62 THE ETERNAL DURATION OF [DISC.:Mr. r the grace of the gospel under this foolish flattery and wild presumption, that above six thousand years hence perhaps a certain day may come when the worm of con- science will die, and the fire of hell will be quenched ? Such presumption is madness and distraction rather than seasoning. Objection II. The second objection is derived from the justice and equity of God : Surely may some person say, thejustice of God will proportion the punishment to the of once ; but since our sins are but the actions of mortal and short-lived creatures, and are committed in a few years of time, why should the punishment be immor- tal, and the anguish be lengthened out to eternity? Can a righteous God pronounce such a severe and- unjust sentence, and execute it in its full dimensions. Answer. It is not the length of time which wicked men spent in committing their sins, nor the nature of the persons who have sinned, that determines the measure of punishment, but the dignity of that infinitely glorious being, against whom sin is committed, that gives such a high aggravation as to require punishment without end. How many instances are there amongst men wherein offenders against their neighbours, or against a magis- trate, who spent but a fewmoments in the crime, yet are doomed to imprisonment for months and years ? And a lower degree of trespass against a king, which is short of high- treason, is sometimes punished with confiscation of goods, and with poverty and close imprisonment for life : Andby the same reason, the sins ofmen being com- mitted against a God of infinite majesty, require an end- less punishment, as I have proved in the second argu- ment: And therefore divine justice pronounces, or in- flicts no longer penalty than the crimes of men deserve, according to their aggravations. If any sinners tarry then till they have paid the utmost farthing to divine justice, I grant God will release them, but he has given us no hope before. Objection III. The third objection is drawn from the sovereignty and .goodness of God. It is granted, say they, that the threatenings of eternal death are de- nounced against sinners in scripture, yet it is not neces- sary God'should execute them to the full. When a law is made, the threatenings of it only declare what punish- G
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