[2.] The other notion is punishment, the word signifieth not only punishment, but torment ; so we render it, 1 John. iv. 18, ' Because fear hath torment.' Annihilation were a favour to the wicked ; they have a being, but it is a being under punishment and torment. Divines usually distinguish oi'pcena damni and j^cei^ci sensus ; the loss and the pain. Both are included, Mat. xxv. 41, in Christ's sentence, ' Depart, and go into everlasting fire.' God doth not take away the being of a sinner, but he taketh away the comfort of his being ; he is banished out of his sight for evermore, and deprived of his favour, and all the joys and blessedness which are bestowed on the godly ; and that is enough to make him miserable. It is true a wicked man now careth not for the light of God's countenance, because looking to visible things he hath no sound faith of those things which are in- visible ; but now he cometh to understand the reality of what he hath lost, and besides hath no natural comforts to divert his mind, no plays, or balls, or pleasures, or meat and drink, and company, which now do draw off his heart from better things, and solace him in the want of them. Secondly, the pain of sense, that is double, ' the worm that never dies, and the fire that shall never be quenched,' Mark. ix. 44, The worm is the worm of conscience, reflecting upon his evil choice and past folly, which hath brought him to this sad and doleful estate, When he considereth for what base things he sold his birthright, Heb. xii. 15 ; he parted with felicity and the life to come, this will be a continual torment and vexation to them ; and being under despair of ever coming out of this condition, his torment is the more increased. If there were no more than this conscience reflecting upon the sense of his loss, with the cause and consequences of it, surely this will fill him with anguish ; and the body, united to such a miserable, self- vexing and self- tormenting soul, can have no rest. Besides this, there is the ' fire that shall never be quenched,' which is the wrath which bringeth on un- speakable torments on the body ; for, ' Woe, wiath, tribulation and anguish is the portion of every soul that doth evil,' Eom. ii. 9, 10. What kind of punishments they are we know not, but such as are grievous, and come not only from the reflection of their own consciences.
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but the power of G-od : Eom. is. 22, ' God will sliow his wrath, and make his power known.'
4. Eteinity is affixed to both everlasting punishment and eternal life. [1.] The joys of the blessed are everlasting. There shall never be change of and intermission in their happiness, but after millions and millions of imaginary years, they are to continue in this life, as if it were the first moment. Paul telleth you, 1 Thes. iv. 17, ' That we shall for ever be with the Lord/ And what can we desire more. In tins life, if we had the confluence of all manner of comforts, yet the fear of losing them is some infringement of our happiness. But there, whatever glory we partake of, we shall never lose it ; it will be thy crown for ever, thy kingdom for ever, thy glory for ever, thy God and thy Christ for ever. Oh, why do we no more think of this ? This life, that scarce deserveth the name of a life, yet we would fain con- tinue it, though in pain and misery : ' Skin for skin, all that a man hath, would he give for his life.' Oh, then, how welcome should eternal life be, which, compared with this life, is like the ocean to a drop ! When we lay both of these lives together, this fading moment and that enduring eternity, how much more valuable doth the one appear than the other ? Our sorrows will soon end, but these joys, when they once begin, will never end : 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' This light afflic- tion, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' Cannot we suffer with him for one hour, deny ourselves a little contentment in the world ? Shall we begrudge the labours of a few duties, when, as soon as the veil and curtain of the flesh is drawn, we shall enter into eternal life and joy.
[2.] The punishment is everlasting. The wicked are everlastingly deprived of the favour of God, and of the lisfht of his countenance. When Absalom could not see his father's face. Kill me, saith he, rather than let it be always thus, 2 Sam. xiv. 32. The wicked are never more to be admitted into the presence of God, who is the fountain of all peace and joy. And therefore how miserable will their condition be ! Besides, the pain will be eternal, as well as the loss ; not one kind of misery only shall light upon wicked men. The scripture representeth it by everything which is terrible ; sometimes by death, which is so much feared ; sometimes by fire and brimstone, which are so terrible in burning ; sometimes by chains and darkness, and prisons and dungeons ; because men in extremity of pain and misery do use to weep and wail, and gnash their teeth, sometimes by that. All these dreadful expressions give us some crevice light into the state of the other world. Now these things shall be without ceasing, for neither heaven nor hell have any period ; there is no time set when the fire shall go out, or these chains be loosed, or these wailings cease.