Sermon on the Eternity of Hell-Torments

THE Eternity of Hell-Torments .

THE Excellency of the Gospel Dispensation is evidenced by nothing more, than those Sanctions of Rewards and Punishments, which it offers to the Choice of all its Professors, in order to invite or compel them to be obedient to its Precepts. — For it promises no less than Eternal Happiness to the Good, and denounces no slighter a Punishment than Everlasting Misery against the Wicked. On the one Hand, it is a Savour of Life unto Life , on the other, a Savour of Death unto Death . And though' 〈◊〉 would imagine the bare mentioning of the former would be sufficient to draw Men to their Duty, yet Ministers in all Ages have found it necessary frequently to remind their People of the latter, and to set before them the Tenors of the LORD, as so many powerful Dissuasives from Sin.

But whence is it that Men are so disingenuous? —Why, the Reason seems to be this.— The Promise of Eternal Happiness on our Well-doing, is so agreeable to the Inclinations and Wishes of Mankind, that all that call themselves Christians, universally and willingly subscribe to the Belief of it. But then there is something so shocking in the Consideration of Eternal Torments , and seemingly such an infinite Disproportion between an endless Duration of Pain, and a short Life spent in Pleasure, that Men (some at least of them) can scarcely be brought to confess it as an Article of their Faith, that an Eternity of Misery awaits the Wicked in a future State.

I shall therefore at this Time beg Leave, to insist on the proof of this Part of one of the Articles of our Creed; and endeavor to make good what our blessed LORD has here threatened in the Words of the Text, that These , that is, the Wicked, shall go away into Everlasting Punishment .

Accordingly, without considering the Words as they stand in Relation to the Context, I shall resolve all I have to say into this one general Proposition,—

But before I proceed to make good this, I must inform you that I take it for granted,

All here present steadfastly believe,

I take it for granted farther,

I take it for granted lastly,

These Things being granted (and they were necessary to be premised) proceed we now to make good the one general Proposition mentioned before, and asserted in the Text, that

The first Argument I shall advance to prove that the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are eternal (for I have taken it for granted, that you believe those Books, emphatically called the Scriptures , were written by the Inspiration of GOD, and that the Things contained therein are founded upon Eternal Truth) is, That the Word of GOD himself, assures us, Line upon Line, that it will be so.

To quote all the Texts that might be produced in Proof of this, would be endless.—Let it suffice to instance only in a few.—In the Old-Testament , in the Book of Daniel , Chap. xii. ver. 2. we are told, that Some shall awake to Everlasting Life, and others to Everlasting Contempt .—In the Book of Isaiah , it is said, that The Worm of those that have transgressed GOD's Law, shall not die, nor their Fire be quenched .—And in another Place, the Holy Prophet, struck, no doubt, with Astonishment and Horror at the Prospect of the Continuance of the Torments of the Damned, breaks out into this moving Expostulation, Who can dwell with Everlasting Burnings?

The New-Testament is still fuller as to this Point, it being a Revelation which brought this and such-like Particulars to a clear Light.—The Apostle Jude tells us of the profane Despisers of Dignities in his Days, that for them was reserved the Blackness of Darkness forever .—And in the Book of the Revelations it is written, that The Smoke of the Torments of the Wicked ascendeth forever and ever .—And if we believe the Witness of Men inspired, the Witness of the Son of GOD, who had the Spirit given him, as he was a Mediator, without Measure, is still far greater.—And he, in St. Mark 's Gospel, repeats this solemn Declaration three several Times. It is better for Thee to enter into Life maimed ; that is, it is better to forego the Gratification of thy Lust, or incur the Displeasure of a Friend, which may be as dear to thee as a Hand, or as useful as a Foot, than having two Hands and Feet , that is, for indulging the one, or disobeying GOD to oblige the other, to be cast into Hell, where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched .

And here again, in the Words of the Text, These , that is, the Wicked, says he, shall go away into everlasting Punishment .

I know it has been objected by some who have denied the Eternity of Hell Torments,

And this we readily grant. But then we reply,

Besides, it ought to be observed, that, some of the Passages just now referred to, have neither of these Words so much as mentioned in them, and cannot possibly be interpreted so as to denote only a limited Term of Years.

But let that be as it will, it is evident even to a Demonstration, that the Words of the Text however, will not admit of such a restrained Signification, as appears from their being directly opposed to the Words immediately following, viz. That the Righteous shall go into Life eternal. From which Words, all are ready to grant, that the Life promised to the Righteous will be Eternal; and why the Punishment threatened to the Wicked should not be understood to be Eternal likewise, when the very same Word in the Original, is used to express the Duration of each, no Shadow of a Reason can be given.

But Secondly , There cannot be one Argument urged, why GOD should reward his Saints with everlasting Happiness, which will not equally punish Sinners with Eternal Misery.

For, since we know nothing (at least for a Certainty) how he will deal with either, but by a Divine Revelation; and since, as was proved by the foregoing Argument, he hath as positively threatened eternally to punish the Wicked, as to reward the Good; it follows that his Truth will be as much impeached and called in Question, did he not inflict his Punishments, as it would be, if he did not confer his Rewards.

To this also it has been objected,

But in answer to this Objection we affirm,

It is true, GOD did spare Nineveh , and that because the Inhabitants did actually repent, and therefore performed the Conditions upon which it was supposed by the Prophet's being sent to warn them, the threatened Punishment should be withheld.

And so likewise in respect to Gospel Threatenings. If Men will so far consult their own Welfare as to live up to the Gospel Terms, GOD certainly will not punish them, but on the contrary, confer upon them his Rewards,—But to affirm that HE will not punish, and that eternally too, impenitent, obstinate Sinners, according as he hath threatened, if they do not perform the Terms of the Gospel, what is it, in Effect, but to make GOD like a Man, that he should lie, or the Son of Man that he should repent?

But the absurdity of such an Opinion will appear still more evident from

The next and Third Argument I shall offer to prove, that the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are eternal, viz. From the Nature of the Christian Covenant.

And here I must again observe, that it was taken for granted at the Beginning of this Discourse, that,

And here I take it for granted farther (unless you believe the absurd and unwarrantable Doctrine of Purgatory) that you are fully persuaded, that this Life is the only Time allotted by Almighty GOD for working out our Salvation, and after a few Years are passed over, there will be no more Sacrifice for Sin.

And if this be granted (and who dares deny it) it follows that if a wicked Man dieth in his Wickedness, and under the Wrath of GOD, he must continue in that State to all Eternity. — For, since there is no Possibility of his being delivered out of such a Condition but by and thro' CHRIST; and since at the Hour of Death, the Time of CHRIST'S Mediation and Intercession for him is irrecoverably gone; the same Reason that may be given, why GOD should punish a Sinner that dieth under the Guilt of his Sins for a single Day, will equally hold good, why he should continue to punish him for a Year, an Age, nay, to all Eternity.

But I hasten to the Fourth and last Argument, to prove, That the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are eternal , viz. Because the Devil's Punishment is to be so.

That there is such a Being whom we call the Devil , that he was once an Angel of Light, but for his Pride and Rebellion against GOD, was cast down from Heaven, and is now permitted with the rest of his spiritual Wickednesses, to walk to and fro, seeking whom they may devour. — That there is a Place of Torment reserved for them, or, to use the Apostle's Words, that they are reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day , are Truths all here present were supposed to be convinced of, when it was taken for granted under the second Proposition at the Beginning of this Discourse, that you believed the holy Scriptures to be written by the Inspiration of GOD, wherein these Truths are delivered.

But then if we allow all this, and think it no Injustice in GOD to punish those glorious Spirits for their Rebellion, how can we think it unjust in him, to punish wicked Men for their Impenitency to all Eternity?

You will say perhaps, that they have sinned against greater Light, and therefore deserve a greater Punishment. And so we grant that the Punishment of the fallen Angels may be greater as to Degree, than that of wicked Men. But then we affirm, it will be equal as to the Eternal Duration of it. For in that Day, as the lively Oracles of GOD inform us, shall the Son of Man say to them on his left Hand, Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels . — Where we find that impenitent Sinners are to be cast into the same Everlasting Fire , with the Devil and his Angels, — and that too very justly. — For though they may have sinned against greater Light, yet Christians sin against greater Mercy. Since CHRIST took not hold of, did not die for the fallen Angels, but of the Seed of Abraham , for Men and for our Salvation. So that if GOD spared not those excellent Beings, assure thyself, O obstinate Sinner, whoever thou art, he will by no means spare thee.

From what then has been said it plainly appears, that verily the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are Eternal . — And if so, Brethren, how holy ought we to be in all Manner of Conversation and Godliness, that we may be accounted worthy to escape this Wrath to come!

But before I proceed to a practical Exhortation, permit me to draw an Inference or two from what has been said.

And first, If the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are Eternal , what shall we say to those who make an open Profession in their Creed to believe a Life everlasting, i. e. a Life of Happiness as well as Misery, and yet dare to live in the actual Commission of those Sins which will unavoidably, without Repentance, bring them into the Place of Torment? Thou believest the Punishment of the impenitently Wicked in another Life, are Eternal: Thou doest well, The Devils also believe and tremble . But know, O vain Man, unless this Belief doth Influence thy Practice, and makes thee bid Adieu to thy Sins, every Time thou repeatest thy Creed, thou dost in Effect say, I believe I shall be undone forever.

But Secondly , If the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are Eternal, then let this serve as a Caution to such Persons (and it is to be feared there are some such) who go about to dissuade others from the Belief of such an important Truth. There being no surer Way, in all Probability, to encourage & promote Infidelity and Profaneness, than the broaching or maintaining such an unwarrantable Doctrine. — For if the positive Threats of GOD concerning the Eternity of Hell-Torments are already found insufficient to deter Men from Sin, what a higher Pitch of Wickedness may we imagine they will quickly arrive at, when they are taught to entertain any Hopes of a future Recovery out of them, or, what is still worse, that their Souls are hereafter to be annihilated, and become like the Beasts that perish? — But Woe unto such blind Leaders of the Blind. No Wonder if they both fall into the Ditch. — And let such Corrupters of GOD's Word know, that I testify unto every Man that heareth me this Day, that if any one shall add unto, or take away from the Words that are written in the Book of GOD, GOD shall take his Part out of the Book of Life, and shall add unto him all the Plagues that are in that Book.

Thirdly and Lastly , If the Torments reserved for the Wicked hereafter are eternal, then this may serve as a Reproof for those who quarrel with GOD, and say it is inconsistent with his Justice, to punish a Person to all Eternity, only for enjoying the Pleasures of Sin for a Season. But such Persons must be told, that it is not their thinking or calling GOD unjust, will make him so, no more than a condemned Prisoner's saying the Law or Judge is unjust, will render either duly chargeable with such an Imputation. — But knowest thou, O Worm, what Blasphemy thou art guilty of, in charging GOD with Injustice? — Shall the Thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? And wilt thou presume to arraign the Almighty at the Bar of thy shallow Reasoning? And call him unjust, for punishing thee Eternally, only because thou wishest it may not so? But hath GOD said it; and shall he not do it? He hath said it: And let GOD be true, though' every Man be a Liar.— Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right? Assuredly he will. And if Sinners will not own his Justice in his Threatenings here, they will be compel'd ever long to own and feel them when tormented by him hereafter.

But to come to a more practical Application of what has been delivered.

You have heard, Brethren, the Eternity of Hell-Torments plainly proved, from the express Declarations of Holy Scriptures, and Consequences naturally drawn from them.—And now there seems to need no great Art of Rhetoric to persuade any understanding Person to avoid and abhor those Sins, which without Repentance, will certainly plunge him into this Eternal Gulf.—The Disproportion between the Pleasure and the Pain (if there be any Pleasure in Sin) is so infinitely great, that supposing it was only possible though' not certain, that the Wicked would be everlastingly punished, no one that has the Reason of a Man, for the Enjoying a little momentary Pleasure, would, one would imagine, run the Hazard of enduring Eternal Pain.—But since the Torments of the Damned are not only possible, but certain, (since GOD himself, who cannot lie, has told us so) for Men, notwithstanding to persist in their Disobedience, and then flatter themselves that GOD will not make good his Threatenings, is a most egregious Instance of Folly and Presumption.

Dives himself supposed, that if one rose from the Dead, his Brethren would amend their Lives; but Christians, it seems, will not repent though the SON OF GOD has died and rose again, and told them what they must expect, if they still continue obstinate in Evil Doing.

Would we now and then draw off our Thoughts from sensible Objects, and by Faith, meditate a while on the Miseries of the Damned, I doubt not but we should, as it were, hear many an unhappy Soul venting his fruitless Sorrows in some such piteous Moans as these.

Come then, all ye self-deluding, self-deluded Sinners, and imagine yourselves for once in the Place of that truly wretched Man I have been here describing. — Think, I beseech you by the Mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, think with yourselves, how racking, how unsupportable the never dying Worm of a selfcondemning Conscience will hereafter be to you. Think how impossible it will be for you to dwell with everlasting Burnings .

Come, all ye Christians of a Lukewarm Laodicean Spirit, ye Gallie 's in Religion, who care a little, but not enough for the Things of GOD, O think, think with yourselves how deplorable it will be to lose the Enjoyment of Heaven, and run into endless Torments, merely because you will be content to be almost , and will not strive to be altogether Christians .— Consider, I beseech you, consider, how you will rave, and curse that fatal Stupidity, that made you believe any Thing less than a Life of strict Piety, Self-Denial, and Mortification, can keep you from those Torments, the Eternity of which I have been endeavoring to prove.

But I can no more — These Thoughts are too melancholy for me to dwell on, as well as for you to hear, and GOD knows, as Punishing is his strange Work, so denouncing his Threatenings is mine. But if the bare mentioning the Torments of the Damned is so shocking, Good GOD! how terrible must the enduring of them be!

And now are not some of you ready to cry out, These are hard Sayings, who can bear the • ▪

But let not sincere Christians be in the least terrified at what has been delivered. No, for you is 〈◊〉 , a Crown, a Kingdom, an Eternal and exc ••• ing Weight of Glory. CHRIST never said the Righteous, the Upright, the Sincere, but the Wicked, Merciless, negatively good Professors before described, shall go into Everlasting Punishment. For you, who love him in Sincerity, a new and living Way is laid open into the Holy of Holies by the Blood of JESUS CHRIST. And an abundant Entrance will be administered unto you, at the great Day of Account into Eternal Life. Take heed therefore, and beware that there be not in any of you a Root of Bitterness springing up of Unbelief. But, on the contrary, steadfastly and heartily rely on the many precious Promises reached out to you in the Gospel, knowing that he who hath promised is faithful, and therefore will perform.

But let no obstinately wicked Professors dare to apply any of the divine Promises to themselves. For it is not meet to take the Children's Bread & give it unto Dogs. No, to such the Terrors of the LORD only belong. And as certainly as CHRIST will say to his true Followers, Come ye blessed Children of my Father, receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the Beginning of the World , so he will unalterably pronounce this dreadful Sentence against all that die in their Sins, Depart from me, ye Cursed, into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels .

From which unhappy State may GOD of his infinite Mercy deliver us all through JESUS CHRIST; to whom with Thee, O FATHER, and Thee, O HOLY GHOST, Three Persons and One Eternal GOD, be ascribed, as is most due, 〈◊〉 Honor, Power, Might, Majesty, and Dominion 〈◊〉 and for evermore .