按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
They tell us； like Lot's wife； that it is a perilous thing to sin
against light； that God hates sin； and that there is a hell。
I feel constrained to speak freely to my readers on the subject of
hell。 Suffer me to use the opportunity which the end of Lot's wife
affords。 I believe the time is e when it is a positive duty to speak
plainly about the reality and eternity of hell。 A flood of false
doctrine has lately broken in upon us。 Men are beginning to tell us
〃that God is too merciful to punish souls for everthat there is a
love of God lower even than helland that all mankind； however wicked
and ungodly some of them may be； will sooner or later be saved。〃 We are
invited to leave the old paths of apostolic Christianity。 We are told
that the views of our fathers about hell； and the devil； and
punishment； are obsolete and old…fashioned。 We are to embrace what is
called a 〃kinder theology；〃 and treat hell as a Pagan fable； or a
bugbear to frighten children and fools。 Against such false teaching I
desire； for one； to protest。 Painful； sorrowful； distressing as the
controversy may be； we must not blink it； or refuse to look the subject
in the face。 I； for one； am resolved to maintain the old position； and
to assert the reality and eternity of hell。
Believe me； this is no mere speculative question。 It is not to be
classed with disputes about liturgies and Church government。 It is not
to be ranked with mysterious problems； like the meaning of Ezekiel's
temple or the symbols of Revelation。 It is a question which lies at the
very foundation of the whole Gospel。 The moral attributes of God； His
justice； His holiness； His purity； are all involved in it。 The
necessity of personal faith in Christ； and the sanctification of the
Spirit； are all at stake。 Once let the old doctrine about hell be
overthrown； and the whole system of Christianity is unsettled；
unscrewed； unpinned； and thrown into disorder。
Believe me； the question is not one in which we are obliged to fall
back on the theories and inventions of man。 The Scripture has spoken
plainly and fully on the subject of hell。 I hold it to be impossible to
deal honestly with the Bible； and to avoid the conclusions to which it
will lead us on this point。 If words mean anything； there is such a
place as hell。 If texts are to be interpreted fairly； there are those
who will be cast into it。 If language has any sense belonging to it；
hell is for ever。 I believe that the man who finds arguments for
evading the evidence of the Bible on this question has arrived at a
state of mind in which reasoning is useless。 For my own part； it seems
just as easy to argue that we do not exist； as to argue that the Bible
does not teach the reality and eternity of hell。
（a） Settle it firmly in your mind； that the same Bible which teaches
that God in mercy and passion sent Christ to die for sinners； does
also teach that God hates sin； and must from His very nature punish all
who cleave to sin； or refuse the salvation He has provided。 The very
same chapter which declares； 〃God so loved the world；〃 declares also；
that 〃the wrath of God abideth〃 on the unbeliever。 （John iii。 16； 36。）
The very same Gospel which is launched into the earth with the blessed
tidings； 〃He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved；〃 proclaims
in the same breath； 〃He that believeth not shall be damned。〃 （Mark xvi。
16。）
（b） Settle it firmly in your mind that God has given us proof upon
proof in the Bible that He will punish the hardened and unbelieving；
and that He can take vengeance on His enemies； as well as show mercy on
the penitent。 The drowning of the old world by the floodthe burning
of Sodom and Gomorrahthe overthrow of Pharaoh and all his host in the
Red Seathe judgment on Korah； Dathan； and Abiramthe utter
destruction of the seven nations of Canaanall teach the same awful
truth。 They are all given to us as beacons； and signs； and warnings；
that we may not provoke God。 They are all meant to lift up the corner
of the curtain which hangs over things to e； and to remind us that
there is such a thing as the wrath of God。 They all tell us plainly
that 〃the wicked shall be turned into hell。〃 （Psalm ix。 17。）
（c） Settle it firmly in your mind； that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself
has spoken most plainly about the reality and eternity of hell。 The
parable of the rich man and Lazarus contains things which should make
men tremble。 But it does not stand alone。 No lips have used so many
words to express the awfulness of hell； as the lips of Him who spake as
never man spake； and who said 〃The word which ye hear is not Mine； but
the Father's which sent Me。〃 （John xiv。 24。） Hell； hell fire； the
damnation of hell； eternal damnation； the resurrection of damnation；
everlasting fire； the place of torment； destruction； outer darkness；
the worm that never dies； the fire that is not quenched； the place of
weeping； wailing； and gnashing of teeth； everlasting punishmentthese；
these are the words which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself employs。 Away
with the miserable nonsense which people talk in this day； who tell us
that the ministers of the Gospel should never speak of hell！ They only
show their own ignorance； or their own dishonesty； when they talk in
such a manner。 No man can honestly read the four Gospels and fail to
see that he who would follow the example of Christ must speak of hell。
（d） Settle it； lastly； in your mind； that the forting ideas which
the Scripture gives us of heaven are at an end； if we once deny the
reality or eternity of hell。 Is there no future separate abode for
those who die wicked and ungodly？ Are all men； after death； to be
mingled together in one confused multitude？ Why then； heaven will be no
heaven at all！ It is utterly impossible for two to dwell happily
together except they be agreed。Is there to be a time when the term of
hell and punishment will be over？ Are the wicked after ages of misery
to be admitted into heaven？ Why then； the need of the sanctification of
the Spirit is cast aside and despised！ I read that men can be
sanctified and made meet for heaven on earth： I read nothing of any
sanctification in hell。 Away with such baseless and unscriptural
theories！ The eternity of hell is as clearly affirmed in the Bible as
the eternity of heaven。 Once allow that hell is not eternal； and you
may as well say that God and heaven are not eternal。 The same Greek
word which is used in the expression； 〃everlasting punishment；〃 is the
word that Is used by the Lord Jesus in the expression； 〃life eternal；〃
and by St。 Paul in the expression； 〃everlasting God。〃 （Matt。 xxv。 46；
Rom。 xvi。 26。）
I know that all this sounds dreadful in many ears。 I do not wonder。 But
the only question we have to settle is thisIs it Scriptural？ Is it
true？ I maintain firmly that it is so： and I maintain that professing
Christians ought to be often re