The Alarm and Inquiry # 2

The Alarm and Inquiry # 2

My reader, are you a mere professor? Are you surrounded by such? God directs you to put the question to your own conscience, and to your fellows, "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burnings? Ah! What if you should! What if your profession should end in this doom? What if your hope should prove like the spider's web? What if while you cry, "Peace and safety!" - that sudden destruction should come upon you? It may! It is possible. Is it probable? Search and look. Examine your heart. Examine impartially. Examine thoroughly. A mistake here is fearful, it is fatal, it may be irremediable.

Deceitful and deceiving professor - ponder these solemn questions. They are especially addressed to you. Every false covering will soon be stripped off. Your heart and your life will be laid bare - by the holy, sin-hating, sin-punishing God! We must sound the alarm! We would alarm you to prevent your ruin! We would be faithful - that you may be saved. Take heed that you do not eternally perish! Take heed that you do not persevere in hypocrisy - until it is too late. Do not even dream of redemption from the devouring fire, when once in it - or the everlasting burnings being quenched! That is the greatest folly. It is an invention of the father of lies, to deceive your souls, and secure your damnation!

Now, you are under the reign of mercy; now, you are within sight of the Cross; now, while the gospel invites you - confess your folly, deplore your criminality, sue for pardon, seek for sanctifying grace, and escape, escape, escape from the devouring fire! Flee, flee, flee from the everlasting burnings!!! But if you persevere in sin, if you continue to practice hypocrisy, I solemnly warn you, that you shall surely perish! Hell will be opened to meet you at your death, the fierce flames of damnation will curl around you, the doors of the horrid prison of despair will close upon you - and you will be lost, lost, lost forever!

Your destruction will be your own act and deed - the effect of the course you have chosen, of the line of conduct you have pursued. Repent then and turn to God, so your iniquity shall not be your ruin. For, if you do not repent - it surely will. It deserves hell. It demands punishment. It appeals to the justice of God, and its appeal will be regarded. A just God must punish the impenitent sinner. Hear then, the warning voice! Flee from the wrath to come. Hasten and escape from the consuming fire - from the everlasting burnings! Flee, flee, for refuge, and lay hole of the hope set before you in the gospel. Life and death are set before you, therefore choose life that you may live - live and be happy forever!

Now hear the words of God, O man,
"Sinners among you all who can
With everlasting burnings dwell?
The wicked shall be cast to hell!"

Hell is that woeful, dreadful place,
Where Jesus never shows His face;
Where sinners with devils must remain,
In hopeless horrors, endless pain!

God's wrath, without His mercy's there,
Wrath with mercy, who can bear?
How hot the fire, how huge the load,
Your sufferings show, O Son of God.

O man, let goodness make you melt.
Consider what the Lord has felt;
Repent, and to your Saviour turn,
Who died that you may never burn!

But if the Saviour you despise,
And trust in vanity and lies;
Your doom is fixed - that doom is hell,
You must with endless burnings dwell!

Tempests of angry fire will roll,
And beat upon your naked soul!
Then fly, at once, to Jesus fly,
And on His perfect work rely.

His arms are open to receive,
All who in His dear name believe;
He loves to pardon, waits to bless
With all the riches of His grace!

~James Smith~

(The End)