DISC. X111.3 THE PUNISHMENTS IN HELL. 613 in all things which the law requires;" Gal. iii. 10. Every new sin demands a new curse and a new punishment, and there is no rèason which forbids a righteous governor to cease punishing, while the rebellious creature will not cease to offend, and especially while he maintains an everlasting enmity and rebellion against the law of God his creator. If there were any humble meltings of repentance in the guilty soul, if there were any sincere mournings in the sinful creature for having offended his Maker, if there were any softness of heart relenting under a serise of the evil of sin, and returning to obedience and duty, even this would not oblige 'a righteous and wise governor to forgive the criminal; repentance is no compensation fora wilful offence; nor is it thought unrighteous or un- wise for a prince to punish even a penitent offender with death. -But let its propose the case inutmost favour to a sinner against, the blessed God, let us imagine that divine wis- dom and divine mercy perhaps might be supposed to contrive and to offer some proposals to justice in a way of compassion, and might enquire whether the sentence of punishment could not be reversed, or the terror of it relieved, or some new state of trial proposed. Let it be added in favour of the criminal, that we do not find through all the book of God the actual practice of true repentance beginning amongmen, but it has been always followed with proportionable degrees of compassion from God But on the other side, when there is nothing found in the heart of a sinner but obstinacy, and malice, and revenge, cursing and blasphemy against the Almighty, without the least moving or melting into a genuine penit- ence or holy sorrow, without any meek submission to the majesty and justice of `God, or humbly imploring his mercy, what reasonable hope can such wretches have that their chains of darkness should be broken, and the prisoners released from the vengeance? When they shall curse his justice, because it punishes their crimes, when they shall curse his mercy, because it did not save their souls, and curse and blaspheme the blood of the blessed Jesus, because it has, not washed away their sins, what possible excuse can be made for such creatures? Or what R3
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