Serious Reflections on Time and Eternity, Tract · Chapter 19
XIX. The Puniſhments of the Damned conſidered, as Intolerable, and Everlaſting, and as unqueſtionably Certain. What the Reflection upon Hell-Torments, may and ought to teach us.
THE Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wiſdom, the entrance into the way of Life, as it is ordinarily one of the first means to awaken the Soul to a ſerious concern for Eternity: Let me therefore firſt conſider the Endleſs Puniſhment of the wicked, in the other World, before I enter upon the raviſhing Proſpect of the Bleſſedneſs of Heaven, promiſed to the Righteous. And with what ſerious trembling ſhould I think of the Terrors of an Everlaſting Destruction, which our Lord ſhall be revealed from Heaven to render, to All who know not God, and obey not the Goſpel. When the wicked ſhall go away into Everlaſting Puniſhment; as the Righteous into Life Eternal. The dreadfulneſs of that Puniſhment, the endleſs Duration of it, joyned to the conſideration of its unqueſtionable Certainty, deſerves the moſt attentive Thoughts of every Man, who loves his Soul, and would manifeſt he doth ſo, by ſecuring his greateſt Intereſt.
The deſcription of that Miſery, under inſupportable and Eternal Torments, demands more than a tranſient view: becauſe no words can ſufficiently expreſs the Horror of that State. What is it, O my Soul! to be baniſhed from the Bleſſed Sight and preſence of God for ever, and all the impreſſions of his holy Image and likeneſs? and to know that this is the fruit of my own choice, that I loſt it by my own Fault and Folly; that I deſerved to loſe it; that the Sentence is as Juſt, as it is irrecoverable? Who can fully imagine the diſmal deſpair of a condemned Sinner, under this anguiſh of a Guilty ſelf-accuſing Mind? while under the ſtroke of God's Almighty revenging Juſtice, with a diſtincter view and knowledge than now, of God and his Excellencies, of himſelf and his own vileneſs and malignity, which muſt greatly increaſe his rage and Torment. Add to this, his being inraged by the accuſations and cries of wicked Acquaintance, and Relations; and his being mockt, and inſulted over, and tortured, by malicious damned Spirits; with a clear underſtanding of that glorious Felicity he deſpiſed, refuſed, and forfeited; with a deep ſenſe of his former Madneſs in preferring the ſinful Pleaſures and Advantages of this World; and this after ſo many warnings, and invitations, and calls from God, to have prevented it; never to be diverted one Moment from the conſideration, ſenſe and feeling of his Miſery, and the duration of it; to have all his Paſſions let looſe with the greateſt violence, and nothing to ſatisfie them; and continually to preſerve an Hell of wickedneſs and Horror in himſelf; and to endure the reproaches, convictions, regrets, and ſtinging Reflections of Conſcience, the gnawing Worm, which ſhall never dye; who can conceive the unſpeakable miſery of ſuch an accurſed State? So great Calamity, and yet Everlaſting! How long doth one Day or Night now ſeem, to a Man under ſome violent racking Pain, in any one part of his Body, tho' he be under the means for Cure, and have his Friends about him to pity, comfort, aſſiſt him, with the hopes of Eaſe in a little while, and the certain, knowledge that it cannot laſt long? Oh what then will be the diſmal ſtate of tormented (h)Vide Mr. Baxter's Saints Reſt, part 2. chap. 4.Sinners in Hell! How infinitely muſt it exceed the moſt terrible Idea we can now frame of it! to languiſh out a long Eternity in that Gulph of Darkneſs and Deſpair, under unpitied intolerable Torments, without Intermiſſion, or hope of End! Miſeries without meaſure! Judgment without Mercy! Pains and Sorrows intenſe, and yet endleſs! without the leaſt ſuccour or relief, relaxation or remedy, diminution or change! without a drop of Comfort, without a moments Reſt, without the ſmalleſt beam of Light, or the leaſt glimmering of Hope! Perpetually dying, and never dead! under unſufferable Wrath, which yet will be for ever Wrath to come! ſeeking Death, and never able to find it, but Eternally to endure all that Calamity, which the Conjunction of Death and Life together can render dreadful! What Groans and Cries will theſe Thoughts, and theſe ſufferings wring from their Hearts? But no refuge will then be found, no excuſes admitted, no Prayers, no entreaties will then prevail no Tears move Pity. He that made them, will ſhew them no Mercy, and he that formed them, will ſhew them no favour. 'Tis Never, Never that is the killing word that breaks the Heart of thoſe hopeleſs Priſoners in the place of Torment. When once deliver'd over to that Priſon of Gods Wrath, they ſhall no longer be priſoners of Hope. Judgment ſhall be brought forth unto final victory: and the Redemption of the Soul ſhall ceaſe for ever.
The vain hopes of Sinners ſhall then be ended in eternal deſperation: Hell will be full of thoſe, who did once hope they ſhould never come there, and full of thoſe who deſpair of deliverance from thence; but ſhall ſuffer exquiſite Pains that cannot be numbred, or meaſured, or endured, but that every Minute of an hour will ſeem an whole Year, and yet muſt eternally be endured by miſerable Sinners, who will not be wiſe in time to prevent ſuch an intolerable Portion. Let me therefore, O my Soul, deſcend into Hell by Meditation whilſt I live, that I may not deſcend thither when I dye, and be ſhut up for ever in that Priſon, the place of endleſs Torment.
Might we but ſuppoſe, that one of thoſe Miſerable Souls did let fall but one Tear, in an hundred thouſand years; and if after he had by this means wept ſo much, as that his Tears would equal the drops of water in the whole Sea, his Miſery ſhould have an end; this were Hope, this were Comfort. But alas! after that Period, his Miſery will be as far from an end, as when he firſt began to feel it. It will then be but the Beginning of Sorrows, which will never, never, never End.
Think, O my Soul, that this is the Portion of the Sinners Cup; this is the wages of Sin, and the certain doom of final Impenitence and Unbelief. 'Tis no politick Cheat, or melancholy dream, but the expreſs repeated word of God, and Chriſt, the holy Prophets and Apoſtles, and the voice of Reaſon too, ſuppoſing but the Immortality of the Soul, and the power of ſelf-Reflection, the puniſhment of Sinners muſt needs be Everlaſting, as carrying continually an Hell within them; unleſs God work a miracle to prevent it, which there is no ground to imagine he will, or ſhadow of reaſon why he ſhould. God hath pawn'd his Truth, and his(i)Deut. 32. c. 40, 41. Eternity, to execute this Sentence of his threatned wrath. He is a God of infinite Mercy, 'tis true; but he hath told us how far his Mercy ſhall extend. He will not exerciſe one Attribute to the diſhonour and the diſparagement of the reſt. That obſtinate and impenitent Sinners, ſhall thus periſh, is not becauſe the goodneſs and mercy of God are not infinite, but becauſe his other Perfections are ſo, viz. His Holineſs, Juſtice, Truth, Soveraignty, and Wiſdom. Was it Wiſdom and Goodneſs to annex ſuch a Penalty to the violation of his Law; and can it be inconſiſtent with them, to inflict his threatned wrath? Shall we ſuppoſe God to uphold his Dominion and Government by a Falſhood? to keep the World in awe by the menaces of ſuch Puniſhments, as ſhall no where, never be executed? Is it unlikely, that God ſhould exerciſe ſo much ſeverity? and is it not as improbable, that his repeated Word and Oath ſhould prove falſe? Is it not a righteous thing with God, as the Governour of the World, thus to puniſh the obſtinate Deſpiſers of his Grace? who ſlighted his Authority, diſobeyed his Law, affronted his Soveraignty, derided his Power, denied his Truth, contradicted his Holineſs, and joyned Iſſue with the Devil, to pull him from his Throne; who abuſed his Patience and Long-ſuffering, and ſcorned all his threatnings; who thruſt away their own Happineſs, and would not take warning; who burſt all his bands aſunder, and broke through all obſtructions; and would not be ſtopt in their courſe of Vanity and Folly, or ſo much as conſider their danger; who rejected his calls to Repentance, and refuſed his Mercy, when it was offered; and preferred a Luſt before his favour, and the Pleaſures and Profits of this World before the Heavenly Glory; and notwithſtanding all the methods of his Grace, and the checks of his Providence, and of their own Conſcience, they will go on, they will Dye? Let me, O my Soul! adore the Soveraign Juſtice of God in all his Judgments; and tremble at the threatnings of that Eternal Wrath, which ſo few conſider or believe, till 'tis too late. Let the foreſight and the fear of ſuch an intollerable endleſs Puniſhment, be a means to ſave me from it! Let me herein read the evil of Sin, and learn to abhor and avoid it. Let me pity, and warn, and counſel, and pray for thoſe of my Relations and Acquaintance, who live in Sin, and run the hazard of this Eternal Ruin. Let me not envy the fooliſh Mirth, and momentany Proſperity of the Wicked, whoſe preſent joy muſt ere long expire, and an everlaſting Deſtruction ſucceed in its room.(k)Joh. 20. ch. 4, 5. How ſhort is the Joy of the Hypocrite! and the triumph of the Wicked is but for a Moment. Let me fear and dread every thing, that leads to this diſmal iſſue, and improve every thing that may help me to eſcape it. And by conſequence, let me leſs value all the Good and Evil of this preſent Life; judge of all things by this light; be patient under temporal Calamities, and thank God that it is not Hell; and thank him more, that preſent ſufferings do help to ſave me from Eternal ones.
Whatever I can ſuffer in this World, let my condition be never ſo dark and ſad and afflicted, it is not, it cannot be ſuch, but that every one of the Damned would think it an infinite Happineſs to exchange with me, and be as I am. Let me think of thoſe exquiſite and eternal Flames, to cure my Impatience under the ſharpeſt Trials and Afflictions I may now ſuffer.
Did I believingly conſider an Everlaſting Hell *Qui non expergiſcitur ad haec Tonitrua, jam non dormit, ſed mortuus eſt. S. Auguſtin., I ſhould not think much of any thing that is required to prevent it. The ſevereſt exerciſes of Religion, the ſtricteſt Temperance, the niceſt Chaſtity, the largeſt Charity, the greateſt Self-denial, all the hardſhips of Repentance and Mortification, and continuance therein to the Death, tho for many years more than I am like to live, would be reckon'd eaſie, as well as juſt, if ſet in the ballance againſt the Eternal Miſchiefs of the Damned.
What will not men do and ſuffer to prevent a Temporal Death? They will endure a painful courſe of Phyſick; tear out their very bowels, by Purges and Vomits: and are content to be cut and ſcarrified, and to ſuffer any thing almoſt to ſave their lives: But how little will they do to be ſaved from the wrath to come! One would think, they ſhould have no Reſt, or Peace, or be able to live a quiet hour, till they had made ſome Proviſion againſt the hazard of this Eternal Deſtruction: and look upon all men as their Friends, or Enemies, according to the help, or hindrance, they received from them, in reference to it. But the direct Contrary is every where apparent. Men are careleſs and ſecure, jovial and merry in the way that leads to Hell; and eſteem, and love, and chuſe that Company that will help to bring them to this place of torment: Yea, ſuch is their ſtupidity, and ſtrange perverſeneſs, that they will not ſuffer to be told of their Danger. If you tell them, that by ſuch a Courſe, or ſuch an Action, they will loſe ſo much Money, or their Lives will be in danger; they reckon it an obligation, will take it kindly, and return you thanks: But when they are told, by ſuch Courſes and Actions they will loſe their Souls, and the Favour of God, and the Hopes of Heaven, and muſt Periſh for ever; this they will not receive, they deſpiſe the meſſage, and ſcorn and hate the Meſſenger; are diſpleaſed and angry at ſuch faithfulneſs.
O bleſs the Lord, O my Soul! for any good hope through Grace, of eſcaping this Intolerable and Endleſs Miſery. And let all that is within me bleſs his holy Name. I have deſerved the ſame endleſs and unſupportable wrath, which Thouſands are now under, and ſhall be under to all Eternity; but he did not ſuffer me to fall into it. To be delivered out of thoſe Torments after many years miſery, would be thought an admirable, unſpeakable kindneſs; And is it not a greater favour never to be thrown into Hell, which I have ſo often deſerved? How grateful would a damned perſon be, to be freed from thoſe Flames, and plac'd in the ſame condition I now am in? What a Life of ſerious, ſelf-denying obedience would he lead? And hath not God done more for me? Am I not more indebted to his Goodneſs? He hath kept me out of Hell, and offers me the Heavenly Glory upon reaſonable, honourable, and eaſie Terms. Bleſſed be God, I may yet eſcape the wrath to come.
Let me heartily compaſſionate the deluſion of thoſe multitudes of deceived, periſhing Souls, whoſe eyes are blinded by the God of this world; who will not believe it, till they are convinc'd by the light of that Fire which ſhall never be extinguiſht. Yea, when I read, or hear of Ten or Twenty thouſand men ſlain in a War, (whteher of Infidels or Chriſtians) let me think of it, with other apprehenſions than formerly I was wont to do. Conſidering that many, it may be, the moſt of theſe ſhall never have any Comfort or Mercy more; fearing leſt the ſame Sword or Bullet that gave them their mortal wound, hath fixt them under God's Everlaſting Wrath; and that by dying, they are undone for ever. In very many other caſes, the Faith of this Article would rectify my Opinion, and direct my Actions, if ſeriouſly conſidered and improved. This would make me think of Death under another Notion, than 'tis commonly conſidered. For without the conſideration of Hell annexed to it, it is not ſo very formidable, but that Heathens have been able to deſpiſe it. The moſt contrary Sects among them, on different grounds have been able to do it; but conſider Death as a paſſage to Eternal miſery, as the Gate of Hell, as the end of all Comfort to a wicked Man, and the beginning of an endleſs Calamity, and nothing can be imagined more dreadful to a Guilty unholy Soul. Some of my Acquaintance, it may be, who died this laſt year, are now among thoſe Hopeleſs, Deſpairing Wretches, who expect the final Judgment of God, to conſummate their inſupportable Miſery. If they were permitted to come, and tell us what they ſuffer, and what they know; what a terrible conſuming Fire God is; what Vanity, Luſt and Folly, brought them to this place of Torment; what diligence they would adviſe us to, while in a State of Hope, to prevent the like; if we have any love and and kindneſs for our ſelves, any Bowels of Compaſſion to our own Souls; what a Change do we think it would work upon us? But if we will nor hear Moſes and the Prophets, Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, neither ſhould we believe, tho one came from the Dead.