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

Now to discover the efficacy of those Objects for the persuading Men to be Holy I will consider, 1. Their Greatness, as 'tis described in the Gospel. 2. Their Truth and Reality, of which our Saviour hath given us convincing evidence and assurance.

Now to discover the efficacy of those Objects for the perswading Men to be Holy I will consider, 1. Their Greatness, as 'tis described in the Gospel. 2. Their Truth and Reality, of which our Saviour hath given us convincing evidence and assurance.

1. To excite our Fear, he threatens Torments extreme and eternal. These are set forth by such representations, as may impress the quickest sense of them upon Men. For the Imagination depends on sensible experience, and is strongly affected with those things that are terrible to our outward faculties. Now▪ Hell is described by a Worm gnawing the most tender parts,¹ that are most capable of pain; to signify the furious reflections of the guilty Soul, the sting of the enraged Conscience, the torment of those perfect Passions that continually vex the Damned. And 'tis set forth by Fire and Brimstone, that is most fierce to sense, the serious consideration of which is enough to cause terror and amazement in all that are liable to it. And if the sole apprehension be intolerable, how much more will the dwelling with devouring Fire, and everlasting burning? 'Tis called the blackness of darkness, to signify the complete ⟨p. 381⟩horror of that state. The Fire hath only force to burn, not to give any light to mitigate the obscurity. 'Tis called the second Death, in comparison of which that of the body is but the shadow of Death.² Nothing of Life remains but the sense of Misery, and that will be as strong for ever, as at the first entrance into it. This infinitely increases the Torment, that it shall never end. The suffering Soul knows it shall be Eternal, and as such it is felt and afflicts. The Fire that devours shall never say 'tis enough, that sad Night shall never have a Morning, that horrible Tempest never any Calm. The Damned have no breathing of Rest in their extreme pains, no shadow of Hope to refresh them in their intolerable heat,