said, "Ye shall not surely die; for God knoweth, that in the day ye eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods.Moreover, the tree is good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desired to make one wise."-And it is said, he ate thereof himself in her presence, and suggested there was no danger; see here, I eat of it-I experience no injury, neither will you; "ye shall not surely die." She doubted the truth of God's word. The effect was, to induce her to disregard the divine threatening: "She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband, and he did cat ;" and then exclaimed unto her offended God, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat!

This we believe to be one evil effect of denying the doctrine of endless punishment; it lays a foundation to indulge in the violation of divine commands.

To show more fully, that this is a general consequence, we shall produce some instances of public notoriety, where this has been the

case.

It appears, from the confession of one Purrington, of the State of Maine, who, a few years since, denied the doctrine of endless punishment, and embraced a more liberal scheme, that of universal salvation; and to avoid minor privations in this life, murdered his own family, and then killed himself; that they all might be hasty partakers of the felicities of the heavenly world.

This opinion led him to believe :

"That all who fall by suicide,

Are wise beyond compare;

They spill their blood, and fly to God,

And reign eternal there."

Burnham, who was some years since, executed at Haverhill, N. H. for murder, declares in his last and dying confession, that, disbelieving the doctrine of endless punishment, and embracing that of universal salvation, he was led to indulge in those vicious habits, which terminated in murder, and brought him to the gallows. These facts have been before the public.

Another effect, of denying the doctrine of endless punishment is, the embracing of deism and atheism.

As has been observed, embracing universal salvation, leads to the most atrocious offences, the criminality of which, so burdens the conscience, that the 'spirit' cannot endure the wound, and believe the Bible; hence, deism is the next resort, and in many instances, atheism.

The history of Miss Woolstoncraft, of England, furnishes evidence of this fact; she first denied endless punishment, then became a universalist, then a deist, then embraced, and wrote, in favor of the principles of the atheistical Godwin.

It is said, Thomas Paine commenced his career of infidelity, by first denying endless punishment, and then the whole of the Bible. Voltaire was led in the same way to his infidel scheme;-and one Capt. M—, of U—, in New-Hampshire, first denied endless punishment, then embraced universal salvation, then deism, and died an atheist. These facts all serve distinctly to show the tendency of denying the declaration of God, respecting the endless condition of the finally impenitent.

IMPROVEMENT.

1. From this subject we learn, that Satan was the first, who denied the endless punishment of the finally impenitent, and taught the doctrine of universal salvation.

We have no intimation in the Bible, of any one, who presumed to deny the endless punishment of the wicked, previous to him, who beguiled our mother Eve. This must be considered the origin of universalism; and as he is the propagator of a sect, there can be no impropriety in examining his names and character.

He was once an angel of light; but for disobedience and rebellion was cast out of heaven, and sentenced to endless punishment in hell. His names are, 'Satan, Lucifer, Abaddon, Apollyon, the Devil, the old Serpent, the great Dragon, the accuser of the brethren.'

His character is that of a 'liar from the beginning, the father of lies, a deceiver, a murderer.'

Hence his employment has always been deceiving mankind, by lying to them. To accomplish this, he is constantly walking to and fro, and up and down, in the earth.'

He delights to afflict, perplex and injure mankind. For these purposes he troubled Job, tempted our Saviour, took him up upon a high mountain, and upon the pinnacle of the temple. In this last instance, is a sample of his art and audacity in attempting to deceive. He undoubtedly knew, that Jesus was the Son of God; yet, he had the consummate vanity and wickedness, to hope, at least, that he could by his cunning, deceive, and perhaps, destroy him. For this purpose, he quoted a passage from the 91st Psalm; but to effect his object, he omitted the following important words, "to keep thee in all thy ways;” that is, in all ways of propriety and duty, but not in the way of daring presumption. This omission was evidently from design; and truly, the part quoted, was the better calculated to deceive and mislead.

He has been a deceiver of men, and a rebel against God, many thousand years; and for his wickedness and persevering rebellion, he was doomed to hell, and there to remain, to all eternity.

He has been there, almost six thousand years, and still continues obstinate and unyielding. His temper, disposition and inclination, all remain the same, to the present time. According to Rev. xx. 10.

he was banished from the presence of God, and the society of all holy beings, into utter darkness, and there to continue eternally. "The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night, for ever and ever." I need not say, this lake of fire and brimstone,' represents a place of punishment. Here we find this enemy of men, and rebel against God, and here we must leave him. It is under the just sentence of an offended God; and we know not how to get him out of this place of torment.

Almost six thousand years of acute punishment has produced no reformation; and it is not probable, it ever will. His case then seems to be hopeless. There is no Saviour provided for him-he has no offers of pardon. He manifests no signs of penitence, but still appears full of wrath toward God and man.

I presume then, my hearers are ready to say, he must reman there eternally. This you must admit; because, there is no provision made, by which he can be rescued.

But unfortunately for the human family, he has companions. The beast and false prophet are some of our fallen race. Ah! solemn fact, some of the children of Adam are to remain in the prison of darkness and pain, forever and ever. Yes, just as long as the devil remains in the lake of torment, so long shall the beast and false prophet continue in the prison of hell. M. L. D.

FOR THE HOPKINSIAN MAGAZINE.

THOUGHTS ON REVELATION XX. 10.

The devil that deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever.”

By these words, the duration of the serpent's confinement is fixed, which is just as long, as blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, are ascribed unto Christ. Rev. v. 13. "Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth-heard I saying, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever."

Here let me premise: 'It is well known to those who are acquainted with the Greek language, that the original words, which in our translation are rendered, eternal, everlasting, and forever and ever, primarily and properly denote, endless perpetuity. The Greek words thus rendered, are, aion, and aionios, derived from aei, alway, and on, existing the primary signification of which is, always existing?

These words, as naturally and properly denote endless duration in Greek, as eternal, and forever and ever, do, in English. There are no words more significant, or that denote proper eternity, more decisively and forcibly. They are the very words used by the most ancient and learned Greek writers to express endless duration; and likewise the very words used by the Holy Spirit, to denote the per

petuity of Jehovah's kingdom, government and existence, the blessedness and glory of saints, and of every thing, pertaining to the future and eternal world.

We will now see how these words are used in the scriptures, and what they mean, in the word of God. 1. Peter, iv. 11. "That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion, (eis tons aionas ton aionon) forever and ever." See chap. v. 11. "To him, (that is to Christ,) be glory and dominion, (eis tons aionas ton aionon) forever and ever." Then the confinement of satan, the beast, and false prophet, is equal to the period of worship rendered to Jesus Christ:' yea, as long as he shall reign. Rev. xi. 15. 'The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign (eis tons aionas ton aionon) forever and ever." These words distinctly express the period of Christ's reign, and also that, of which the saints will render him worship. If he is to reign, and be worshipped eternally; then the beast, and false prophet, are to be eternally confined in the prison of hell.

The devil, the beast, and false prophet shall remain in confinement, as long as Christ shall exist. Rev. i. 18. "I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forevermore," or forever and ever. Rev. iv. 9. "Give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever." Also, verse 10. "The four and twenty elders fall down and worship him that sat on the throne, who liveth, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever." Rev. v. 14. "The four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth (eis tons aion as ton aionon) forever and ever." Rev. x. 6. "The angel sware by him that liveth, (eis tons aionas lon aionon) forever and ever."

These words designate the duration of our Saviour's existence; if that is endless, then the devil, the beast, and false prophet, are to remain in the lake of fire and brimstone, an endless period. Yea, their confinement in that place of torment, shall continue as long as dominion, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, are rendered to God, by saints and angels in heav ́en. Rev. i. 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12. "To him be glory and dominion, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever." "And I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb and cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb; and all the angels stood round about the throne, and fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying, blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto God,) eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever." Moreover, the confinement of these incorri

gible offenders, shall be continued, as long as God shall exist. Rev. xv. 7. "And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels, seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth, (eis tons aionas ton aionon,) forever and ever." Thus we see, when God ceases to exist, the devil, the beast, and the false prophet, may escape from the 'lake of fire and brimstone,' and not till then. Again. "The devil, the beast, and the false prophet," must continue in hell, just as long as the righteous shall continue in the enjoyment of heaven. 1. Peter, v. 10. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his (aionion) eternal glory." Jude, v. 21. "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto (aionion) eternal life." John, v. 11, 13. "This is the record, that God hath given to us (aionion) eternal life." "These things have I written unto you, that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have (aionion) eternal life." John, x. 27, 28. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them (aionion) eternal life. What life is this, that Christ gives his sheep? Is it limited, or endless? If endless, then the period of the confinement of the devil, the beast, and the false prophet, is also endless. Rev. xxii. 1. "The servants of God, and of the Lamb shall serve him, and shall reign (eis tons aionas ton aionon) forever and ever."

Thus we find, on examining the original Greek text, and the manner in which it is used, by the Spirit of God in the Bible, that the devil, the beast, and the false prophet, are all doomed to a place of punishment, and there to remain, as long as dominion and glory shall be rendered to Christ as long as Christ shall reign-as long as Christ shall exist-as long as worship and adoration are rendered to God, by saints and angels in heaven-as long as God shall exist-and as long as the righteous shall continue in heaven. Yes; when saints shall cease to render dominion and glory to Christ-when he shall cease to reign, and cease to exist-when saints and angels shall cease to render worship to God, and cease to exist-yea, when God himself, shall cease to exist, then, and not till then, shall his enemies be liberated from the prison of hell. Here, then, we must leave these subjects of rebellion and impenitence, where God has sentenced them, there to remain and endure his frown, as long as he himself shall exist.

That the punishment of the wicked, and the happiness of the righteous, are of equal duration, is evident from the uniform language of scripture. Rev. xiv. 9, 10, 11. "If any man worship the beast, and his image, and receive his mark, in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels,