obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, to be admired in all them that believe."*

:

Now, as God is the fountain of all happiness, as it is his presence that constitutes heaven, so to be separated from him must be a source of inexpressible misery. The wicked also, it must be remembered, carry their depraved nature with them they are not renovated by their sufferings; so that there is not only a distance from God, but the mind remains still at enmity against him. As there is no likeness to God, so there can be no communion with him, no regard for him, no delight in him. The divine Being has determined, that as sin is that which opposes his will, disturbs his government, and produces universal disorder, it shall not pass unpunished. "His wrath," it is said, " is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men."+ His justice requires this; his holiness demands it. If this were not

* 2 Thess. i. 7 to 10.

+ Rom, i. 16.

so, what could Paul mean by these words

Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasureth up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."*

What did John mean when he said, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works."†

The wicked then shall not be annihilated, but cast into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. How dreadful then is this state! Here are no prospects of deliverance; no delightful converse, no alleviation of pain, no sweets of friendship, no peace of conscience,

Rom. ii. 4, 5. 2 Cor. v. 10. + Rev. xx. 12.

no rays of hope, no expectation of pardon;— but all blackness of darkness for ever. Some, however, may be disposed to consider this as an impeachment of the goodness of God, and suppose that his mercy will extend to all. But, however feasible this may appear, it is not warranted by divine revelation. The preceding passages are sufficient to prove the doctrine; and, however difficult it may be to credit it, we must abide by the decision of holy writ, rather than dispute it. It does not, however, arise from the decree of God as an arbitrary, cruel being, that delights in misery. The cause is sin; and the finally impenitent shall never have to charge the divine Being with injustice, in leaving them to that punishment which their own iniquity has brought upon them. Nor let any reflect on his clemency. If the revelation he has given us assures us of a place of punishment, it at the same time warns us of our danger, provides for our safety, and calls us to pursue the path that leads to happiness and eternal life. Nor is mercy refused to an individual in the universe, that implores it with a penitent mind. Let not the wicked then charge God foolishly. If they prefer darkness to light,

error to truth, sin to holiness; if they tread under foot the Son of God, count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, crucify the Son of God afresh, and do despite to the Spirit of grace; if they love to blaspheme rather than to pray; if they take more pleasure in insulting the divine Being than in pleasing him; if they are determined to indulge themselves in every species of licentiousness, rather than serve and glorify him, then how can they expect to be admitted to a state of happiness hereafter: or, if even they were to enter the celestial world, what delight could they find where the exercises are all spiritual, where the joys are all divine, where the inhabitants are all holy; and where that Being whom they hate is the object of everlasting admiration and praise? No; let not the wicked "Without holiness no presume. man shall see the Lord. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and a terrible tempest. This shall be the portion of their cup.'

Now, then, let me entreat my reader just to stop here for a moment, and ask himself one question-Suppose I should die this day, or this

* Heb. xii. 14. Psa. xi. 6.

week, what reason have I to believe that I shall escape this punishment? Perhaps you have never seriously laid this to heart; and all you can say is, that you trust God will be merciful, and that you hope to be saved at last. But can you rest satisfied with this, on a business of such infinite importance? Do you know," that unless a man be converted, and become as a little child, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God?" Do you know that a mere negative piety will be useless? Do you know that decision is necessary? that neutrality in religion is dangerous? that you are called to follow the Lord fully, and to count all things but loss for him? Will you be content to rest only on a mere expectation of happiness, without having any evidences of your obtaining it? O consider well these awful realities. Flee from the wrath to come. Look up to the Father of mercies for his grace. Think of eternity. Contrast every thing here with what is to come. "To-day hear his voice; harden not your heart, lest he swear in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rest."+ Linger not then for a moment.

* Matt. xviii. 4.

Rev. xxii. 12.