DISC. XII.] THE NATURE OF THE YUNrsmitis 1rs IN HELL. CO7 blood do to secure us against this overwhelming misery? It is only the gospel of the blessed Jesus is our refuge, and our safety from the tremendous destruction. " What are the heights, and depths, and lengths of human science, with all the boasted acquisitions of the brightest genius ofmankind ? Learning and science can measure the globe, can sound the depths of the sea, can compass the heavens, can mete out the distances of the sun and moon, and mark out the path of every twinkling star for Inany'ages past or ages to come ; but they can- not acquaint us with the way of salvation from this long, this endless distress. What are all the sublimereason- ings of philosophers upon the abstruse and most difficult subjects ? What is the whole circle of sciences of which human wit and thought can trace out and comprehend ? Can they deliver us from the guilt of one sin ? Can they free us from one of the terrors of the Almighty ? Can they assuage the torment of a wounded-spirit, or guard us from the impression of divine indignation ? Alas, they are all but trifles, in comparison of this blessed gospel, which saves us from eternal anguish and death. It is the gospel that teaches us the holy skill to pre- vent this worm of conscience from gnawing the soul, and instructs us how tokill it in the seed and first springs of it, to mortify the corruptions of the heart, to resist the temptations of Satan, and where to wash away the guilt of sin. It is this blessed gospel that clearly discovers tx) us how we mayguard against the fire of divine wrath, or rather how to secure our soäls from becoming the fuel of it. It is this book that teaches us to sprinkle the blood of Christ on a guilty conscience by faith, that is, by receiv- ing him as sincere penitents, and therebydefends us from the angel of death and destruction. This is that experi- mental philosophyof the saints in heaven,. whereby they have been released from the bondsof their sins, have been rescued from the curse of the law, and been secured from the gnawing worm and the devouring-fire. " A serious meditation of hell in its exquisite pain and sorrow, will inhance our value of the salvation of Christ, and will exalt our esteem and'honour of the love of God, who has delivered us from eternal death. If we will but appoint our thoughts to dwell a little on the terrors and vengeance from which the blessed Jesus has rescued ús
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