why then should we not choose to take the favourable fide? Why fhould Serm. 5. it not be fufficient to allow, that the Torments of Hell will be, in fome fenfe Eternal, that is, of very long duration and continuance, tho' not Strictly and properly everlasting?

Now, tho' I readily grant that the words are fometimes us'd, in this sense of a diuturnity or very long duration only: yet I muft obferve, that it is very rarely that they are fo us'd, more especially in the New Teftament; and moreover that my two remaining Obfervations, upon the above quoted Texts of Scripture, will afford us very good reafons, why this fenfe will not do in our prefent cafe. I observe therefore

Secondly, That the very fame words are us'd, in the very fame Texts of Scripture, to expreís the everlasting happiness of the Righteous, and the everlasting mifery of the Wicked, and that too, without the leaft intimation of any kind, that the words are not to have the fame fenfe on both fides. For fo, in Daniel, the very fame word

is us'd to exprefs the everlastingness Serm. 5 of the life or happiness of the righte ous, and of the contempt or mifery of the wicked: and fo, in St. Matthew, the very Jame word expreffeth both. Thefe, the wicked, shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal or everlasting, alavov the very fame word in both places. So that there is not the leaft pretence for fetting up two different fenfes of the words, in thefe places. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit seems to have us'd the fame word, both of the happiness of the righte ous, and the mifery of the wicked, in the fame places, on purpose that we might have no manner of handle for making a difference as to the Eternity of thefe, but might be constrain'd to own the one, by owning the other.

Thirdly, We have, in the aforemention'd Texts, repeated Affertions of, and variety of Expreffions for, the Eternity of Hell-torments: and all very full and fignificant, it is not only faid over and over again, that they are everlasting: but they are reMar. 9.43. prefented as a worm that dyeth not,

294

and

and a fire that fhall never be quench'd;
nay, there is one Expreffion, of their
lafting for ever and ever, which is not
fo much as once us'd, throughout the
whole New Testament, to fignify any
thing less than a true and proper Eter-
nity. So that, upon the whole, God
feems to have exprefs'd his mind to
us as fully and clearly, in this point,
as words can do it: and we must be
ftrangely obftinate and partial to our
felves, if because we do not like the
Eternity of Hell torments, we will
not believe it, tho' never fo plainly
reveal'd to us.

Serm.

Prifcillia

To what has been faid I fhall farther add, that we have the Judgment of almoft the whole Chriftian Church in all Ages, on our fide, as to this point; very few, of all the Fathers of the Church, having favour'd the contra- Aug. 1. ry opinion: and Origen having been contra feverely reprov'd and animadverted up- nift. & Oon, by the rest of the Fathers for fo rigenist, c, doing and his opinion, in this parti- Epiphan. cular, always reckon'd, by St. Auftin, cont. OEpiphanius and other Cataloguers of rigen. Hethe antient Herefies, as Heretical. Eftius in 1. And this Confideration ought, one 4. diftinct, would P. 297.

KA

5.6.

M would think, to weigh very much Serm. 5 with private Chriftians: and to keep them from going, haftily at least, against the common and conftant fense of the primitive and purest times of Christianity, into the opinions of a new and upftart Sect, who, having first divested our Lord of his Divinity, it is no great wonder that they afterwards endeavour to dif arm him of his Thunder, and, to blunt the edge of his Threatnings.

However, fhould we fuppofe at present (I fay suppose, for it is what I can, by no means, allow, all Circumstances confider'd) that the words, which are us'd in Scripture to express the Eternity of Hell-torments, might be indifferently taken, either for a true and proper Eternity, or a diuturnity or long duration only, and refer it to Reafon, which fenfe we fhould choose: I doubt not but even Reafon it felf would determine on our fide, in this cafe. As will more clearly appear, when I come

Secondly, To lay before you the Arguments, which are drawn from Reafon

Reason, for proof of the Eternity of M
Serm. 5.
Hell-torments. And this I fhall do,
with great freedom and impartiali-
ty; having first premis'd these two
things.

First, That I do not pretend to argue altogether from pure fimple Reafon, but from Reason judging of this matter, as propos'd with all its Circumstances, by Revelation. For, tho' I will not fay that Reason of it felf was fufficient, for the finding out, and certainly fixing and determining, this point: yet I shall make no doubt to fay that, as this is offer'd to our confideration by Revelation, Reafon doth confent to, and approve it. 'Tis true indeed that fome of the Heathens, by the meer Light of Reafon, did frame fome fort of notion of the Eternity of Hell-torments; but then it must be confider'd, that this was both very rare, and very imperfect. Generally speaking, they held certain periods of time, a thousand years, &c. when all the wicked fhould be releas'd from their Torments. And those of them, who did maintain the Eternity of Hell-torments, yet main