Mat. 8.12. — Shall be cast into utter Darkness.
Jude v. 13. — To whom is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever.
AS the Torment and Misery of the Ungodly is set forth by a Furnace of Fire; so 'tis also by Darkness, utter Darkness, and blackness of Darkness, as the Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth.
GOD sometimes hath brought Darkness, upon a People, as a great Judgment, for Sin and Rebellion against him: So God in just Judgment, will cast the Wicked into Dark∣ness, into a burning Furnace of Fire, but such Fire as shall give no Light, therefore called utter Darkness.
II. Where there is Darkness, either by want of Light, or want of Sight to see the Light, there cannot be any comfortable Enjoyment of any visible Object, that might afford them Satisfaction and Content, as it doth those that enjoy the Light: So to be cast into Dark∣ness, nay utter Darkness, not only such Darkness that is a deprivation of Light, or occasioned by want of Sight, but a Darkness of Terror and Torment, reserved for Wicked and Un∣g••dly Men, called the blackness of Darkness: For as the Glory of Heaven shall abound be∣yond all comparison with glorious Light, called the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, Col. 1. So the Horrors and Terrors of Hell will consist in that abounding Darkness, beyond all com∣parison.
III. As to be shut up in Spiritual Darkness, is a separation from God, as to his Presence in a way of Grace: So to be shut up in the thickness and blackness of the darkness of Hell, is an eternal separation from God, and the enjoyment of him for ever: when once he shall say [Depart from me] there is a separation from all Joy and Happiness, [Ye cursed] there is a black and direful Excommunication. [into Fire], there is the Extremity of pain, [everlasting], there is the Perpetuity of the Punishment, [prepared for the Devil and his Angels], there are the In∣fernal tormenting, and tormented Company. And to encrease the horror and amazement of the Damned, this Fire shall only torment them, not give them any Light, but they shall be cast out into utter Darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth.