from hell — and when? hear! when so many millions of centuries shall have passed away as there are drops of water in the ocean, leaves on the trees, sands in the sea and on the earth — you would shudder at this; but still it is true that such tidings would give greater joy to that soul, than you would feel if you were told that you had become the king of a great kingdom. Yes, certainly; for that poor damned sinner would say: It is true that many, many centuries will first pass by, but at length a day will come, in which my sufferings will end! Alas ! all these centuries will pass away, but hell will ever be beginning anew; all these centuries may be multiplied like the sands, the rain-drops, and the leaves, but hell is still beginning anew. Every lost soul would gladly, if he might, enter into this agreement with God: Lord! if it please thee, increase my pain! O Lord ! prolong my pains as long as it may please thee, I am satisfied; if it will only one day end, I am content. But no, this end will never come — never! But perhaps this poor lost sinner will delude and flatter himself, and say inwardly: Perhaps, God will one day have mercy on me, and deliver me from hell. No! the condemned soul will always have before his eyes the sentence of his eternal condemnation, and his language will be this: Alas! it is sure — too sure! all these torments which I now suffer, this fire, this sorrow, this cry of despair, will never end! never, never, O never! no, it will last for ever, for ever. O eternity! O hell! how is it possible that men believe in you and yet continue to live in sin ! [Look steadily here upon your besetting sin, and with eternity in view , excite your soul to contrition , and make a firm resolution. ]
III. My Christian friend, think well of this, and
