by Christ and His apostles, is an evidence, that the doctrine of future punishment was taught by them.

4. The great solicitude for the salvation of souls, which the Prophets, Christ, and the Apostles manifested, proves beyond a doubt, that they believed in the doctrine of the future misery of the wicked, and that they taught it.

Q. 2. Why does God inflict misery or penal evil upon the wicked in the world to come?

A. He does it because they deserve it, and because the general good requires it. By punishing the wicked, God shows His hatred to sin and love to holiness, maintains the authority of His law and government, vindicates His character as moral Governour, and promotes the general good of the uni

verse.

Q. 3. How long will the future misery of the wicked continue?

A. Eternally. Reason teaches, that God may punish sinners so long as they continue to sin, and there is no reason to suppose, that the finally impenitent will ever cease to sin. Sinners, too, will always deserve to be punished. God may, therefore, justly punish them forever. With respect to the duration of future punishment, mankind are not proper judges, for they know not the full demerit of sin. This God alone can determine; and He speaks of it in the Scriptures in terms of the longest duration, as, "eternal," "everlasting," "forever," "forever and ever." We must therefore renounce the Bible, or believe the doctrine of endless future punishment.(b)

(b) Matt. 25. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. 2 Thess. 1. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Rev. 14. 11. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Dan. 12. 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlast

Q. 4. Is there any evidence, that the finally impenitent will be restored or annihilated, in any period in eternity?

A. There is none. The punishment of the future world is not in any sense disciplinary or remedial. It is not so in the case of rebel angels. And we have no evidence from, reason or revelation, that it is so in the case of the finally impenitent of the human race. Further, neither reason, nor Scripture give us any assurance, or intimation whatever, that the finally impenitent can expiate their sins by suffering for a limited time. The doctrine of annihilation, or literal destruction of the wicked, is no where taught, but is every where by implication, opposed in the Bible. The doctrine then, of restitution, or annihilation, is false, and consequently, not to be embraced, but rejected.(c)

Q. 5. By what language is the future punishment of the wicked represented in the Sacred Scriptures?

ing life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Mark 3. 29. But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. Matt. 26. 24. The Son of man goeth, as it is written of him; but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. See also reference (e).

(c) Luke 16. 22-26. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom; the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar. off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Rev. 22.11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy let him be holy still.

A. It is represented by terms the most awful and affecting. It is called "death," "worm that never dieth," "bottomless pit," "darkness," "mist of darkness," "blackness of darkness for ever," "lake of fire and brimstone," "fire that never shall be quenched," "suffering the vengeance of eternal fire,” "furnace of fire," "fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Though these expressions should be considered metaphorical; yet they convey the idea of the greatest-of extreme pains and torments. The capacities and faculties of the wicked will, be much enlarged after death, so that they will be capable of suffering much more misery in the future, than in the present state.

Q. 6. Will there be different degrees of punishment inflicted upon the wicked hereafter?

A. There will. Some will endure more misery than others. Punishment will be according to the number, magnitude, and aggravation of offences.(d) Q. 7. Is the future misery of the wicked bodily, or mental, or both?

A. It is both. As the body and soul constitute the person, that sinned in this life, so they both will constitute the person, that will suffer in the life to come, after the separate state closes, though before this time, the soul only will suffer. It is by no means certain, that the body will not be afflicted by material fire. The bodies of the wicked will be immortal and incorruptible, and, therefore, no more liable to decay than spirits. Besides, if they were corruptible, God could preserve them in the fire, as He did the bodies of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Both the Old and New Testaments expressly declare, and, in many instances, that the wicked will be punished hereafter by fire. These passages of

(d) 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Scripture, though they should be considered figurative in a sense, nevertheless seem to convey the idea of corporal punishment. The ancient Fathers, particularly, Augustine, Cyprian, Chrysostom, and Jerome, maintained the doctrine of future punishment by material fire. Whether we conclude there will be punishment by material fire or not, we must conclude there will be bodily sufferings, because the soul cannot suffer greatly without affecting the body; and the finally impenitent will be completely miserable. But however this may be, bodily distress will not be the principal punishment of the wicked. Mental sufferings will chiefly constitute the misery of the damned. These will arise from various sources, viz. clear convictions of sin, guilt, and ill desert; recollection of the kind admonitions and remonstrances of God, of His ministers and people, and that salvation was once within their reach, but now, by their neglect, is removed at an infinite distance from them, and that they must dwell forever in utter despair; raging desires of ease and pleasure never gratified; association with the devil and his angels, and all wicked and impenitent men, who will torment one another; the knowledge that God overrules their sin and misery for the good of His friends; banishment from the favourable presence of God; a view of the righteous in exquisite happiness; and the sinfulness and malignity of their hearts. These will constitute a hell within them, and lay a foundation for wretchedness without intermission, abatement or end.(e)

(e) Matt. 25. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt. 13. 30, 40, 41, 42, 49, 50. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his

Q. 8. Is hell a place, or a state merely?

A. It is a place. It is thus represented in the Scriptures. There is the same reason for believing hell to be local, that there is for believing heaven to be local.

angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. So shall it be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Rev. 19. 20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Rev. 20. 10, 14, 15. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 21. 8. But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. Rev. 14. 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. Matt. 3.12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Mark 9.43, 44. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Isa. 33. 14. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprized the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Ps. 11. 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup. 2 Thess. 1. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Dan. 12. 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.