II. What is to be their final doom —
The word " hell" sometimes imports no more than the grave ; but here it must mean somewhat far more awful; because the righteous go into the grave as well as the most abandoned —
Hell is a place of inconceivable misery —
[Men in general do not wish to hear this place so much as mentioned, much less described, as the portion of the wicked : but it is better far to hear of it, than to dwell in it ; and it is by hearing of it that we must be persuaded to avoid it^. Our Lord represents it as a place originally formed for the reception of the fallen angels ; and very frequently labours to deter men from sin by the consideration of its terrors ''. And who that reflects upon that " lake of fire and brimstone," where the wicked " dwell with everlasting burnings," and " weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth," without so much as the smallest hope of deliverance from it, and where " the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever ;" who that considers v/hat it must be to have the devils for our companions, and to have the vials of God's wrath poured out upon us, without intermission and without end ; who that considers these things, must not tremble at the thought of taking up his abode in that place ?]
Yet must that be the portion of all that forget God—
[Noio scoffers make light of eternal torments, and puff at the denunciations of God's wrath ; but ere long they will wish that " the rocks might fall upon them, and the hills cover them" from his impending judgments. But however reluctant they be to obey the divine mandate, they must " depart;" they will be " turned" into hell with irresistible violence, and with fiery indignation. Their numbers will not at all secure them against the threatened vengeance : though there be whole " nations," they will not be able to withstand the arm of God ; nor will they excite commiseration in his heart : neither will their misery be the less because of the multitudes who partake of it; for, instead of alleviating one another's sorrows with tender sympathy, they will accuse one another with the bitterest invectives. The power and veracity of God are pledged to execute this judgment ; and sooner shall heaven and earth be annihilated, than one jot or tittle of his word shall fail.]
Infer —
\. How awful is the insensibility in which the world are living !
^2Cor. V. 11. c Luke xii. 5. Mark ix. 43— 48.