The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

There are some who strongly fancy, 'tis not consistent with Divine Justice, to inflict an eternal Punishment for temporary Sins. Therefore they soften the Sentence, by interpreting the Words of Christ, These shall go into everlasting Punishment, of the annihilation of impenitent Sinners; that is, they shall be for ever deprived of Heaven, but not suffer Torments for ever.

To this there is a clear Answer: 1. The direct opposition between everlasting Punishment, and everlasting Life, in the words of Christ, is a convincing Argument they are to be understood in ⟨p. 521⟩the same extent for an absolute Eternity. And the words in the Revelation are so express, that they admit no mollifying Interpretation, They are tormented Day and Night, for ever and ever: Which necessarily infer, the tormented have Life and Sense for ever. Now that in Scripture 'tis evident, that God hath decreed and denounced eternal Punishment to obstinate Sinners, is sufficient to satisfy all Enquiries about the Justice of it: for Divine Justice is the correspondence of God's Will and Actions, with the Perfections of his Holy Nature. From hence we may infer with invincible Evidence, that whatever he pronounces in Judgment, and consequently inflicts, is most Righteous. The Truth is, we may as easily conceive there is no God, as that God is unjust; because absolute Rectitude is an inseparable Perfection of his Nature. Thus the Apostle with abhorrence rejects the Question,¹ Is God Unrighteous who taketh Vengeance? God forbid: for then how shall God judg the World? That were to deny him to be God, who is the Creator, and King, and Judg of the World. 'Tis a full Reply to all the pitiful Shifts that are ⟨p. 522⟩made use of to elude the plain meaning of the eternal Judgment that will pass upon the Wicked; Shall mortal Man be more just than God? ²shall a Man be more pure than his Maker? The Reprobates have now some bold Advocates, that plead those things for favour to them, which they will not dare to plead for themselves at the last Day. The Holy Judg will then cut off all their Excuses, and reduce them to a defenceless silence, before he cuts them off. God will be justified in his Sentence, and overcome when he is judgeth.