596 THE NATURE OF THE PUNISHMENTS IN HELL. [DISC. XII. It is possible some lesser sinner, who has had more appearances of piety or religion here on earth,, may rise and say, "you have set the unnishments of sin in a most 'horrible and tremendous light, from this metaphor of fire, as well as from the deathless worm, But surely this cannot be the case, nor these the sufferings which God will inflict on every wretched creature in hell. Are not the punishments there proportioned to the offences ? What if these sharpest and deepest tortures and horrors should be. the portion of the vilest criminals, the most impious rebels against God, the profane and obstinate abusers of grace, the scoffers of Christ and his gospel, and the cruel persecutors of all the saints, yet will every soul who had not quite religion and holiness enough to reach heaven, be thus terribly tormented in hell ? Does not Christ himself tell us, and did yon not allow before, that it shall be more tolerable for some sinners than for others ? And will there be no easier abodes, no milder regions, no kinder and more favourable appointments for such as have had many good wishes and hopes, many friendly exercises ofvirtue towards men, and some work- ings of imperfect piety towards God ? To this I answer, as before, It is certain that every one shall be judged according to their works, by an unerring rule of equity, and shall be punished according to the aggravation of their iniqui- ties.. But dost thou know, O sinner, how great is that punishment which the least transgression against the law of God deserves? One single sin, which thou wilt not part with, will .create 'insufferable misery. And though there may be other criminals there of much more heinous and aggravated guilt, profaneness, and rebellion than '.thine is, yet' if thy soul be filled with all that torment which -one sin may create and deserve, there will be hell enough around thee to make thy distress too terrible for thee to bear. Besides; let it be remembered, that what- soever tendencies toward piety, or appearances of good- ness, might be found with thee in this world, all thesewill vanish and be lost, when once thy day of grace is finish- ed, and all the means of grace and salvation are ended for ever. If thou hast refused the proposals of mercy, and continued in thy sins without repentance, and hast never accepted the salvation of Christ while it was offered, all
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