Where such a fire could come from
If the scoffers, the minute philosophers, ask how these things can be, whence should come such an immense quantity of fire as would consume the heavens and the whole globe of land and water, we would beg leave, first, to remind them that this difficulty is not peculiar to the Christian system. The same opinion almost universally obtained among the heathen who were not bigoted. So one of those celebrated free-thinkers speaks, according to the sentiment generally received.
An old Latin line says, in plain English, that he remembers it is also fixed in fate that a time will come when the sea, when the earth, and the palace of heaven seized with them, shall burn, and the great laboring mass of the world shall strain in the fire.
But, secondly, it is easy to answer, even from our slight and superficial acquaintance with natural things, that there are abundant stores of fire, ready prepared and treasured up against the day of the Lord. How soon may a comet, commissioned by him, travel down from the most distant parts of the universe? And were it to fix upon the earth, in its return from the sun, when it is some thousands of times hotter than a red-hot cannonball, who does not see what the immediate consequence must be?
But, not to rise so high as the ethereal heavens, might not the same lightnings which give light to the world, if commanded by the Lord of nature, give ruin and utter destruction? Or, to go no farther than the globe itself, who knows what huge reservoirs of liquid fire are contained, from age to age, in the bowels of the earth? Etna, Hecla, Vesuvius, and all the other volcanoes that belch out flames and coals of fire, what are they but so many proofs and mouths of those fiery furnaces? And at the same time, so many evidences that God has in readiness the means to fulfill his word.
Yes, were we to observe no more than the surface of the earth, and the things that surround us on every side, it is most certain, as 1,000 experiments prove, beyond all possibility of denial, that we ourselves, our whole bodies, are full of fire, as well as everything round about us. Is it not easy to make this ethereal fire visible even to the naked eye, and so to produce by it the very same effects on matter that will burn which are produced by a kitchen fire? Is anything more needed, then, than for God to unloose that secret chain by which this irresistible agent is now bound down, and lies quiet in every particle of matter? And how soon would it tear the universal frame in pieces, and involve all in one common ruin?
1771 text
4. If it be enquired by the scoffers, the minute philosophers, how can these things be? Whence should come such an immense quantity of fire as would consume the heavens and the whole terraqueous globe? We would beg leave, first, to remind them that this difficulty is not peculiar to the Christian system. The same opinion almost universally obtained among the unbigoted Heathens. So one of those celebrated free-thinkers speaks, according to the generally received sentiment;
Esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur, affore tempus, Quo mare, quo tellus, correptaque regia cœli Ardeat, & mundi moles operosa laboret.
But, secondly, it is easy to answer, even from our slight and superficial acquaintance with natural things, that there are abundant magazines of fire ready prepared, and treasured up against the day of the Lord. How soon may a comet, commissioned by him, travel down from the most distant parts of the universe? And were it to fix upon the earth, in its return from the sun, when it is some thousand times hotter than a red-hot cannon-ball, who does not see what must be the immediate consequence? But, not to ascend so high as the ethereal heavens, might not the same lightnings which give shine to the world, if commanded by the Lord of nature, give ruin and utter destruction? Or, to go no farther than the globe itself: who knows what huge reservoirs of liquid fire are from age to age contained in the bowels of the earth? Ætna, Hecla, Vesuvius, and all the other vulcanoes that belch out flames and coals of fire, what are they, but so many proofs and mouths of those fiery furnaces? And at the same time so many evidences, that God hath in readiness wherewith to fulfil his word. Yea, were we to observe no more than the surface of the earth, and the things that surround us on every side, it is most certain (as a thousand experiments prove, beyond all possibility of denial) that we ourselves, our whole bodies are full of fire, as well as every thing round about us. Is it not easy, to make this ethereal fire visible even to the naked eye? And so produce thereby the very same effects on combustible matter, which are produced by culinary fire? Needs there then any more, than for God to unloose that secret chain, whereby this irresistible agent is now bound down, and lies quiescent in every particle of matter? And how soon would it tear the universal frame in pieces, and involve all in one common ruin?
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 15 in the 1771 Works. Romans 14:10. Bedford, 10 March 1758.
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