain forever as it fhall then be found to be» He that is then unjuft, and filthy, fhall ftill continue fo, without any poflioility of being recovered to rectitude and purity, at any future period. And on the other hand, he that is then found righteous and holy, fhall be confirmed in holinefs, and continue fo to all eternity. What could more fully exprefs the fixed ruin, and endlefs punifhment of the wicked! And what words could be invented, more directly againft their notion who dream, that they who fhall appear unrighteous at the day of judg- ment, fhall in fome after period become holy and enter into everlafting life ? If the exalted head of the church here declares, that they who fhall be found righteous at the day of judgment, fhall continue fo forever, without any danger or pofiibility of ever falling from their righteoufnefs -, which ali allow to be fo •, how is it pofiible for any one nor to fee, that he equally, and in the fame flrong terms declares, that he who fhall then be found unjufl, fhall continue fo from that time, without any pofiibility of being recovered to holinefs, tven as long as the righteous fhall be righteous ftill ? There arc many other pafifages of fcrfpture, which sre clearly inconfiftent with the felv«tiun uf all men* arid 01 ( 75 ) Sea.lt and which, of confequence, nfcceflarily imply the end* lels punifhmeot of the wicked. Thefe are too nume- rous to be particularly mentioned: But they will be pointed out to the reader, who attends to the bible, by being ranked under the following heads. i. The overlafting life and happinefs of the righteous, and the deftruclion and puniihmeni of the wicked, are, in a multitude of inftances, and commonly, fet in cp- pofuioo to each other, as two direct contraries : Wnick could not be a proper way of repre&nting it, or agree- M able || In order to evade the evidence of future, endlefs punifh- meot from thefe words, it haibserJ'aid [ See fome deductions from the fyftem promulgated in the pages of divine revela- ■ tion, p. n.] It Judas bad given up .the Ghoft before he had been born, he would have efcaped all the exo.uifite dif- trefs which he fuff-red in this life, and (o have been happy forever, without being born into this /late of mifery. This repre* fents Chrift as folemniy pronouncing an awful wo on Jud;s, which yet was nothing more than that which comes on every man that is born ; and is. therefore -eqaaliy true of every man, as of the traitor : For every man is born unto trouble as the fparks fly upward ; and his life it- full of | trouble. All which they might iiave efcaped by not being born. Solomon fays, It is better not to be born, i» e. not to exift, than to have an exigence in this State only. Is not this to make our Saviour fay nothing j or rather to trifle about themoft folemn matters ? Not to be born is oppofed to ex»ftencc ; and the only na- tural meaning of the phrafe it, not ;o ccme int» cxiftence. It is further fiid, that Chrift promifed Judas, that he, with the oth;r difcip es, (hould fit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of ifrael ; which is inconfiftent with his being milerable forever* Anfwer. We are told in the firft chapter of the Ac"U of the Apoft»#s, that this was not true of Judas perfonally j but of the twelve when their number was fihed up, by chufing to take the piaccof Judas, from which he fell by his Iran!- giemon. Sea. ii ( 7* 3 able to the truth, if the;' were both to enjoy everlafting life together, in the kingdom of God. If the wicked are to be affl &ed but ror a time, and then delivered from mifery, and be as greatly happy as the righteous and as long; then their periling, iheir puniPnment, is as light as nothing, and but for a moment, compared with the eternal weight of glory and happinefs, which they fhiil enjoy equally with the righteous ; and there- fore cannot be fee in oppofition to eternal life, or the bleffednefs of the righteous, as this would be highly improper, and a grofs mtfrpprefenution. A few in- stances, out of many which might be mentioned, will be* fufEcient to illuitrate this remark. PiaL xxxvii. '8. * Some have faid this lad exprefikm means no more than that this fin fhould not be forgiven, under the Jewifh or Chriftian difpenfation, as the word here tranfla'ed world is ufed fometimes for an age : And this world may fignily the Mofaic dsfpenfa'ion, and the world to some the Chriftian, and not the future itate# Anfwer. It is faid in the proceeding verfe, and in the Other Evangelifts, that this fmjball not be forgiven unto men* without any limitation or exception whatever : And thpfe words that are here added, neither in this world, neither in the vjorld to come y cannot be confidered as limiting the other Words, as they arc not in the other Evangelifts': But they are added to exprefs the fame thing in a yet more ftrong and ftrikmg manner. We know what our Saviour meant by the world to come, by his ufe of it elfewhcre, Mirk. x. 381 «< There is no man that hath left houfe, or -brethren, &c. tor my fake and the gofpteTft, but he fhall receive an hundred fold now in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.'* Here ihc worjd to come means the future ftate, and an end- lefs or eternal ftate, if the followers of Chiift will be happy without end. " (lis clearly mown by Dr. Whitby, that this was ufed ai a proverbial expreffion i and that it only fignified, a thing jhoulk rtettr be, when it was faid, It Jhalh not be, either in this wortd % or the world U come. Dr. Doddiidge on Matin, xii, 32, c 7 7 ) &m i§, 20. " The Lord knoweth the days of the upright ; and their inheritance Hi all be forever. But the wickcjj fkall perifh ." &c. Here the perifhing of the wicked is oppofed to the everlafting, incorruptible inheritance of the righteous; which could not be, if their perifhing were confident with the.r enjoying this everlafting inhe- ritance, as well and as long as the righteous ; For, op that fuppofition, it is as true of the wicked, as of the upright, that their inheritance (hall be forever •> and, in this rciped, there is no diftin&iori; much lefs oppofition. Therefore, to fee them in oppofuion would be a mifre- prefentation, and nor agreeable to the tru*.h. It the perill- ing of the wicked runs paiallei with the inheritance of the upright, and forever excludes them from this inhe- ritance; then thefe words exprefs a great and important truth ; but on any orher fuppofuion, they are peric&ly unin:eiligible, or not true. Thefe fame remarks will apply to thofe words of Chriit and John the 3aptift. Joh. nu 15, &c "That whoibever beiieveth in him, fbould not peri fJ^ but have eternri-i life. For God fo loved the world that he gave his only begotten fon, that whofoever beiieveth in hin% thould not pen/by but have everlafting life." Here it is implicitly aflerted that he who does not believe in Chriit fljall feri/h ; but it to perifh, is net to be exluded ficm eternal life, with what propriety or truth can this be let in oppofuion to having eternal life, when it is as true of the unbeliever, as of the believer, that he (hall have eternal life; and this happy lot is as much the portion *>f the former, as of th* latter ? " He that beiieveth ia the Ion, hatb eT er lading life \ and he that beiieveth not the fon, fhall not fee life; but the wrath of Gad abideth on him." Here what is neceflarily implied in our Saviour's words, juft mentioned, is ex- puffed and we are told what is meant by the unbelievers periling, Stff.ll. ( 78" ) perilling, He flat! not fee life-, but the wrath of God „a- bideth on hirn, as long as he is excluded from life; and 4.hac mud be as long as the believer enjoys everiafting life. Rom. ii. 6, &c : " Who wili render to every man acccording to his deeds. To them who by patient continuance in welJ doing, feek for gldfry, and honor, and immortality, eternal lift ; but to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey un- righteoufnefs, indignation and wrath, tribulation and ari- guifh, upon every foul that doth evil," Kere the re- v/ards or portions of the righteous and of the wicked are contrafted, and oppofed to each other: But if the latter fhali have glory, honor, peace, and eternal life, as well as ^he former ; why are the former reprefented as dif. tinguifhed from the latter in thi^ which is common to them both ? 2 ThefT. ii. 10. &c. " And for this caufe Qpdiball fend them ftrong delufion, that they ihould believe a lie, that they aU might be damned^ &c. But we are bousd always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, becaufe God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation" Here falvation. and damnation are oppofed ; and chriftians are diftin- guifhed from thofe who believe a lie, 2nd obey un- righteoufnefs to their own damnation, and fet in oppo- Ihi'ofi to them, as being chojen to falvation. But if falva- tion and damnation are fo confident with each other, thai all who are damned fliall be the fubjecls of eternal ialvation, and are chofen to falvation^ as really as the true chriftian, what does the A pottle mean by all this ? J:m. jv. 12. " There is one lawgiver who is able to faye. and to deftrey.**-- Salvation and deftruction are here oppofed, as inconfiftent with each other 5 which could not be, ir. there were~no deffruction inccnfifient .with eternal falvation. Match, vii. 13, 14. « Eater ye in at the ftrait gate 5 tor ( 79 ) Se3. II. fcr wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to ciedrucltion. Be s caufe ftrait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto H»e." If all the wicked who go in the broad way, do eater in to life as certainly, and nearly as foon, as they who walk in the narrow way •, only the former pafs through a little more fevere discipline than the other ; is not the broad way ascertain a road to life as the other ? How then can life and deftruct on, and thefe different roads, be opj^ofed to each other ? 2. Fhe holy fcfirVures every where reprefent the fer- varus of God, who tear and fruft in him, as happy and bit fled : And on the other hand, fpeak of thofe who goon in evil ways through this life, as mod miferable, and pronounces woes and curfes on them ; which is nor. confident with their being alike happy forever in the kingdom of Chrift. To the former innumerable pro* miles are made, that no evil (hall come near them ; that all things (hall work for their good, and promote their bed intereft •, a.id that they fhall have eternal life : To the latter no good is promifed, and nothing but evil is fpoken and foretold of them ; for which there could be no reafon, if endlefs happinefs awaited the latter, as certainly as the former. If this were the cafe, they would both be bleffed ; and there would be no fuch great difference between them, Though the wicked (hall fuffer for a time ; yet, if this fhall ifiue in their eternal happinefs, and be the fpecial and neceflary mean of it too, what St. Paul fays or chriltians may, with truth and propriety, be applied to tbem : That their; fufTerings, for a time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which fhall be revealed in tfeem: And their light affliction, which is but for a moment, com- pared with endlels happinefs, wprketh for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight ctf glory. And St; Peter's Sea. ii. ( Bo ) Peter's prayer for fuffering chriftians will be snfwered for Si ihat are in hell, or ever fhall be there; and may with as great propriety be made for them. "The God of a!! gra< e, who harh called us into his eternal glory by Jefus Ch»ift, after that ye have Suffered a while % make you penec%" &c. And the words of Chrilt to his difcipks, may be applied to them. In alt your fuf- fenrtgs, lk Rejoice, and be exceeding glad ; tor great is your reward in heaven,*' Why then is God's word k> full of threatnings of evil to the wicked, without the leaft intirnatioo oi any good coming to them ; and of promises of nothing but good ro the righteous ? Why does God fay to the righteous, that it Hull be well with him , for thev fhall ear of the fruit of their do- ings. Wo unto the wicked, it mall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands fhali be given him. There is no peace, faith the Lord, unto the wicked ; while he fpeaks peace, and nothing but peace, unto his people, and to his faints. Pfal, lxxxv. S.« — Prov. xii. 21. iC ThtrQ iliall no evil happen to the juft ; but the wicked mall be filled with mifchief." The juft fuf- fer much evil ; but it is no evil to them, becaufe it is de- figned for their bed good, and will ilTue in it. And if the future fufferings of the wicked are temporary, and deilgned to purge them from their fi ns«, are neceflary in order to this, and will have this happy effect; why is it not as true of them, that no evil mall happen to them ? Why are they, with refpeft to this, fet inoppofition Ij the juft, and marked out for nothing but miichief and evil? grov. xiii. 21. " Evil purlueth finners : But to the righteous good fhall be repaid.'* Pfal. xxxiv* 19, 8tc. " Many are the afflictions of the righteous : But the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Evil fhall flay the wicked - y and they that hate the righteous mail be defecate." if the fufferings of the wicked in hell are ki ( 8 1 ) Se3. II. in mercy to the^n, and defined to bring them to re- pentance, and they (ball be oelivered out of them all ; then, what is here (aid of the righteous is jufl as true of tru-? wicked ; though theT afflictions and [ufferings may be many, yet the Lord will deliver them out of them all. Why then is directly the oppofite faid of the wicked, that evil frail Jlay or drjlroy him •, when all the evil that comes upon him will work for his poooV and his deliverance is certain and haftening ? Pi'al xciii, 12, 13. " Bleffed is the man whom thou chaftencft, O Lord, and teachelt him out of thy law ; that thpu mayeft give him reft from the days of adverfity, until -the pit be digged for the wicked." If the future punifli- mentof the wicked be of the narute of correction, and God is hereby chaftenmg hirn, that he may teach him wifdom, and bring him to his du y, trut be may be de- livered from all adverfity and evil •, and this Hull be the haopy confequence ; may he not with as much reaibn and propriety be pronounced bleiled, as the righteous ? Why then is he always curfed, and fet in oppofnion to the righteous, in this refpefc ? If the wrked (hall certainly be de 'ivered from hell, as foon as he repents, and makes his fubmiffion to God, and God infli&s thus evil on him, with a de- fig^ to bringHhim to this; then what is fsid of the cmldren of God is as true of the wicked in hell, That God chafteneth them for their profit that tkcy might bt par lakers of his holinejs. And if this be true, are thry no: blejfed ? The whole current of f.ripture, on this head, is perfectly in confident *ith the tempo- rary punifhment of the wicked, and their eternal fal- vation : And therefore evidently aflerts their endlefs deftruclion, 3. The fcripture reprefenrs the wicked, when reject- ed and cad into heli, -as repenting and earnefty de- firing SfS. 11. ( 82 ) firing and feeking deliverance ; but all in vairi ; for their repentance and cnes will not be regarded : Which is inconfiftent with their punifhm^nt being of the nature of merciful chafti r ement, in order to their ob- taining eternal lie, w ach fhall be granted whenever they iubmir, and a*k deiiverence : Yea, ftrongly imports that they never fhall be heard and delivered, Prov. i. 24, &c. " Becaufe I have called, and ye refufed, &c. I alfo will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear ccmcth ; when diftrefs and angufli com^th upon you. Then fhall they call upon me, but I will not anfwer \ they floall feek me early, but they (hall not find me*' Matth. xxv. 11,12. "After- wards came alio the other virgins, faying, Lord, Lora\ open unto us : But he anfwered and faid, Verily I fay uaro you, / know you not** Luk. xiii, 24, &c« ''Strive to enter in at the (trait gate : For many, I hy unto you, will feek to enter in, and /hall not be able. When once the ma Iter, of the houfe is rifen up, and hath fhut to the door •, and ye begin to ftand without, and to knock U the door, faying, Lord, Lord, upon unto us : And he fhall anfwer, and fay jdnto you, I know you net whence ye are : Depart fain me, all ye werkcrs of iniquity: There fhall be weeping and gnaihing of teeth, when ye fhall fee Abraham", and Ifaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you your- feives tbruft cut** According to this, when thg door of mercy is once fhut, it will be flhuc forever ; and how- ever earneftly they/who are excluded may defire and feek admittance, it w/ll be all in vain. * Chrifl * Thefe words of Chrift are in confeqaence of a qutftion v/hich was afked by one, in the following words : *' Lord, are there few that mall be laved I If our Lord knew that all iliou'd be foved, and that this vfas a joyful, glouous doc- trine, ( 83 ) s*a.u; (thrift reprefents the rich man in hell as earneftly praying for a little mitigation of his tormen: •, bus meeting with a denial : And Abraham tells him, There is a great gulf fixsd> i'o that they who would come out of bell cannot. No defires of deliverance that will ever take place in hell, can avail, or be regarded. In the epiftle to the Hebrews, the cafe of thofe who come fhort of being real chriftian3 in this world, and te arc cad into hell, is reprefented by Efau, who, by felling his birth right, loft it forever. " For ye know how that: afterward^ when be wonld have inherited the bleffin,fy ScSAll. , ( 9° ) The propriety and importance of fuch exprefFions as arc pow und^r cvmf ideation, will furcher ap r ear by ob- ferving t 3dly. wills the falvation of all : Wills it as a being of fupreme, un- controulable power, a being (hat will be obeyed in ipitc oC the corrupt difpofitions of men, tec." But this is faid with- out any proof ; yea, contrary to the cleared evidence. God our Saviour willed and commanded that the gofpel fhould be preached to every creature : So that the whole world might be fa^ed, unlefs they fhould perfeveringly reject the falvation offered : But this bis will has been opposed by men, fo that it has not taken effect,- and millions have peiifhed by this neglect. And this is the will fpoken of in the text under eonfideration. Befides, if this meant the efficacious willoi God our Saviour, a will with which the event is necefiariiy con- nected, why has it not taken place in this world ? God can as cafily bring all to the knowledge of the truth and to a ftate of falvation in this life, as in any future time : Why then does he not effect it here ; but put it off ro a ddiant period, in the unfeen world ; with refpect to which not a word is faid of bringing men to the knowledge of the truth, and to falvation, who die in their fins ? Or rather, why will any imagine this, when there is not a tittle in this paffage to fupport it, but all is againft it ? God our Saviour has provided falvation for all men ; has formed an inftitution, which comprehend?, and will infallibly «fTe I kgve gat hexed thy children together^ irven a* a. hen g a there i fi- ber (pi 5 Sea. in. ijrjty. The Jews had very contra&ed, unworthy notions of God's defigns of mercy to mm, and of the work and falvation of the Meffiah. They confined this ial- vation wholly to themfelves, and confiderd all other nations as outcafts, wholly excluded from God's favor,* and all benefits in the kingdem of Chnfl: 5 unlefs they became Jews by circum ifion. This was a fix- ed and favourite do&rine among the Jews 5 and it was not eafy for them to give it wholly up, and free themfelves from all the influence of it, when they em- bracedchriftianity. Theapoftles themfelves, for fcm.tims after the refurreclion of Chrift, formed their notions; of falvation by this Jewim prejudice, in which they were educated § and had no thought of offering falvation to the uncircumcifed Gentiles* Several miracles were at lengch wrought, in order to convince them, thsc in every nation he that feared God, and embraced the gofpel, was accepted of him, and faved, and that God had alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto lite, as well as unto Jews. And this prejudice remained on the minds of the O Jewifh her chickens under her wings, and ye would not ! " Here it the fame word in the original as in the text under confidcra- tion, tranflated «////, and in this pafTage, would, and might have been rendered, how often have 1 willed to gather thy children, &c. Here he repfefenti himfelf at willing the falvation of thes inhabitant! of Jerusalem ; which they prevented taking effect, by their refufal to accept hit offered kindnefs. He had made full provifion for their falvation, and had offered to beftow it on them ; fo that, had they coniented, and accepted the offer, they would have been faved ; and thit he calls his wilting to protect and fave them : But notwithstanding thii f they perifhed, becaufe/^/* would not comply with his kind offers But more than enough has been [aid to (hew how far the words under confiderition are from affording the leaft cvi* deuce of the actual falvation of all men* M. in. ( 92 ) Jewifh chriftians for a long time •, which the apoflte Paul, who WcS the apoftle of she Gentiles, took fpecial care and pains in his. plllles, to oppofe and eradicate, by averting, that falvation by Chrift was as free, and as much tor one nation, as another •, and therefore to be preached and off rd to all nations, and evry man, Without diftin&ion. And with this vie w, the expretfions under confiicrarion are evidently ufed, as well as many others of the like kind, in the New-teftament : And their full meaning, defign and importance will not appear, Without keeping this in view, Ti is obfervation may be tlluflraiid by reviewing the paffage- that has been con- fiderd, 1 Tim. ii 1. &c. The true meaning rmy be ejKpreffjd in the following paraphrase. *« I exhort that chriftians pray for all mm % Gentiles as well as Jews, without making a-ny diltic&ion. For rhis is certainly (acceptable to God our Saviour ^ who is ihe God and Saviour, not only of the Jews, but of the Geniiles alio ; and has provided falvation equally for all nati- and all men ; and has willed and commanded, that the gofpel fhould be preached to all nations, and falvation freely offered to all, without diftin&ion - 9 that j may come to the knowledge of the truth and be faved, unleis they perim by their own fault. For there is bat one God, who is the God of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews 5 and one Mediator between God. and man, even all men, the man Chrift jefus ; whole mediation and atonement therefore does not refpectone nation on- ly j but is unlimited and univerfal ; and he gave him- felf a ranfom for all, that his golpel might be preached, and falvation off red to all men ; which he determined (hould be testified and made known in due time ; how- ever ignorant or it, both Jews and Gentiles have been, in ages pad. This has indeed been a myfteiy, which was j^ept fecret fince the world began 5 but now is mads tnanifeft, ( 93 ) SeS.l manifeft, and by the fcr.iptu r es of the prophets, accc ingtothe commandment of the everlafting God, mads known to all nations for the. obedience of fail b ; that i. ? , that <; Whofoever betieve:h may be faved. The following paflages of fcripture have been ai urged again fl the e of endltfs punimment. G.en\ iii. 15. " It fhal! bruife thy head, and thou fhait bruife his heel." 1 Job. iii. S. tC Tor this fc tHe Son of God was man i felled, that be might 'deftrcy the works of the devil" 1 Cor. xv.25. " For he mult reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet." Ic is laid, thefe fcriptures are incottfiftenc with « inuance of fin and mifery forever ; for thefe are among the ene- mies, which mall be put under the feet of Chrift ; and are the works of the devil, which he c-»me to de- (Iroy. That Satan's head ca'i't be bruifed efTe&ualiy, and his works deftroyed, if any oi the human race pre left in his hands, and finally deftroyed in er.dlefs fin and mifcry. That thefe declarations c!o not afford the lea ft ground for fuch a coniequence, will be very evident, by attend- ing to the following obfervations. 1. The natural and common meaning of a perfon's having his enenres put under his feet, is his complete- ly defeating and overcoming, and triumphing over them. This was reprefen'ted by the captains of the ' men of war in Joshua's army putting their feet on the necks of the kings of Canaan. Jofh. x. 24. This does not imply that the enemies are reconciled to the con- queror, and do cordially fubmit, and become his friend?;, and applaud, and rejoice in his conquefh ; but fup- pofes the contrary, viz. That they continue his ene- mies, though completely overcome ; and they are held under his fee% to anfwer his ends, and grace his con- quest and triumph. Set!. IX* ( 94 ) 2. The devil will be mod effe&ually fubdued ^ hi* ^oiks will be deftroyed, and his head bruifed, in the higheft fenfe and degree, when he (hall be perfectly de- feated and disappointed in all his ends anddeilgns; and every thing he has attempted and done againft Chrift and his intereft, (hall be turned againft himfelf, to an- fwer thofe ends which he conftaotly fought to defeat by all his attempts j and Chrift (hall be more honored, snd his kingdom more happy and glorious forever, than it could have been, if Satan had never oppofed him, or feduced and deftroyed any of mankind. This does, not imply that the devii (hall ever become a friend to Chrift or ceafe to exift, er that all the human race (hall be faved \ but the contrary may be neceflary, in ordei to .effect this to the higheft degree •, viz. that the devil and his angels, with all his impenitent followers in this .world, be doomed to everlafting punifhmem, as Chrift himfelf fays they (hall. And that this is neceeifary in order to deftroy the kingdom and works of the devil moft effectually, and to anfwer the moft important ends to Chrift and his eternal kingdom, will, it is hoped, be jmade to appear in the fequel. In this view, thefe paf- fages of fcripture are fo far from being incenfiftent with cndlefs punifhment, that this is neceffarily fuppofed and implied m what they aflert. Another paftage of fcripture, which refers to the fame event, is found in Phil. ii. 10, X£. " That at the name of Jefua every ksee fhould bow, of things in hea- ven, and things in earth, and things under the earth i and that every tongue fhould confefs, that Jefus Chrift U Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This text has been produced as inconfiftent with endlefs punifh* rnent, and as a full proof, that all men ard devils will be finally faved. The whole weight of their argument, from this paflage, lies in the meaning they affix to bm'$ ( 95 ) SeS. III. ing the knte at the name of CbriJt, and confejfing that Je r us Chrift is Lord. They fay, this means a voluntary homage paid t© him, as his friends and obedient fer- vants. But what evidence is there of this ? The words are as capable of another meaning, as of this, and per- fectly agreeable to ehe defi^n or the apoftle here; which is to fhew how Chiift is exalted and honored, and is to reign until 311 creatures and things in the univerfe (hall be made fubjecl to him, and his enemies put under his feet. Plis friends will bow the knee to him, and cheerfully give him the glory due to his name, and joy- fully iubmit to him, and own him as their i_,ord, and the Lord of ail. His enemies alfo will be obliged to fubmit to him, and own his power aad dominion, and that they arejuftly condemned and punimed by him: And while in punifhing them» he will tread the wine" frefs of the fisreenejs of the wrath of Almighty God y it will be to the glory of God the Father. In this fenfe, this fame apoftle quotes and ufes thefe words, in bis epiftle to the Romans, Chap. xiv. 10, &c. «« For we /hall all ft and before the judgment feat of Chrift. For it is written, As I live, taith the Lord, every knee mail bow to me, and every tongue mall confefs to God, So then, every one of us (hall give account of himfelf to God." Here the apoftle ufes the words only to fignify, that all fhill give an account to Chrift as their judge, and confequently receive a fentence according as their works have been, whether good or evil ; winch he will caufe to b? properly executed. And may we not, rather muff we not^ und«*rftand them in much the fame fenie, when he ufes the fame words in another epiftle ? The apoftle Peter, fpeakwg of Chrift, fays, Acts iii. 21. " Whom the heavens muft receive, until the tinvs of the reflitution of ail things, which God hath fpoketi by the mouth of all his holy prophets, face the world began.'* Seel. 1IL ( 96 ) began." Some have thought thefe words fignify, that all creatures fhall be reftored to holinefs and ha^ pnefs by Chrift. That they import no fuch thing, wiii be evident, if the following things be obferved. 1. The reftitution of all things feems to mean nothing elfe here, but the accompli ''foment of all things which God hath fpeken by the mouth of ail his hoiy prophets. This fenfe is given to the original word, in fome tranf- ktions i and is natural and eafy, and agreeable to the following words, which have been cited. 2. All things will nor be reftored to their former ftace at Chrift's fecond coming, and therefore this can- not be the meaning. This earth and the viiible heavens, are referred unto fire, againft the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men; when the heavens fhall fafs away with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat •, the earth alfo and the works that arc there- in (hall be burnt up. 3. The time of the reftitution of all things, of which the apoftle fpeaks, is the time of Chriit's coming to judgment, which is elftwhere called his coming the fecond time : For the heavens mud receive him, till this time of reftitution, which they will not do, any longer than to the day of judgment •, tor then he will * f So come in like manner as his difciples faw him go Into heaven." Therefore, they who allow there will be any punifhtr*entof men and devils after the day of judg- ment, as all muft who will pay aay regard to the bible, cannot make this text mean the reftonng all creatures to holinefs or happinefs, confident with their own notion of the final reftitution, 4. If the reftitution of all things does not mean only the fulfilment of all the great things which the prophets have foretold, which has be?n obferved as the mofr natural lenfe, and will certain!/ take place at the day of judgment ; ( 07 ) Sea.tlti judgment : And if fomething more, or different, be %=» nified by this exrxeftion, it mull mean the rcftitutiors or all things from the ftate of diforder and confufian, into which they are fallen by fir?, into a ftate of order, at the day of judgment ; when ail fhall be called to an account, and rebellion (hall be filencecj and come to a proper iffue, and every one be rewarded according to his works ; and all obftinate Tinners, both men and de- vils, receive their proper doom and punifliment ; while the righteous are leparated from 4hem, to inherit the kingdom prepared for them : And Chrift and. his king- dom receive all the advantage of the iebellion that has taken place, and of the endlefs puniflvnent of the wicked : So that there fhall be unfpeskably more gfory and happ'nefs in the kingdom of God, in confequc-nce of fin, and the endlefs punifliment of the wicked, ttianr could have been without it. When things fliali be brought to this ftate and iflue, which certainly they m\i be at the day of judgment, the rejlituticn of all things will take place to the highdl degree. Every thing wit| be fet perfectly right \ the wicked will receive their proper punilkment ; all the reproach cad on God's law, government and character will be wiped off, and he fhaii have his full revenue of glory, by all the fin and pu- nifliment of the wicked. Chrift fhali receive the full reward of his work, and his kingdom have all the ad- vantage of the whole. Who can imagine a more per* feci; and glorious re.[ii;ution of all things, than this ? * Another * Chrift fays, Matth, xvii. i r, «' Eliai truly ihali rirft- come, and rs/iore all things." The fame word is ufed here, as in Act. Hi. 1 1. There it is a fubftantive, and here a verb ; and muft (ignify to regulate, and reduce things u crdsr. Tint. the Baptift did, by preaching repentance and reformation, and declaring, that all who reiufed to compty, mould be punifhed in unquenchable fire. Chrift wili rcftorc ail things, by feeing this auft compleiclj executed, Another text, which is produced in Favor ofuniverfal falvation, and to oppofe the do&rine of endlefs punifh- ment, is Rom, v. ii. " Therefore, as by the off-nce of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation : Even fo, by the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came upon all men, unto juftification of life." Anfwer. The apoftle had particularly dated the way, by which men become interfiled in the righteoufnefs and falvation exhibited and offered freely to all in the gofpel \ and proveckthat this is by faith, or believing in Chrift, or receiving him, and the abounding grace, and gift of righteoufnefs by him. And had abundantly ia- lifted, that there is no ocher poftible way for men to have any fharein this righteoufnefs and juftificaiion by Chrift, but by faith. He had mentioned this above twenty times, in this epiftle, before he comes to thefe words now under coniideration, keeping if conftandy in view. It wilifufficeto cite-only three or four inftances now, cut of more than twenry. Chap. i. 16. " For lam not afhamed of the gofpel of Chrift , for it is the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believetb" Ch„ iii. 22. " Even the righteoufnefs of God, which is by faith of Jefus Chrift, unto all, and upon all them that be* lieve." And this chapter begins with the following words, ** Therefore, being justified by faith, we- have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift." And in the fentence immediately preceding the words we are upon, the fame thing is brought into view, though the word Jaitb, ox believing is not ufed. v, 17. "For if by one man's offence, death reigned by one ; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteoufnefs, fhail reign in lite by one, Jefus thrift." Here the word receive is active, and expreifas that particular exercife or aft, by which men embrace the gofpel, or receive Chriflu and is the fame thing with ( 99 ) Sea.nt; with faith, or believing on Chrift. Job. i. 12. u But as many as received him, to them gave he power to be- come the fons of God ; even to them that believe on bis name'' He here limits the abundant grace, and gift of righteoufnefs, by which "men reign in life, to thofe who receive it, or believe on Chrift. Far it is in arid upori all them that believe. There was, therefore, no need of repeating this limitation, in the words under confidera- tion, and faying, " Even fo, by the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came [or comes] upon all men [wba believe J unto juftifkation of life." For this is natufraily and even necejfarily underftood. And it would be doing violence to the words to leave out this idea, and make the apoftle fay, in direct contradiction to whit he had fo> often after ted before, and laboured to prove ; that jut- tificat'on ard falvation comts alike upon all men, be-* lievers, and unbelievers, or whether they believe or not. And this not only makes him contradict hirhfelf, but; the exprtfs words of Chrift, and John the Baptift, tl He that believeth not is condemned already. He that be- lieveth not (hall be damned. He that believeth not the Son, /ball not fee life •, but the wrath of God abidctk en him." The free gift does indeed come to all men, in the offer of thegofpcl-, and it is wholly owing to the wickednefs of men, difpofing them to (light and reject this falvatiopi, thus brought and coming to them, that: all msn, even every ont of the human race, are not ac- tually faved : But ftill it remains true, that they only* who believe, and thankfully receive this offered grace and gift of righteoufnefs, fhall be actually juftified, and reign in life by Jefus Chrift: For he that believeth not, after all, (hall be damned. It has been alio imagined, that the falvation of all men, is afiirted in the viii. Chap, of this EpiftW P v* . 5^,111^ ( i od ) v X p ? — r-3-3' " For the earned expectation of the creacure wiueth for the manifeftation of the fo >s of God. For the creature was made fubj cl to vanity, not wiihnaly, but by reafarc or him who hath fubjecled the fam^ in hope. Becauie the creature itfelf alio fhill be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glo- rious liocy or the children of Grid. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain ther until now : And not only they, but we our- felves alio, wh'ch have the fir ft fruits ol the fpirit, even we ourfelves, g"oan within ourfelves waiting for the adop- tion, the redemption of our body. 5 * In order to make this paiTage of fcripture have the lead appearance of aiT-rring u iverfal falvation ; the creature and the whoh ^creation* muft mean rational creatures only\ of which ther* is not the lead evidence : But that this is not the meaning, is very manifeft. This word, which is ufed four times in thefe verfes, is found in fifteen other places $ and does not appear to ma*n rational creatures only, except in two places. || lc Js ufed tw ce in the fi ft Chap, of thisepiftle, v. 20, 25, where it means the vifible creation, and creatures in generaii as it alio does in the 39th v. of this chap. And that by the creation^ in this pafHge, is meant, not man, but the vifible, material creation, and the various infe- rior creatures, fuoje&ed to man, and abused by him, is. evident: i. Becaufe the creatureis faicSho be made fubjrcl: to vanity, not willingly $ which cannot be true of thofe who are voluntary tervants of fin; which all men are, except thole who are the fons of God. 2. The creature or creation is here diftinguimed from the fons * It it the i d in the original j and the patfage would be more mtelligbe, perhaps, to the Englifh reader, hs'd it been tranfUted the. creation , in each claufe of the ?c^t» I Ma;k, xvi. 15. Col. i. 23., Sell. 111. ( ioi ) foos of Goi, v. 19, 23. So that neither the wicked, nor the children of God, are here intended • by the creation, The apoftle is in this paflage reprcfrntins; t|re cvr- tainty and greatncfs of the glory which (hall tt place in behalf of the church of Chnft, which he bad mentioned in the preceding verfe, as the con quence of their prefent fufferings. This he does, by firfi bringing into view the church's deliverance from the power of evil and wicked men, in the latter day ; when V The kingdom and "dominion, and thegreamefs of the king- dom under the whole heaven, (hall be given to the peop'e of the faints of the mod High i anJ they (hall reign wirh^hrift on earth.'' in order .to exhibit the certainty and greatnefc of this event; he, by a figure often ufed in fcripture, reprefents the whole creation as unwillingly fubjefied to bondage in the fervice or wick- ednels ; and groaning under this calamity, and earnest- ly defiring and expecting deliverance ; which. w il place in this happy ftate of the church, when the crea- tion (hail be delivered out of the hands of the wicked, and confecrated and improved by fainrs, to the glory of God, and happinefs of his children. Thus r the vifible creation, now fubjtcled to var icy, and in dage to fatan and wicked men, to groan, and fpealc a language, which is a fure at d (landing evidence and pledge of the future glory of the church in this wot Id, And then in the 23d ver. he paffes frofjn this de': ance and gl n ry of the children of God, to higher and complete glory of the church, at thi reiurre&ton, when the children of God (hall (nine I as the fun in the kingdom of thei» Father : For when complete redemption, not the whole creation, bui fitter s t $e& 1IL ( j 02 ) lievers, wait and long, in this ftate of fuffering and fin, with eager expectation. * In this view, the connexion of thefe verfes with the proceeding is plain and natural i and the gradation ob- served, clear and beautiful.-— Here is not a word in fa- i vor of univerfai falvation ; but the whole is perfectly confiftent with what this apoftle affcrts in this chapter, and the next, and eJftwhere, viz. That they who live after the flefh jhall die ; and that God, willing to fhew his wrath, and make his power known, endureth with much Jong- fuffering thefe veffels of wrath, fitted to de- ftruftion. Who fhali be punifhed with tverlatting de> JlruBion^ &c. Eph. i. 10. " That in the difpenfation of the fulnefs of times, he might gather together in one all things in Chrilt, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him." Col. i. 20. «' And having made peace through the blood of his crofs, by him to re- concile all things unto himfelf, by him, I fay, whe- ther they be things in earth, or things in heaven. "— Thefe words have been produced by fome, as contain- ing the doclrine of univerfai falvation; as all things^ which are in heaven and on earth, are here faid to be gathered together in one, and to be reconciled unto God by Chrift, which, they fay, certainly muft comprehend fit men. AnjweK * When it is faid, ver. 21. cc The creation itfelf (hall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God ;" the meaning is, that the "vifibie creation, which is now abufed to anfwer the purpofes ff the enemies of God, (hall be delivered from this bondage, * n itfelf 10 undefirable, in the deliverance, and glorious liber- ty and triumph of the church, in the latter day*, and for the ^ke of the children of God. The word here tranflated into, » many times in this cpiftic, and in other places, tranflatsd, \n } /or, to, and unto* ( I0 3 ) Sea. 111. Anfwer i. By gathering together, in one, nil things in « Chrift -, or, as it might be rendered, gathering all things together under one head, is doubthfs meant, fee- ting Chritt at the head of ail things in heaven and earth, i. «. on the throne of the univerfe, having the govern- ment and dire&ion of all things put inro his hands : Or, as hehimfelfexprefleth it, Matth. xxviii. 18. •« Ail .power is given umome, in heaven and in earth." Ch. xi. 27. •* All things are delivered unto me of my Fa- ther." The whole created univerfe, which is exprefled by heaven and earth, and the things therein, fell into a diffolvedand broken ftatr, in a feme, by the introduction of fin. Chrift is appointed to bear up the pillars of it, to prevent any evil coming by fin, on the whole •, and to bring thegreateft good out of it, by the redemption of the church, and its attendants and confequences : And that he may effect this, all things are put into his hands, and he is made the head of all. This is exprefled by theapoftiein the fame chap. v. 22. in different words, which ferve to explain thefe under confideratioi, "And bath put all things under his feet,' and gave him to b: head over all things to the church." To gather together all things under one head, and to conftitute Chrift head over all things, is the fame thing. But this does not imply the falvation of all things^ or of all men, nor has any relation to it. 2. The other paffage in theepiftleto the Colofiians, doubtlefs means much the fame thing with this, and they are to be confidered as parallel texts. Whoever reads thefe two epiftles, with attention, written by St. Paul, and mod probably about the fame time, and compares them together, will find that much the fame matter is contained in them, and often exprefled in the (am; words with but little variation. The only differ- ^ fincc in the words of thefe two parallel places is, that in &5. III. { 104 ) In the form t all things in heaven and earthy are faid to \aibered together in one^ in Cnrift. In the latter the fame things are U\\ to be reconciled by him. When all things in the creared univerfe, which had in a meafure fallen into confufion, and jarring contradictions and difcorJ, by rebellion, were put under Chrift, to be farmeci into one harmonious fyftem, bringing good out of all the evil, and caufin^ every thing to confpire to kring the greateft honor to Gad, and ;iiae in the high-' eft good of the whole-, all things in heaven and earth were, in the muft important and higheft fenfe, recon- ciled to God, in him; and this is the fame with ga- thering ail things together in one, by or in Chrift. Thus ihcfe paflfages appear to harmonize, and txprefs one .and the fame thing. How can all things, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven, by which more are comprehended than angels and men, and all fational creatures, be reconciled \ in any other fenfe ? Thefe words, therefore, make nothing agairift endlefs punifhment ; bin are in favor of it, and neceflarily imply, it if this be mod for the honor of G( d, and the general good ; and receflary, that all things may be put in due order, and the moil perfect harmony \ which will be confidered in a following fecYion. Some have thought the words of St. Paul, t Cor. xv. 22. aflert the falvation of all men, " For as in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift (hall all be made alive." But this muft certainly be owing to want of proper attention to this chapter in general, and to the words which imme- diately precede and follow thefe. Theapoftle is here fpeaking of the refurrecTion of the body •, of the refur- reckon of Chrift, and of thofe who belong to him : And cot a word is here faid of the refurredion of any other perfon, but tbofc whom Chrift repeatedly promifes toraife up at the laft day, viz, thofe who in this lift believe / ( loj ) St J. lit believe on him, Joh. vi. 40. " And this is the will of him that lent me, that every one which feeth the foa, • aid believeth on him, may have everlafling life $ and I will raife him up at the I a ft day." It is certain from fciipture, that there fhall b#a refurrc&ion of the wick- ed ; but this is not brought into view by the apoftk in this chapter ; but he attends wholly to the redirec- tion of Chrift and his people ; that is, the refur- re&ion of the body. The words with which thefe are x connected, make this (ufficiently evident. «' For il nee by man came dea h, by man came alfo the reftmed of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift: fhall all be made alive. But every man in his Own dcr; Chrift che firft fruits, afterwards they thatafeChrift's at his coming." By death and dying is meant the death of the body, and by refurreftioh, and being m alive, is meant the refurreclion of the body, and that oniy of the faints. The wod all is therefore neceflTarily reftrained here to all that belong to Chrift. When it is fa id, In A *//die; it means all that are in Adam, ail his pofteii- ty ; and when it is faid, In Chrift all fhall be made alive, it means all that are in Chrift; fo that the latter all is not of equal extent with the former, Tbcapoftic cxprefTeih himfelf here, juft as he does vyhen fpcaking of Adam and Chrift, in that paftage which has been confidered, Rom. v. 18. " Therefore as by the offence: of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even fo by the rigbteoufaefs of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." It has beta (hewn, that bv the context the words all nun in the lafi claufe are necefTirily reftrained to all thole who belong to Chrift, or b lieve in him -, and in juft the fame man- ner the word att 9 in this place, is by the context*, and the matter treated of, neaffkrily reftrained to all that arc SiSAtt ( xo6 ) are Chrift's, or believers in him. And they who will not attend to the context, and take thefe words in their only natural, plain meaning, but run away with the meer found of a word or two, without confidering their connexion, only to fupport a favorite opinion of theirs, will not underftand the fcriptures, but remain in darknefs. Our Saviour fays, Joh. xiL 32. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men upto me." It has hence been inferred with great aiTurancc, by iume, thar every one of the human race will be faved by (Thrift, This is the only word which Chrift fpakc when he was on earth, in favor of univerfal falvation, if this be fo : And this had need be very plain, and ftrongly af- ferted here, aad fo that the words cannot poflibly be underftood in any other fenfe 1 to counterbalance all that has been quoted from him, in which the contrary is aflerted 'over and over again, in the mod plain and unequivocal terms. One defign of Chrift's coming in* to the world was to reveal the true character of God 5 to proclaim the love of God and his defigns of mercy to men, and what would be the ifiue of all this to man- kind. And if his grand defign was to fave every man, and this were nectflary for the full and mjft glorious d.fplay of the divine character, it might have been ex. pe&ed that he would dweli much upon this glorious theme, the falvation of all % and fet it in a light mod clear and inconteftible. But the fact is fo far from this,- that he dwelt abundantly on the future and everlafting punifhment of the wicked % znd fet it in the ntoft alarm- ing, dreadful light •, representing it by being caft into & furnace of fire •, into a fire that never fh all 6e quenched % where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched y and dwells long upon if, repeating it again and again. And he leads us to the day of judgment, and repreients himfdf as dooming the wicked, even all who were not jfriendly ( io7 ) &8. nr; vjly to him in this world, to everlaftin% fi-e \ and concludes by fay tag. The ft /hall go away into everlaftin+ punilhment. And he has not left the L-aft hint to cau- tion us againft understanding him as affming the end- lcfs punifhment of the wicked •, nor has he fpoken one fentehce, that any one pretends has the lead appear- ance of a contrary meaning* unlek it be this. If whttk this is careiully examined^ it mould appear to affert, that every man that ever did, or (hull exift, fliall be faved, and cannot be fairly underitcod in any other feiife •, we fhill be thrown into an inextricable plunge by fi.iding a mod aitonifhing incorififtence ! But there will appear'no danger of falling intd fuch a difficulty » *nd an eafy and natural fenle will be found in thefe words, confident vvith the endlefs punifhrncne of the wicked, by attending to the following obfer- tfatiofrs. i* Thefe Wot&i dfCftrift evidently re/pe<5 the con- fequence of his crucifixion, in this worlds and while men are in this !ife%s and it is a f creed fenfe indeed, to fuppofc they refpect every perfon that had ever lived, and was then in the unfeen w^rid ; or that he means to fay* that though m?n liye in unbelief through life, he will draw them to himielf, and they fhall be converted after they die. The words of Ghfift respecting the fame thing, fsrve fully to explain thefe, Joh. iii. 14, 15. " As Mofes lifted up the ferpene in the wildernefs 5 even fo mud the Son of man be lifted up 3 that ivhofaver tetieveth in him % fhould not pcrifh, but have eternal life," Here Chrift tells how mm fhould be drawn to him, viz. by believing on him, and all that do not be- lieve on him, are repre fenced as certainly perijhing. 2. The words ally and all nMiy are u.ed, when every individual is not intended, but nkiny or all in general, cr z great multitude. There are tru following inlUnces QL pi Se8. 11L ( 108 ) of this; and many more that might be mentioned Matth. Hi. 5, 6. «' All Judea, and mil the region round about Jordan went out to John, and were baptized of him in Jordan." Mark xi. 32. t€ All men counted John 9 that he was a prophet indeed.'* It is faid all men came to Chrift, Joh. iii. 26. Mark i. 37; The difciples fay to Chrift, " All men feek after thee." They do not mean every man without exception ; for that was not true. The words all men are fornetimes ufed for the gentile nations in general, in oppofition to the Jews only ; and to fignify, that the gofpel aid falvation were not con- lined to the latter •, but equally extended to the former 1 though every man be not included. Our Saviour fpeaks the words under confideration, at an interview which he had with a number of Greeks^ profelytes to the wor* Slip of the true God, from among the Gentile*, who had wiie up to Jerufalem to worfhip at the feaft ; and, upon their defire, were introduced to him, by his dif- ciples. Thefe words are fpoken with reference to them * and are fuited to convey this idea to them, viz. That after his death, of which he fpeaks in the preceding verfes, falvation by him fhould be extended to the gen- tile nations, as well as to the Jews; and they fhould be drawn unto him 1 And net that he would actually fave every one of the human race * for fuch a thought could not be fuggefted to them by thefe words* Nor have we now any warrant to put fuch a forced meaning on them, when another, confident with all that Chrift has faid of everlafting punifhment, is fo natural and eafy. 3, Salvation by Chrift is not only extended to all nations;, but the influence of the gofpel will continue and fpread, till all men in general, if not every individual perfon then living, ftall be drawn to Chrift, and be- come his friends and fervants. This event is fo much aid { 109 ) SefitAlte and fo often predi&ed in the fcriptures, that none who attend to them properly can be ignorant of it, Chrift rcprefents this, by a woman putting leaven into three meafures of meal, which continues there, till the whole is leavened 5 and by many other fimilitudes, all im- porting, that the gofpel of the kingdom Gull be preached and fpread in the world, till, by the divine influence at- tending it, all nations, the whole world, or all mm % ffoall be brought into fubjeftion to him 5 and the king- doms of this world mall become the kiigdom of Chrift. " The Lord will make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all n*ti$ns, and ail the ends of the earth (hall fee M?e falvation of God/' Ifai. lit. 10. "And they mall ail know the Lord, from the lead of them, unto the great- er* of them " Jen xxx?. 54. In the 2 2d Pfal. where the death of Chrift is predicted, the confequence of this is exprefled in the following words j "All the ends of the world mall remember, and turn unto the Lord ; and all the kindreds of the nations mall worfliip before thee." Thefe words, and thofe of our Saviour, under confide* ration* exprefs the fame event, and illuftrate each other. Who then can dunk they imply the a&ual falvat;on of all the human race? Another pafTage of fcr/'pture, which has beea pro- duced, as favouring the dod» ine of univerfal falvation, h 1 Pet. iii. 18, 19, 20. Speaking of Chrift, he fays " Being put to death in theflefh, but quickened by the fpirit : By which alfo he went and preached unto the fpirits in prifon ; which fometime were difobedi-nt, when onee the longfuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing," A few observations. on the(e words, will be fufHcient to ftasw, that there is nothing in them favourable to the falvation of ail men \ but directly the contrary. i. Granting, that Chrift did go and preach to the fpirits,, 5<5. lit. ( no )' fpirifs, when they were in prifon, either be/ore or arte? his refurrecticn, though it is not afTerted in thefe words y for this was done by the fpirit, and they might be preached to before they were fpirits in prifon : Yet n granting as above, we are not told, what be preached. He might preach no glad tidings, and nothing but ter- ror and eternal damnation to them, confident wkh *11 ghat is faid here. 2. If it be granted, that he preached the gofpel to them, we are not told what was the effect* or that fo inuch as one of them repented and believed, and was d< levered out of prifon. They may all be in prifon yet, notwithftanding any thing that is faid here; and confequently, be more miferabje forever, than if they had not heard this preaching. 3. Granting, not only that Chrift did preach to the m when in frifon •, and that he preached the gofpel to therc% and offered to u\ liver arid fave all of them ; but that they all accepted the offer, and are gone to heaven •, all which is only matter of mere conjecture, as neither of thefe is aliened, or implied in ehis pafTage 1 gut grant- ing them all, it does not follow from hence, that all the reft of mankind, who die in their fins, or that fo much ss one, except tho-fe who lived in the days of Noah, will be faved. But the contrary may beyery ftrongly inferred: For if ail that had died in their fins, from the beginning of the world to the death ot Chrift, were to.be faved, why- are thpfe who perifhed by the flood finglcd out from all the reft, and the preaching of Chrift confined to them ? This looks as if they were to bediftinguifhed from alio? ther?, who are left in prifon, without hope of deliverance. This test therefore appears to be a poor, fandy foun- dation for a man to build his hopes of falvation upon, before ihe Hood, who oppofed him, and the fpirit of Civil, preaching to them by him. God waited on them with long 1 offering • and Noah went through his fuffefiAg and work with patience and refolution ; till si length* he time of vengeance came ; when Noah and ha family were faved ; but the difobedient were de- .d ; not by ceafmg to exiiV ; for though their bo- dies ptfifhed, cbeir fouls were ihut up in the prifon of fcell, where they now were, and had been above two thoofand ye»ars \ not as prifoners of hope, but ofjuf- tice, reserved unto judgment, and final, eternal condem- nation. This reprefentation is fuited ts» fupport and encourage Cnriilianij while ifcey were ridiculed andop. pofcd, and [offering by wicked men, in the midfr of a crooked and per vex Ce nation ? and to excite them, with patience and nveekntfs^ to wait the expected end. Su Feter makes u(e of this inftance to the like purpofe* in fcis fecond epiftle, in the following words* " For if God fparcd not the old world, but faved Noah, the eighth perfon, a preacher of rightcoufnefs, bringing m the Bood upon the world of the ungodly j the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations^ and to reterve the unjuff. unto the day of judgment, to be punilhed/' And by the way, if the ungodly men, who penmed by the flood, were delivered and carried to heaven by Chriit, fo long feefore the day of judg- mtac, they could not be a fit inftance of God's rcferv-- tag wkkui men unto the day of judgment to be pu-' & tilled, and it was not to the apottle'i purpofe : But if they were then in the prlfcn of hell, refer ved in con- firsementj unto judgment, to be puntfhed with a feve- rity becoming their guilt and wickednefs ; this example is mentioned agreeable to truth, and h fuited to anlwer Ms end, Oa the whole, therefore, there is n ot the lead evi$ dence { 113 ) SeS.tlL dencc from theft words of St. Peter, that any orre tttsn that has died, or (hall die in his fins, ever was, or ever will be delivered from a ftate of punifhfnen% to all e- ternity: But the whole that he fays has a different and contrary complexion, viz. That men who are difobe- dient to Chrift, while they live in this world, are end into the prifon of hell when they die ; and are kept there in euftody, unto the day of judgment-, when they (hall receive of Chrift, thejudge,accordiRgto what they have- done in thebody^ and be doomed to a mGre fevere and everlafti.ng puniflhment. Rev. v. 13. " And every creature whfcfi is irrhej* ven, and on earth, and under the earth, and fuch as are in the fea, and all that are in them,. heard 1, laying, 6lef- fing, and honor, and glory, and power, be Unto him that fkeeth upon the throne, and un r o the Lamb, for- ever and ever." Thefe words have been produced by fome, as a proof that all men and devils will be happy, and praife God, arid Chrift forever and ever. How far they are from proving any fuch thing., will appear, tf it be confidered : I. John faw this take place, and heard this univer- fa! fong of praife, when Chrift took the government of the world into his hands ; being nv.de head over all things to the church; reprefentcd by his taking the book out of the right hand of nim who tat upon the throne, in order tu open the fealsof it, add accompli (h the divine decrees contained in it, in the ad mm. ft ration of providence, to the end of the world. This therefore can have no reference to the winding up and itTue cf things, at the day of judgment, or in cny after period % and confequently can have no refpect to the final falva- tion of all, or or any. And long alter this fcene, when all the leals of the book were opened, John faw all His devils, and all the men who died in their (in?, cad intd SeS. 1IL ( 114 ) a lake of fire ; where they were to be tormented Forever and ever : And he certainly had no vifion before, or after, which is contrary to this, or looks beyond it. 2. If thefe words arc any proof of the falvation of all men j they are an equal proof, that every creature on earth, and under the earth, and in the (era, and all ikit are in tbem, both beraih, fcrpents, worms, and filheSj will actively fmg praife to God ; becoming reafonable creatures, and having the faculty of fpeech, and will be happy in this empfoy forever. Buz there are very lew, if any, who will believe all this to be ailbrted here. Therefore a more natural* confident meaning offers ic- fclf, and murt be the only true one. 3. This is only a figurative reprefentationj to exprefs the univerfai fubjection of all things to the power and government of Chrift 5 to be improved to anfwer his tnds, and to promote hi* blelfednef9, honor and glory $ and^the happinefs of this defirable 3 joyful event, and his worthiness to receive all this. This is parallel to the frequent repretentations in the prophets and in the pfalms, where mountains, Hills and trees* beafts and cattle, fire and hail ? ftormy wind, dragons, and all the Works of creation^ are reprefented as praifin'g God \ Ho\$ abfurd would it be to infer from this, that all things were rational, and capable of praifing God in an a&ive v/ay, or ever will be? All the creation praifes Gcd, as the divine glory and cfrarafisr are exhibited by every creature 5 but in this all creatures and things* are paffivey except thefe which are rational, and the friends of God* They are the pnefts, who actively offer up this praife to 1 God % for which, all his works of creation and provi- dence afford the rm(t ample matter. In this fenfe, "The wrath of man mall praife God " Pfal. Ixxvi; 10. All the rebellion of creatures he will turn to his p,wn higheft hoax and praife 1 And if it be neceflkfj^ ( H5 ) ScS.IJh in order to this, that there (hould be endlefs punifnmen%' which may be true, and the evidence, tint it is fo, is to be exhibited hereafter ; then this punifhmenc, aid chofe that (hall bt punifhed forever, (hall render an eternal tribute of praife to God, which otherwife could not have been obtained. In this view, th± words under examination are fo far from implying, that all creatues, or all men, mail be happy forever, thac the contrary is neceffanly 'implied, viz. That creatares will be pu- nifhed without e?id ■> even as many as (hall be ne'cefiVy for Gjd's higheft honor and praife. The fmoke of their torment (hall rife up in the fight of all happy in- telligences, and bring a tribute of praife to God, which fhall be ac'tivciy offered up to him, by thofe who are his happy friends! See Rev. xix. i, &c. Pfal. cxlv. 9. The Lord is good unto-all, and his tender mere i*s are over all his works.*' 1 Joh. iv. 8, 16. "God is love." It is laid the character thefe words give of God, is inconfiftent with his makiagany of his creatures miferable forever. Aofwer 1. This is not inconfiftent with his punifh- ing them, and inflicting very great evil and mifery upon them. This we know he has done in this world. He d-ftroyed the inhabitants of the old world with a fl )od. He burnt up the inhabitants of S^d)m and Gomorrah with fire and brirpftonp. He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the red lea. He deftroyed tha inhabitants of Canaan by fire and fword ; and he infr\<5b all the evils that nations or individuals have fufXered in this world -, of which there are inftances innumerable, and many of them very dreadful and terrible. The Pfalmift lays, in the v/ords preceding thole juft quoted, u Men (hill fpeak of the might of thy tcmb'.c alls'" In Pfal. lxvi, 3, &c. are the following words, *'S\y unto Gjd, bow terrible art thou in thy works ! Come and f:c the works R of SefLlW ( 11 6 J of God i he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men/' And he is often failed, The great and terrible God, with whom is terrible majefty* And if all this be confident with his g co a!:, and with his tender mercies being over all his works \ then any degree and duration of puriilhoieht, which his creatures defevvc, may be nt with it, notwuhfUndu-g any thing we know. Can any ma?n prescribe to God, and point out the exac~t meaiure of evil, and the length of the puniftiment creatures may fufter, confident with his goodie fs ? A.f. 2. God may be good to all, and his tender mercies be over all his works ; and yet punsfh his crea- tures- with cndlefs mifery, Where is there ms % who has not experienced the goodnefs of God ? Let him be pointed out, if there be one. In ibis world, of which the PfaliTiift evidently fpeaks, and not of the invifible world, every one who has lived, do?s now, or ever will live, receives great and conftant kindnefs from God j for every thing better than perfect mifery, is goodnels and tender mercy to finners. * Anf. 3. Though God be LOVE, inflate, un- bounded goodnefs ; yet this is not only confident with his purjifhing creatures according to their deferts •, but his great love and goodnefs may influence! him to punifh them without end j and not to do it, may be iRCon- ;nt with infinite goodnefs. It is not thought inconfiftent with the greatest bene- volence and compaffion, in an earthly king or judge* to fent^nce a criminal to a moff painful death ; and to fee it executed, when the fufferer deferves it, and this is * Some render ths original word* thus, cc His tender mercy is above ali his works." That is, his work of mercy in the redemption.of tinners, is his chief and higheft work* So it is translated in the Septwaginr, and by other!. ( ii7 ) 5*7. III. knecefTary fcr the public good : Yea, this is not oMy confijhnt with the moft extenfive and unbl< mifh^d goodaeis •, but is itleli an extrcife and act 01 love a^d goodnefo ; becaufe the public and general good is fou; and promoted by it. And it is the nature of true, arid the moft exalted love and benevolence, to regard th? good of the public ; and not -co give that up, and acVcon- trary to it,v in order to favor an unworthy individual. To do this is partiality, which is contrary to upright- nefs and goodnefs^ Yea, to fpare the criminal frcm juft punilhment, in tuch a cafe, would be fo far from the dictates and fruit of love, that it would be an act of unrigficeoufnefs and cruelty ; to injure the public, and hurt millions, in order to grant an undeierved favor to any individual. Should a king fpart his own Ion ft \ a j oft punifhrr.en% when the good of the public required that it fhould be inflicted, and thereby ruin the whole kingdum ; this would be the height of injultice and cruelty. * If * And his cauHng his fon to be punifhed, would be fo far from an act of cruelty, that it wou'd be an act cf mercy ; and perfectly confident wifh love and tender companion for his fon. Yea, it would be an evidence of his true bmevoienu io bis jojty as it would be the ftrongeft evidence of b;s iove to the public . For true love, to the community, neceffarilv imp benevoence to every individual of which the community \z compofrd. The following words of Cicero, the famous Roman orator* in his fourth oracion againft Cataline, who v*as at the head of a confpiracy, formed to deftroy the city and the the pVin- 'Cipal men in it, are worthy 10 be introduced here. "For let me afk, Should a mafter o , finding bis d righ- teoufntfs have rejecl • «ioelnne of »he infinite evij or ill defert of fin, as no- * cated, and involving unanfwerable dif- ficulties, in ih ■•• view; and yet have thought sbcy could give a good reafon, why -hey who die in their fins fhould be ptiniOied forever, via. Becaufe they wiM continue to fin, and remain in a ftate of rebellion witl and therefore will deferve to be punifhed without end ; and this will be pro* | per, and even necefTary. But perhap*, when this is examined, it wtfl not appear to have any weight, or agreeable tofcripture or seafon. For, i. The fcripture reprefems tinners to heed to this puniihmenr, and punifhed in th* future ^ the fins which they did commit, when in the punimment, Se8.lV* ( 122 ) teoufnefs t© the plummet, and rewards Tinners accord ding to their works. But when we attempt to reafon on this fubjeft, it ought to be done with great care and caution, left, through partiality in our own favor, we fhould reafon and judge wrong. Men have all finned againft God, and joined in a common rebellion; and this is natu^ rally attended wich a lelfifh partiality, difpofing them to overlook their own guilt, and call in queftion the~ righteoufn*fsof their Maker's conduct, if he treats them according to their deferc. Therefore, however juft it may appear to an impartial judge, that rebellious crea- tures fhould be puni(hed forever \ yet, no wonder if the heart of rebels frnuld rife againft it, and fo far pre- judice their minds, as to blind them to the reafonable- nefs of i r , and lead them to pronounce it unjuft. The danger of error here lies chiefly on this fide. Whether fin bean infinite evil, and in what fenfe it is fo, will appear, it is hoped, by attending to the fol- lowing obfervacions, objections and anfwers. i. All Cm^ or wrong affection and conduct of men, is more or lefs criminal, according as their obligations to the contrary are greater or lefs; or, according to the degree of obligation that is violated, is the degree and magnitude or the crime in violating fuch obligation. There are different degrees of obligation. A man is under greater obligation to love and befriend his pa- rents, wife and children, or his benevolent friend, from whom he has received innumerable kindneffes ; than he is to a ftranger, or one who has no peculiar relation to him. Therefore, if he is unkind asd injurious to the former, this is an unfpeakably greater crime in him, than his unkind and injurious treatment of the latter can be. z. The obligations which men violate by fin, or wrong { 123 ) Se3.lV; Wrong affection or condu&, are chiefly derived from the object who is thereby oppofed and injured : Therefore^ the chief aggravation or all fin, or the greatneis ot the crime, is derived from the object, againft which it ia committed ; and is according to the grestnefs, excellence, worth and imporcaiuft/of that object, and the criminal's fpecial concern and on with it, &;. There arc indeed other considerations which may render oblsga- tionj in particular inftances, greater or lefs, and conle- fequently, the magnitude of the crime in violating. tor.. obligation, will be m (nine refpects varied by thefe : But ihe chief and higheft aggravation of all fin has its foundation in the object again (I which it is committed,, and the evil of ic chiefly con fids in this. Hence it is a greater crime for a fon to hate and in- jure, and act a cruel part towards his excellent father, who prefides in a large family with dignity and bene- volence, and who alone provides for him, and all the reft ; than it would be, for him to treat one ot the feN vants in the family after the fame manner. It a man fall upon a ftranger, whom he meets in the road, and takes awsy his life, in order to obtain his money, his crime is great ; But if he proceed to takeaway the life of his moft worthy friend and greateft benefactor, sVhn had often refcued him from death ; this would be acnm : im nenfely greater than the former. He is very crinr . nal who injures, and feeks to deftroy, and actually takes away the life of one of his inoiFenfive, though moft inconfidcrable neighbours : But how much mon criminal and ill deferving is he, who riles in rebellion •gainft a m >(l excellent prince, on whom a great na- tion depend for protection, fupporc and happinefs ; ani actually dethrones him, and puts him to death, an i hereby brings total ruin on his whole kingdom ? Concerning lu:h inftances as thefe, the commonlenfe, S fcelinas jw?.iv. ( 124 ) feelings of men determine without hefitation, arid even if- refiftioly, without the labor of long reafoningj they bting, in a fenfe, felfevident. And doubtlcfs, if men had as clear decerning, and as great fenfibility, refpecling the being- and character of God, his prefence, greatnef^ power, ex- cellence, goodnefs, £cc. and of the abfolute dependence of all things on him, and of the infinite importance of his being and kingdom, as they have, with refpecl to thofe things mentioned in theexamples above*, the conviction of the infinite magnitude of the crime of rebelling againft him would be more than equally clear and imfiltible. In all the inftane;s mentioned, and in all of this kind that can be imagined, the greater guilt and ill defer* of the criminal arifes from the object injured, againlt which the crime is committed % and is in proportion to the degree of obligation violated by the tranfgrefTor. 3. All the fins of men are committed againft God : He is oppofed and injured thereby. This cannot be difputed, fince fin is a tranfgrefiion of the Jaw of God % for to difregard, oppofe ana defpife the law of God, is certainly to difregard, ©ppofe and defpife God, and to life in rebellion againft his authority and government. Some instances of fin are more dire fily againft God, than others*, but all Cm is againft him, and he is the chief object who is oppofed and injured by it 1 becaufe he is the firft and the greateft 5 and fo much exceeds all other.*, who can be injured by fin, in his being, worth, and ex- tenfive "rights and intereft, that, in comparifon with him, they arc 0$ no confideration, fink into nothing, and vanim. This is ftrongly exprefTed by David, when he was humbling himfeif before God for his fins. ** Againft thee, thee only, have I fmntd, and done this evil in thy fight" 4, God is infinitely great, excellent, and worthy % and his being, intereft, honor and kingdom, are of infinite ( 125 ) Se8. w, infinite worth an&importance. His intereft is fo grear„ eitenfiveand univerfal, that, ftri&iy fpeaking, there is no other intereft, but this One, in the univerie. He has made all things for bimfelf : He is the only proprietor who has an abloluce, perfect, and unalienable right to all creatures and things. Th<*y all depend wholly and conftantly on him j and he is the boundlefs, infinite benefactor to all : His authority over all is without limits, and his government abfoiutcly peifeet. Therefore, all fin is sgainft an infinitely gicar> worthy and important object •, it is oppofuion to God, his whole intereft and kingdom-, ic dtfregards and defpifes him, and tramples his authority under foot. From thefe premifes, which none can difpute, but all mufl grant, the plain and unavo ; dibie conciulion is, that ail fin is infinitely criminal and ill defcrving. This propofuion is as dernonftrably certain, as any one of a moral nature can be. If wrong affe&ion and conduct be criminal, in proportion to the greirnefs of the obli- gation to the contrary j and the obligation be great in proportion to the grearnefs and worthinefs of the obj-ct injured by fuch wrong O f7ection and conduct : If all fia be againft God and injurious to him j and he is infinitely great and worthy, and his incerett and kingdom infi. nicely great and important ; all which is granted : Then men are under infinite obligations to God, to love and ferve him, and be friendly to his ir.terrlt and king- dom ; conlequencly all oppofitton to thefe, is a violation of infinite obligation, and infini.cly criminal. Or (horter thus : Every crime is great in degree, in proportion to the greatn-fs and worthinefs of the being, *g.nr.(t wlvch it is committed. Every»fm is committed agunft God, and is an injury done to him, who is infrntely great and worthy : Therefore every fin is a crime of infinite ea.-'Sn::ude, 4&d defcrves an bfuitc pqpiihmott. $. Sc8.IV* ( n6 ) 5. The infinite evil of fin appears from the evil con- fequence of it, or the evil wh;ch it naturally tends to produce, and will take place, unlefs* prevented. A crime is great in proportion to the evil it tends to eff£t, or is ihe natural confequence of ic. But the evil whick . fin aims at, and tends to produce, is truly infinite. This appears from what has been already observed. All fin is againft God, and his whole intereft and king- dom : Ic tends to difoonor and dethrone the Almighty $ rodeftroy all his bappinefs, and to ruin his whole in ce- re fl and kVg^oTi; to introduce the moft dreadful con- fufion arid i( finite mifcry, and render the whole univerfe IhftniLely worle than nothing, to all eternity. If there be any fuch thing as infinite evil, this is fuch; and he who aims at this, and docs' the leaft towards if,' or what has a direct tendency to h, is guilty of a crime which has no bounds, in this refpect, as to its degree of ill defers It is big with infinite rnifchief, and therefore is in itfelf an ir.finife evil ; and nothing fhort of endiefs punifh- ment can be its proper reward. To infLct an evil in- finitely lefs than this, as a punifhment, falls infinitely Aioft or bting anfwerable to the crime, or of manifefling i"h« J evil or guilt of it. To this it will be objected, perhaps, that no fuch evn actually takes place. God cannot bs dethroned, or really hurt, by thciluner; he* is .infinitely beyond the jeach or the rebel; and his kingdom and intereft can- not be hurt : Yea, God will over-rule ail fin for his own honor, and to promote the happine fs and glory of his khgdem forever. -Why tht-n fhould the finner be p,inifhed, as if he had actually effected infinite evil, when the evil tendency of what he does, and his crimi- wal endeavours are prevented taking effect, and no fuch evil c:m come ? * Anfwer i. The crime is not to be eflimated by the evil ( 127 ) Scff.lV. evil that is actually effected by it % but by the nature and tendency of what is done, and the aim of the cri- minal. Though the evil confluence be prevented, and it be not in the power of the criminal to effect it ; yet t if he does what he can to accomplifh it, his crime is to be eftimated, by his manifeft difpofition, and the tea- ' dency of what he does. If a fubject attempts to take away the life of a king ; or from difafTe&ion to him, docs that which rends to deftroy him, and would doit, were he not prevented ;, though the life of the king be. not hurt, and the atterript wholly mifcarries^ yec he is juftly condemned as guilty of high treafon, and punifhed accordingly. The (inner dees all he can to dethrone his Maker, and render him infintiely miferable, and ruin his k!ng» dom forever : Every (in has a ftrorg and mighty ten- dency to this ; and no thanks to tr\e (inner, that this in- finite evil has not been effected, by his rebellion : And is his crime not fo great, becaufe the evil is prevented, by the infinite power and wifdom of God ? He who will affert this, mud renounce all reafon and common- fenfe. David, infp : red to imprecate punifhmenc on the wicked, fays, Pfal. xxviii. 4. «• Give them according t§ their deeds, and according to the wickednefs of their en* deavours : Give them after the work of their hands, aad render to them their dejert" They are to be puniftied according to thtir deeds, the nature and tendency of them, and acco-ding to the wickednefs of their en- deavours - 9 whether they accomplish, what they at- tempt or not. Again, Pfal. xxi. 8, &c. " Thine hand (hall find out ail thine enemies, thy right hand (hall find out thofe that hate thee. Thou (hale make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger, &c. For they intended evil againft thee ; they imagined a mifchievousj device, which thej are not able to perform," According to Se3. IV. ( 12B ) to the objection* their intending evil agoi/tfl C I *'• magining a- mijcbievQUS device, which they uc le te perform, ou^hr to hzvt been given as a hy they Jbould not be punifhed •, whereas it it ion« €d as ;i reafon why Go:i would certain l v p tin Anf. 2. God^, inpunifhingthe wicked I do no more to them, ihan they would have o him* hsd It been in their power : And fare) but* juft and equitable punifhrnent, which de- lei ye, if they deferve any at aji. They rbel a» gainit hm, and trampie on his authority ar- ; laws, let what will be tht coni t^tri then Jh&Uyi do unio b;m y 4S be bad J$fcgbi to have dens ( np ) Sell IV. done unto bh brother. And thine eye mill not pity, but Jife (hall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foor." Ths law requires them to puntfh the man, who, by falfe witnefs, thought and endeavoured to bring evil on his brother, by iafli&tng that very evil on him, though his brother received not the leaft hurt by it, All wiil doubtlefs fay t ths is a righteous law-, and it is but juft f hat fuch an evil de- figning man mould be thus punifhed, An J will it be unrighteous in God, who ordered this law, to act by the fame ruJ<% in punifhingthofc who have born falfe witnefs againft him and his character % and have attempted to bring ruin on him and all his friends ; by giving them up to eternal deftruclion ; though he and his kingdom hdvc received no hurt by their wicked attempt? ? As God and his kingdom are infinitely diftinguifbed from every thing tUc^ in their infinite greatnefs, excel- lence, and importance; fo rebellion againfl'him, and oppofition to his intereft and kingdom, and an attempt to deftroy the whole, muft be equally diftinguifhed from any other poftible or fuppofxble crime •, and there- fore it is right and proper, that it fliould have an equally diftinguijhed punifhment ; that is, an endiefs one. A temporary puniflimenr, which is infinitely lefs than this, and infinitely lefs than the evil of fin, cannot an- fwer the end of punifliment; it will neither exprefstfce evil or crime of injuring the infinitely great Jehovah, nor ferve in the lead degree to mew his infinite worth, grandeur and greatnefs ; but fp-ak a contrary language, viz That his be : nj, character and kingdom, are of In- finitely left wdrth, than they really are ; and fo would be a real difhonor to him. If one who has defamed the character • of a worthy perfonnge^b^ingpro'ecuted, convicted and condemned, mould be punifhed only by paying a (mail fine, viz, on* penny Sett. IV; ' • ( 130 ) penny or (billing e . The language of this would be^ that ihc chira&er of the pcrfon defamed was worth no more | and therefore would be fo far from anfwering to the inju- ry, and wiping ofFthe reproach ; that it would really fatten the difgrace upon him, and his character would fufi^r more., than if the criminal had not been condemned and punilhedc And if God mould punifh rebels againft him, who have defamed him and highly injured his character, with a temporary punifhment only, this would be as far from anfwering to his infinitely fuperior, ex« ceilent and important character, and properly vindi- cating it, as if no punifhment at all were inflicted: Yea, it would be infinitely worfe than none, and really degrade his character, and be a reproach to him. In this cafe, zjuft punifhment mud be anfwerable to the infinitely amiable, worthy and importaat character, which is in- jured and blafphemcd % that is, fuch a punifhment as is fuited toexprefs the greatnefs of the injury done, and the infinite worthinefs of him who is injured, and thus take off the reproach caft upon him. But this can be no lefs than an endlefs punifhment. Therefore fuch a pu- nifhment \*juft % it is deferved, and muft be inflicted, if there be any puniibment at all, in order to vindicate the Divine character. But there are other objections againft the infinite evil of fin, and the finnerYdefert of endlefs punifhment, which mult be confidercd. Obj. x. 1c is faid, that as all creatures are finite, they are not capable of infinite guilt, or of committing a crime that has an infinite degree of evil in it, or that is in any refpect infinite. Anf, i. This objection is obviated by what has beers faid in proving the infinite evil of fin, viz. That this refuks from the greatnefs and excellence of the being a- gainil which it is committed * and depend* not ac all on ( *3! 5 Sca.iv; the degree of exigence of him who offers the abufr; If a finke creature can affront and abufe his Creator, who is infinitely great and worthy, he can be guilty of an infinite crime ; becaufe the greatnefs of the injury doet not ari(e from the grcatneis of him who offers it 5 buc from the character of him who is injured. Anf. 2. If a creature fhoutd actually put an end to his Maker's exiftence, or dethrone him, and deftro^r his kingdom; his crime would be truly infinite, all will grant. But to defire and attempt this, and do chat which would certainly tff:££ ir, were it not prevented by a iupenor power, is to be guilty of the fame crime, fo far as the criminal is concerned ; and therefore muft bi infinitely great, and deferve the fame punifhmenr, as if the efrL-& had actually followed. The infinite magnitude of the crime, in this cafe, d@es not in the leait degree depend upon the greatnefs of the criminal, or the degree of exiftence, of which he is pofTeffed, Anf. 3. Agreeable to this, when a crime is com3 mitted, men do not firfi: inquire into the greatnefs or fmallhefs of the perpetrator, in order to determine the magnitude of the crime ; but confider the nature of the crin-ie, and the injury done, and who is injured, &c. If an abject, dependent flare burns his matter's houfe, and destroys him and his whole family, or attempts to do it, his inferiority and dependence on his mafter, do not extenuate his crime, in the judgment of men, buc rather aggravate it : And no one will offer this as a pie* in his favor, or 'as a reafon lor a mitigation of his pu- nifhmenr. And here it may be obferved, that it is equally unJ realonable, and contrary to the commonfenfe and prac- tice of men, to fay that an infinite crime cannot be com- mitted in the fhort fpace of human life; and that mtn cannot deferve endlefs punifhment, for the fins of a few T years. Se8. IV. ( 132 ) years. For as the infinity of the crime does not depend on the greatnefs of the offender, fo neither does it de- pend on the length of time in which it is perpetrated. In judging of crimes, and the degree of pumlhrnentthey delerve, men do not inquire what lengrh of time was fpent in committing them •, but what is the nature cf them,, and what is done. And men are condemned to death, or imprisonment during life, for crimes which were perpetrated in a few minutes. Obj. 2. It is faid, if every fin be on infinite evil, a crime of infinite magnitude 5 then all crimes muft be equal ; for none can be greater than i finite : Which is contrary to rieafon and fcrtpfufe. Anfwer. This confequence does not follow from the tJofttine of the infinite evil of fin, as it has been ftated. Two crimes may be both infinite in their crimina- lity, and ill dclert, as committed againft God ; and •yet, in other refpe&s, one may be greatly aggravated and criminal above the other, being committed againft more light, and greater warnings, and an abufe of greater favors, &c. They both deferve eadlefs punifhment ; buc one deferves a greater degree of punifhment, than the other. Ic is eafy to conceive two perfons deferving and fuffering endlefs punifhment; and yet one deferving and fufTering a much greater degree of pain or punifhment, than the other. And is it not as eafy to conceiVeof two per- fons being infinitely guilty, as rebels againftthe Monarch of the univerfe ; and yet, in other refpefis* the rebellion of one be much more criminal, than that of the other ? This may be illuft rated by the following fimilitude. Two cords or cylinders exrended without end, and, in this refpea, both equally infinite, may be of very different diameters* and, in that rejfisft, one much larger than the other. Obj. 3. If fin be an infinite evil, becaufe committed agalnit an infinite object - ? then the virtue and holinefs ( 133 ) Seff.'m of creatures muft be infinitely good, excellent and praifeworthy, becaufe exercifed towards the lame in- finite object ; which is too abfurd to be admitted. Anf. This confequence does by no means follow. Creatures can do more mifchief, by rebellion, and take more from God, than they can do good, or give to him, by iheir obedieace. Here there is an infinite difference* It has been fhewn, that Hn takes a/I from God, and in its very nature and tendency deitroys all the good in the univerfe; and would actually do it, were it net counteracted by omnipotence, infinite wifdem and good- nefs: But the obedience and hoiinefs of creatures is njt to be eftimated by the object towards which it is exer- cifed ; but by the fubjedt, by him who exercife.s it, or the degree and quantity given to God. All that a finite creature can give, is but finite j He can give no more than himfelf ; and therefore what he "gives is in- finitely ftort of infinite, it is as. nothing, compared wich ttie objeel; towards which it is exercifed, or to whom it is given. Obj. 4. Though God be infinitely great, excellent and worthy ; yet finite minds can have no conception of that which is infinite. The infinity of God is altoge- ther inconceivable to them, and out of cheir fight, and all their ideas mud be limited. But that or which they can have no idea or conception, can have no influence on the mind i and therefore cannot increale the obligation of creatures, fo as to render it greater, than If the objeel: was finite i conlequently, a creature cannot bs under infinite obligations, from God's infinite greatntfc and excellence. Aniwer. Ic is certainly not true, that a finite mind can have no conception of an infinite being, different from chat which he has of one who is finite : Becaufe i his is co^rary to our experience, in the ccrfdoufnefe 6f thd ideal Se8.IV. ( 134 ) ideas that are in our own minds. If men could have 150 idea of that which is infinite, different from that which they have of a finite objeel:, they could not reafon, nor fpeak an intelligible word ^baut it ; which the ob- jector himfelf thinks he can do, and is actually doing it, while he is making the objection. And if we con- fult our own feelings, we find that we feel other wife towards that which we conceive to be infinite, than we could, if we thought it was not fo. The inftance be- fore us will fufficiently prove this. Are we not confei- ous that we ought to be afiVcled with the infinite bein^ jpd perfection of God, inexpreflibjy o:herwife, than towards any finite being ? And if fo, then his infifitty^ or his being infinitely gr?at and good, brfngs an obliga- tion on us to/eipect and love him ; which wecouid not be under, were he not infinite. And if that which is infinite, viz, infinite great nefs, authority and excellence, binds us, and the greatnefs of the obligation ariies from the infinity of the object j then it muft be an in- finite obligation. When we think of future life and happineis, we ea- fily and neceffariiy diftinguifh between temporary and endlefs happinefs, and prefer the latter to ihe former, feeling, in fame fenfe, the infinite difference. And .when we attend to infinite, or endlefs punifhment, and argue for, or againft it; we feel that this is infinitely more dreadful than any finite evil, and cannot but dread it unfpeakably more ; and be fenfible that it affords an inexpreffibly ftronper motive, not to rebel againft God, than any finite puni(hment can: And that it h infinite- ly greater folly and madnefs to provoke God to caft ua into fuch punifnment, than to expofe eurielves to one infinitely lefs. Therefore, the reafon and experience of every man, if properly attended to> will teach him that ihe objection is without foundation* ( i 3 5 ) Se3.IV. The evidence that (iu is properly an infinite evil, and has in its natufe infinite ill deferr, has now been confit i, and objediifina have b( t n examined and obviated-, and iiit; reader i$ to judge, whether ii may i. at be proved, I to a rkiniiirtratio.,, that ail an ddcrveti lufia.re or endjefs punishment. But as the infhihc evil or fin appears from another confiderauou, it may be further obterved. 6. T; .<; ^cm-me.ic which has been made for fin, in order to the tinner's bang pardoned, #uws that thuc is infinite ill del'ert in fin. They who acknowledge the Dlvhry of Chrift, and orfequentiy, his infinite greatnefs anc. wcrthinef, mfcft ill io acknowledge that the atonenwen; he ha* made lor fin, by his obedience and fuiteringv has Infinite worth and merit,' and is as great and confide raole, *s the per- ion who gave hinvelf to be the propitiation for the fins of men. But ii fin be not an iiifiniceevii ^ then this a- tonement is infinitely more and greater than was necef- fary, in order xo open the way tor the pardon ofc ic ; and the Mediator is infinitely greate* and more worthy, than it was neceilary he fnould be, in order to ojake atonement for fin. One end of the atonement which Chritt made for fin, was to (hew wha evil there is in fin, and its ill defert. But this is every way fuffictent m atone for fin which has infinite ill defers therefore-. •' declares fin to he an infinite evil, or to deferve infi or endlefs punifhment. Conlequently. to deny ii there is infinite evil in fin, is, in effect, to dmy th Divinity of our Saviour j or the truth which is declared in the atonement which he has made tor fin. It being thus evident, beyond all contradiction, tha: all fin is infinitely criminal* and deferves endlefs punilh- ment; fo that God may juhiy inti cl it, and mult do it, if hs lays jud^iiiCiic Co t.^c hue ajjd ki^tueoufaeis to the plummet, Sea. iv. ( 136 ) plummet, and punifhes (inners according to their defeft ; it hence appears further evident and certain, that this punifhment will be infixed on all who die in their fms, from thofe paffages of fcripture which declare that God will reward them according to their works, and infiift ul punilhment anfwcrable to their deferr. This is often and abundantly aflerted in fcrripture. From many instances of this, the following are fele&ed. Ifai. mi. 11. #fc Wo unto the wicked, it fhali be ill with Sim : For the reward of bis bands (hall be given him.** FuL xxviii. 4. u Give them according to their deeds , and according to the wickedness of their endeavour* \ give the in after the voerk of their bands* render to them their desert. " Macth. xvi. 27. ^ For the Son of man ihall come in che glory of his Father, with his angels : And then he Jhali reward every man according to bis works'* Rom* iu 5, &c. " But after thy hardnefs and impenitent heart, treafure/l up wrath again ft the day of wrath \ and reve- lation ot the righteous judgment of God ; who will ren- der to every man according to bis deeds. Tabulation and angaifh upon every foul of man that doth evil." 2 Cor. v. 10. "For we muft all appear before the judgment ieat of Chrift : That every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that be bath done, whether it be good or bad" Rev. xx, 12. " And the dead were judged out of thofe things that were written in the books, according to tbeir works" xxii. 12, " Behold I come quickly ; and my reward is wth me, to give to every man according as bis work fha'l be. Ail fin deierves endlefs punifhment, this is the pro* per wages of fin, and God may moftjuftly inflict ir. God has faid, in his word, that he will punifh Tinners ic the ruture (late, according to their ill defer t y therefore Chey will be punifhed forever. Secondly. It muft bu coafidered, whether any gcai end ( 137 ) SeS. IV. hut can be a-nfwered, by inflicting an cndlefs punifliment on creatures ? If no good end can be anfwered by thus punifhing, and if k be nor, all things confidered, necefTary for the good of the whole, that any creature fhould be made miferable forever ; then it is not confident with wifdo.n and goodnefs to inflict fuch a puniihment upon any; though cney may deferve it, and no injuftice would be done to them by inflicting it. The infinitely wife and goou governor of the world always has fome wife and goodend, in all hedoes,snd never punifhes his creatures* merely for the fake of punifhing, or only to make them miierable. This is ftrongly afTeried by God himfelf, when he fays. " As I live, I have no pleafure in the death of the wicked." And therefore we may b- furs he will not punifh them forever, though they deferve it, unlcfs it be nececefiary to prevent greater evil, and anfwer the bed and molt important purpofes. But if endlefs punifhmenr, infinitely dreadful as it \% be necefliry to anfwer the hjgheft and bed ends, and to promote the greatest good of the whole , and is an im- portant and eflential part of the mod wife and benevo- lent adminiflraticn, in the government of the world : Then it is not only perfectly confident with infinite goodnefs, but it is the dictate and exerciie of goodnef? itfelf ; and not to inflict this punifhmenr, mud be infi- nitely difagreeable&crofllng to unlimited goodnef?,orde* trinitrate the want of benevolence. On this fuppofuion then, all the objections which have been, with fuch con- fidence, urged againft endlefs punilhmenr, from the goolnefs of God, as being mconfiftent with that, fait "to the ground, and appear highly unrcafonable, child- ifh and abfurd. We are indeed, poor and very inadequate judg*i of the ends and defigna of Qq la ad mini drat ion:, 2CY Secl % IV, ( 138 ) in ourprefent fituat'on, and in this very Imperfect add finf.ul fiate*, in which'it is no uncommon thing for men to call Gcd*s wifdom and goodnefs in q-ieltion, and fay, His ways arc not equal. Therefore, though we were not able to fee why mere is to be endlefs puniflirrienr, and underhand what wife and good ends God deQghs to anfw^r by rt ; y*t, finee he has revealed to us, that he w:U putiifti the wicked forever, it would be very unbe- coming, yea, intolerable arrogance, for men to fay no good end can be anfwcred by ir, or even doubt of the wifdom and goodnefs of this part of the Divine admi- nistration. But we are not left wholly in the dzrk, with regard to this part of God's ways, in the fober exercife of our reafon, affifted by divine revelation, we are able to juf- tify God, in punifhing the wicked forever •, and to fee and rejoice in fome of the infinitely important, wife and good ends which will be anfwered by this awful, tremen- dous branch of the Divine government, in which God will do terrible things in ngbteoufnefs ; fo that the great good that (hall be produced by it, will infinitely overbalance and fwallow up all the ev'l. The following ornfiderations will be fufficierit, it is prefumed, to illuftrate and eftablifh this point, I. All wil! grant it is nor only juft, that criminals mould pwnlmcd according to their ckfens •, but it is an ex« preffion of wifdom and goodnefs, in a governor or judge, thus to purufh them, when this is fuiuble and neceflary to maintain authority, law and government, and deter ethers from the like crimes. And in this cafe, to re- fufe or neglect to punifli, can proceed from nothing bot a defect m true benevolence and goodnefs. Punifh* m?n:s are therefore round neceflary \t\ hwroan govern- ment, in order to prevent grearer evil, and promote the publ.c good 3 fo r'hat evrry true the public, and the C m ) a&i tae greateft common good, mud bs a friend to fuch puriifliments. Ami who can think hirnfelf able to determine, thaC eternal punifhmenc is not proper and necefTary, as & ttieans, to aniwer the'eends in the Divine government* which is mfinitejy expended, and evedafting * And if he cannot certainly dei&mine iuch punishment to be un- necessary a ; he has no warrant fo conclude it is not perfectly agreeanle to infiiir.e goodnefs, to in* J flidt it. Why is it not 2s mach foiled^ and asnecefT.ry* as a nv?ans, to rciir^in creatures from fin^ as any kucl or degree of punuhn^ents, in human -governments? Who dare fay, or think, that the punilhment of the fallen angels, who are refer ved in eiterlafting chains, un^ d*r darknefs, unto the judgment of the great day, has 4 id no influence on the angels who have not finned \^ and has not bc?en a means of preferving and confirming them in obedience ? And thpugh it be certain, trm the redeemed from among men will, after they are made perfect, continue in obedience and holinefs forever ; yet this will not be effected without means 5 and this may, and doubtlefs will be one, even the evcrlafting punifh- . merit of the wicked, the fmoke of whole* punifhoi^nc will rife up in their fight forever and ever. No punish- ment but an endlefs one can anfwer this end. God oN dered ppntfiirnenra in ffrael, even the greateft that per*' haps could be inflicted in this world, viz. That tranfo grefibrs (hould be publicly (toned to death, that others might hear and fezr^ and hereby be reftraincd from Hn* Endlefs punifhment may be as nccefFary in the futurd ftate, to anfwer the fame ^no. II. It is defirable, and of the greateft importance that all the divine perfection, his whole character and grjry, even ail that is amiable and excellent in God, A*hQuld be acVi out and ciifplayed, ia the fight or hia U creatures 5 $$l% ( Ho ) creatures % that his friends. may be under the belt ad- vantage to fee it j and enjoy God, and adore and praife him forever. This is as deferable and impi rtaat* as it is that God fhould be glcr.fied to tne higheit de- gree \ for this is done only by fuch a mani'eflarion and difplay of his excellence and perfections, and in chs c-ii- fequent love and praife of his C! enures : Ahd this is as defirable and important, as the higheit happuefs of the fervants of God, the members of his eternal kingdom y for their happinefs mud corjfift fummanly in the know- ledge and enjoyment of God *, .in beholding h«s glory, and loving and glorifying him. But they know and enjoy him, no further than he is manifefted to them ia his glorious perfection, by his works 5 and their bappi^ rief" will be in degree aniw^rabie to this difplay of the Dwr*c perfect ons ; and is promoted by every thing, by why ditpleaiure and wruth ; for tint beand for nothing, anjl be no exprtflion of any thing terrible : Becaufe the evif, which alone is terrible, lies in tbi execution of the ihreatning 9 and not In the thre&tning itfelf^ unconnected with ibt puhifhmcnt thtcatncd ?4 Se3.1V. ( X42 ), male bis power known* has determined to pun'fti thefe veffcls of wrath, fitted to ftch a d ! ft ruction •; to pumfh fchem With everlafting deftructien, from the prdercc of the Lord and /£ry to anfwer this important end. A renv* porary punifhmtnt will be fo far from exprefiing in- ijinite oppcfuion to fin, that it expreffes the contrary, vig. that God is infinitely lefs difpleafed at fin, than an infinitely perfect and good being rnuft be; and there- fore, would be wdffe than no punifhment, and really in* jure the Divine character. 3. In the everlafting puniftment of the wicked the Infinite dignity and worthiness of ped, and excellence of his law and govern rnen!>, are exprefftd and aflerred in a very advantageous and firiking manner 1 and this is pne important end apd d^fign ot this punifhment. Sin is criminal, snd I of it great, in proportion £0 the dignity, excellence and worth of the Governor grf the world, as has been (hewn. Therefore, fo far a|| ( 145 ) JWZ IV. the evi! of fin is difcove^ed ; in the fafbe decree arc manifesto, G untfs, dignity, worh laefs, &c. But the everlaliing punifrmienc of the finner will be, in fome rtfp dts, the ftrtn.cft pofliblc atpivfikn of tht infince evii of fin; and c(;n!« quently., a hi^hr. ami af- jft&ing niar : i, itacion of the infinite ivoribirijefs and ex* pellenceof God, and the fac redn'.fs of his law and go^ vernm^nt. By this puni/haiem, it will forever appear to angels and tht 3 yea, to all ii »ces, vvh«*t an ii finitely evil and bit; t r.thh'g it is, to fin agiinft Cifod | and by rni-ans v f this, God will be erern dly and exalted, in itnefs, \ ce, as he could not be, were there no fuch pun.fn- merit Audit will, cdfifeqOently, be the oci^iio j of joy and praift in heaven, by which God will be honored it snd ex-iked rcreVef, A fi lite punilfttatenf* which is punifrYmg the finner infinitely left than Ue cjefenfrea, would be io far from ajniweriog this end \ that it would have a contrary ten- dency, and reflect diihonor on Go', and reprefent kira? as infinitely leis honorable and excellent, ihan he is*- It hsnee appears, that endlefs punfthment is as impor* tanr and nectlTary, as is the m oft clear maoifeftation of G< d's infinite worthiness and giory, and . his afterting and maintaining his own rights, dignity and honor, and the infinite importance and excellence ot his lav; and government, to the greateft advantage of the univerfe, himlelf and the creation. 4 Endlefs pun'ifla menr is fuited, rnd neceflary, to f make the brighteft everUftir.g difplay of the righteout neis and goodnefs of God. It has been obierved, that infinite angei and difplea- fure againft fin is elTential to infinite goodnefs : And it muit be further obierved now, tfcat iuch dnpleafurc and anger is goodnefs itfclf, oppefingj and k.nuled op into wr &&. IV. ( * 144 ) wrath, againft that which oppofes and tends to deftroy what fnfi :i;e goodnefs feeks. Infinite goodnefs leeks sh<* gieareit gcjod of the whole, and therefore, muft be infinitely difpleafed with that which fcts itfelf againft ail good. Therefore, the more this difpleafure and anger is manitefted, the greater is the rnanifeftation of divine goodnefs. But this cannot be properly and fully man:* fcfted, but by inflicting infinite evil on the obftinate, confirmed enemies of all gcod. Hence it appears, that the greater the evil is, which is inflicted on the obfH- nate (inner, if sic bejuft, the greater is the difplay of divine goodnefs j and therefore, to inflict endlefs pu- nifhrnent on fuch who defcrve it, is a difplay both of the righteoufnefs and infinite goodnefs of God, which could not be made in any finite punilhment. If a fubj £1 turn enemy to a whole kingdom, and da all in his power to deftroy both the king and the people,, and obftinarely perfift in his rebellion 5 the king muft be dtfpleafcd and angry, in proportion to his goodnefs, his benevolent rrgard to the higheft good bf hi? king- dom ; and in this cafe, his goodnefs muft be exercifed and ncted out, in exprtfling his difpleafure, bv punilhing ifce obftiriate offender,. And to ncgif.d to punifh him, cr to inflict a fmall and light punifhrnent, unfpeakably Jefs than his crime deferves, would be fo far from ex- prcffi'fg any goodnefs, that it would demonftrate the want of it. And on the contrary, punifhing him ac- cording to his defert, would be the higheft evidence he could give, in this cafe, of his benevolence and goodnefs. And why is not this equally true of the Governor of the univerfe ? If it be, then endlefs punifhrnent muft bf one efftntial part of his government, as neceflary to difplay, in the eleareft light, hjs infinite righteoufnefs and goodnefs. Thus ( i 4 5 ) &3. IV, Thus it appears, from the view given of it under this heid, that endiefs punilhment will ferve to manifeft and difplay the Divine perfections and character ; and in: what way and manner it will do this ; and why it is neceflary in order to anfvver ths infinitely important en1, fo much to the glory of God, aid consequently tor the good and happinefs of all who love him. But that infinite goodnefs is exerctfed and d'rfpl yed io punifhing the wicked forever, will be more fully proved under the next head -, where it will be particu- larly confidered, as it refpecls, and will promote the general good, the glory and happinefs ot the kingdom of God. III. The eternal punimment of the wicked will, ma- nv ways, promote the higheft good of the bidTed, efpe* cially the redeemed from among men ; and is the mod p/oper and neceflVry means of their unfpeakably greater degree of holinefs and happinefs forever, than could otherwife take place : And therefore mud be agreeable to infinite guodaefs, and a firong expr-flion of it. . The exercife and manifestation of God's difpiea r ure againlt his enemies, and the enemies of his church and people, in condemning and p .miming them according to their deferts, and evil deeds, and vindicating his fervants, and th«ir caufe, and faving and delivering them from ths hand and p .wer of their adversaries, caufing them to triumph overall that injured them, is certainly an in- ftance and exprefTion of his righteoufnefs and goodnefs. The holy fcriptu res every where reprelent it in this light, of which every peifon, attentive to his B.ble, muft be fcnfible. God, in vindicating the righteous caufe of his fervants, by delivering an.1 faving them, and manifeft^ ing his high difpleafure again ft their enemies, by con- demning and punifhing them as they deferve, exercifes and difplays his rigbtcoufnsfs : And, at the fame trrw, this &8.W. i'tf this .righteoufnefs is nothing but kindnefs. and mercy 'Q his church and pt'ople. An >ore his difpleafurfc endanger towards his and their enremid is marifeftedi) in tb« gfceatnefc of the righteous "jftmiihment r.r.fli&ed uponthjm V th« greater is the expre fRon of his gpod- ngfe to them ; and they are unfpeak.bly more happy iri the righteouineft onjfod, & in hs love and favor to them, ' than they fee uld have been, had they nr.t been thus vindi- cated and delivered, and their enemies had not been de~ ftroyed and put ifheo wiihev^rlaftingdeihu&iono There- fore the rigbtecufnefs of God, as it rt (peers this cafe, is often (poked of in fcr ipture, as tnc4udmg his gsvdtseft 5 and righteoufnefs and i'alvation arc words frequently ufed as fy-nonymous % as every careful reader of his Bi- ble mi: ft have obferved. The following pafftges, a- mong a multitude of others, ferve to illustrate thefc ob- fervations. Pfal. Ixxi, 2, 53, &c. ** Deliver me in thy right eoufnef$ % and caufe me to efcape. Let them be Confounded and con fumed* that are adverfaries to my foul. But I will yet pratje thee more Und more. My mouth fh:di fbaw forth thy tigbteoufnefi y and thy /aha* tion ail the day." Pfal. crdlii. n, 12. "For thy rigb* Uoufntfs fake bring my foul out of trouble. And of thy mevcy cut of mbc enemies, and deftroy all them that affi cl: my foul." Pfal. Ix v. 5 " By terrible things inrighieoujnefsy wiftt thou anfwer us,' Jod of our fat- vation." Deot. xxx;i, 43. "Rejoice, C ions, His people ; for he will avenge tht blood of his few ants and will render vengeance to bis adverfaries* and will eg merely ful unto his land, and to bis people. Therefore the d v re vengeance and eternal punish- ment, that (haft be inii&ed on die vfcked, is reprelfefrtedf in fcfiptifcre to be in the clear and full view of the re* deemed and inhabitants of heaven, as a means of exciti'g and greatly increafing their lovz, joy and p iii. ( *47 r " e ™' *n Jii. 5, 6. Speaking of the wicked, he fays, " God (hall deftroy thee forever. The righteous aii'o /hall fee ; and fear, and Jball laugh at him" Pfal. Iviii. 9, 10. c< He (hall take them away as with a whirlwind ; both living and in his wraih. The righteous (hall rejoice when he feet h the vengeance : He (hall wafh hi* tcet m the blood of tbe wicked." Pfal. lxxix. 12, 13. 4i Ren- der unto our neighbours feven fold into their bofoms,' their reproach wherewith they have reproached thee* O Lord. So we, thy people will give (bee thanks forever Pfal. xci. g. " Only with thine eyes fhait thou behold,, and fee the reward of the wicked" Ifai. Ixvi. 24. " And they fhall go forth and lopk upon the carcajes of the men that have tranfgrefjed againft me\ for their worm (hall not die k neither ihali their fire be quenched *, and ihcy fhuil be an abhorring unto ail fie.h. ,J Rev. x\v. io a this kui2< >m ; W ' Fo? SeM. : m ( i-4 c hat goodaefs kfdf (hould do this, fa . agreeable tc comrnonferrje and rcafdTv And this is he holy fc :.'.' God there reprefents himfelrj as- giving people and nations up,* to ruin and < for the •fake hurch T as the effect and e5 Of his Ifai, xliii, 5, 4. '■' I am the Lord ne of Ifrael, thy faviOi ranfom, hee> precious in my fight, thou haft bsen ho- norably haVehvi Therefore give' men for thee, £nd people (o f »hy life/ 9 In thefe words there is 'reference vx the deftrudio'n x>f Pharaoh and the pilaris', tor the fake of Ifrael* that they m ; ght be de- livered to the greateft adva as an example of whr. r or his church. And when we fee Mofes and that people rejoicing and praif- ing God t for his goodnefs in overthrowing and taking vengeance on his and their enemies, i \ fueh a flgnd and prove of it as reafonsbte : For connexions and coafequences, a wonderful acl of Divine goodnefs : Ther-efore it is cc~ fuch 1 and rnade matter of folemn,' joyful fe'to God in Pfal. exxx note Egyot in their flrft-horn^ for his mercy tver* Him which divided the red Tea Into parts, and made pafs through the midft of it 5, for his mercy en- !th forever : But overthrew Phara hoft >a ; fer hh mercy endurstbf. And ,7od*s prcv, thus to punifh and Pharaoh have ;hout t! ■ ; . Oft., iv. joy anc :ver • 1 jutlly an infta 'oodrrefs ; yea, ciy ccr and a r\ e i nuance or ic of his glorious charac of eternal jo/ and to pit- ent cne ,mote cheir I, to make their recemr/ -t complete' greateft height of felicity and i ■tiorc particularly d *nd punifhmefit of the w'ci is fuited, and even r.eceffary, to anfvver ds« :ady o, and fhewlv how w ^' iccefiary, endlfs pupifh :e a ft glorious oifplay of the divine cmuacl of the btefled. In this will be feen, as could not be feen, fo clearly and to fuch advantage, by any o- medio,!), or without this, the infinite 'rand terrible majefty of Jehovah : And a!fo h'.s excellence and worthiaefs, and his hatred and" ^is indignation and wrath, agatrft fin , and ^enevotence and goodnefs, ro which fid is The fm ^ke of their t Avail aicend up in tl d forever arid ever, and lerve, as am dwaya before their eyes/ to give jbefri it and mod aft pla/y of the Div ie redeemed ifu r e to ment of lifhment on* and 2 will ad 1 Set!. IV. ( ISO) menfe degrees of glory and happinefs to the kingdom .of God ? as inconceivably to overbalance all they will fufler, who (hall fall under this righteous punifhment, and ren- der it all, in this view and connexion, an infinire good* But it will further appear, how ufefui and neceffary the endkfs punifhment of the wicked is, to the higheft good and happineis of the redeemed, and all the friends of God, by attending to the following particulars. i. The eternal exiftenceof fin, mall its horrors, a&cd out without reftrawt, with the infinite evil which is the natural and juft cenftquence of it, taking place in the fight of the inhabitants of heaven, will ferve to rnanilefl and llluftrate the beauty, excellence and worth of holi- fiefs, and the happinefs of all holy beings j and forever brighten the chara&er of God and all his friends, and ren- der the blejTed unfpeakably more 'fenfible of their hap- pinefs, aiid of the beauty and happinefs of each other, shan they could be, if there were no fucb contraft. It is we|l known, that contraries illuftratc each other % snd that the greateft beauty cannot appear to the beft sdvantage, without a /hade i That deformhy gives a luf- tre to beauty j and evil magnifies sad fweetens the contrary good. This contraft will take pface to the higheft pcffible degree, and to the greateft advantage, forever, hy endlefs punifhment, andean not be with- out it : Therefore it is neceflary to the higheft happinefs and glory of heaven* 2. The eternal punifhment of the wicked,.in the fight of the redeemed, will ferve, inceifantly, to keep, frefh in their view the infinite evi} of fin •, and, in the moft effec- tual, lively manner, ^each them, and make them feel fcheir own infinite ill deiert, and the infinitely evil cafe in which they mould have been, had God treated them according to ifceir deierts : i\nd fo keep in cfear and (HORftant view the infinite guilt and mifcry, from which |he| ( iji ) Sec7.lV. 4 they have been redeemed ; and maintain in their rrinda a lively growing fenfe of ail this. There are many orhci ways, in which they are, and will be, taught thefe things j but this will a^d great inftruftion, which they could not have without it -, and it is better iuntd, than - any other, to keep up their attention, and givs them a more lively, conifcanr, affecting appreherfion end fenfe of tnem. It is or* great irnp~ rr *»-** ~~ J ..:cfTary, that the redeemed fhould be unccr the bed advantage to fee thefe truths 5 in ord i to their glorifying God, in the bed manner, and enjoying the higheft happine.fs. For, 3. This iSj nectflary, in order to their mod clea-ly fee- ing, and celebrating, to the higheft degree, the goodnefa of God, his aftonifhing grace an) mercy in their re- demption. Had there been no fin, guilt and mifsry, there could have been no fuch thing as redeeming love and grace, ever known, or thought of, by creatures % And this is great in proportion to the greatr.efs of the guilt, vilenefs, ill dc:e;t, and mifery of thefinner; and the former cannot be knowo, a^y further than the latter are difcovered and feen : Therefore, redeeming love ant* gv>ndncf* can be no further feen and celebraied, by the redeemed, than they realize their ill defert, and the infinite guilt and mifery frrir. which they are redeemed; In the light of this only is. ieeij the gopdnefs and fove- reign grace of Gid to thtm, in iheir redemption %. And in proportion to their fight and fenfe of this, will they feel and adore the goodntTs of God to the redeemed 5 and their hearts glow with the meft fu«ct»e, fweet gran* tude and joy, while they give all the praife and glory to God, tor the diftincT.ion made between them, and thofe who, in their fight, are forever unutterably mifer* able 1 and their enjoyment and happinrfs, th*r love, gratitude and praite, will rife in proportion to their view and fenfe. of God's infinite, aftoniuY.ng goodnefs and de* ftinguifhing ScS. IV. ace co them, and all the re- deemed. Therefore, WuJe they the damned, m . all their fin and awful mifery* an< iffterj wichoy^end, and this wilt be fulirin their fight, it will be tHf ocSfi jn of their rifii highj in their exercifes pf love and •. teil fenfe of redeeming love a.id grace : And -in" them will be raoft completely fulfilled the ia't words of the pro» Ifaia'h \ * And it fhall come to pais, ar and hen'fions/of I rvii ci fi^ ? and the juft defer i. of it; and in this hght theji bhor fin and the finneri* approve of .God's righteous judg« s % and fee and adore the infinite goodnefs and , ifhing gracej by which they a»e redeemed t this infinite depth of fin and nr.fery | which will, ani-^ them in all their woiihip and ptaifes, and tm- fpeakably add to their increafing felicity. The apoftle Paul fets the'punifhment. pf the wicked tly in this light, Rom, ix 22 23, "What if :, willing to (hew his wrath, and make bis p ewer known* ;red with much long l'uffering Che % veffete of wrath, d to deftrucTtion : And that he might make known the glory* on the ve ([eh of mercy* which he had before prepared unto gloiy r" Here one end 0! G /mg his wrath, and making his power known, eternal punifjament of- the wicked, is repreicnte', 1 hz mak-: the rich?.'* of his r t*?0 veii" . is, that he rilight, by this the redeemed, the riches of glorious grace, exerc ward* them in their fal- Yd ; r». , The endle& punifhment of the wicked be{ng a!. ways in the fight of the redeemed, will ferve to mamfeft to them, as' nothing elfe can* and keep ronftantl> their view, the power, dignity, worthinefs, love and grace of the Redeemer, who was able and willing t » deem them from fuch a ftate of fin and punifhment, of infi wte guilt and wretchednefs; Or, it will make a bright and eternal difplay or the glorious character and infinite worth ot the lYLtdiator, They wt jfe it would not be juft to | finners with eve rlaftingdeftrtidion, or that it is iac'onfifl with the gctfdnefs of God to punifh them forever, m redemption a very fmali and mconfiderable matter. is really, according to this, red; n from little or no evil. As it was nothing very great*, co make atonement for fins which did not defers infinite evil ; and which could not be pu"i!hed with evcrlafting deftruction, con- fident with the goodnefs of God > and which his g nefs obliged him to pardon, and fo make the (inner 1 py, had there been no Redeemer. For men cannot redeemed from evil, which they do not dekrve-, or which Cannae be inflicted on them, confident with the ►dneft of Gud. This finks and hides thecbaract a Redeemer, and at once reduces redemption to little or nothing. The actual exigence of eternal pu-. nifhment, in the fight of a; I intelligent creatures, ferve co confute thele unworthy s of Go:l and cf redemption •, and 13 neceffary in order to do it mod ef- fectually, and to fee the Redeemer in an infinitely more *nd glorious i His ,ii finite grcatrr. Sea. IV. ( IH greamefs and worth, the value and precioufnefs of hit blood appear, in that, by his furfcrings and obedience sinto death, he could atone for fucb jiw t and deliver ixotnfuch punifhment \ and merit and procure pardon and favor tor fuch infinitely guilty, ill defer ving creatures* And the almighty power, and wonderful condefcention, love and grace of Chrift, will appear in a moll affecting light, in h'n being able and willing to pluck iach vile, (Obftinaie tinners from thofe everlafting burnings * and will, by this punifhment, be kept in fieih remembrance* and caufe his glorious character and works to t?e more and more known and celebrated forever. And all this will be in fayor of theVedeemed, and will add uRfpeakabiy to their happiitefs ; for the more glorious Chrift appears to them, the more his dignity and worth come int® their view, and the greater their redemption appears to be, and the clearer %ht they have of the love and grace of the Redeemer, and the more indebted and obliged they are to him, and the higher he is exalted in their falvation ; fo much the more happy they muft be ; and with proportionably greater fwcetnefs and joy will they forever fing, «* Worthy is the Lamb that was fhin, and has redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wifdonv and ftrength, and honor, and glory 9 and bkilng, for* ever and ever." Upon the whole, it appears, from the view wc haw had of this fubjeft, fo far from being inconfiftent with the goodnels^f God to punifh finners forever, that the ends of divine g <)od nets, are anfwered by this to the high- eft poflible degree, and as they could not be without it, or in any other poffible way j fo that it is utterly incon- fiften: with infinite goodnefs, nor to punifh them thus e This eternal punifhment redecls fucn light on the Di- vine character government »nd works, cfpecialiy the work ( i55 ) Se3.l\ f . work of redemption ; and makes fuch a bright difp!ay of che worrbtnefs and grandeur of the Redeem r, and of riivire love and gracr ro the redeemed ; and is the^o Cdfion of to much happinefs in heaven ; and fo necef- fary, in order to the higheft glory, and greateft in- creating felicity of God's everlafting kingdom •, that, mould ic ccafe, and tjiis fire could he exunguifhed, ic would, in a great meaiure, ohfeure the light of heaven, and put an end to great part or rhe happinefs and glory of the blefTed, and be an irreparable detriment to G >d's eternal kingdom •, moll contrary to infinite wifdom and g>odnefs. And however g^eat an evil the endkft mi- iery of fo many millions is, in itfelf confidered ; yet, ic being not only juft, hut the necefifary means of fuch in- finite glory and happinefs to the kingdom of God •, in P this view, and in companion with this, it finks into no- thing, and is wholly 'an for bed, as to the evil of it, and loft, in the unfpeakablc glory and felicity, of which it is the occaiion •, and if, on the whole, moft defirable, and really bocom.es, in this connexion, art important good, efiential to the perfection of the Divine govern- ment, and the high; ft glory and happinefs of Gcd's eter- nal kingdom. How incvjnfiderare and unreafonabie ^ then, muft they be, who difoelieve the doftrine ofend- lefs puniihinent, and oppofe it, as inconfitient with in-] finite goodnefs. * SECTION * Some have a*gued from the averfion of a tender parent or fond mother to the pain and luffcrings of their children, by being cart into the fire, kz. and from the defire thai men proreis to have, that all men mould be faved ; that thefe have more goodnei'*, than thy afcri&e to God, who believe he wi'Z raft multitude* ot hi* creature* into everlafting burning* ; anil hence inter,that endtets puniflimeut is inconfiftcnt with infinite goodnei*, X If SECTION V. CON TA IN 1 NG a Number *f $>ueftions and Anfwers % relating to the Doftrine of endlejs Tunifiment, UPON the fuhj &,as it has been now ftated, the following queries may ante in the minds of fome, which ought to be anfwered : And thereby the truth may be made more clear, and further confirmed. L If there were any weight or propriety in this way of arguing, h prove* that Gad never did, nor ever will inflicl arty tvil on his creatures i a* much as it does, that he will not punift* them f >re"er. It prove?, for inftance, that he did not rain jtxre and brimftone on the inhabitant! of Sodom, and caufc them, both old and young, to welter in the kceneft anguim, till they expired : And that lie does not inflict thofe excruci- ating pain* and tortures on children, and others, which ten- der parents and friends often behold with the utmoft averfion, diftrels nnd anguifh. And fince this way of arguing is as much aga'mlt known fa£li % as ir is againft cndlefs punifhment, it is certainly juft as confident with the exiftence of the latter, as ot the former; and therefore is not worthy of the leaft regard. And when any one pretends to argue in this way, hc%iiteovers himfelf to be a yery (hallow reafoncr, or a (hanger to uprighmefs and bonefty. Had Abraham reafon to think he had more goodnefs than his Maker, becaufe he was i&ocked at the propofal of deftroying the inhabitants of Sodom, and interceded tor them ? When parents in Ifrael had a difobedient fon, they were commanded to bring him fonh into public, and witnefs againft him, that he might be (toned to death. Deut. xxi. !$ 2t. If the paren s love and tendernefs towards their children, led them to refufe to execute this law, or to lock upon it hard and cruel, and reluct at the thought of having CiU.ot their children put to death in this manner; had trey reafon to think the God of Ifrael fevere and cruel, or that he had lefs goodnefs than themfelvcs ? A bsnevolsat man may *i(h and pray for the falvation of ( 1 57 ) SeSl. VI I. Though it be granted, that the bltffed will re- ceive great advantage by the eternal deftruftirn of fitch vaft numbers or the human race, and there will be un- fpeakably mere happineis in the kingdom of God, than could be, were there no fuch punifhrrv?nt ; yet, ^ow can it becoififtenc with g'.oJnefs, or even impartiaJjuttice, to make part of the human race happy, at the expenfe of the relt, and by means of their rternal mifery ? Would it not be much better for all to bz free from mi- fery, and have a left and moderate (hare of happinefs ; than for fome to be fo very miferable forever, as the m:ansof the greater happinefs of others ? And would not this be more agreeable to a benevolent, generous mind ? Would it not much rather chufe to have a lefs fharc of happinefs •, th?n to enjoy more, at fuch a- mazing expenfe and coft of his fellow- creatures, .even their everlafting mifery. Anf. sill thofe whom he (ttt, or that do exift in the world, as their fafvation is, in itfelf confidered, ckfirable, nod he knows not that thi$ is inconfiftent wilh the general good : Hot if any ore, ©r a number, fhould be pointed out *o him, who defcrve to perifh, and he fhouid know that this was rtec (T-ry for the glory of God, and the (,/ood of his kingdom ; he wculd not tflc nor defire that they (h uUi be faved ; un'efs his berevolencc were very imperfect. When a king or judjye condemns a cri- minal to devtv and fees the fentencc executed, becaufc it is neceiTary for the public good ; is not this ? n »£r of ^ordnefs ? Or (hall we think the tender mother, wife, or child of the criminal, who wifhes, and, in agonies of puy, implores h;s pardon And reprieve, and cannot bear the thought of his ex- ecution ; to have and fhew more benevolence and goodnef*, than the king or judge ? And if thefe fhou'd boaft of their benevo'ence, and reprefent the wife and good judge ss inexorab'y cruel ; ths) would appear to the friends of good government, and the public gcod, juft as do the advocates for univirfm faivation, when they boatl of this as the Henr-- volxait plam, and reprefent the oppofer* ot it a .uncharitable, inhumane and cruel* HV. ( 158 ) Anf, 1. Since they who (hall be mifcr able forever, do deferve this punifhment - 3 neither they, nor any ether creature, will have any reafor* to cornplain, btrauie they are thus puniihed. And if Go« can, by executing juf- tice on them, anfwer great and important ends to hi ra- ft If, his government and kingdom, which could not be obtained, but muft be foiever loll, without it ; and can render his kingdom unfpeakably more happy and glo- rious, than it could otherwile be -, furely all true friends to God and his kingdom, who defire and feek the great- eft good of the whole, mud be pleafed, and greatly re- joice in it. This leads to Anf. 2.. Since the good of which endlefs punifh- raent will be the nvsans, will be fo val\iy great, as im- menfely to overbalance the evil ; fo that it will be as nothing compared with the good, every degree ot evil producing millions of millions of degrees of good and happinefs j and there would be, on the whole, infinitely 3efs good, (hould this purixfhmeht cea'e 5, it muft be the didatc and choice of ir finite bencyolence,thu$ to punifh. And that muft be a very partial* imperfect, defective goodnels, which, in ihi& cafe, would give up the grtatefl general good, for the fake of an infinitely lefs good to *ome unworthy individuals : Such a difpofition is not true benevolence, out the contrary. This has been obferved before, an J it is prefurned is evident, beyond ail pofTible doubt. Therefore, Anf. 3. The generous, benevolent mind, which de- fires and feeks the greateft good of the whole, the glory fe 'ruths which have been mentioned, reJat : n 6 - to the cjtvine perfections, bvv t fin, &c. yet, the eternal fuffefings of fome of the hu^ man race may be nectlTary, to make and continue a ma* nifeftation of thefc things* to the bed advantoge, and fo as to promote the greatelt happinH's of the bleiTed; yeal in all refpecls, as nectlTary, as if Chrift had not luffer neceiTary, in order to complete, or fully accompWh the ends of Chrid's furTcridgS| to th2t redemption by it would, without this, be very imperfect j as all the ends of divine wifdom and goodnefs cculd not be an f we red, if all were faved. And that this is really fo» ss abundantly evident, from what has been faid con- cerning the ends that vvili be anfwered by eternal pu« meat, in the preceding fcclion. * The iufFeringsor Chrift are a peculiar and ftrifeiBg ufeftation of the facrednefs of the divine law, G jd's hatred of iln p and the infinite evil and malignity of it, tec* A manifeftation, which could not have been fo tu'ly made, had not Chrift fuffered as he did. Never- theless the eternal fairings of finners are fuited, in mmy reCpecl?, to indrucl and affect creatures, as the fuflferirijgs of Chrift alone could not ; and the former arc recrdj ry to be joined with the latter, that the difplay* and instruction may be mod full and coi-nplete. The? fufferings uf Chrift were temporary, and foun over ; and though they will never be forgotten, yet they cannot be fo clearly in vicw > as the prefent, conftanr, endiefs fuNj Y firing* * Se* page 151, 152, 153, 154, ferings of the wicked •, and the latter will be the mears of keeping up a more clear and frefh view of the for- mer, than other wife could be : And, at the fame time, will be a constant, eternal exhibition before their eyes, of the infinite odioufoefs and mifery of the (inner, when fin has its natural and deferved courfe and iffue ; which k fo necefiary, in order to a proper, full snd mod affect- ing view o* the power and worthinefs of Chrift ; the ef- Ecacy of his mediation •* the greatnefs of the falvation by him, and his infinite lovt and grace in dying to fave &nners, &.c. which has been particularly ccnfidered above, It hence appears* that the Offerings of Chrift for Qn^ siers, and the abundant iufBciency of his merit for their falvation, render eternal punifhment not the lefs necef* fary, but, in all refpecis, more fo 5 and unfpeakably mere important and ufeful, as it is neceffary to make ibis falvation mod complete and glorious, and anfwers more important ends, than it could, had there been no falvation forfinners by a Mediator. But this may be further illuftrased by the following particulars 1 ic Ir all the human rar.* were faved, it never could be feen, as now it will be, how exceeding perverfe and obit mate men are, in their fins. In the eternal deftrus- tion of men, this will be fet in the moft clear and con- vincing light. God is ufmg the greateft variety of means, with men of different ages, nations, and capa- cities, and in different and various circumftances, fuited, in the beft manner, to influence them, and bring them to repentance •, urging them by infinitely weighty argu- ments and motives, to embrace the offered Saviour (which, by the way, could not be, in any meafure, fo itrong and urgent, were there no eternal deftru&ion, for skc-difobedient) and yet, in opposition to all chefe, the}? refufe ( t6 5 ) &3.V- refute the offered falvation ; abufe and trample upo» divine love and mercy, and the Saviour himfelf, and madly ruth on to eternal perdition. This will make a mod bright and end'efs difcovery of the infatuation, madnefs and malignity of (in, and the obftinacy and vilenefs of the finnf r ; which mufl have remained in a great meafure out of light, and never could iiave been fo fully known, and realized by the faved, were there ro awful inftances of this„ who mall (ufFer the confe- quencesof it forever. If all did bt-lieve on Ch-rifl:, and accept of the offered fal/adon* it never could have been fo fully known, that men were obftinate and vile enough, to flight this falvation, and trample on Chrift, under the greateit light and advantages; and perleveringly choote eternal deftru&ion, rather than fulrRic to the Saviour, it is of the greatest importance, that this mould be feen forever ; that the redeemed may have a conftant aid increaling fenfeof the nature of fin, and know how far they were from falvation, notwithft; niing all pof- frble means and advantages.; and realize the infinite power and grace of Chrift, in their recovery ; thai i hey nuy give the glory to God, which is due to him, and «njcy redeeming love and grace, in it's full extent* fweetnefs and glory. 2. If all were favtd, the real need, and abib'ute ne- effity, of an atonement for fin, in ord r to the falvation of men, would not appear in fo clear a light, as it wiU do, in the eternal punifhment of the impenitent. If all were laved, they would be in feme degee fenfible of the need of this atonemenc : But it wcu'd not appear fo clear aud ctrtain, that there is no other p fiible way of falvation ; and that all mud have been miierable forevc r,, had it not been for the 2ronement and redunpron of Chrift-, as ic now will, when all that fl^ht and rtj <$ •SWrVV. , ( 166 ) this atonemen*, through this life, aftually perifii forever, without any poffible remedy. 3. If all mankind were laved, the fovereignty of divine grace, in the falvation of men, would not be fo manU feft, as it now will be. Indeed, grace or mere favor, 5sl in it*s own nature fovereign grace; that is, ic is txerciicd towards thofe V>ho have not the lead claim, or defert of it. And the further a creature is from any defert of the favor granted* and the more unworthy and iil deferving he is, and the inore he has done to provoke difpleafure and wrath, the mare foverejgti is the grace. £,n:l therefore, the more the creature's ill defert appears, the more the favor granted 'appears to be mere fovereign grace % afid the greater manikitacion there is of the riches and glory p. this, Bui; this will be made to appear, in the ftrongeft light, to rhe redeemed, when they behold thofe in everlafting mifery, as their juft and deferved portion, who are no more ill deferving than themfel/es 5 and know that mere Sovereign grace hath made the diftin&ion ; fince, ha'4 r not been for this grace, they themfelves would infal- libly have run on to deftrueYion, and been as finful and jpruferable, as thofe who are actually loit \ notwithstand- ing the offers of falvation made to them, and the means and advantages they enjoyed. Nothing can be better fuited to keep this in the cleared view forever, than this affual dtftinftioUi made by divine grace, in laving forne, wlrle others are given over to deferved, everlafting de- iiru-HofL 4 nd without this, or were all faved, the nunif-lta ion of this, v/ould have been comparatively drW, an J very imperfect. From this view of the matter, it appears eafy to fee bow important and neceflary it is k that all fhould not be faved, in order that the Redeemer and redemption, might ( i6y ) 5VJ.V. might appear in th'ir true greatncfs and fplendor •, and the hightlt mauiteita»iun of glorious, fovereign grace be madt in the falvatioo of doners; and t-he greateft hap- pinefs of ihe laved promoted s Though, at the fame time, it is not pretended, that any are able to diicetn all the £nds, that divine wifdora and goodnefs will anfwtr, by this difpenfation. IV. If, it be granted, that ic is neccflary, in order to render the work of redemption mod complete and glo- rious, a \ ilii r Jecmcd happy to the hi^hrit drgreeg that a'l that the mountain of the Lord's houfe (hall be tftabiiftied in the top of the mountains, and fhall be exalted above the hills ; and all nations Jb all flow unto it. For the earth (hall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea." They who have attended well to the Bible muft be fenfible, that the tim- is yet to come in which falvatinn by Chrift (hall take place, as it never has yet done: His church (hall flourish and fill the world ; and Satan's kingdom be utterly deftroyed in the earth. And this happy and glorious day of falvation (hall continue a thou/and years. In this thoufand years of peace and profperity Sefl.V. ( i jo ) profperity, when the people fhali be all righteous, rhart? kind wiii naturally propagate and multiply, as they never yet have done, and fill the whole face of the earth j fo thai there will be many thouland times more living in the world at one time, than there ever yet have betr*? It is eafy to (hew, that in fuch a date, many more peo- ple will exift in a thoufand years, than have exsfted be- fore ; yea, many thoufands to one % fuppofing this thouland years ihaJl be fhe fevehth thouiand years of the uorld ; which iuppofitiort is agreeeble to fenpture. If the greater part that live in the preceding fix thouland years, do penlh ; yet if all, or mod, who fhall exiil in the feventh thoufand years, ihall be (avc^ 9 there will* on the whole, be many more of mankind faved, than loft ; yea, it may be, many thoufands to one* But as th.s does not fo immediately affect the fubje<± we ans considering, it is neediefs to enlarge upen it here. The reader has now the doctpne of endkfs punifh- meat laid before him* as it is revealed, and abundantly aikrted in the word of God : And thejuitice of this pu- nifhrnent, and neccflity of it v in order to anfwer the mod important purpofes ; to render the work of re- demption mod complete and glorious, and promote the highed good and ^happinefs ofc the univerfe ; fo that it is a real good, and necefTary part of the mod wife and benevolent plan % and therefore mod pteafing to infinite goodnel?, fend bed fttited to excite tfce joy and praifc of eveiy benevolent mind * And in this light may be fee n the abfardity of that en» thufiaitic harangue of Mr. Jtrmiah Wbiit, who lived in the Jaft century, lately publiihtd in Bofton [fee Salvation for ell rmn* p« u, «, j> 4. j which may well be considered as the very dregs of the enthufiafrs}, and religion* frenzy, which took place, to 10 great a degree, in his day. He was himfetf fo pleafed and charmed m\h hit fchente of umvtrjai-fatvatim* that y ( ?7! ) Sr£ r. tnat m a conceit of his own fnperior benevolence hs curt (Ted him felt' with fanatic complacence and j>y; and thenexc aim*, 'ea r -» Ing to the benevolent, to have no fuch thing as (in or mifery in iheuni^crfe. Why then h there any fuch thing ? Hov/ Can it be accounted for, that they (houid take place, unde?- tbe al'-perect government of an infinitely benevolent Bemg ? li it be fsid, Thefe have taken place under Qod's govern- ment, when he was able to have prevented their exiftenc?, in order to anfwer fomc good and important end*, winch c u!d not be accomplished wifhoat them ; fo that it is, on ths wootc, beft they mould cxi't, as they ' ha^e done ; and wri iiTsc in the greatest general good : It will be then aflced, 16 fuch a degree of fln an j m\fery a r » has taken place, and will take pUce to the end of ths world, and at:er the day of ;urfg-» ftleint, in a long, though temporary punifhrncot, beneccfl"«r/ tr. promote the higheft general good ; why may not endiefs punilhment be as nccefury, and more fo, to promote the higheft pofuVe genera! good ? Who is able God ecu id not prevent fin confidently with the freedom (pf r . c«.n be recover men from fin, when they have pnee fallen under the dominion of it, and not infringe on I \,i If he couid not fceep fin out of the worlds what, evidence h there, that he can cleai the world of it, and put an end to the icbefiion, j^ter if ha« had fuch a mighty Spread, m& continued fo ion? ? I* t» no' probable ; yea, even certain, that \\ will continue forever itWthftandiag any |%g he can da 1 Therefore, If it b& certain tha- Go4 * , does ( i 7 5 ) &S.V- does all he can to bring a!' men to holinefs and happinefs ; whit evidence is there, that this will ever be tl If ail ihc meuis u/?d with men, in this weld, be not fufBctent fj ^ri.ij; th-joi ro repentance, and 'us luppofed Gxl uies the beft means, and take* the beft and moft likely methods, and does all be can, io effect it a what evidence is there that he w I; ever b* able to recover all men from fin, by any means whs.-foever ? I» it certain, is it probable, that any d^^reeor length of future punimment will be fufHcient to effect this, fince all other more likely means tail ? This cannot be. And if it w*s certain, that future punimment would bring all men to repentance ; what fecurity can there be, that they will not refapfc into (in, and oblige their Mjlcer to continue their punimment ; and what end can their be of this, (o loni$ as God cannot prevent fin, confident with the freedom of his creatures ? There c*n be no poftible fecunty againft fin, and punilhment without end, on this plan, unltfc God Ihould annihilate ail the mora! agents he has made, and (o put an eternal end to ni* moral government ! Is not this a poor, mifcablc foundation, upnn which to build an affurancc of the eternal happinefs of all men ? Let the advocates for the falvation of ajl men pive a fair and fatisracljry anfwer to all thefe queftions, and to what has been produced againft this doctanc in the foregoing ftieett ; and remove all thefe difficulties ?rom their fchtme. Or, if they cannot do this, let them give up their dangerous notion, and admit the belief of endleis pumlhment, and that ichemeof divine truth, fo confident with the word of God, and fo plainly and abundantly inculcated there; which re- flects fuch glory on the Dvine character and pives a rational, fatisractory account of the introduction of fin and mifery, under the m^>ft wife and happy government of Jehovah; and the cont. nuance of -hem forever, for the greateft good of the whole; and againft which, there can. be no reasona- ble objection. SECTION Seff.Vl. ( 176 ) SECTION VL CON Tj4 INING Inferences from the Doc trine of endlefs *PuniJhment f an J a praBical Im- provement of it. I. 'T 1 H E doctrine of endlefs punifhment being thus eft abli Hied frcm the holy fcriptures, and vindi- cated and fupported by re?fon ; it follows, that all tbofe dectrines, and that experimental or practical reli- gion, which are inconfiftent with this dectrine, are falfe and delufive. If we were able to take a thorough, comprehensive view. of the fubject, and examine it wjthoiatt any preju- dice and darknefs; it would doubtlefs be fot?nd, that no falfe fcheme of religion, in doctrine or pra&ice, can iftand this left, and be reconciled, in all its parts, to this dsftrine; but that ail fuch fchemesdo clam with it f however ignorant of it they may be who embrace them, and attempt to blend this doctrine with tbofe that do really oppofe it. And it will appear, that true rtli- gion-i including principles and practice, the religion of the Bibky and that only, is, in every parr, confident with God's punifhing the wicked forever % (6 as to bear a friendly afpect to, and truly approve it. By this teftj, then, every doctrine and all hearts naay be tried. Here many particular doctrines, and different fchemei of practical religion, might be brought into view, and examined by this tert : But this will be omitted ; and only one general character of all falfe religion mention- ed, and tiied by this rule : That is, felfifh religion^ as op- pofed to all difinterefted, public affection. It is eafjf! tofte that felfifhnefs cannot be reconciled to eternal pu« niChment, on thofe grounds, and for the reafons, afide from which, or were >it not for them, it would be un- ^cfirable, sod not rtafonablc, viz. The glory of God and ( 177 ) 'Sea. Vh and the greatcft genera! good. As endlefs puniihmsnt is neccflary to promote this, God approves of it, and ha3 ordained it: Bur, in (bis view, it is Wholly oppofed to felrlflinefs : For that pays no regard to the honor of God, or the general good > 9 but freks only a private in- cerell : And confrqucntly, all felfifh religion does op- pofe endlefs puniihment. And it hence appears, that true religion confifts in that benevolence, and that pub* lie, difinrerefted affccTion which is implied in it* which defires and feeks the glory of God, and the greateft public or general good j lb as to fubordinate all to this, and be reconciled to ihat y and acquicfee in it, be it what it will, which is belt ftaited to anfwer this end ; and oppofes every thing, fo far as it appears to be op- pofed to this : And that every degree of that feinih- nefs, which is oppofed to fuch benevolence, is oppofed to God, and all /us inflicutions and ways. II. It may be hence inferred, that to believe and teach the falvation of all men is very dangerous and hurtful. This appears to be fo, as it is comrary to the truth, fo clearly revealed \n the facred oracles : Since every error, efpccially one fo grofs, aod of fuch magni- tude, mud be dange;ou*, and of an evil tendency. They whofe religious exercifes, whofe love to Gou\ &c. have their foundation in a belief, that there is no fuch thing as endlefs puniihment, and that all mankind (hall be ha.jpy forever ; io that the belief of the con- trary would put an end to all their love and religion, are certainly in a very dangerous way. Ail their re- ligious affrclions, their leve, hope and joy, will perifli forever, when they are made to' knew, that the wicked iha!! go away into everlafting puniihment :" And they will be found enemies to the true God, and his wife adminiftrations, and onlv fie to be call into that ever- rtg fire. And all th^ic, vrtuft hope of future hap- pincfo SeB.VL ( 178 ) pinefs ?s wholly founded on a belief and confidence, that none (hall he referable, arc in a mod "dangerous fitUav tion. Their truft and confidence will penfh : Their hope is as the fpider'b web, and (hall be ?>s the giving up ot theghoft : This delufion now (huts their ea;s, and fortifies ihem agan.ft all warnings adapted to excite their fears, and awaken them to fly from the wrath ro come ; and has a direct & mighty tendency rofink them down into careleifnefs, and rv-. gleet of all religion ; and to encourage them in worldly, and vicious y .ratifications and purluks, while they flatter themieives, and fay, " We fhai have peace, though we walk in the imagina- tion of our heart, and add drunkennefs rothirft." It is (o evident* from reafon and obiervation, that this is true of the doctrine, That there is no puntjbment for the wicked in the future ft ate : That nbt only they who believe their punilhment will be endtels' % but thole whei think k will be temporary^ though it may be lonjg and dreadful, without hefi auon pronounce the former a licentious dangerous ac clrine ; * while they who held the latter fay this has no itch bad tendency. But, if this iubjr dl be properly corfidrred, k will doubtlefs appear, that the latter has ths lame, and an e- quaily bad, and dangerous tendency, with the former. Wc find that when Tinners are awakened to a knfe of their dang *r and the evil cafe in which they are, fo as :o think in earntft of reformation and embracing the got- pel, in order to falvarion -, it is always under feme con- viction and Fenfebf endlejs mifery, as the certain confer quence or pet&fting in th.nr evil ways. And if they can be made to believe there is no fuch punilhment % but that they fhall certainly be happy forever, whatever be * It m^y be sdded, that, on this principle, all oaths, or foltmri gpps&li to G*i for ihe truih ot what men fsy> wl ( !;f it -% than to fee himfelf in danger of only a temporary pu- nslhiicnt. The awakened (inner, in fearful expeda ; on A a of are fo necenVy in civil government, are perfectly ufelUs j For he who iweareth faifo»y has no judge or future judgment to fear or regard ; and will be as t happy in the future ftate g as hn who frareth a falfc oath* And no degree of un faith - fulnefs, deceit and unrighrcoufnefs, or indulgence or any !uft whatever, will be the ieafl difodvantage to a man, alter ho ItAveu the body. And no fear of any evil, after death, cam take place, to be the leaft reftraint from putting an end to his own lire, or the life of others i But the confident expectation of happinefs in the other world, becomes a ftrong induce- ment to put himfelf, and thofe nearly connected with him 4 out of this world: Especially, when worldly circumftaitces and profpecls a*e dark and difagreeable j that he may frfcs 'elf and them, from the evil?; of this ]ife 4 Therefore, if it were poilibie that this docVins ihould be really believed and fprrad, would it not fap the foundation of civil government; introduce the greateft evil* in human fociety, by the preva- lence of the unrsftraiaed lulls of men ; put an end ro all mutual confidence of men in each other * and promote fui- cide and awarder* innumerable i According to this do&rine* the greateft enemy or God iff the world hat the naff »n his 1 hands ; and whenever the indulgence of his luits has dercd ttvit life difagreeabie, he may defy the punching hand of his Maker, and pufh himfelf in«o perfect and cndlefs happinefs^ in a moment I This it obferved, not as an argu- ment, or from ihi haft diftre y that the civil power mould b« exerted *o put a flop to this doctrine : Bat to demotdtrste that least to be a grof* detufion, which is pregnant wiih tuchfataj evils to human focie;y. Seff.VL (' iSq ) ©f deftrucYton, as the confV quence of eke way he nss taken, will-exprefs the feelings of his mind, in the fal- lowing languige. 4k O ! If the dtftru&ion which is like to be my portion were not endiefs, it would be cokrable and light, compared with being miferable/ei, muy you not be certain, when it is a iter ted, thai no man ftuli pertfn forever, lor any fin he can commit in this lite, though he obttinateiy per lift in it till death) but, landing all poffibte rebellion, ihall be happy forever ; this is this fame Its, revi/xd and pro- ps-gated by Satan, and those unhappy peffohsj who are taken in his fn arc ? It certainly look* j u it like it : And are you willing to be taken in fuca a mare, and perifh forever? 3. The iicrid oracles re preterit wicked men as inclined to flatter themfelves, that evil will not corns upon them, when they are upon the brink of deftruclion, Pia ! « x. 6. U The wicked hath (aid in his heart, t thaii not be removed ; for I (halt never be in adversity?" Ifai, fcxyiiL, 5, * k tfecaufc ye have faid, We have made, a covcfia&jE with death, and wiih heii are we at agreement j when the ovo flowing fcourge ihall paft through, it Ihalh^ijUwnjeur.to u:-. M Dcu. xxlx.iS, S9, * 4 Left tnefe fhould be ainouj^ou«Q root that bearerh gail and wormwood i and it come to p^U when he heanth tbt vjsrdi of this curje, that he blefs him fen in his heart* facing, I Jbiiil have ptace % though. I walk in :h& imaginaiim ef mine heart to add drunkenntfs ttibirfu" £ Viufjf. v. 3. •♦'For when ihey (hai( Uy, Peace and /a/eiyi thsn tudden d^ftruChoa Cometh iipon tlum, aad they fhafl not efcape." This is the n* eternal Stti. VI. ( 18S ) t'erna! life, tho* you walk after the imagination of your own heart, and indulge every luft, have you not resign to thinte you are an inflance of this very feif- flattery and delufion, de- icribed in the fcriptures now cited ? ft this be not the very thing, what can ir he ? Awske, and tremble, O (inner, foe veri-y, Thou art the man / 4 The character ot/alfe prephets s \n thefcrip'u r e, is, that they fitter men in their litis, and prophefy fmuoth things, promis- ing peace and fafety to men, when deftruclioo i$ coming upon them: Ar»d > on the contrary, the true prophet* declared there yfas no pesce to the wicked, and denounced evil and certain de~ Itru6tfon which was coming upon them, unlefs ihcy repented : And this recommended the former to the multitude* who ca- reiTed.and /poke well of them •, 3tid at the fame time rendered the ia ter dif4greeable*and brought upon them hatred and til treatment. This obfervartion might be illuftratcd by referring to a great number of particular pafT*ges bjf fcripture. — — The attentive reader of the b.ble xnuft be fenfibie or this* Oa!y the following will be recited no%v. Jer. xxiji, 16, 17. 81 Thus faith the Lord of lofts, FXcarken not unto the wofds or the prophets that prophefy unto you ; they make you vain, Tixsy fay ftisl unto them that defp'fe me, The Lord h^th faid, Ye Jhallhavt psace : And they f«y unto every one thai wdketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil Jhall some upon ycu." Ezek. xiii. 10. Of falfc prophets it u laid, •« They have feduccd my peop'e, faying, Ptace, and there Tras no peace." Ver. zz, !* With |i c $ yc have ftrengthened the hands of the wicked, that he ihould not turn from his wicked way, by promifing him Lifje." Let ihofe wao are ; now addreffrd, ferioufly confider, whe- ther, (hey who promt fe eternal happinefs to you, whatever ne your characler in this work! ; fo that you cannot mif* of it by any courfe of fin whatever, do not take upjpn them the very chsra&er which the bib'c gives of taiie propheti : And whether they, who, on the contrary, hold forth tndief* de- ft; u&ion, as the certain portion of the .impenitent (inner &. and hofe other doctrines which are connected wi'h :hts, and are fo diiagreeab.'e to wicked m>*n in general, do not appear an the character of true p r ophcts and teacher*. And whether,, fey embracing the former, and rejecting and hating the 1st- ( 1 89 ) Seti.VL ter, you will not a<5l juft as t hofe deluded, wicked men did, who were pieafed with the prophets who pleached pt; ce to them, and haled and peifecutcd thofe of the contraiy cha- racter* tie entreated to thirk of this, as you value your own fouls., and would hot be flattered to youi sterna/ turn. Think oi ife with an unprejudiced, honeii mind, until you are able to give a rational, fat A hit pdffibie it fo uM be in the riega 5 When all the evidence from fcrip'ure, fuppdMed by reafon, which ha* been produced 5 together with the ■ceding obiervar enf, a e honc% confide* ed arid weighed 5 ii it poftibta that any one ihouid be able to fland forth and fay, •• i am abfiluitlf certain, that ail mankind will be eter- nally happy ; sad ?.hat he ftsnds on a iVe and fure foundation, who hi\ no o'her ground but this, to bui!d his afTurance &i everbftmg life upon'?" I* ycu cannot do this, as you c*r- tain'y cannot, unlcf* your deluf&n be remarkably ftrongj but matt own you ape (ac from being absolutely certain, that all fhalj be happy ; then why will you adhere to this, and truft in fuch «n uncertainty f i falvation, however probable yo\a m/ay think rhc declrrne to be ; and negUd the only way in which you may be atyluttly ariuiK t and build on the moil iurz ground ? • God hath ; aid in 2Hon a fure foundation, a tried, precious corner ftone 5 and whoever bciteve^h on him, mail not be ashamed of his hope, (hall never be deftroyc moir, is no nvw i.:d may fail you, aftei a 1 ! This )$ negj , *or the fake of an uncertainty; « beft, in an si"' moment. Such conduct would be thought m»dr.e(s in auy icrrVporaf, wor.dly metier; why then will y< of it, vl^n you/ whioli, youi bursal latere^ it depending I indeed there i* Se8. VI. . ( 190 ) is no probability that fuch folly and infatuation will end well ; bur a certainty* that if you take this courfe, and negitft Chrift and f he jjreat falvation now, you c?.nno«- cfc?pe ever- Lifting d*ft»-uclion, from the pre fence of the Lord and the glory of his power. * s AW' confider this, ye that forget God, le$ be tear von in jveces, and there be none to driver.*' Sfcondly, This addrcf* turns ro ihefs whoprofeis to be» jieve the doctrine of tnd!ef« pur.ifhirsm ; and know they are r.ot Chrifliahs ; who own tfeenrfelyei to be cenftanr'v expo- fe.6 to eVeffaOing $e#rucTi©n ; and that fhif muft be their portion, if th- in their prefer 1 ft ate : And yet, are in a great im^fure fecutc^and eafy* while they are xiegleding the grciat fajyation ; and many of them go on in epen zntl u.nrg'ft tailed wickedneff. Dear, infatuated foul?, how can you be infenfiWe, if you will think fericuGy a minute, that you arein a mcftoar- ge'ous wretched cafe* which ca ; s for the pity of a\l thebeof* vblent, and their earned prayers, and friendly endcavou-s for your relief ? And though ail of this kind, has hitherto had no apparent fuccefr; yet the a tt erupt muf! be repeated; and you are to he reproved, rebuked and exhorted, with ail ten-* d erne ft, Jopgfu{fer.ing and doct.nnc., or inftrucii-sn, it peradven- tuie God will give you repentance j and you may recover youjfe'vfi out of the fnar^of th« devil, who axe. taken cap- tive by hjjn at his will. Think not them your enemies who t:il you the truth, whatever dilagreeable and painful ieeiingf it may give you. Be entreated, as vm love voir own feu!?, rot to hearken to iheicfliuatiors or thofe, *ho wouid ptrfuade you there is no 'uch dreadful evil as endfeis puniihment to fear. There are fu$h, and many are greedily ("wallowing the bait, and caughv iaft in the fatsi fnare; from which it is much to be feared ihey will never be recovered. You ere not cut of dan- ger, T ke bred to yourfelvcs, left you flnu'd be induced to IbeTJevethis f atal lie, by thofe who, wirh all their cunning Cftftinefs, lie in wait to deceive, For white they promiie yo i peace, liberty and eternal life, they themfclveg imift per'-fh forever in their own deiufion, unlets they repent and believe on Cbrift, berore they leave this word. Aiund to the evidence there ir t from the holy features, of ( taj ) SecLW of the certainty of endreTt puniihmcnt ; and think of it, til! your rr.in is arc eOablithcd in the tru'h, and it become! a reality to vou. Bz perfumed to meditate much upon the dicadfulncfi of thit punifh'rWent. You may be fare you can- nm imagine it to be greater than it will be, or conceive of the * >h part of the dreadfulnefs of it. Think often, ye* conftamly, how dreadful it wil) b^ to find yourfelves loft f^ever ; punned into perfect, inexpreffib'e mifery, in atofo«» \u%; defpafr of deliverance, or the lcaft mitigation of puntm- tnent us all ecmny ! Never, never, to have anothet apreea* be though 5 or fenfa»ion, in the m-dft of the moft difag e5*ble, horrid company; fufFering the raoft keen dltfr^i and tcrtu e, vr^ch will be poured in upon you from every qusrter, white you know you have rota friend in the naive fc to hdp or pity you ; under %\\? awful snd mod fenfible frowns and Cor.'e oi the infinitely terrible Jehovah, who wi'l live foreve? snd ever to punhh you ; your thought* fwiftly, and irrifillibJy forward, a*»sd fixing on eternal, tndUfs duration \ and the more; ycu dwei! on thi?, the higher will your mifery and an- p'jilharife i At the hm* time, with the keenelt remos fc, re« fl»'a ) therefore be al f ogetber > our own incxcufable fault* if you periiii by refuting 10 obey liis call : /vr.d your rej ni s &r.d f£«f going to heH, Will neceiTasily tender your pun:(h> ftienMnc >nd more dreadful, ;. would! be if there ha*j rad you never had (ucft aft effefc v r . Why' the ... icrLordJciui Ciigii, an fight bf a'i openly viclcus performs 1 — — The evil ff eaker and cen- ter. ■;..:-— — - rfic ^'u'lerer, fornicator, and ad lewd, obfeene pet ions. The oru; karc*, and ail Jbrr, Thefe frail not inhe- rit ifte kingdom of Ged; but jnuft have their part in the lake wmch burnetii w]th|ite and biiaruloae, ianlefs they re* |»cnto And v, hat will become d ail thefe w-ho refufe to pay any regard to God., ro religion, and d?vine institutions ! Who wholly negtit rhe bibis, disregard the fcbbajh, and all the ordinances or Chnft ; who terrain prayer, and will not call upon God? The hojd will come in a day when they look nor for him, and scan hour when they think not, and will cu* them afunder, and appoint them tiuir portion wnh unbelitver$ % where thai! be endlefs weeping, waiiing and gnafhing of teeth. There are multitudes among us, and St?. Vh this fife, are giving up their e-ernal happmefs, and plunging therafelvesmto end efs deftru&ion. O. that they would at- tend and hearken to the kind trarni'r% and advice given to tiicm by Ch r i(i ! *« If thy hand or foot offend thee, cut them off; or It thine eye offend thee (i. c. caufe tnie to offend or fail) pluck it out, and caft it from thee : it 15 better for thee to enter into life bait or maimed, or with one eye, than hav- ing two hands or fvo feet, or two eyes, to be cad into hell, into the tire the* never finil be quenched j where their worm die*h not, and th* fi-c it nor quenched*" How many worldly m'mded per (am a>e there, who for the fake of me purfuit, or the poiTnlon and enjoyments of this world, are every day felling 'heir foul-', and giving shern up to be tormented forever. Let fuch confidsr wh*t they arc doing, o f <*hat inexpreffible folly and madnefs they arc guilty; by real'z/mg what it is to be loft % t6 go sway into everlafting punimrhent j anklet them aCfettdto the awskenmg words of Cnrift, "What is a man praS'ed* :!l gain the whole world arid lote his own foul } Or what (hail a mam give m exchange for his foul ?" Others there arc, who having becri rr/irsined from the grofs Qpstx vices which th$y fee jsffafclUfed bv many, and being im'cnflbie of the vile nature and ill rfefert 06 all (la, and igno- rant of the wickednefs of their own hzz.'ts -, think they don't defervc to be punfnsd forever, and therefore are confident they are in no danger "of this dreadful evil* And others de- fend on ther prayer? and footed good v?or s i5s ; thinking themfo delervn^r, as to be futlicient to* fecure ihem from fu- ture puni(hment. Ail thele wonid-be fenflhle of their rnifiakc and rfelufion, did they underftand and brieve what is faid of Chrilt. " Neither is there far vat ion in any other: For there it no o^her nxmz tinker heaven given amd »'g men, whereby we mu(l be fayed," Or did they attend to 'he divine law, and let that come to their consciences and hearts, in its true meaning and ft n cine ft, cwrfin% every one who c^nrinucth not in all things vri'ren xn<\ required therein; f-r by this their fms which are now; hid from them, wou.d revive, and all their vain hooc* forever die. In fun whatever hi the different eirciirn&mces and con- &u*l of men. , if *h-y be n,o rt«lChfifliam\ they arc ia danger of ; in 5 and jrefeht Se3. VI. ( 194 ) flate and chara&er, will be punilhcd with everlafting de* ftru&ion Irum the prefcnce of the Lord, and the gioiy or hit power* For the Redeemer himfeif hath faid^ and it cannot berevefed, but will be verified in all, *' He that beiieveth [ihft gofpet] and is baptifed, (hill be faved ; but he that BELIEVETH NOT, SHALL BE DAMNED. AM£N, " He that has ears to hear, let him hear." fbt Reader is befireb ie eorreft the folUwing Error s oftbi Prt/u Page 583 liftc xS, lead renders, P. 7$, h 7,'trtm the bottom* read noU < P. 75, in the Note, t. 9, read anus. P« 77> U 5» from hot. for in ua^ 0*. P. 85, U 2, rr. b« tt*4 fpirits of devils, P. i04> 1. si, the comm« after imply % ftiould be after it* P. 1 09, !• 4., fr, b. read [ufficunu P« 117, 1« 1$, for any read 00* Pc 13&, I. ji 5 ffom hot. read should be* Pi 155. k 2C* re*d immth /