DOCTRINE SECOND, USE AND APPLICATION.
Objection 3. O but, as He is just, so He is merciful; and mercy is pitiful and very compassionate to the afflicted.
Answer. O, but mercy abused becomes most fearful in tormenting. Did you never read that the Lamb turned lion and that the world will tremble at the wrath of the Lamb, and be afflicted more at the thoughts of that, than at the thoughts of anything that shall happen to them in the day when God shall call them to an account for their sins? (Rev 6:16,17). The time of mercy will be then past, for now, is that acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation; the gate of mercy will then be shut, and must not be opened again; for now is that gate open, now it is open for a door of hope (2 Cor 6:2; Matt 25:10; Luke 13:25).
The time of showing pity and compassion will then be at an end; for that as to acting towards sinners will last but till the glass of the world is run, and when that day is past, mark what God saith shall follow, 'I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you' (Prov 1:26, 27). Mark you how many pinching expressions the Lord Jesus Christ doth threaten the refusing sinner with; the sinner that refuseth Him now—I will laugh at him, I will mock at him. But when, Lord, wilt thou laugh at, and mock at, the impenitent? The answer is, 'I will laugh at their calamities, and mock when their fear comes; when their fear comes as desolation, and their destruction like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon them.'
Objection 4. But if God Almighty be at this point, and there be no moving of Him to mercy at that day, yet we can but lie in hell till we are burnt out, as the log doth at the back of the fire.
Answer. Poor besotted sinner, is this your last shift? Willst thou comfort thyself with this? Are thy sins so dear, so sweet, so desirable, so profitable to thee, that thou wilt venture a burning in hell fire for them till thou art burnt out? Is there nothing else to be done but to make a covenant with death, and to maintain your agreement with hell? (Isa 28:15). Is it not better to say now to God, Do not condemn me? and to say now, Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner? Would not tears, prayers, and cries, in this acceptable time, to God for mercy, yield you more benefit in the next world than to lie and burn out in hell?
But to come close to you. Have I not I told you that there is no such thing as a ceasing to be? that the damned shall never be burned out in hell? there shall be no more such death, or cause of dissolution forever. This one thing, well-considered, breaks not only the neck of that wild conceit on which your foolish objection is built but will also break your stubborn heart in pieces. For then it follows, that unless thou canst conquer God, or with ease endure to conflict with His sin-revenging wrath, thou wilt be made to mourn while under His everlasting wrath and indignation and to know that there is not such a thing as a burning out in hell fire.
Objection 5. But, if this must be my case, I shall have more fellows;
I shall not go to hell, nor yet burn there, alone.
Answer. What, again; is there no breaking of the league that is betwixt sin and thy soul? What, resolved to be a self-murderer, a soul murderer? What, resolved to murder your own soul? But is there any comfort in being in company? sinking into the bottom of the sea with company? or in going to hell, in burning in hell, and in enduring the everlasting pains of hell, with company? O besotted wretch! But I tell you, the more company, the more sorrow; the more fuel, the more fire. Hence the damned man that we read of in Luke desired that his brethren might be so warned and prevailed with as to be kept out of that place of torment (Luke 16:27, 28). But to hasten; I come now to the second use.
