0A.32. 4 Hell
4 Hell Section 4. ON HELL " . . . be thrown into Hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:47-48 The punishment of unrepentant sinners shall be extreme and eternal. The torments in Hell exceed the heaviest judgments inflicted here on earth. The torments in Hell are represented in Scripture, so as to instruct and terrify sinners. The soul shall be the chief mourner in Hell. The apprehension shall be enlarged to all afflicting objects. The thoughts shall be fixed upon what is tormenting.
All the tormenting passions will be let loose upon the guilty soul.
Shame, sorrow, rage, despair, at once seize on the damned. The words are the repetition of a powerful motive by our blessed Savior, to deter men from indulging temptations to sin, however pleasant to them, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out." All the occasions whereby sin insinuates itself, and inflames our inclinations, whether it bribes us with profit, or allures by pleasure—must be immediately cut off, and forever separated from us. This counsel seems very severe to the natural man, who freely welcomes temptations—to deny himself, and tear his beloved lusts from his bosom—this the carnal nature will not content to. Our Savior therefore urges such arguments as may move the understanding and affections, may strike sense and conscience, "For it is better to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into Hell, where the fire never shall be quenched."
Hope and fear are the most active passions: The hope of Heaven is motive enough to induce a true believer to despise and reject all the advantages and pleasures of sin that are but for a season. The fear of an everlasting Hell is strong enough to control the wicked appetites.
Reason determines that when a deadly and spreading gangrene has seized upon a member, presently to cut off the affected arm or leg, to save the life. How much more reasonable and necessary is it to part with the most charming and favorite sin, to preserve the soul from eternal damnation? It is observable that our Savior inculcates three times, that men may take notice of it with terror, "Where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched"—a WORM ever gnawing upon the conscience; a FIRE that causes the most vehement pain. These are fearful representations to typify the torments of the damned; and that the worm is undying, and the fire unquenchable, infinitely aggravates their punishment. The proposition is this: that the punishment of those who will retain their pleasant or profitable sins, shall be extreme and eternal. In the handling of this point, I will discourse of the EXTREMITY of the punishment—and the ETERNITY of it.