THE CONCLUSION
IF the Conflagration of the World be a reality, as, both by Scripture and Antiquity, we are assur’d it is: If we be fully perswaded and convinc’d of this: ’Tis a thing of that nature, that we cannot keep it long in our thoughts, without making some moral reflections upon it. ’Tis both great in it self, and of universal concern to all Mankind. Who can look upon such an Object, A World in Flames, without thinking with himself, Whether shall I be in the midst of these flames, or no? What is my security that I shall not fall under this fiery vengeance, which is the wrath of an angry God? St. Peter, when he had deliver’d the doctrine of the Conflagration, makes this pious reflection upon it: Seeing
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that known not God: and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then as for Anti-christ and his adherents, he says, in the 2d. Chapt. and 8th. Verse, The Lord shall consume that Wicked one with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy him with the brightness of his coming, or of his Presence. These, you see, all refer to the same time with St. Peter: namely, to the coming of our Saviour, at the Conflagration; and three sorts of Persons are characteriz’d as his Enemies, and set out for destruction at that time. First, those that know not God: that is, that acknowledge not God, that will not own the Deity. Secondly, those that hearken not to the Gospel; that is, that reject the Gospel and Christian Religion, when they are preach’d and made known to them. For you must not think that it is the poor barbarous and ignorant Heathens, that scarce ever heard of God, or the Gospel, that are threaten’d with this fiery vengeance. No, ’tis the Heathens that live amongst Christians; those that are Infidels, as to the existence of God, or the truth of Christian Religion, tho’ they have had a full manifestation of both. These are properly the Adversaries of God and Christ. And such adversaries, St. Paul says in another place, A fearful judgment, and fiery indignation shall devour: which still refers to the same time, and the same Persons we are speaking of. Then as to the third sort of Men, Anti-christ and his Followers, besides this Text of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, ’tis plain to me in the Apocalypse, that Mystical Babylon is to be consum’d by fire: and the Beast and False Prophet to be thrown into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone: Which Lake is no where to be found till the Conflagration.
You see then for whom Tophet is prepar’d of old. For Atheists, Infidels, and Anti-christian Persecutors. And they will have for their Companions, the Devil and his Angels, the heads of the Apostasie. These are all in open rebellion against God and Christ, and at defiance, as it were, with Heaven. Excepting Anti-christ, who is rather in a secret conspiracy, than an open rebellion. For, under a pretended Commission from Jesus Christ, He persecutes his Servants, dishonours his Person, corrupts his Laws and his Government, and makes War against his Saints. And this is a greater affront and provocation, if possible, than a barefac’d opposition would be.
There are other Men, besides these, that are unacceptable to God: All sorts of sinners and wicked persons: but they are not so properly the Enemies of God, as these we have mention’d. An intemperate Man is an Enemy to himself, and
Clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory; and that will be to judge the World. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory. And before him shall be gather’d all Nations, and he will separate the good from the bad; and to the wicked and unbelievers he will say, Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. This is the same Coming, and the same Fire, with that which we mention’d before out of St. Paul. As you will plainly see, if you compare St. Matthew's words with St. Paul's, which are these, When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty Angels: In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that hearken not to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, from, or by the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power. This, me-thinks, should be an awakening thought, that there is such a threatening upon record, (by one who never yet fail’d in his word) against those that do not believe his Testimony. Those that reject him now as a Dupe, or an Impostor, run a hazard of seeing him hereafter coming in the Clouds to be their Judge. And it will be too late then to correct their errour, when the bright Armies of Angels fill the Air, and the Earth begins to melt at the Presence of the Lord.
Thus much concerning those three ranks of Men, whom the Apostle St. Paul seems to point at principally, and condemn to the flames. But, as I said before, the rest of sinners and vitious Persons amongst the Professors of Christianity, tho’ they are not so directly the Enemies of God, as these are; yet being transgressors of his Law, they must expect to be brought to Justice. In every well-govern’d State, not onely Traitors and Rebels, that offend more immediately against the Person of the Prince, but all others, that notoriously violate the Laws, are brought to condign punishment, according to the nature and degree of their crime. So in this case, The fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. ’Tis