Under the sentence of hell-fire
And do you not know that the wages of sin is death? Death, not only temporal, but eternal. The soul that sins, it shall die, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. It shall die the second death. This is the sentence: to be punished with never-ending death, with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Do you not know that every sinner stands under a heavier word than danger? He quotes a Greek line to prove it. The sinner is not, properly, in danger of hell-fire. That expression is far too weak. Rather, he is under the sentence of hell-fire, doomed already, just dragging to execution. You are guilty of everlasting death. It is the just reward of your inward and outward wickedness. It is just that the sentence should now take place. Do you see this? Do you feel this? Are you thoroughly convinced that you deserve God's wrath, and everlasting damnation? Would God do you no wrong if he now commanded the earth to open and swallow you up? If you were now to go down alive into the pit, into the fire that never shall be quenched? If God has given you truly to repent, you have a deep sense that these things are so, and that it is of his mere mercy you are not consumed, swept away from the face of the earth.
1771 text
4. And knowest thou not, that the wages of sin is death? Death not only temporal, but eternal. The soul that sinneth it shall die: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It shall die the second death. This is the sentence, to be punished with never-ending death, with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Knowest thou not that every sinner, ἔνοχος ἐστι τῆ γεέννῃ τοῦ πυρός; not properly is in danger of hell-fire, that expression is far too weak: but rather, is under the sentence of hell-fire, doom’d already, just dragging to execution. Thou art guilty of everlasting death. It is the just reward of thy inward and outward wickedness. It is just, that the sentence should now take place. Dost thou see, dost thou feel this? Art thou throughly convinced, that thou deservest God’s wrath and everlasting damnation? Would God do thee no wrong, if he now commanded the earth to open and swallow thee up? If thou wert now to go down quick into the pit, into the fire that never shall be quenched? If God hath given thee truly to repent, thou hast a deep sense that these things are so; and that it is of his mere mercy thou art not consumed, swept away from the face of the earth.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 7 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.