Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

And though we ordinarily speak only of Hell Fire, yet not only Hell, but Heaven it self is full of this Fire; consult that place Isa. 33.14. ¹Who among us shall dwell with the devouring Fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting Burnings? Would not one think at the very first sound of the Words, that the Prophet speaks only of such as should be damned, of such as should be cast into Hell, to remain there in everlasting Fire and Burnings? And demands of them, who among them could endure this? No, but it appears plainly, that this Fire and Burning is in Heaven it self, and the Prophet by putting this Question, ⟨p. 76⟩Who shall dwell with the devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings? asks who shall be saved, and not who shall be destroyed? And therefore in the 15th Verse, he tells us, that he shall do it, who walketh uprightly, and speaketh uprightly, that despiseth the gain of Oppression, that shaketh his Hands from holding of Bribes, that stoppeth his Ears from hearing of Blood, and shutteth his Eyes from seeing of Evil. Such a one shall dwell with the devouring Fire; that is, he shall for ever dwell and remain with God in Heaven. So that we see God is a Fire both to the Wicked, and to the Godly; to the Wicked he is a penetrating torturing Fire, and they are combustible Matter for the Wrath and Vengeance of God to prey upon; but to the Godly he is a purifying ⟨p. 77⟩and cherishing Fire only. And as Lightning doth not only cleanse and refine the Air, but rends Trees and Rocks in pieces, dissolves Metals, and breaks through whatsoever opposeth it in its passage: So this great and Almighty Fire only refresheth and comforteth the Godly, whereas it breaks and tears the Wicked in pieces, and melts them down like Wax before the scorching Heat of it. And though I deny not but there may be somewhat like that which we commonly apprehend when we speak of Hell, some unquenchable Flames prepared by the Wisdom and Power of God for the eternal Torment of those Wretches that shall be cast thereinto; yet withal I think that their most exquisite Torments shall be from that Fire that is God himself.

And though we ordinarily speak only of Hell Fire, yet not only Hell, but Heaven it self is full of this Fire; consult that place