Ohs. 5. The darkness of sin is punished with the darkness of misery The light whereby we are directed and perfected is the same ; the state of grace is a ' marvellous light,' 1 Peter ii. 9, and the state of glory ' the inheritance of the saints in light,' Col. i. 12. So sin is but darkness begun. Hell is called 'utter darkness,' Mat. viii. 12, to aKoro^; to i^corepov, a darkness beyond a darkness ; as Augustine glosseth in his homilies, In tenebras ex tenehris mfeliciter exclusi — the damned are but thrust out of one darkness into another, from ignorance to sin, from sin to torment. It is very observable when Solomon compareth the way of the just and the way of the wicked, he compareth the one to light, the other to darkness: Prov. iv. 18, 19, ' The way of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day ; and the way of the wicked is as darkness.' By the rule of con- traries, as one is a growing light, so the other is an increasing dark- ness ; from twilight to starlight, from starlight to thick darkness ; they quench the light of nature, choose worldly happiness, grow regardless of eternitv, are hardened in their wav, and at length given up to ever- lasting horror and confusion of faces, to whom ' the mist of darkness is reserved for ever,' 2 Peter ii. 17. Mists of error are justly punished with mists of darkness. The men there spoken of wei'e clouds and mists in the church ; and therefore the mists of eternal darkness are kept for them, as a fit and proper portion.
Ohs. 6. The danger of refusing and abusing light. Those that were angels of light are now held in the chains of darkness : see it every- where made good ; the blackest evening hath been sent usually after a
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glorious day; those that once enjoyed Noah's preaching were after- wards ' the spirits in prison,' 1 Peter iii. 18, 19 ; he that had not a weddinc^ garment on for the feast was cast into ' utter darkness,' Mat. xxii. 13. Abuse of light and means and privileges will surely make our condition gloomy and uncomfortable.
Ohs. 7. When we are cast out from God, nothing but darkness en- sueth, utter darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is our utmost happiness to enjoy God, and it is our utmost misery to want him ; the devils know it, and we shall one day know it. Pray for the light of God's countenance more than for corn, and wine, and oil, Ps. iv. 6. One glimpse of the favour of God would turn hell into heaven, and give us such a strong and sweet joy as would swallow up all kind of sorrows. It is the absence of the sun maketh night ; certainly they have hard hearts that do not mourn when they have lost the sight of God: 'When the bridegroom is gone, then shall they mourn,' Mat. ix. 15. Alas ! how the drooping hearts and withered face of nature seem to mourn for the absence of the sun ; and how are all things cleared and revived at spring again ! And shall not we mourn for God, the sun of the intellectual world ? Pharaoh was most affrighted with the plague of darkness, Exod. x. 4. Yea, the devils themselves are sensible of the loss of the light of God's countenance : when God shutteth himself up in a cloud, let our bowels be troubled for him, Lam. iii. 44.
Obs. 8. The world in comparison of heaven is but a dark place. It is the place where the devils are cast, and they are held under dark- ness. It is an obscure corner of the creation, a place fit for our trial, but not for our reward. In a spiritual consideration it is but a great and vast dungeon, where we cannot have so dear i sight of God as else- where. It is Satan's walk, a place of danger and defilement. It is much if we can keep ourselves unspotted in such a nasty hole, James i. 27 ; 2 Peter ii. 20. The inheritance which is given to the saints is given to them ' in light,' Col. i, 12. Let us look for that, and long for that; and 'God dwelleth in light,' 1 Tim. vi. 16 ; he dwelleth there where he discovereth most of his glory, and that is in heaven.
We have done with the present punishment of the angels ; we come now to that which is future, implied in these words, unto the judgment of the great clay. By Jicdrjment is meant the sentence of condemna- tion which shall pass upon them before the eyes of the whole world, and then the consequences, which are eternal misery and torment.
Obs. 1. That at the day of judgment the punishment of the devils will be greater than it is now.
The devils' punishment is for the present great, as you have heard, but they are in expectation of greater: Mat. viii. 29, ' Art thou come to torment us before our time?' There is a time coming when the wrath of God shall be increased upon them, and this time is the day of judgment, the great day of the Lord, when they shall be brought forth before the tribunal of Christ and his saints. The good angels shall come as Christ's companions, and the evil angels as his pri- soners. See Mat. xxv. 31 ; 2 Thes. i. 7, and 1 Cor. vi. 3. This is a day that will work upon their envy, thwart their pride, to see the glory