i7TSC. J[TTT.f THE PTINTSHMENTS IN HELL. 637 against his judgments. The counsel of the Lord shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure," Isa. xlvi. 10, in the eternal manifestations of his justice as well as his grace. If there be any supposed inconsistency or cloud of difficulty remaining on his conduct, he will clear it up to the satisfaction of every rational mind one day, and will bring the conscience of every condemned sinner to acknowledge the equity of his proceedings. The whole creation shall thenjustify the final sentence of judgment on all the sons of men. I cannot finish this awful argument better than the apostle finishes the same sort of subject in the ninth and eleventh chapters to the Romans. " O man, who art thou that repliest against God ? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, bath endured with much long- suffering the vessels of wrath who have fitted themselves for destruction? And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the .vessels of mercy, which he bath afore prepared unto glory? chapter ix. 20, 22; 23. 0, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge,the justice and goodnessof God, how unsearehable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out ? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever and ever." Chapter xi. 33-36. Amen. SECTION III. Reflections on the Eternity of Punishment in Hell. As we have before drawn various inferences from the nature ofthose punishments that are - prepared for sinners in the world to come, so there are other inferences and terrible reflections which may be derived from the dura tion or perpetuity of the torments of .hell. Reflection I. What unspeakableanguish and torture Both this one circumstance add to every pain and sorrow of damned creatures, that it is everlasting, and -has no end ?" What unknown twinges in the conscience Both this thought give to the-gnawing of the cruel worm, viz. that it is a worm that never dies? . What inconceivable force and sting of torment does this add to the fire of God's indignation in hell, that it is a fire which shall never be quenched ? When one year of torment and sorrow is ended, or one thoúsand years are come to their period, thecase of sinners is still much the samethe vengeance
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