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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 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 that you make sure of
heaven。 Oh； better a million times be laughed at and thought extreme in
this world than go down to hell from the midst of the congregation and
end like Lot's wife！
And now； let me conclude this paper by offering to all who read it； a
few questions to impress the subject on their consciences。 You have
seen the history of Lot's wifeher privileges； her sin； and her end。
You have been told of the uselessness of privileges without the gift of
the Holy Ghost； of the danger of worldliness； and of the reality of
hell。 Suffer me to wind up all by a few direct appeals to your own
heart。 In a day of much light； and knowledge； and profession； I desire
to set up a beacon to preserve souls from shipwreck。 I would fain moor
a buoy in the channel of all spiritual voyagers； and paint upon it；
〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（a） Are you careless about the second Advent of Christ？ Alas； many are！
They live like the men of Sodom； and t