Tophet is ordained of old. It was appointed and appropriated by the most High, to whom all his works are known from the beginning, to be the place wherein the moft awful divine judgments were to be executed upon the avowed implacable enemies of the church. This ordination is affirmed to have been of old, in the counfels of God, which are from everlasting: or, as the word, in the original language, fignifies, from yesterday. The expreffion, when applied to any divine conftitution, muft be understood in a figurative fenfe, denoting that period, long ago elapfed, when God fettled the mountains, and formed the valleys, which, to him, is as yesterday.-Yea, for the king it is prepared. The literal Tophet was fo ordered and difpofed, by infinite wifdom and power, as to form a proper convenient place for the destruction of the vast army of the great king of Affyria. The allegorical Tophet is also prepared, by the fame omnipotent righteous Lord, for the king, the prince of this world, the chief and leader of the powers of darkness, with all his fubjects, who are led captive by him at his pleasure. Our bleffed Saviour therefore, defcribing the process of the final judgment, declares, that he will fay to them on his left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels .- He hath made it deep and large. So extenfive were the dimenfions of the valley of Tophet, that it was admirably fuited to the accomplishment of the awful purpose to which, at the time referred to, it should prove fubfervient. The Tophet prefigured by it, is made fufficiently capacious, not only to contain the king and head of the apoftafy from God, but all the nations of them that forget the Lord, and yield chosen subjection to the prince of the power of the air.

The pile thereof is fire and much wood. Vast quantities of timber must have been collected into the valley

Matth. xxv. 41.

of

of Tophet, for the horrid purpose of confuming the immenfe number of human facrifices which were there offered to Moloch. The fire and much wood, burnt in that place, might reprefent, the dreadful ingredients which conftitute the complicated mifery of those who shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. It may be inquired, How could the large piles of combustible materials be kindled? The answer is given in the next words: The breath of the Lord, like a ftream of brimftone, doth kindle it. Notwithstanding numbers of people were doubtlefs employed in fetting on fire the large piles of wood which burnt in the valley of Tophet, yet the word of God, accompanied with his almighty power, gave fecret efficacy, and certain fuccefs to their operations, that they might accomplish his righteous judgments. With refpect to the other Tophet, of which it was the figure, the wrath of Jehovah, here compared to liquid brimstone, effectually kindles the unquenchable fire, whereby the wicked shall be tormented; who, in the words of Jesus Christ, shall be caft into a furnace of fire; there fhall be wailing and gnashing of teeth *.'

This momentous and interefting truth ought not to be fuperficially difcuffed, or flightly paffed over, left, by treating it in this manner, it fail to operate thofe extenfive falutary effects, on our temper and conduct, which it is intended to produce. I will not, however, enlarge at prefent, left your attention, which hath been arrested by this awful subject, may relax, and fo the impreffion it is fuited to convey, become faint and confused. I therefore conclude this Lecture more abruptly than I could have wifhed. The • Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil t.' An excellent Hebrew scholar remarks, that the original words might be properly tranflated, "The Lord hath made every

VOL. II.

* Matth. xiii. 42.

4 Y

+ Prov. xvi. 4.

"thing

"thing for that which correfponds to it; even the "wicked for the day of evil:" and what is more fuited to a wicked man, than an evil day. Doth not affronted majesty, and impartial justice, require, that those who perverfely endeavour to counteract the defign of infinite wisdom in their formation, fhould feel the effects of almighty power in their punishment? Would you then happily avoid the dreadful doom of the enemies of God? flee from the wrath to come, forfake your evil ways, and betake yourselves to the hope fet before you. In the plenitude of purest compallion, and with bowels of the tenderest love, the great God, whom you have offended, entreats you to escape from the terrible miseries that are coming on the workers of iniquity. As I live, faith the Lord 'God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wic'ked-turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Ifrael?The Lord lefs thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face 'fhine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give ⚫ thee peace t.'

* Ezek. xxxiii, II.

+ Numb. vi. 24, 25, 26.

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END OF VOL. II.