July 29 — On the Prison of Hell

Consider, first, hell is a prison, that lies deep in the bowels of the earth, in which the damned are confined for all eternity - a prison whose gates are eternally shut down, and bolted upon them, by the irreversible decrees of heaven, so as to prohibit for ever to them ail intercourse or communication with the world above, to stop up all access to all manner of good, comfort or ease, and to shut in with them all that can make them completely miserable. Hell is a dismal dungeon, of black and stinking flames, and crammed brim full with the black and stinking carcasses of the damned, eternally frying in those dark flames. O my soul, what a prison 1 what a dungeon 1 what dreadful locks and bars, which shut out all good, and admit of nothing of God but his avenging justice!

Consider, secondly, that this prison of the damned is every way most hideous and loathsome, and full of horror and darkness. No sun, no moon, no stars, ever appear in that gloomy region; but a dismal night reigns eternally there; a night that knows no morning, nor ever expects a return of the dawning of the day. No breath of air from above, no glimpse of light, can ever penetrate into that deep, that bottomless pit. The very fire that rages there is black and darksome; it affords no light to the wretched prisoners, except it be to represent to their eyes such odious objects as may serve to increase their misery. O, who can bear the thought of such a scene of wo!

Consider, thirdly, that, in this frightful dungeon, the damned are bound down in eternal chains, so that they can neither stir hand nor foot f (St. Matt, xxii;) in fiery chains that wrap up their whole bodies, and penetrate them on all sides, and fix them immovably to their place of torments. That head, which, by their pride and rebellion, they had lifted up against God, is now eternally nailed down at an immense distance from him; that stiff neck, which they refused to submit to his sweet yoke, is now loaded with the enormous weight of the chains of hell; and all their senses and members, which they gratified in their life, by indulging them the false liberty of sinful pleasures, are now condemned to an everlasting confinement and slavery, in links of grinding flames. O that sinners would be wise, and would think on these things, and would cease from sin!

Conclude thou at least, my soul, to take care of one, and, whilst thou hast time, to provide effectually for thy eternal welfare, that thou mayst never come to be cast into this dreadful and everlast ing prison.