Chap. 6.] SUFFER THE TORMENTS OF HELL. 89 trouble of mind. Satan was himself their comforter, as he was to our first mother: " HathGod said, ye shall not eat ? ye shall not surely die. Doth God tell you that you shall lie in hell ? it is no such matter; God is more merciful. Or, if there be a hell, what need you fear it? Are not you Christians ? Was not the blood of Christ shed for you ?" Thus, as the Spirit of Christ is the comforter of the saints, so Satan is the comforter of the wicked. Never was a thief more careful lest he should awake the people, when he is robbing the house, than Satan is not to awaken a sinner. But when the sinner is dead, then Satan hath done flatter- ing and comforting. Which way, then, will the forlorn sinner look for comfort ? They that drew him into the snare, and promised him safety, now forsake him, and are forsaken themselves. His comforts are gone, and the righ- teous God, whose forewarnings he made light of, will now make good his word against him to the least tittle. 8. But the greatest aggravation of these torments will be their eternity. When a thousand millions of ages are past, they are as fresh to begin as the first day. If there were any hope of an end, it would ease the damned to foresee it; but For ever is an intolerable thought ! They were never weary of sinning, nor will God be weary of punishing. They never heartily repented of sin, nor will God repent of their suffering. They broke the laws of the eternal God, and therefore shall suffer eternal punishment. They knew it was an everlasting kingdom which they refused, and what wonder if they are everlastingly shut out of it? Their immortal souls were guilty of the trespass, and therefore must immortally suffer the pains. What happy men would they think themselves, if they might have lain still in their graves, or might but there lie down again ! Howwill they call and cry, " 0 death, whither art thou now gone ? Now come and cut off this doleful life. 0 that these pains would break my heart, and end my being ! O that I might once at last die ! O that I had never had a being !" These groans will the thoughts of eternitywring from their hearts. They were wont to think sermons and prayers long; how long then will they think these endless torments ! What differ- ence is there betwixt the length of their pleasures and their pains ! The one continued but a moment, the other endureth through all eternity. Sinner, remember how time
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