2. A second aggravation of the loss of this kingdom will be, that sinners shall be upbraided by their own conscience ; this is the worm that never dies, Mark ix. 44., vi/. a self-accusing mind. When sinners shall consider they were in a fair way to the kingdom, — they had a possibility of sal- vation, though the door of heaven was strait, yet it was open, — they had the means of grace, — the jul)ilec of the gospel was proclaimed in their ears, — God called, but they refused, — Jesus Christ offered them a plaster of his own blood to heal them, but they trampled it under foot, — the Holy Spi- rit stood at the door of their heart, knock- ing and crying to them to receive Christ and heaven, but they repulsed the Sj)irit, and sent away this dove, — and now they have, through their own folly and wilful- ness, lost the kingdom of heaven, — this self-accusing conscience will be terrible, like a venomous worm gnawing at the heart.
3. A third aggravation of the loss of hea- ven will be to look upon others that have gained the kingdom ; the happiness of the blessed will be an eye-sore, Luke xiii. 28.,
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OF THE SECOND PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
" Tliere shall be weeping aiul gnasliing; of teotli, wlicn ye sliall see Abraham, and I- saac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." When the wicked shall see those whom they hated and scorned, to be exalt- ed to a kingdom, and shine with robes of glory, and they themselves miss of the king-- (h)m, this will be a dagger at the heart, and make them gnash their teeth for envy.
4. A fourth aggravation is, this loss of the kingdom of heaven is accompanied with the punishment of sense. He who leaps short of the bank, falls into the river ; such as come short of heaven, fall into the river of fire and brimstone, Ps. ix. 17., " The wicked shall be turned into hell." And how dreadful is that ! If, when but a spark of God's anger lights into the conscience liere, it is so torturing, what will it be to have mountains of God's wrath thrown up- on the soul? Ps. xc. 11., "Who knoweth the power of thine anger ?" The angel never poured out his vial, but some wo fol- lowed, Rev. xvi. 3. When the bitter vials of God's wrath are poured out, damnation follows. Dives cries out, " I am torment- ed in this flame !" Luke xvi. 24. In hell there is not a drop of mercy. There was no oil nor frankincense used in the sacri- fice of jealousy, Numb. v. 15. In hell no oil of mercy to lenify the sufferings of the damned, nor incense of prayer to appease God's wrath.
5. A fifth aggravation of the loss of this kingdom will be, to consider on what easy and reasonable terms men might have had this kingdom. If indeed God had com- manded impossil)ilities, to have satisfied jus- tice in their own persons, it had been ano- ther matter: but what God did demand was reasonable, only to do that which was for their good, to accept of Christ for their Lord and Husband, not only to part with that which would damn them, if they kept their sins. These were the fair terms on which they might have enjt)yed the hea- venly kingdom : now, to lose heaven, which might have been had upon such easy terms, will be a cutting aggravation ; it will rend a sinner's heart with rage and grief, to think how easily he might have prevented the loss of the heavenly kingdom.
6. It will be an aggravation of the loss of heaven for sinners to think how active they were in doing that which lost them the kingdom ; they were felo dc se. What pains did they take to resist the Spirit, to stifle conscience? They sinned while they were out of breath, Jer. ix. 5., "They wea- ry themselves to commit inicjuity." WTiat difficulties did men go through ? what did they endure for their sins ? How much shame and pain ? How sick was the drunk- ard with his cups ? How sore in his body was the adulterer? And what marks of sin did he carry about him ? What dan- gers did men adventure upon for their lusts ? They adventured God's wraMi, and adven- tured the laws of the land. O how will this aggravate the loss of heaven ! How will this make men curse themselves, to think how much pains they were at to lose happiness ? How will this sting men's consciences, to think, had they but taken as mucli pains for heaven, as they did for hell, they had not lost it.