Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:… I. WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE DAMNED WILL HAVE REFLECTIONS. 1. Their natural powers and faculties will not only be continued, but vastly strengthened and enlarged. 2. They will not meet with the same obstructions to mental exercises that they meet with here in their present state of probation. Here their cares, their troubles, their employments and various amusements, dissipate their thoughts and obstruct reflection. But there such objects will be entirely removed from their reach and pursuit. 3. God will continually exhibit before their view such things as will excite the most painful reflections and anticipations. He will set their sins in order before them, in their nature, magnitude, and peculiar aggravations, so that they cannot obliterate them from their minds. He will exhibit all his great, amiable, and terrible attributes of power, holiness, justice, and sovereignty before them, and give them a constant and realizing sense of His awful presence and displeasure. He will give them no rest and no hope. Let us now — II. TAKE A SERIOUS VIEW OF THEIR BITTER REFLECTIONS IN THE REGIONS OF DESPAIR. 1. They will realize what they are. Rational and immortal beings, which can never cease to exist nor to suffer. 2. They will realize where they are. In hell. 3. The damned will reflect whence they came to that place of torment. They will reflect upon the land of light and the precious advantages they there enjoyed, before they were confined to the regions of darkness. 4. They will reflect upon all that was done for them, to prevent them from falling into the pit of perdition. 5. They will realize that they destroyed themselves, which will be a source of bitter and perpetual reflections. 6. They will reflect upon what they had done, not only to destroy themselves, but others. 7. They will reflect upon what good they might have done, while they lived in the world. 8. It will pain them to think how they once despised and reproached godliness, and all who lived holy and godly byes. 9. Their clear view of the happiness of heaven will be a source of tormenting reflections. 10. Finally, they will reflect not only upon what they have been, and might have been, but upon what they are, and always will be. They will reflect that being filthy, they shall be filthy still; that being unholy, they shall be unholy still; and that being miserable, they shall be miserable still. Application: 1. If the state of the damned has been properly described, then it is of great importance that ministers should preach plainly upon the subject, and if possible, make their hearers realize the danger of going to hell. 2. If the miseries of the damned be such as have been described, then it deeply concerns sinners to take heed how they hear the gospel. 3. If the miseries of the damned be such as have been described, then we see why the Scripture represents this world as so dangerous to sinners. 4. If the miseries of the damned arise from bitter reflections, then all sinners, in their present state, are fit for destruction. They have just such views, and feelings, and reflections in kind, as the damned have. 5. If the miseries of the damned, and the character of sinners, be such as have been described, then there is reason to fear that some sinners are very near to the pit of perdition. They are in the broad road which has led many such persons as they are to the place where there is no light, and no hope. The symptoms of eternal death are upon them, though they know it not. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: |
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