that he is a cofuming fir

the creature

wherever there is fin in

ftands upon

mediatorial

But, that future purnment ground, is efident; because it is the mediators work to judge andpunish aners. For the Father judgeth no man; bit hath committed all judgment unto the Son; andhath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Son of man.'' John v. 22 and 2It is he which was ordained of God to be the Jdge of quick and dead.' Acts x. 42. Now instead f God out of Chrift judging the wicked, I fee it drift himself (who died for all) that will judge them, as well as the Saints,

Işit poffible when he judges them, he will forget tha they are a part of the purchase of his blood? He may indeed rule them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's veffel; but he will remember that they are a part of his inheritance: (Pfalm ii.) And as fuch he will one day raise them up and poffefs them; for the Father hath appointed him heir of all things. Heb. i. 2.

It seems to me, that the common idea of the devils tormenting men in hell, is fabulous, and has no fupport from Scripture, which teaches, that the wicked will be punished with devils, not by them. Matt. xxv. That Chrift will execute judgment, i. e. inflict the punishment upon the wicked, is evident, from John v. 27.

And

And that he will ufe the miniftration of Angels, is probable, from Matt. xiii. 39. 42. And in Rev. xiv. 10, it is faid, that those who worship the beast, &c. shall be tormented in the prefence of the Lamb, and in the prefence of his holy Angels: fo that it fhould feem as if Chrift and his holy Angels will inspect and fuperintend the work of future punishment.

Now I find a great difficulty in fuppofing that the all-loving and all-lovely Jefus, can at once be the inflictor and fpectator of endless, continuing, and increas ing mifery to his creatures. I know that when he was upon earth he wept over finners. Can the compaffion of his nature fail? or those Angels who rejoice over one finner that repenteth upon earth, can their nature so alter as that they should be the inftruments and spectators of wrath inconceivable and endless, and yet be happy? If it be faid that this mode of reafoning applies with as much force against all future punishment as it doth againft its being endless: I anfwer, not fo; for if it did, it would apply against the existence of all natural evil in this life; which neverthelefs, we know doth exift, and is fometimes awfully fevere; yet we reconcile it with the love of God, and the grace of Chrift, by admitting it to be intended for human good. Make the good of the creature to be the end of the divine conduct in future punishment, and then you will affign a reafon worthy of God himfelf for inflicting it!

But

But again, not only is judgment and punishment the work of the mediator, but it is his work by virtue of his humiliation which included his univerfal atonement. Heb. i. 3. When he had by himself purged

our fins, fat down on the right hand of the majesty on
high.' Phil. ii. 6.
Christ being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God;
but made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a fervant, and was made in the like-
nefs of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the crofs. Wherefore, God hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name; that at the name of Jefus, every
knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; and that every
tongue should confefs that Jefus is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.'

Now here the Apostle tells us of the exaltation of Chrift; of the extent of his power, which is universal, reaching over heaven; for Angels, principalities and powers, are made fubject unto him; over earth, for the Father hath given him power over all flesh; over hell (under the earth) for he hath the keys of hell, and of death. The great intention of this power of Christ is, the univerfal fubjection of the creatures to him.. That every knee fhould bow: Yea, more than fub... jection is to be effected by it, for every tongue fhall. confefs

confefs that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It is evident, that all creatures are fubject to him now, in point of the exercife of his power over them, but this is not a willing fubjection, except in the case of the holy Angels, and thofe few who have believed; it is they only among the fons of men who bow the knee to Jefus, and confefs his name with the tongue. The Apostle clearly intimates that there fhall be fuch a fubjection to him, and fuch a confeffion of him, as that there fhall be no longer any rebellion against him. The glory of the Father is the end proposed in this obedience to, and confeffion of the Son; and let any man ask himself, wherein doth the Father's glory most confist? will it be in the endless mifery of millions of his creatures, or in the final deliverance of them all by his dear Son? Now as Chrift is judge by virtue of having humbled himself to the death of the cross, and as the intent of his dying was, that the world through him might be faved; fo I can but think that judgment, and its confequence to the wicked, punishment, are means to accomplish that intention. For what reafon can be given, why the ever bleffed, and gracious, and unchangeable God fhould forget, or change his purpose towards his creatures after death, any more than he should do the fame in this life? The Scriptures tell us, that he doth his will in heaven, and in earth, in the feas, and in all deep places: e. the grave and bell. Pfalm cxxxv. 6. They tell us

C

that

that for this caufe, Jefus both died, and rofe, and revived, i. e. ascended, that he might be Lord both of the living and the dead. Rom. xiv. 9. That he hath the keys of hell and of death. Rev. i. 8. Surely he fhutteth and openeth the grave and hell, at his pleafure; and the dead, yea, the damned, are as much under his government, and within the reach of his power, in every refpect as the living; none of his creatures are cut off finally from his goodness, for his tender mercy is over all his works. Pf. cxlv. 9.

And that future judgment is founded in mercy, and fhall end in mercy, I think is clear, from Pfalm lxii. 12. Alfo unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy, for thou recompenseth every man according to his works.' And from James ii. 13, For he fhall have judgment without mercy, who hath fhewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.' Herein is feen the fullness of that Scripture, God is love. For if judgment be a mediatorial work founded upon mercy, exercised by Christ in virtue of his atonement; then it will follow, that all the kindreds, families, and nations of the earth fhall be bleffed in him.

FOURTHLY. I cannot believe endless mifery, becaufe I have not found any word in the Scripture which is used to exprefs the duration of punishment that naturally conveys that idea.

It