584 YIXDICIJi: EYAXGELICiE.
v/itli life, attended Avith all the evils which come under that name and are in the first commination. Those who are dead in trespasses and sins are not nothing, though they have no life of grace. But Mr B. proceeds, and saith, —
Q. Thovgh this passage which you have quoted seems clearly to prove that eternal life agreeth to no other men but the faithful, yet, since the contrary opinion is generally held among Christians, I ivonld fain know of you ivhether you have any other places that affirm that the wicked die directly, and that a second death, are destroyed and punished with everlasting destruction, are cor- rupted, burnt up, devoured, slain, pass away, and perish?
A. Rom. vi. 23, viii. 13; Rev. xxi. 6, 8, ii. 10, 11 ; 1 Thess. v. 3; 2 Pet. iii. 7; 2 Thess. i. 7-9; Gal. vi. 8; 2 Pet. ii. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 17; Heb. x. 39; Matt. iii. 12; ITeb. x. 26, 27; Luke xix. 27; 1 John ii. 17; 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.
1. How .well Mr B. hath proved his intention by the place of Sciipture before mentioned hath been in part discovered, and will in our process yet farther appear. The ambiguity of the words "life" and " eternal life" (which yet are not ambiguous in the Scripture, being constantly used in one sense and signification as to the pur- pose in hand) is all the pretence he bath for his assertion. Besides that, his proof that unbelievers do not abide lies in this, that " the wrath of God abideth on them"!
2. This is common with this gentleman and his masters, "Christians generally think otherwise, but we say thus;" so light do they make of the common faith, which was once delivered to the saints. But he may be pleased to take notice that not only Christians think so, but assuredly believe that it shall be so, haviug the express word of God to bottom that their faith upon. And not only Christians be- lieve it, but mankind generally in all ages have consented to it, as might abundantly be evinced.^
3. But let the expressions w^herewith Mr B. endeavours to make good this his monstrous assertion of the annihilation of the wicked and unbelievers at the last day be particularly considered, that the strength of his conclusion, or rather the weakness of it, may be discovered.
The first is, that they are said to "die, and that a second death," Rom. vi. 23, viii. 13; Bev. xxi. 6, 8, ii. 10, 11. But how, now, will Mr B. prove that by dying is meant the annihilation of body and soul? There is mention of a natural death in Scripture; which, though it be a dissolution of nature as to its essential parts of body and soul, yet it is an annihilation of neither, for the soul abides, and Mr B. professes to believe that the body shall rise again. There is a spiritual death in sin also mentioned; which is not a destruction of the dead person's being, but a moral condition wherein he is. And why must the last death be the annihilation pretended? As to a
AXX iVTi KOI Tu ovTi KOI TO dvn^iuffKiffSai, xa) Ix tZv TiivictiTuv Tovj Z^avTds ylyviff^ai, Koi rai Tuv tiSviiutuv ■^v^as iivar xai raT; fiiv a.yafa.7; afiiitov i'l.ai, tk7; Se xaxais, Kamoy.
— Plato in Phsedone, 17.
OF THE RESURRECTION. 585
coming short of tliat which is the proper life of the soul, in the en- joyment of God, which is called "life" absolutely, and "eternal life," it is a death ; and as to any comfortable attendancies of a being con- tinued, it is a death. That it is a total deprivation of being, seeing those under it are to eternity to abide under torments (as shall be showed), there is no colour.
2. It is called " destruction," and " perdition," and " everlasting destruction," 1 Thess. v. 3; 2 Pet. iii. 7; 2 Thess. i. 7-9. True, it is a destruction as to the utter casting men off from all and every thing wherein the}^ had any hope or dependence, — a casting them eternally off from the happiness of rational creatures, and the end which they ought to have aimed at; that is, they shall be destroyed in a moral, not a natural sense. To be cast for ever under the wrath of God, I think, is destruction ; and therefore it is called " everlasting de- struction," because of the punishment which in that destruction abideth on them. To this are reduced the following expressions of " utterly perishing," and the like, Gal. vi. 8; 2 Pet ii. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 17; 2 Pet. iii. Ifi.
3. " Burning up the chalf with unquenchable fire" is mentioned. Matt. iii. 12; but if this burning of the chaff do consume it, pray what need it be done with " fire that cannot be quenched?" When it hath done its work, it will surely be put out. The expression is metaphorical, and the allusion is not in the consumption of chaff in the fire, but in the casting it into the fire, or the setting fire unto it. So the " fiery indignation" is said to " devour the adversaries," Heb. X. 27; not that they shall no more be, but that they shall never see happiness any more. All these expressions are metaphorical, and used to set out the greatness of the wrath and indignation of God against impenitent sinners, under which they shall lie for evei\ The residue of the expressions collected are of the same importance. Christ's punishment of unbelievers at the last day is compared to a king saying, "Bring hither mine enemies, and slay them before me," Luke xix. 27; because as a natural death is the utmost punishment that men are able to inflict, which cuts men off from hopes and enjoy- ments as to their natiu'al condition, so Christ will lay on them the utmost of his wrath, cutting them off from all hopes and enjo)'-- ments as to their spiritual and moral condition. It is said, " The world passeth away," because it can give no abiding, continuing re- freshment to any of the sons of men, when he that doeth the will of God hath an everlasting continuance in a good condition, notwith- standing the intervening of all troubles which are in this life, 1 John ii. 17; but that wicked men have not their being continued to eter- nity nothing is here expressed.