Sermons preached

3. Our Lord shows the Danger of perishing for ever, amplified by a notable Description, Their Worm never dyes, and their Fire shall never be quenched. The Scripture lisps to us in our own Dialect, and speaks in such Notions we can best understand, and therefore represents the State of the Damned by what is terrible to Sense. By the Worm is meant the Anguish of Conscience, by Fire the Wrath of God. Memoria praeteritorum, Sensus presentium, Metus futurorum. The Torment of the wicked arises partly from their own Consciences. There is a vexing Remembrance of what is past, their Folly in the neglect of Grace; and there is a bitter Sense of that doleful State into which they have now plunged themselves, and a Fear of what is yet to come. Now beside this Remorse for their Folly, there is also a Fire that shall never be quenched, or the sharp Torments that are prepared for the wicked.

3. Our Lord shews the Danger of perishing for ever, amplified by a notable Description, Their Worm never dyes, and their Fire shall never be quenched. The Scripture lisps to us in our own Dialect, and speaks in such Notions we can best understand, and therefore represents the State of the Damned by what is terrible to Sense. By the Worm is meant the Anguish of Conscience, by Fire the Wrath of God. Memoria praeteritorum, Sensus presentium, Metus futurorum. The Torment of the wicked arises partly from their own Consciences. There is a vexing Remembrance of what is past, their Folly in the neglect of Grace; and there is a bitter Sense of that doleful State into which they have now plunged themselves, and a Fear of what is yet to come. Now beside this Remorse for their Folly, there is also a Fire that shall never be quenched, or the sharp Torments that are prepared for the wicked.

4. Here is a Collation or Comparison of Opposites; the Pains of Hell, with the Trouble of Mortification. First or last we must endure Troubles and Difficulties. Now it is much more eligible to take Pains in the mortifying of Sin, than to bear Eternal Pains in the punishment of it. This is that which is expressed in the Text, For every one shall be salted with Fire, and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt. In the Words,