beginning. If a devil could be asked how long he has been in hell, he would answer, " Yesterday! " and if it was answered, " Hast thou not been condemned more than five thousand years? " he would reply, " Oh, if thou knewest what it is to say eternity, thou wouldst understand perfectly, that by comparison, five thousand years are but as a moment." If an angel were to say to one of the lost, " Thou shalt leave hell, but not until as many ages have passed away as there are drops of water, leaves on the trees, and grains of sand on the sea-shore," he would rejoice more than a beggar would on hearing the news that he was made rich. Yes! since all these ages will pass away, should they be multiplied an infinite number of times, and hell will be ever at its beginning. Every lost one would gladly make this compact with God, "Lord, increase my pain as much as Thou wilt; cause it to last as long as Thou pleasest: put a limit to it, and I am content." But no, for this limit will never be; the trumpet of Divine justice will sound out in hell nothing but " for ever, for ever; " " never, never."
The lost will ask of the devils, " Watchman, what of the night? " (Isa. xxi. 11.) When does it end? and when will these trumpets, these cries, this stench, these flames, these torments finish? Then it will be answered to them, " Never! " " never! " How long will they last? " For ever; " " for ever." Ah, Lord, give light to the many blind who, when urged not to lose themselves, reply, " If at last I go to hell, patience." O God, they have not patience to bear a little cold; to remain in an overheated room; to endure a blow; and hereafter, will they have patience to abide in a sea of fire, to be trampled upon by devils, and to be abandoned by God and by all, for eternity?
Affections and Prayers.
Ah! Father of mercies, Thou dost not abandon those who seek Thee. " Thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek Thee." (Ps. ix. 11.) I, in the past time, have often turned away from Thee, and Thou hast not abandoned me; do not abandon me, now that I seek Thee. I repent, O Highest Good, of having so lightly esteemed Thy grace, that I have bartered it away for a mere nothing. Behold the wounds of
