tii$C. 7CII.1 THE NATURE OF TFIE PVNISIIb18N1FS IN HELL. 5111, and they began to take their revenge there near six thou- sand years ago. All the suns,, and all themiseries of the sons and daughters of Adam, from the beginningof the world to this day, are owing to this madness of malice, this hatred of God in the hearts of evil angels, who were cast out from heaven and the/regions ofhappiness : They began to exert this malice early, and still they are ever, lasting tempters of men; in order to avenge themselves upon_arighteous God. But alas, what a wretched satisfaction must thedamned spirits of then propose to themselves in such a wild and extravagant attempt ? The very name and mention of this iniquity seems to put our souls and .our ears to pain, while we dwell in flesh and blood ; but as cursed and hateful a temper as this is, it is the very spirit and tez per of apostate angels; and this will be thy temper and thy spirit, O wilful and impenitent. sinner, when thou shalt have obstinately sinned thyself into damnation, and canst never deliver thyself from the punishing hand of God. " Think, O my soul, at what a dreadful distance such creatures 'must be from every glimpse of peace and hap- piness, whose hearts are filled with such blasphemy and rage, .and who would be attempting such vain and impi- ous efforts of mingled insolence and .madness. Read, O ye foolish and wicked transgressors, read the temper and conduct Of devils in their spite and opposition to every thingof-God, through all. the books of the Old 'Testament and the New, and remember and think, that such will your temper be, when you also shall be banished from the presence of God for your wilful rebellions, as the fallen angels. are, and be for ever shut out from all the blessings of his love, and áll hope of his favour." IV. 11 further spring of continued torment is " such fixed and eternal hardness of heart as will never be soft- ened, such impenitence and obstinacy of soul which will never relent or submit." The hardest sinner here on earth may now and then feel a relenting moment, and the most daring atheist may sometimes have a softening thought come across him, which may perhaps bring a tear . into his eyes, and may form a good wish or two in his soul, and wring a groan, from his heart which looks like relpentance; but when we are dismissed from this body, P3
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