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possessions which we cannot long keep, from which, after a short and rapid enjoyment, death must separate us for ever! Nevertheless, mercy is promised to those who work mercy. The sinner, who is yet sensible to the distresses of his brethren, will not, we have every reason to hope it, will not be long insensible to the inspirations of heaven. Grace still Grace still preserves its sway over a heart, in which benevolence has not lost its influence. A compassionate heart cannot long be a hardened heart. That tenderness, which melts at the sight of others' woes, is a prelude to repentance and salvation. The truly charitable man will receive from above that victorious grace, which will enable him to subdue his evil passions, will enable him to obey all the commands of Jesus, will make him blessed on earth, and entitle him to the joys and glories of eternity..

SERMON XLVIII.

NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST.

ON THE FUTURE PUNISHMENT OF THE

WICKED.

Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the exterior darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.-Matt, xxii. 13.

In the conclusion of the parable contained in this day's Gospel, our Lord forewarns us of the dreadful sentence, which he will one day pronounce on all those, who have dared to rebel against his sovereign will. He will command them to be cast into exterior darkness, shut out from every ray of light, of hope and comfort, and placed in a land of misery and desolation, where everlasting horror dwells. In giving us this awful warning, his wish is, that those whom the unspeakable goodness of God doth not engage to his honourable and delightful service, may seriously consider the extent of his power and the terrors of his justice, and how horrible a thing it is to fall into his hands.

This supreme Lord and Judge of all men in heaven displays his munificence, giving crowns of unfading glory to his faithful friends and servants. But he is not less great and majestic in the infernal regions, which he hath appointed for the dwelling of the reprobate. There, letting loose his just, but implacable indignation, he pours down the torrent of his vengeance, which shall fall on its desperate victims for ages everlasting.

The contemplation of it ought to shake with a holy terror all the powers of our souls. But how do men arm themselves against these terrors? Some, by rejecting the belief of it; others, by diverting their attention from it. At all times doubts and difficulties have been raised in the minds of many, concerning the eternity of the torments of hell. Philosophical infidels peremptorily refuse to subscribe to this article of our faith; and besides these, there are found among those who profess themselves disciples of Jesus, many whose faith is weak and wavering; who permit some uncertainties on this subject to dwell on their minds, and by them find their assiduity in the practice of virtue considerably abated. For, the moment this great pillar of religion begins to totter on its foundations, the edifice of virtue must be near to its fall. It is, therefore, of the highest importance to

strengthen your minds against these doubts; and this shall be my present object; whence I shall in conclusion take occasion to address myself to those who believe this truth, but whose faith is inactive and unproductive of any good in their lives; who follow up their criminal pursuits with the same unconcern as if the gates of hell were shut against them, or they were sure of never being conducted to them.

1. First then, to confirm our faith, and obtain certain knowledge of a matter, in which we are all so deeply interested, let us consult, not the dictates of our own reason, which is so often influenced and biassed by the wishes of our hearts, but the Holy Scriptures, the oracles of divine truth. What do we find there? This alarming declaration, that every heinous violation of the law of God, which is not repented of in this life, will be punished in the next with eternal miseries. This point of our belief the Almighty hath enforced with all the weight of his authority. By the mouth of the prophet Isaias, he saith: Wo to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. (iii. 11.) Therefore hath hell enlarged her soul, and opened her mouth without any bounds, and their strong ones, and their people, and their high and glorious ones shall go down into it. (v. 14.)

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Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? Which of you shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (xxxiii. 14.) Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be extinguished. (lxvi. 24.)

In the New Testament, St. Paul expressly declares to the Thessalonians: They who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction. (2 Thess. 1. 8.) It would not cost much trouble to enumerate a multitude of texts to the same effect: but it would be superfluous, as no proof can be clearer and stronger than the express words of Jesus himself, who assures us, that,' on the day of final judgment, he will say to the wicked: Depart from me, you cursed, into EVERLASTING fire (Matt. xxv. 41.) and again, what is still more express, speaking of the last end of the good and of the bad, he says: These shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just into life everlasting. (Ib. v. 46.) This declaration has peculiar force: you observe in it, my brethren,' that the punishments of the reprobate are said to be everlasting, in the same manner as the rewards of the righteous: therefore, as none can rationally imagine, that the God of all consolation will ever cease to reward his friends and favourites, will ever banish them from those blissful abodes, in which he so sweetly compensates their past labours: so is there no possibility of a hope re

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