The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

The Angels were the eldest Off-spring of his Love, the purest productions of that supreme Light: Man in his best state was inferior to them. A great number of them kept not their first state of integrity and felicity. Their sin is intimated in Scripture;¹ Ordain not a Novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil: that is,² lest he become guilty of that sin which brought a severe sentence on the Devil. The Prince of darkness was blinded with the lustre of his own excellencies, and attempted upon the Regalia of Heaven, affecting an independent state. He disavowed his Benefactor, enriched with his benefits. And in the same moment he with his companions in rebellion, were banished from Heaven. God spared ⟨p. 156⟩not the Angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Judgment. ³Mercy did not interpose to avert or suspend their Judgment, but immediately they were expelled from the Divine Pre•ence. A solemn triumph in Heaven followed: a voice came out of the Throne saying, Praise our God all ye his Servants: and there was a• it were the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns. They are now the most eminent examples of revenging wrath. Their present misery is insupportable, and they expect worse. When our Saviour cast some of them out of the possest persons, they cried out, Art thou come to torment us before our time? ⁴Miserimum est timere cum s•eres nihil; 'tis the height of misery to have nothing to Hope, and something to Fear. Their guilt is attended with despair; they are in everlasting Chains. He that carries the Keys of Hell and Death will never open their Prison. If the sentence did admit a Revocation after a million of years, their torment would be nothing in comparison of what it is: for the longest measure of time bears no proportion to Eternity; and hope would allay the sense of the present sufferings with the prospect of future ease. But their Judgment is irreversible; they are under the blackness of darkness for ever. There is not the least glimpse of hope to allay their sorrows, no Star-light to sweeten the horrors of their Eternal night. They are seri poenae, that can never be redeemed. It were a kind of pardon to them to be capable of Death: but God will never be so far reconciled, as to annihilate them.