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！
true？ I maintain firmly that it is so： and I maintain that professing
Christians ought to be often reminded that they may be lost and go to
hell。
I know that it is easy to deny all plain teaching about hell； and to
make it odious by invidious names。 I have often heard of 〃narrow…minded
views； and old…fashioned notions； and brimstone theology；〃 and the
like。 I have often been told that 〃broad〃 views are wanted in the
present day。 I wish to be as broad as the Bible； neither less nor more。
I say that he is the narrow…minded theologian； who pares down such
parts of the Bible as the natural heart dislikes； and rejects any
portion of the counsel of God。
God knows that I never speak of hell without pain and sorrow。 I would
gladly offer the salvation of the Gospel to the very chief of sinners。
I would willingly say to the vilest and most profligate of mankind on
his deathbed； 〃Repent； and believe on Jesus； and thou shalt be saved。〃
But God forbid that I should ever keep back from mortal man that
Scripture reveals a hell as well as heaven； and that the Gospel teaches
that men may be lost as well as saved。 The watchman who keeps silent
when he sees a fire； is guilty of gross neglectthe doctor who tells
us we are getting well when we are dying； is a false friend； and the
minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither
a faithful nor a charitable man。
Where is the charity of keeping back any portion of God's truth？ He is
the kindest friend who tells me the whole extent of my danger。 Where is
the use of hiding the future from the impenitent and the ungodly？
Surely it is like helping the devil； if we do not tell them plainly
that 〃the soul that sinneth shall surely die。〃 Who knows but the
wretched carelessness of many baptized persons arises from this； that
they have never been told plainly of hell？ Who can tell but thousands
might be converted； if ministers would urge them more faithfully to
flee from the wrath to e？ Verily； I fear we are many of us guilty in
this matter： there is a morbid tenderness amongst us which is not the
tenderness of Christ。 We have spoken of mercy； but not of judgment； we
have preached many sermons about heaven； but few about hell： we have
been carried away by the wretched fear of being thought 〃low； vulgar
and fanatical。〃 We have forgotten that He who judgeth us is the Lord；
and that the man who teaches the same doctrine that Christ taught
cannot be wrong。
If you would ever be a healthy Scriptural Christian； I entreat you to
give hell a place in your theology。 Establish it in your mind as a
fixed principle； that God is a God of judgment； as well as of mercy；
and that the same everlasting counsels which laid the foundation of the
bliss of heaven； have also laid the foundation of the misery of hell。
Keep in full view of your mind that all who die unpardoned and
unrenewed； are utterly unfit for the presence of God and must be lost
for ever。 They are not capable of enjoying heaven： they could not be
happy there。 They must go to their own place： and that place is
hell。Oh； it is a great thing in these days of unbelief to believe the
whole Bible！
If you would ever be a healthy and Scriptural Christian； I entreat you
to beware of any ministry which does not plainly teach the reality and
eternity of hell。 Such a ministry may be soothing and pleasant； but it
is far more likely to lull you to sleep than to lead you to Christ； or
build you up in the faith。 It is impossible to leave out any portion of
God's truth without spoiling the whole。 That preaching is sadly
defective which dwells exclusively on the mercies of God and the joys
of heaven； and never sets forth the terrors of the Lord and the
miseries of hell。 It may be popular； but it is not Scriptural： it may
amuse and gratify； but it will not save。 Give me the preaching which
keeps back nothing that God has revealed。 You may call it stern and
harsh； you may tell us that to frighten people is not the way to do
them good。 But you are forgetting that the grand object of the Gospel
is to persuade men to 〃flee from the wrath to e；〃 and that it is
vain to expect men to flee unless they are afraid。 Well would it be for
many professing Christians if they were more afraid about their souls
than they now are！
If you desire to be a healthy Christian； consider often what your own
end will be。 Will it be happiness； or will it be misery？ Will it be the
death of the righteous； or will it be a death without hope； like that
of Lot's wife？ You cannot live always： there must be an end one day。
The last sermon will one day be heard； the last prayer will one day be
prayed； the last chapter in the Bible will one day be readmeaning；
wishing； hoping； intending； resolving； doubting； hesitatingall will
at length be over。 You will have to leave this world and to stand
before a holy God。 Oh； that you would be wise！ Oh； that you would
consider your latter end！
You cannot trifle for ever： a time will e when you must be serious。
You cannot put off your soul's concerns for ever： a day will e when
you must have a reckoning with God。 You cannot be always singing； and
dancing； and eating； and drinking； and dressing； and reading； and
laughing； and jesting； and scheming； and planning； and money…making。
The summer insects cannot always sport in the sunshine； the cold chilly
evening will e at last； and stop their sport for ever。 So will it be
with you。 You may put off religion now； and refuse the counsel of God's
ministers： but the cool of the day is drawing on； when God will e
down to speak with you。 And what will your end be？ Will it be a
hopeless one； like that of Lot's wife？
I beseech you； by the mercies of God； to look this question fairly in
the face。 I entreat you not to stifle conscience by vague hopes of
God's mercy； while your heart cleaves to the world。 I implore you not
to drown convictions by childish fancies about God's love； while your
daily ways and habits show plainly that 〃the love of the Father is not
in you。〃 There is mercy in God； like a riverbut it is for the
penitent believer in Christ Jesus。 There is a love in God towards
sinners which is unspeakable and unsearchablebut it is for those who
〃hear Christ's voice and follow Him。〃 Seek to have an interest in that
love。 Break off every known sin； e out boldly from the world； cry
mightily to God in prayer； cast yourself wholly and unreservedly on the
Lord Jesus for time and eternity； lay aside every weight。 Cling to
nothing； however dear； which interferes with your soul's salvation；
give up everything； however precious； which es between you and
heaven。 This old shipwrecked world is fast sinking beneath your feet：
the one thing needful is to have a place in the lifeboat and get safe
to shore。 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure。
Whatever happens to your house and property； see t